"It sounds like everything's normal, no sense of threat. She probably didn't know anything at the time. What's wrong with people's heads these days? It's either killing or arson. I heard lately, maybe everyone's short on money, but crime rates have been rising."
"Don't you worry, I'll find out the truth. Did Yuning's parents say anything to you before the incident?"
"No, we haven't talked in a long time. Yuning called us before, talking about wedding details. Of course, we congratulated her, after all, she's marrying you! Detective He."
Mentioning this made me quite sad, a feeling of change and loss washed over me. Seeing my sadness, it was Liu Shuhua's parents' turn to comfort me. I nodded and said, "It's alright. If you remember any more details, please tell me immediately!"
After I finished speaking, I went outside their house. Just as I was about to drive away, my phone received a message: "Senior, something bad happened! When we were verifying the murder weapon just now, we found the captain Liu's fingerprints all over the handle."
"What?" I exclaimed softly. But if Liu Yuning did it, why would she be so foolish as to leave evidence?
I quickly thought that this must be the perpetrator deliberately framing her. I told Xie Chuchu not to panic, and then I returned to the police station.
Holding the report, I said to Xie Chuchu, "She definitely didn't do it!"
"I understand, but when the forensics team re-examined the scene, they found that besides the footprints of Liu Yuning and her parents, there were no other footprints. This killer not only wants to kill Liu Yuning's parents but also wants to frame her. How deep is the hatred!"
Hearing Xie Chuchu say that, I fell silent. I actually felt like the other party was targeting me. As for why they targeted Yuning, it was probably just because she knew we were getting married.
What a scoundrel, causing trouble even at a time like this. If I catch this killer, I'll interrogate them thoroughly and ask them what's going on and what grudge they have against me.
I had considered several possibilities, like members of an organization, or criminals I had arrested in the past coming back for revenge, but there was no evidence at the moment.
I had experienced a similar situation once. Recalling it, I was planning to visit Yuning in the hospital, but Gao Mingqiang suddenly walked over and said, "Team leader, we just received another report. Two people are dead in Huakang Community, Fuming City. And they are none other than Liu Shuhua's parents!"
"What?"
I almost thought I misheard. Hadn't I just been to their place?
How could something happen?
My head felt like it was being struck by dozens of wrenches, a tearing pain. Without further thought, I gathered my team and rushed to the crime scene.
Arriving at the place I had just left, the surrounding area was already cordoned off. I went inside, where Xie Chuchu and Zhang Keying were examining the bodies, and the forensics team was collecting evidence around.
I went to the male victim, Liu Shuhua's father. Zhang Keying said, "Still a fruit knife, but the actual cause of death was a heavy blow to the back of the head. The weapon was still a wrench. Based on all observations, the method is the same as before, likely committed by the same killer."
"It's him again. He dares to commit another crime, completely disregarding the previous case." I gritted my teeth in anger, my fists clenching with a crackling sound. But what could be done now?
"There are surveillance cameras at the scene, but the wires were cut. Judging by the cut marks, scissors were used directly," Gao Mingqiang reported to me after surveying the scene.
I nodded and then said, "Everyone, search again meticulously, leave no stone unturned!"
"Understood!" Everyone continued their work. I went out to the balcony outside the living room, looking at the flowers planted outside. The air was fresh, but on the muddy edge, I found some marks. Although incomplete, I recognized them as elbow marks.
I took out a steel ruler to measure, and found they belonged to an adult. After taking pictures, I used my own body for comparison and found that someone must have leaned against it sideways. According to the depth of the marks, this person had left not long ago.
I had observed the victims earlier, and they had been dead for no more than 3 hours, as I hadn't left long ago.
At this moment, several police officers approached me with serious expressions. I knew what they were going to do. They must have seen the outdoor surveillance footage and realized I had been here earlier.
I had already prepared my response: "I was just here to consult them."
"Officer He, that's not what we meant. It's just that according to the surveillance, you were the last person to see the victims."
"Yes, I asked them some questions, found them unhelpful, and left."
"According to the surveillance, you left at 11:30 AM."
"Yes, that's correct."
"You entered the scene at 11:05 AM."
"That's right."
"Alright then, thank you for your cooperation."
This time, I wasn't taken back as a suspect. I had been suspected before, so I wasn't afraid.
After everyone finished their examination, only the elbow marks were found to be different from the two deceased. Nothing else significant was discovered.
Liu Shuhua's mother died in the kitchen. The freezer was still open at the time, and cold air was blowing onto her.
The cause of death for both bodies was almost identical. The specific details would require a thorough autopsy back at the police station.
This time, I wasn't involved. Back at the police station, Director Huang came several times to inquire about the situation. I could only answer based on the current circumstances. Director Huang sighed, "How is that possible? Captain Liu wouldn't do such a thing."
"I know. The killer wants to frame her and clear his name, but he committed another crime. It's obvious his plan has backfired."
"Why did he commit another crime?"
"If I'm not mistaken, he must have been unable to control himself. Serial killers have three characteristics: periodicity, regional selectivity, and victim selectivity. But now it seems he kills anyone."
"I don't think so. Since the Liu family incident, people close to Yuning have also had accidents. This doesn't seem to be related to the previous victims. Could it be that the later killer is just imitating the previous one?"
This was something I had considered, but the methods were too similar, making it difficult to imitate. Mimics often wouldn't know the finer details.
I brought this up, and Director Huang sighed, "Then we'll have to find other ways to investigate. This isn't working, He Sheng!"