My chat group members are all legendary criminals.

Chapter 18 The Resurrected Corpse

Lu Yiming's heart skipped a beat, realizing he had discovered a serious problem.

He controlled his emotions, squatted down, and softly asked Talia, "What did your mother give you? Can we see it?"

The little girl shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"No, no, Mom said I can't show it to Dad. I have to keep it hidden until I grow up."

Lu Yiming thought for a moment: "But we're not your father. So showing us doesn't count as disobedience, right?"

Talia blinked her big eyes, her little face showing a look of sudden realization.

So that's how it is!

She nodded, "Okay then!" and turned to run to get her things.

Mia scoffed from the side, "You scumbag, you even lie to little girls."

What kind of talk is this? This is called a well-intentioned deception for the sake of justice.

Talia quickly ran back carrying a rusty little tin box.

"Officer Lu, this is it!"

Lu Yiming took the tin box and opened it.

Inside was indeed a jumbled stack of banknotes, with varying denominations and a considerable number of cents.

He counted it; it totaled $324.23.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he realized a terrible truth.

Talia looks only five or six years old. Under what circumstances would a mother give such a young child so much cash?

And she was warned not to let that beastly father find out.

The answer is obvious.

She knew she wouldn't be coming back.

This deduction sent chills down his spine, meaning that Elsa was very likely not kidnapped.

Or perhaps she deliberately allowed herself to be kidnapped.

What is the purpose of doing this?

A word flashed through Lu Yiming's mind:

Martyrdom!

I initially thought Elsa wasn't a cult member, but now it seems that, although there's no concrete evidence, her behavior fits the bill.

He looked at the crumpled coins in the tin box.

This may be all the savings Elsa has left.

He couldn't resist and pulled out three more Franklins, stuffing them into the tin box.

"Hide it well. Don't show it to anyone, not even your father."

Talia nodded vigorously, then ran back to her room with the metal box in her arms.

……

When Lu Yiming and Mia left Elsa's house, Cohen, contrary to his usual self, saw them off to the door with a big smile.

He kept waving and shouting, "Officer, wait! I have news of Elsa, I'll call the police!"

They were so enthusiastic, as if the two of them were guests who had come to visit.

Mia asked, puzzled, "Why is he suddenly being so enthusiastic?"

Lu Yiming didn't even turn his head: "This isn't something I'm saying to us, it's something I'm shouting to the neighbors and the gangsters."

"He's telling everyone that I, Cohen, am fine, and that the pig is just looking for my missing wife."

"Otherwise, the gang will cause him trouble."

Mia was somewhat surprised: "How do you know all this?"

Lu Yiming curled his lip.

How could you old men sitting in air-conditioned offices understand the hardships of us patrol officers and auxiliary police?

Seeing that Lu Yiming did not answer, Mia changed the subject:

"If you feel sorry for that girl, you can apply to child protection agencies to have her father's guardianship revoked."

Lu Yiming shook his head and said, "If we take it away, Talia will be sent to an orphanage. She's only six years old, and there..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence.

If you get bullied in an orphanage, won't you be safe if you stay in this home?

He simply shook his head. He was powerless.

Those are things that superheroes who save themselves should consider, but he just wants to live well for himself.

Mia glanced at him but didn't say anything more.

After getting in the car, Mia quickly asked, "How did it go? Did you find anything?"

Lu Yiming thought for a moment and said, "I noticed that you didn't get angry when I called you Mia earlier. Does that mean we're friends now?"

Mia punched him without hesitation.

Lu Yiming clutched his stomach, grimacing as he laid out his entire deduction.

Mia's eyes widened: "How did you see so much? How come I didn't notice?"

"Because you're stupid..."

"Hey hey hey! Stop, stop, stop!"

Mia waved her hand dismissively: "So, what's next, Detective Lu?"

Lu Yiming rubbed his head: "We're not that close yet, let's call each other by our full names..."

Seeing Mia raise her fist again, he smoothly changed the subject:

"Okay, Officer Rockefeller, we're off to the hospital. I need to check on the third survivor and also get the leads back to the boss."

……

Thirty minutes later, the police car arrived at St. Mary's Hospital.

There was no other way; this was the best hospital in Fremont, and only they could handle the job of snatching people from the jaws of death.

The surgery had just ended when the third survivor was wheeled out.

Her limbs had been amputated, and she was wearing an oxygen mask.

The mist on her mask proved that she was still alive.

"The patient is still in critical condition and needs to be observed in the ICU," the surgeon said as he came out.

The homicide squad officers, who were packed in the corridor, all breathed a sigh of relief.

Marcus leaned against the wall, finally relieving the pressure he had been under for days.

Thank you so much.

"You're welcome."

The doctor said seriously, "If someone hadn't performed a cricothyrotomy on the spot, she wouldn't have made it to the hospital. I'm surprised your police station has such a capable person."

As soon as he finished speaking, all the officers turned their attention to Lu Yiming, who had just arrived.

This kid is really something. Seeing him perform like this makes me feel more and more like a useless person.

Not only can they solve cases, but they can also quickly identify the culprit and provide first aid?

Lu Yiming felt uneasy under Mia's gaze and instinctively hid behind her.

Marcus laughed heartily and walked over, putting his arm around his shoulder:

"Oh my, my little darling! Looks like you're getting along well with your old classmate!"

"Who's on good terms with him!"

"Who's on good terms with her!"

After shouting in unison, the two glared at each other fiercely.

Why are you copying me!

Why are you copying me!

Marcus pursed his lips. Those two must be up to something at school.

He waved his hand and got down to business: "Let's get down to business. What did you find from today's investigation?"

Lu Yiming revealed the entire situation of Elsa's family and his deductions.

This includes the possibility that Elsa was the first victim, and that the killer's motive may be related to the Lazarus cult's human creation rituals.

Marcus was stunned.

The case has already made such a big breakthrough in just half a day since they were transferred here?

Not only did they discover the victim's identity, but they were also able to deduce the killer's motives.

He immediately made a call to have all the bodies verified and to check for ouroboros cross tattoos.

"Your deduction is highly likely."

Marcus said meaningfully, "I have to ask the director about this. I don't have the final say on cults."

Lu Yiming continued, "Boss, I want to see the limbs that were cut off from the third person."

Marcus immediately stepped aside to make way, as if to say:

Sir, please come inside.

"Mia, you come along and see if there's anything you can do to help."

Mia was taken aback. Why is it me again?

She had originally planned to visit her best friend Chen Ruoyan while she was at the hospital.

But an order is an order. She had no choice but to follow.

……

As soon as she entered the operating room, she saw Lu Yiming drooling over his arm...