When Xu Mo first met the victim, her emotions seemed relatively stable.
However, the moment Xu Mo took out his phone and showed her a surveillance video, her demeanor instantly became agitated.
The woman lying on the hospital bed began gasping for breath, overwhelmed by her emotions.
From her expression, Xu Mo could tell that she was filled with anger.
Did she know this person? Xu Mo had a thought: "You know the person in the video, don't you? Who is she?"
Hearing this, the woman opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word.
After a moment, her emotions gradually calmed, and her face turned cold.
"I don't know her."
She was lying. Xu Mo could see through her deception immediately. Even without any knowledge of psychology, it was obvious.
Before Xu Mo could continue his questioning, the woman began feigning illness: "I suddenly feel a bit unwell. Could you call Doctor Liang for me?"
It was clear she didn't want to answer Xu Mo's questions.
She knew the person in the video, but she refused to say who it was.
This was strange. It was the first time Xu Mo had encountered a victim who was unwilling to cooperate, someone who was actually protecting the person who had set the fire that burned her… It didn't make sense.
For a moment, Xu Mo couldn't figure out why the woman would act this way.
"Are you sure you don't know her?" he couldn't help but ask again.
This time, the woman shook her head with unwavering determination.
"I don't know her."
After saying this, she casually pressed the bedside call button.
The next moment, Doctor Liang walked in: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Yes, my wound hurts a bit," the woman replied.
Doctor Liang glanced at Xu Mo.
"Officer Xu, perhaps we should end the questioning here. The patient…"
Xu Mo nodded in understanding and then turned to leave the sterile ward.
When the police are investigating a case and need to question a patient, they must take care to consider the patient's emotional state and physical condition. Even if the patient might be faking, they have to stop the interrogation.
Xu Mo believed that the woman clearly knew the arsonist, but she wasn't willing to tell him. He couldn't force her, especially since she was the victim and had just escaped a life-threatening situation.
As soon as Xu Mo left the sterile ward, Han Fei and the others immediately gathered around, their faces filled with anticipation.
"How did it go? Did you get anything out of her?"
Xu Mo shook his head.
"No. She said she doesn't know the woman in the video who set the fire, but she's lying. She doesn't want to reveal the other person's identity."
"She doesn't want to reveal the other person's identity?" Han Fei was slightly stunned, then furrowed his brow in deep thought.
A victim protecting the arsonist?
That didn't make sense.
Her livelihood—her piano shop—had been burned down, and she herself had been severely injured in the fire. Logically, she should hate the arsonist. Why would she protect them?
This was completely illogical.
Han Fei had witnessed Xu Mo's interrogation skills before, and he didn't think Xu Mo was mistaken. The problem must lie with the victim.
According to Xu Mo, she clearly knew the arsonist but refused to reveal their identity, which was utterly baffling.
Han Fei's brow furrowed into a deep crease as he pondered, feeling more and more that something was off.
But he couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong.
"Should we go to the next ward and ask the other victim?" Li Chen suggested.
A wry smile appeared on Xu Mo's face.
He pointed to the ward behind him.
"I barely got a few questions in before the victim claimed she wasn't feeling well and called for Doctor Liang. I doubt Doctor Liang will let me into the other ward now."
After a pause, Xu Mo added,
"Besides, I suspect the other victim might not say anything either. It would be a waste of time."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Indeed, as soon as Xu Mo started questioning, the victim claimed to feel unwell. Even if it was an act, Doctor Liang wouldn't risk letting Xu Mo question another patient.
The fact that they had been allowed in once was already a favor, likely due to the help Xu Mo and Han Fei had provided to Doctor Liang not long ago.
Just then, a familiar conversation echoed down the hallway.
"Sir, I really can't let you in. I've told you many times, it's hospital policy."
"Can you at least take these fruits to my daughter? She loves them."
"No, the patient is very weak right now. Even if I brought them, she wouldn't be able to eat them. You should keep the fruits for yourself. She can't have them at the moment."
"Nurse Yang… could you make an exception?"
"…"
The voices were familiar, especially one—it was the nurse who had stopped Xu Mo and the others from entering the ward earlier.
Following the sound, they saw a middle-aged man holding a bag of fruits, trying to persuade Nurse Yang.
The man bore a resemblance to the woman in the ward, as the officers had seen her photo in the case file.
Combined with their conversation, it wasn't hard to guess that this man was likely the father of the woman in the ward.
He wanted to visit his injured daughter, but his request had been denied by the nurse.
Watching the man, Xu Mo furrowed his brow. It seemed like he had just thought of something, but the idea slipped away before he could fully grasp it.
Han Fei also noticed the man.
He took a few steps forward and approached him.
"Hello, are you Ms. Gao's father?"
"I am. And you are?" The man looked confused.
The officers weren't in uniform, so their identities weren't immediately obvious.
"We're police officers," Han Fei replied. "We're here to investigate the case."
Han Fei thought that since the victim wasn't cooperating, they might be able to get some information from her father.
However, as soon as Han Fei revealed their identity, the man's expression changed drastically.
Without saying a word, he turned and walked away.
Something was wrong!
"Stop!" Xu Mo shouted.
At that, the man broke into a run, as if he had something to hide.