Chapter 159: Chapter 158 First Scene_1
Dong Chengwen laughed.
With his nearly incapacitated hand, he smoothed back his hair before he began to recount the tale.
"On the evening of June 29th, I returned home at 21:07. The exact time, though, I only knew later after reviewing the surveillance footage. Past eleven, my wife Fang Hua was hungry. She wanted to eat wontons from Jiuxiantai, but the restaurant wasn’t listed on the food delivery app. Amidst this fuss, Xiao Mi also woke up and started saying she was hungry. So, I drove out of the neighborhood..."
Xu Dayuan tapped the desk and stared into Dong Chengwen’s eyes, showing little expression.
"Get to the point. When did you notice the fire, and what time did you get back home?"
Dong Chengwen nodded and continued.
"Twenty minutes later, I was driving back when I entered the neighborhood and saw thick smoke rising from the villa area where my house was located. Feeling anxious, I quickly reached my house, only to find that there was smoke coming from the second floor of the villa.
I rushed out of the car and went straight upstairs, first bursting into Xiao Mi’s room. Although it was filled with smoke, there was no open flame. That’s when I dashed to the master bedroom door and realized the handle was hot to the touch.
When I broke down the door, a wave of heat knocked me over, and the fire instantly spread outwards. At that moment, I didn’t feel any pain. I got up, draped a carpet over myself, and then ran into the bedroom. I wrapped them, mother and daughter, in the blanket and dragged them out.
By that time, I could hear the fire alarm. Fang Hua had woken up and was shouting at me to take the child out first, so I carried the child downstairs and laid her on the ground outside before rushing back to carry Fang Hua down.
The firefighters came over and pulled us to one side. That’s when I noticed Xiao Mi wasn’t moving. I started screaming frantically, begging the bystanders to call for an ambulance, bowing to them repeatedly. Then the medical personnel from the ambulance arrived and said that Xiao Mi was dead.
I was completely devastated. She was only seven years old, so young, yet there she was, motionless in my arms like a piece of charcoal. It was all my fault, if I hadn’t gone out, maybe they would have been fine, it was me who caused this!"
By this point, Dong Chengwen had lost control of his emotions, grasping the edge of the table and trembling incessantly.
The anguish of losing a child is perhaps something only a father can understand, and his heart-wrenching sobs seemed not much of an act, apparently genuine. Whether there was self-pity for his current situation, that was harder to judge.
Xu Dayuan did not interrupt him, and it was quite a while before Dong Chengwen managed to quell his wailing. He wiped his face with his hand, and then Xu Dayuan resumed the questioning:
"And then?"
Dong Chengwen shook his head.
"I don’t remember."
"You don’t remember?"
The room fell into a stunned silence as they tried to grasp what he meant by that. Had he passed out?
"When I woke up again, I was in the hospital, but with handcuffs on my wrists. I had no idea what had happened. The police said they found a receipt for 70 liters of 97 octane gasoline in the utility cabinet on the first floor. The quantity of gas on the receipt doesn’t match the 62 liters that my car’s fuel tank holds.
Also, in our master bedroom, they found hydrocarbons—a byproduct of gasoline combustion—so they concluded that I set the fire that killed my wife and daughter. But how could I possibly commit arson, especially to burn the two people I love the most to death?"
Zhou Ning examined Dong Chengwen, not because he lacked empathy, but because as part of his profession, he was constantly listing the existing evidence, and with a brief pause, he asked:
"Have they checked the gas station’s surveillance footage?"
"The police have, yes. The footage only shows the other side; my side only shows the front of the car, and there’s no way to see if I was given extra gas. The gas station attendants don’t remember clearly, but there are customers who do this. After all, if you go to get gas alone, you have to register with an ID, and if you add a little extra during the fueling, they tend to turn a blind eye."
Zhou Ning closed his notebook and Xu Dayuan packed away the case files, then spoke.
"I understand the situation. I must be going."
Dong Chengwen became anxious, jumping to his feet, causing his handcuffs to clink loudly. The nearby police officer hurriedly shouted a warning.
"Hey, sit down!"
"Captain Xu, please save me. Now only you can prove my innocence."
Xu Dayuan picked up his belongings and turned back for a glance at Dong Chengwen.
"I will investigate with all my might. Doctor Zhou has also agreed to help you with a secondary investigation and assessment. We will find out the truth."
After the officers left the visitation room and Dong Chengwen was taken away, outside the detention center, Xu Dayuan did not go to see Mr. Ma but headed straight to the Iveco van. He gestured to Mr. Zeng.
"You take Doctor Chen back, thank you for today."
Liu Yufei and the others got into the Iveco, and Doctor Chen, looking back at the detention center, spoke with emotion:
"This is no place for humans. You really can’t commit crimes. Look at the once high-profile lawyer, locked up for two months, turned into something neither human nor ghost. We must be law-abiding citizens."
Mr. Zhao approached, snickering at the remark.
"Cut it out. What are you getting sentimental about? Go back and tell Mr. He about today’s events, it’ll save Zhou Xiaozhou some breath."
Doctor Chen nodded and walked away with Mr. Zeng. Everyone got into their cars and headed straight for Jingkou District. Mr. Zhao even took the tunnel. After all, it was official business, and he was as excited as a fool, his exclamations never ceasing.
Arriving at the scene of the crime, Shanhai Building—the name was very elegant—the cars headed towards the villa area above.
This was actually a not-so-high hillside, nestled by the mountain and sea, with an environment beyond reproach. From a distance, one could see a charred villa.
"Wow, no wonder Dong Chengwen said that you see the villa’s smoke as soon as you enter the residential area. It really is easy to spot."
As Mr. Zhao spoke, he had already parked the car. Everyone got out, and Xu Dayuan looked around, seemingly searching for someone.
"Leader, is there anyone else coming?"
Before Xu Dayuan could answer Mr. Zhao, several police cars pulled up close and stopped. Several people hurried out of the cars, nodded to Xu Dayuan, and quickly stepped forward to shake hands.
"Long time no see, Dayuan!"
Facing the enthusiasm of the other party, Xu Dayuan appeared much more indifferent, politely responding with composure.
Mr. Zhao nudged Zhou Ning, tugged at Liu Yufei’s sleeve, and the two of them quite naturally stepped back. Mr. Zhao lowered his voice and said:
"This guy is Xu Kejiang, nicknamed Smiling Tiger, the captain of Jingkou District’s Criminal Police team, an old Jingkou local. Our leader once handled a case where the suspect was his brother-in-law. Privately, he approached our leader, but the case was handled as usual. It was during the strike-hard campaign, with strict and swift actions."
Zhou Ning and Liu Yufei didn’t ask how he knew, but such a reminder obviously meant that the events of those years were no secret. Zhou Ning also came to a realization, no wonder Mr. Hu had given him that case, which Xu Dayuan had so opposed.
After the pleasantries were over, Xu Dayuan gestured to Mr. Zhao.
"Mr. Zhao, start the crime scene examination."
Mr. Zhao hurriedly gestured, calling over the newly-arrived Yang Xuetong and Sun Gaotie. Together, they went to the car to get their equipment and, once dressed, they began to enter the scene. Zhu Xingxing sidled up next to Zhou Ning, and, seeing that Zhou Ning wasn’t chatting with Liu Yufei, leaned over and asked:
"Group leader, can I come and have a look too?"
"Go ahead, but make sure you’re protected and don’t interfere with Mr. Zhao’s evidence collection."
Zhu Xingxing ran off with her little tiger teeth showing. Liu Yufei directed a few detectives to look around the perimeter and then instructed people to find the eyewitnesses from the case file.
Hearing this arrangement, Xu Kejiang spoke loudly:
"The eyewitnesses have all made written statements. Besides, you won’t find anyone at this time. Why not come to our team and look at the relevant materials, what do you think?"
Even though it was a polite inquiry, it left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth. All eyes fell on Xu Dayuan, who nodded.
"Mr. Liu, take people with Mr. Xu to look at the materials. There’s no rush to verify with the eyewitnesses."
Liu Yufei naturally had no objections and called someone over to accompany Xu Kejiang.
"Shall I go with you, Mr. Xu?"
Seeing that Xu Dayuan had no intention of moving, Xu Kejiang gave a smile and nodded.
"Alright, I’ll take you to see the materials. Since your Mr. Xu wants to see the scene, then let’s have a look."
After saying that, he turned and waved to the people behind him, taking Liu Yufei and the others to the car and leaving.
After the people left, Xu Dayuan went to make a phone call, apparently instructing Mr. Zeng to hurry over after dropping off the people. Only then did Zhou Ning turn his attention to examine the villa carefully.
The villa had two floors, and according to the previous file records, there should be a basement level as well. Moreover, the basement level of such a villa is not smaller than the area above ground, leading directly to the underground garage below. If one wished to drive out, they could go directly underground via the basement. Certainly, next to the villa above ground, there were also four private parking spaces.
The exterior of the villa was charred and blackened. The first floor didn’t seem to have been engulfed in flames. The several windows on the second floor within sight were all shattered, and the roof had sustained some damage. A six-meter-high barricade encircled the villa, apparently set up by the property management.
There was a sign hanging on it: Dangerous building, please do not approach!
However, such an incident would affect the housing prices in the community. The property management’s actions were also to protect the living experience of other property owners, which indirectly served as protection for the crime scene.
He stepped into the villa, where traces of water and various items were scattered everywhere. There was a very delicate Barbie doll covered in soot. Zhou Ning picked it up to examine it. The doll was exquisitely made, with movable joints, clearly a high-end item.
As he looked up towards the second floor, Mr. Zhao shouted from above:
"Zhou Xiaozhou, hurry up here and see what I’ve found!"
