The beginning is always the hardest part.
But for any criminal case, the period immediately following the crime is often the most critical.
Especially for a crime of passion.
The suspect's mind is in chaos after the murder. They need time to calm down.
Once calm, the suspect starts thinking about what they did wrong, what evidence they might have left behind, and how to cover their tracks.
They'll also figure out how to hide and how to handle police questioning.
Or even just run for it.
All of these actions make the case harder to solve.
So, defining the nature of the case from the start is very important.
Was it a home invasion robbery, a random killing, a revenge killing, or a crime of passion?
Each possibility requires a different investigative focus.
This is where an experienced leader is needed to make the call, to consolidate the limited manpower and resources, and to focus them like a fist striking a single point.
That was exactly what Zhang Hancheng was doing now.
