Chapter 55: Autopsy

Just after prying information about his accomplices out of a robbery suspect in the interrogation room, Lin Qiupu came out to inform everyone that they had to work overtime tonight and should grab some food quickly.

The police officers, already accustomed to this lifestyle, had little to complain about and walked out in groups.

Lin Qiupu called Lin Dongxue, but she didn’t answer. Knowing her well, he figured she must be close. He walked to the entrance and, sure enough, saw her calling over a few officers and unloading bags from a car. He approached and asked, “What’s the situation at the scene?”

“The students had already left; only some staff were around. It didn’t cause much of a stir. The officers have secured the scene and the surrounding area.”

“Everyone’s details are registered?”

“Yes.”

Seeing the garbage bags numbered, Lin Qiupu was about to praise his sister when Chen Shi got out of the car, smiling and greeting, “Captain Lin, long time no see.”

“Why are you two always together?” Lin Qiupu yelled.

Being scolded in front of everyone, Lin Dongxue felt embarrassed. Chen Shi walked over, patting Lin Qiupu’s shoulder and offering a cigarette, but Lin Qiupu declined, saying, “Nothing good ever happens when you’re around.”

“This time, it’s got nothing to do with me. I was just passing by.”

“Teach me how you just ‘pass by’ and stumble upon a crime scene.”

“Maybe it’s luck.”

Lin Qiupu rolled his eyes and signaled the others to move the garbage bags inside. Chen Shi followed without hesitation. Hearing about a dismemberment case, Peng Sijue was already waiting in the forensic lab. Seeing the large bags being brought in, he frowned.

Chen Shi said, “There are six bags in total. The victim seems to be a boy around twelve or thirteen. I had a quick look, and all the ‘parts’ seem to be here. There’s slight blood seepage at the bottom of the bags, but the top is clean. The surrounding bags also have blood stains. The person who dumped the body likely tried to hide it among the other trash.”

Lin Qiupu cleared his throat, implying who the captain was.

“I’m just stating my observations. Is that a problem?” Chen Shi said.

“Just you standing here is a problem!”

“Alright, alright, all non-essential personnel, out!” Peng Sijue ushered everyone out.

Lin Qiupu wanted to stay and observe the autopsy. As he changed into a sterile suit, he noticed Chen Shi doing the same and glared at him. Chen Shi said, “Captain Lin, why are you giving me that look?”

“Who allowed you to be here?”

“Well, no one told me to leave.”

“Then I’m telling you now, get out!”

Peng Sijue said, “Captain Lin, let him stay, but just to watch, nothing more.”

Lin Qiupu was puzzled, wondering when Peng Sijue had been bought off by this guy.

After setting up the camera, Peng Sijue and his assistant pushed two metal beds together to prepare for the autopsy. They emptied the bags onto the beds. Besides the body parts, the bags also contained a thick layer of tissues, which Peng Sijue took as evidence.

Everyone watched in silence as Peng Sijue pieced the body together. It was a long process. He arranged the parts in order and laid them out, finally saying, “All organs seem to be here, no parts missing. Judging by the body, it looks like a boy in his early teens.”

“How could anyone do this!” Lin Qiupu shook his head. “What’s the cause of death?”

“Judging by the cuts on the body parts, a heavy cleaver was used. There are no obvious pre-mortem injuries… The head has severe lacerations around the eyes and forehead, with significant damage to the right eyeball. I suspect the killer struck the victim’s head with a blunt object, causing death.”

Peng Sijue measured the fatal wound’s dimensions and angles, instructing his assistant to record the details.

Lin Qiupu said, “The angle suggests a frontal attack.”

“Yes, the most severe blow came from the front. It was likely the initial strike. Other injuries have a slight angle to the spinal axis, about 15 degrees.”

“So the killer probably knocked the victim down with the first blow and then repeatedly struck while standing over him.”

As the two were about to agree, Chen Shi interjected, “Wait, the blood around the neck is lighter. I recall reading that if the jugular vein is cut, a lot of air enters the bloodstream, causing blood to turn cherry red.”

“Are you suggesting the cause of death isn’t the head injury?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“I’m just sharing my view.”

“Check the blood for oxygen levels,” Lin Qiupu ordered.

The assistant took a blood sample and left. Peng Sijue used tweezers to separate the skin and muscle layers around the neck wound, saying, “This wound does seem to be pre-mortem.”

The assistant returned with the test results. Peng Sijue glanced at them and said, “He’s right.”

Lin Qiupu glared at Chen Shi, who smiled, “Just lucky.”

Peng Sijue theorized, “The killer might have thought the victim was dead, but he was just unconscious. When they began dismembering, a cut to the neck was the actual cause of death.”

Lin Qiupu, despite his annoyance, had seen such cases before. Sometimes, during dismemberment, the ‘body’ would suddenly sit up.

He looked at the victim’s forehead, which was mangled beyond recognition. Anyone would have assumed it was the fatal wound.

Next, they determined the time of death. This time, there was no disagreement. The evidence suggested the victim had been dead for less than five hours.

“Can you reconstruct the victim’s face?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“We can, but it will take time,” Peng Sijue replied.

Chen Shi, arms crossed, said, “If the first blow was frontal, and the victim was only about 1.2 meters tall, how tall was the killer?”

“Could the killer be a child?” the assistant asked.

“From the killing to disposing of the body in under five hours, could a child do it so cleanly? The victim might have been elevated or lying down,” Lin Qiupu speculated.

“Prepare for the autopsy,” Peng Sijue announced.

Peng Sijue dissected the organs one by one. When he cut into the esophagus, they found food residue. The esophageal lining showed signs of acid erosion, and a foul vomit smell filled the room.

“Gastric reflux, possibly caused by a reflex from the head trauma,” Peng Sijue noted.

He then removed the entire stomach. The assistant caught it in a tray, and Peng Sijue cut it open. There wasn’t much food, suggesting the victim hadn’t had dinner, consistent with their time of death estimate.

Chen Shi smelled a sweet scent, “Coke?”

“Only testing will confirm,” Peng Sijue said, taking a sample with a cotton swab.

“Could there be something in the Coke?” Seeing Lin Qiupu’s annoyed look, Chen Shi shrugged, “Just a thought. Testing won’t hurt.”