Chapter 325: Chapter 322: Gradually Coming Into Focus
"Look, this is my grandson!" Liu Dashan said, opening the album on his phone.
Even though he wasnât in uniform, because he came with the police, Liu Dashan naturally thought of him as an officer.
Faced with his request, there was no reason to refuse, so he showed him the photo. It was a little boy who looked a year or two younger than Wen Yun, quite sturdy, a bit tanned.
Simultaneously, the narrative in his mind gave a hint.
[Zhang Bo is the biological son of the deceased Liu Xiaojuan, with no blood relation to Zhang Heng, who only discovered this news in April this year.]
In an instant, the whole case process flashed through his mind, with various clues linking together. Although he couldnât claim to understand everything, he had basically figured out the course of events.
The murderer was Liu Xiaojuanâs second husband. He had guessed this early on when the narrative hinted that Zhang Guoxin was an oblivious old father, but he didnât know the motive for the murder.
Coincidentally, Zhang Hengâs father, Zhang Guoxin, used to work as a butcher, and they happened to have a Bone-Carving Knife at home.
Now the motive for murder was found, and everything seemed so reasonable. Realizing that the son he raised for four years wasnât his, old and new grudges together caused the honest man to explode, which explained the intense hatred.
What needs to be done now is to find the crime scene and the murder weapon. The narrative already provided a hint for the former, southwest direction, while the latter is a bit difficult, as itâs too easy to hide knives or axes, making them virtually impossible to find.
Another point to resolve is that Zhang Heng only returned a month ago, which doesnât match the timeline. This means he must have secretly returned from afar.
And without taking a high-speed rail, train, or plane, not even a bus, he likely used a private car such as carpooling.
If not, the police wouldnât have missed this link, as it is odd for him to suddenly return from elsewhere during the deceasedâs death period, raising suspicions.
But Su Qing knew that although the police suspected Zhang Heng and investigated him, they ultimately dismissed their suspicions, probably due to the timeline mismatch, and he didnât cause a scene despite his wifeâs infidelity, getting divorced quietly and continuing to pay child support on time. Such a person shouldnât act impulsively.
And even if it was a spur-of-the-moment murder, it wouldnât happen two years after the divorce, as with time, people typically donât care as much.
From an outsiderâs perspective, knowing the child wasnât his, the most he would do is stop paying child support, maybe sue to get back previous payments. But humans are defined by uncertainty.
To some, it might be trivial, but to others, it could be the last straw, with severe consequences if crossed.
"Susu, what are you doing? Come inside and help!" Just then, Du Qiang came out and asked.
Hearing this, Su Qing glanced at him sideways: "Strong guy, when did you get so gross, using reduplication, ew~~~"
"Itâs called a term of endearment, donât you get it?"
"Your love is too heavy for me to bear. Did you find anything?" Su Qing replied helplessly.
"Nothing useful, no bloodstains, but we can take those used contraceptives back."
Hearing this, Su Qing was nauseated: "Leave that task to you, Strong Brother, Iâm not cut out for this, donât want to delay the case!"
With that, he was about to retreat when Zhao Minghui came out: "Alright, donât let Xiao Su go in, notify others to bring equipment over tomorrow to see how many fingerprints can be extracted, and check for bloodstains, just in case it was cleaned up."
At this point, Lin Chengcai and Li Zijun also came out holding plastic bags containing cigarette butts, bottles, and used condoms, small items like that.
"Xiao Su, have you noticed anything?" Lin Chengcai asked as he came out.
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Su Qing glanced at him with a meaningful smile, then continued questioning Liu Dashan: "Sir, whatâs over there?"
As he spoke, Su Qing pointed southwest.
"Over there, thatâs West Peak Mountain. Going that way leads through an orchard, but itâs been nearly abandoned since no one tends it. Further in is the mountain, where you can see the river once you enter."
Upon hearing this, he and Lin Chengcai exchanged glances, and Old Lin spoke: "Old Zhao, you stay here with the strong guy, and the three of us will go check the surroundings!"
"Alright, you go ahead. The grass outside is tall, take care!"
"No worries!"
With that, the three left the courtyard.
Li Zijun placed her things in the car, removed her gloves, and asked: "Master, what were you two up to just now?"
"Up to what?" Lin Chengcai responded.
"Donât pretend I didnât notice. You were exchanging glances and acting mysterious, werenât you?"
"Ask Xiao Su, he was the mysterious one. Come on, tell us, what did you find?" Lin Chengcai smiled.
For this, Su Qing picked up a long, straight stick, smiled, and said, "Nothing much, just realized something while chatting with the old man."
"What did you realize?" Li Zijun asked.
Su Qing looked at Lin Chengcai and smiled: "Captain Lin, what would make a man lose his reason to kill?"
"That varies; different ages, relationships, and circumstances yield different outcomes. It canât be generalized; some even kill randomly if they feel displeased." Lin Chengcai answered.
Upon hearing this, Su Qing continued with the conditions: "A thirty-four or thirty-five-year-old man with a marriage and a child with the victim?"
"You suspect the victimâs second husband?" Li Zijun was slightly surprised.
But Lin Chengcai did not speak upon hearing this, wanting to see how he would respond.
Thus, Su Qing slowly nodded: "Of course, he has a motive. Why canât we suspect him?"
"But the timeline doesnât match, and itâs two years post-divorce. Itâs irrational to act after so long. I think people like Zhou Tao are more suspicious." Li Zijun offered another hypothesis.
Thereâs more than one person with a motive. Theyâve also investigated Zhang Heng but found no suspicions.
"Time can be faked, and what we heard might not be accurate. Who said he had to return with fanfare? Canât I quietly come back?"
"Xiao Su has a point, but you need a reason to suspect him; relying on this seems flimsy!" Lin Chengcai spoke.
"Reason? Iâve seen Zhang Hengâs photo, and just now I saw his grandsonâs photo on Liu Dashanâs phone. The child doesnât resemble Zhang Heng; does that count?"
Li Zijun couldnât help but laugh: "Is that a reason? You suspect the child isnât Zhang Hengâs? Everyoneâs been clueless for years, but you judge based on a photo. Itâs unreasonable, isnât it?"
However, as an experienced detective, Lin Chengcai considered all reasonable hypotheses earnestly.
"Honestly, they donât quite look alike."
"Master, youâre..."
Lin Chengcai waved: "Itâs speculation stage; you should be bold. Xiao Li, learn this from Xiao Su."
"I..."
Before she could protest, Lin Chengcai smiled: "If, as you guessed, the childâs parentage is off, itâs quite logical, but without evidence, itâs just speculation.
Yet, you called me out to check over there; why?"
Communicating with smart folks rationalizes things.
"Based on our analysis of the victimâs WeChat chats and witness testimonies, the victim stayed at her hometown yet no clear bloodstains were found. Apart from the stove, there were no burn signs. If I were the killer, Iâd lure her out, and wouldnât you say thatâs a decent spot?" Su Qing smiled.
He was certain Lin Chengcai noticed the place too, especially when Liu Dashan mentioned going through there leads to the mountain, and thereâs a river, prompting him to suggest checking the vicinity.
Sure enough, hearing this, Comrade Lin couldnât help but laugh: "Though previous speculations lack evidence, you nailed this deduction; you are indeed made for detective work!"
"Hear that, Sister Jun? Captain Lin says Iâm detective material!" Su Qing gloatingly said.
Li Zijun: "Tease me again, Iâll clobber you!"
...