The doors and windows were intact.
The wife was killed, and the mother – in – law was hanged.
Moreover, the air – conditioner and faucets at home were all on, and water was flowing all over the floor.
There was no murder weapon at the scene.
Nor was there any trace of a third person.
Who killed them?
1
When I received the police call,
it only took me forty minutes to rush to my mother – in – law’s house in the suburbs.
My mother – in – law’s house was full of water.
The whole house was wet.
Many police officers were working busily and orderly.
Looking at my wife lying on the living – room floor, her face was pale, swollen from being soaked in water.
And my mother – in – law, she was like a piece of clothing.
Hanging on the clothes – drying rack on the balcony.
There was nothing under her feet.
I was so frightened that I immediately screamed and slumped to the ground.
2
Just then, a middle – aged man with a square face walked up to me.
He squatted down, showed his ID, and said, “Zhou Hai, right? I’m Li Lei, the captain of the city’s criminal investigation team.”
“You came quite quickly.”
“When you called, I, I was on my way back from a business trip,” I said, my body trembling slightly and my lips quivering. “I hadn’t even entered the urban area, and I turned around and came here directly.”
“What a coincidence.”
Looking at my panicked appearance, he pulled me up and said in a gentle tone, “Control your emotions first. Don’t be so nervous.”
“Zhou Hai, does your mother – in – law live alone?”
I nodded hurriedly and said, “Yes, she lives alone.”
“Okay.”
He nodded slightly, his face tight, and said, “This is a newly – built community, and the facilities are not very complete.”
“Not many people live here, and they are quite scattered.”
“Because all the faucets in your mother – in – law’s house were on.”
“When the water flowed out of the house, it didn’t attract anyone’s attention in time.”
“It was only discovered after two or three days.”
“We have confirmed this from the water meter.”
“Immediately after that, the local police officers came to the door, confirmed the homicide, and then we came.”
“Zhou Hai, when did your wife return to her mother’s house?
Have you offended anyone?
What about your mother – in – law’s character? Has she offended anyone?”
After saying this, Captain Li stared straight at me with intense eyes.
3
“My, my wife came back about three days ago,” I took a deep breath, calmed my mood a little, clenched my hands tightly, and thought for a while before saying, “At noon that day, I received a call from my wife. She said that my mother – in – law was ill.”
“She said she was going to her mother’s house to stay for a few days.”
“It should be that day she came back.”
“My wife and I haven’t offended anyone, at least not on the surface.”
“As for my mother – in – law’s character… she’s a straightforward person.”
“She shouldn’t have offended anyone either.”
“Should?”
Captain Li immediately frowned. He asked with some confusion, “Why do you use the word’should’? And you used it twice.
Are you not sure about the specific time your wife returned to her mother’s house?
Is your relationship with your wife and mother – in – law very bad?
Or did your mother – in – law offend someone?
How many days have you been on a business trip?
Have you talked to your wife on the phone in the past few days?”
4
“Counting today, I’ve been on a business trip for exactly a week,” I explained hurriedly. “My wife came back three days ago.”
“My relationship with my wife and mother – in – law is quite good.”
“However, I’m usually busy with work and rarely have time to visit my mother – in – law.”
“So, I don’t know my mother – in – law very well.”
“I only know that she’s a straightforward person.”
“Uh, sometimes she speaks without considering other people’s feelings, but she has a warm heart.”
“I’m not sure if she has offended anyone.”
“As for my wife, we talk on the phone every day.”
“But three days ago, when she said she was coming to her mother’s house, that was the last time we talked on the phone.”
“After that, when I called her again, she didn’t answer.”
“She only sent a WeChat message saying that she was busy and tired.”
“I thought my wife was taking care of my mother – in – law and was very tired, so I wanted her to have a good rest.”
“So, I, I didn’t call her anymore.”
“But I sent her WeChat messages every day.”
Captain Li’s eyes flickered. After a short silence, he asked, “Can I see your phone?”
“Yes.”
I quickly handed over my phone.
“We’ll take your wife and mother – in – law back to the team to determine their exact time of death,” Captain Li said after looking at my phone and returning it to me. “You can’t come to this house again without our permission.”
“Also, don’t leave the city in the near future to facilitate our investigation.”
“Now, give me the key to this place, and you can leave.”
5
“I don’t have the key here,” I said, turning to look at the living room, staring at my wife’s body, and saying with a sad face, “How did my wife… how did she die?”
“There don’t seem to be any wounds on her body.”
Captain Li hesitated for a moment and said, “The wound is on the chest.”
“Okay, you can leave now. We still have a lot to do.”
“Uh, okay.”
I took a deep breath, my eyes still on my wife’s body. “Captain Li, you must solve the case as soon as possible.”
After saying this, I turned to look at Captain Li, grabbed his hand, and said emotionally, “Please, you must solve the case as soon as possible. My wife and mother – in – law can’t die without clear reasons.”
“Don’t worry. We’re the police, and we will bring the bad guys to justice,” Captain Li said with a serious face. “You go back and rest. Leave this to us.”
“Okay.”
I let go of his hand weakly, turned around, and left in a daze.
I staggered towards the elevator.
Several police officers beside me looked at me with sympathetic eyes.
6
After I went downstairs and got into the car,
my face immediately turned gloomy.
Then, I lit a cigarette and stepped on the gas pedal, rushing out of the community.
My intuition told me that this Captain Li was a very careful and capable person.
Although the questions he asked me were not comprehensive, and they didn’t seem very formal.
He didn’t even take a statement.
Nor did he mention the basic family – member situation of my mother – in – law’s house.
But his words: Give me the key to this place, and you can leave.
These words seemed casual.
But they were enough to prove that he was suspecting me.
Did they need the key?
If they did, the key was on the coffee table.
They could take it themselves.
But he asked me for it.
So, he was suspecting me?
It seems that the saying that the first thing to do when a homicide occurs is to rule out the people around is correct.
However, his suspicion was right.
I was the one who killed them.
But as long as I don’t say anything, he’ll never find the evidence in his life.
7
Actually, I had long wanted to kill my mother – in – law.
As for my wife, I didn’t originally plan to kill her.
It’s all her fault for being too obedient to her mother.
It took me more than two years to get to know and marry my wife.
Although it wasn’t a flash marriage.
But my mother – in – law did use some means – marriage fraud.
On the first anniversary of my acquaintance with my wife, she suggested taking me home.
The first time I saw my mother – in – law, I thought she was a warm – hearted and amiable person.
My father – in – law passed away early.
My mother – in – law didn’t remarry. She raised her two children with difficulty.
I understood her hardships.
And I was moved by her.
Not long after, under her arrangement, I married my wife.
However, on the day my wife and I got married,
my brother – in – law, Wang Di, went out drunk and caused trouble.
My mother – in – law couldn’t leave because there were many distant relatives at home.
She asked me to find my brother – in – law and bring him back.
When I found my brother – in – law, he was very drunk.
He was arguing with several delinquent youths.
It was only then that I realized that my brother – in – law was not as excellent as my mother – in – law had said.
It took me a lot of effort to send those delinquent youths away.
However, just as I was about to pull my brother – in – law away,
he raised his finger and pointed at my nose, saying, “Zhou Hai, who do you think you are?
If my sister hadn’t been discovered by the other party’s wife for being kept by someone, it wouldn’t be your turn to marry her.
Do you really think my mother values your honesty and kindness?
It’s a joke. My mother is after your money.”
“…”
8
My brother – in – law, taking advantage of his drunkenness, spoke wildly without restraint.
His words were like a bolt from the blue, hitting my heart heavily.
I couldn’t describe my feelings at that moment.
A man, on his wedding night, hearing all the past embarrassments of his wife.
It felt as if I had fallen into a bottomless and desperate abyss.
I struggled desperately in this abyss.
It was not until I regained a glimmer of reason that I controlled the outburst of anger.
But considering that my brother – in – law was drunk, perhaps he was talking nonsense.
I immediately used force to stuff him into the car.
To avoid arousing suspicion from my mother – in – law and wife, I didn’t take him home.
Instead, I took him to a hotel.
Looking at my brother – in – law’s sleeping face, I stared blankly and sat there all night.
I also thought all night.
If what my brother – in – law said was true,
what should I do?
Get a divorce?
I’m afraid it’s not easy.
Since my mother – in – law was after my money,
she would never easily agree to a divorce.
It seems that I still have to find someone to secretly investigate my mother – in – law’s family.
If all this is true,
then my mother – in – law is guilty of marriage fraud.
Humph!
Dare to deceive me.
I will definitely make them pay the price.
After making up my mind, it was already dawn.
Then, my brother – in – law woke up.
As soon as he saw me, he immediately put on a warm face.
He seemed to have forgotten what happened last night.
I probed him.
It was not until I was sure that he had a blackout after drinking that I let out a long sigh of relief.
Then, I sent my brother – in – law home without showing any emotion.
After that, I went to the company.
I asked my close friend to secretly investigate my mother – in – law’s family for me.
9
A few days later,
looking at the information my friend sent me,
I couldn’t believe that I had married a woman with a bad reputation.
My mother – in – law didn’t remarry.
But she had affairs with many men.
And my wife, Wang Li, because of her fair skin and beauty, had been kept by many men.
My brother – in – law was idle and did nothing.
He relied on his mother and sister, that is, my wife, to swindle money from men for his extravagance.
I had actually met such a disgusting and strange family.
Especially my mother – in – law.
She was a tough and snobbish shrew.
It seems that this divorce is definitely not easy.
What should I do?
What should I do?
What on earth should I do?
Was I going to live with this woman with a bad reputation and wear a cuckold for the rest of my life?
Obviously, this was impossible.
I suffered for a long time, struggled for a long time, and was in a dilemma for a long time.
Finally, I gritted my teeth and made up my mind.
That is – kill them.
After making up my mind, I let out a long sigh of relief.
My mood also relaxed a lot.
10
Next, I pretended not to know anything and treated my wife as well as before.
However, as my wife and I got married,
my mother – in – law’s ugly face gradually revealed itself.
In the past year or so,
I was forced by my mother – in – law to buy her a house in the suburbs.
And I also bought a car for my brother – in – law.
I accepted all these.
But what I couldn’t accept the most was that a month ago, my wife was actually pregnant.
Looking at her beaming with joy,
I also smiled with her without showing any emotion.
How could she be pregnant?
Since the day I learned the truth,
I had been secretly taking male contraceptive injections.
How could she be pregnant?
Who made her pregnant?
To find out the answer,
I got my brother – in – law drunk again.
From my brother – in – law’s mouth, I learned that my mother – in – law had secretly introduced a benefactor to my wife.
My wife was pregnant with someone else’s child.
She was being supported by me and still cuckolded me. She really couldn’t change her ways.
I really couldn’t swallow this anger.
So, I started to plan a meticulous murder.
11
First of all, I had to rule out my suspicion.
To rule out my suspicion, I needed a perfect crime scene.
But this perfect crime scene,
I couldn’t handle it alone.
After all, technology is so advanced nowadays.
I needed an accomplice.
But if this accomplice helped me,
what if he blackmailed me in the future? That would be troublesome.
This accomplice should preferably forget everything after helping me.
Thinking of this, I set my sights on my brother – in – law.
He had the habit of having a blackout after drinking.
I had confirmed this many times in the past year or so.
Moreover, every time he came to ask me for money, I gave it to him readily.
I was sure that he would listen to me.
He was a good candidate.
12
But for a perfect crime scene,
what should I use as a murder weapon?
Ordinary murder weapons are not easy to destroy and are likely to leave evidence.
I thought about it for many days.
Finally, I thought of what to use.
So, more than ten days ago, I started sending seafood to my mother – in – law’s house.
She had not only a refrigerator but also a freezer.
I froze a lot of ice cubes and icicles in her refrigerator and freezer.
The largest ice cube was sixty or seventy centimeters high.
I told my mother – in – law that seafood was good for health, and these ice cubes were for eating seafood.
My mother – in – law was so happy that her mouth couldn’t close.
Humph, I’m afraid she never dreamed that these ice cubes would be the murder weapons I used to kill her.
The murder weapon was ready.
Next, I needed my brother – in – law to take me into my mother – in – law’s house.
This way, I could avoid the community’s surveillance.
And I could also frame my brother – in – law.
13
Although the community where my mother – in – law lived was a new one with imperfect facilities,
it still had the necessary surveillance.
So, at this time, I had to hide in a box and let my brother – in – law take me to my mother – in – law’s house.
But this had to be done after my brother – in – law was drunk.
As long as the plan went smoothly, my brother – in – law would become the suspect.
But how could I make my brother – in – law take me into my mother – in – law’s house after drinking?
I thought hard all night and finally came up with a solution.
So, before I went on a business trip, I gave my brother – in – law a catering card for a big hotel.
And I told him that when I came back from the business trip, he had to return the card to me.
With my brother – in – law’s mentality of being greedy for small gains and loving alcohol,
he would definitely go there to consume every day.
I just needed to call my brother – in – law with an anonymous call and a voice – changer.
Confirm that he had drunk.
Then ask him to help me send a box to my mother – in – law’s house, and the thing would be done.
But at the same time, I also considered that the plan might fail.
So, before getting into the wooden box, I deliberately bought a bunch of flowers.
If the plan failed,
I would say – it was a surprise for my wife.
14
Finally,
I needed to find a path with few surveillance cameras and little attention from a neighboring city.
And ride a motorcycle back.
I wasn’t worried about this.
I had walked this path many times in the past year or so.
A second – hand motorcycle had already been placed in the neighboring city for backup.
So, three nights ago,
I, who was on a business trip in the neighboring city, after careful disguise, rode a second – hand motorcycle and came back along a small path. However, to my surprise, things went very smoothly. I was sent into my mother – in – law’s house by my drunken brother – in – law as I wished. After knocking my brother – in – law unconscious, I first killed my wife with an icicle. Then I forced my mother – in – law to consume a large quantity of alcohol. I had her step on ice cubes and simulated her death by hanging.
But considering that my wife was stabbed to death with an icicle, the wound would leave a mark after the ice melted. So, after killing her, I made her lie face – down on the floor. I also put thick – soled shoes on my mother – in – law. This way, there would be no trace of frostbite. Immediately after, I turned on all the air – conditioners and faucets in the house, closed the windows, and drew the curtains. Then I poured all the ice cubes from the refrigerator and freezer onto the floor. As the temperature in the house rose and the water flowed, there would be no trace left after the ice cubes melted. Even the half – broken icicle in my wife’s chest could be covered up. If I was lucky, the exact time of their death wouldn’t be accurately determined either. The perfect scene I carefully set up would surely mislead the police. So, I was confident that no matter how capable Captain Li was, he couldn’t find the slightest evidence, or rather, evidence against me.
15
When I left my mother – in – law’s house with my unconscious brother – in – law, I left a trace on purpose. As long as the police were careful enough, they would surely find it. But the suspect wouldn’t be me, but my brother – in – law. The second – hand motorcycle was poured with gasoline and burned when I returned to the neighboring city. From now on, I just needed to focus and be patient in dealing with the police.
16
Back at my home in the urban area, I put down my luggage and didn’t even have time to change my clothes before I started dialing my brother – in – law’s phone. But his phone was turned off. Since I couldn’t get in touch with him, I started looking for his friends. After all, his relatives were killed, and as his brother – in – law, I had to look for him. Only in this way would it be reasonable. Moreover, since Captain Li suspected me, he would surely have someone watching me secretly. Since I was innocent, I had to act like a dutiful person. I searched non – stop from afternoon until late at night but couldn’t find out my brother – in – law’s whereabouts. Just then, it suddenly started to rain heavily. Looking at the pouring rain, I couldn’t help but sneer. I never dreamed that I would be so lucky. At that time, my mother – in – law forced me to buy her a house with a combination of threats and insults. The reason why I bought her a house in the last and most remote area of the community, next to a large forest, was to make it convenient to kill her. I told her that living near the forest meant good air… That old witch actually believed my nonsense. This rain came just in time. The motorcycle tracks in the forest would soon be completely washed away by the rain. Touching my growling stomach, I walked into a snack bar. After filling my stomach, I drove away with a worried look on my face. Back home, I didn’t sleep. Instead, I sat in the living room, smoking continuously. The next day, the rain stopped after dawn. Because I got a little wet in the rain last night, I, who hadn’t fully recovered from a bad cold, had a fever again. I found some cold medicine from the drawer of the coffee table. Just as I was about to take it, the doorbell rang.
17
When I opened the door, it was actually Li Lei. He was accompanied by two young police officers.
“Captain Li, did you not sleep all night?” Looking at Li Lei’s blood – shot eyes, I quickly invited them in. “Have you found out anything? Who killed my wife and mother – in – law?”
“Not yet,” Captain Li’s eyes flickered. Looking at the cold medicine on the coffee table, he said, “Are you sick? Do you need us to accompany you to the hospital?”
“No, it’s just a minor cold.” After taking the medicine, I hesitated for a while and asked, “Have you contacted my brother – in – law?”
“Your brother – in – law is Wang Di, right?” Captain Li sat down on the coffee table and said, “We haven’t been able to contact him yet.”
“Zhou Hai, we found out that a few days ago… no, specifically, since the day you went on a business trip, Wang Di used your catering card to consume many times at a hotel. Was this catering card given to him by you voluntarily?”
“No,” I shook my head and said with a bitter face, “He asked me for it.”
“You gave it to him as soon as he asked? You’re really a nice brother – in – law.”
“I had no choice,” I explained helplessly. “He came to my company to ask for it that day. I was afraid he would make a scene, so I gave it to him. But I also told him that it was only a temporary loan, and he had to return the card to me when I came back from my business trip. Captain Li, is there a problem with my catering card?”
18
“No problem,” Captain Li’s eyes flickered, and he asked in a gentle tone, “Does your brother – in – law often make trouble for you?”
“Uh, how should I say it?” I frowned and sighed. “He hasn’t really made trouble. That’s because I give him whatever he wants. After all, I’m his brother – in – law.”
Captain Li continued, “Judging from your expression, it seems that you don’t like your brother – in – law very much?”
“I neither like nor dislike him,” I said straightforwardly. “I’m a very ambitious person and don’t want to waste time on such trivial matters. Not to mention the catering card, I even bought a car for him and a house for my mother – in – law. As long as it can make my wife happy and the family harmonious, what does spending some money matter?”
“Speaking of Wang Li…” Captain Li’s face immediately turned serious. “She… was pregnant.”
“What did you say?” My face changed, and I asked in panic, “Captain Li, what did you say?”
“I know you can’t accept it,” Captain Li’s gaze was heavy, and he comforted me. “Zhou Hai, try to think it through. We will surely bring the bad guys to justice.”
“No, it’s impossible.” I had been secretly taking contraceptive injections, and I knew they would find out about this sooner or later. So, after a moment of panic, I was furious. I raised my hand and smashed the water kettle on the coffee table, shouting angrily, “I told her not to have a child for the time being. I’ve been secretly taking contraceptive injections. How could she be pregnant? Who made her pregnant?”
19
“What did you say?” Captain Li’s face changed, and he suddenly stood up. “Zhou Hai, you were using contraception?”
“Yes, I was,” I looked at Captain Li with cold eyes and asked through gritted teeth, “Are you sure you’re not mistaken? My wife, Wang Li, was really pregnant?”
“Zhou Hai, please control your emotions.” Captain Li patted my shoulder and forced me to sit back on the sofa. “We’re not wrong. Wang Li was indeed pregnant. Zhou Hai, I need to collect your blood for a comparison. Do you agree?”
“Yes,” I clenched my fists tightly, and my chest heaved violently. Seeing that I agreed, a young man with a crew – cut immediately took out his phone and made a call. Soon, two police officers rushed over with a medical kit. They not only collected my blood but also cut my hair, etc. Finally, Captain Li patiently comforted me a few words and then left in a hurry with his men. As soon as they left the house, I started throwing and smashing things randomly, venting my anger fiercely. Then, I cried and laughed heart – brokenly. After tossing around for a long time, I was exhausted and curled up on the sofa, falling asleep in a daze.
20
I slept until noon the next day. After waking up, I seriously thought about the real purpose of Captain Li’s visit yesterday. Since he entered the door, he didn’t seem to take the initiative to ask me questions. Instead, I was answering his questions passively. I was also asked to provide samples of my blood, hair, dander, palm prints, and fingerprints. He didn’t give up suspecting me just because I was sad about my wife’s pregnancy. He could find out that Wang Di used my catering card to consume in one night. Then he must also know that Wang Di was an idle person. It seemed that they had carefully checked the community’s surveillance. On the night of the crime, Wang Di pushed a wooden box into my mother – in – law’s house with a trolley. After that, Wang Di and the wooden box disappeared. Why didn’t they suspect Wang Di? Why did they ask me if I gave the catering card to Wang Di voluntarily? What clues could this catering card provide? Could it be that they had found out that Wang Di had the habit of having a blackout after drinking? If so, they should also have found out that Wang Di received a call that night. And the person who made the call used an anonymous number. A person using an anonymous number must be up to something. After all, a homicide occurred that night. If this person wasn’t the murderer, he was likely forcing Wang Di to kill. The person who could force Wang Di to kill must know that he had the habit of having a blackout after drinking. So, the person who called Wang Di must be someone who knew him well. The people who knew Wang Di well were naturally his relatives. Therefore, they suspected me?
21
No!
That’s not right!
Captain Li suspected me at the crime scene. He said at that time, “What a coincidence.” So, yesterday, he came to my house in person. Although it seemed passive, he collected all the evidence on my body that could prove my identity. Do I really look like a bad guy? Why did he suspect me just from one meeting? I thought for a long time but couldn’t figure it out, so I simply stopped thinking. Yesterday, I told Captain Li that I had been using contraception. Next, he would check Wang Li’s past. When they found out that Wang Li was a woman with a bad reputation, that would be the real start of my showdown with Captain Li. After checking Wang Li, they would investigate my business trip in the neighboring city. I wasn’t worried about this at all. It seemed that they wouldn’t come to my house in the next few days. They needed time. Thinking of this, I let out a long sigh. I got up and walked to the bathroom. After washing up, I went to the company refreshed. A few days passed in a row. Wang Di’s phone was still off, and he was nowhere to be found. I sat in my office, frowning and sighing. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Before I could say “come in,” the door was pushed open. It was the young man with a crew – cut. He looked at me and said, “Zhou Hai, we’ve met before, so I don’t need to introduce myself. Please come with me.”
22
“Uh, okay.” I immediately followed him out. I originally thought he would take me back to the police station. However, to my surprise, he actually took me to my mother – in – law’s house in the suburbs. At this moment, the lights were on in my mother – in – law’s house, and all the curtains were drawn. Captain Li and a young police officer were standing in the room with worried faces. As soon as I arrived, Captain Li was about to speak, but I interrupted him. “Captain Li, why are you turning on the lights in broad daylight? And the curtains are drawn? What are you doing?”
“Zhou Hai, come here.” Captain Li walked towards the bathroom. “When the crime occurred, all the windows and curtains in this room were closed. Only the window in the bathroom was open. And below the window of the bathroom is the bathtub. There are friction marks left by gravity pulling on the anti – slip handrail on the wall above the bathtub. Do you know what this means?” After saying this, he stared straight at my face with his blood – shot eyes. I looked at him blankly and shook my head. “I don’t know.”
23
“Look at this again…” Captain Li turned to look out of the window. “Outside is a forest, and this is the sixth floor. The door lock shows no signs of being broken, and there are no signs of the house being ransacked. Therefore, we have ruled out the possibility of a stranger committing the crime. Zhou Hai, looking at the forest outside, what do you think of?” This was the trace I left after taking Wang Di away that night. Since Captain Li asked this, if I still pretended not to notice anything, it would seem unreasonable. I immediately exclaimed with a look of sudden realization, “Captain Li, do you mean that someone could leave from here? But how is this possible? It’s the sixth floor. Aren’t they afraid of falling to their death?”
“Come out and talk.” Captain Li turned around coldly and walked towards the living room. At this time, all the curtains in the room had been drawn open. Captain Li sat down on the coffee table and pointed to the sofa in front of him. “Zhou Hai, sit down.”
“Oh, okay.” I quickly walked to the sofa and sat down.
“Zhou Hai, do you know?” After I sat down, Captain Li said seriously, “When we arrived at the crime scene that day, I noticed the window in the bathroom. After all, all the other windows and curtains were closed, but the one in the bathroom was open. This was a bit unusual. But at the same time, it reminded me that it was an acquaintance who committed the crime. Although it rained heavily that night, we have collected evidence of the motorcycle tracks in the forest outside. It’s time for you to be honest with me, isn’t it?”
24
“Captain Li, what… do you mean?” I looked at him in confusion and asked, “Do you have some misunderstanding about me?”
“Misunderstanding?” Captain Li sneered. “Zhou Hai, according to our investigation, your wife, Wang Li, was kept by many men…”
“What did you say?” I suddenly stood up, clenching my fists angrily and interrupting him. “My wife, Wang Li, was kept by men?
“Still pretending?”
Just then, the young man with a crew – cut roared, “Zhou Hai, you’re the murderer. Your wife was not only kept by men, but she was also pregnant with someone else’s child. Although it took us some time, none of the people who had connections with her are suspected. Your mother – in – law forced you to buy her a house and a car, and you were not willing. You have a motive for murder.”
“Just because I bought a house and a car, I have a motive for murder?” I turned to look at the young man with a crew – cut and shouted emotionally, “If someone is killed with a kitchen knife, do all the people who have used a kitchen knife have a motive? If I had known she was kept by men, I wouldn’t have married her, let alone bought a house and a car for her. Are you guys idle? Instead of solving the case and finding the real murderer, you’re suspecting me here? Do I really look like a bad guy? Or do you not want to waste time and just want to find someone to take the blame for this murder?”
“You…”
“Xiao Wang, shut up.” Just as the young man with a crew – cut was about to get angry, Captain Li stopped him.
25
Then, Captain Li looked at me and said seriously, “Zhou Hai, watch your words. We are the police. We are not afraid of wasting time, and we won’t convict anyone casually. After examining the crime scene, we determined that it was an acquaintance who committed the crime. Since we suspect you, we must have a basis. When we first met on the day of the crime, I suspected you. It was completely because when a homicide occurs, the first thing to do is to rule out the people around. At that time, I suspected you out of professional habit and also to rule out your suspicion. But when I saw the friction marks left by gravity pulling on the anti – slip handrail in the bathroom, I looked out at the forest. Then I had a bold speculation. In the case where the doors and windows are intact, to leave without leaving a trace, one can only leave through the window in the bathroom. So, the murderer must be very familiar with the environment here. Then this person can’t be a stranger. I immediately went to the forest outside. In the forest, I found motorcycle tracks and some other traces. At the same time, from the surveillance, we saw that three nights before the crime, Wang Di, staggering, pushed a wooden box into the community with a trolley. Wang Di’s gait at that time was clearly that of a drunk person. But after he entered the community, he disappeared. The wooden box also disappeared with him. So, I guessed that he should have left through the window in the bathroom.
26
“But Wang Di was drunk at that time. It was absolutely impossible for him to leave through the bathroom window by himself. Unless someone put him in a wooden box and then used a rope to lower him from the window to the outside. Therefore, there are friction marks left by gravity pulling on the anti – slip handrail. “And there are indentations on the ground outside.Although they are a bit blurry, they confirm my speculation.But in the surveillance, when Wang Di entered the community, there was clearly only him. Where was the person who took him away hiding? I think he should have been hiding in the box. With this bold speculation, we started to investigate Wang Di. After all, he returned to the community drunk, and a homicide occurred. Where did he drink? With whom did he drink? Why did he drink? Finally, we locked onto you through the catering card. Looking back, I repeatedly and carefully recalled your every move when we first met. Not to mention the coincidence of your appearance at that time, when answering my questions, you were very calm. This is not the reaction that a person who has just been frightened can show in a timely manner. With this suspicion, combined with the motorcycle tracks, I went to confirm my thoughts. Through the positioning of your car and phone, we found that not long ago, you returned to this city from the neighboring city via a rural path. A journey of over a hundred miles on a motorcycle wouldn’t take much time. But this suspicion was too weak.
27
I thought it over and still felt that I had to investigate Wang Di further. He was the most suspect but didn’t have the ability to disappear on his own. After our further investigation, we found that Wang Di had the habit of blacking out after drinking. And you, as his brother – in – law, should also know about this. But you gave him a catering card before you went on a business trip. Whether this card was requested by Wang Di or you gave it passively, its appearance was too coincidental. When I came to your house, you said that as long as it could make the family happy, you could buy a car and a house. Then why, when giving him the catering card, did you tell him that he had to return it to you when you came back from your business trip? What was your purpose in doing this? Zhou Hai, don’t you think I should suspect you? Are two coincidences a bit too obvious?
“Just because I came back in time that day?” I frowned, looking at Captain Li. “The reason I wanted the catering card back is that it was given to me by my ex – girlfriend, Shuangshuang. She was the manager of the catering department of that hotel at that time. You can check it out. Also, I came back to this city via the rural path to send a client. His home is just beside that path. Well, I’d better leave his phone number to you. You can check it yourself.” After saying this, I sent the client’s phone number to Captain Li’s phone.
28
Then, I said seriously, “Captain Li, I understand your eagerness to solve the case. But when my wife and mother – in – law had an accident, I was on a business trip. You can suspect me, but you must produce direct evidence. “
“Evidence, I will definitely find it,” Captain Li said, looking at me coldly. “Zhou Hai, our suspicion of you is not just based on this. We’ve checked that you learned rock – climbing in college. If you wanted to leave through the bathroom window, it wouldn’t be difficult for you. Moreover, at the time of the crime, although you were on a business trip in the neighboring city, you got a bad cold due to falling into the water and rested in the hotel for two days. During these two days, you could have easily returned to this city by motorcycle. Zhou Hai, you can deny it. But don’t forget that on the night of the crime, Wang Di left the hotel and brought the wooden box back. Do you think he wouldn’t leave any clues during this whole process? Even if he was drunk, he should be able to remember something, right? Zhou Hai, you’d better cooperate with us actively. Once we find the murder weapon, it will be too late for you to cooperate.”
29
“I didn’t kill anyone. The innocent will be cleared,” I said with a sad sigh. “Captain Li, believe it or not, I really didn’t kill anyone. Since you’ve found out that Wang Di returned to the community on the night of the crime, why couldn’t it be Wang Di who killed them? Why, just because the door lock wasn’t broken, it can’t be a stranger who committed the crime? What if this stranger knew how to pick locks? What if he only liked to kill without rummaging through things? Also, just because someone is staggering, does it necessarily mean they’re drunk? If Wang Di didn’t kill anyone, why hasn’t he shown up? What is he hiding? You’ve only investigated Wang Di, and what you know about him is from what others said. Even I’m not sure what kind of person Wang Di really is. Why do you think he’s innocent? I came back in time at the time of the crime and happened to give Wang Di a catering card. Captain Li, I also want to make a bold speculation. I think I might have been used by Wang Di.”
30
“Zhou Hai, you…” The young policeman with a crew – cut was about to get angry again. Captain Li stopped him with a look. Then, Captain Li’s eyes flashed coldly, and he said hatefully, “What you said, we will verify. But my suspicion of you won’t change. Wang Di is a NEET. He has no motive for murder. Zhou Hai, we’ve learned from your mother – in – law’s mahjong – playing friends that this house and the car were forced on you by your mother – in – law. She originally had her own house but still forced you to buy her another one. But you and your wife have been married for over a year, and you’ve never quarreled because of buying a house or a car. This is not normal. Your company is stable, and you have no pressure. Why do you secretly use contraception? Unless you found out that your wife, Wang Li, was kept by someone. Therefore, you’ve been hiding all along. You have a motive for murder. By setting up such a perfect crime scene, you should be trying to destroy the traces of your presence here. But don’t forget, justice has long arms. As long as you’ve killed someone, you will surely leave traces.”
“Heh…” I couldn’t help but shake my head and laugh bitterly. “Captain Li, I think you’re prejudiced against me. Not arguing and living a normal life is considered a motive for murder? I used contraception because I don’t like children. But I really didn’t know that Wang Li was kept by someone. Alas! Anyway, I’m suspected by you. Forget it, I won’t explain anymore. You can suspect me if you want. Anyway, I have a clear conscience. Captain Li, I’m waiting for you to find evidence and arrest me.”
31
After saying this, I got up and left. Captain Li didn’t stop me. On the way back to the urban area, I sneered coldly. On the night of the crime, Wang Di received my call and took a taxi to this community. He went around to the back of the community as I told him, to a blind spot of the surveillance. There was a trolley on the open ground behind the community. On the trolley was a small wooden box in which a person could squat and sit. When I saw Wang Di appear, I quietly got into the box from the side. The reason I hid the trolley behind the community was, first, that Wang Di was drunk, and I didn’t want him to waste time. Second, I came back through the forest. There was no surveillance in the forest, and the other end led directly to the rural path, which was the best route for me to come and go. Although there were surveillance cameras on the rural path, I was well – wrapped and wore a helmet. No matter how Captain Li investigated, he could only find out that Wang Di pushed the trolley into the community. As for the process of his coming back from the hotel, it wasn’t important to me. But I had to admire Captain Li. Just based on a catering card, he could suspect me and make such an accurate speculation. But what’s the use of being accurate? After all, they still have no evidence. It seems that they will go to the neighboring city to check the hotel where I stayed to see if I left halfway. I’m confident that they won’t find anything.
32
Because that night, before I left the hotel through the back window, I wrapped the quilt into a human – like shape and leaned it against the window. The white curtain, combined with the light in the room, made the security guard at the hotel entrance see someone sleeping soundly by the window. And when I left, I left my phone in the hotel. Behind the hotel was a river, where there was no surveillance at all. So, no matter how Captain Li investigated, it would seem that I never left the hotel. Once they determined that I didn’t leave the hotel, no matter how reluctant Captain Li was, he would have to mobilize all the police force to look for Wang Di. And Wang Di…
He was the scapegoat. To turn a person who blacks out after drinking into a murderer, you just need to repeatedly tell him, when he’s half – drunk and half – awake, that he killed someone and repeat the killing process in his ear. When he wakes up and sees himself covered in blood, he will think that he really killed someone. When Captain Li finds Wang Di, he will surely believe that Wang Di is the murderer. Because Wang Di is a gambler. This is something Captain Li hasn’t found out yet. I originally only suspected that Wang Di was a gambler. After all, an idle person always needs a hobby to kill time. Also, he spent money too quickly, and no one knew where it went. Since I had my doubts, I had someone secretly investigate. A person who lives off his parents might not commit murder, but what about a gambler?
33
No matter how perfect the crime scene was set up, as long as Wang Di admitted that he killed someone, Captain Li would have to admit it, no matter how reluctant he was. Moreover, Wang Di had been hiding for so many days. He was hiding in that hidden underground casino. Just now, I also told Captain Li that I didn’t even know what kind of person Wang Di was. Then he would surely search the whole city to find Wang Di. Anyway, Wang Di was the key figure. But for Captain Li and his team to find Wang Di, they needed time. I could have a few days of peace. But to my surprise, on the afternoon of the third day, Captain Li knocked on my door again. He came alone.
“Zhou Hai, Wang Di has been found,” he said, sitting down on the coffee table as usual, staring at me with his blood – shot eyes. “He admitted that he killed his mother and sister.” After saying this, he fell silent.
I sighed and said, “So it was really him.”
“I don’t believe his words,” Captain Li lit a cigarette and said with a sad face. “When he described the killing process, it was like he was reciting a book. Zhou Hai, why don’t you ask me where I found Wang Di? You seem to know exactly where he was hiding.”
“Where he is doesn’t matter to me,” I said calmly. “My wife was actually kept by someone and was pregnant with someone else’s child. I can’t accept this kind of betrayal. I don’t care what happened to them and don’t want to know.”
34
“Where he is doesn’t matter to you?” Captain Li’s gaze was fixed on me. “I thought you would say you didn’t know where he was. It seems you know where he was hiding and that he’s a gambler, right?”
“Captain Li, I find that you like to pick on words,” I said with a bitter smile, meeting his gaze. “I don’t know much about Wang Di. I don’t know if he’s a gambler, and I don’t know where he was hiding. Since you’ve found Wang Di, why are you here today?”
“It’s not that I like to pick on words, but there must be clues in the words spoken unintentionally,” Captain Li said coldly. “Although Wang Di admitted that he killed them, I don’t believe it. Leaving aside his habit of blacking out after drinking, according to his description, he stabbed Wang Li to death with an iron awl. Then, when he saw his mother drinking in the room, he knocked her out and hung her on the clothes – drying rack on the balcony. After that, seeing the blood on his body, he wanted to wash it off, so he turned on all the faucets in the house. As for the murder weapon, he said he threw it into the river. We searched the river as he said and found the so – called murder weapon. It was a cylindrical iron awl, smooth and sharp on the outside, but it was new. It definitely couldn’t be the murder weapon.”
35
“Moreover, Wang Di also admitted that he left through the window in the bathroom. Zhou Hai, I completely don’t believe Wang Di’s words. And don’t say that Wang Di was pretending to be drunk that night. We’ve confirmed that Wang Di was drunk on the night of the crime. Both the hotel staff and the taxi driver he took can prove it. Wang Di was really drunk that night. How could a person who blacks out after drinking recall his crime process? And we were able to find the so – called murder weapon according to what he said. Don’t you think there’s something wrong here?”
“Captain Li, what exactly do you want to say?” I looked at him calmly and asked. “Since you have doubts, why don’t you ask Wang Di?”
“What do I want to say? I want to say that you’re the real murderer,” Captain Li’s eyes flashed, and he said with a cold face. “On the day of the crime, when I rushed to the scene and saw the water all over the floor, I originally thought that the murderer, after committing the crime, wanted to use the water flow and the air – conditioner’s heat to destroy the traces left by the murderer. But seeing your mother – in – law wearing a pair of thick – soled shoes, I was puzzled. A person at home should be wearing slippers, right? But considering that this might be a personal habit, I didn’t think much of it. But why was there nothing under your mother – in – law’s feet when she was hanged? There were no foot – stepping marks or signs of movement on all the stools in the house. It was not until we caught Wang Di and heard his description of the killing process that I suddenly understood.”
36
“With Wang Di’s physical strength, not to mention that he was drunk, even if he was sober, he couldn’t have hung his mother on the balcony. After all, she was a living person and would struggle, not just let herself be hanged. There were no repeated friction marks left by the rope on the clothes – drying rack due to gravity pulling. This indicates that your mother – in – law was hanged smoothly. Also, according to the autopsy report, there were no signs of a blow to your mother – in – law’s head. So, there are doubts here. And then there’s your wife, Wang Li. She was stabbed to death in the chest. Although the wound was soaked in water for many days, there was no iron residue left. As long as an iron object penetrates the body, whether it’s new or old, there will be residues. Even if the water flow washed out the iron filings from her wound, the water on the ground would show something unusual. But our collection and inspection of the water flow showed no abnormalities. Moreover, since she was stabbed to death in the chest, she couldn’t have been lying face – down on the ground. That is to say, after her death, someone moved her position and made her lie face – down. Why did the murderer move her position and make her lie face – down? What was the water all over the house trying to cover up? I thought for a long time but couldn’t figure it out. It was not until I heard Wang Di say that more than ten days before the crime, you sent a lot of seafood to your mother – in – law’s house. And I learned from your mother – in – law’s mahjong – playing friends that she had frozen a lot of ice cubes at home, saying that the seafood chilled by ice cubes was very delicious. But we didn’t find any ice cubes in your mother – in – law’s refrigerator and freezer. Where did these ice cubes go?”
37
“Zhou Hai, considering all these factors, I thought for several more days. Finally, I came up with a bold speculation. The real cause of your mother – in – law’s death should be that she was hanged while standing on an ice cube. So, the thick – soled shoes on her feet were to prevent frostbite marks left by the ice cube. Your wife should have been stabbed to death with an icicle. She was lying face – down on the ground to cover up the water marks in the wound. After all, with the water all over the house, both the icicle and the ice cubes could be perfectly covered up. Using such a perfect method to destroy the traces of murder, a person like Wang Di, who didn’t even finish high school, could never have come up with it. Only you, with your high education, could think of it. And you caught a bad cold after falling into the water in the neighboring city and rested for two days. Although the security guard of the hotel where you stayed saw someone resting by the window, he didn’t enter the room to confirm. He only saw a figure. If you wanted to leave, did that ‘figure’ have to be you? We’ve checked the hotel where you stayed many times. Behind the hotel is a river. You should have left through the back window, right? After all, you were staying on the fifth floor.”
38
“Captain Li, you really have a wild imagination,” I said with a faint sense of panic, but still pretended to smile bitterly. “Even if I knew my wife was kept by someone, did I have to kill her? I could have divorced her. It’s not such a big deal. Is it worth sacrificing myself for this? Just because I have a high education, should I be suspected by you? Your wild thoughts are really wonderful. But isn’t it a bit too forced to pin the crime of murder on me?”
“Zhou Hai,” Captain Li slapped the coffee table heavily, shouting angrily, “I’m a police officer. I will never pin the blame on anyone casually, nor will I think randomly. On the day of the crime, you were overly calm. More than ten days before your business trip, you sent seafood to your mother – in – law’s house and froze ice cubes. And on the day you went on a business trip, you gave the catering card to your brother – in – law. But during your business trip, you fell into the water, caught a cold, and rested for two days. During these two days, your wife and mother – in – law were killed. Do you dare to say you’re not the murderer? You know better than anyone that Wang Di has the habit of blacking out after drinking. Do you dare to say that the anonymous call he received on the night of the crime wasn’t from you? You, a highly – educated person who has learned rock – climbing, are the most likely suspect in this case.”
39
“Likely?” I couldn’t help but sneer. “Captain Li, do you solve cases just based on whether the conditions match? Instead of relying on evidence?”
“Zhou Hai, don’t be complacent,” Captain Li was completely enraged by me. He was emotional but trying hard to suppress his anger.
“I’m not complacent. After all, I’m innocent,” I said calmly. “Captain Li, you can suspect me, but you must produce evidence. I sent seafood to my mother – in – law, gave a catering card to my brother – in – law, and caught a cold during my business trip. Does this prove that I’m the murderer ? It’s just a coincidence. You’re a police officer, and seeing everyone as a suspect is a professional habit. I understand you. But please also understand me. I have a bright future ahead and will never do anything illegal.”
“Humph, keep arguing,” Captain Li took a deep breath or two to calm himself down. “We learned from our inquiries that your mother – in – law was a tough shrew. You should have known her temper and also known that your wife was kept by others. So, you didn’t dare to propose a divorce. But you were not willing to live with your wife while wearing a cuckold. That’s why you secretly used contraception. A man, knowing that his wife is unfaithful, still has to buy a house and a car for his mother – in – law. How unbearably frustrated he must feel? So, you killed them and then shifted the suspicion of murder onto your brother – in – law. Zhou Hai, you’ve been planning this for a long time, haven’t you? You’re really scary.”
40
“But don’t think you can escape legal sanctions. Although the crime scene was perfect, when you came back from the neighboring city, no matter how well – wrapped you were, you must have left traces. In this high – tech era, no one can challenge the law at will. From today on, I’ll keep an eye on you until I find the evidence and arrest you.” With that, he got up and walked out of the room angrily.
Watching his departing figure, I couldn’t help but sigh heavily. This Captain Li was really stubborn. Wang Di had already admitted it. Why did he still keep an eye on me? Was it really that important to find out who the real murderer was? Didn’t my mother – in – law’s family deserve to die? But these didn’t matter. What mattered was, could he really find evidence? The evidence had disappeared. The evidence of the murder had disappeared perfectly. Even if he found out that I secretly came back during my business trip, could that convict me? Could I escape the law? To be honest, I wasn’t sure. At this moment, I felt a faint sense of regret. If I had known that Captain Li was so capable, I shouldn’t have talked too much in front of him. And I definitely shouldn’t have come back at the right time on the day of the crime.
– End –
