SFTD -Chapter 19 The Faceless Female Corpse (Part 11)

Captain Wang patted Zhou Hai on the shoulder.

“You guessed right! But the chat history was extremely simple.”

Looking at the phone screenshot Captain Wang handed over, there really was nothing unusual on it.

Ma: You there?
Zhong: Mm-hmm
Ma: Let’s go to the old spot in Forest Park and talk in detail.
Zhong: But it’s raining!
Ma: She’ll take a taxi to pick you up. Meet at the east gate of the neighborhood in ten minutes.
Zhong: Okay then.

“This ‘she’ must be Wang Yu. But did Ma Keke know about Wang Yu’s plan?”

“We already brought Wang Yu to the station. At the time, we weren’t sure whether you had solid evidence, so we could only say she was assisting with the investigation. Her family is downstairs right now, extremely emotional. Our division has become terrified of complaints lately. Chief Liu said you definitely have evidence in hand now. Hurry and tell us your progress.”

Everyone present looked toward Zhou Hai. Chief Liu nodded encouragingly at him.

“We’d really like to hear your reconstruction of the crime scene. Wang Yu is very difficult to deal with. The moment we started questioning her, she just cried and refused to answer anything.”

“There isn’t enough evidence yet for a complete reconstruction. I can only help Captain Wang organize the known facts.”

Zhou Hai’s expression grew more serious. He took out several color-printed A4 sheets and handed them over.

“These are photos taken by Xu Biao on June 24th when we went to No. 1 High School for questioning.

Out of professional habit, Xu Biao likes photographing everyone connected to the victim.

The other photo shows the white leather fragment shaped like the letter ‘B’ found in Ma Keke’s hand on the morning of the 25th.

While comparing details, I discovered that this fragment was extremely similar to the decorative flower attached to Wang Yu’s shoes when she was questioned.

The chop wounds and cuts on Zhong Yishan’s body indicate the killer’s hatred toward the victim.

The four ligature marks on Ma Keke’s neck, along with the final stab wound to Zhong Yishan’s perineum, were all meant to confirm the victims were truly dead. That suggests the killer knew them personally.

The murderer had carefully planned Zhong Yishan’s killing.

She chose a secluded location in Forest Park, drugged Zhong Yishan or attacked her by surprise, wore gloves, tied up the victim, and tortured her to death.

Even the wild dogs were probably part of her plan.

But Ma Keke’s murder was likely a crime of passion.

That’s why her DNA was left on the shoelace used to strangle Ma Keke.

And skin tissue from Wang Yu was found under Ma Keke’s fingernails.

Combined with the dry grass, dead branches, and lighter left at the scene, I suspect she intended to burn the body.

After all, if the police discovered the scene, she would be exposed. But the sudden appearance of the security guard startled her.

To search for more evidence, we conducted another autopsy on Zhong Yishan today. We found a strand of hair inside a blood clot in her mouth.

And from the surface of a subcutaneous bruise on Zhong Yishan’s back, we collected Wang Yu’s DNA.

She likely left it there while pressing her knee against the victim’s back during the torture.

As for Wang Yu’s motive for killing Zhong Yishan and Ma Keke—

My analysis is that it involved Zhang Yang.

Ma Keke had a sexual relationship with Zhang Yang and considered herself his girlfriend, though Zhang Yang refused to acknowledge it.

Zhong Yishan liked Zhang Yang, and Zhang Yang also seemed to protect her constantly.

That likely triggered Wang Yu’s murderous intent. As for Ma Keke, she may have threatened Wang Yu and was silenced because of it.

That’s all I can determine at the moment.”

Chief Liu looked toward Captain Wang.

“Right, did the investigators verify Wang Yu’s family situation?”

Captain Wang opened his work notebook.

“We did. June 23rd was her grandmother’s lunar birthday. That detail threw us off at first. After all, celebrating in advance over the weekend with family seemed perfectly reasonable. However, surveillance from Wang Yu’s residential complex showed no record of her entering or leaving on June 22nd. Either she never came home that day, stayed inside the whole time, or changed her appearance and we failed to notice. But now that we have evidence, there’s nothing to fear anymore!”

Chief Liu slapped the table.

“Let’s interrogate her right now! Zhou Hai deserves first-class merit for this case!”

Captain Wang led the others off to interrogation. Zhou Hai slumped into a chair and slowly closed his eyes.

The pain in his left eye made him dizzy. While organizing photos and reports earlier, he had secretly taken two tranquilizers when no one was looking.

As a trace investigator, Xu Biao was extremely observant. Seeing that nobody else noticed, he said nothing and simply poured Zhou Hai a cup of warm water.

After drinking and resting for a while, Zhou Hai quietly thanked him.

Xu Biao sat beside him and lowered his voice.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Zhou Hai glanced at him and pressed his lips together in what barely counted as a smile.

“Nothing. Just a stress-induced neural headache.”

Xu Biao believed him.

“If you’re feeling better, let’s go listen to the interrogation.”

The three of them went to the room next door to the interrogation room.

Chief Liu was already inside listening in. After all, the city bureau took two consecutive brutal murder cases very seriously.

Patting Zhou Hai’s shoulder, Chief Liu said with visible relief, “Haha! You guys are here! Didn’t expect this to go so smoothly. The moment Wang Yu came in, she confessed to everything. Forensic Doctor Zhou guessed everything correctly! She had Ma Keke lure Zhong Yishan there. Ma Keke never suspected anything. Wang Yu took a taxi to pick up Zhong Yishan, saying the two of them would head to the seaside first, while Chen Qiushi and Zhang Yang would pick up Ma Keke later.”

As Zhou Hai listened to Chief Liu explain the situation, he watched the interrogation room carefully.

A backpack sat on the interrogation table with its contents spilling out.

A torn-open bag of roasted peanuts and a bottle of mineral water sat among the books, looking strangely out of place.

Zhou Hai rolled his neck slightly, frowned tightly, and strode toward the one-way mirror.

Wang Yu suddenly seemed relieved, no longer pretending to be the obedient, well-behaved girl. A faint contemptuous smile hung on her face.

She spoke fluently to Captain Wang.

Why had her demeanor changed so drastically?

Who was she looking down on?

Had she figured something out?

Or…

“…In the end,

“Ma Keke stopped moving.

“I knew she was already dead.

“After that…

“I…

“picked up pine needles and branches,

“planning to burn the body.

“But…

“the light from my phone flashlight

“was spotted by the security guard.

“I…

“quickly…

“hid behind…

“the low wall.

“That guard ran over.

“When he saw Ma Keke’s corpse,

“he was terrified.

“But he didn’t leave.

“He immediately…

“called the police.

“Alright…

“That’s…

“what happened.

“I’m…

“finished talking.”

Wang Yu sat calmly in the chair.

Perhaps because she had been crying—or for some other reason—her breathing sounded labored, and her eyelids and cheeks were slightly swollen and red.

Zhou Hai froze.

He spun around immediately, his voice carrying a rare sharpness.

“Where are Wang Yu’s family members?”

Chief Liu turned toward an officer, who hurriedly replied, “Downstairs! Instructor Huang is with them!”

“Quick, call Instructor Huang!”

The officer hesitated for a second before Chief Liu smacked the brim of his cap.

“Hurry up and call! What are you standing around for?”

The call connected after two seconds. Zhou Hai grabbed the phone.

“Instructor Huang, immediately put Wang Yu’s parents on the phone.”

“…Hello?”

“I’m the forensic doctor.

“Does your daughter Wang Yu have a peanut allergy or a history of asthma?”

“…Huh?

“Yes, Wang Yu has asthma, and she’s allergic to peanuts. What’s going on—”

“…”

Zhou Hai glanced at Chief Liu.

“Before coming here, Wang Yu must have eaten peanuts. She’s trying to commit suicide. That’s why she confessed so calmly. Get her to the hospital immediately!”

Chief Liu nodded and was just about to give orders—

Inside the room, Wang Yu was already clutching her throat, eyes bulging, struggling desperately to breathe.

“Quick! Get her to the hospital!”