Forensic Forensic - Chapter 18
Chapter 18
After only two hours of sleep after breakfast, Luo Jianan woke up and went to the police station in the area where Renhe Hospital is located. Although the cause of death from Old Han was suicide, it was followed by a question mark and the injuries to the body were highlighted. He had also inquired at the hospital yesterday, and someone confirmed that the thief had been seen in the inpatient ward of another department during the day, so he had to pursue the relevant leads. Chen Fei also agreed with his briefing. After all, no suicide note was found at the scene, so he had to find out whether it was suicide or a disguised homicide.
Luo Jianan had originally considered asking Qi Ming to go with him, but when he arrived outside the medical examiner’s office, he saw Qi Ming asleep on the table, his breakfast untouched. He waved to Old Han, who was sitting at his computer, to tell him not to wake Qi Ming. However, the questioning of witnesses required at least two officers; that was the rule, so Luo Jianan went back to the office to call Miao Hong.
The bloodshot in Luo Jianan’s eyes told her he hadn’t slept well. For safety’s sake, Miao Hong snatched the car keys from him. As they drove out of the garage, she asked her apprentice, “Hey, I passed by your complex yesterday and saw some construction work. It’s so digged up that it’s practically impossible to get through.”
“The underground water pipe burst, and the property management posted a notice saying there will be no water or electricity for two weeks.” Sitting in the passenger seat, Luo Jianan swayed as he put eye drops into his eyes.
“Where are you staying then? Hiding at Xu Jie’s bed again?”
“No, his girlfriend—the flight attendant, you remember? She’s on vacation, so it’s inconvenient for me to go. I’m staying at Qi Ming’s for now—” The momentum from Miao Hong’s slamming brake nearly hit the windshield. Luo Jianan, holding the bottle of medicine that nearly lodged in his eye, shouted in horror, “Master! Let me drive!”
Miao Hong rolled her eyes at him. “Fasten your seatbelt!”
Luo Jianan frowned as he buckled his seatbelt, complaining, “Other drivers work for money, but you work for your life.”
Raising her hand and caressing Luo Jianan’s head, Miao Hong teased, “What a treat, kid! You’re already living with someone after just a few days?”
“Master, have you been hanging out with the captain and vice-captain for so long that you think everyone’s gay?” Luo Jianan had barely finished his words when he received another hard smack on the head. This slap was clearly punitive, harder than any previous one. He could sense Miao Hong’s anger.
“Luo Jianan, listen up, kid—” Miao Hong began swerving past the front of another car, clearly taking out her anger on him for his driving. “If you dare to make fun of Captain Chen and Deputy Captain Zhao again, I’ll beat you to death! They’ve earned their friendship with their lives!”
Luo Jianan took a deep breath, tilted his head to look out the window, and after a long pause, said, “Master, that’s not what I meant…”
Hearing her apprentice’s aggrieved tone, Miao Hong slowed down the car slightly, then glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and asked, “Did it hurt?”
Luo Jianan pouted, “I’m almost stupid.”
“Stop talking nonsense! Your head is harder than a brick.” Miao Hong reached out and rubbed her apprentice’s head, as a soothing gesture. Seeing Miao Hong’s anger had subsided, Luo Jianan curled his lips. “Hey, Master, tell me about the captain and vice-captain.”
“I’m wondering, how can a grown man like you be so gossipy?”
“Didn’t you bring that up?”
Miao Hong thought for a moment and said, “If I don’t have overtime on Friday night, I’ll go to Old B’s place. If I want to hear his stories, I’ll have to treat him, okay?”
Luo Jianan was about to nod in agreement when he suddenly remembered something and slapped his thigh. “Not this Friday. My mom and I have an appointment to go home for lunch on Saturday. If I get drunk the night before, my dad will definitely beat me up when I get home.”
“Are you going back for another blind date?” Miao Hong chuckled gleefully.
“Of course, but I have a plan to make the blind date back out. You just gave me the idea.”
“Then you owe me another meal.” Stopping at a red light, Miao Hong glanced sideways at Luo Jianan. “What plan?”
Luo Jianan raised his chin triumphantly. “Let Qi Ming come home with me. I’ll be more attentive to him at dinner. I’m sure the girl won’t notice. Anyway, my parents definitely won’t think anything of it.”
“Pretending to be gay?” Miao Hong frowned and shook her head. “Luo Jianan, you’re truly wicked.”
“That’s called strategy, Master—hey! Stop hitting me in the head again! You’re so stupid!”
Seeing Miao Hong’s hand about to slap him, Luo Jianan instinctively shrank his shoulders. Miao Hong didn’t hit him, but simply reached out to adjust the rearview mirror.
“Twenty yuan bet,” she said, “Teacher Qi will go with you.”
——————
Luo Jianan had no idea whether he would see a ghost on Saturday, but when he checked the police station for information on the thief, he realized it was truly a ghost. According to the police report, the thief they were looking for was named Tang Jianzhong. Although he had made death threats against the deceased, he would never carry them out.
“Dead? When did that happen?” Luo Jianan nearly flipped the computer screen off the officer’s desk. “Someone saw him yesterday!”
“His household registration was cancelled a month ago. He died of a drug overdose. The death certificate was issued by Renhe Hospital.” The officer instinctively raised his hand to protect the computer screen. “Tang Jianzhong is a repeat offender. We’ve caught him several times, but each time, because the amount of money he stole wasn’t enough to warrant a case, he could only receive criticism and education. He also had a medical condition, so detention wasn’t an option. But as soon as we released him, he’d be back wandering around the hospital or the supermarket. As for what you said about… “Someone’s seen him…” The police officer looked at them awkwardly, “Maybe they look alike?”
After exchanging a glance with Miao Hong, Luo Jianan clutched the edge of his desk with a hint of frustration and said, “Please print out a copy of his ID card for me so I can check it at the hospital.”
The police officer handed him the printed ID and asked curiously, “What crime did this kid commit?”
“What crime could a dead man commit? It must have been a mistake.” Luo Jianan smacked his lips. “Okay, thank you. See you later.”
Following Luo Jianan out of the police station, Miao Hong suddenly slapped him and asked mysteriously, “Do you feel a chill on your back?”
Luo Jianan turned around and gave her a wry smile—could they still be happily master and apprentice?