Chapter 233: Chapter 230 A Cousin Appears_1
The material on the surface of the sofa was cut off and packed into an evidence bag.
Zhou Ning took out a thermometer, stood up, and walked to the entranceway, where Xu Dayuan had already approached.
"Tell me, what have you found?"
"The victim’s throat was slit, severing the trachea and carotid artery, making it impossible to call for help. The method was quite professional, and the victim died quickly from blood loss. Based on rigor mortis, livor mortis, body temperature, and the cloudiness of the corneas, the time of death is estimated to be around 30 hours ago.
Like Qin Xuejin and Fang Wenhua, the victim was forced to undress before death, with all clothes neatly folded in the corner. Moreover, there are bruises on the victim’s knees, traces on both sides that look like they were left by kneeling, and a kick on the right tibia.
Furthermore, the victim’s throat was cut with a single stroke, the incision is smooth with no hesitation or stutter, and there are signs that the victim’s hair was torn. Judging from the shape of the wound, I suspect the weapon is a single-edged dagger, and it was delivered from right to left, typical of a left-handed assailant."
At this point, Zhou Ning raised his phone, enlarging the photos.
"The shoes are thick-soled leather with a wide edge. Among the footprints Mr. Zhao collected, there are some with shoe covers like ours. I think they were left by the killer. What shoe size was checked over here?"
Mr. Zhao found the photo, compared the sizes, and said:
"They are size 44. However, the shoe cover is interesting; it’s not like our disposable ones but more like those all-encompassing rain shoes with a patterned sole, which are ambidextrous."
Zhou Ning looked carefully, and sure enough, as Mr. Zhao described, the sole had a pattern, but it was impossible to distinguish between the left and right foot. It seemed the perpetrator was well-prepared, except this time they didn’t clean up the footprints left at the scene.
"Let’s transport the body back. I wonder if there are surveillance cameras installed in the victim’s home?"
Mr. Zhao shook his head.
"No surveillance cameras were installed in the victim’s home. The videophone on the door doesn’t have a recording function, so we can’t know what time or if anyone came in. But since there are no signs of the door being jimmied, it’s obvious that the victim, Qin Xuejin, let the killer in willingly."
Zhou Ning nodded.
"I agree with Mr. Zhao’s assessment. Although the two victims died almost a month apart, the decisive killing methods and the nature of the wounds lead me to suspect that Fang Wenjie and Qin Xuejin were murdered by the same person. I suggest we treat the cases as connected."
Xu Dayuan looked solemnly at Zhou Ning. He had considered this himself, and Zhou Ning saying so only increased his confidence in the idea.
"Mr. Tao ordered the body to be sent to the forensic lab, and the scene to be secured."
Tao Zhenshan hurried to make the call, while Xu Dayuan turned to Mr. Zhao.
"Were there any valuables at the scene, or did you find any signs of things being searched or rummaged through?"
Mr. Zhao shook his head.
"To the east of this split-level staircase, there are no traces of shoe cover footprints. The footprints come from the entrance to the living room and then exit directly. The perpetrator wore shoe covers upon entry and didn’t change shoes.
As for the bedrooms and the study, we found a safe. It’s a combination lock safe, impossible to open for inspection."
"Call the technicians over. They have a set of tools to crack it. Have you seen a cell phone?"
"No, I haven’t. But I found a laptop bag in the study, along with a charger and a mouse on the desk, although there was no laptop."
Xu Dayuan paused, frowning at Mr. Zhao.
"Didn’t you say the killer didn’t go to the east side rooms?"
"There was dust on the floors of the victim’s home, so the footprints are very clear. I found slipper prints matching the slippers left in the living room. It seems the victim took the computer themself, but it’s unclear why the victim was so compliant."
Xu Dayuan looked serious and dialed Liu Yufei’s number.
"Check Qin Xuejin’s call records, right now, immediately."
He then called Bai Ruixin’s cell phone.
"Is there anyone at Qin Xuejin’s company?"
"Boss, don’t rush. Someone just arrived at their company, but Qin Xuejin didn’t. I asked their receptionist. Qin Xuejin didn’t show up yesterday either, and they couldn’t reach him by phone. They had a deal to sign for managing accounts with a company that was supposed to be finalized today but still hasn’t been signed."
Zhou Ning listened attentively and quickly typed a few words on his phone. Xu Dayuan glanced at it and nodded slightly.
"In their company, isn’t Qin Xuejin just a shareholder? There’s also the legal representative and other shareholders. Could no one else manage these matters, or have they not gone in today?"
"Heh heh, I actually asked about that. Since all their certifications are displayed at the reception, I casually asked. The legal representative is named Chen Junpeng, who just holds the title, and the shareholders are only Chen Junpeng and Qin Xuejin. Qin Xuejin handles all the big and small matters himself. Basically, he’s the sole boss of the company. I have yet to look into who this Chen Junpeng is."
"Wait for me, I’m coming over now."
After hanging up, before Xu Dayuan could speak, Zhou Ning said:
"Xu Da, I’m heading back to perform the autopsy, then I’ll send the evidence for testing as soon as possible. However, don’t have high hopes for the autopsy since there isn’t much evidence left, but I will carefully examine the wounds. We’ll have sister Cui do a particle analysis to see if the residue in the wounds of both victims is the same."
Additionally, if the deceased indeed died 30 hours ago, then the time I collected the rectal temperature was 7:45. Based on this inference, the time of death would be approximately between 22:00 on January 28th and 2:00 in the early morning of January 29th. We could check to see if any vehicles came or went during that period and investigate each one.
However, it’s not impossible for the murderer to have waited until daylight to leave the scene. If that’s the case, it’s not so simple as just inflicting injury. A premeditated murder like this must have a motive, especially since the victim’s phone and computer were missing."
Xu Dayuan nodded in understanding, grasping the implication of Zhou Ning’s words.
"I’ll have someone look into Fang Wenjie and Qin Xuejin’s backgrounds in detail—marriages, divorces, dismissals, incarcerations, everything—to see at which point they might have crossed someone.
After I return, I will also have that cousin’s nephew brought in for questioning, since he suddenly inherited tens of millions in assets, not to mention being the legal representative of Qindao Jinhai Accounting Agency Co., Ltd. along with Chen Junpeng."
Just as Zhou Ning was about to pick up the suitcase, he paused, and Xu Dayuan looked at him, puzzled.
"What did you think of?"
"Do both of these people have the surname Chen?"
Without a second thought, Xu Dayuan pulled out his police device and began searching. He quickly found the information, and upon reading it, he drew in a sharp breath and stared at Zhou Ning with wide eyes, which said everything.
"Could it be that Chen Junpeng is Fang Wenjie’s cousin?"
Xu Dayuan nodded, his face a picture of disbelief.
"We don’t need to discuss this any further. I’ll arrange for both the father and son to be brought in for questioning. This cannot be just a coincidence. The son has inherited all of Fang Wenjie’s estate, and as the company’s legal owner, it effectively belongs to him now."
...
Autopsy Room 2.
The body had been placed on the autopsy table. Yang Xuetong stayed at Qin Xuejin’s house as someone from the technical department was needed to unlock the door and collect evidence from inside, so he did not come back with the others.
Mr. Zhao and Sun Gaotie put in some effort to break the rigor mortis and laid the body on the autopsy table. Zhou Ning had finished his external examination, and Zhu Xingxing held the scalpel with a tense expression as he looked towards Zhou Ning.
"Are you sure, team leader, that you want me to do the autopsy?"
Zhou Ning nodded.
"Just do it confidently and without any psychological burden. You have the ability, you just lack practical experience. Besides, I’m right here. If there are any mistakes or oversights, I’ll tell you right away. Mr. Zhao, begin the narration."
Mr. Zhao looked somewhat gleeful as he glanced at Zhu Xingxing, then promptly activated the autopsy recording system and rapidly introduced the deceased’s basic information—the time and place the body was found, the chief examiners, and so on.
Zhu Xingxing cleared his throat, prepared to make the first cut.
Mr. Zhao kicked his leg out, and Zhu Xingxing, about to protest, was immediately silenced by Mr. Zhao’s round, stern eyes, gesturing toward the body.
Zhu Xingxing then remembered that he had forgotten to perform the external examination and, tapping his head, hastily set the scalpel down.
Starting from the hair of the body, he proceeded step by step, conducting a meticulous external examination. As he made discoveries, he would direct his findings to Sun Gaotie, who recorded them diligently.
Having been in the second group for a while and participating in numerous autopsies, the opportunity for Zhu Xingxing to conduct an independent examination with Sun Gaotie assisting was the best encouragement for him; his face showed excitement and tension no less than Zhu Xingxing’s.
After finishing the external examination and seeing that Zhou Ning had not commented, Zhu Xingxing once again raised the scalpel and opened the deceased’s chest and abdomen.
It was like playing a video game—when you’re not the one playing, it’s easy to see other’s actions clearly and spot issues, whether the cuts are deep enough or the dissections thorough. However, when it’s your turn to handle it, it’s a completely different story.
In Zhu Xingxing’s hands, the bone saw seemed to move erratically, startling Mr. Zhao into stepping back. Zhu Xingxing glanced at him but said nothing, striving to control his movements.
He then began the routine dissections and samplings, from the various organs to the digestive system, methodically performing each step.
Zhu Xingxing reviewed the autopsy findings and the sampling information, determining the cause of death, which, of course, aligned with Zhou Ning’s analysis—the cause of death was hypovolemic shock due to the severance of the carotid artery and trachea.
After suturing, Zhu Xingxing took a deep breath, and Mr. Zhao turned off the recording.
Zhu Xingxing looked towards Zhou Ning, seemingly trying to discern some sort of evaluation from his face, but Zhou Ning remained still, with his arms crossed.
"Team leader, I have finished the autopsy."
Zhou Ning did not move, only glanced at Zhu Xingxing.
"You’ve completed everything? When I mentioned a full-set autopsy, did you not hear me clearly? Or do you not like such opportunities and don’t want to work independently quickly? Do you prefer to be an assistant for life? Or do you think you’re not capable?"
Zhu Xingxing froze, somewhat stupefied.
After all, Zhou Ning was usually easy-going, and this was the first time he had spoken such severe words to her. Zhu Xingxing was caught off guard, uncertain of what she might have missed.
Mr. Zhao cleared his throat, and Zhu Xingxing turned to see him hinting towards the body’s head. Zhu Xingxing realized her mistake, almost raising her hand to knock on her head before, seeing the blood on her gloves, she stopped herself.
"My mistake, team leader, I’m just a blockhead. I’ll shave the deceased’s head and perform the craniotomy right now!"
