"Sir, the results are in." Forensic expert Lao Yang approached, a solemn expression on his face as he carried a stack of documents.
"How does it look?" Pei Yanming asked, his tone marked by urgency.
"Are you...?" Lao Yang hesitated, not recognizing Pei Yanming. Accustomed to working in seclusion, he rarely interacted with strangers, and while the findings weren't classified, they weren't to be shared freely.
"Lao Yang, this is Mayor Pei of our city," Shi Qing explained nearby.
Learning that it was the mayor, Lao Yang steadied himself, clearing his throat before announcing gravely, "First, let me clarify: the deceased in the garage were not security guards for the villa."
"Oh?" Tie Wan raised her brows slightly, recalling a certain someone who had mentioned that the Wu mansion was a hideout for criminals. If those men weren't guards, then they were likely robbers.
Chu Ah and Pei Yanming exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them in that brief glance.
"Yes, sir. They're the bank robbers who've stirred up a frenzy over the past two days," Lao Yang confirmed solemnly.
Tie Wan, already aware of the results, remained composed.
However, Chu Ah and Pei Yanming simultaneously spoke with excitement, "Are you certain?"
"One hundred percent certain!" Lao Yang replied, feeling slightly affronted as if his two decades of forensic expertise were being questioned.
"I need proof," Pei Yanming replied, regaining composure as he tempered his excitement. The unexpected breakthrough nearly made him overlook Lao Yang's disgruntled tone.
"Here it is." Lao Yang handed him the autopsy report.
Pei Yanming skimmed a few pages but quickly realized he couldn't grasp it all in one sitting. He passed the report to Tie Wan, who seemed lost in thought, then turned to Lao Yang and said, "Please, explain it to us."
"Two days ago, one of the robbers was apprehended but committed suicide at the station. I performed the autopsy myself," Lao Yang began. "At the time, I discovered a substance in his system that stimulates neurological responses. Given the dosage, it's clear he had been using it for a long period. Just now, I found the same substance in the deceased in the garage, confirming they were indeed the robbers."
"Excellent! Absolutely splendid!" Pei Yanming patted Lao Yang on the shoulder in satisfaction. Not only was he no longer at risk of being removed from office, but he also had the chance to solve the notorious bank robbery case, potentially earning commendation from his superiors. As for the manner of the robbers' deaths, he could no longer afford to worry.
An idea struck Chu Ah, and he pretended to ponder aloud, "Mayor Pei, why do you think these robbers were here?"
"Huh?" Pei Yanming was taken aback, but noticing the faint smile on Chu Ah's face, he admired the man's quick thinking and cooperatively replied, "Perhaps Wu Heyan was secretly harboring the robbers... Lao Yang, what do you think?"
"From the crime scene, it appears that the robbers were dining at the time. Such a commotion would've undoubtedly alerted the villa's owner, so he is indeed implicated in sheltering them," Lao Yang replied, his expression as impassive as ever.
"That explains it. To think that Wu Heyan, publicly known as a philanthropist, was hiding criminals in his home," Pei Yanming sighed as though regretful for having misjudged the man, though his true thoughts were known only to himself.
"Oh, I just remembered an important meeting," Chu Ah said with a casual smile, having obtained the results he needed. "Excuse me, Mayor Pei, but I must be going. We'll talk another day."
"In that case, let me walk you out." Pei Yanming gave him a meaningful look, and Chu Ah nodded knowingly as they left together.
After reviewing the documents, Tie Wan turned to the forensic expert and asked, "Lao Yang, do you think this was the work of one individual?"
"Based on the footprints and traces left at the scene, it appears that there was indeed only one person," Lao Yang replied confidently. "And they were incredibly strong."
"Oh?" Tie Wan looked at him in surprise; this detail wasn't in the report.
"From the eighteen bodies outside the villa, all except one—who was killed by a blow to the face—had their throats crushed by the assailant."
"But that doesn't necessarily prove immense strength."
"No, Chief Tie. You must understand, this is no ordinary feat. Upon inspection, I found that each victim's throat was completely shattered. Consider how much force that requires—it wasn't twisted, nor were they strangled to death by asphyxiation."
"Their throats were entirely crushed?" Tie Wan struggled to believe it.
"Yes. Although the surface shows only faint finger impressions, internally, everything is obliterated," Lao Yang admitted with a hint of fear. "And there's further evidence: the only guard dog not torn apart was killed with a single punch. Its stomach, just like the throats of the victims, was reduced to a bloody pulp, the organs crushed beyond recognition."
"Are there no fingerprints?" Tie Wan furrowed her brows, taken aback by the formidable nature of their suspect. Though Lao Yang's report had already spelled it out, she looked at him, still holding onto a sliver of hope.
"None. Based on the fibers left on the victim's throat, it's evident the assailant was wearing gloves or something similar."
"So, the killer is likely an experienced criminal?"
"One could say so. Moreover, the killer is highly cunning. After scaling the wall and killing all the guard dogs, he crawled across the grass to approach the villa. Then, after killing one of the guards, he changed into his uniform...yes, it must have been that way. He then killed the remaining guards and proceeded to the underground garage, where he shot the robbers before they had a chance to react."
"For the killer to shoot them at such close range—do you think he might have known the robbers?"
"That's possible, though it's also conceivable that the robbers were drinking and didn't notice anyone enter. By the time they realized, it was already too late. Judging by the corpse outside the garage, the deceased had likely endured some form of torture before death, possibly revealing something to the killer, allowing him to boldly walk into the garage and eliminate them all."
"What about the two bodies in the study?"
"One is the villa's owner, Wu Heyan. The other, from their resemblance, should be his younger brother, although there's no relevant record in police files. Judging from the scene, they heard the gunshots, and one went to investigate, only to encounter the killer at the doorway. The killer then used him as a shield, causing Wu Heyan to shoot his own brother, after which the killer bludgeoned Wu Heyan to death."
"Thank you, Lao Yang. I'll head back to the station to check for records on Wu Heyan's younger brother. Meanwhile, I'll need you to stay here and see if you can uncover any other clues."
"Understood, Chief Tie."
...
Tie Wan removed her glasses and massaged her tired eyes. Hours of staring at the computer screen had left them strained, yet the lack of any breakthrough was the most disheartening part.
*Knock, knock, knock...* A rapping at the door broke her thoughts.
"Come in."
A young man in his twenties, dressed in full police uniform and looking every bit the part, entered.
"Chief Tie, do you have a moment?"
"What's the matter?"
"You left in a hurry this morning, so I didn't get a chance to inform you of a case. It happened last night around 10 p.m...."
"Are you talking about the fire incident? I'm aware—Xiao Wu briefed me earlier. The owner's mismanagement caused a bar fire, resulting in the deaths of a few patrons, correct?" At present, Tie Wan had little time for this case, her mind preoccupied with the Villa 68 murder.
"Actually, it's thirteen, Chief Tie," the young officer reminded her, noticing her lack of interest.
"Thirteen? How could there be so many?" Tie Wan's fine brows knitted together. Originally, she thought it was just a few. To hear it was thirteen irked her further, another case of unscrupulous merchants. "Do you know which bar burned down?"
"It's called Fallen Bar, I believe..."
"What? Fallen Bar?" Tie Wan's heart tightened as she sprang to her feet. "Is it the one near West Street?"
"Yes, Chief Tie." The young officer, uncertain why his superior was so alarmed, wondered if she frequented that bar.
"Alright, that's all. You can go." Tie Wan slumped back into her chair, her mind reeling. How could a well-functioning bar go up in flames? She had observed that it was reasonably well-managed; there should have been no chance of a fire. Even if there was an accident, it shouldn't have killed so many unless someone had intentionally set it ablaze. This was a murder case, no doubt. But who was the real target? Realizing this, she urgently called the young officer back in.
"Xiao Lin, have the forensic team identify the victims—be absolutely certain."
"Yes, Chief Tie." Xiao Lin swiftly left to carry out the order.
Tie Wan's unease only deepened, her worry intensifying by the moment. She couldn't shake the thought that that damned troublemaker might have been involved. No, she'd need to go in person to be sure.