Silent Witness - Chapter 10

Late at night, Tao Ling lay on her side on the soft, king-sized bed, her eyes half-closed as sleepiness washed over her like a surging tide. Just as she was about to lose consciousness and drift into dreams, a WeChat notification suddenly chimed in her ear. Groggily, she reached for her phone, barely managing to pry open her eyelids to check the unread message.

It was a voice message from Liu Yun.

“Xiao Ling, are you off work yet? I need to talk to you about something.”

Tao Ling typed back: Mom, what is it?

“Sigh, what’s gotten into your sister-in-law tonight? I’ve never seen her so temperamental before.”

“And you! Why did you reject the man Tao Zong introduced you to? It’s a good opportunity!”

Tao Ling didn’t want to argue with Liu Yun: Mom, I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep.

“Hey, you’re impossible!”

“Oh, and your sister-in-law gave your father a 600 yuan red envelope, while I only got 800 yuan for my birthday earlier this year. Your father’s been simmering with resentment ever since, complaining non-stop.”

How much my sister-in-law gives is her own business, Tao Ling typed, repeating a point she’d made countless times. Mom, can you please learn to distinguish right from wrong and stop blindly obeying Dad?

What has my sister-in-law done wrong? After my brother went missing, she did everything she could to help find him—reporting to the police, placing ads in newspapers, asking friends for information…

For the past two years, she’s given us red envelopes for our birthdays. When Dad’s back pain got worse, she even introduced him to an orthopedic professor from Shu River. He refused to go to the hospital only because he didn’t want to spend the money.

Tao Ling listed the facts of how the original owner had treated the Tao Family well, deliberately omitting the change in her attitude toward herself.

“I don’t think she’s bad either. It’s just that your dad keeps saying if she hadn’t been around, Xiao Yang wouldn’t have suddenly returned from abroad, and he wouldn’t have gone missing.”

Tao Ling’s head throbbed. Dad’s just being stubborn and unreasonable. Brother always came home for two months after finishing a project. Have you forgotten?

“That’s true.”

Mom, I’m going to apply for dormitory housing. Tao Ling had hesitated to move out of the old building because Tao Luhai’s back pain had worsened since March, making it impossible for him to lift heavy objects. She usually helped Liu Yun sort and organize the fish catch before cycling to work.

Knowing Liu Yun’s limited education, Tao Ling tried to persuade her gently. After her heatstroke incident a few days ago, she had reflected on her harsh tone. Her mother had raised her with such difficulty; as a daughter, she should show more understanding.

Tao Ling no longer wanted to waste her energy on internal conflict. She understood that she had to break free from her current circumstances first to improve her mother’s life.

Liu Yun asked, “Why do you want to live in the dormitory? Isn’t it better to stay home?”

Tao Ling replied bluntly, I can’t rest properly at home, and it’s affecting my work.

“I’ll talk to your father about getting an air conditioner.”

No need, Mom. I’ll transfer 2,000 yuan to you. Give 500 to Aunt Zhang and ask her to help with the deliveries twice a day. Aunt Zhang, who ran a chicken stall next door, was known for her strength and occasionally helped Tao Ling carry fish.

“Sigh, your father will never agree.”

Just mention it casually and see what he says.

After he finishes his shower, go to bed early.

Liu Yun switched to handwritten typing, and by the time Tao Ling received the message, three minutes had already passed.

Okay, good night. All traces of sleepiness had vanished. The weight in her heart grew heavier, making it hard to breathe.

They say the night amplifies emotions. Tao Ling felt this acutely, wondering if taking this first step would lead to a brighter future.

The next morning, driven by her biological clock, Tao Ling woke up and got dressed before 7 a.m. As she opened her door, Li Hewei emerged from her studio, yawning softly. “Morning,” she murmured.

“Morning,” Tao Ling replied, her gaze drifting past Li Hewei to the opposite room, its walls plastered with sketches. The pencil-drawn figures seemed to leap off the page. “Sister Wei, did you work all night?” she couldn’t help asking.

“Mm-hmm,” Li Hewei mumbled, feeling her mind still foggy. How ironic, she thought, I used to criticize others for neglecting sleep and meals, and now I’m doing the same. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed. Order some takeout.”

“Sister Wei, shouldn’t you eat something first?”

Li Hewei retrieved her phone and opened the takeout app. “You’re right. What do you want?”

“Do we have noodles?” Tao Ling asked, heading toward the kitchen.

Li Hewei looked up. “Yingqiu bought instant noodles.”

“And eggs?”

“Yes.”

Tao Ling spoke softly, “Sister Wei, takeout is full of preservatives and the ingredients aren’t fresh.”

Her stepmother had often said the same thing when Tao Ling was working in Shenzhen, rushing between early shifts and late nights, relying on the company cafeteria and takeout.

“How old-fashioned,” Li Hewei retorted, opening a cabinet next to the refrigerator and pulling out two packs of instant noodles, deliberately contradicting her. “Instant noodles have preservatives too.”

“These noodles don’t need preservatives, so I won’t use the seasoning packets,” Tao Ling said, taking two eggs. She cracked them into an empty bowl, added a pinch of salt and pepper, and whisked them vigorously with chopsticks. Meanwhile, she boiled the noodles in a saucepan on the left burner and fried the eggs in a wok on the right. By the time the noodles were cooked, the eggs were perfectly done, and a bowl of egg-tossed noodles was ready.

Li Hewei watched Tao Ling’s practiced movements, her eyes filled with undisguised surprise.

“Want to try some?” Tao Ling asked, holding out the bowl of noodles. A gentle smile spread across her face, as warm and tender as the soft breeze of early spring.

Li Hewei’s heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. Before she could dwell on the fleeting anomaly, Tao Ling had already placed the bowl on the round table outside the kitchen and called softly, “Sister Wei?”

“Oh, right,” Li Hewei replied, walking over to sit down and accepting the chopsticks from Tao Ling.

Tao Ling had kept the noodles simple, allowing the natural freshness of the eggs and wheat to shine through. Li Hewei ate slowly, savoring each bite. The noodles were light and flavorful, tender yet firm, with a rich, wheaty aroma. She praised sincerely, “It’s delicious.”

“What about you? Make another bowl for yourself.”

“Mm,” Tao Ling replied, her footsteps quickening as she watched Li Hewei’s cheerful expression. Cooking and researching gourmet cuisine had always been her earliest source of satisfaction.

Around 8 a.m., after finishing breakfast, Li Hewei returned to her room to catch up on sleep, while Tao Ling headed to the office alone to handle follow-up work. In the afternoon, around 3 p.m., Li Hewei sat at her desk when she noticed a piece of paper tucked under the pen holder. She reached for it and her eyes fell on the document:

Accommodation Application

She quickly scanned the contents and signed in the second-to-last field: Situation verified; application approved. Li Hewei, August 2, 2015

During breakfast, Tao Ling had brought up her plan to apply for dormitory accommodation again. Considering Tao Ling’s future circumstances, Li Hewei had invited her to stay at her place, but Tao Ling politely declined.

“You wouldn’t have to pay rent; we’d just split the utilities.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Sister Wei, but I’d prefer the dormitory. It’s more convenient for commuting.”

Indeed, the dormitory was said to be well-equipped, with two-person rooms. Li Hewei didn’t press the matter further.

As for the portrait she had worked on all night, after further revisions, she had sent it to Qiu Wan just two minutes earlier.

In the woods west of the Willow Min River, officers from the Major Crimes Unit discovered drag marks left by a woven bag. Under the scorching sun, Qiu Wan found a shady spot and called Li Hewei. “Hello, Team Leader Li.”

“Team Leader Qiu, what’s up?”

“We’ve found what appears to be a body disposal site. I’m sending you the location now.”

“Got it.”

Qiu Wan hung up and noticed Li Hewei’s message, which she forwarded to Cheng Yingqiu:

Teacher Cheng, here’s a simulated portrait of the victim in the 7.31 case, reconstructed by one of our colleagues. Could you draft a missing person notice?

Sis stayed up all night working on this portrait.

Okay, I’ll take care of it.

Wait, you should draft the notice and send it to me. After review, it’ll be broadcast on Puchen News and the Legal Channel.

The colleague in charge of this is on vacation, and I’m out in the suburbs.

Fine, I’ll help you out.

Ten minutes later, Cheng Yingqiu completed the initial draft according to the required format and sent the file.

Thanks! I’ll treat you to dinner another time.

Eh, no need, no need.

Cheng Yingqiu preferred to keep their interactions strictly professional. Gossip was fine, but she wasn’t about to mix business with pleasure.

Meanwhile, a colleague informed Qiu Wan, “Team Leader Qiu, there are only two road entrances to the woods. There’s a tire repair shop diagonally across from the first entrance, and they have surveillance cameras.”

“I’ll check it out.”

Qiu Wan typed a reply but forgot to send it, tucking her phone into her pocket.

Across town, Cheng Yingqiu lounged on her sofa, eating ice cream to beat the heat while keeping an eye on the chat window. She muttered, “What a cheapskate. No sincerity, and doesn’t even give me a chance to refuse twice.”

Forty minutes later, Li Hewei arrived at the scene with two forensic technicians and a video technician.

He Ying crouched down, examining the drag marks and collecting samples. “Fortunately, it’s been sunny lately. We should be able to identify the material of the woven bag,” she said, gently twisting the fragments with gloved hands. She sighed, “But it might be a false lead. These types of woven bags are extremely common.”

“Sister He, come take a look at this,” Li Hewei called, bending down to examine a detail.

“A high heel?”

“Yes, a soft measuring tape.” Li Hewei accepted the tape from a colleague.

“Xiao Li, you’re measuring it wrong,” He Ying corrected. “There’s a proper technique.” She first measured the heel height, then the length, estimating the shoe size. “Size 41 or 42.”

A colleague from the Major Crimes Unit exclaimed, “She must be at least 175 centimeters tall!”

Li Hewei, experienced in such matters, countered, “Not necessarily. Plenty of women with large feet aren’t that tall.”

Meanwhile, Qiu Wan had obtained the surveillance footage from the repair shop covering the past two weeks. Spotting the group talking in the distance, she approached and greeted them. “Team Leader Li, here’s the footage. I hope it yields something useful.” She turned to He Ying. “Sister He, what have you found?”

The area was desolate, with few pedestrians passing by. Given the relatively fresh shoe print, He Ying concluded, “A high heel print. The perpetrator is likely female.”

“Any other shoe prints?” Qiu Wan asked the Major Crimes Unit colleagues.

“Boss, there’s one over here too!”

“And over here!”

Deeper in the woods, more footprints were discovered.

He Ying measured them. “All from the same person.”

They followed the trail of footprints until they reached another intersection without surveillance cameras.

A colleague from the Major Crimes Unit gritted his teeth. “Damn it, the footage we just got is useless.”

“That means she knew where the cameras were,” Qiu Wan said, turning to the officer beside her. “Xiao Liao, get the surveillance footage from the repair shop for the past three months.”

“Right away.”

“Team Leader Li, where are you going?” Qiu Wan hurried after Li Hewei.

“Look ahead—the convenience store.”

Qiu Wan shook her head. “We already asked. No cameras.”

“What about details? We now know the suspect might be female.”

Qiu Wan raised her chin slightly. “So anyone who might have witnessed the scene becomes a person of interest.”

Li Hewei nodded, pulled out two yuan from her bag, and quickened her pace. “Ma’am, a bottle of water, please.” She handed over the money and winked at Qiu Wan. “Team Leader Qiu, you take it from here.”

She didn’t want to waste words; this was the Major Crimes Unit’s job.

Qiu Wan showed her police badge. “Ma’am, I’m a detective from the Puchen City Public Security Bureau’s Major Crimes Unit. I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

The woman nodded. “Officer, go ahead.”

“Since you run this store, do you get many customers each day?”

“Not many. Most passersby just buy water or instant noodles.” She turned and pointed to the nearby tile-roofed houses. “The families behind us occasionally buy salt, MSG, and other daily necessities.”

Qiu Wan prompted her, “Have you witnessed anything unusual recently? For example, a woman dragging a woven bag into the woods ahead?”

“Ah, yes, yes! She was so tall, I couldn’t help but glance at her a few times.”

Qiu Wan’s eyes lit up as she switched on her recorder. “When was this?”

“It was many days ago, at least a week, around 3 or 4 in the afternoon.” The woman gestured. “Officer, she looked about as tall as you.”

Qiu Wan noted the key detail: height approximately 175 cm.

Li Hewei pulled out her sketchpad. “What color clothes was she wearing?”

“A pale yellow long dress.”

“Do you remember what she looked like?”

The woman waved her hand. “She was wearing a hat and a mask. I couldn’t see her clearly.”

“What about her eyes?”

“Nothing particularly memorable.”

“Short or long hair?”

“Long hair, under the hat. Looked messy.”

“Anything else unusual about her?”

“Does her walk count? She was dragging something, and her gait was really strange.”

“How so?”

“She was limping badly, I was afraid she’d fall.”

Li Hewei tilted her head. “Team Leader Qiu, maybe the woven bag was heavy, making it difficult for her to drag.”

Qiu Wan nodded in agreement.

Li Hewei continued, “Ma’am, was she wearing any jewelry? Like earrings or a necklace?”

The woman shook her head repeatedly.

Li Hewei put away her sketchbook.

“Thank you for your help, ma’am,” Qiu Wan said, handing her a slip of paper. “If you remember anything else, please call this number.”

As Qiu Wan wrote, the woman glanced at the watch on her wrist and clapped her hands. “Oh, she was wearing a watch! It had diamonds—sparkly ones! She must have been rich.”

Qiu Wan immediately pressed, “What did the diamonds look like? How many were there? Were they on the top or bottom?”

“Hmm, Officer, maybe two or three. I can’t remember exactly where they were.”

“Look at this,” Li Hewei said, quickly sketching the watch and showing it to the woman for confirmation.

The woman pointed to the sketch with diamonds clustered in the upper right corner. “It looked like this one.”

“Thank you very much.”

They said their goodbyes, and Li Hewei handed the sketchbook to Qiu Wan. “Roughly like this.”

“You’re incredibly fast,” Qiu Wan remarked. She had heard of Li Hewei’s remarkable skills before; Shu Prefecture Television Station had once reported how she helped the police identify a suspect using just two blurry video clips.

Li Hewei understood that Qiu Wan’s praise stemmed from her knowledge of the original team leader. Her tone remained calm and measured as she replied, “We still need more facial features.”

“Let’s hope the video footage can help us.”

“Mm. What about the body? I saw the community police information platform has already issued a missing person notice. Have you received any calls?” Missing person notices are disseminated through various channels, television being just one of them.

As if on cue, Qiu Wan’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and answered.

“Hello, this is the Puchen Public Security Bureau Major Crimes Unit.”

A clear but trembling voice came through the receiver. “Officer, the missing person notice you put out this afternoon… the deceased might be my boyfriend.”