Forensic Forensic - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In his three years at the precinct, one year in the serious crimes unit, plus four years at the police academy—a solid eight years of police career—it was the first time Luo Jianan had heard that an “exorcist” was needed to help with a case.

Isn’t this promoting feudal superstition? What about the reputation of the Serious Crimes Unit of the Public Security Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Department?

“Captain, send whoever you want to pick up the person, but I’m not going.” Propping his long legs up on the desk, Luo Jianan rolled his distinct black and white eyes up to the ceiling. “I can’t afford to be seen with this person.”

“Xiao Luo, take your feet down. Don’t bring your hooligan attitude from your undercover days into the office.” Captain Chen Fei tossed a thick stack of case files onto him. “Teacher Qi’s schedule is very tight. Don’t be late.”

Luo Jianan withdrew his legs, dropped the files on the desk, stood up, and said with a dark expression: “Captain, I came here to be a police officer, not a chauffeur for a fortune teller. Furthermore, I’ve never had a good impression of people who engage in feudal superstition. Are you assigning me this because you think I’m the rookie and want to bully me?”

“Staying in the Serious Crimes Unit for a year doesn’t make you a rookie, Xiao Nan.” Deputy Captain Zhao Pingsheng enthusiastically patted his shoulder. “Have you forgotten the one who cried at the crime scene last month? He even threw up so badly the forensic doctor had to treat him first.”

“Hmph, that kind of useless person shouldn’t have gone to the police academy.” Luo Jianan pursed his lips, picked up his car keys, and pressed a button towards the window. The headlights of the SUV parked below the window flashed once; the car had started. “I’m leaving, I’m leaving. Captain, where should I take the person after I pick them up? The morgue?”

Chen Fei glared at him.

“The Forensic Office.”

Settling into the driver’s seat, Luo Jianan opened the navigation and entered “Teacher Qi’s” address. Seeing the location marker, he immediately thought, ‘My God, this is bloody outside the city.’ He drove according to the navigation, but a few hundred meters from the destination, there was no road for cars, only stone steps embedded in the slope. Luo Jianan got out, looked around, and the words “middle of nowhere” popped into his mind.

He got out and climbed the stone steps—at least five hundred of them. Luo Jianan was already panting heavily when he reached the final step. He should have told that “Teacher Qi” to wait for him by the road! Looking up, his already gloomy mood was further overshadowed—this “Teacher Qi” was indeed a fortune teller, actually living in a temple!

The monk sweeping the entrance saw Luo Jianan approaching with a dark face and instinctively took a step back. “Benefactor, are you here to burn incense or—”

“I’m looking for someone!” Wiping the sweat from his high nose bridge, Luo Jianan propped his hands on his belt, and after catching his breath, he nodded towards the monk. “Where is Qi Ming?”

Qi Ming? Who?

The monk blinked, then shook his head.

Luo Jianan impatiently ran a hand through his hair and turned toward the wide-open temple gate. He heard Qi Ming didn’t use a mobile phone—what a freak—so he could only use the most primitive way to find him. Standing still in the courtyard, he cupped his hands around his mouth, took a deep breath, and shouted: “Qi Ming! I am Officer Luo Jianan from the Serious Crimes Unit. Captain Chen Fei sent me to pick you up and take you to the Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Forensic Office!”

The sound of his voice died away, with a few caws from the crows in the trees answering him.

No one responded.

Just as Luo Jianan was about to search room by room, an effeminate-looking man with long hair and glasses, wearing a monk’s robe, walked out of the main hall. He looked Luo Jianan up and down, then put on an expression of “lack of manners.”

“Master Yunjing.” The monk following Luo Jianan put his palms together and bowed to the man with glasses. “This benefactor is looking for someone named Qi Ming. I’m not sure which master in our temple has that lay name.”

“I am Qi Ming.” Qi Ming slightly tilted his head toward the monk, then walked up to Luo Jianan. “You are late. You have delayed my schedule.”

How busy can a monk be? Luo Jianan thought he had good self-control, otherwise he would have snapped that remark back. “You are Qi Ming? Good, come with me—”

“Give me ten minutes, I need to change my clothes.” Interrupting Luo Jianan, Qi Ming turned and walked behind the main hall.

Luo Jianan had expected to see Qi Ming emerge wearing a yellow robe and carrying a peach wood sword—wasn’t that how fortune tellers dressed? But Qi Ming, who reappeared, was in a sharp, narrow-cut suit, holding a laptop bag and a travel bag instead of a peach wood sword. His long hair was neatly tied back, revealing a square jawline, which made him not look effeminate at all. It wasn’t obvious in the monk’s robe, but Qi Ming had a strong, athletic build.

Although he didn’t want to admit it, Luo Jianan genuinely thought the man would have absolutely no problem playing a leading role in a prime-time drama.

“Master Yunfeng, thank you for your care these days. Please convey my apologies to the abbot for leaving in a hurry.” Qi Ming nodded to the monk Yunfeng.

Monk Yunfeng put his palms together and bowed: “Amitabha, Master Yunjing, I wish you a safe journey on this descent from the mountain.”

Luo Jianan, standing beside them, almost rolled his eyes out loud.

Are they shooting a historical drama?

Getting into the car, Qi Ming rolled down the window, took out a cigarette, placed it between his lips, flipped open his lighter, lit it, and exhaled a puff of smoke out the window. But he only took one puff, then crushed the cigarette.

“You’re—” Luo Jianan had initially wanted to ask for one, but seeing his actions, he didn’t dare to.

“I’m quitting smoking.” Qi Ming glanced at him. “Drive.”

I am not your personal chauffeur. Suppressing his resentment, Luo Jianan started the car and drove along the bumpy gravel road back toward the city.

After driving for a while, Qi Ming asked, “What’s the case?”

“A headless body, retrieved from the river a week ago during dredging.” Luo Jianan didn’t want to elaborate on the case to him. He really didn’t know if his Captain’s head had been kicked by a donkey or something, to hire an “exorcist” to assist with the investigation.

“Gender, age, cause of death.”

“Male, estimated age around forty-five to fifty based on bone wear and tear. As for the cause of death—” Luo Jianan dragged out the last word. “You’ll have to ask the body when you get there.”

Qi Ming didn’t say anything but pulled out a mobile phone from his laptop bag—a mobile phone? Luo Jianan caught a glimpse of it in his peripheral vision and immediately burst out: “You have a phone, why didn’t you use it!?”

“The monastery is a place for pure spiritual practice.” Qi Ming opened his email, scanned a few lines, then put his phone away. “What did you say your name was?”

“Luo Jianan.”

“Oh, Nangua (Pumpkin).”

If he didn’t care about his life, Luo Jianan would have really steered the car off the mountain road and down the cliff to crash and kill this disrespectful guy. Who calls people nicknames right away? Am I close with you?

And ‘Pumpkin,’ damn it!

“I have trouble remembering names; I can’t remember them unless I use a nickname.” Seeing Luo Jianan’s dark expression, Qi Ming offered a faint explanation.

“Don’t bother yourself.” Luo Jianan said through gritted teeth while racking his brain for a nickname for Qi Ming. “We’ve only met once. We won’t see each other again.”

Qi Ming lightly adjusted his glasses, thought for a moment, and said, “Captain Chen said the person who came to pick me up today will be at my disposal from now on.”

Don’t be ridiculous! I, at the disposal of a fortune teller? Luo Jianan was so angry he laughed.

“Teacher Qi, you must be mistaken. I’m from the Serious Crimes Unit, but you—you’re not even part of the police force.”

“I am a specially appointed forensic consultant.”

“Huh? Aren’t you an ‘exorcist’?” Luo Jianan barely stopped himself from saying “fortune teller.”

“That’s the nickname others gave me.”

Qi Ming slightly raised his chin, looking straight ahead at the road’s end.

“Because I can make the corpse ‘talk.'”

Make the corpse talk? Bullshit.

Standing beside the autopsy table, Luo Jianan waited to see how Qi Ming would make a headless body “talk.” Never mind a mouth, it didn’t even have a head. Where would it talk from, its belly button?

To avoid seeming petty, Luo Jianan took out a pair of rubber gloves for himself and offered one to Qi Ming, but the other man didn’t take it. “Are you mad I didn’t say ‘please’?” Luo Jianan glared.

Qi Ming was flipping through the autopsy report written by the bureau’s official forensic doctor, Old Han. Hearing Luo Jianan’s words, he casually replied, “No need. I can’t touch the body on the autopsy table. It’s against the rules.”

“You’re a forensic doctor, but you can’t touch the body.”

“I don’t have a forensic license.”

“…” A vein pulsed on Luo Jianan’s temple. “Does Captain Chen know about this?”

“I’ve informed him truthfully.”

“Well… you take your time looking. I’ll go out for some fresh air first.”

Luo Jianan retreated from the forensic office with an expression that screamed, ‘My Captain’s head must have been kicked by a donkey.’ Chen Fei was on the phone. Seeing Luo Jianan enter, he pointed to a chair nearby, signaling him to wait. After hanging up, he asked Luo Jianan: “Did you pick up Teacher Qi?”

“Already dropped him off at the morgue—no, the Forensic Office.” Luo Jianan deliberately made a slip of the tongue and slapped his face. “Captain, are you alright? Qi Ming doesn’t have a forensic license.”

“With Old Han helping, that’s not a problem.”

“Is he really that amazing?”

“Xiao Luo, mind your language. This is the Public Security Bureau, not the den of thieves where you were undercover.” Chen Fei frowned slightly. He had transferred Luo Jianan because of his undercover experience. The young man was bold, capable, quick-witted, and skilled at dealing with all kinds of people. The Serious Crimes Unit needed someone like that.

But he just couldn’t shake off the rogue attitude he developed while undercover.

“Alright, Captain, I’ll rephrase—is the Teacher Qi you invited really that competent?”

Chen Fei was about to speak when the desk phone rang. He answered it, then stood up, motioning for Luo Jianan to join him in going to the Forensic Office.

Inside the elevator, Chen Fei told Luo Jianan, “You decide for yourself how competent he is.”

“The headless male body is unidentified. Based on the incision, bone erosion, bl00d saturation, and bl00d loss, the victim’s head was severed after death, but the autopsy found no fatal diseases or other limb trauma.”

Qi Ming closed the autopsy report and turned to Old Han. Old Han nodded, confirming everything he said was correct. Luo Jianan stood with his hands behind his back, twirling his car keys, waiting to hear Qi Ming’s expert opinion.

“A killer usually severs the head for one of three reasons: One, the fatal injury was to the head, and its absence interferes with identification; two, the victim has unique facial features that could be used for identification, and its absence also interferes with identification; three, the killer has intense hatred for the victim and uses beheading to humiliate the deceased.” As soon as Qi Ming finished, he heard Luo Jianan “harrumph.” He looked at Luo Jianan and asked, “Do you have an objection?”

“Can you tell us something we don’t know?” Luo Jianan rolled his eyes dismissively. “Anyone in criminal investigation knows this stuff.”

Chen Fei cleared his throat, reminding Luo Jianan to be patient.

“The fourth scenario I want to talk about is—” Qi Ming gestured to the wound on the victim’s neck. “The severance of the cervical spine is clean, but the cuts on the trachea, bl00d vessels, and sternocleidomastoid muscle are rough. This suggests the bone was cut, while the other parts separated due to decomposition. Based on this, I suspect the victim’s head was broken off by a propeller, which was an accident during the body disposal, not an intentional act by the killer.”

“Old Han, you didn’t see that?” Luo Jianan quietly complained. Old Han shrugged, saying nothing.

“Old Han’s autopsy report says it was caused by fish and shrimp gnawing, which is usually correct. But I checked the geographical location of that water area. Fifty meters upstream is a sewage outlet. Based on the reaction of the corpse’s epidermis, the water’s pH value is less than 5. Fish and shrimp cannot survive in large numbers, and the body was covered by silt, so biological damage, apart from microorganisms, is very minimal.” Qi Ming slapped the autopsy report onto Luo Jianan. “This isn’t Old Han’s fault. The on-site report didn’t mention the sewage outlet. How could he have been expected to think of that?”

Luo Jianan rolled his eyes. Great, now Qi Ming is lecturing them on how to be police officers.

“So, the time of death needs to be reconsidered.” Qi Ming said to Old Han.

Old Han replied, “The previous estimate was three to four weeks, but that time needs to be shortened in an acidic environment.”

“About two weeks.” Qi Ming took down the X-ray film from the light box. “The victim has cervical spinal stenosis, which would cause migraines or dizziness and requires long-term treatment. Check the medical records at the hospital’s orthopedic department to see who has been receiving continuous treatment but hasn’t been back for a follow-up in the past half-month. That might help us identify the victim.”

“Teacher Qi, were you an orthopedic doctor before?” Old Han asked with a smile.

Qi Ming shook his head, then looked down at his watch and said to Luo Jianan, “I need to meet a friend at the Holiday Hotel. Would you kindly drive me?”

Luo Jianan had just developed a tiny—needle-tip-sized, maybe—bit of recognition for Qi Ming, but being bossed around immediately erased it all. He looked at Chen Fei with annoyance. “Chief, I’ll take him. Who will investigate the victim’s identity?”

“Let Xiao Xu and Da Wei handle the identity search,” Chen Fei said. “Xiao Luo, you will follow Teacher Qi for the time being.”

Luo Jianan asked in a strange tone: “I have to follow him? Should I wait outside the restroom to hand him toilet paper?”

“Luo Jianan!” Chen Fei’s eyes were big, and when he glared, the pressure was immense. Luo Jianan took half a step back, pouting. “Captain, getting angry causes wrinkles.”

“Can we go now? I don’t like being late,” Qi Ming requested.

Scowling, Luo Jianan strode out of the room.

Qi Ming and his friend were having afternoon tea at a Hong Kong-style tea restaurant in the Holiday Hotel. Luo Jianan glanced at the menu, shocked by the exorbitant prices. A cup of milk tea was 68! Was it made of gold? He’d rather go to Starbucks downstairs.

Catching Luo Jianan’s raised eyebrow in his peripheral vision, Qi Ming said calmly, “Don’t worry, my treat.”

Duh, of course it’s your treat. I’m your free chauffeur, aren’t I? Luo Jianan scoffed inwardly. Just then, a young man in a light gray suit appeared at the restaurant entrance. He looked around and then walked towards their table. “Ming Ge (Brother Ming), sorry, I had some business at the office and arrived late.” The young man sat on the chair opposite them and waved to the waiter. “I’d like to order.”

The waiter had just reached the table. Before Qi Ming and the young man could speak, Luo Jianan raised his hand and gestured, asking, “Do you have lobster? One this big—”

“The next-door restaurant does, sir.” The waiter’s expression suggested he was barely holding back an eye-roll. “Would you like me to order a portion and bring it over?”

“Don’t mind him, he’s crazy.” Qi Ming kicked Luo Jianan’s shoe under the table. “One mango smoothie, one regular milk tea, one salted lime soda, and three slices of marble cake.”

“Eating too much sweet stuff can give you diabetes,” Luo Jianan grumbled under his breath. Qi Ming glanced at him and corrected his order: “Two slices of cake. He doesn’t want any.”

Luo Jianan shot Qi Ming a fierce look.

After the waiter walked away, the young man asked, “Ming Ge, who is this?”

“He’s from the Serious Crimes Unit—” Qi Ming thought for a moment. “Just call him Nangua (Pumpkin).”

“Luo Jianan!” Luo Jianan said through gritted teeth, then reached out and shook the young man’s hand.

“Shao Chen. I’m the Business Department Manager here at the hotel. If you need accommodation, you can find me. I’ll give you a discount.” Shao Chen stood up and handed Luo Jianan a business card. Luo Jianan took the card, shoved it into his pocket, and forced a polite, “Thank you” smile.

When the drinks arrived, Qi Ming pushed the canned 7UP and the glass with the salted lime toward Luo Jianan. “I’ve heard you clearing your throat ever since we met. Drink this; it’s good for phlegm.”

Luo Jianan was stunned. He smoked a lot, so his throat was never truly clear, and a light cough had become a habit. He hadn’t expected Qi Ming to notice this and even specifically order a drink for phlegm. Hmm, maybe this person isn’t as abrasive as I thought.

Just as Luo Jianan was feeling a small sense of warmth, he heard Qi Ming say: “It’s annoying, like having a toad croaking beside me.”

You jerk.

Luo Jianan’s eyes were practically rolling up to the ceiling.

Qi Ming and Shao Chen were chatting while Luo Jianan was bored, scrolling through his phone. Suddenly, a sentence made him prick up his ears—

“Ming Ge, any news about your sister?” Shao Chen asked.

“No news. Too much time has passed.” Qi Ming shook his head. “As soon as I got back, I went to the welfare home to check. The records show she was adopted when she was seven, but the contact information left by the adoptive parents is no longer valid.”

“What about the address?”

“I went there too. It was demolished and redeveloped; it’s gone.”

“That’s really tough,” Shao Chen sighed. “What about your uncle? Did you ask him?”

Luo Jianan secretly noticed that Qi Ming’s expression slightly froze when he heard “uncle.”

“I didn’t look for him. If he hadn’t thrown my sister and me out of the house back then, we wouldn’t have been separated.” Qi Ming said in a cold tone. “Anyway, never mind that. How did the thing I talked to you about the other day go?”

“It’s all set up. It’s in the complex right across the street. Here are the keys.” Shao Chen took out two keys and placed them on the table. “However, the furniture you ordered hasn’t arrived yet, so you’ll have to stay in the hotel for a few more days.”

Qi Ming picked up the keys and handed one to Luo Jianan. “You take this one.”

“What is this?” Luo Jianan frowned.

“The key to my apartment.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“If I’m working late at the bureau, it’ll be convenient for you to help me fetch a change of clothes.”

I’m an officer in the Serious Crimes Unit. Are you really treating me like an errand boy, you effeminate man?! Luo Jianan stiffened his neck, with no intention of taking the key. Qi Ming didn’t waste any more words, simply shoved the key into his pocket and waved to the waiter to settle the bill. In fact, he didn’t pay any money, just signed a room number on the bill.

“You’re staying here?” Luo Jianan raised an eyebrow.

Qi Ming nodded. “Yes.”

“How much per day?”

“The rack rate for the room Ming Ge booked is 3680,” Shao Chen interjected.

Luo Jianan’s eyes widened in astonishment: “Hey, hey, the bureau isn’t reimbursing you for this, are they?”

“No need.” Qi Ming glanced at him. “I’m a shareholder in this hotel.”

Damn, you’re a tycoon! But wait. Luo Jianan suddenly realized a question. “You’re so rich, why are you taking the bureau’s car?”

“Hiring you as a driver doesn’t cost anything.”

A businessman’s shrewdness flashed in Qi Ming’s eyes.