Forensic Forensic - Chapter 20
Chapter 20
The outpatient hall was packed with people, all there to watch the fun. Luo Jianan had to flash his police badge to clear a path for himself and Miao Hong. Several family members in mourning—yes, mourning family members—were wailing. A corpse lay on the ground, its face covered with a white cloth, its exposed fingers a creepy blue-gray hue.
“What are you doing?!” Luo Jianan stepped in front of the body and flashed his police badge at the woman who was wailing the loudest. “This is a hospital, not your mourning hall! You can’t even wail here!”
Unexpectedly, the woman lunged at him and hugged him, wailing even louder. “Oh, my God! They killed someone and they won’t even give us an explanation. You have to help us!”
Suddenly, the woman grabbed him by the waist. Luo Jianan instinctively tried to push her away, but he suddenly felt something kicking his thigh. Taking another look at the woman’s blond hair and blue clothes, Luo Jianan immediately remembered the pregnant woman who was causing trouble at the hospital that Nurse Pan had mentioned yesterday. The police were completely helpless against such people; they couldn’t scold or hit them. And even if they could be detained for disturbing public order, they’d only have a criminal record and no incarceration.
He quickly raised his hand to pry the woman’s arm from her waist. “Sister, don’t hold me like that! Child! Watch out for the child!”
“These unscrupulous, quack doctors are going to kill both me and my child!” The pregnant woman released one arm, angrily pointing at the doctor who was being besieged by another group, likely family members or protesters. “That’s him! He killed my godfather, and he must pay!”
Only then did Luo Jianan notice that Dr. Xia was trapped between the group. If it weren’t for the two security guards protecting him, his white coat would have been ripped. Dr. Xia wasn’t wearing glasses, and his fair face was an abnormal red. Luo Jianan glanced down and saw a pair of glasses next to the body, but the lenses were shattered and the frames were warped from being trampled on.
Miao Hong, upon seeing this, immediately grabbed the pregnant woman’s shoulders and dragged her away, sternly admonishing her, “If there’s a problem, solve it! How could you leave a body here?”
“Do they have the attitude to solve a problem? Huh? Fifty thousand yuan? My godfather’s life is only worth fifty thousand!?” The pregnant woman, hands on her hips, her belly bulging, haughtily shouted, “If I killed Xia Yonghui with a single shot, why would I pay his family fifty thousand yuan?!”
Luo Jianan had witnessed the professionalism of these professional medical troublemakers. Dragging the attending physician to the body and exerting pressure on them almost constituted violent coercion. But only almost; this act alone was not illegal. Fraud, however, was another matter. He had heard that the Economic Crimes Investigation Division had resolved several cases of professional medical troublemakers over the years. Section Chief Fang had long been annoyed by these people. He dispatched security from other floors to surround the “family members” and wait for the officers from the local police station to mediate.
“Do you have evidence to prove this was a medical accident? Was an autopsy performed?” Luo Jianan demanded of the pregnant woman. Normally, this wasn’t the responsibility of the Serious Crime Unit, but seeing Dr. Xia, looking exhausted and being attacked, he was furious.
These people were truly greedy for money. Instead of burying the deceased, they were using their bodies as a tool for enrichment.
The pregnant woman snorted coldly, raised her chin, and said to Luo Jianan, “The hospital paid for the forensic doctor to perform the autopsy. How could the forensic doctor, after receiving bribes, not speak for the hospital?”
Luo Jianan truly wanted to slap her. The hospital paid for Old Han’s autopsy to the Public Security Bureau’s Laboratory Department. It was a public-private partnership. Even if the department gave him a bonus, it was earned through hard work. How could this woman, full of nonsense, demean another person in front of so many people!? “Speechless, aren’t you? Officer, if you think I’ve broken the law, arrest me.” The woman held out her hand provocatively.
Luo Jianan, fuming with frustration, immediately grabbed her wrist. “You really need to come with us. The police have questions for you regarding the death of Feng Wenyue, the head nurse in the respiratory department.”
Seeing the pregnant woman’s expression change and her attempt to slump to the ground, Miao Hong grabbed her shoulders and warned, “Don’t try to act so slyly. Someone has proven you had a conflict with the deceased. You’re now a murder suspect.”
The pregnant woman was stunned; she hadn’t expected to offend the police. Seeing the person in charge being taken away by the police, the others panicked. Two people began to run out carrying the body, but were stopped at the door by Section Chief Fang’s order.
Bending down to pick up the warped glasses frame from the floor, Luo Jianan handed it back to Doctor Xia, reassuring him, “Don’t overthink it. They’re not targeting you; they just want money.”
“Thank you, Officer Luo. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered something like this. I can handle it myself.” Doctor Xia sighed deeply, his eyes slightly red. Luo Jianan noticed a slight scratch on his face and frowned, asking, “Did they hit you?”
“No, they just dragged me out of the office and rubbed me against the doorframe.”
“Did no one stop them?”
“I didn’t ask the nurses to do it. The doctors are all in the outpatient clinic right now, so I’m the only one in the office.”
“Damn it…” Luo Jianan rubbed his chin in frustration. “When the police arrive, point out the perpetrators. The worst that can happen is seven days of administrative detention.”
Doctor Xia put his glasses in the pocket of his white coat and gave Luo Jianan a wry smile. “You don’t know this, Officer Luo, but these people can earn 500 yuan a day from the deceased’s family if they’re detained. Forget it, they’ve already spent a lot of money on their loved ones’ medical treatment. My case isn’t a big deal, so I won’t burden them.”
Although Luo Jianan felt that Dr. Xia’s kindness was a bit misplaced, he didn’t know how to retort. After a moment’s thought, he said to Dr. Xia, “Leave me your phone number. If those guys dare to pick on you again, just call me.”