Chapter 394: A Day’s Promise
After an exhaustive search, everyone was drained and sat on the ground to chat. Xu Xiaodong remarked, “We searched more thoroughly than grave robbers today, yet we didn’t find the body the old man mentioned.”
A policeman replied, “It might not necessarily be a body, right?”
“What else could it be? Something packed in a large bag and hauled into the mountains? Maybe it was burnt stir-fried bell pepper and pork?” Xu Xiaodong joked.
Old Zhang waved his hand, “There’s still a large area ahead. If we dig three feet down, we might actually find a body.”
“No way, we’re too exhausted to keep searching today.”
Despite their reluctance to admit it, the police sometimes felt that unsolved cases were just bad luck. They had gotten used to quickly solving cases with Chen Shi’s help. Today’s fruitless efforts left everyone a bit disheartened.
Lin Dongxue said, “Why do I feel like we’re getting further off track?”
Xu Xiaodong asked, “If Chen Shi were here, what do you think he would say?”
Lin Dongxue thought for a moment, “He’d probably start with, ‘If I were the criminal…’”
“And then?”
“I can’t think like he does.”
“Come on, we’re all human. If Chen Shi can solve it, why can’t we?” Xu Xiaodong sighed, hugging his knees.
After a day of getting nowhere, the thought of returning empty-handed was dispiriting, but they were starving, so they returned to the city for a meal and then headed back to the station.
Lin Qiupu hadn’t been idle either. He had interrogated several people with grudges against Hao Jie’s father for eight hours straight, but everyone claimed they were not involved.
He released them and left the interrogation room, seeing his colleagues return, dirty and tired. He asked, “Any findings?”
“No, but we found an eyewitness, although his information might not relate to this case,” Old Zhang said.
“Make sure you document it anyway,” Lin Qiupu instructed.
“Captain, no offense, but this case might be unsolvable,” someone muttered.
“Don’t give up so easily. Rest up tonight, and we’ll continue tomorrow.”
Everyone left, and the last one out was Lin Dongxue, who said, “Brother, I got you something. It’s on your desk.”
“Got it,” Lin Qiupu replied coolly, “Go home.”
After Lin Dongxue left, Lin Qiupu hurried back to his office and saw a bag of fresh mushrooms on his desk. He was momentarily puzzled before sitting down at his computer to search, “symbolism of gifting mushrooms…”
After enjoying a hearty meal of stir-fried mushrooms, Lin Qiupu sat and pondered the case files he had brought home. The case seemed airtight, with no clear motive. He mulled over it all night and finally went to bed, still troubled. The next morning, just as he arrived at the station, he spotted Chen Shi. Thrilled but feigning nonchalance, he said, “You’re just in time. We found a boy’s body yesterday. Come to the meeting room, and I’ll brief you.”
“Sorry, I’ve got some personal matters today. You guys handle it yourselves.”
“You…”
The case discussion that morning was even more morose than the previous day. The air was thick with a desire to bring in Chen Shi, which Lin Qiupu noticed. But Chen Shi had clearly stated he had other matters to attend to.
Some people’s importance is only realized in their absence…
Lin Qiupu shook off these thoughts and resumed the meeting. “Our task today is…”
After the meeting, back in his office, Lin Qiupu’s phone rang. It was Chen Shi, “Captain Lin, I need a favor. Can you get the chief to sign off on me taking a file?”
“Do it yourself!” Lin Qiupu snapped.
“I don’t know him well. Help me out, will you?”
“You wouldn’t help me with a case, but now you want my help?”
“Oh, still holding a grudge?”
“Where are you?”
“The archives.”
Lin Qiupu headed to the archives, demanding an explanation. Chen Shi waved a file, “I want to re-examine this case.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me! I have a child murder case you’re ignoring, and you want to re-open an old case.”
“This case might be connected to Zhou Xiao.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sixty percent sure.”
“I don’t buy it. Where did you get this lead? Don’t tell me it was a sudden epiphany from revisiting old files.”
“How about this? I’ll help you solve the child murder case, and you authorize me to investigate this one. Deal?”
Lin Qiupu felt a surge of triumph but masked it with a stern look, raising one finger, “If you solve the case in a day, I’ll agree.”
“One day?”
“You think I have time to waste every day?”
“Fine, fine, I’ll take a look… Hold on to that file for me.”
They returned to Lin Qiupu’s office, and Chen Shi began reviewing the materials. “I’m thirsty, get me some tea,” he said.
“Don’t push it. Do you think I asked you because I can’t solve this myself?”
“It’s written all over your face,” Chen Shi chuckled.
“Don’t read into me. You’re getting cocky!”
“Am I?”
Lin Qiupu begrudgingly fetched a cup of water. As Chen Shi read the files, he asked, “Where are the officers?”
“Out gathering clues.”
“Tell them to stop. What they’re doing is useless.”
Lin Qiupu felt insulted, crossing his arms, “Mr. Detective, what did we miss?”
“The victim’s details: height, blood type, talents, hobbies, family dynamics, parental conflicts.”
“Why check those?”
“You think this is a kidnapping case and don’t see the need? If it’s a murder case, would you check?”
“Of course!”
Chen Shi tapped the files on the table, “The kidnapper never showed up for the ransom. His goal wasn’t money; it was murder. Have you considered revenge or passion as motives?”
“Your hypothesis doesn’t hold. All evidence suggests a single perpetrator, possibly their first time. They got scared and backed out, killing the boy and disappearing.”
“No, the perpetrator is smart, meticulous, and left no trace. They actually intended for the body to be found.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The bloody clothes weren’t buried with the body but discarded nearby. According to the autopsy, the boy was poisoned before being struck on the head. The kidnapper staged the scene to look like a ransom gone wrong, but their real intent was murder or covering up another crime.”
“Covering up? I don’t understand.”
Chen Shi gave a meaningful look, “Is it really Hao Jie who died?”