Chapter 476: Suspected Dump Site

The sketch of “Mr. Shen” was finally completed. The two agents, starved from waiting, devoured the food as soon as it was served. Once they had eaten their fill, Chen Shi smiled and said, “Gentlemen, I have one more favor to ask.”

Despite their reluctance, having just eaten, they agreed. “Sure, what is it?”

“I’d like to visit the apartment ‘Mr. Shen’ previously rented. Could you notify the current tenant?”

“I’ll give them a call. You can go there on your own,” one of the agents offered.

“It might take a while to find it on our own. Could you guide us there?” Chen Shi insisted.

Reluctantly, the two agents led them to the apartment complex. Lin Dongxue nudged Chen Shi and pointed to a spot where a pet dog was sniffing frantically at a drainage ditch. The owner tugged at the leash, trying to pull the dog away, but it seemed entranced by the smell.

Chen Shi whispered, “We might have another body here.”

At the apartment, the male tenant was home. Upon learning they were police, he was willing to cooperate. Chen Shi asked, “Did you ever see the previous tenant?”

“No, the place was empty when I moved in. I just brought my stuff and settled in.”

“When did you move in?”

The tenant checked his phone. “May 11th. I took a photo on the day I moved in. It’s a habit of mine for record-keeping.”

“Good habit. May I see the photos?”

Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue examined the photos, noticing the living room covered in newspapers, stained with what seemed to be grease. This might be another crime scene. They sent the photos to their phones and asked to see the bathroom.

Chen Shi inspected the bathroom, using chemicals to test the tile grout but found nothing. The tenant explained, “My wife is a clean freak. She scrubbed the place with disinfectant.”

“What was it like when you first moved in?”

“A bit dirty, some hair clogged in the drain, seemed like a woman lived here. Oh, and around June, the pipes started buzzing at night. I poured boiling water down, and a swarm of flies flew out. It was disgusting.”

“How big were the flies?”

“About the size of watermelon seeds.”

Chen Shi laughed. “Watermelon seeds come in different sizes.”

“About this big,” the tenant gestured with his pinky.

“Green-headed?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

Chen Shi looked at the pipe. “Was it this one?”

“Yes.”

The drain pipes had many bends, possibly trapping decaying flesh and breeding flies. As Chen Shi contemplated opening the pipe, Lin Dongxue entered with a hammer. “Sir, is this yours?”

“Yes.”

“Think carefully. If we find anything, whose responsibility will it be?”

The tenant grew nervous. “What are you investigating? Did someone die here?”

“I asked about the hammer.”

“It wasn’t mine. I found it in a corner when I moved in. Used it to hang some pictures.”

Lin Dongxue had seen the hammer in the photos, confirming it wasn’t the tenant’s. She handed it to Chen Shi, who cleaned it with an alcohol swab, then tested the swab. The reagent turned color.

“It’s human blood!” Lin Dongxue exclaimed.

“Shh!” Chen Shi gestured for silence. “Mind if I use the restroom?”

“Go ahead.”

Lin Dongxue and the tenant stepped outside. The tenant, visibly anxious, asked, “Is the previous tenant involved in something illegal?”

“We can’t disclose that, it’s under investigation.”

“I regret moving here. It feels eerie. My child’s grades have dropped. Must be bad feng shui.”

“I don’t know about feng shui,” Lin Dongxue replied awkwardly.

“Strange people came by asking for someone named Xiaoli. They seemed like thugs, often lurking around. My wife was scared to come home alone.”

“Can you describe them or their vehicles?”

“They seemed like gangsters, local plates, loud cars.”

“Anything else?”

“I’ll let you know if I remember. Can I have your contact info?”

Lin Dongxue handed him a card. The tenant asked, “Can you tell me if it’s a murder case? I’d like to be prepared.”

Chen Shi emerged, carrying a small bag of blackened material. Lin Dongxue asked what it was.

“Scrapings from the drain. Took some courage to stick my hand in there. Looks like minced meat, charred, with some hair and dead flies.”

“Disgusting.”

Chen Shi laughed. “We’re not cut out to be forensic experts. What did he tell you?”

Lin Dongxue repeated the conversation. Chen Shi nodded, “A lead. Let’s talk to the security guards.”

At the security office, the guards remembered the suspicious people causing trouble. They’d claimed to be looking for someone named Xiaoli. The manager advised avoiding confrontation but staying alert.

One guard handed over a notebook. “I jotted down their license plates. Hope it helps.”

Chen Shi was elated. “This is a big help, thank you!”