Miss Forensics – Chapter 19

Confrontation

A thunderbolt cracked across the sky, momentarily illuminating the room with a flash of lightning. Inside the makeshift training room, everyone was busy with their tasks, moving hurriedly and with a solemn demeanor. No one spoke. Amidst the lingering haze, occasional coughs and the sound of keyboard typing could be heard.

Song Yuhang massaged her temples. It had been a week since she had properly rested. Several blood blisters had formed in her mouth due to her restlessness. She used her tongue to push against them, using the pain to fend off her weariness.

The telephone on the desk rang urgently. Someone answered it swiftly and then turned to call her, “Team Leader Song, we’ve got a new lead!”

With a swift stride, Song Yuhang rushed over, her voice somewhat unsteady, “Hello?!”

Fang Xin held the phone for her, while Lin Yan lay on the floor, measuring the traces on the ground with a tape measure. Her usually boisterous voice sounded so comforting in this moment.

“150×70×60! I understand now! It’s the fish tank! Fish tank! I couldn’t figure out where Ding Xue drowned before. Even after searching the entire house, I couldn’t find any clues. Until I found this.”

Lin Yan shook the small fish tank in her hand. “It’s probably a goldfish tank he bought for his daughter to play with. He took good care of them. These things are delicate; a novice would have them dead in a day. He was experienced.”

“Furthermore, we discovered that the living room only had a sofa and dining table. Unexpectedly, a bookshelf was placed abruptly in the area that should have separated the living room and the foyer. Moving the shelf, we found a not-so-obvious white scratch. After measuring, it’s 150×70×60, matching the common dimensions of a saltwater fish breeding tank on the market.”

As she said this, she looked out the window. It was pouring rain outside, and the lightning’s brightness traced across her cold brow.

Lin Yan’s voice lowered, “This is the location of the first discovery. I’m certain that the cause of death for the victim, Ding Xue, was delayed drowning¹.”

A faint smile finally graced the corner of Song Yuhang’s lips, as if a burden had been lifted. “You’ve worked hard. Leave the rest to me from here.”

Entering the interrogation room once again, Song Yuhang was there only to bid him farewell. The next time they met might be in a courtroom or on the execution grounds.

“Did you drown her in the fish tank?” She stood at the doorway, staring at him coldly.

Sun Xiangming suddenly clenched his jaw. He had been reclining on the bench, but now he sat up abruptly, looking at her with a hint of gritted teeth.

“You don’t need to ask how I knew. If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it.”

After she finished speaking, Sun Xiangming looked at the police officer before him, her calm and resolute demeanor, and he laughed again. It was a laughter that seemed mocking yet also filled with disdain.

“What does it matter if you know? What you can’t find, you can’t use to convict me. When day breaks, I’ll still walk out of here.”

Song Yuhang looked at him, her disgust now openly visible in her eyes. “Actually, I’m quite curious. When you were gripping her by the back of her neck and pushing her into the water, what were you thinking? Was it relief or regret?”

If it was truly relief, Ding Xue would have died at home a long time ago, not surviving those few extra hours.

It was said that the phone call made from the school had saved her. Little did they know, the boundary between good and evil rested on a single thought.

After she finished speaking, she turned and strode away, ignoring Sun Xiangming’s futile attempt to slam into the iron door. He cried, shouted, and cursed until his throat was hoarse, but she didn’t look back.

“All members of the field team, move out! Use Sun’s home as the center and cover all garbage dumps, recycling stations, flea markets, second-hand trading centers, and stores selling used fishing equipment within a ten-kilometer radius. Dig up every inch if you have to. Understood?!”

Rain slid over her temples, wetting one side of her uniform quickly. The young detectives in front of her stared sharply and shouted in unison, “Yes!”

“Move out!”

The car doors locked, and the police car once again left the city bureau, charging into the pouring rain.

“Sister Lan, Team Song is on their way here. What about us?” Fang Xin asked, holding her phone.

Lin Yan took off her gloves and put them into an evidence bag. “Do whatever you need to do. I’ve completed my task.”

Her phone, nestled in her pocket, vibrated slightly. She waved nonchalantly. “Carry on with your tasks. I’ll go find a restroom.”

“The garbage dump for our complex is right here.” The property management staff led the group toward the back of the building using a flashlight.

The rain fell heavily and rapidly, pooling sewage into trickling streams in the low areas. Combined with the rain’s wash, the stench became even more unbearable.

Song Yuhang wore a raincoat. She was tall, and even the properly fitting pants seemed a bit short, exposing a small portion of her ankles. She waded through the water, sweeping her flashlight around.

“Did anyone come to throw away something big in the past few days?”

Dealing with such a large fish tank would inevitably involve selling it as scrap, reselling it, or smashing it to pieces and discarding it. Regardless of the method, it wouldn’t go unnoticed.

One of the property company employees slapped his forehead suddenly. “Yes, yes! A few days ago, the owner of 504 brought down a really big cardboard box, saying it was construction waste. It was strangely heavy. I even helped with carrying it.”

“Where is it?” The garbage heap wasn’t large, and there was nothing left to find.

“It’s been taken away long ago. Officer, what are you rummaging through trash for in the middle of the night?” The property staff yawned incessantly, clearly displeased about being pulled out of their bed in the middle of the night.

“Where was it taken?”

“To the landfill site in the north of the city.”

Without a second word, Song Yuhang turned and walked away. The property staff hurried a couple of steps after her. “Hey, hey! You probably won’t find anything now if you go. According to municipal regulations, all garbage is processed and destroyed on the same day. It’s either buried or incinerated.”

As she reached the entrance of the building, the forensic team also happened to come down. Lin Yan shielded herself from the rain with her hand and looked up at the dark gray sky. The watch on her wrist emitted a faint glow in the darkness.

There’s less than six hours until dawn; time is running out.

Song Yuhang walked past her, bringing a gust of damp wind.

Lin Yan lifted her gaze slightly. “I think you should know that even if we find the fish tank, any residual fingerprints on it might no longer exist due to the heavy rain’s washing.”

Song Yuhang’s steps faltered slightly, and she turned to look at Lin Yan.

Lin Yan gazed into those brown eyes. “Let’s consider the worst-case scenario: even if his fingerprints happened to survive on the fish tank, what difference would it make? It wouldn’t lead to a death penalty.”

As she said these words, a faintly mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “The cause of death was delayed drowning. From a subjective perspective, it didn’t result in immediate death at the time. Plus, there was a three-year-old child involved. In a case I’ve assessed, the perpetrator stabbed the other person over thirty times due to emotional entanglements. Was that cruel? Terrifying? Insane?”

“But because it was the killer who dialed the emergency call and the victim died while being transported to the hospital, the final verdict was a suspended death sentence. He hasn’t been executed yet.”

“Song Yuhang, give it up. Sun Xiangming knew early on that he wouldn’t die. He’s confident and fearless. Your pursuit in this matter is like searching for a needle in the ocean.”

From within that mocking smile, she extracted a cold trace of hatred.

The four-pointed star on her shoulder gleamed in the rain, accentuating the sharpness of her brows and eyes. The two of them stood there, separated by the curtain of rain, locked in a chilly stare-down.

“And so what if that’s the case? I admit, our country’s current laws might have their flaws. But does that mean Dr. Lin has to cross the moral and legal boundaries to become that blade of murder, seeking revenge through vengeance?”

A cold smile spread across Lin Yan’s lips, her voice dripping with resentment. “Heaven and earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs. I am carrying out the will of heaven. What’s there to be forbidden?”

Song Yuhang took a step forward. She was tall, blocking out the faint remaining light under the dim streetlamp.

Lin Yan was enveloped in her shadow, tilting her head back. Rainwater trickled down her sharp chin.

“I won’t give you that opportunity. And if that day ever comes, even if it’s an unsheathed precious sword, I won’t hesitate to personally shatter it and bury its edge in the sand.”

Song Yuhang looked down at her from a higher vantage point, her pale brown eyes still devoid of emotion. Yet, Lin Yan believed that she could indeed say what she meant.

As she thought about the prospect of becoming adversaries with someone like this in the future, Lin Yan’s lips curved into a smile. Her entire body’s blood seemed to boil, carrying a sense of excitement akin to encountering a worthy opponent in a game of chess.

She lifted her gaze, took a gentle step forward, tiptoed, and softly placed her hand on Song Yuhang’s shoulder. To an outsider’s eye, it appeared as if two intimate individuals were exchanging whispers.

Lin Yan embraced her shoulders and breathed by her ear, “Is that so? I’m looking forward to that day.”

Song Yuhang remained composed, tilting her head slightly and bringing it close to Lin Yan’s ear. She couldn’t back down; backing down would be admitting defeat.

“I will. You won’t have to wait too long.”

Lin Yan’s hand slid down her shoulder, following the rain’s path. Just like Song Yuhang, she was highly skilled in reading between the lines. Her innate talents in certain aspects were simply too astute, bordering on being overly clever.

She hadn’t dodged, hadn’t moved, and had even directly responded. However, her tensed body had betrayed her long before.

With a slight smile, Lin Yan took the opportunity to raise herself up, much like a poised kiss. Her ear grazed Song Yuhang’s lips, the sensation both cool and soft, causing a momentary shiver. This was an instinctive response unrelated to romance.

“Team Song—” someone called out.

Song Yuhang discreetly took a step back, once again raising her gaze to look at Lin Yan. Truly a person who remained composed even in the face of Mount Tai collapsing, within a few fleeting moments, her calm demeanor had been restored.

“But before that happens, I have other matters to attend to. How the law is applied is a matter of the law. Solving cases, gathering evidence, and seeking the truth are my responsibilities. I hold my head high in front of the heavens and have no regrets before the earth. I am true to the uniform I wear, and I am true to my conscience.”

As she spoke, her tone was exceptionally calm. It wasn’t like she was making an oath or a rash declaration; it was something that had matured over time.

She had long passed that age.

The fiery passion had transformed into a professional ethic to be remembered at all times. In the mundane world of criminal investigation work, it hadn’t diminished her enthusiasm but had instead turned into an unceasing river. The calmer it appeared, the more powerful the undercurrents.

Lin Yan shuddered all over, biting her lip tightly as she looked sharply at Song Yuhang. However, Song Yuhang had already led her team onto the vehicle.

With a command issued, everyone rushed to the landfill site in the northern part of the city.

The Criminal Investigation Division of the Jiangcheng Police Department mobilized its entire force, including those who were on their days off, on leave, and even auxiliary officers who were available.

Director Feng stood by the window. The rain outside had never ceased. The tea in his hand had turned cold, but he didn’t bother to replace it. He took a sip and set it down.

A police officer entered, looking troubled. “Director Feng, Sun Xiangming’s lawyer has arrived. They’re asking us to release him.”

“Go tell them that the time hasn’t come yet, and we can’t release this person,” he placed the tea cup on the table and paced back and forth restlessly with his hands behind his back. “Have someone contact Song Yuhang. How much time has passed? Not a single word, what are they all doing?”

The officer hesitated to speak.

Director Feng stopped and looked at him. “What’s the matter now?”

“The reporters have arrived too. The Prosecutor’s Office has also sent someone to gather information. Deputy Chief Zhang is currently handling it. Would you like to go over…”

Before he could finish saying the word “see,” he saw Director Feng Jian raise his eyebrows and explode in anger, “Damn reporters, they’re all like dogs with sensitive noses. As soon as they smell meat buns, they swarm in, afraid of missing out and not even leaving a hot dog turd for themselves to eat!”

The officer wanted to laugh but stifled it, quickly standing at attention without glancing around.

“Go tell them that we’re not giving interviews. There’s nothing much to say about this case. Everything will wait for official notification.”

“Team Leader Song, here, wipe yourself,” sitting in the car, Fang Xin saw that Song Yuhang was completely soaked. She pulled out a tissue from her pocket and handed it over.

“Thank you.” Song Yuhang sat in the front seat, turned around, and took the tissue to wipe the water droplets from her forehead. However, someone in the back asked another question.

“Team Leader Song, are you okay? Your ears are even red. You’re not running a fever, are you? After all, you’ve been busy for a few days without much rest…”

Not mentioning it was better, as soon as she did, the area that Lin Yan had touched felt like it was burning up.

Even though she wasn’t in the car, that faint and elusive floral scent lingered around her, refusing to dissipate.

Song Yuhang rolled down the car window, letting the cool night breeze mixed with raindrops waft in slightly.

“It’s okay, it’s inevitable for it to be stuffy during a typhoon.”

As the largest waste processing center in Jiangcheng City, tens of thousands of tons of garbage were brought here daily for centralized landfilling.

Over the years, the accumulated garbage had formed into small hills. Before even driving in, the stench was already noticeable.

Song Yuhang put on a mask, hopped out of the car, and immediately found the sewage covering her shoes. The team followed her, wading through the mess with each step.

The staff member leading the way in front was almost suffocated by the smell. He waved his hand and stopped, panting heavily. “The garbage brought in a few days ago was dumped over there.”

Following the direction of his pointing finger, they looked and saw a dark mass, piled up like small hills.

Duan Cheng’s face turned pale: “This… how are we supposed to find anything here?”

Song Yuhang didn’t look back. She instructed her team of detectives to put on gloves, wear plastic shoes, and take necessary protective measures. Then, she led the way into the garbage pile.

Action spoke louder than words.

When the leader was taking such measures, others also followed suit, pinching their noses and joining in.

Many times, there were no shortcuts to solving a case, only the day-to-day dedication and effort.

This was the true path to stopping crime.

Doing things like rummaging through garbage, digging through manure pits—Song Yuhang had lost count of how many times she had done them. Sweat clung to her forehead, trickling out, but before it could even feel warm, the icy rain extinguished it.

Water droplets trailed down her chin, and she couldn’t tell whether it was rain or sweat. The sky was dim, the rain unrelenting, and visibility faded after just a few meters.

Rainwater blinked into her eyes, gradually blurring her vision. She removed her hood, wiped her face with a clean shoulder, and glanced at her wristwatch.

3:30 in the early morning.

Impatience was the most accurate depiction of her current state.

“Hiss—Ouch!” It was unclear whether he had touched a metal object or an iron hook, but one of the criminal investigation officers had been pricked. He immediately took off his glove and started shouting in pain.

Beside him, colleagues were digging through the garbage with their flashlights, and some of them grumbled with dissatisfaction, “We’ve been getting pricked who knows how many times while digging through this garbage. Born with bad luck, some people don’t even bother showing up. Not to mention garbage, they haven’t even been rained on a bit.”

Song Yuhang turned around, her lips forming a straight line.

She walked to the side, removed her gloves, and retrieved her phone from the inner pocket of her raincoat. She wiped the water droplets off, but they quickly got wet again from the rain. After a few attempts, she managed to turn on the phone.

She dialed an unlisted number, and the call was quickly answered.

“Hello? Help me keep an eye on someone.”

Amidst lightning and thunder, the howling wind swept through the wilderness, creating a haunting echo.

Her voice was hoarse, giving an inexplicable sense of unease to anyone who heard it.

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1. Delayed or secondary drowning happens when water gets into the lungs and irritates the lining of the lungs. From there, fluid the builds up and can cause a pulmonary edema. In this case, you’d notice trouble breathing almost immediately and the symptoms would worsen over the next few hours.