Jinnan Public Security Bureau.
Sitting in the familiar interrogation room, Su He successfully obtained information about the case. However, the price he paid was that he had to stay in the Public Security Bureau for all his daily activities, including eating, drinking, sleeping, and even using the restroom, until the suspect was captured. His mobile phone was also confiscated.
Outside the interrogation room, Wen Jie stood in front of Director Fu and said in a deep voice, "Director Fu, I know this violates the regulations, but I have a hunch that Su He might bring us a breakthrough. I'm willing to accept punishment afterwards."
"Wen, you've been a veteran detective for over ten years. Why are you talking to me about hunches? Since when do the police rely on a delivery driver to solve a case? Investigate this Su He thoroughly and find out what he's up to. And next time, don't take matters into your own hands. It's a serious violation of discipline to allow non-investigating personnel to access the case file. Write a self-criticism report and hand it in!" Director Fu scolded.
Director Fu glanced at Su He sitting in the interrogation room, shook his head, and couldn't help but find the whole situation absurd. What did they need the police for if a delivery driver could crack the case?
Su He was completely unaware that his request had led to a punishment for Officer Wen. At this moment, he was flipping through the detailed information of the case, hoping to find some clues.
However, just like the police, his hopes seemed bleak. Many pieces of information matched what he had found online, but there were also many things he didn't know. The victim, Tian Xiaojuan, died between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on June 5, 2022. The cause of death was asphyxiation, and Zhao Xin's fingerprints were found on her neck. He had strangled her to death.
Tian Xiaojuan's pants were pulled down below her knees, indicating sexual activity before her death. The evidence left at the scene was conclusive, and the surveillance video also proved that Zhao Xin was the perpetrator. However, the body was not discovered in the car by the parking lot management until seven days later, on June 12, 2022, the night Su He fainted and someone finally called the police.
Seven days was enough time for the culprit to hide or escape, which posed a challenge for the police in apprehending the suspect.
According to the records, on the night of the 12th, Zhao Xin returned to school and invited his dormitory mates to go out for barbecue and got heavily drunk. The next day, which was the 13th, Zhao Xin went home. Since he had recently had an argument with his father, his father didn't notice anything unusual. They had a calm lunch together, and after that, Zhao Xin went to visit his elderly grandfather in the countryside. After that, all leads went cold.
The police investigated numerous hotels, guesthouses, entertainment venues, train stations, subway stations, and airports. They obtained Zhao Xin's phone call records and travel records and finally narrowed it down to the place where Zhao Xin had ordered takeout. It was a remote mountain area in Jinnan City, Lingyin Temple. However, when the police rushed there, Zhao Xin was already gone.
The trail went cold once again. Lingyin Temple was located in a remote area with no surveillance, making it impossible to proceed with the investigation.
The case came to a standstill, and the police issued a wanted notice. Normally, the police would continue the investigation only after discovering Zhao Xin's whereabouts.
Behind Lingyin Temple, there are continuous mountain ranges. If Zhao Xin wanted to find a secluded place to end his life, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Su He was dumbfounded. No wonder Officer Wen agreed to let him see the information. Even if he knew all this, what could he do?
Looking at the cold interrogation room, Su He felt like crying but had no tears. He thought, "Can I go out and deliver takeout?"
That night, Su He was taken out of the interrogation room and locked in a small cell with other temporary detainees. Fortunately, there was a bed, a blanket, and meals were provided.
It was evident that this was a VIP room because in the room opposite him, there was a man with tattoos on his face and red hair, sitting on the cold floor.
The next morning, Liu Wen brought breakfast for Su He and left the man opposite him stunned. He exclaimed, "Bro, what's going on? You're getting such good treatment. What did you do?"
"Ah..." Su He sighed and replied, "I was reported because I'm too handsome. There's no other way. I turned myself in to hide for a couple of days."
...
At noon, Director Fu walked into the cafeteria and happened to run into Wen Jie. He asked, "How long are you planning to keep Su He detained?"
Wen Jie thought for a moment and said, "I didn't expect him to eat so much. He eats as much as two people. I think I'll let him go back this afternoon. It's not a solution to continue like this..."
"Good to know. By the way, there's a major case in the province. They're forming a special task force and they want you to join. The detailed information is already on your desk in the office. Finish your meal and go take a look."
In the afternoon, Su He signed a confidentiality agreement and finally left the Public Security Bureau. He turned to Liu Wen and said, "Officer Liu, thank you so much. Did you plead for me? Let's... um, I'll leave first. Goodbye!"
Liu Wen smiled and replied, "Come by often!"
"No, I won't come anymore..." Su He walked out of the gate but suddenly ran back and asked, "Officer Liu, where is Tian Xiaojuan's body?"
"Why? Are you still thinking about the 200,000 yuan reward? Do you want to come in and have a chat over tea?" Liu Wen didn't expect Su He to be so persistent and not give up on catching the killer.
"Hehe... How could that be, Officer Liu? I had a nightmare last night, and I thought about saying a few words to her face-to-face, asking her not to bother me anymore..."
Su He scratched his head and said with a serious expression.
"That's superstitious nonsense. Tian Xiaojuan's body has already been cremated and taken back by her family. Forget about it. Go back and get a good night's sleep. This matter will be forgotten in a few days."
Su He nodded, walked out of the Public Security Bureau, and suddenly ran back in.
"Officer Liu, where's my electric scooter?"
Liu Wen pointed irritably to the electric scooter under a big tree next to the guard's room and said, "There it is. You're so scatterbrained. Don't come back again. If you do, I'll lock you up!"
This time, Su He didn't come back. He quickly hopped on his electric scooter and disappeared.
On a dark and windy night, while tomb raiding and grave digging, a figure crouched in a cornfield, staring at a pile of fresh graves not far away.
Yes, it was Su He!
Su He had been lying here for two hours, taking a bite of bread and a sip of milk, his eyes fixed on Tian Xiaojuan's grave.
I hope I'm not guessing wrong!
Su He was also unsure. At the police station, he learned about Tian Xiaojuan's time of death, which was between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on June 5th. And Zhao Xin placed the food order on June 12th at 8:20 p.m. When Su He arrived at the parking lot, it was almost 9 p.m., exactly seven days apart.
Was it a coincidence? Su He didn't think so. In the horror movies he had watched, it was said that on the seventh day after a person's death, their spirit would return to the place of death. Zhao Xin calculated the timing perfectly and ordered Tian Xiaojuan's favorite dish, braised chicken. This was definitely intentional!
Zhao Xin was filled with guilt and had contemplated suicide. However, according to the system's choice, it implied that Zhao Xin hadn't died yet. What was he thinking?
A daring speculation emerged in Su He's mind: Could Zhao Xin be intending to die together with Tian Xiaojuan?
Sharing a bed in life, sharing a coffin in death!
This speculation was not unfounded. Since Zhao Xin chose to order food on the seventh day, and he himself was hiding in the temple, it proved that he believed in this. At this point, he was already at a dead end, and no matter what, death was imminent. Tian Xiaojuan was his girlfriend, so it was highly possible that he wanted to die with her.
Therefore, as soon as Su He left the police station, he went straight to Tian Xiaojuan's hometown.