The forensic doctor and technical team arrived at the scene and removed the body from the pit. A large number of maggots crawled under the body, making Luke feel a little nauseous.
However, he didn't leave or look away and saw a black backpack beneath the body.
Mary from the technical team, wearing a blue protective suit, took the backpack out from the pit and placed it on a piece of transparent plastic sheet. Then, Mary took the items out of the backpack and also placed them on the plastic sheet.
Two iPhones, bloodstained black pants, a shirt, a suit, a belt, shoes, and some damaged electronic devices.
Luke focused on these items. Both iPhone screens were shattered, possibly both belonging to this body, or maybe just one was related to the body and the other belonged to someone else.
This reminded Luke of the dead pianist, the lover of Mrs. Gray, Kilo Jones.
Kilo Jones's body was found near Highway 1, undressed, with no phones or shoes found.
Could this spare phone belong to the deceased Kilo Jones?
Moreover, the newly discovered body was clothed and wearing shoes. Could the spare set of clothing also belong to the deceased Kilo Jones?
If so, it could basically be confirmed that the same killer murdered both people.
Luke put on gloves, picked up the leather shoe for examination; it matched the footprints found at the Highway 1 crime scene, highly likely being the shoe of the deceased Kilo Jones.
Confirming this is simple, just use a footprint identification card, but Luke thought there was no need.
The clothing has bloodstains; bringing it back for identification would suffice. Why waste an identification card?
Luke looked at the electronic equipment fragments that Mary was collecting. "Is this a miniature camera device?"
Mary carefully placed the parts into a plastic bag, "Yes."
"Can the video content be restored?"
Mary picked up a cracked memory card, "We'll need to try to find out."
"Captain, I've found something here." Jackson waved from afar.
Luke walked over, discovering that Jackson had dug another pit in the ground, inside which there was a shovel with a wooden handle.
Jackson, somewhat proudly, said, "Captain, what do you think of this evidence?"
The killer, to bury a corpse, had to dig a big pit first. It's impossible without digging tools, yet there was no shovel found in that dark blue Porsche Cayenne, and this very shovel could likely have been left by the killer.
Luke gave a thumbs up, "Congratulations, you've achieved something."
Half an hour later, the forensic doctor Hila also completed the preliminary autopsy.
Hila took off her gloves and mask, saying, "The deceased is a white male around forty years old. No bloodstains or fatal wounds were found, likely died from poisoning. Further testing is needed for the toxin components.
The time of death should be around December 29th."
This timeframe matched Luke's guess. On December 29th, Luke led a team to search the Gray couple's house. Someone must have leaked the information to Mrs. Gray, leading her to decide to kill her husband.
As for Mrs. Gray's motive for murder, it's yet to be determined.
Luke said to Jenny beside him, "Call Georgia Gray and ask her to go to the police station to identify the body."
Robbery and Murder Department, First Squadron Office.
From his office, Luke could faintly hear sounds of crying.
Before long, Georgia Gray, her face covered in tears and makeup ruined from crying, followed Jenny into the office.
Luke invited her into the lounge.
Jenny nodded slightly, indicating that Georgia Gray had confirmed her husband's identity.
Luke sat across from her, handing Georgia Gray a pack of tissues. "Mrs. Gray, I'm sorry for your husband's misfortune."
"Why did this happen?
I'd rather he ran away than…" Georgia Gray wiped her tears, "Who killed him?"
"We are investigating. According to the forensic doctor's assessment, your husband should have been murdered on the 29th. Did you see any suspicious people that day, or did anyone else visit your home?"
"Did you drink the same alcohol that night?"
"Did you pass out after drinking?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"After the preliminary autopsy, the forensic doctor believes your husband died of poisoning."
"Oh my God…" Georgia Gray closed her eyes and sighed, "Did he commit suicide?"
"We dug up his body underground. He was likely murdered and then his body was buried."
"What exactly happened that night? Why was I imprisoned, and my husband recognized as murdered?"
"That's also what I want to find out." Luke changed the subject, pulling out a document, "On the day you were rescued, the technical team conducted a drug test on you and didn't find any traces of a sedative in your body.
According to the identification report, you weren't drugged unconscious; you should have been fully awake."
Georgia Gray's expression of sadness faded, and she clasped her hands together, "What do you mean?"
Luke continued, "We found a key underneath the wooden cabinet in the secret room, which could unlock your handcuffs.
In other words, even if we didn't reach the secret room in time, you could still save yourself."
Georgia Grey shook her head, "What key? I don't know what you're talking about?"
"You're very good at covering it up; at first, I believed your words. If I'm not mistaken, you must have practiced in front of the mirror for a long time."