Closing the Net

The time quickly approached 6:30 PM.

Xu Mo, who had been somewhat carefree earlier, now became serious. He knew that the suspect would appear on Binjiang Bridge at this time, so he naturally focused his attention.

Just then, a middle-aged man with half-gray hair, prominent cheekbones and brow ridges, small eyes, and a somewhat triangular gaze walked onto the bridge.

During the short time the police officers had been stationed on the bridge, they hadn’t seen anyone suspicious. But now, the officers stationed at the bridgehead locked their gaze on this middle-aged man.

The officers assigned to this stakeout were all highly experienced. Their instincts were sharp, and they could instantly identify a hidden serial killer in a crowd just by their appearance and gaze.

Xu Mo’s "criminal radar" also kicked in at this moment, locking onto the middle-aged man from over a hundred meters away.

This was the murderer from the homicide case twenty-four years ago!

Before Xu Mo could speak, an officer reported through the wireless earpiece:

"Captain Han, Captain Xu, there’s a suspicious individual at the 3 o’clock direction near the bridgehead! He matches the appearance and gaze of a serial killer, and his age fits the profile. Should I move in and apprehend him now?"

"Hold on. It’s not convenient to arrest him at your position. Let him walk further onto the bridge, then we’ll surround him. It’ll be more secure. Also, describe the suspect’s features so the others can identify him," Han Fei instructed.

Xu Mo remained silent. Thanks to his "criminal radar," he was certain that the middle-aged man who had just stepped onto the bridge was the killer from all those years ago. Han Fei was right—acting rashly now might allow the man to escape. It was better to let him walk further onto the bridge before making the arrest, ensuring he had no chance to flee.

"Yes, sir! The man is around fifty years old, wearing black pants and a navy-blue short-sleeved shirt. He has a bit of a beer belly, half-gray hair, triangular eyes with long, narrow corners, and a cold gaze. His cheekbones and brow ridges are quite prominent..."

Hearing this description, the other officers were ready to spring into action at any moment.

Based on the description, the middle-aged man’s appearance bore striking similarities to the serial killers they had encountered before, and his age matched perfectly.

There was a high probability that this was the killer from the homicide case twenty years ago!

After stepping onto the bridge, the middle-aged man casually strolled toward the center, hands behind his back, looking as if he were out for a leisurely evening walk.

However, he didn’t get far before he sensed something was off.

The man lived nearby and had taken evening walks on the bridge for over twenty years. He knew every inch of the bridge like the back of his hand.

"Strange, why are there so many stalls on the bridge today?" he muttered to himself.

Though he found it odd, he didn’t connect the stalls to the police.

After all, so much time had passed since the incident that he had completely let his guard down. He wasn’t even afraid of the police anymore.

In his mind, even if the police had discovered the body hidden in the bridge’s support structure, they wouldn’t be able to trace it back to him after so many years.

If they hadn’t caught him twenty years ago, how could they possibly catch him now?

Could a manhunt spanning two decades really happen?

As he walked, the man reached the middle of the bridge.

Han Fei, stationed at a pancake stall, spotted him.

At first glance, relying on his sharp intuition and extensive experience, Han Fei reached the same conclusion as the officer who had first noticed the man.

This middle-aged man strolling on the bridge was very likely the killer from the case twenty years ago.

First, his age matched—he appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, fitting the profile of the killer.

Second, his facial features were textbook traits of a serial killer.

Of course, not everyone with such features was a killer, but his eyes told the story.

The man’s gaze was cold and menacing, sending a chill down anyone’s spine. It perfectly matched the profile of a murderer.

Seeing that the man had walked into the center of the police’s prearranged trap, and with Han Fei also convinced of his guilt, he didn’t hesitate to give the order to arrest him.

"Everyone, move in!"

In the next moment, the vendors selling rice rolls, small toys, ice jelly, candied haws, and even the fortune-tellers and beggars with their bowls all stood up and rushed toward the center of the bridge.

Bystanders passing by were stunned, unsure of what was happening.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Soon, the officers closest to the man had surrounded him.

"Don’t move! Hands on your head and get down!"

By now, the man realized these were undercover police officers, and their target was him.

Even as the officers closed in, he showed no signs of panic or any intention to run.

Instead, he grinned, revealing a twisted smile, and muttered to himself:

"No wonder there were so many stalls on the bridge today. They’re all cops. Makes sense now..."

The man didn’t run for two reasons. First, he was older and wouldn’t be able to outrun the young, strong officers. Second, he was surrounded on all sides, making escape nearly impossible.

The second reason was that he had no intention of running even if caught.

In fact, after committing the murder all those years ago, he had been waiting for the police to arrest him. But they never came.

"You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time," the man said with a smile, his tone laced with mockery and even a hint of anticipation.

"Enough talk," Han Fei said, pulling out handcuffs and stepping forward to restrain the man.

Seeing this, the bystanders who happened to be passing by realized that the vendors and beggars were all undercover officers, specially disguised to catch the man.

Though they didn’t know what crime the man had committed, the onlookers cheered:

"Good job!"