If this case was reported today, it means that until yesterday, the missing person had returned to his residence, that is, the pipe in front of him, so why was there no mud left.

Ye Shikai took out the confession of the informant, the missing person is a 60-year-old scavenger, and he also returned to this pipeline yesterday, because the living conditions are too simple, and the residents who live around often send some daily necessities or something, but today there is no one to be found, so someone called the police.

"It's weird, but in this environment, anything can happen, isn't it, as you just said, this pipe is at best a way to block the wind or something, and if it rains outside, there must be running water inside, isn't it? Zhang Ting retorted.

"It's possible. Ye Shikai put down the things in his hand, after all, these are just his reasoning, there is no basis, but this is also a helpless move, this is a suburb, there is no camera nearby, and no one even knows that there is still a person living in this abandoned pipe, no clue, can only rely on reasoning to guess, and then look for evidence to prove reasoning.

As they spoke, rain fell in the air again, and their clothes were quickly wet.

"Hey, let's go, it looks like it's raining a lot. Zhang Ting covered her hair with her hands to avoid getting wet from the falling rain.

"Wait a minute, we can experiment with this. Ye Shikai took out two umbrellas from the storage and handed one to Zhang Ting.

"What are you going to do? ”

"Yesterday's rain was about the same as it is now, so we can simulate what this pipe will look like when it rains. Ye Shikai explained.

"Look. ”

The neighborhood was full of mud, and the rain was not light, and the mud here turned into mud, and the two of them held umbrellas and carefully watched the entrance of the pipe.

The rainwater mixed with the mud and turned into mud, which flowed down the hillside, and the splashing rainwater soon formed a stagnant water, and just when the two of them thought that the water would flow into the pipe, the stagnant water and mud actually flowed down the stones at the entrance of the pipe, all of which flowed down, but the inside was unharmed.

It was only at this time that Ye Shikai realized that these stones at the door were deliberately placed like this, in order to drain and avoid water accumulation in the pipe, of course, there was still a part of the water flowing in, but it was only a small part, and it would definitely not wash away the mud footprints inside.

"This stone must have been put by the old man who was scavenging to prevent the pipes from accumulating. Speaking of which, Ye Shikai's guess just now was correct, how did the muddy footprints disappear there.

"Could it be, the old man wiped it off by himself. Zhang Ting asked rhetorically.

"How can a person who lives in a pipe be so particular, the only explanation is that someone doesn't want us to see these footprints, because ...... While kidnapping the old scavenger, the intruder also left footprints on his shoes, which must have been an important clue, so the intruder could wipe the footprints off when he left. Hearing Ye Shikai say this, Zhang Ting suddenly realized that everything seemed to make sense, if this was really the case, it must have been committed by a gang, and it was premeditated.

"There are more than 20 cases reported now, and if it is really a serial disappearance, then in other residences, the perpetrators must have cleaned up all traces. ”

"Okay, I'll have someone check it out right away. Zhang Ting said excitedly.

Jingle bells

At this time, Zhang Ting's mobile phone rang suddenly, Ye Shikai didn't care, he looked around, hoping to find some clues.

Ye Shikai can now be sure that the missing old man was kidnapped here, but he really doesn't know the motive of the criminal, who will kidnap a group of beggars and scavengers, ask for money or not, if it is said to do coolies, it may make sense, but most of these old people are sixty or seventy years old, where does the physical strength come from, if it is human trafficking, it doesn't make sense, who will abduct and sell the elderly.

"Oh no, no. Zhang Ting said loudly.

"What the hell is going on, what are you doing so excited. Ye Shikai asked rhetorically.

"I have just received information that there has been a fire in the shantytown, where the homes of several of the missing people are located. ”

"Fire, you're sure, the rain is about to turn waterlogged. Ye Shikai looked at this day, how could there be a fire in this weather.

"It hadn't rained yet, the fire was very big, the firefighters arrived, and the heavy rain had just been extinguished, and my colleague called me. Zhang Ting explained.

"Oh no, let's go and see. Ye Shikai faintly felt a little uneasy, this fire came too suddenly, and there were many doubts.

"Okay, let's go. ”

Two hours later.

"It's a damn traffic jam. Zhang Ting couldn't help but curse, it's the evening rush hour now, and the shantytown is too far away from their location, plus it's raining, which affects the speed of the car, so ...... Unfortunately, they were stuck in traffic.

"Okay, stop scolding, let's save some energy. Ye Shikai said lightly, this is also a helpless thing, Yanjing's traffic is like this, even if you don't encounter a big traffic jam, I'm afraid it will take an hour or two to arrive, the two of them will not be able to arrive at the scene for the time being, Ye Shikai leaned on the passenger seat, thinking carefully about these cases, since it is a serial disappearance, there must be a connection between them, but they may have ignored it.

"Do you want something to eat? Zhang Ting took a piece of bread from the back seat and handed it to him.

"Thank you. ”

"I think the fire must have been man-made. Zhang Ting said suddenly.

"I also have this hunch, maybe they left evidence, so they want to set a fire and burn it clean. Ye Shikai agreed, the shantytown itself is not strictly managed, if there is a fire, ordinary people will not think about arson.

"But now we can't get by, and depending on the road conditions, we may not be able to get there at night. ”

"Don't worry, I've asked my colleagues to protect the scene, I hope this fire hasn't burned any clues. ”

Two hours later.

"Sister Ting, you're too late. As soon as the two arrived at the scene, a policewoman hurriedly ran over.

"How's it going? ”

"It's not good, three of the disappearances we've investigated have people living in this area, but now they're in ashes. The policewoman pointed to the house behind her, which had been charred by the fire.

When Ye Shikai heard the news, he rushed directly into the scene, if his guess was not wrong, there should be clues in it, but I don't know if it was burned.