Zhou Ning blinked, "Are you asking for my testimony?"
"Further autopsy is needed to make judgements, but we cannot rule out the possibility of a homicide," Doctor Zhou said.
"Right, you said this is the primary crime scene? That means, whether it was a stabbing or a vehicle collision, it happened around here?"
Since it was the primary crime scene, there couldn't be a lack of traces.
But now he was alone, with a choice to either follow up on the scene investigation or perform the autopsy. Comparatively speaking, searching the area seemed easier.
Zhou Ning quickly said:
"Exactly, we need to expand the search radius at the intersection, look for blood and skid marks. If the vehicle was fast enough, it's possible for a person to be thrown several dozen meters. Let's move the body, I'll look around here, we need to broaden the search area."
Xu Dayuan nodded solemnly and waved his hand behind him.
"What are you waiting for, a meal to be served? Hurry up, didn't Doctor Zhou say to get a chainsaw for the branches? Find a forklift and a flatbed nearby, some of you go up and follow Doctor Zhou's directions to move the body."
Xu Dayuan's shout got everyone moving again.
Next to them was the industrial park, where forklifts and flatbeds were readily available. Although using them to carry a body felt taboo, when the police asked, no one hesitated. In less than five minutes, the vehicles and flatbeds were ready.
Two police officers stood on the forklift's flatbed, holding a chainsaw and a body bag, drawing closer to the body in the tree. They could handle the weight without a problem, but the limited range of motion meant he couldn't go up there with them.
Guan Jian felt somewhat apprehensive about moving the body; he decided not to exert himself overmuch.
Zhou Ning nudged Zhao Xinli, who looked utterly clueless.
"Doctor Zhou, what are you doing?" Zhao Xinli asked.
"Mr. Zhao, hold the ladder for me. I need to go up again. The deceased's legs are trapped in the branches; I want to see where to saw so we can move the body. We need to be quick, didn't you see Xu Da is constantly on the phone?"
Zhao Xinli glanced at Xu Dayuan, who was indeed taking calls with a serious expression. Without hesitation, he reached for Zhou Ning's waistband, but Zhou Ning quickly dodged and gave him a disdainful look. Zhao Xinli, relying on his strength, always treated him like a dumbbell.
Putting down his camera, Zhou Ning went up lightened of burden, seemingly more confident because he had seen the 3D model on the system and had a good understanding of how the body was trapped at the moment.
Reaching the height, he gently pushed the deceased's left leg and marked a horizontal line on the branch below it.
"The lower leg is trapped tightly. Pulling the body directly could cause additional damage. Saw through the branch here, then we can lift and bag the body," Zhou Ning paused, then continued.
"Do you need me to come over and help lift?"
Xu Dayuan was watching from below, none of the police officers dared to contradict him, they quickly waved their hands.
"No need, I'll do the sawing. Doctor Zhou, you just watch the position and help me lift the deceased's leg, don't cut it," one said.
Zhou Ning didn't waste words. He carefully lifted the deceased's already broken lower leg. The chainsaw roared, wood shavings flew, and the damp smell of wood filled the area.
In less than a minute, the tree branch as thick as a thigh was cut through. The two officers braced one foot against the tree and one on the flatbed, they lifted the body, separating it from the trunk along with the branch, and gently placed it in the body bag.
The forklift moved sideways a bit and slowly descended.
Zhou Ning also hastily came down the ladder, helping to pull the body bag onto the vehicle.
Xu Dayuan came over looking somber.
"Message from the traffic police: this stretch of road is currently replacing its wiring, and the traffic lights are all temporary. Doctor Zhou, you need to rush back for the autopsy to determine the time of death and the identity of the victim; it'll help our investigation on this side," Xu Dayuan said.
Zhou Ning was startled.
His earlier response was nothing but a desperate attempt, partially guessing and inferring the hints. The entire process of the autopsy and the actual operation, he had only seen in videos, he had never done it hands-on!
"Xu Da, better wait for my master, Doctor Liu, to come for the autopsy. Otherwise, I can search for skid marks and blood traces here, or..." Zhou Ning started to say.
But Xu Da had already waved his hand, signaling the police officers to load the body onto the truck and take it away.
"Don't wait for your master. He got hit by a car this morning and is in the hospital. I just got through to the phone, a nurse answered. Even if we request someone from the city's forensic department now, it won't be done in two or three days.
"Cases don't wait for anyone. You start, if you can't do it, call your master later to resolve any issues. Remember, first find the identity of the deceased, determine the time of death. I need this to locate the relatives. Don't just start cutting, this case is unique," Xu Da explained.
Zhou Ning was completely stunned.
Just over ten days into the job, he had met with his mentor less than ten times, and on his first field assignment, he was tasked with conducting an autopsy alone. What kind of situation was this?
He ripped off his mask and grabbed Xu Dayuan's sleeve in a hurry, speaking eagerly.
"Xu Da, don't leave me. I've just started my job, and I don't even know where our forensic doctor's office does the autopsies. It's not realistic for me to do this alone! If it's really not possible, can't we just send the body to Qindao City?"
Xu Dayuan grinned and patted Zhou Ning's shoulder.
"Kid, don't wimp out. You were just talking with such confidence, I believe in you. The situation is special now, we don't have time for formalities. In our team, you're the one with the highest education and you've got professional training. Don't tell me it can't be done, this is an order, and it must be carried out.
Besides, sending it to the city is not viable. Do you want our county to look even worse? As for the location of the autopsy, our county's public security bureau building is not yet finished, so we temporarily don't have a separate forensic autopsy room and laboratory. However, you can go to the county hospital; they have an autopsy room."
Zhou Ning would not let go. Going to the county hospital alone, with a dead body, and not even knowing where the autopsy room was—this was too much to ask!
"This won't do, I..."
Xu Dayuan raised his hand, interrupting Zhou Ning once again.
"Zhao Xinli, come here. You drive Doctor Zhou to the county hospital. Take that big Jinbei van, transport the dead body, and find a young man to go with you, to help with carrying and lifting.
Doctor Zhou, I must tell you, I need the identity information of the deceased as soon as possible. My phone is almost blowing up with calls. The county leaders are already aware of the situation here; we have to act fast."
After finishing speaking, Xu Dayuan walked away, directing the criminal police, as well as the traffic police squad, to carefully examine the surrounding skid marks, even expanding the range of the cordon.
Zhou Ning sighed. Zhao Xinli gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Don't just stand there, let's get moving!"
Any more objections at this point would seem pretentious. Zhou Ning, steeling himself, got into the big Jinbei van with Zhao Xinli and, with the siren blaring, they rushed straight to the county hospital.
...
In the backyard of the county hospital.
In the northernmost part of the courtyard, there was a row of rooms. On the western side was the medical waste warehouse, and on the eastern side, there were two morgue rooms with rows of body refrigerators. In the middle was the autopsy room.
The body had already been taken out of the body bag and placed on the autopsy table.
The branch that had been stuck in the deceased's left calf was also placed on top, and Zhao Xinli had already slipped away.
Before leaving, he handed Zhou Ning a small blue book—the internal contact directory—and also took Zhou Ning's mobile number. At the door, he left a new auxiliary policeman, Mr. Liu, who dared not come in at all. He was just waiting in case Zhou Ning needed something, ready to run errands.
Looking at the body, Zhou Ning felt overwhelmed.
The weather in early autumn was still unbearably hot, but the autopsy room was cold.
After taking a photo, he sent an MMS to Doctor Liu and, waiting a couple of minutes, he called Doctor Liu's mobile phone. After about a dozen rings, a weary voice answered.
"Hello."
"Master, I heard you were in a car accident. How serious are your injuries? Which hospital are you in? I'll come and visit you."
Zhou Ning didn't dare to ask if the MMS had been received right away, but instead, he inquired politely and concernedly.
After coughing twice, Doctor Liu laughed.
"I have a tibial fracture. I've just had the bone set and cast—I haven't even gotten over the pain yet. Kid, you don't have to pretend with me. I just got off the phone with Xu Da, and he praised you, saying you did well at the scene for your first time.
Don't be nervous, everyone's first time is challenging. You come from a pure academic background; just follow the procedure.
Take a portrait photo of the deceased, collect fingerprints, measure rectal temperature, take X-rays, inspect the corneas, assess joint mobility, and most importantly, look for distinctive characteristics on their clothing. Don't rush into the autopsy.
Hasn't the criminal police team left someone with you? Give them the fingerprints to check in the fingerprint system. If they can't find anything, compare them against the missing persons database from all the stations. Sooner or later, you'll find the deceased's identity."
Doctor Liu's words slightly steadied Zhou Ning's frantic mind.
Indeed, with such an order, things seemed a bit clearer. Zhou Ning took a deep breath, raised his camera, and prepared to take a facial portrait photo of the deceased, turning his gaze to the body.
Although the girl was wearing a lot of makeup, she looked young.
Looking at her left collar turned inward, Zhou Ning prepared to straighten it for her. The moment his hand touched the collar, something sharp scraped against his gloves with a snap.
Lifting his finger, he saw a metal badge below, which made Zhou Ning pause.
Huh? Is this... a school badge?