The lighting in the mortuary was a stark white, and the equipment made of stainless steel around the area glistened coldly.
In this atmosphere, Tang Yanqing leaned forward, gazing closely at Sean’s body.
Sean was already pale in life, and at this moment he appeared even more hauntingly so. His body had undergone an autopsy, leaving stitches along his torso.
—He didn’t look like a real person, more like a doll sewn from leather.
Observing the scene, Neil dutifully explained, "Apart from the fatal wound on the fourth cervical vertebra, there are multiple stab wounds on his body. However, none of these wounds were fatal, and considering the suspect’s skillful technique, none were near major arteries. This rules out the intent to cause bleeding to death."
Tang Yanqing squinted at the left side of the body’s chest area, where there were several clustered stab wounds. She then signaled Guan Liang to come over.
This was Guan Liang’s first time handling a homicide case with Tang Yanqing. He had been anxious since entering the mortuary, not daring to approach the autopsy table, instead peering from near the door, glimpsing the body behind Jia Tianzi’s silhouette.
Unexpectedly, Tang Yanqing called him over directly, causing him to feel a chill all over, his limbs stiffening.
During training at the police academy, he did go through related courses... but classroom learning and actual practice are ultimately two different things.
Guan Liang moved over woodenly, holding his breath as he looked at the body. His eyes darted away as soon as they locked onto it, then he forced himself to look back. His throat convulsed, his face drained of color.
Tang Yanqing asked, "What do you make of these wounds?"
Guan Liang shivered, "Stabbing... stabbing the heart, that’s aimed to kill." For more chapters visit novᴇlfire.net
Jia Tianzi sighed quietly and nudged him with his foot, "Neil already said, the fatal wound was a high cervical spinal cord injury."
Guan Liang took a deep breath, "Stabbing the heart, if not to kill, what else could it be?"
Tang Yanqing lifted her head from Sean’s body. Above was the harsh white light, below reflected off Sean’s bloodless skin, both types of white light casting onto Tang Yanqing’s face, frightening Guan Liang into another shiver.
"Aside from representing the heart, which would make you think of death, can’t you think of anything else about the chest area?"
Fear dominated Guan Liang’s thoughts, rendering him unable to function normally, so he shook his head in a panic, looking to Jia Tianzi for help.
This is an issue every newcomer encounters; it’s the hardest stage to overcome initially. Tang Yanqing intentionally tested Guan Liang, but didn’t intend to trouble him.
He even chuckled lightly and said to Jia Tianzi, "I’m curious if she’d be as afraid as Guan Liang if she were here."
Jia Tianzi grinned, "If you truly think so, just call her to try it out?"
He knew he misspoke right after he said it, as Tang Yanqing rolled her eyes at him mercilessly. Scarier than those of a corpse.
Shi Nian likely got quite a scare tonight too, especially since Tang Yanqing thought of Shi Nian’s connection to this case... How could he bear to let her face the body?
Even though she has an exceptional sense of intuition and reasoning abilities, in his heart, he prefers that she knows nothing, staying in her safe, peaceful little world, protected by him.
At this thought, Tang Yanqing couldn’t help but frown.
—It was because he suddenly realized that his protective instinct was somewhat akin to Xiang Yuan’s.
Tang Yanqing shook her head and solemnly "lectured" Guan Liang.
"The reason you can’t think of right now is because Neil stripped Sean bare."
Neil coughed awkwardly at the remark.
Tang Yanqing continued, "When we look at a body, what you should see is not just the naked corpse lying on the autopsy table. You should conceive of a three-dimensional him— every impression he ever left in your mind should be layered together."
"When I asked you this question, you should recall his specific circumstances today: he was on the night shift tonight, and when on duty, he was required to wear a police uniform and badge. So now tell me, from the stab wounds on his chest, what do you infer?"
Guan Liang finally realized with a jolt, "The perpetrator didn’t stab Sean to kill him; it was meant to torture him or vent some desire. This desire was likely directed at Sean’s police uniform, as the multiple stabs at the chest hit precisely the spot where the badge hangs!"
Guan Liang looked at Jia Tianzi as he spoke, "If I remember correctly, when Sean’s body was found, there was no badge on his left chest!"