Silent Testimony - Chapter 20

At 11:30 p.m., they returned to the investigation vehicle, carrying their kits.

It was utterly silent. Qiu Wan twisted the key, and the engine noise shattered the night’s stillness.

He Ying sat in the back row, her face etched with worry: “Ugh, all that work for nothing.”

“Not necessarily,” Qiu Wan and Li Hewei said in unison.

Qiu Wan turned the steering wheel, pulling out of the villa area’s inner street, and gestured: “You first.”

“Zhang Xiuqin tried her best to appear calm and composed, but subtle body language betrayed her.” While the statement was being taken, Li Hewei was behind them and observed that when Zhang Xiuqin spoke, her right pinky finger would unconsciously pick at her pants. Thus, Li Hewei paid close attention and noticed that every time Qiu Wan brought up Sun Hao, Zhang Xiuqin swallowed.

A typical reaction: nervousness inhibits saliva secretion, making the throat feel dry, leading to subconscious swallowing.

“Exactly. She constantly raised her hand to touch her neck.” Qiu Wan was direct and decisive. Half an hour ago, she had informed Xiao Liao to check Zhang Xiuqin’s finances. No sooner had she spoken than her phone suddenly vibrated. The ringtone sounded unusually clear in the confined space.

Li Hewei reached out and pressed “answer.”

“Hello, Boss.”

“Go ahead.” The phone was connected to a Bluetooth headset, so Qiu Wan didn’t need to take her hands off the wheel.

“Zhang Xiuqin’s transaction records are fine. Her monthly salary of 4,800 yuan is deposited into her account on time. She lives in the old city, and Sun Luying reimburses her round-trip transportation, so she can save 4,000 of her salary.”

“What about her family situation?”

“She has been a widow for many years and has only one daughter named Zhang Jinglan, who is a sales agent for Rongke. I checked Zhang Jinglan’s finances as well. Her base salary plus commission averages around 20,000 yuan per month.”

The daughter works at Rongke, which allows for too many possibilities.

“The items Zhang Jinglan usually buys are mostly from third-tier brands. They are all normal consumption.”

“Good. You and Old Zheng go back and rest.” During this special period, the Serious Crime Squad operated on a rotating shift. Due to the lack of manpower, they could only work two shifts.

“Understood, Boss.”

Qiu Wan hung up the phone.

Li Hewei asked: “How did it go?”

“It’s tough.” Qiu Wan, who had been working for sixteen consecutive hours, felt dizzy. “Zhang Xiuqin’s daughter works at Rongke. It would be extremely easy for Sun Hao to get her to commit perjury.”

Li Hewei stated her intuition: “It might not be Sun Hao. I heard Sun Luying intends to train him, making him move around various departments to gain experience.”

Qiu Wan insisted: “Just based on the fact that he’s Sun Luying’s son, Zhang Xiuqin would have to agree.”

“Do you think Sun Hao killed Yang Guang, dressed as a woman to dispose of the body, and confuse the investigation?”

“Yes. Sun Hao is 171cm, which matches the height of the woman described by the convenience store owner.”

“Right, let’s review the facts.” Li Hewei spoke in detail: “First, we know the suspect’s height is around 172cm and their weight is over 68kg. Second, the brand of the long dress worn by the suspect is the same as Zhou Lin’s preferred brand. Third, we started focusing on Sun Hao through the osmanthus petals found in the deceased’s nasopharynx, and then discovered abnormal water and electricity consumption at his villa, and the two witnesses are also suspected of perjury.”

Qiu Wan agreed: “Yes. As of now, Sun Hao is the most suspicious.”

“What’s the motive?”

“I suspect Sun Luying spent a lot of money on Yang Guang, infringing on Sun Hao’s interests.”

Li Hewei disagreed: “He wouldn’t risk murder over two million yuan.”

Qiu Wan frowned deeply, considering her objection.

He Ying concurred: “Xiao Li is right. Murder is a felony.”

Li Hewei analyzed: “Sun Hao received a higher education and has Sun Luying’s backing. He lives a privileged life. Why would someone with no worries and a bright future suddenly commit murder? There must be a reason.”

Qiu Wan nodded: “Mhm. But it’s difficult to find out his relationship with Yang Guang now.”

“It’s certainly difficult. If Sun Luying plans to protect Sun Hao, she won’t tell the truth.”

Qiu Wan gently applied the brakes. During a traffic light stop, she voiced her lingering doubt: “Ever since we suspected the villa might be the primary crime scene, there’s one thing I can’t figure out: how did Yang Guang get to Wanfeng City? Did he drive himself?”

Li Hewei hummed: “I’m puzzled, too. We focused on every person and every car in the surveillance footage from the 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. He wasn’t there.”

“That’s why I asked the colleagues on duty tonight to check the previous days. If he took Sun Hao’s car to the villa, we won’t find a trace.” Sun Hao’s two cars, a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz, both have privacy film, so only the front row is visible.

“Indeed.”

Tao Ling, who paid attention to details, suddenly asked: “If Yang Guang was at the villa, would he not go out?”

Qiu Wan laughed: “I didn’t even think of that. Xiao Tao, you’re sharp.” She released her right foot, stepped on the accelerator, and continued driving.

Li Hewei turned to look at Tao Ling: “Many homebodies, male and female, can stay indoors for half a month if they have enough food.”

Zhao Xiaoting burst into laughter: “I can’t. Even during my annual leave, I have to go out and wander around every day.”

Qiu Wan speculated boldly: “Hey, you might be right. In 40-degree weather, if I could stay home, I wouldn’t want to go out either.”

Li Hewei asked her: “Captain Qiu, didn’t you say Yang Guang hadn’t led a tour group for two months?”

“That’s right. Yang Guang even complained to Zhou Lin that earning money was difficult and that he had to cater to those sugar mummies in the summer heat. Yet, he started his vacation right after the Labor Day travel peak, circulating among his five girlfriends.”

Zhao Xiaoting swore: “They say speak no ill of the dead, but I have to call him a scumbag.”

Tao Ling mused: “Mhm, then he certainly could have stayed indoors.”

Qiu Wan’s phone screen lit up at this moment. She concentrated on driving and asked Li Hewei to check the message for her.

“It should be the utility companies sending the consumption tables. Take a look. The password is 123456.”

Li Hewei took her phone, looking surprised: “Such a simple password? Aren’t you afraid of others unlocking your phone?”

“I have no secrets. It doesn’t matter,” Qiu Wan said candidly. “Besides, this is just a work phone, and the WeChat account is for work, too.”

“Alright.” Li Hewei unlocked it, clicked into WeChat, and meticulously reviewed the information.

“Captain Qiu, this is odd. Guess what specific time slot on the 23rd had abnormal water consumption?”

“Noon?”

Li Hewei stared at the numbers in the table. After triple-checking with the water company’s on-duty staff, she told her decisively: “2 a.m. to 3 a.m.”

Qiu Wan was astonished: “The middle of the night?”

Li Hewei’s conjecture, based on the current evidence: “Yes. I suspect Yang Guang was murdered on the night of the 22nd. The killer originally planned to use the pool water change on the 23rd to clean up all the evidence without anyone noticing, but an unexpected complication arose.”

“What complication?”

Tao Ling, who performed the autopsy on the deceased, answered: “The blunt force trauma to the back of the deceased’s head. Based on the degree of damage to the wound, the amount of bleeding would certainly contaminate the pool.”

Qiu Wan was suddenly enlightened: “The killer didn’t initially intend to use a weapon?”

“Under normal circumstances, that should be the case.” Li Hewei bent her finger, sliding the screen to browse downward.

“I’ll go back and contact the Lang City Public Security Bureau to request assistance with the investigation.” The vehicle sped up, crossing the overpass and turning into the brightly lit food street near the Public Security Bureau. Qiu Wan took a shortcut, arriving two minutes earlier than the navigation’s estimated time.

“You guys pack up and go home.” Taking the elevator to the third floor, the Serious Crime Squad office was to the left, and the Technical Squad office was to the right. Qiu Wan turned left.

“Wait a moment,” Li Hewei called out to her. “The abnormal electricity consumption must be the property management using a pump to drain the water on the 23rd. The other villas were the same. The point of interest is that after the 23rd, Sun Hao’s house consumed 7 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily, sufficient for appliances like the refrigerator, compared to an average daily consumption of 180 kilowatt-hours before the 23rd.”

Qiu Wan summarized: “So, Sun Hao only left Pucheng on July 23rd.”

“Yes. Notify him directly to return to assist with the investigation. The case is gradually becoming clear.”

“Okay. I’ll first ask the Lang City Public Security Bureau to provide the surveillance footage from Sun Hao’s hotel.”

Li Hewei yawned, turning around and waving her hand: “I’m so sleepy. I’m heading back first. Thanks for your continued hard work.”

The four changed clothes and went downstairs, then went their separate ways home.

It was past midnight. Five or six lights were still on in Building 2 of Emperor Garden International, standing out in the deep night. Outside Apartment 902, the two used the sound-activated light control and entered the house using the passcode. While changing shoes, Tao Ling raised her hand to brush away a wisp of hair near her ear, revealing the lean profile of her face, whose lines appeared unusually soft under the warm light. Li Hewei casually noticed, then couldn’t help but examine her closely. However, sensing the other person look back, she quickly averted her eyes, asking as if nothing happened: “Does your arm still hurt?”

Feeling her concerned gaze, a smile appeared on Tao Ling’s cheek: “Much better.”

“Good. Hurry and get ready for bed. Goodnight.” Li Hewei secretly mocked herself: Why am I acting like a thief? Wouldn’t it be better to just admire openly? She massaged her temples, which were aching from fatigue, and pushed open the bedroom door.

The next day, nearly 10 a.m., Li Hewei finished a brief meeting and hurried toward the laboratory.

Qiu Wan followed her out, asking: “Captain Li, what’s the rush?”

Li Hewei spoke as she walked: “There was a problem found in the pool water sample results last night.”

Qiu Wan quickened her pace: “Let’s go. I’ll come, too.”

Li Hewei asked with concern: “How is the situation in Lang City? Is Sun Hao returning?”

“I just received the hotel surveillance video. Sun Hao was quite cooperative and is taking the early flight back to Pucheng, heading to the police station now.”

“Mhm. That’s good.”

The two entered the lab one after the other. An Yu vacated her seat, allowing them to look at the computer: “Logically, the same company should use the same disinfectant, but the disinfectant components in Sun Luying’s and Sun Hao’s pool water samples are different.”

Qiu Wan was confused: “What does that mean?”

“For example, dichlorohydantoin and dibromohydantoin. The disinfectant used in Sun Hao’s pool does not contain dibromohydantoin. I suggest consulting the property management.”

“Mhm, I’ll go ask right away.” Qiu Wan stepped into the hallway to make a phone call. Li Hewei stared intently at the analysis chart of the water sample components, examining it closely.

Two minutes later, Qiu Wan returned, showing them the received picture: “Projects under Rongke use Anxinjia disinfectant. Anxinjia launched a new product on July 31st. This is the component list.”

An Yu compared the two, saying seriously: “Captain Qiu, Sun Hao’s residential pool used the new version of the disinfectant.”

This was getting more and more confusing. If the water was changed on the 23rd, how could they be using a new version of the disinfectant?