Chapter 14

A large-scale fire, a major criminal case endangering public safety, was the last thing any Forensic Technician wanted to deal with. As the second wave after the fire department, their role was the most critical for grasping the overall picture.

In her mind, Lu Shimiao rapidly sorted the tasks requiring immediate execution.

First: She needed to determine the cordon range for the scene as fast as possible and shut down traffic.

Second: She needed to enter the fire scene with the fire department to conduct an investigation. This would determine the criminal nature of the incident and whether to formally file it. Once classified as a major case, she would need to immediately apply to establish a Serious Crime Unit.

Third: She needed to quickly mobilize more investigative personnel to arrange the forensic work.

Damn.

Another damn day.

“Captain Xing, have the fire investigators gone in yet?” Lu Shimiao began localized observations.

“They’re already searching for the fire’s origin point,” Xing Qing replied. “Approximately ten minutes.”

Lu Shimiao glanced at her watch. The time was 9:40 AM.

She pulled the investigation record form from her pocket and quickly integrated all known clues.

The fire had broken out forty minutes ago, during the mall employees’ work hours. The top floor was the food court. The back kitchens wouldn’t be operational at this hour, making an accidental fire highly unlikely.

The first-floor lobby had suffered massive disruption. The second floor had a smaller burn area. The mall’s main exterior structure was surrounded by streets on three sides, and traffic at two intersections was already jammed.

“Brother Chen, have you sealed off the east side employee entrance?” Lu Shimiao used her walkie-talkie to contact the community police officer from that precinct.

“It’s sealed. Do we need to expand the perimeter?” Brother Chen replied over the radio.

“What buildings are behind it?” Lu Shimiao continued observing the two main streets at the front.

“A waste disposal area and a semi-open parking lot,” the officer responded.

Lu Shimiao thought for two seconds, then raised the walkie-talkie. “Seal the waste area. Extend the cordon line five meters out.”

“Has Video Surveillance arrived on scene?” Lu Shimiao called again on the general channel.

“We’re here. Footage is being pulled now. Will report back if we find anything,” a colleague from Video Surveillance responded promptly.

“Forensics? Has the Forensic Doctor arrived?” she called out again.

“About fifteen minutes out,” the dispatch room answered.

“Seal the front entrance for ten meters. The side entrance just needs to be blocked. Map it out.” Lu Shimiao quickly assessed using the map on her phone and finally established the first perimeter cordon.

The first step was smoothly completed, but for Lu Shimiao, the pressure was only just beginning.

A fire scene was an incredibly complex investigation.

Broken bricks and shattered tiles were already burned; chaotic footprints from fleeing crowds; debris left from rescue efforts—the original, pristine scene could no longer be confirmed.

With the scene’s traces already compromised, the possibility of quick evidence collection was virtually zero.

Lu Shimiao gazed at the enormous mall. The ashes were like fragments of a shattered jigsaw puzzle. She would have to piece it together, bit by bit, just to get a general direction for her thoughts.

Archaeology would be about this difficult.

“Wait for me here.” Lu Shimiao couldn’t afford to waste any time. She spoke to Xue Tong while pulling on her crime scene suit.

As a cross-border exchange officer, regulations prohibited Xue Tong from participating in the investigation.

She could only stand to the side, steadying Lu Shimiao as she put on shoe covers, repeating a constant reminder: “Wear three layers of gloves.”

Lu Shimiao wanted to refuse. Wearing a single crime scene suit in the summer heat was torture enough. Three layers of gloves would be asking her to die. She remained silent, not answering.

“Be good.” Xue Tong’s voice was cool.

Lu Shimiao pulled one pair of gloves from the box and stuffed it into her pocket. “I’ll put them on once inside.”

“I estimate this case is going to be upgraded to a serious crime classification. Don’t wait around here. The sun’s too harsh. It’s got to be forty degrees today. There’s a little food stall near the station that sells Shanghai-style mung bean soup. Have you tried it? It’s got little mint leaves and is quite sweet.” Fully suited up, Lu Shimiao crouched on the ground, checking her equipment.

“Remember to eat lunch. If I’m not back at the station by evening, just take the car. Take the elevated highway, not the surface roads. The car keys are on my office desk. If you can’t find them, get someone in the office to help.” Lu Shimiao kept talking without pause.

Xue Tong listened, her expression frozen.

She was happy, yet her heart ached.

She was happy every word from Lu Shimiao’s mouth concerned her, but she also ached, seeing Lu Shimiao’s anxiety disorder flare up precisely at this moment…

Xue Tong had always thought Lu Shimiao’s condition had gotten better.

“It’s okay.”

Xue Tong grasped Lu Shimiao’s arm, crouching down to her level. She reached out, touching the blue protective head cover, her voice soft and soothing.

“You’ve already done more than enough. The cordon went up fast. Now you just need to go in, investigate clearly, and identify the main structural points. That’s all.”

Lu Shimiao managed a smile in response.

“None of this is your fault. You just need to focus on clearly reconstructing the incident.” Every word from Xue Tong was enunciated with clarity.

“Okay.” Lu Shimiao lowered her gaze, gripped her forensic kit tighter, and stood up.

“Ventilation ducts and fire safety equipment are your key investigation points. Don’t waste time on trace evidence; your judgment there won’t be as helpful. The most likely point of origin is the room on the third floor, right-hand side.” Xue Tong pointed to the building’s exterior; the area on the right had the largest area of scorching and blackening.

“Don’t just rely on the fire investigators’ words for the point of origin. Use your own experience and judgment. Once inside, first find the focal points of the fire’s path. The likelihood of an artificial cause is relatively high.”

Xue Tong patiently offered professional advice. After all, she was a renowned forensic expert in police circles.

She reached out and adjusted the kid’s goggles. “The three layers of gloves are to protect yourself. There are too many charred wood splinters at a fire scene. Don’t get hurt, understand?”

Then she fixed her eyes on Lu Shimiao’s glasses. “I’ll be right here waiting for you to come out.”

Lu Shimiao took a deep breath.

She desperately wanted to burrow into Xue Tong’s arms, bury her face against the woman’s chest, and cling to her like she used to.

“If you get thirsty, you must remember to come out for water. Don’t hold it in just to save time,” Xue Tong couldn’t help but add another instruction.

“Okay.” Lu Shimiao turned away, reluctantly.

“Entering the scene.” She pulled her warrant card from her forensic kit and, standing outside the cordon line, addressed the public:

“Forensic Officers of the Shanghai Criminal Investigation Technical Division are hereby authorized to investigate this fire scene. This is our 《Scene Investigation and Examination Warrant》. We ask everyone present to sign as witnesses on the official record.”

Lu Shimiao swiftly completed the procedure. A large team of technical officers started moving toward the scene.

Inside, it was absolute chaos. Outside, it was equally frantic.

Leaders from the City Public Security Bureau, the Municipal Committee, and TV reporters all stood outside the cordon, waiting for Lu Shimiao to emerge.

Especially Xue Tong.

She stood rooted to the spot, watching the kid’s retreating figure, her thoughts spiraling. Finally, she pulled out her phone and made a call in Cantonese.

“Hi, Julie. I wanted to ask about the psychological consultation for Police Cadet number 10231 from four years ago. It seems her current condition hasn’t shown any improvement at all…”