chapter 6
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
The Special Case Team analyzed the information contained in the text message: Zhao Dahong’s death was not an isolated murder, but part of a series of cases;
The perpetrator planned to eliminate five people;
Three have already been killed, and two more are yet to be killed;
The perpetrator is eliminating these people based on a sense of justice;
The perpetrator does not seem to be deliberately hiding the truth of the case.
So what urgently needs to be clarified now is: Who are the two people the killer still intends to kill? And who are the other two who have already died?
What is the connection between these five people?
Lives are at stake, and there is no time to lose.
The Special Case Team decided to split into two groups.
One group would return to the county bureau immediately to review records and investigate the other two victims, to see if any connections could be found and to quickly identify the killer’s next target.
The other group would stay in the village to continue the investigation, especially to keep the woman at the end of the village under comprehensive surveillance, ensuring she remained within our sight at all times.
Because, after a secret investigation, it was found that there were insect corpses at the bottom of the water jar.
Tests of the soil and the insect corpses both contained Datura and alcohol.
Although the rain had washed away any traceable amount of Datura, it indicated that she had likely come into contact with Datura Wine.
Master said I was quick-witted and told Captain Jiang to take me along when he returned to the county bureau to review records.
He himself led the team to continue the investigation in the village.
On the way back, Captain Jiang asked me what I thought of Master.
I answered truthfully, “Unremarkable in appearance, but with hidden depths.”
Captain Jiang nodded and said, “Your Master is your fellow alumnus, and he’s a famous detective throughout our province.”
“He originally worked at the Provincial Criminal Investigation Bureau and was set to retire in a year, but he volunteered to come work at our county bureau.”
“Because twenty years ago, he was in our county and encountered a case that has made him feel guilty ever since.”
“He hopes to personally solve the case before he retires.”
“Twenty years ago? Could it be the case I encountered as a child?”
I briefly described the case, and Captain Jiang nodded, “That’s the one.”
“Could Zhao Dahong’s death be related to that case?” I asked.
Captain Jiang replied, “Yes. The Candy Wrapper is the same as the one found at the scene twenty years ago.”
“At the time, even the girl’s clothes were missing, but there was a single piece of candy scattered nearby.”
“The girl’s mother said her daughter had wanted that kind of candy, and she promised to buy it for her if she scored 100 on her final exam.”
“Her daughter got 100, so she bought it.”
“She imagined how happy her daughter would be when she saw the candy, but before she could give it to her, her daughter disappeared.”
“The mother cried and said she regretted not buying the candy for her daughter when she first asked for it.”
“At the time, your Master went out and bought that kind of candy, thinking he would offer it to the little girl after solving the case.”
“Unexpectedly, twenty years have passed, and the candy is still in your Master’s pocket.”
Even as a grown man, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness upon hearing this.
This also made me secretly resolve to ensure the truth of the case would be revealed.