Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
In the photo, there were two women, one around twenty-one or twenty-two years old and the other around twenty-four or twenty-five. They bore a slight resemblance to each other, holding hands and appearing very close. The older woman was the one referred to by Zou Xingjing.
"Yes," Song Nian replied without hesitation after just a glance at the photo. "This woman is named Shen Zhi; she lives next door to me. The other girl in the photo is Shen Zhi's younger sister. Shen Zhi, her sister, and their mother used to live together. However, last month, Shen Zhi's sister died—apparently by suicide."
Zou Xingjing slightly parted her lips, listening as Song Nian spoke in one breath. After collecting her thoughts, she remarked with a hint of sentimentality, "I only asked you one question, yet you provided so much information. If everyone were as cooperative as you, our work would be much easier."
Song Nian chuckled, "By the way, Zou Xingjing, what happened to Shen Zhi? You’re not investigating because you found out her sister didn’t actually commit suicide but was murdered, and that Shen Zhi is the suspect you’re trying to arrest, are you? Has she already run away? You’re asking me about her to find out where she might have fled? Well, I don’t know her too well, but let me think… I believe she might…"
"Alright," Zou Xingjing couldn't help but interrupt Song Nian, "the situation is not as you think."
"Huh?" Song Nian licked her lips. "Then why are you asking about Shen Zhi?"
"Because," Zou Xingjing took a slight breath and said with a serious expression, "she is dead!"
"What?" Song Nian showed a look of surprise. "Shen Zhi is dead? When did this happen?"
"The time of death was last night—no, it should be said early this morning," Zou Xingjing replied.
"It can't be suicide, can it? Her sister committed suicide a month ago; now Shen Zhi has also taken her life? Are they both cursed… Oh! Right," Song Nian interrupted herself. "You didn’t say it was suicide."
"Mm." Zou Xingjing nodded. "It was not suicide; she was murdered. Our preliminary investigation suggests that the perpetrator had a key to Shen Zhi's home. They broke in early this morning and stabbed Shen Zhi to death with a fruit knife! After committing the crime, the perpetrator quietly left without alarming Shen Zhi's mother.
It was only when Shen Zhi's mother got up around six this morning that she discovered her daughter's body and immediately called the police."
"Mm." Song Nian nodded while listening. After Zou Xingjing finished speaking, she pondered for a moment and asked, "What was the exact time of death? Were there any clues left at the scene?"
"I'm sorry," Zou Xingjing replied bluntly. "I can't disclose the details to you."
"Oh." Song Nian nodded. "Do you have any other questions for me?"
"Yes," Zou Xingjing said. "Did you hear any unusual sounds between two and three o'clock this morning?"
"Oh, so the exact time of death was between two and three this morning." Song Nian felt satisfied to have obtained this information.
"…"
"I should have still been awake during that time, but I didn't hear any unusual sounds. As you mentioned, the murderer had a key to Shen Zhi's house and could enter and exit without being noticed, so there wouldn't be any noise. Moreover, the target was Shen Zhi, who was asleep and defenseless, even unconscious. The murderer only needed to cover Shen Zhi's mouth with a handkerchief and stab directly into Shen Zhi's heart to kill him cleanly."
"…"
"Ah! Zou Xingjing, don't misunderstand. The details I mentioned are just my conjectures. If I were the murderer, I certainly wouldn't be so talkative about my crime in front of the police," Song Nian explained.
"I never said you were the culprit. But I do want to ask you: do you have an alibi for the time between two and three this morning?"
"Haha!" Song Nian laughed. "Zou Xingjing, that was in the early hours of the morning; a normal person should be at home sleeping! How could anyone have an alibi? If someone does have an alibi at that hour, they would be even more suspicious."
"You make a valid point."
Song Nian paused for a moment before continuing, "Also, while I know Shen Zhi, we aren't close and have no conflicts between us, so I have no motive to kill..."
"Alright," Zou Xingjing interrupted him quickly, fearing that Song Nian would go on endlessly. "I understand the basic situation now, and I appreciate your cooperation with the police. If needed, I will reach out to you again."
With that, Zou Xingjing took a step back, turned around, and prepared to leave.
Comment 0 Comment Count