I Play Dungeons in the Police Station-Chapter 194 - 145: One Case, Three Deaths
The Criminal Investigation Team works like this: it tightens when it should, and loosens when it should. If the tension is constant, nobody can endure it.
They are just human.
"Captain Li, the case closure materials for the dark web murder-for-hire have been prepared. Take a look, and if there are no issues, we'll send them to the prosecutor's office."
"Coach Su has already reviewed it, so there's no need for me to look. Just send them over directly."
Su Jiayi is experienced at organizing case closure materials, and Li Xiang considers himself unable to find fault with her work. He is very confident in the materials she prepares.
"That's not acceptable; the captain must sign it. You'd better take a look—it's always right to check more thoroughly."
"Alright, I'll study it."
With a learning attitude, Li Xiang started to carefully review the materials organized by Su Jiayi.
After studying the whole day, Li Xiang's head felt heavy, somewhat like the aftereffects of a revelation skill from a gaming system. By the time it was time to leave, he went home on time, wanting to have a good rest.
The past two days had consumed too much of his energy. Even with enhanced stamina, he struggled to cope, especially since Lin Feifei wasn't around. Without needing to force himself, he needed a good recovery.
Even the pet at home escaped another round of Li Xiang's rigorous training.
There was silence through the night, and the next day, it wasn't the alarm clock that woke Li Xiang. It was a call from Feng Yonglin.
"Brother Feng, what's up?"
"Something happened. A homicide occurred in Unit 401 of Building 9, Jingnan New Village on Changping Road. Three people are dead; you need to come over immediately and notify everyone."
Feng Yonglin's urgent voice over the phone instantly swept away Li Xiang's sleepiness, making him fully awake:
"What? Three dead? I'll be there right away!"
Li Xiang jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed. Without even washing his face, he got into his newly purchased car and started calling his team members one by one.
"Do you need me to pick you up?"
After receiving the news, Sun Zhidong, aware that Li Xiang didn't have a car, thought it wouldn't be possible to make it on time by bus, so he offered to pick him up.
"No need, I'm already on the road. Just head over directly."
With a car, it was indeed convenient; what used to be a forty-minute journey by bus only took more than ten minutes by car. Of course, this was before the morning rush, otherwise, it might have taken longer.
Upon arriving at Building 9 of Jingnan New Village, despite its name, the buildings were over forty years old, with generally low floors, and belonged to an old neighborhood. Facilities and equipment were outdated, and there were even rumors of imminent demolition and renovation, giving people hope.
After parking the car, Li Xiang approached the entrance, where the police had already cordoned off the area. Officers kept onlookers at bay.
"Don't linger; get about your business!"
The officers were maintaining order diligently. Given the seriousness of the case involving three deaths, everyone was paying close attention and trying to minimize the impact.
"Hello, I'm from the Criminal Investigation Team."
"Please come in."
As he stepped quickly into the building, Li Xiang bumped into Feng Yonglin, who had arrived a few minutes earlier.
"Wait, put on shoe covers. There's a body on the stairs."
Feng Yonglin had brought all the necessary items like shoe covers and gloves, crucial to protect the crime scene from secondary contamination.
After equipping himself, Li Xiang followed Feng Yonglin up the stairs.
Between the third and fourth floors, they found a male body lying prone on the ground, with a trail of dripping blood extending upwards.
Following the blood trail, Li Xiang ran up to the fourth floor. The door to apartment 401 on the east side was wide open, with blood leading out from inside.
Entering the room, he found another male victim similarly prone on the floor. The room was in disarray, showing signs of a struggle, with blood everywhere.
A mahjong table lay overturned, tiles scattered all over.
After a circuit around the room, only one body was found. Counting the male body on the stairs, there were still only two.
"Where's the other body?"
"There!"
Feng Yonglin pointed to an open window on the east side. Moving over, Li Xiang looked down, spotting the final body lying below, blood pooling around its head, already deceased.
"Li Xiang, Jinghai City hasn't had a triple murder case in a long while. Director Song has ordered us to immediately set up the 6·21 task force, with me commanding from the center. We're also mobilizing the best in the department to form the task force. I'd like to appoint you as deputy leader, assisting me. Before the story spreads, we need to crack this case quickly."
"But Brother Feng, my qualifications might be too superficial; everyone else is more senior."
"Li Xiang, the police system isn't about seniority but about merit. From what I've observed, you're more than capable. Do you doubt your own abilities?"
"Sir, I am confident in fulfilling the role of deputy leader." Standing tall, Li Xiang was determined not to miss this opportunity.
His wife was so capable; he couldn't afford to lag much behind. As a man, he mustn't let his wife look down on him.
"Good, keep up this passion and solve the case for me."
"Yes."
After acknowledging the appointment, Li Xiang took out his phone and opened a system app. A new system task had been issued:
[Task Name: Malicious Murder Case]
[Task Description: A malicious murder case happened in Jingnan New Village, claiming three male victims. The gravity of the situation demands immediate action. The police have established a task force, appointing you as deputy leader, to oversee this matter. Solve the case in the shortest time to prove you're up for the Criminal Investigation Squadron Leader position.]
[Task Requirement: Lead the task force to uncover the truth.]
[Task Reward: Experience +600, Diamonds +3000]
While Li Xiang was setting his phone aside, Sun Zhidong and Mao Ji arrived at the scene as well.
This wasn't Sun Zhidong's first murder case—back in Jinling, he once encountered a scene even grislier than this.
However, back then, he was knocked unconscious right after an initial reaction, even landing in his own vomit. Since then, he had developed a psychological aversion, preferring to avoid anyone looking like they'd throw up.
This aside.
The forensic team hadn't arrived yet, so Li Xiang proceeded with a preliminary autopsy of the victims in the room.
A sharp blade was inserted into the back of one body, with multiple stab wounds on his clothing indicating several thrusts. Which stab was fatal was to be determined via autopsy.
However, this didn't deter Li Xiang from initially estimating the time of death.
The body exhibited livor mortis, causing purplish-blue patches where blood pooled under gravity. Rigor mortis was setting in across the limbs, leading him to deduce that death occurred around four hours ago.
This meant the victim died in the early morning.
After observing the stairway victim, he noted the death was similarly caused by stabbing, likely with the same weapon found on the room victim.
Both victims' death times were around the same. Although he hadn't yet checked the body downstairs, it was presumed their times of death matched.
Just after Li Xiang finished determining the causes of death of the two bodies, Mao Ji and his team, who were inspecting the scene, made a new discovery: "Captain Li, we've found their IDs and phones. Look."
Li Xiang accepted the IDs, examining them in turn: the stairway victim was named Tang Hao, the room victim Peng Rui, and the victim downstairs Ji Qi.
"This is good. Knowing their identities, cracking the case is closer. Contact their families to find out their relationships. By the scene, they were likely involved in a dispute over mahjong leading to this tragedy. Ask if the family knows who they played with last night."
"Yes."
