Animal Detective

Chapter 223 - 221: A Homicide Case After All

Yet, just standing there, his stern face gave off the impression that he was not someone to be trifled with.

Only after introductions did they learn that he was the deputy leader of the Criminal Investigation Detachment, Liu Jie.

They were in Songling District today to supervise some work, which was why they were nearby.

Shen Xin and Ding Yuwei quickly greeted him.

Pingyu was also a prefecture-level city, but it was larger than Nanjiang. To become the deputy leader of the municipal Criminal Investigation Detachment meant he was already high-ranking, even if he wasn’t yet qualified to wear the white uniform shirt.

He had a sharp, imposing presence when silent, but the moment he spoke, he was as pleasant as a spring breeze. He smiled warmly as he shook hands with Shen Xin and Ding Yuwei.

"Shen Xin, I’ve heard a great deal about you."

Liu Jie said with a grin, not letting go of his hand just yet.

Shen Xin quickly replied, "Liu Zhi, you must be joking. I’m hardly famous."

"What do you mean?"

Liu Jie chuckled. "Before the New Year, I was in Ningshan for a meeting, and I heard them talking. You helped crack the biggest drug case of last year, didn’t you?"

"I’ve also heard about the cold cases you’ve solved. Our Director Han even brought it up with us specifically, saying we should learn from your example and start a cold case unit of our own."

Shen Xin remained humble, insisting it was all just good luck, and mainly thanks to the leadership’s clear direction and excellent command.

Beside him, Ding Yuwei remained silent.

Liu Jie glanced at Royal City. ’You should learn from him,’ he thought. ’Try to show a little more respect for your superiors.’

The group got into their cars and drove onto Shushan Island.

There was a police post on the island. After they parked, Liu Jie casually asked Shen Xin what case he was working on.

Shen Xin didn’t hide anything and explained Bai Jifei’s situation.

Royal City had a flash of insight. "Oh! Isn’t this that case that’s been all over the internet? The one about the ’millionaire finance whiz who killed and dismembered his wife’? So you’re saying he faked the whole scene and his wife just ran off?"

Shen Xin nodded.

Royal City broke out in a sweat. "What was that guy thinking? Even if he managed to smoke his wife out, he’d still end up in jail for this."

In Bai Jifei’s situation, he was looking at a year in prison, minimum.

Liu Jie, however, looked completely unfazed. "It’s normal," he said. "You’re all still young. Work as long as I have, and you’ll reach a point where nothing surprises you anymore."

There was one person on duty at the police post.

He was startled to see Liu Jie.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he learned they weren’t there for him.

The island had police surveillance cameras set up at the main intersections of the residential area.

Jiang Qi had arrived on the island at 4:36 PM.

By checking the surveillance footage from the police post, they quickly located the foreigner’s Mercedes.

After arriving on the island, he drove north along the smaller roads, stopping on the northeast side where he disappeared from camera view.

Then, at six o’clock, he reappeared on camera as he was leaving.

"It’ll be easy to find. The guesthouses on the island are all clustered on the east and south sides. The north side just has a few scattered homes belonging to the original residents. Not many. I’ll take you."

With that, he went outside, hopped on an electric scooter, and led the way.

The sky was completely dark by now, but since it was the New Year holiday, the island was still bustling with activity.

The officer from the police post was named Qin.

He knew the area well. When the car could go no further, everyone got out and followed him down a narrow concrete path.

The environment on the island was truly beautiful.

It faced the lake, and the scenery was incredible.

As they walked, Old Qin seemed to know everyone, stopping to chat and exchange greetings with people they passed.

He also knew the local dialect.

Shen Xin could barely understand the old dialect.

"Got something. An old woman said she saw them a few days ago. A foreigner came by pushing a woman in a wheelchair, and they went up to Aunt Zhang’s place."

"Aunt Zhang has an old house she doesn’t live in anymore. She rents it out."

With that, he led them straight to the rental house.

They followed the concrete path as it wound a little way up the mountain. The house faced Li Lake and was surrounded by several camphor trees.

It was a small, two-story house with a courtyard.

"Shen Xin, there are no lights on," Ding Yuwei whispered.

Shen Xin had noticed it too.

’The lights should be on at this hour.’

Old Qin walked up to the courtyard gate and raised his hand to knock, but it swung open at his touch.

"It’s not locked?" he said, surprised.

Liu Jie’s expression turned grim. "Let’s go straight in and take a look," he said in a low voice.

The group immediately entered the courtyard.

The courtyard wasn’t large. It was neatly kept, with flowers and plants.

The main door to the house was closed. Just as they approached, Liu Jie suddenly asked, "Do you smell that?"

His expression was extremely grave.

Shen Xin sniffed the air, and his heart skipped a beat.

’Fuck, there’s no mistaking it. The stench of a dead body!’

"Liu Zhi?"

Shen Xin looked at Liu Jie.

Liu Jie didn’t say a word. He pulled a plastic bag from his pocket, slipped it over his hand, and pulled the door open.

"Royal City, call the Songling Branch. Old Qin, go get the contact information for the owners. Xiaoshen, you’re with me."

He gave the orders quickly, then flipped the light switch by the door.

The house had a setback second floor. The front door opened directly into the living room, with rooms to the left and right. A faint, foul odor emanated from further inside the living area.

Deeper in, there seemed to be a kitchen and the stairs to the second floor.

The two of them hugged the wall, inching their way forward.

Soon, in the light, Shen Xin saw the body. It was at the landing of the staircase that led to the second floor, in the deepest part of the room.

Jiang Qi’s body was twisted, lying in a heap at the turn of the stairs.

From her position, it looked as if she had tumbled down the stairs.

She had come here with the foreigner on the evening of the sixth day of the New Year. Today was the twelfth. Six days had passed.

Southern winters were slightly warmer, with temperatures normally hovering around zero degrees.

Now that the New Year had passed, the weather had warmed up, and the temperature had been above freezing for the past few days.

In this weather, the body would certainly decompose more slowly.

But no matter how slow, a body would begin to rot after three to four days.

Since Jiang Qi’s body was just beginning to give off the stench of decomposition, she had likely died four or five days ago.

That would be the seventh or eighth day of the New Year.

If she had died any later, the body likely wouldn’t be smelling yet.

’What a mess.’

Jiang Qi had said she wanted to disappear and find a place to end her own life.

And now, here she was, actually dead.

Shen Xin couldn’t help but think of Bai Jifei again.

’Honestly, if he had just called the police the moment Jiang Qi disappeared on the sixth, they might have found her the very next day with a bit of luck.’

’And she might still be alive.’

’He was too clever for his own good.’

’But was it really as simple as Jiang Qi falling down the stairs?’

In the end, it had turned into a homicide case after all.