Chapter 17: The Nephew’s Crime

“How did you know?”

The owner looked puzzled; he hadn’t mentioned this detail since reporting the case.

Hearing their conversation, Zhu Yue approached. Having worked in the criminal investigation unit for over ten years, he was experienced and quick-witted, already beginning to grasp Han Ling’s line of thinking.

To deduce the suspect’s method of operation in such a short time, and before any clues had even disappeared, this young man was indeed impressive. No wonder he had been able to outsmart several rookies from the municipal bureau at the film studio.

This method of committing the crime was actually quite simple to explain and, with further investigation, not difficult to resolve. But under circumstances where clues were missing, making a judgment just by glancing at the warehouse was challenging.

At least, Zhu Yue himself hadn’t managed it.

“The sales of other scrap materials were handled by other staff,” Han Ling had deduced this objective fact without needing to ask further, relying solely on the unique modus operandi of the crime.

It took him only a few minutes.

Before coming here, he had told Han Ling to learn more, ask more, and observe more... now that seemed a bit awkward.

“I guessed,” Han Ling replied, then looked toward Zhu Yue as he approached.

Their eyes met, and Zhu Yue pointed to the spot beside where the copper wires were kept—it was where plastic barrels, purchased for scrap, were stored.

Han Ling nodded; without speaking, both understood what the other meant.

Beside them, Zhang Silei watched their silent exchange, full of questions. Though not formally trained, his experience as an auxiliary police officer was not for nothing.

Han Ling had specifically mentioned “the sales of other scrap materials” earlier, which seemed to be the key point.

Other scrap materials?

Mixed together?

It seemed... there really was only one way.

Damn, impressive! The logic wasn’t difficult, but the speed was remarkable.

Zhu Yue said, “Boss, let’s step outside. We’ll call all the employees over and talk.”

“Alright,” the owner agreed.

The three stepped out of the warehouse, and the owner called out loudly, “Stop what you’re doing! Come here, all of you!”

Hearing the call, the employees ceased their work and turned around, setting aside their tasks. The sixteen-year-old girl wiped the sweat from her face and timidly stood by the warehouse door, head bowed.

Zhu Yue tapped Han Ling’s arm, signaling him to take over what followed.

First, it was a matter of training; second, a test; third, because Han Ling had uncovered the method of the crime.

Han Ling didn’t hesitate. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a young employee suddenly pointed at the girl and said, “Uncle, officer, those metals were definitely stolen by Sun Qing. Her father is ill, her mother unemployed—they’re really short on money.”

Before he finished, the girl suddenly looked up, her face smeared with dirt yet still delicate, filled with shock.

“I... I...” she stammered, desperate to defend herself but too shy and timid to find the right words immediately.

“See? She’s guilty; she can’t even speak,” the young man continued.

The other two employees remained silent. They knew the boss had reported the theft earlier today because a significant amount of metal was missing from the scrap collection station.

As long as it wasn’t them, they would just watch. When the police asked, they’d answer but wouldn’t speak up for anyone or cast suspicion.

Silence was the best protection for themselves.

“I didn’t! It wasn’t me!” Sun Qing’s small frame suddenly shouted loudly. Realizing her voice was too loud and everyone was watching, she quickly lowered her head again, repeating, “It wasn’t me.”

The young man was about to speak again, but Han Ling stopped him. “Hold on. Boss, who is this?”

The owner’s gaze shifted away from Sun Qing. “Oh, that’s my nephew Zhao Kai. He hasn’t found a steady job yet, so he helps out here and gets a regular monthly wage.”

Han Ling said, “The plastic scrap at the station is his responsibility to sell, right?”

Mentioning the plastic scrap, Zhao Kai’s face immediately changed; his eyes began to dart nervously.

Zhu Yue watched him closely, now almost certain Zhao Kai was the culprit.

A nephew stealing from his uncle—if the elders found out, it would be a major family scandal.

“Yes, that’s him,” the owner said, surprised. “Officer, you seem to know everything. What’s going on?”

Business people weren’t fools, but as Zhao Kai’s uncle, he naturally trusted him and had subconsciously ruled out his nephew’s suspicion.

With the correct answer excluded, he couldn’t understand how the metal had gone missing.

Han Ling didn’t waste words. “The metal you lost was stolen by him. Put aside the family relationship and think carefully.”

The owner paused, recalling their earlier conversation in the warehouse, his expression thoughtful.

The other two employees moved slightly away from Zhao Kai when they heard this. Though surprised, they were not shocked; after spending so much time together, everyone’s character was clear.

Zhao Kai shuddered and shouted angrily, “It wasn’t me! How could it be me? I would never steal from my uncle! It must be her!”

As he spoke, he pointed at Sun Qing.

Sun Qing didn’t dare respond and stood there timidly.

The owner seemed to have figured it out, his expression growing complicated.

Han Ling ignored Zhao Kai’s denial and turned to the two employees. “Over the past year, has Zhao Kai ever asked you to help move scrap when he was loading it onto the truck?”

One employee replied, “No, we wanted to help at first, but he wouldn’t let us.”

Han Ling asked, “Do you know why he wouldn’t let you help?”

The employee hesitated.

Han Ling leaned toward Zhang Silei and whispered something in his ear. Zhang immediately turned and hurried back into the warehouse.

When he returned, he carried a plastic barrel and placed it before everyone.

The group leaned in to look and found it filled with old water faucets.

The faucets were small, so a dozen or so filled the barrel easily.

Along with bundles of copper wire, they could fit inside the barrel, and there were many other containers suitable for hiding items.

Over a year, small amounts added up; stealing goods worth five or six thousand yuan was no problem.

Zhao Kai grew more anxious.

“Zhao Kai, you secretly hid the metal in plastic containers and sold it yourself?” the owner asked calmly, without anger.

Zhao Kai kept denying, “I didn’t! They’re framing me, Uncle!”

When the method of the crime was no longer a secret, the owner was convinced it was his nephew. Seeing Zhao Kai still deny it, he snapped, “Don’t call me Uncle! Call me by my position at the station!”

Han Ling was speechless.

Zhu Yue was speechless.

“Unc—Boss, I really didn’t do it,” Zhao Kai obediently corrected himself. “The scrap station belongs to our family! How could I steal from our own place!”

The owner retorted, “The scrap station belongs to me, not you! Are you going to keep talking back?”

Arguing further was pointless. Han Ling said, “Zhao Kai, your channels to sell stolen goods are limited—it’s either the metal factory or other scrap stations. A simple check will reveal everything.

Also, road surveillance footage can be stored anywhere from one month to several years. We can check where you went after leaving the scrap station and if anything unusual happened. Don’t waste time denying it.”

Zhao Kai opened his mouth to argue but eventually gave up, his mental defenses collapsing as he lowered his head in silence.

Seeing him admit defeat, Han Ling and Zhang Silei stepped forward to take him back to the station.

Sensing the police approaching, Zhao Kai instinctively looked up, panicked, and stepped back. “Boss! I’m your nephew! Not a cousin, but a real nephew! I was wrong!”

The owner sighed deeply. It was just five or six thousand yuan, but sending his sister’s son to jail was something he couldn’t bear.

If the elder generation found out, even if Zhao Kai was at fault, he himself would be the one scolded.

They were family—there was no need to sever ties completely.

“Um, can I withdraw the complaint?” the owner suddenly asked, having made up his mind.

He didn’t care what the other employees thought; his nephew couldn’t go to jail.

Zhao Kai was overjoyed and relieved.

Han Ling also stopped and looked back at Zhu Yue, choosing to follow his colleague’s advice.

Zhu Yue said nothing, just nodded toward Han Ling, signaling him to decide how to proceed.

Seeing this, Han Ling withdrew his gaze. “Theft over five thousand yuan is a public prosecution case. We’ll take him back to the station first.”

Theft involving more than five thousand yuan falls under public prosecution. Whether to prosecute depends on various factors, including the plaintiff’s willingness to forgive.

The investigating officers don’t have the final say; their role is to investigate and collect evidence.

To put it plainly: whether you withdraw the case is none of my concern. I’ll arrest the suspect first. Later, you can apply to drop the charges at the station.

This isn’t child’s play; the process is complicated.

You can’t be the one who reports the crime and then also be the one to decide to release the suspect.

“What?” Zhao Kai was confused and backed away again. “My uncle isn’t prosecuting me? Why are you doing this?”

Han Ling took out handcuffs and warned, “This is the summons stage. If you refuse, we will take compulsory measures. Think carefully.”

Zhao Kai dared not move.