Chapter 141: The Death of the Young Nurse
Before the year-end, the police station had a mountain of cases to handle. Chen Shi spent almost all day helping out at the team. Though he enjoyed this lifestyle, he often expressed a desire to return to driving a taxi.
If they found out he actually enjoyed it, he might slowly become a full-time criminal investigation consultant.
One day, after a case was closed, Chen Shi suggested going out for hot pot to relax. Just as he and Lin Dongxue were leaving the bureau, a dispatcher ran over and said, “Officer Lin, do you have a moment?”
“Yes, what’s up?”
“We just received a report that a nurse at Zhongshan Hospital was found dead. It appears to be a suicide by jumping. Can you go check it out?”
“Sure, I’ll go now.” Lin Dongxue said to Chen Shi, “Let’s handle this first, then eat.”
“We probably won’t have time to eat after this,” Chen Shi said.
They got into the car, followed by another police car with three forensic experts, and headed to Zhongshan Hospital. A crowd of onlookers, mostly patients, had gathered under the inpatient building. Chen Shi said, “Please make way, police coming through!” and parted the crowd to get inside.
On the ground lay a woman in a nurse’s uniform, face down. Her exposed skin was pale in the cold air. Her arms were spread apart, her left leg extended, and her right leg twisted upward in a strange position.
A doctor and a nurse were squatting beside the body. The nurse’s eyes were red, holding a handkerchief. The doctor said, “Sorry, we just wanted to check if there was any chance to save her, so we examined her. We didn’t mean to disturb the body.”
Lin Dongxue said, “We understand… Do you know the deceased?”
The doctor was about to speak, but the nurse interrupted, “She’s my colleague, Du Ting. I spoke to her last night, and now she’s gone.” She wiped her tears.
Seeing that the crowd was too large, Chen Shi asked everyone to step back. He instructed the forensic team to take photos and move the body to a hospital room. The doctor found a white sheet and a stretcher. The forensic team carefully inspected the ground for any overlooked evidence while moving the body.
Lin Dongxue recorded the information of the person who found the body. It was a patient who discovered her during a morning walk and reported it.
The doctor was named Gao Ming, and the nurse was Han Zhaodi, the head nurse.
Han Zhaodi explained that Du Ting was on duty last night. The last time she saw her was at the nurse’s station during her night rounds at 4 a.m. Around 5 a.m., Du Ting texted a colleague saying she felt dizzy and was leaving early. She was found dead at 10 a.m. under the building.
Lin Dongxue noticed Gao Ming’s evasive eyes, which seemed guilty.
She asked Han Zhaodi for the names of the nurses on duty with Du Ting and said, “You two can go back to work. We’ll handle this. If we have questions, we’ll find you.”
Gao Ming said, “Okay, I’ll be in cardiology this morning.”
The crowd gradually dispersed. Just as Lin Dongxue was about to leave, she saw Chen Shi returning with a camera. “Wait a moment,” he said.
He raised the camera, adjusting the lens while looking up at the windows. “Which floors did the deceased patrol?” he asked.
“The fifth, sixth, and seventh floors. They’re all patient rooms.”
“The window frame on the seventh floor seems to have dust wiped off, and there are some scratch marks on the wall. Take a look.”
Chen Shi handed her the camera. Using the zoom lens, Lin Dongxue could indeed see the marks. She put down the camera and said, “You suspect it’s a murder?”
“Not sure. Let’s go check it out!”
They went to the room from where the deceased fell. It was empty and the window was open, making the room chilly. Chen Shi held Lin Dongxue back, pointing to the floor. “There might be footprints. Let’s have the forensic team check.”
They walked around the sides to the window. It was usually locked to prevent accidents, but the dust indicated it had been opened.
Chen Shi asked Lin Dongxue to continue gathering information while he examined the body.
Lin Dongxue went to the nurse’s station, where Du Ting’s death had caused a stir. The nurses said Du Ting was usually quiet and rarely had conflicts with anyone, making it unlikely she was killed over a grudge.
Regarding the possibility of suicide, a nurse close to Du Ting said that she had recently confessed to a doctor but was rejected. She had been upset for a few days, but it seemed unlikely she’d commit suicide over it.
“Which doctor did she confess to?” Lin Dongxue asked.
“Dr. Gao in cardiology.”
“Who can open the windows in the rooms?”
“We all have keys. The locks on all the room windows are the same, but we rarely open them.”
“Thanks for your help!”
The nurse followed Lin Dongxue, whispering, “Officer, I have another clue. Last night, I saw Dr. Gao and Du Ting alone in his office. I heard Du Ting crying.”
“What time was that?”
“Around four in the morning.”
Lin Dongxue went to cardiology to find Dr. Gao Ming and asked, “What was your relationship with the deceased?”
“Just colleagues,” Dr. Gao said.
“Someone said she confessed to you a few days ago and was rejected. Is that true?”
Dr. Gao smiled awkwardly, “I thought she was joking, so I casually turned her down. Besides, I didn’t have feelings for her. We’re all adults; a little rejection wouldn’t lead to suicide, right?”
“Where were you after midnight last night?”
“You suspect me? I was at home!”
“But hospital records show there was an emergency surgery last night. You came to the hospital at ten and stayed until four. Someone saw you alone with Du Ting in your office.”
Dr. Gao broke into a cold sweat, “I was just discussing work with her. That’s normal.”
“Then why did you lie about not being at the hospital?”
Dr. Gao became more nervous, “This is a murder case. I didn’t want to be involved. It’s human nature. You understand, right?”
“Understanding doesn’t mean approval. I hope you tell the truth so we can clear the deceased’s name.”
Dr. Gao looked even more uneasy at the word “clear.” Lin Dongxue knew she wouldn’t get more from him now, so she said, “We’ll be in touch,” and left.
Lin Dongxue looked around the hallway, noting there were no surveillance cameras.
Chen Shi called her over. Lin Dongxue went to the temporary morgue where the body lay on a bed. The blood on her face had been wiped away, revealing bruises and wounds. She was a pretty young nurse, likely under twenty.
“Any findings?” Chen Shi asked.
“There’s a suspicious doctor I’m investigating… What about you?”
Chen Shi looked at the body. “There’s a blow to the side of her head, hidden in her hair. If she was conscious when she fell, she’d have defensive injuries on her legs and arms. But her injuries are evenly distributed, meaning she was unconscious when she fell. All signs point to murder!”