54: Returning to the beautiful home, it is still there

Outside the window, in the distance was the Branch Bureau's office building, with a large open space in between, along with some flowers and plants.

A higher-level agency would have much better infrastructure; this was something the Police Station couldn't compare to.

"Ye Lin, you're really amazing! You actually thought he would sneak in and commit the act, even Team Leader Yu didn't think of that," Sun Jinghua said admiringly, applying a layer of facial cleanser to himself.

"I was just guessing, maybe because I lack experience, so my thoughts are simpler," Ye Lin explained.

Sometimes, those involved are too close to see clearly.

"That's not how it works. Why couldn't we think of it? You still have a knack for it. Team Leader Yu said that for Criminal Investigation Brigade work, sometimes you need to seize that fleeting spark of inspiration."

"Ye Lin, I think you're exactly the kind of person Team Leader Yu was talking about, someone with a knack for it."

Sun Jinghua chattered on and on, making Ye Lin feel a bit embarrassed.

However, Team Leader Yu was right; sometimes solving a case relies on that little bit of inspiration, a small detail. Teachers had lectured on many such cases back in school.

Sun Jinghua was still talking incessantly, and Ye Lin, feeling embarrassed, could only turn his head to look out the window.

On the wall outside the window, there were also two drainpipes, held in place by a clamp.

A clamp?

Ye Lin gestured with his hand; it was wide enough. Standing on one foot would be no problem at all.

There was another clamp about two meters below, and one two meters above.

That meant the distance between these clamps was approximately two meters.

Why hadn't he seen any clamps when he was at Wu Shuangyuan's house earlier?

Ye Lin leaned out, seeing another row of drainpipes in the distance. He activated his Night Vision skill, and immediately everything became crystal clear.

The clamps on that row of drainpipes were at different heights than these; it seemed to be random.

Sun Jinghua, despite his young age, was quite a chatterbox. Ye Lin had stopped talking, but he kept going.

"Team Leader Yu also said that sometimes the inspiration for solving a case is very subtle, it could be a button, a screw, a flower, or even a smell."

"In short, anything is possible. But you must have that knack to grasp it, otherwise, even if you see it, you'll overlook it."

"Don't you agree?"

"Mhm, mhm," Ye Lin replied casually, continuing to wash his face.

Suddenly, he stopped. Something seemed to be emerging in his mind.

Knack?

Smell?

Ye Lin's heart sank. The smell he had noticed in the maid's room at Wu Shuangyuan's house—he finally remembered it. It wasn't the scent of flowers or plants; it was Ti Cai's smell.

He had caught a faint whiff of it earlier at the bar. It must be a natural scent from certain plants or foods in the Golden Triangle region. Ti Cai likely had prolonged exposure, which is why he carried this distinctive odor.

But how did that smell get into the maid's room?

Had Ti Cai been there?

Or was Ti Cai still hiding there?

Wait a minute?

Ye Lin suddenly thought of a problem: all the vacant rooms in Wu Shuangyuan's house had their doors and windows closed, yet only the maid's room had an open window.

Was it just a coincidence to enjoy the scent of flowers? Or was it because Ti Cai left through here?

Or?

Wu Shuangyuan only revealed it at the last moment; Ti Cai didn't have time to leave at all?

Ye Lin closed his eyes, recalling the daytime scene: outside the window, flowers and plants, a thick drainpipe. Just as he was about to look out, Wang Longxin had called out.

That's not right!

What if Ti Cai was standing on the drainpipe outside at that moment?

Ye Lin shivered violently, a chill running down his spine.

If it was truly as he suspected, then the Criminal Investigation Brigade would be utterly disgraced.

Moreover, there were two auxiliary police officers at the scene, and Ti Cai had a gun. If he was really still in the villa and encountered them, it would be life-threatening.

He quickly wiped his face twice, grabbed Sun Jinghua, and rushed out towards the room.

Sun Jinghua was still bewildered, "What's wrong? I haven't finished washing yet?"

Ye Lin took a deep breath, calming himself down, and said with a serious expression, "I suspect Ti Cai might still be in the villa. I'm going to check first. You call Team Leader Yu. I'm leaving now; we'll keep in touch by phone."

Ye Lin put on his casual clothes, grabbed his life-saving Type 92 pistol, and rushed out.

"What do you mean?" Ye Lin's actions were too fast; he didn't react immediately.

"Still in the villa?"

"Damn it! No way." Sun Jinghua cried out in alarm. If he was really still hiding in the villa, then things would be a big mess.

He frantically pulled out his phone and called Yu Haifeng. After a busy tone, Yu Haifeng still didn't answer.

He was a bit anxious. Never mind, he decided to rush to the villa himself first.

By the time Ye Lin arrived at Jinxiu Garden, it was already past 8 PM, when the streetlights were just beginning to illuminate the night.

The security guard at the gate immediately recognized him—the police officer who had come during the day.

"Have you seen our two colleagues?" Ye Lin asked.

"Yes, they're guarding at the Wu family villa. I saw them when I patrolled at 7 o'clock."

"7 o'clock?" Ye Lin checked the clock. More than an hour had passed. He didn't know what the situation was like.

"I'm going to check now. You don't need to follow," Ye Lin instructed. He only had one gun and was alone. If too many people came and his guess was right, he wouldn't be able to protect so many.

It was already dark. Ye Lin tried to walk outside the streetlights, not appearing in their glow.

A single light was still on in front of Wu Shuangyuan's villa, but there was no one under it.

Ye Lin's heart tightened. He hadn't seen any trace of the two auxiliary police officers. Had something really happened?

He crept forward, bent at the waist.

Suddenly, two muffled thuds came from inside the villa.

Ye Lin's pupils contracted sharply. This was a suppressor; it was the sound of a gun with a suppressor.

Damn it, something's happened!

Ye Lin stopped concealing himself, immediately activated Night Vision, pulled out his pistol, kicked open the door, and charged in.

He shouted, "Stop!"

In the darkness, a figure stood on the second-floor staircase, pointing a gun at the floor.

Startled by Ye Lin's roar, the figure turned around. It was Ti Cai.

"Ti Cai, you're still here after all!" Ye Lin roared.

"Bang! Bang!" Two gunshots rang out.

Ye Lin fired directly. Against a true desperado like Ti Cai, there was no room for hesitation.

Ti Cai had originally intended to fire two more shots, but startled by Ye Lin, he cursed his bad luck under his breath, and with a swift movement, he darted into the maid's room.

Ye Lin's two shots hit the wall beside the door, kicking up a cloud of white dust.

Watching Ti Cai's figure disappear into the maid's room, Ye Lin leaned against the stairs, cautiously making his way up, bent at the waist.

On the stairs, two auxiliary police officers lay sprawled, already unconscious.

Both had been shot, and blood was continuously flowing from their wounds, forming a small pool on the stairs.

"You bastard, Ti Cai!" Ye Lin's eyes instantly turned red.

He leaped over the two men and immediately followed into the maid's room. The window was still wide open.