Chapter 71: The Suspicious Reporter
Lin Dongxue asked, “What’s on your mind?”
“Let me see Old Peng’s report again.”
Chen Shi took the autopsy report and studied it carefully, rubbing his chin in thought. “It seems we need to make a visit.”
Previously, they had left Wu Hao’s contact information. Chen Shi called him, explaining that they wanted to visit his place. Wu Hao’s first reaction was, “Do you suspect me?”
“Isn’t your place the same as your brother’s? We want to see your brother’s room.”
Wu Hao seemed relieved and said, “What’s there to see?”
“It’s fine if there’s nothing to see.”
“But I’m still at work.”
“We can wait.”
“Alright, I’ll be there by three o’clock at the latest. Wait for me at Century Mansion.”
After hanging up, Chen Shi sneered, “This guy talks about avenging the adulterous couple, but he’s very reluctant to cooperate.”
“I understand now!” Xu Xiaodong exclaimed.
“Understand what?”
“He’s the killer!”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because, Chen, you have this confident look. Whenever you have that look, it means you know something.”
Chen Shi laughed, “I have the same look when I shave… Let’s find a place to eat, then go to that neighborhood.”
Once in the car, Lin Dongxue asked, “What does Captain Peng’s conclusion mean?”
“In simple terms, the deceased had been bedridden for a long time.”
“I can’t figure it out. Maybe it was just his personal habit. Didn’t they say the deceased worked from home?”
“Let me tell you a story!”
“Go ahead.”
“I have a friend who studied medicine. Once, he helped out at a photo studio, taking artistic photos of a well-endowed woman. He asked her if he could feel her chest, and she agreed. He found a lump and told her she had a tumor. She went to the hospital, and it was indeed early-stage cancer, which they removed in time, saving her life.”
Lin Dongxue’s face twitched, “Your friend doesn’t sound very decent.”
“I’m just saying that professionals often see more. Old Peng’s conclusions must be taken seriously and should be central to our reasoning.”
Lin Dongxue nodded, “Hey, you’re not even that familiar with Captain Peng. Why do you call him Old Peng?”
Chen Shi coughed, “I like to get close to people. Is that a problem, Little Lin?”
“Get lost!”
After eating, they arrived at Century Mansion early. Standing at the entrance was boring, so Chen Shi said, “I have a task for you. Ask the deceased’s neighbors about the relationship among the three family members.”
“And you?”
“I’ll go too. We’ll split up.”
The three of them asked around. Lin Dongxue returned, shaking her head, “No findings. Neighbors these days are too harmonious. They don’t even know who the deceased is. Many didn’t even know someone died in the building.”
“Your questioning skills need work!”
“So what did you find out?”
“I… didn’t find out anything either. They asked if I was a cop and wanted to see my badge. I couldn’t show one!”
Lin Dongxue laughed, “Haha, serves you right!”
Xu Xiaodong raised his hand, “I found something. The downstairs neighbors said the brothers didn’t get along. They often heard Wu Hao shouting and throwing things.”
“Go back and ask if the brothers have quarreled in the past three months.”
“Again? Alright, the neighbor is a pretty lady…” Noticing Lin Dongxue’s disdainful look, Xu Xiaodong quickly changed his tone, “Not as pretty as you, really.”
“Get lost!”
After a while, Xu Xiaodong returned excitedly, “She said they haven’t heard any quarrels recently. It seems their relationship improved.”
“Is that so?” Chen Shi said, a cold smile appearing on his lips.
A Jetta pulled up, and Wu Hao got out, stylishly removing his sunglasses. “Sorry for the wait. Follow me upstairs!”
Wu Hao was wearing a tight T-shirt, showing off his muscular chest and abs, making Lin Dongxue blush. Xu Xiaodong noticed her reaction and whispered, “You like muscles? I have them too!”
Lin Dongxue glanced at Xu Xiaodong’s scrawny frame and rolled her eyes.
While walking upstairs, Chen Shi asked, “Mr. Wu, what’s your monthly salary?”
“Not much, about twenty thousand yuan.”
“That’s pretty good for Long’an City. Why not buy a house?”
“My brother didn’t mind me living here. I bought the TV, fridge, and water heater. We’re like family.”
“Your brother is married. Don’t you find it inconvenient?”
“What’s the problem? My sister-in-law… uh, that woman works late. She often comes back at midnight… We’re here.”
Wu Hao opened the door. Inside, renovation workers were tearing up the floor. “See? Nothing to look at. All the furniture is gone.”
“Why the sudden renovation?”
“It’s not renovation. I’m planning to sell the place. Since my brother’s dead, the house belongs to me… It’s just a one-bedroom, worth about five or six hundred thousand.”
“Why strip everything down?”
“Isn’t a bare apartment easier to sell?”
A worker approached, “Boss, the bedroom smells bad. There’s poop under the floorboards.”
“I’ll kill you!” Wu Hao’s fierce look made Lin Dongxue’s impression of him plummet. “Don’t talk nonsense. How could there be poop under the floor?”
“See for yourself,” the worker said timidly.
Wu Hao explained to Chen Shi, “Maybe from the husky we used to have.”
“Which room was your brother’s?”
“That one. Nothing to see.”
Chen Shi entered, finding the room stripped bare. He noticed there was only one bedroom and asked, “Where do you sleep?”
“On the living room sofa. I bought a big sofa bed. It’s just like a bed.”
“Don’t you feel like you’re freeloading?”
“He’s my brother. We’re family!”
Chen Shi gestured for Lin Dongxue to come in and whispered, “Women have a better sense of smell. Do you smell anything?”
Lin Dongxue sniffed, “There’s a stench, like an old toilet.”
“Alright, officers, nothing to see here. I need to get back to work,” Wu Hao said loudly.
Chen Shi turned and said, “We went to see Ximen Sheng this morning.”
“Is he suspicious?”
“You’re right. He’s quite dubious.”
“Scum like that should be arrested and interrogated. I’m sure he killed my brother. I swear on my life! Once it’s over, dinner’s on me.” Wu Hao pounded his chest.
“Alright, I’ll definitely come,” Chen Shi replied with a smile.