Case Files 013

Zhao Mingkun started the motorcycle, and the ambulance staff and I pointed out the address, and the ambulance staff hurried up. I shook my head and got on Zhao Mingkun's motorcycle. Along the way, the two of us didn't exchange any words. Regarding the murderer, I can only describe him in eight words: bizarre and elusive.

After recent events, we can clearly know that the murderer must be a human, not a ghost. If the murderer was really a ghost, then a ghost would not use poison to kill. But if the murderer was not a ghost, it would be difficult to explain what method the murderer used to cause so many strange deaths.

First, Hu Xiaoxue dug out his eyeballs, and then Liu Ruijie and Xing Yafang dug out their own eyeballs in the same secret room. Then to the huge face he met in Luo Ding's house, Wang Xiduo's inexplicable madness, his falling directly from the seventh floor and being reduced to meat paste by the fall.

And now, Wang Yikai’s inexplicable blood-vomit to death. And all of this seems to be controlled by a mysterious force. Although these people had been by our side, we couldn’t prevent the murderer at all. It's as if the murderer is by our side all the time, but we can't see him.

After a moment, Zhao Mingkun said, “Wang Yikai is not a good person in the traditional sense, but he is definitely not a bad person.”

I nodded and said, “Now, half of the thirteen people are dead. The murderer still has six people to kill, and judging from the murderer's speed, I'm afraid that all six people will be dead by the day after tomorrow at the latest. There is not much time left for us. We have to step up our speed.”

Zhao Mingkun asked again: “Even if we can find the person who killed Lu Zhiqiu seven years ago, how should we contact the murderer? Maybe by the time we find this person, the murderer would’ve already killed thirteen people. And maybe, out of the six people who died, one of them was the one who killed Lu Zhiqiu seven years ago, but we can't say for sure.”

Zhao Mingkun is right; I always feel that the murderer seems to be in a hurry. Even if we find out who actually killed Lu Zhiqiu seven years ago, when we publish this information, will the murderer see it?

My eyes were a little dry. I rubbed my eyes and said, “From our current situation, we can only find the murderer who killed Lu Zhiqiu seven years ago. Let's take this step by step, do you know where Liang Mei lives?”

Zhao Mingkun nodded and said, “I’m on my way to Liang Mei’s house. However, I’m afraid we’ll find nothing, and we’ve yet to establish contact with Liang Mei. There sure is something fishy going on with this.”

When we got to Liang Mei's house, it was indeed the case. We saw the ‘to-rent’ information on Liang Mei's house door, which meant that Liang Mei had actually left. I called the landlord according to the phone number on the house and asked about Liang Mei.

It turned out that the landlord lived in another house in this community. After receiving our call, he rushed over within five minutes. And when she learned that we were here to investigate the case, not to rent a house, the aunt's face suddenly fell, and she said that she still had something to do and needed to do it immediately.

Zhao Mingkun took out 100 yuan and handed it to his aunt, saying, “For citizens who cooperate with the police in handling cases, our police will of course reward them.”

When the aunt saw the picture of Grandpa Mao, she immediately smiled and said, “Of course, I am a good citizen. You can ask what you want, and I’ll say what I know. I am a good citizen.”

I shook my head, already speechless.

Zhao Mingkun cut to the chase.

I curled the corners of my mouth, if felt like I had untangled a knot in my mind. And I just figured out at this moment that the problems that can be solved with money were all small problems. The aunt looked at the money to light, and after confirming that it was real money, she asked, “I don't know what you are asking.”

I cleared my throat and said, “Is the person who lived in your house called Liang Mei?”

“Yes.” The aunt nodded and said, “She’s Liang Mei. She will be thirty years old this year. She is divorced and has a child.”

Zhao Mingkun frowned and said, “From the information I’ve gathered, Liang Mei is still single and has no children. Could it be that the Liang Mei we are talking about is not single?”

After listening, the aunt scratched her head and said, “By the way, I have pictures of her and the child on my phone.”

With that said, Auntie showed us the photo.

In the photo, it was really the Liang Mei we know of.

I suddenly thought of something and said, “How old is that child she's carrying?”

The aunt said, “Oh, that child looked about six or seven years old.”

Zhao Mingkun and I looked at each other, and we both saw what the other party meant. If the child was six or seven years old, then in terms of time, it happened to be when Liang Mei was still in college. So, is it possible that this child is Yang Licheng's? But Yang Licheng also said that when he was at the Royal Garden Hotel, Liang Mei still seemed to have held resentment towards him, so would Liang Mei give birth to Yang Licheng's child and raise it?

I asked, “Have you met the child's father?”

The aunt shook her head and said, “No, I heard Liang Mei say that her child has had no father. I know this is me venting, but her man is really cruel. Liang Mei lives here with me. For three or four years, I watched her take care of the child by herself, commuting to and from work every day and picking the child up to cook.”

Listening to the aunt's story, it seems that this child really belongs to Yang Licheng. However, Liang Mei didn't seem to want to tell Yang Licheng about this. It seems that Liang Mei's hatred was still very strong, so is it possible that on that lively night, a pregnant woman had killed a girl with a brick and dismembered the girl with a trowel?

“So when did she leave?” I asked again.

The aunt said: “Two days ago, that is to say, after attending a party, she came back and told me she’ll be moving.”

“But it's still the middle of the month; not even a month, and you’re letting her move out? Isn’t this a breach of contract?” I looked at my aunt and said.

The aunt sighed and said, “Who said otherwise? The contract we signed was for one year. But you see, it's only spring, and there are almost ten months left. But she asked me what I can do about it? The child is also at the age of where she should be attending primary school, and there are no good primary schools near us.”

“When I came back that day, it seemed to me that she was a little upset.” The aunt said, “So I waived this month's rent, which is something I can do for the mother and son.”

I really don't understand. The aunt who was greedy for even a hundred yuan will waive a month's rent. In Dongxing City, such a room would cost around 3,000 yuan a month.

“She’s lived here for three or four years.” I said, “If so, will you move out in a day or two?”

“Maybe it's because she’s been living in one place for too long.” The aunt said, “I also asked her when I left. One reason should be because of schooling, and the other, I think, must be that class reunion that stimulated her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left in such a hurry.”

I frowned: “Do you know where Liang Mei moved to?”

“I don't know.” The aunt said, “She doesn't seem to have found another place. Maybe she doesn't know what area she wants to live in.”

This was a bit strange; most people would never do this. If I’ve lived in one place for three or four years, but I had to move out suddenly, and I didn't even have a good place that I’ve found to move in. What could have caused Liang Mei to move out so quickly? Could it be that Liang Mei was really the murderer that year? Knowing that the police had started to investigate the case again, so she made a run for it?

“Where's the phone?” I asked. “Do you have her number?”

The aunt nodded and dialed the number. But as we imagined, there was no one to pick up. This was really strange. Judging from Liang Mei's actions, it seems like she was avoiding something. Then there are two possibilities: one is that Liang Mei is avoiding the police; the other is that Liang Mei is avoiding the murderer who came back for revenge.

But no matter what the situation is, there is a problem with changing your mobile phone number. And the top priority is that we must find Liang Mei.

I turned around and said to Zhao Mingkun, “Do you know where Liang Mei works? If Liang Mei doesn't even want to work, then there will be a problem.”

Zhao Mingkun nodded and said, “I know, it's still working hours. We should go take a look.”

When we said goodbye to Auntie, Gu Chen called. He said, “Wu Meng?”

I said, “Gu Chen, did you find anything?”

Gu Chen opened his mouth and said, “Yes, you asked me to investigate Lu Xiangyang's affairs. I already have an eye on it. According to my investigation, Lu Xiangyang didn't go to that city in the south at all. I found Sister Mary to help us, and Sister Mary quickly found out something through the Internet.”

“Sister Mary?” I asked. “She can move freely now?”

Gu Chen said happily, “That's right, although Team Leader Shao is still under investigation, Director Li has protected Sister Mary. I asked Sister Mary to help check things, and she quickly agreed. However, at present, I still didn't tell Sister Mary about what you and I have gathered. I think we should explain it to her when we have a chance."

After a moment of silence, I said, “Don't tell Sister Mary about this.”

“What?” Gu Chen asked, “Don't you believe Sister Mary?”

I said, “It's not that I don't believe Sister Mary, it's that my current status is too special. If others know that she is still in contact with me, it will not only be detrimental to me, but Sister Mary may be subjected to further monitoring and investigation, you know? If Lu Xiangyang didn't go to the south, what did he do?”

Gu Chen said, “This is what I'm investigating. According to Sister Mary, no one has ever picked up the ticket. The so-called ‘going to the south’ is probably just a cover. However, I found out that before Lu Xiangyang disappeared, he once walked around the train station, but this may also have created the illusion that he might’ve taken the train. I have tracked down a person who has seen Lu Xiangyang, and I believe that there will be results soon.”

“Okay!” I said, “I’ll trouble you to call me if you have anything, but remember to keep it hidden.”

“Yeah.” Gu Chen hung up the phone.

Lu Xiangyang did not go to the south but stayed in Dongxing City, so what was Lu Xiangyang doing? Could Lu Xiangyang be the murderer? He came back to avenge his sister?

(End of this chapter)