False evidence

Chapter 170 Evidence (Part 1)

I said, "It definitely wasn't a construction worker. Please think back, besides the construction workers, who else came to your house that day?"

The woman shook her head: "You can only ask my husband about that, because I have a severe allergy to the smell of renovations, and I stayed at my parents' house for those few days."

"Your spouse..."

“He’s not home. I just spoke to him on the phone not long ago. He went to the hospital to visit a friend.”

I nodded.

The woman asked, "Would you like to come and have a look at my house?"

I smiled and asked, "Is there anyone else in your family?"

The woman laughed too: "You two may not be police officers, but to commit a crime dressed like this in broad daylight... if you are criminals, then you must be criminals with intellectual disabilities."

I asked, "Your logic is clearer than that of the average woman. May I ask about your profession?"

The woman smiled and said, "My husband and I are both lawyers."

She turned to the side and pointed towards the door.

I shook my head: "I won't bother you anymore. I already have the answers to my questions."

Just as I was about to leave, the woman suddenly called out to me, "It seems there's no private investigator industry in China, but you're quite interesting. Would you mind leaving your phone number?"

"Sorry, I never use a cell phone."

After saying that, I put one hand behind my back and walked back to the front along one side.

Cao Xinyun couldn't hold back his laughter any longer: "You tricked me three years ago, and now you're even better at playing the big shot. Hey, that woman seems to have a crush on you, why don't you exchange phone numbers?"

I said, "We're here to look for clues, and besides, I have a girlfriend."

Gao asked sullenly, "You still know you're here to find clues, so what now? Have you found any clues?"

"Found it. Now, let's go to the hospital."

Gao He was at his wit's end. He drove to the hospital in silence, and only after entering the outpatient hall did he say, "Fang Ling is still in the ICU. Let's go see Uncle Cheng."

I shook my head: "Where is that bastard who got hit by your car and beaten up by Shen San?"

Gao He said, "He was seriously injured, but he didn't have any internal injuries. He's in a regular ward now."

"Let's go see him first."

When I arrived at the private ward, several people were already gathered around it.

Upon seeing Gao He, a police officer holding a notebook immediately stood up with another colleague and saluted him.

The slick-haired man lay on the hospital bed, with only a bandage wrapped around his head; there were no other obvious external injuries.

Upon seeing Gao He, he immediately pointed at him and shouted, "It's him! I recognize him! He was the one driving!"

A bespectacled man in his thirties immediately walked over and said to Gao He, "Hello, I am Yu Jilin, a lawyer from XX Law Firm. Regarding this traffic accident and the case of my friend being attacked, I have been entrusted by him to formally report the case to the police."

“I know you.” I stepped in front of Gao He and smiled at Yu Jilin. “You live in Jinting Shengdian, Villa No. 17. We met your wife just half an hour ago. She’s very beautiful and well-educated.” Yu Jilin’s face darkened. “Can I assume you’re indirectly blackmailing me?”

I chuckled: "Two cars collided, and an adult man was beaten by a child under 13. I'm using a lawyer's family member to blackmail you because of these two incidents?"

"Then what do you mean?" Yu Jilin adjusted his glasses. "Why did you go to see my wife?"

I didn't respond to him, but pointed to the greasy-haired man on the hospital bed: "Are you and him good friends?"

Yu Jilin nodded, "Yes."

I nodded and said to the slick-haired man, "You hurt my sister. I told you I would kill you. But I also know that murder is illegal. If the judge sentences you to death, I will have achieved my goal."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who are you people?" a man and a woman, both in their fifties or sixties, shouted angrily at the same time.

Gao He also sensed something was amiss and immediately stepped forward to stop the two men, showing his identification and saying, "We now suspect that Kuang Shichang is involved in two murder cases. Please cooperate with the investigation!"

Kuang Shichang asked in a terrified tone, "Officers, what are you talking about? What murder case?"

I said, "On the afternoon of the 22nd of last month, you murdered Deng Wanzhen at the Jinting Grand Ceremony; today, you attempted to murder Fang Ling on Sanfenqian Street—but failed."

"You can't just say things without evidence!" Kuang Shichang's father said angrily.

I shook my head: "The perpetrator thought his method was perfect, but he left too many loopholes and pieces of evidence. First of all, the traffic management department has a very comprehensive surveillance record. If we just check the traffic surveillance footage from Wangfu Back Street to Jinting Grand Ceremony on the 22nd, and from Wangfu Back Street to Sanfenqian Street around noon today, we can find two vehicles, either the same or different models, belonging to you, Kuang Shichang, or your family, that were following the vehicles that the two victims were riding in."

"What does that prove? What does it mean to stalk?" Kuang Shichang immediately retorted.

Gao He pointed to the notebook in one of the police officers' hands and asked Kuang Shichang in a deep voice:

"On Sanfenqian Street, the police and ambulance called and asked you to move your car. You said you were talking to someone at the time. Who were you talking to? What were you talking about? What was their name, phone number, and address?"

Kuang Shichang rolled his eyes and pointed to Yu Jilin beside him: "I was at a real estate agency on Sanfenqian Street looking at house information because I've liked retro things for a long time. I wanted to buy an old house nearby to satisfy my cravings, and I had the financial means. I was on the phone with Jilin at the time, asking him to give me some advice."

Yu Jilin nodded: "He did call me at the time, and after the incident, Shichang called me again on the way to the hospital."

Gao asked, "You have two cell phones?"

Kuang Shichang scoffed: "Officer, your phone doesn't have a call forwarding function?"

At this moment, I waved my hand to stop Gao He, who wanted to ask more questions. "Alright, I just want to see this kid scared. Leave him to me."

Yu Jilin immediately said, "Even if you are a police officer, please watch your words."

“I’m not a police officer.”

Before Yu Jilin could speak, I suddenly raised my voice: "Have you ever considered that if the murderer isn't caught, your wife could be the third victim!"

Yu Jilin was taken aback.

I continued staring at him and said, "I'm just asking you, on the 22nd of last month, did Kuang Shichang come to your house? If I were the murderer, I wouldn't drive my own car to a villa area full of surveillance cameras to avoid leaving any clues! I would call my friend and have him come pick me up!"

Yu Jilin was startled and subconsciously said, "That day... he said his car broke down nearby, and I drove to pick him up."

"Your basement was being renovated, your wife went to stay with her parents, and you were home alone. You had to entertain friends and supervise the construction. Are you sure you were with Kuang Shichang the whole time, or hadn't seen him for quite some time?!"

(End of this chapter)