Chapter 156: Alzheimer’s Disease

The so-called “Python Bag” is actually a new men’s shoulder bag from LV, except for the English logo on it, it looks almost identical to a python skin bag.

Fashion, sometimes, is quite puzzling.

Chen Shi naturally didn’t make a fuss; otherwise, the scavenger wouldn’t have agreed to give him a hundred bucks. He didn’t care much about the bag’s value, but Chen Shi noticed a few inconspicuous stains on the bottom of the bag that looked like blood.

Chen Shi folded the bag and asked, “What did the dog look like to you at first sight?”

“Like it was strangled, tongue sticking out… Oh right, I also have a collar here, I’ll give it to you.”

“Thanks.”

Chen Shi and Peng Yue prepared to leave when the scavenger suddenly said, “Wait, why am I only getting two hundred bucks for providing a lead? On TV, police offer rewards in the thousands. Aren’t you making a profit?”

Chen Shi chuckled. “You can check online; the police haven’t issued a reward yet. Besides, if you had seen what the person looked like, this clue would be worth tens of thousands. But with just this bit of information, it’s worth two hundred bucks.”

The scavenger slapped his thigh in frustration. “I should have taken a good look at what he looked like!”

The two said their goodbyes. Chen Shi handed the “Python Bag” to Peng Yue and said, “There are bloodstains on it; we can have it tested.”

Peng Yue took it and inspected it. “It might just be dog blood. We’ll see.”

The technicians had arrived and started a thorough search of the house, sealing up pieces of evidence one by one. Chen Shi received a call; a woman on the phone said, “Officer, I have information to provide.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m still at work. Could you come to the hotel? Call me when you arrive.”

Chen Shi hung up and smiled at Peng Yue. “Offer a reward, and traitors will appear. I’ll go see.”

Peng Yue nodded. “I’ll stay here to gather evidence.”

Chen Shi asked Tao Yuanyuan to accompany him.

Meanwhile, in the city bureau’s interrogation room, Lin Dongxue was “chatting” with Lu Qixing. Lu Qixing impatiently said, “Stop beating around the bush. What does my son’s death have to do with that wild chicken you caught? Why are you asking me about that night?”

“On the night of February 2nd, your son was murdered. Don’t you want to solve it?”

“I do! I dream about it!”

“Then tell me, on that night, why did you argue with Lu Zhendong?”

“This has nothing to do with his death!” Lu Qixing was a bit annoyed. “I won’t tell you anymore. My lawyer will be here soon.” He glanced at his sleeve again.

Lin Dongxue noticed this detail. He always looked at his sleeve when speaking; if you reached out to see what was on his sleeve, he would definitely be annoyed.

Lin Dongxue thought for a moment, how would Chen Shi handle this?

“Do you want a smoke?”

“Give me a soft Zhonghua.”

Lin Dongxue went to Lin Qiupu’s office for cigarettes and a lighter, came back, and lit a cigarette for Lu Qixing. When Lu Qixing reached out, she clearly saw some words on his sleeve—

“2.2, quarrel with Zhendong”, “2.3, Xu’s contract”, “2.4, find the dog”…

Those words were incomprehensible to outsiders, seeming to be notes for himself. Chen Shi’s guess was right; Lu Qixing had Alzheimer’s disease, and there were probably things he didn’t remember.

“When did your Alzheimer’s disease start?” Lin Dongxue asked.

Lu Qixing’s hand trembled, staring at Lin Dongxue. “Don’t talk nonsense. How can I manage such a big company if I have Alzheimer’s?”

“Then why do you write on your sleeve?”

“That’s none of your business!” Lu Qixing stubbornly said.

The internal phone rang; Lu Qixing’s private lawyer had arrived. Lin Qiupu ordered her not to ask any more questions.

Knowing she had no chance to ask further, Lin Dongxue was anxious and banged the table. “So, you actually know who killed Zhendong, but can’t remember it?” Lin Qiupu and a man came in together. Lin Qiupu ordered, “Stop asking. Mr. Lu’s lawyer is here.”

Lu Qixing was furious. “His death has nothing to do with me. It’s Sun…”

“Mr. Lu!” The lawyer interrupted loudly. “Don’t say any more. Your company has entrusted me with full authority over your case.”

“Who are you?” Lu Qixing asked menacingly.

“I’m your lawyer.”

Lin Qiupu pulled Lin Dongxue out and quietly scolded her, “Are you trying to get us into trouble?”

“The old man clearly knows the clues, but refuses to say anything.”

“Procedure! Investigation must follow procedure and law, otherwise what are we police upholding?”

“He just said the person who killed his son is surnamed Sun. Did you hear that?”

“That’s enough. Stop talking. Write a self-criticism for tomorrow!”

“I won’t!”

Lin Dongxue decisively refused. “You’re not in this special task force. You have no authority over me.”

The lawyer led Lu Qixing out. “The policeman just now is suspected of illegal detention and interrogation, but Mr. Lu is generous. We reserve the right to sue.”

Lin Qiupu was sweating. “I’ll educate her.”

“Very well. I hope there won’t be a next time… I’m going to handle bail procedures for Mr. Lu’s consumption and purchase of protected wildlife. Please show me the way.”

Lin Dongxue left angrily, preparing to find Chen Shi. It was already evening, and unexpectedly, Chen Shi had returned on his own.

He smiled, “Miss Lin, who upset you?”

“That old man is too slippery; he wouldn’t say anything.”

“He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the beginning of this year. I’ve confirmed this with one of his subordinates. Also, I found out that on the evening of February 2nd, father and son did have a quarrel. It seems the old man even hit Zhendong with a plate.”

“Why did they quarrel?”

“The witness wasn’t clear; the door was closed at the time, and everyone else was outside. But she mentioned hearing words like ‘Weibo’, ‘Jia Xingyun’, ‘that money’, etc., during the argument.”

Lin Dongxue raised her eyebrows. “Related to Jia Xingyun?”

“Don’t you have any discoveries on your end?”

“Not exactly. The old man mentioned a person; he suspects this person killed Zhendong. I only know his surname is Sun.”

“Sun Shenyu? Lu Zhendong’s secretary and personal assistant! He mentioned this morning that he’s already disappeared. I sent someone to investigate, but this person’s whereabouts are currently unknown.”

Lin Dongxue sighed. “So, in the end, it didn’t help… Did you really spend two hundred thousand to bribe one of his subordinates?”

Chen Shi laughed and pulled out the card Lu Qixing had given him from his pocket. “I played a little trick. I only mentioned ‘there’s two hundred thousand here’, without saying it was for the informant. That little ‘traitor’ was quite unhappy after finding out, calling me a fraud.”

“You’re really wicked!”

“I don’t intend to use this money. Once everything’s done, I’ll return it. Don’t worry; even though I’m a fake cop, I won’t sully the reputation of real police officers.”