Chapter 143: No Leniency for Murder

Lin Dongxue curiously asked, “Why are you carrying a pillow?”

“For the investigation. Let’s go, it’s time to do the autopsy.” Chen Shi stood up and walked out.

They returned to the bureau and grabbed a quick bite nearby. Considering the case’s homicidal nature, Lin Dongxue immediately applied to open a case. Lin Qiupu once again let Lin Dongxue lead the task force, although the team was limited—just her, Xu Xiaodong, Xiao Li, Old Zhang, and Chen Shi.

Lin Dongxue held a brief meeting to outline the case details for the team.

“…So that’s the current situation. We don’t know why the victim was killed, but it’s likely the murderer is from within the hospital,” Lin Dongxue said.

Chen Shi added, “When we say ‘within the hospital,’ we mean those who were present in the hospital that night.”

Lin Dongxue felt this wasn’t a major case; understanding the hospital’s interpersonal relationships would likely reveal the motive.

Peng Sijue entered and said, “The autopsy is done. The time of death is confirmed as 4 a.m. yesterday. There are no signs of sexual assault; in fact, she was still a virgin. The direct cause of death was a blunt force trauma to the side of the skull. There’s a detail: the victim broke a fingernail on her left index finger. You should search the scene; there might be evidence left by the killer.”

Chen Shi said, “I have a pillow here. Can you test it using iodine fuming?”

“Is it related to the case?”

Chen Shi smiled mysteriously, “I’m not sure, but it might surprise you.”

Peng Sijue gave him a “you’re impossible” look and took the pillow. They all went to the lab where Peng Sijue placed the pillow in a sealed box, heated the reagent with an alcohol lamp, and allowed the iodine fumes to spread.

As the fumes dispersed, an image slowly appeared on the pillow—a human face, contorted in pain.

Lin Dongxue was shocked. “How did this happen?”

Chen Shi explained, “This pillow belonged to an elderly man who died last night. I noticed petechiae in his eyes and suspected he was suffocated. I asked the head nurse to switch out the pillow. Turns out I was right!”

The pillow had been pressed against the old man’s face, leaving oil residues on it.

Chen Shi said, “It might not be related to our case, but should we investigate?”

“Yes!” Lin Dongxue said. “We can’t let a murderer go unpunished.”

“What a coincidence. I’ve met the person involved. I’ll go find him. You guys can handle the hospital investigation.” Chen Shi took a photo of the pillow.

“I can guess what’s happening. The person will probably be in a hurry to cremate the body. You need to stop it; without the body, there’s no way to prove the crime,” Peng Sijue said.

“I’ll go right away. Send someone to help; I can’t handle a body alone.”

Chen Shi left with a forensic intern. He called Xue Chengyi, saying he needed to talk. Xue Chengyi replied, “Sorry, I’m at the crematorium now. My father is about to be cremated.”

Chen Shi said, “Mr. Xue, aren’t you rushing the funeral?”

“Many relatives came from out of town. We need to get it done quickly so they can return to work.”

“Wait, don’t cremate the body yet. I’ll be there soon.”

“I understand.”

Chen Shi, worried Xue wouldn’t comply, called the Long’an City Mortuary, instructing them to stop an elderly man’s cremation as the police needed the body.

He sped to the mortuary and saw a group of relatives crying in front of a coffin. The officiant emotionally said, “Although Mr. Xue has left us, his memory will forever remain in our hearts!”

Among the relatives were Xue Chengyi and his wife, deeply immersed in mourning. Chen Shi glared at them but could do nothing.

He waited until the ceremony ended. Xue Chengyi approached and said, “Sorry, the staff kept urging us, and with so many relatives waiting, we had no choice but to cremate my father.”

“You were in such a hurry?”

“Officer Chen, do you suspect me of something?” Xue Chengyi scrutinized Chen Shi’s expression.

Given the situation, Chen Shi had to find other evidence. He smiled, “No problem… Let me pay my respects.”

“Thank you very much.”

Chen Shi bowed before the coffin, receiving bows in return from the grieving relatives. He wondered if Xue Chengyi had acted alone or with his wife, and whether the siblings knew.

He had a bold suspicion: was there a connection between Xue Chengyi’s murder of his father and the nurse’s death? But how to prove it?

Xue Chengyi shook hands with Chen Shi and offered a cigarette. “Officer Chen, if you don’t mind, join us for a meal afterward.”

Chen Shi transferred 500 yuan to Xue Chengyi as a token of respect. “A small gesture.”

“I can’t accept that!” Xue Chengyi tried to return the money.

Chen Shi stopped him, “If you don’t accept, I won’t go. Take it.”

“Thank you. Are you driving? Will you ride the bus with us or drive yourself?”

“I’ll take the bus.”

“Alright. I have other relatives to attend to. Excuse me.”

“Don’t worry about me.” Chen Shi smiled and waved as Xue Chengyi walked away. He exchanged a few words with his wife, who glanced warily at Chen Shi. He waved at her, and she forced a smile.

Chen Shi turned to the forensic intern. “Sorry for making you come all this way. Do you want to join the meal or head back?”

“The meal requires a gift, right? I can’t afford that.”

“Then take my car back and tell Captain Peng that the body was cremated. I’ll gather more evidence.”

“Take care, Brother Chen.” The intern left with the car keys.

Forced to attend the funeral, Chen Shi remained composed, greeting people and soon engaging in conversation with Xue Chengyi’s siblings. He learned that their father had esophageal cancer in its advanced stages and had only a few months to live according to the doctors.

The elderly man was in his eighties, making it a natural death, so the relatives weren’t overly grief-stricken.

As for Xue Chengyi’s financial situation, his brother said that Xue’s clothing business was thriving. He owned three houses and often helped his siblings. He had covered all the medical expenses for their father.

Later, they boarded a bus to the restaurant. On the way, Chen Shi checked the task force’s progress on WeChat.

They had spent the afternoon searching the grass and the room where the victim fell and found the broken fingernail with some blood on it. It was sent for testing to determine if it belonged to the victim or someone else.

The more Lin Dongxue investigated, the more suspicious Dr. Gao became. He was brought in for questioning under the guise of cooperation with the investigation.