Chapter 953: The Captain Arrives

To confirm the details, Lin Dongxue took the cleaner to the meeting room. The cleaner seemed scared as she pointed at the window and said, “He sat right here, facing outside, and then jumped without a word.”

“Was anyone else in the room?”

“The lights were on, but I’m sure there was no one else except the person who jumped… Oh, right, there were broken wine bottles on the floor. I thought he might have been heartbroken. Such a young person, throwing away his life like that.”

“How did you know he was young?”

“I heard he was a young actor. This place had a suicide before, too. A female actress jumped after being taken advantage of… It’s tough in the entertainment industry.”

“Do you remember what he was wearing?”

“A colorful outfit…” The cleaner tilted her head, trying to recall.

Lin Dongxue showed her a photo of the deceased. The cleaner was initially too scared to look but eventually mustered the courage and nodded, “Yes, it’s him!”

Tao Yueyue asked, “Auntie, was there anyone in the hallway at that time?”

“No one… Wait, before he jumped, I saw someone going down the stairs.”

“Where did you see this?”

The cleaner led them to the end of the hallway and pointed to a door, “I had just finished cleaning this room. When I came out, I saw someone going down, wearing a brown or gray jacket. I’m not sure, it was just a glimpse.”

Confirming she had nothing more to add, Lin Dongxue thanked her and took Tao Yueyue back to their room.

After running around all morning, Lin Dongxue was exhausted. She collapsed on the bed to rest, while Tao Yueyue paced in front of the TV. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, “Sister Lin, I’ve completely figured out the trick.”

“Great, let’s hear it!”

“But I’m not sure if it was the screenwriter.”

“We’ll have to wait for the fingerprint results. If the suspect is the screenwriter, it’s almost impossible for a newbie to leave no trace.”

“So, no matter how brilliant the deduction, it all comes down to a fingerprint on the body?”

“Haha, scientific investigation. But the deduction process is still fun. Your Uncle Chen and I brainstorm a lot, it’s very enlightening. So, little detective, what did you figure out?”

“I want to wait for the forensic results before saying anything.”

Just then, Lin Dongxue’s phone rang. She glanced at it, “You’re keeping secrets, I’ll keep secrets too. I won’t show you the information I just found.”

“What did you find? Let me see!”

After a playful tussle, Lin Dongxue handed over her phone. She had asked KK and Sun Zhen to investigate the screenwriter. The police could only access household records, but the agency provided more details.

Reading the text, Tao Yueyue said, “So, his script workshop was dissolved, and his wife left him because of it. That’s so sad. Two years of work on a long script, only to be rejected by investors.”

“Everyone has a story!” Lin Dongxue sighed.

“If the killer was him, would a crime of passion reduce his sentence?”

“What crime of passion? I’m still confused. The body has so many mysteries. Some saw the deceased fall, others saw him commit suicide. The screenwriter has an alibi. What are you thinking?”

“Alright, I’ll tell you. It all fits together! The key is the trick the killer used…”

After explaining, Lin Dongxue was stunned, “That’s incredible!”

“But it’s the only possibility, and now there’s evidence supporting it,” Tao Yueyue said confidently.

Lin Dongxue stared at the ceiling, “That’s too clever. Could a scholar pull it off?” She searched the screenwriter’s name on her phone, “He wrote several crime drama scripts before. Maybe he really has that intelligence!”

Tao Yueyue said, “I’m excited to encounter such a smart criminal.”

“Haha, excited?” Lin Dongxue gently poked Tao Yueyue’s head, “You really are like your Uncle Chen.”

“So now we just wait for the forensic results?”

“Yes, like in detective movies, no matter how brilliant your deduction, you need conclusive evidence in the end.”

“Since we’re waiting, let’s go out this afternoon.”

“That’s not appropriate. People think we’re investigating, and we’re out playing?”

“We can go a bit far. There are other film crews around. Want to be extras and earn a lunch box?”

“Haha, me as an extra? I’d outshine the leads!”

“Haha, being pretty is so great!”

“Indeed, it is!”

They laughed and playfully wrestled on the bed.

Despite having a complete grasp of the case, they didn’t go out in the afternoon. Tao Yueyue played on the computer, while Lin Dongxue reviewed hotel surveillance footage from the time of the incident. She asked Tao Yueyue to watch with her, but Tao Yueyue refused, “No! I’ll have to watch these things all the time if I become a cop. I just want to play!”

“Alright, enjoy your childhood privileges!”

In the evening, they took a walk. The next morning, Chen Shi called, “Miss me?”

“What do you think? Why the sudden call?”

“Because I’m on my way there now.”

“You’re coming? Is it about the forensic results?”

“We’ll talk in person.”

“Ugh, keeping secrets again!”

After hanging up, Lin Dongxue looked at the still-sleeping Tao Yueyue, quickly got up, washed her face, and made herself look pretty.

Although married for a year, they were still in the honeymoon phase, with a fresh feeling every day.

Thinking of seeing Chen Shi soon made Lin Dongxue’s cheeks blush like a girl in love.

At nine, Chen Shi’s car arrived. He and Xu Xiaodong got out. Tao Yueyue happily ran into Chen Shi’s arms, who spun her around before putting her down.

Xu Xiaodong excitedly said, “I heard we could see Cai Zhengkai and Xia Xiaolou alive, so I begged Chen Ge to bring me along.”

“No asking for autographs,” Chen Shi reminded.

“I already took a photo with him!” Lin Dongxue proudly said.

“Really? Let me see later,” Chen Shi said.

Xu Xiaodong quietly asked, “Captain, can I ask for an autograph?”

“No!” came the firm reply.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re not my wife,” Chen Shi said righteously.

Lin Dongxue laughed, “Had breakfast? Let’s go to the restaurant.”

The four went to the restaurant and picked out some food. Despite the variety, Chen Shi chose soy milk and fried dough sticks. They sat by the window, and Lin Dongxue asked, “Captain, why did you come in person?”

“Missed you!”

“Be serious.”

Chen Shi looked at Tao Yueyue, then at Lin Dongxue, “Is the case making progress?”

“Yes, all thanks to Tao Yueyue’s well-founded deductions. I can’t wait to get the key evidence and confront the suspect.”

“Who’s the suspect?”

“The screenwriter!”

Chen Shi rubbed his chin, “You might be disappointed. The body was exposed to the rain and moved around. The fabric he wore was textile, making it impossible to find fingerprints.”

“Wha… What!?”