Chapter 258: Identifying the Identity
Tao Yueyue opened the door for Lin Dongxue. As soon as she saw her, she lost control and threw herself into Lin Dongxue’s arms. “Sister Lin, someone tried to break in. I was so scared!”
“It’s okay, I’m here with you now,” Lin Dongxue comforted her.
“Is Uncle Chen arrested?” Tao Yueyue asked, her face still wet with tears.
“He… will be back soon, don’t worry,” Lin Dongxue said, though she was more concerned about the real identity of the deceased “Chen Shi” than when Chen Shi would return.
She hoped Chen Shi would be alright. No, he must be alright! she told herself.
Peng Sijue arrived with the DNA test results. Clearly, the two men had no blood relation. Chen Shi feigned calmness and said, “That man was impersonating me.”
“Why not the other way around?” asked Peng Sijue.
“Me impersonating him? If I were going to impersonate someone, why not pick someone better? You’ve seen my records; you know how ordinary I am.”
“Your household registration says you have parents in Hequ Town. To determine who is impersonating who, we just need to get your parents here for a DNA test.”
“My father is 70 and my mother is 63. They are very old and not in good health. Can’t you avoid making them travel such a long way?”
“Afraid to confront them?”
“Afraid to confront my parents? Are you kidding me? Send someone to the town hospital, take their blood samples under the guise of a physical exam, and bring them back. Show some compassion, will you?”
“Fine, but meanwhile, I’m going to detain you.”
“Even if we take the worst-case scenario, the crime of identity theft only results in detention and a fine. I guarantee I won’t leave Long’an.”
“No can do. Since you’re a familiar face, I can’t bend the rules. If this were happening to Dongxue, I’d detain her too.”
Chen Shi clapped his hands, “The incorruptible Captain Lin.”
“Take him away!”
“Wait, was the man killed near my house?”
“I’m not telling you that.”
“I don’t know who he was, but I might know who killed him. The Yuhua Pharmaceuticals case isn’t over yet. I suggest you send someone to detain Huo Yue right now.”
“I’ll take care of it!”
Chen Shi was taken to a solitary cell. He had barely sat down when Xu Xiaodong arrived with a large bag of food and drinks. “Brother Chen, we all believe in your innocence. Here, take this food.”
“No need, I’ve already eaten.”
“At least take a bottle of water… hide it well, or Captain Lin will scold me.”
“Xiaodong, notify the task force to arrest Huo Yue. He’s likely the killer.”
“Got it!”
Shortly after, another officer brought more food and water. “Brother Chen, Captain Lin is like that. We all know you’re innocent.”
In less than an hour, Chen Shi’s bed was surrounded by bottles of mineral water. He chuckled bitterly, wondering if he could get through this.
He also felt guilty about Wang Daji’s death. He shouldn’t have provoked Huo Yue earlier. Based on Wang Daji’s words, Huo Yue should have known he had an incriminating USB drive. Chen Shi thought Huo Yue would try to buy him off.
“Where did it go wrong?” Chen Shi wondered.
Detention was boring. Lin Dongxue visited with Tao Yueyue that night. Tao Yueyue would stay with her for the night.
After they left, Chen Shi lay on his bed with his hands behind his head. He counted sheep for a long time before he finally fell asleep.
Early the next morning, Chen Shi was awakened by the sound of someone knocking on the bars. He rubbed his eyes and saw Lin Qiupu standing there with a stern face. Chen Shi smiled, “Are you here to let me go?”
“Dream on! The DNA collectors are still on their way. Stay put.”
“What about the Yuhua Pharmaceuticals case…”
“I’m handling it. Huo Yue has fled. Your building’s surveillance captured him. We’ve locked down all the exits and are pursuing him.”
“Search his house. Huo Yue seems shrewd. He might have some dirt on the president.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Lin Qiupu handed him a pancake. “Listen, if you end up in jail, I won’t allow Dongxue to have any contact with you.”
“We’re just friends!” Chen Shi said, taking the pancake.
“Yeah, right!”
After a brief visit, Lin Qiupu went to the forensic lab where the victim had already been autopsied. The body lay on the table with a long incision from throat to abdomen.
“He looks just like that guy,” Lin Qiupu sighed.
“I covered his face during the autopsy,” Peng Sijue said flatly.
“Any findings?”
“There were hemorrhages in his nasal cavity and gums, and ether was found in his respiratory tract. He was probably rendered unconscious with an ether-soaked cloth. The cause of death was high-altitude impact. Typically, someone falling from a height would have defensive injuries, with varied impact injuries. This victim’s injuries were uniform, indicating he hit the ground unprotected, causing multiple internal ruptures and bleeding.”
“So he was unconscious when he fell, just like the Yuhua victims from three years ago,” Lin Qiupu said, his eyes red from reviewing the case files all night.
“Exactly the same method.”
“Any other findings?”
“This victim had cholecystitis and late-stage kidney cancer.”
“What!?”
“Judging by the drug residue in his liver, it seems he wasn’t receiving treatment. Even without being murdered, he had about a month to live.”
“Has his face been altered?”
“I can’t tell. Either it hasn’t been altered, or it was done three years ago.”
“No implants or fillers?”
“None found so far.”
Lin Qiupu didn’t speak. His judgment seemed right: the dead man appeared to be the real Chen Shi, with numerous old and new injuries and signs of an unhealthy lifestyle.
The man currently in the detention cell, whose investigative skills surpassed most officers, always joking, carefree yet disciplined, was likely the imposter.
But Lin Qiupu felt conflicted. He had grown fond of working with Chen Shi, but as a captain, he couldn’t let personal feelings cloud his judgment. He needed the truth.
“The victim had a minor burn on his waist, likely inflicted shortly before death,” Peng Sijue continued.
“Captain Peng, which one do you think is the real Chen Shi?” Lin Qiupu asked.
“I only trust DNA results,” Peng Sijue replied calmly.