SFTD -Chapter 366 White Spots Reappear (Part 7)

Zhou Hai shook his head. The wound on the victim’s back had a curved trajectory, clearly caused by a stabbing motion during a swing. If it had been a direct impact and then embedded into the heart, the wound would have been a straight line.

“Send it for inspection first,” he said. “Xiao Liang, remember to remind Sister Zeng to conduct toxicology tests on the heart tissue and intracardiac blood. In particular, compare it with the preserved samples from the previous Duping poisoning case.”

Xiao Liang understood the seriousness of the situation and quickly carried the tray out. Fengzi looked at Zhou Hai; the clues left in this case were too few. They still needed a detailed investigation from Huang Zhongsheng’s side. He began removing his protective suit.

“I’ll change clothes and take Zhang Wenqi to keep watch over Huang Zhongsheng’s team.”

Zhou Hai nodded slightly. He understood what Fengzi meant.

“Alright. You go attend the task force meeting. I still have some things to handle here. Xiao Liang has all the autopsy records from just now. As for the investigation direction, my suggestions are:

First, clarify the victim’s family situation and carefully check his social relationships;
Second, thoroughly examine all bank accounts of his immediate family members;
Third, review surveillance along nearby roads—especially vehicles that appeared and stayed near this machinery factory between 21:00 and 23:00 on September 5th. The workload will be very large.”

Fengzi nodded solemnly, called Zhang Wenqi, and left. Zhou Hai and Xu Biao returned to the second-floor office.

Back in the office, Xu Biao didn’t know Zhou Hai’s plan and kept observing his expression. After all, if even Zhou Hai was this tense, the case must be extremely serious.

“Haizi, what are we doing now?”

Zhou Hai thought for a moment. By now, the initial shock and tension had faded. His mind was entirely focused on the case information, and his thinking gradually became clearer.

“Xu Biao, go check what that badge means. You saw the message Hu Nan sent—it feels strange to me. Although Dongnan City was occupied by Germany for many years, that was over a hundred years ago. Something still doesn’t add up.

I think it’s a hint, or a clue pointing us somewhere.

Also, the word on the blueprint—send the drawing to Dr. Nan Wudao. Ask him to find a handwriting analysis expert to see if anything can be discovered. Also ask whether these blueprints are professionally made.

And ask whether Dong Bin’s phone data has been recovered yet.

Can we determine what profession the person who drew them was in?”

“Alright!”

Xu Biao immediately turned on the computer, packaged the blueprint photos from the camera, and sent them to Dr. Nan Wudao. He also made a phone call to follow up, then began searching for information about the badge.

Meanwhile, Zhou Hai stood in front of the whiteboard, sketching out all the autopsy findings. He then pulled a cord above his head, and a huge projection screen dropped down.

It was not a blank white screen. Instead, it was covered with information from the Duping poisoning case and the Lu Xi case. The only thing linking all three cases together was the bottle containing capsules.

Although the Lu Xi case had no bottle, the same drug components were found in a dagger.

Furthermore, both the Lu Xi case and the September 5th Dong Bin case involved the same dagger. Based on current information, that dagger was likely manufactured by Dong Bin himself.

So why was Dong Bin killed?

Was the mastermind silencing him because Dong Bin had threatened them?

Or was it because he knew too much?

Or was it even a warning to them?

September 6, 2015, 14:00 — Dongcheng District Criminal Police Division

The task force meeting for the September 5th Dong Bin murder case was underway. Fengzi handed Huang Zhongsheng a sheet of paper summarizing Zhou Hai’s key points and autopsy findings.

Huang Zhongsheng began assigning tasks:

Team One, led by Da Mao, would question the victim’s family and interrogate the two gatekeepers, with Luo Yunfeng accompanying them;

Team Two, led by Da Zhao, would investigate Dong Bin’s social connections and verify all bank accounts of his immediate family, with Zhang Wenqi assisting;

Team Three, led by Da Liu with Xiao Hu assisting, would review surveillance footage from two hours before and after the incident, checking all vehicles passing through the area—any vehicle that stopped would be investigated. Xiao Liang would join this team.

Everyone understood Huang Zhongsheng’s arrangement. It was obvious even to outsiders that this case was connected to the Lu Xi case and the Duping poisoning case. The entire team was energized, and efficiency would be extremely high.

After the meeting, all work began at full speed. Luo Yunfeng followed Da Mao directly to the interrogation room where the victim’s wife was waiting.

They arrived quickly. Luo Yunfeng did not enter, instead standing outside. Da Mao entered the room with a female clerk.

Standing behind the one-way glass, Luo Yunfeng observed the suspect—this was his weakness, and now he had to learn. Good observation could provide valuable clues for autopsy and criminal profiling.

Dong Bin’s wife looked cold. She appeared to be in her forties, wearing a short-sleeved work uniform and pants. She was thin, her complexion sallow, with deep nasolabial folds and forehead wrinkles.

Her appearance was very different from Dong Bin’s relatively handsome looks. In simple terms, they did not look like a matching couple at all. If they stood together, no one would easily believe they were husband and wife.

Luo Yunfeng put on his earphones. Da Mao’s tone was fairly calm as he asked:

“What is your name?”

The woman looked very nervous, scanning the room repeatedly before glancing at Da Mao.

“Zhu Cuiwen.”

“Date of birth?”

“November 16, 1977.”

“Where do you work?”

“I used to work at Dongnan Textile Factory No. 6. It was restructured, but I still work there now.”

Da Mao nodded and handed her several printed photos.

“Don’t be nervous. We just want to ask you a few questions. Look at these photos—do you recognize anyone?”

Zhu Cuiwen looked suspicious, but straightened up and took the A4 sheets. She only glanced at them before suddenly throwing them onto the table.

“What… what is this?”

“You recognize him?”

“He’s my husband! Of course I recognize him!”

“What happened to him? What’s going on?”

Da Mao raised his hand to calm her down.

“Take it easy. Sit down first.”

“This person is your husband?”

Zhu Cuiwen nodded heavily, taking deep breaths as she slowly sat down while holding the table.

“Yes… he is my husband Dong Bin. Officer, what is going on?”

Da Mao did not answer her directly and continued asking: “Did he come home last night?”

Zhu Cuiwen shook her head.

“No, he didn’t come home.”

“Does he often not come home?”

Her expression became slightly unnatural as she brushed the hair near her temple.

“He’s busy with work… he rarely comes home.”

Da Mao narrowed his eyes and tapped the table.

“Zhu Cuiwen, I hope you are not hiding anything at a time like this. It will not be good for you or for the investigation. You’ve been invited to the criminal police team to assist with the investigation, and we are already speaking to you very politely out of respect for the victim and your feelings. But if your concealment affects or misleads the investigation, you will not be able to bear the consequences. Do you understand?”