Forensic Forensic - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

While the DNA was being expedited, Miao Hong brought Wang Mingqi back from the guesthouse for interrogation. A liar isn’t necessarily the real culprit. In fact, Luo Jianan rarely encounters witnesses who tell the truth, as so many people in this world harbor dark secrets. And that’s how investigations work: the more you dig, the more branches you uncover, the more complex the situation becomes, but there’s always only one truly useful clue.

Luo Jianan flicked on the light on the interrogation table, illuminating Wang Mingqi’s face with a bright beam that made him squint and hunch. Knocking on the table, Luo Jianan asked sternly, “Hey, didn’t you say you didn’t contact your dad? Now someone can prove you asked him for money last month.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Mingqi immediately cried out, “I—I was just on a business trip to the city and ran into him by chance! We just exchanged glances and left. I didn’t ask for any money!”

“Think before you speak, kid!” Luo Jianan pointed a finger at his nose. “Cheating the police? That’s called obstructing public service. I can detain you right now, don’t you believe it?”

Miao Hong, who was taking the statement, saw Wang Mingqi rolling his eyes guiltily and immediately tapped her pen on the notebook, signaling him to stop trying to make up stories. Just now, when she went to the guesthouse to look for someone, Bai Yuemei, upon hearing she was taking her son back to the police station, immediately threw a tantrum in the hallway. Judging by his mother’s personality, Wang Mingqi must have had a poor upbringing.

After a long hesitation, Wang Mingqi said with a bitter face, “Officer, I really didn’t hit him. I just gave him a gentle push, and who knew he’d end up sitting on the ground?”

Oh, so this kid was afraid of being prosecuted for assault. Luo Jianan and Miao Hong exchanged a glance, then continued, “You’re quite capable, pushing your own father down.”

“Who told him he had no money?! I finally got a match made in heaven, but when they told me he didn’t have a house, the relationship was about to fall apart. I was at my wit’s end. I heard the old man was here, so I went to him to ask for money.”

“Who told you your dad was here?”

“My mom.”

“Did your mom always know your dad’s address?”

“She went to the factory to ask. They occasionally ask my dad for help with technical matters, and the factory director has his contact information.”

Luo Jianan whispered into Miao Hong’s ear, “Master, I think we need to investigate Bai Yuemei, too.”

Miao Hong nodded. Clearing his throat, Luo Jianan asked Wang Mingqi, “Did you get the money?”

“No, my date’s over,” Wang Mingqi said, suddenly leaning forward. “Hey, Officer, you said earlier that my dad gave 400,000 yuan to a matchmaking agency. Which agency was it? Can you provide me with a certificate? I’ll go ask them for the money.”

Luo Jianan really wanted to smash this idiot’s head with a lamp. Not only did he not shed a single tear over his own father’s death, but he kept talking about money. If the person in the morgue heard this, they’d probably be furious.

Suddenly, he remembered Qi Ming’s “ghost story” about opening the morgue drawer, and a chill ran through his body.

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Bai Yuemei saw that she was being taken to the interrogation room and was about to throw a tantrum. Just then, Wu Ge emerged from the reception room, and the two of them met. Even Luo Jianan’s quick eyes and hands couldn’t stop Bai Yuemei. She darted in front of Wu Ge and slapped him hard.

“You little vixen, you killed my husband! You must pay!”

Qi Ming quickly shielded Wu Ge behind him, blocking Bai Yuemei’s next slap. Miao Hong stepped forward, grabbed Bai Yuemei’s other arm, and pulled her back a distance. Wu Ge was stunned by the slap and burst into tears of grievance, large tears cascading down his face.

Bai Yuemei couldn’t afford to throw a tantrum, but she kept her mouth shut: “You bastard, you still have the nerve to cry? How did I treat you back then? I asked you, a fatherless man, to come to my house for dinner and buy you clothes, and now you’re seducing my husband. I’m going to tear up your—”

“What are you doing? You’re beating someone up at the police station and you think you’re justified!” Luo Jianan roared, his tone full of confidence and sternness, instantly suppressing Bai Yuemei’s arrogance.

“Aunt Bai, Uncle Wang and I aren’t in that relationship. We really aren’t—” Wu Ge explained, crying. “Uncle Wang didn’t divorce you because of me. He just couldn’t stand your temper.”

“Stop talking. She won’t listen,” Qi Ming whispered to Wu Ge. Then he looked at Bai Yuemei. “Ms. Bai, I’ll give you a reasonable explanation for this matter. Please be patient.”

“Oh, the police are investigating a vixen who stole men?” Bai Yuemei snorted.

“Hey, stop talking about vixens. This isn’t a market.” Luo Jianan pushed open the door to the interrogation room. “Go in first and explain your story.”

Sat down on the chair, Bai Yuemei squinted and looked angry. “Why are you interrogating me? I didn’t kill him.”

“As the deceased’s ex-wife, you have an obligation to assist the police in their investigation.” Luo Jianan leaned against the interrogation table, arms folded. “What were you going to the factory to ask for Wang Xinji’s contact information for?”

“That bastard didn’t send a penny home after the divorce. Our son’s getting married and doesn’t have a house, so who else can he ask for money from if not him?” Bai Yuemei rolled her eyes.

“But I heard he left the house empty-handed when the divorce happened. Your house isn’t expensive, and he’s an engineer who’s worked at the company for nearly thirty years and can’t save enough for a down payment? Where did the money go?”

Bai Yuemei fell silent, her eyes darting from side to side. Miao Hong knocked on the table. “Hey, I’m asking you a question.”

Bai Yuemei’s face was as flimsy as paper, and in less than a second, she had a scowling expression, as if everyone owed her a debt. “That bastard, all he does is mess around outside. He doesn’t care about the family or discipline the kids. My son has been led astray by his scoundrel friends. He spends the whole night drinking and gambling, and the debt collectors come to my house and threaten to kill me if I don’t pay!”

Well, it seems like you’ve spoiled him. Luo Jianan snorted inwardly. Just then, Qi Ming knocked on the door and entered, handing him a report. Luo Jianan rolled his eyes, handed the report back to Miao Hong, and said to Bai Yuemei, “Don’t ever call Wu Ge a vixen again. She’s your ex-husband’s daughter.”

Hearing this, Bai Yuemei’s eyes nearly popped out.

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As soon as he entered the office Monday morning, Chen Fei summoned Luo Jianan.

“Luo Jianan, go with your master to the tax office. They’ve sent two people over. Take them to Wang Haixia’s matchmaking agency.” Chen Fei looked ill-rested, with faint dark circles under his eyes. But criminal investigators often don’t get enough sleep, so everyone’s used to it.

“Go ahead and scare people. I’m good at that,” Luo Jianan chuckled.

“I have something to do. I can’t leave, Captain,” Miao Hong’s voice rang out from the office area outside. Chen Fei thought for a moment and said to Luo Jianan, “Then take Teacher Qi with you.”

Luo Jianan’s brows knitted together. “Boss, isn’t Qi Ming a forensic consultant? Why are you asking him to get involved in the investigation?”

“When Teacher Qi accepted the consultant offer, he told me he wanted to be involved in the investigation. He seems to be writing a book about solving crimes and needs materials.” Chen Fei waved his hand. “Hurry up and send two people from the tax department. They’re just there to help. Don’t keep them waiting.”

Getting into the car with a sour look on his face, Luo Jianan called Qi Ming to let him go on the field trip with him. After Qi Ming got into the car, Luo Jianan curled his lips and asked, “You’re such a talent! You’re writing a book?”

“I’ve been invited to write a teaching case for the Public Security University.” Qi Ming glanced at Luo Jianan. “You’ll appear in the case under a pseudonym, so work hard and don’t embarrass yourself.”

Starting the car, Luo Jianan said proudly, “I’m just a model police officer.”

“Shouldn’t a model police officer write his own report?”

“…”

Luo Jianan thought he’d been bullied by that idiot.

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Just as Deputy Captain Zhao Pingsheng had predicted, Wang Haixia’s expression immediately became panicked upon seeing the tax inspectors arrive. After inviting the two inspectors to sit down and drink water, she quickly dragged Luo Jianan into the office and asked sarcastically, “Officer Luo, what are you doing? Are you trying to force a confession?”

“We don’t do that. Don’t frame me.” Luo Jianan glanced around and noticed the many photos of beautiful women hanging on the wall. Seeing him staring at the photos on the wall, Wang Haixia gently nudged his arm and said, “Are you interested? I’ll introduce you.”

“I’m telling you, you—” Luo Jianan took a half step back, increasing the distance between them. The last time she’d squeezed his arm with her chest was still fresh in his mind. “I’ll give you one more chance. Confess and I’ll give you some leniency, or I’ll let those two inspectors outside get to work.”

“Oh, you police officers are really driving me crazy.” Wang Haixia irritably gathered her hair, went behind her desk, opened a drawer, pulled out a contract, and tossed it on the table. “I don’t want the money, okay? Stop bothering me. I really don’t know anything.”

Luo Jianan called Qi Ming in and went over the contract with him. This was the agreement signed between Wang Xinji and the matchmaking agency. Although the payment item was listed as a membership fee, it was actually a fundraising contract. The contract stipulated a quarterly dividend of 30,000 yuan for three years, after which the principal would be returned. In other words, Wang Xinji could receive 760,000 yuan, including principal and interest, almost doubling it, countless times higher than the interest earned on a bank deposit. But anyone with even a passing thought knows the risks are enormous. TV reports daily show countless people losing everything by investing in such contracts.

“You’re raising funds illegally,” Qi Ming said.

“Stop! The money is being invested in a legitimate project.” Wang Haixia took a slender cigarette from her pack, lit it, and puffed away. “Old Wang personally inspected it.”

“So he’s not looking for a partner at the matchmaking agency, but for the money?” Luo Jianan slammed the contract on the table.

Wang Haixia curled her lips and sighed softly. “Yes, that old man said his daughter is promising and has been admitted to graduate school. He wants to send her to Hong Kong to study design, which would cost around 800,000 yuan over two years. He heard I have this project and wanted to come check it out. He’s already spent all his family savings after seeing it.”

“What project is it?” Qi Ming asked.

“Ecological fishery,” Wang Haixia said, biting her lip. “We have a harbor, don’t we? Online shopping has been booming in recent years, and we can’t even sell all the seafood we catch. You can make money without doing anything. You’d be a fool not to invest.”

Ecological fishery? Now Luo Jianan understood why Wang Haixia had feigned death at the police station upon hearing the word “fishing boat”—the investor’s death was related to the investment project, and if word of that got out, she’d have to give up on the project. Of course, whether the project was as lucrative as she claimed remained debatable.

“Write down the names of all the ship owners you know who are involved in the project.” Luo Jianan pulled a pen from the pen holder and placed it in front of Wang Haixia.

“How could I remember that!” Wang Haixia was stunned. “Brother Hai is in charge of the fishing boats. They’re all under temporary contracts. There are dozens of boats coming and going, including some from neighboring cities.”

“Who is Brother Hai?”

“The chairman of Jinhai Trading Company.” Wang Haixia’s eyes drifted to the two inspectors outside. “Officer Luo, can you please help me take those two away?”

“It’s easier to invite a deity than to send him away.” Luo Jianan gave her a “friendly” smile.

“Okay, I’ll offer you another tribute.” Wang Haixia crushed out her cigarette in frustration. “Brother Hai, that’s Gao Jinhai. He started out in smuggling, a seasoned veteran. His fishing boats don’t just fish, they sometimes smuggle in ‘parallel imports’.”

Hearing this, Luo Jianan rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone—was he going to ask Chen Fei to call the anti-smuggling team for help?

The author has something to say: Teacher Qi may appear cold on the outside, but he’s actually warm-hearted. Brother Nan needs a “ghost story” to cool things down 233333333

Still waiting for the charts. Once they make it, I’ll resume daily updates.