by Zijin Chen
“It’s nothing. This morning I rode that elevator, and when I came out, a lot of people saw me and assumed—” He flushed. “It’s just a misunderstanding; you don’t have to worry. I mean, look, I don’t look like the kind of person who would assault people; I teach, I couldn’t possibly . . .”
Zhao had never seen Yan so inarticulate. He suppressed a laugh and patted him on the back. “OK, I won’t worry. Let’s go get something to eat.”
Chapter 9
“Time flies, doesn’t it? I can’t believe you’ve been at Zhejiang University for five years now. First you left, and then the head of the Ningbo Criminal Science department Luo Wen left. I have to say, your replacements haven’t been nearly as good,” Zhao said before taking a sip of his drink.
Yan looked surprised. “Luo Wen is not in the force anymore?”
“You didn’t know?” Zhao answered. “Oh of course, you left before he did, so you wouldn’t have heard anything.”
“Where did Luo go?”
“I’m not totally sure,” Zhao said, shaking his head. “I heard a friend in Ningbo say that he’s in business. That was over three years ago.”
“Unbelievable. He resigned to go into business?”
“Everyone’s trying to make more money, you know. Luo’s superiors did everything they could think of to make him stay. They even signed the document he needed to get a special apartment reserved for public security authorities. But he wouldn’t change his mind. I think someone said that he owned a couple of patents, so he could probably live off of that quite comfortably.”
Yan exhaled slowly and nodded. “I remember. Most of his patents were filed in the name of his employer, but he did have a few in his name on micromeasurement. But I thought he wasn’t interested in wealth or fame. He chose to be a forensic scientist because he loved the job. There must have been another reason for him to resign. What a shame.”
“I know, it’s a real shame when someone wastes their rare knowledge on teaching classes instead of solving real problems,” Zhao agreed.
Yan smiled at Zhao. “Hey! You’re having a dig at me, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, and I learned it from you,” Zhao said, then waved his hand. “OK, let’s get back to business. I promised you I would catch the pervert. And you have to help me think about how the murderer didn’t leave any footprints on the grass.” Zhao lowered his voice and told Yan everything he knew about the crime scene.
When Zhao finished, Yan was silent for a long time. He finally raised his head and looked at Zhao. “Looks like you’ve met your match.”
Zhao’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“The Zhejiang Bureau has invested a significant amount of manpower in these murders over the past three years. And yet nobody knows the first thing about the murderer. This guy must be brilliant at covering his tracks.”
“That’s right. Otherwise I wouldn’t be asking you for help, remember?”
“But then he leaves a note to taunt the police.”
“He is so arrogant!” Zhao said.
Yan Liang shook his head. “I think it would be hasty to say that. The killer took great care not to be discovered. He does not want to be caught by the police. In fact, if he hadn’t left those notes, I think this case would be a plain old homicide, and it wouldn’t have mobilized the Hangzhou and Zhejiang Bureaus. More importantly, it wouldn’t be managed by someone like you, and there would be fewer officers working on the case.”
Zhao nodded. If it weren’t for the notes, nobody would have set up a joint special task force.
“He clearly left that piece of paper to capture the police’s attention, which would make them more likely to go after him. Doesn’t that sound contradictory to you?” Yan asked.
Zhao paused. “Well, what do you think?”
“I’m not sure. I am unable to deduce anything based on the current evidence, and guessing is not my strongest suit. To put it simply, if the police have not caught him for three years, the killer must be brilliant. And every action taken by a brilliant criminal is deliberate.”
Zhao scratched his chin. “Never mind his intent; what I want to know is how he pulled someone that far across the grass without leaving any footprints.”
“It’s not impossible to pull someone without leaving footprints,” Yan answered. “What I don’t understand is why the killer would make his life so complicated.”
“Tell me, how did he do it?”
“There are plenty of factors that narrow down the possibilities. First of all, the killer is human; he cannot fly. Second, the grass was muddy, and anyone who stepped on it would leave a footprint. There are only two ways that the killer dragged the body: either the killer actually walked on the grass or he never walked on it at all.”
“What do you mean he never walked on it? How is that possible?” Zhao said.
“The killer could have strangled the victim, then tied the rope securely around the victim’s neck and thrown the other end of the rope to the edge of the grassy area, then walked on the sidewalk to the other side. All he would have to do is pick up the rope and pull the victim across. It would work. There are only two problems with this theory. First, if the victim wasn’t already dead, he would have run away when given the chance. Second, walking around to the other side of the grass would take a lot of time, and if a car or a pedestrian passed at the right moment, the killer would be seen.”
Zhao was silent for a moment. “What if there were two people involved? One of them could hold down the victim and the other could pull the rope from the other side.”
“I don’t think so,” Yan said. “You have already eliminated money and revenge as motives. Crime involving more than one person usually involves one of the two. Don’t forget, in the five cases you’ve investigated, all the fingerprints belong to the same person. Besides, he probably wouldn’t bother leaving all those strange clues if he were working with an accomplice.”
Zhao nodded. “So you said it was possible that the killer actually walked on the grass but didn’t leave footprints. How would he do that?”
“Simple. The killer would wear the victim’s shoes. You found the footprints of the deceased, right? You might have guessed that the footprints were part of the victim’s struggle to get away. But perhaps those footprints were left by the killer. That would mean that the killer not only wore the victim’s shoes but also pretended to struggle while pulling the victim across the grass to make sure the footprints looked convincing.”
“Hang on. If that’s what happened, then we would still see the victim’s bare footprints.”
Yan looked keenly at Zhao. “But what if he was already dead?”
“He scratched the word ‘local’ on the concrete. He couldn’t have been dead.”
“Are you absolutely certain that the victim wrote it?”
Zhao considered this. “I’ll have to go back and check. But why would the killer want to do that?”
Yan shook his head. “I don’t know. That’s something for the police to investigate. According to the clues, I don’t think he was killed after he was dragged to the concrete. The writing on the concrete must have been left by the killer. I think you should speak with some handwriting analysts and try to confirm who scratched that word out. You should also contact the Zhejiang experts and try to find out who really left those footprints on the grass.”
“OK.” Zhao nodded.
“It’s still a mystery why the killer would go to all this trouble, though,” Yan added.
“What do you mean?”
“The most efficient way for him to achieve his goals is to kill the victim on the grass, toss the murder weapon in the bushes, and then leave as quickly as possible,” Yan explained. “It’s the safest way to execute the crime without getting caught. Why on earth would he want to drag the victim to the concrete and go through all that effort to hide his footprints? He definitely has his reasons, but I just don’t know what they are. Captain Zhao,” he said seriously, “over th
e past three years the special task force has been assembled multiple times because the killer is extremely good at not getting caught. I hope you’re prepared for a long investigation.”
Zhao sighed loudly.
Yan smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “You mentioned that you thought the pervert might be connected with the murder case?”
Zhao’s grave expression faded. “Yes.”
“What clues do you have for that case?”
“Exactly what you’ve been hearing in the news. The man is in his forties, he wears glasses, he’s of average height and weight . . . that’s about it.” He laughed at Yan’s pained expression and continued. “For the past few months, the killer has been targeting young women who walk home alone at night. He pulls them to the grass and sexually assaults them. He has evaded capture by wearing a cap and hiding his face. The victims only have hazy memories of the man, and it seems that he doesn’t have any distinguishing features. The local police station has looked at the surveillance tapes after the reports and discovered that on multiple occasions he would go to any elevator in the nearby residential district and defecate. We’re talking serious perversion here.”
“So when you say ‘assault’ . . . what did he do exactly?”
Zhao frowned. “He unzipped his pants and jerked off in front of his victims.”
“You mean he forced the victims to give him a hand job?”
“No, he did it all himself, but he made the victims watch, and when he ejaculated, some of the semen got on their clothes. None of the victims reported penetration, and no property has been taken in any of the cases.”
“How strange,” Yan said, clicking his tongue. “But why do you believe that it has something to do with the murder?”
“A woman reported an assault case at the west Hangzhou police station the night before last, just before midnight. She works the night shift at a bar, and she was assaulted on her way home, just after taking the last bus. She walked past a middle-aged man wearing glasses. At first she didn’t notice anything unusual about the man, but just as they were passing each other he rushed at her with a knife and pulled her onto the grass. Then he assaulted her. The scene of our murder case is about fifty to a hundred feet away from that sexual assault. Dr. Chen thinks that the time of death would be very close to the time of the assault, so we have reason to believe that the pervert also committed the murder.”
Yan smiled broadly. “I think the likelihood of that is practically zero.”
Zhao’s mouth dropped open. “Why?”
“In the last four cases you checked the surveillance camera and didn’t see the killer in any of the tapes. That means that the killer successfully avoided all the cameras in the area, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, there are a number of blind spots in the area; he must have done his homework.”
“The killer is brilliant—he comes and goes without being seen, like a ghost. The only reason the pervert hasn’t been caught is out of sheer luck. If someone happened to walk past while he was assaulting one of those women, he would probably be in the Hangzhou Bureau right now. He might wear a cap to hide his face, but you have still linked the defecating in the elevators to him. He leaves clues left and right. Basically these two are as different as night and day.”
“That makes sense,” Zhao said, thinking. “Well, if this were your investigation, what would you do next?”
“As an outsider, I don’t want to know many details, but you mentioned that the murder victim’s time of death was very close to the time of the sexual assault. You might be able to get more information if you catch that pervert. There aren’t many other options.”
“Thank you,” Zhao said, his smile full of gratitude.
“Remember, I only talked about all this because you promised to help catch that pervert. I’m not a police officer anymore. Next time we eat together, I hope we can just enjoy the food,” Yan said.
Zhao sighed and nodded. He would respect Yan’s request. Still, he was pleased to have two new things to investigate. He wanted to show the word “local” to a handwriting analyst, and he wanted to check up on those footprints. If they matched a person of Sun’s height and weight, then they could confirm they were actually Sun’s footprints. If they didn’t match, that would validate Yan’s theory.
PART 3
NO EVIDENCE
Chapter 10
Guo Yu worked nonstop until 9:00 p.m. before finally going home.
He dragged himself to the bus stop. The bus trip lasted over half an hour. He got off at a stop next to a row of stands selling street food. Yellow Head and a few of his lowlife friends sat around a table, eating grilled meat and drinking beer.
The moment Guo Yu spotted them, he turned around. He hadn’t forgotten the way Yellow Head smacked him in the back of the head. He was afraid of them—more than he cared to admit—and yesterday he thought that they might rough him up.
But today Yellow Head’s attention was drawn to a pretty girl walking by his table. Her black miniskirt flattered her slim legs, and she wore a short-sleeved button-down shirt. Judging by her outfit, she was probably a sales assistant.
Yellow Head didn’t care if the guy walking with her was her boyfriend; the beer in his belly made him reckless. He laughed. “Damn, she’s hot. I would tap that.” His friends all whistled at the girl.
The girl glared at them. “Assholes!” she shouted.
“Ooh, she’s got a dirty mouth, too!” one of Yellow Head’s friends called.
Her boyfriend said in a low voice, “Keep walking. Don’t pay any attention to those fucking idiots.”
Yellow Head stood up quickly and said, “Who are you calling a fucking idiot, you son of a bitch?”
The boyfriend saw the menacing look on his face. Feeling cowardly, he tried to save face. “I—I wasn’t talking to you.”
Yellow Head blocked their path and pushed the boyfriend in his chest. “What are you stuttering about, cocksucker?”
The girl pulled at her boyfriend’s arm, urging him to walk more quickly.
“Don’t try and swagger; you don’t have the balls!” Yellow Head said, smacking the boyfriend on the head.
The boyfriend turned. “Hey! Don’t mess with me!”
Yellow Head pushed him in the chest again. “Did you just talk back to me, motherfucker? Try that again.” Yellow Head’s friends stood up and encircled the two young men.
A bystander tried to break up the scene. “Hey. Don’t make a big deal out this. Everybody cool it, OK?”
Surrounded by six aggressive young men, the boyfriend didn’t know what to do. His girlfriend pulled his arm more insistently this time. “Forget it,” she urged. “Let’s go!”
Yellow Head kicked the boyfriend in his lower back. “I’m not going to let that slide, you son of a bitch!” The man collapsed to the ground.
Yellow Head’s friends were already getting back to their beers. The Hangzhou police were known to patrol the area, so a few guys held him back before things escalated, urging Yellow Head to sit down.
Hearing his girlfriend cry out in fear, the young man picked himself up. He left with his head hanging down, not daring to make a sound. His girlfriend followed quickly behind him.
Guo Yu watched it all play out from a safe distance and let out a breath when it was over. They were real jerks, worthless guys, he thought. But there was nothing he could do. He reminded himself that he had to be careful and avoid them at all costs. Whenever they beat the shit out of somebody for no reason, the police were never there. Even if Yellow Head got arrested, they would only lock him up for a few days. Then he would be released and want revenge.
Suddenly he heard a voice next to him. “Are those boys always that bad?”
Guo Yu turned. It was that nice man who promised to take care of the mutt yesterday. Guo Yu nodded. “Everybody knows those guys. You see that one?” Guo Yu pointed discreetly at Yellow Head. “People call him the Little Gangster. He’s the leader of the group. They do this stuff a
ll the time.”
“I see.” Luo gave him an encouraging smile before starting to leave.
“Um, sir?” Guo Yu asked. “How’s it going with the dog you adopted yesterday?”
Luo swiveled around. “I checked his injuries, and most of them are external. They will heal over the next couple of days. But he’s still frightened of everything. He never leaves his cardboard box. I bought him some beef sticks, but he didn’t seem to like them. He hasn’t had much water either. It’s a lot of work.” Luo smiled weakly.
“Have you ever had a dog before?”
“A dog? Sure . . .” Luo thought of their family dog eight years ago. He was always busy, so he didn’t spend much time with it. “I had a dog for a couple of months, but then one day I couldn’t find him. I guess he ran away.”
“If the dog is refusing to eat or drink, he’s probably still getting accustomed to his new environment. All the dogs I ever had were like that when I first brought them home. After three or four days they get used to it and start eating again. That dog is probably a mixed breed. I bet he’ll eat a lot when he gets used to your place.”
“Is that right? I don’t have as much experience as you seem to—if I ever have any problems, I’ll come to you for advice.”
“I like dogs a lot. It’s a shame that I can’t keep one in my apartment; there’s not enough room for a pet. When your dog is feeling better you should take him outside to play. I can teach him some tricks like sit, sit pretty, and fetch.”
Luo had lived in Hangzhou for three years but didn’t have many friends outside of work colleagues. He was surprised at how pleased he was to hear Guo Yu’s offer. He smiled. “I would be very grateful.” He turned, took one last look at Yellow Head and his friends, and left.
Chapter 11
Guo Yu went to Chongqing Noodles for dinner, but he didn’t arrive until 10:00 p.m. Zhu Huiru and her brother were already closing up for the day. So he was about to leave when Huiru noticed him and hurried over. “Do you want to order some noodles?”