Chapter 183: A Sneaky Move

Strictly speaking, this case was beyond Chen Shi’s capabilities. The entire task force was out, retrieving surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Every available police officer and auxiliary police officer had been dispatched.

In the afternoon, Chen Shi idly watched TV dramas on a computer in Peng Siyue’s lab while everyone else was busy.

Forensic work often appears calm, but only those in the field know the real challenges.

The current focus was on the suspicious DNA found on the banknotes. Peng Siyue had tested it against several individuals, but there were no matches. Seeing Peng Siyue’s lack of progress, Chen Shi took off his headphones and said, “Try Jia Xingyun’s DNA.”

“If we had it, we would have tested it already.”

“Then let’s hold off on the testing until we get a sample.”

There was a knock at the door. A stranger in a trench coat introduced himself, “Hello, I’m Zhang, an antique appraiser. Captain Lin called me this morning. Where is he?”

Peng Siyue said, “The items are here. We’ve assembled about a third of it. Can you appraise it?”

“Sure, sure!”

“Please come this way.”

The three went to another lab where two officers were piecing together fragments on a table. The appraiser donned gloves and examined a small shard, “This is modern porcelain, mass-produced and not valuable.”

“Please check the other set.”

The appraiser picked up a black fragment and examined it with a magnifying glass for a long time, “This black glaze is typical of Jun ware.” He glanced at the other pieces, “It seems to be a small liquor bottle.”

“Is it an antique?” Chen Shi asked.

“Let me see… This should be Qing Dynasty imitation Jun ware. If intact, it would be worth around 100,000 yuan.”

Chen Shi wasn’t concerned about its value, “Could this small bottle be used to store something?”

“No one would do that!”

“I’m just asking if it’s possible to store a bill inside?”

“It’s possible, but not recommended.”

“Why not?”

“Banknotes carry a lot of bacteria, which could affect the condition of the item.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“My pleasure!”

After sending off the appraiser, Chen Shi suggested, “Test the bacteria on this.”

The results came back quickly. Peng Siyue said, “The bacteria on the small bottle match those on the banknote. It seems Ji Chunma used it to store the bill. It broke accidentally, and Wang Xifeng saw the money and deposited it without considering its significance, leading to her death… Wait, it was Dog Egg who broke it.”

Peng Siyue asked, “Did the boy break it on the 12th?”

“Yes.”

“But the bank records show the money was deposited on the 10th.”

Chen Shi looked at the two sets of fragments on the table and realized, “Wang Xifeng broke the antique herself. Dog Egg broke another, worthless figurine. She swapped the pieces to extort money from Liu Laotai.”

Peng Siyue shook his head, “That’s just your theory. The two events happening in the same place doesn’t necessarily link them.”

“They’re connected!” Chen Shi insisted. “If the money was deposited on the 10th, it wouldn’t be in the ATM anymore. Ji Chunma wouldn’t have been frantically withdrawing and depositing money under surveillance. This means Wang Xifeng told him it was deposited that day, and she would have blamed Dog Egg for breaking the container to avoid responsibility.”

“Does this relate to the case, or are you just satisfying your need for thoroughness?”

“It’s somewhat related. Remember how the murder scene was discovered?”

“By a neighbor.”

“Was the door open or closed?”

“Lin Qiupu said it was ajar, and the neighbor thought something was wrong and peeked inside.”

“A careful killer like Ji Chunma wouldn’t forget to close the door. He accidentally locked Dog Egg inside. Dog Egg opened the door when he left. His presence there is linked to Wang Xifeng’s deceit. Although poor, Dog Egg was cherished at home. Wang Xifeng’s false accusation kept him and his grandmother from going home. Out of frustration, he probably went to retaliate by urinating at her door or kicking it. That’s when he stumbled upon the murder.”

“Butterfly effect!”

“Exactly!” Chen Shi checked his watch, “We haven’t made much progress today. Let’s call it a day and grab some dinner.”

Peng Siyue was considering this when Chen Shi’s phone rang. Lin Dongxue said, “Chen Shi, come to Yihong Yafu Apartments quickly. Jia Xingyun just met with a suspicious person!”

Chen Shi told Peng Siyue, “Want to check it out?”

“Sure!”

They drove to Yihong Yafu Apartments where the task force was gathered, ready to catch the suspect. Lin Dongxue said, “The officer tailing him reported that around 5 PM, Jia Xingyun entered this building with someone heavily disguised.”

Chen Shi said, “What are we waiting for? Let’s unwrap the gift!”

“But we don’t have the proper procedure. Is it okay to break in?”

“We have two options: I go in and you arrest me afterward, or we stake out and wait for him to come out.”

“What a crazy idea!” Lin Dongxue laughed.

Peng Siyue asked, “Where’s his car parked?”

Chen Shi realized, “I’ve got a better crazy idea.”

Twenty minutes later, there was an urgent knock at Jia Xingyun’s door. He opened it, disheveled, and raised an eyebrow, “Officer Chen? Miss Lin?”

“Don’t misunderstand. This is personal. I accidentally scratched your car and got your address from the property management to discuss compensation.” Chen Shi faked a smile.

Jia Xingyun frowned, “What a coincidence!”

“Truth is stranger than fiction… Who’s inside? Your girlfriend?”

“You have no right to pry… But I hate being suspected by the police. You can come in and take a look, but keep it confidential.”

“Thanks for your understanding.”

Once inside, Jia Xingyun quickly shut the door. In the bedroom, a “beauty” in a bathrobe was drinking wine, wearing sunglasses. Chen Shi noticed the person had an Adam’s apple and looked familiar.

“Isn’t this!” Lin Dongxue exclaimed, “Film star Jiang Yuqi?”

The celebrity said, “Xingyun, your friends?”

“They’re police officers. I don’t know what they’re investigating, but it’s annoying.”

“I figured. How could you have such ordinary friends? Officers, Jia Xingyun and I are just friends. If any rumors about me appear in the papers tomorrow, I’ll have my lawyer contact you.”

The male Jiang Yuqi wore a wig. Chen Shi stared at it thoughtfully.

“What are you staring at? Careful, I’ll sue you for harassment!” Jiang Yuqi snapped.