There was a streetlamp next to the park entrance, allowing people coming and going to be seen clearly; otherwise, the images captured by surveillance would be even blurrier.

When they saw someone matching the person in the photo, they would stop them for questioning, recording their name, identity, phone number, and fingerprints.

Even if it wasn’t the person in the photo, the two would routinely ask whether anything unusual was noticed on the night of the incident.

Although this job wasn’t tiring, their mouths were never idle—it was a tedious task.

James Reed and Lily Turner were at the front gate, following the same procedure.

Day after day.

All four of them were investigating in the central park, identifying more than twenty men who had the opportunity to commit the crime. There were also some men with clear images, but who hadn’t visited the park in recent days; their information could be found in the public security system’s network.

Another afternoon, Brian Hall was lying on his desk taking a nap.

“Pa pa…” A series of slapping sounds rang out, and Paul Bennett called everyone over: “Come here, gather up.”

“Captain Bennett, are we going to the central park to investigate again?” David Thompson asked in a low tone.

“Not today.”

“Why not?”

“The DNA comparison results are out.” Paul Bennett took a document out of his bag.

“Matched with the database?” Brian Hall pressed.

“It matched. The suspect was previously arrested for causing trouble—here’s his information.” As Paul Bennett spoke, he turned on the projector and displayed the suspect’s details.

Name: John Brooks

Ethnicity: Han

Age: 28

Height: 177cm

Occupation: Qindao Technology Company

Family status: Unmarried

Address: Qindao City, Yuxin Road, Jiangxin Community, 6-703

“Captain Bennett, what are we waiting for? Let’s go arrest him.” James Reed rubbed his hands eagerly.

……

The group drove to Jiangxin Community.

They pretended to be from the property management company to trick their way into the apartment.

They quickly subdued the suspect, John Brooks.

John Brooks was a typical homebody; his place was a mess, the apartment was rented, and he lived alone.

Brian Hall and the others searched carefully but found no tools related to the crime, so they took him back to the police station first.

To solve the case as soon as possible, Paul Bennett decided to interrogate him overnight.

……

Qindao Branch, interrogation room.

The suspect sat in the interrogation chair, with Brian Hall and David Thompson in charge of questioning.

Paul Bennett, Lily Turner, and James Reed were in the observation room next door, listening in through the one-way glass.

“Name, age, place of origin…” Brian Hall began the questioning as usual.

“John Brooks, 28 years old, from Qindao City…”

“Do you know why you were brought here?” David Thompson asked.

“N-no, I don’t know.” John Brooks shook his head.

“We suspect you’re involved in a rape case and hope you’ll cooperate with the investigation.”

“How is that possible! I’ve never done anything like that.” John Brooks looked shocked.

“Last Monday, the night of June 18th, where were you?” David Thompson asked.

“I can’t remember.”

“Think carefully.”

After a moment’s thought, John Brooks said, “I was at home.”

“Can anyone vouch for you?”

“I live alone.”

“So, no one can confirm you were home that night?” David Thompson pressed.

“Officer, I’m really being wronged here.” John Brooks cried out.

“Every suspect who enters this room claims they’re innocent. Raising your voice doesn’t prove your innocence.”

“I really am innocent!”

“Then tell me, why was your white genetic material found at the crime scene?” Brian Hall asked.

“Where exactly is this scene you’re talking about?”

“The central park.”

“I’ve never even been to that park.”

David Thompson snorted, “Stop pretending. If you’ve never been to the scene, how could your white genetic material be there? That can’t be faked.”

“I really am innocent—there must be some mistake here.” John Brooks shouted.

Brian Hall shook his head slightly. “White genetic material is evidence that can convict you. If you can’t explain why it was found at the scene, no one can help you.”

“I really don’t know.” John Brooks was on the verge of tears.

……

An hour later, Brian Hall and David Thompson left the interrogation room.

Paul Bennett got straight to the point: “How did the questioning go?”

“The suspect has no alibi.”

“Any new leads?”

“The suspect is tight-lipped, just keeps saying he doesn’t know.” David Thompson sighed.

“The DNA match is already confirmed—even if he doesn’t confess, it’s useless.” James Reed said.

Brian Hall thought carefully. “Captain Bennett, I think there are still some doubts in this case.”

“What doubts?”

“This John Brooks doesn’t seem to be lying.”

During the interrogation, Brian Hall used micro-expression analysis to observe John Brooks’s every move. He saw fear and panic, but no signs of lying.

This wasn’t how a murderer should behave.

Paul Bennett was a bit surprised. “Do you have any evidence?”

Brian Hall shook his head—it was all his analysis.

“Brian Hall, police work is about evidence,” Paul Bennett said earnestly.

“As long as John Brooks has no alibi for the time of the crime and can’t explain why his genetic material was found at the scene, he can’t clear his suspicion.”

“Yes.”