On the surface, both individuals appeared to have died from the same weapon, and discovering this immediately filled me with a sense of foreboding.
I continued upstairs, instructing the forensic team to come and examine the bodies. Upon reaching the third floor, I didn't see Liu Yuning and pressed on, but the fourth floor was the end. The house only had four stories. I was terrified, fearing I would find Liu Yuning's corpse.
However, when I reached the fourth floor and searched everywhere, I found she wasn't there at all.
I wondered, had the killer deliberately taken her away?
I initially thought so. At least it was better than seeing her body immediately. But when I came to a storage room, I suddenly saw something through a gap in the door. I pushed the door open immediately. Liu Yuning was kneeling, facing a wall, as if undergoing self-reflection! KanShuWu.xia
I immediately went behind her. The moment I touched her, she slumped powerlessly. When I checked her pulse, I found she was still alive and immediately called for an ambulance. I carried her downstairs and waited by the entrance for less than a minute before driving her to the hospital myself. Taking her directly to the hospital was faster than waiting for an ambulance.
At the hospital, many medical staff pushed a trolley bed into the emergency room to take Liu Yuning in for critical care.
I paced restlessly outside, my heart filled with anxiety. I didn't know what would happen to her; all I could do was pray for her.
I couldn't believe such a problem would arise on my wedding day. Why was Liu Yuning in that position earlier? I hadn't had time to investigate yet. Also, I hadn't thoroughly examined Huang Yaxian's body; I didn't know if there were infant fingerprints.
I was certain that the killer must be the one involved in this case, the one we hadn't apprehended yet. Perhaps we should solve this case before getting married. However, even after solving this case, there would be others. If it were to continue like this, we wouldn't know when we could get married. That's why we had decided to hold the wedding immediately, and Liu Yuning's parents had agreed.
Amidst my thoughts, I faced endless, anxious waiting. After Xie Chuchu and Zhang Keying arrived at the scene, they also fell into a panic with me. Seeing them, I said, "You should go back and conduct autopsies. I'll be fine here alone."
"Others are helping with the autopsies. Xiao Dong and the team are capable," Zhang Keying replied, looking at me sadly.
I knew that ever since I announced my upcoming marriage, Zhang Keying had been unhappy. Given our past relationship, I understood her feelings. But at her age, she should be able to think things through.
Xie Chuchu said, "Senior, isn't that wise? We must stay by your side at a time like this."
Seeing their determination, I could only nod in agreement, but I continued to pace outside the emergency room instead of returning to my seat.
Finally, as the red light turned green, several doctors and a number of nurses emerged from the emergency room. A male doctor wearing silver-rimmed glasses called out, "Are Liu Yuning's family members here?"
I hurried to the doctor's side. "I am her fiancé."
"The situation is as follows: the patient's GCS score is 7.5, which is a low level. GCS scores of 12-14 indicate mild consciousness impairment; 9-11 indicate moderate consciousness impairment; below 8 indicates a coma. Scores of 13-15 are mild, 9-12 are moderate, and 3-8 are severe. If she doesn't wake up within 48 hours, there's a high probability of PVS symptoms."
A series of technical terms left Gao Mingqiang and the others bewildered, but only a few of us forensic investigators understood their meaning.
PVS actually refers to a vegetative state, a peculiar human condition similar to the state of plant life, also known as a persistent vegetative state or irreversible coma.
However, some reflex functions are retained. Brainstem functions are still active, and there is a response to stimuli. But higher neural activities, such as cognitive functions, are completely lost. There are no emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. Nutrient absorption and utilization can also be maintained.
The GCS score refers to the Glasgow Coma Scale. It is divided into three aspects: 1. Eye-opening response: If the patient can open their eyes spontaneously, it is graded as 4 points. Opening eyes in response to verbal stimuli is 3 points. Opening eyes in response to painful stimuli is 2 points. No eye-opening response is 1 point.
2. Verbal response: If the patient can communicate normally with the doctor, it is graded as 5 points. Garbled speech or inappropriate words are 4 points. Only single words or inappropriate speech are 3 points. Only sounds can be made but no meaningful words or sentences are 2 points. Complete inability to speak is 1 point.
3. Motor response: If the patient can perform actions as instructed by the doctor, it is graded as 6 points. If they cannot perform actions but respond to painful stimuli and can accurately push away the doctor's hand, it is 5 points. Responding to painful stimuli with limb withdrawal or flexion is 4 points. Decorticate rigidity, with flexion of both upper limbs and extension of both lower limbs, is 3 points. Decerebrate posturing, with extension and stiffness of all limbs, is 2 points. No response at all is 1 point.
I asked the doctor, "What are the chances of the patient recovering?"
"Very slim, but not impossible. Spend more time by her side. Sometimes miracles do happen!"
I knew the doctor was saying that just to comfort me. KanShuLa.
Everyone's faces turned extremely grim. Xie Chuchu covered her mouth and ran out. Zhang Keying was already trembling and sobbing uncontrollably.
At that moment, I felt incredibly dejected, as if the entire world had abandoned me. The person I loved most was lying there, possibly never to wake up.
But I would not give up. When Liu Yuning was wheeled out, I saw her tightly closed eyes and expressionless face, and tears still welled up in my eyes. It was the first time I had seen Liu Yuning lying so helplessly.
Turning back, I asked the doctor for details about her condition. The doctor found a consultation room and showed me X-rays and CT scans, saying, "Officer He, you must understand cranial injuries. During our examination, we found a severe blow to her forehead, with several other impact injuries in various areas. Her third and second ribs, nasal bone, lacrimal bone, palate bone, and maxilla all sustained varying degrees of blows. If I'm not mistaken, the weapon was likely a wrench-like object."
The doctor's findings were certainly unquestionable. Many smaller stations, like police precincts, lack specialized forensic departments, so doctors are often consulted to assist with injury examinations for many cases.
Cases with such injuries are actually more difficult to investigate because most traces are erased during the victim's treatment. However, in homicide cases, we can find many crucial clues from the body.