Chapter 9: Confronting Life and Death

After another round of questioning, it was finally discovered that Zhang Jun was hiding something in his testimony.

What could he be trying to conceal? Was it an improper relationship with the proprietress?

However, after speaking with other staff members, it became clear that there was no illicit affair between the proprietress and Zhang Jun. She was a gentle and kind woman, devoted wholeheartedly to her family and attentive to her employees. She even went out of her way to help them with personal hardships or concerns; she was warm-hearted in every sense.

In the eyes of everyone, she was a good person.

But as for Zhang Jun, opinions varied. Some described him as steady and introverted, while others saw him as cunning and deeply scheming. Still, his gratitude toward the proprietress was universally acknowledged—he was seen as someone who remembered kindness and repaid it.

So why was he hiding his feelings for her? Was he afraid the police would suspect him of involvement in the murder?

Su Tianmu sorted through the various clues gathered over the past days, striving to piece them into a coherent chain.

A crime committed by someone familiar, perhaps a crime of passion—judging by how the bodies were handled, it seemed to be an impulsive, unplanned act. Maybe a certain event triggered the killer’s urge. As the body of the proprietress was still missing, the full sequence of events could not yet be reconstructed.

If the restaurant basement was the first crime scene, then where was the murder weapon?

Su Tianmu carefully recalled the basement. During the restaurant’s renovation, it was crammed with construction materials. Perhaps due to business needs, the basement floor had a drainage system. According to forensic analysis, the bodies had been thoroughly washed with water before being entombed in the walls—this explained why no fingerprints were found on the victims.

Therefore, anything in the basement could have been used as a weapon. Although no direct clues had been found, it was possible that everything had been washed clean, leaving no traces.

“Xiao Wang, organize another thorough inspection of the basement. Analyze every object that can be moved by hand with extra care,” Su Tianmu instructed.

If the murder was unplanned, then the weapon would not have been prepared in advance; anything within reach could have become the weapon.

“Understood, Chief Su. We’ll investigate again,” Xiao Wang replied, quickly setting about organizing the search.

Su Tianmu watched Xiao Wang’s retreating figure, then slowly stood up. He took a cigarette from the pack on his desk, lit it, and placed it in his mouth. Leaning against the desk, he gazed out the window, a wisp of smoke curling upward.

After years as a detective, he had unconsciously grown accustomed to lighting a cigarette when pondering a case.

As expected, it was in the basement’s construction materials that a suspicious item was found—a prefabricated pillar made of rebar and cement, apparently intended for some decorative purpose. Forensic analysis showed the shape matched the wounds on the victims, raising suspicion that it was the murder weapon.

“Chief Su, we found a fingerprint on the pillar, and it matches Zhang Jun’s!” Xiao Wang brought exciting news.

“But Zhang Jun works at the restaurant; it’s perfectly reasonable for his fingerprints to be on something used in the renovation,” Xiao Wang said, a bit deflated.

“Bring Zhang Jun in for questioning immediately,” Su Tianmu ordered firmly.

He then picked up the phone and called Xia Wuyou, saying he needed her help and asking her to come to the station.

“Did you find new clues? Have you caught the killer?” Xia Wuyou’s excited voice came through the phone.

“It’s precisely because we lack conclusive evidence that we need the deceased to ‘speak’ now,” Su Tianmu replied. He couldn’t help wishing he had Xia Wuyou’s abilities; there would be far fewer wrongful convictions in the world.

Of course, Xia Wuyou didn’t refuse. When she and Su Tianmu entered the interrogation room together, a solemn atmosphere arose, making her feel as if she truly were a police officer.

“Tell us, was it you who killed them?” Xia Wuyou blurted out as soon as she sat down, sounding earnest.

“Huh?” Zhang Jun stared at her in shock.

Not only Zhang Jun—Su Tianmu was also caught off guard by her abruptness.

“Ahem, ahem,” he coughed deliberately, signaling Xia Wuyou to hold back.

“Oh, okay. You go ahead,” Xia Wuyou realized she’d gone too far and quickly reined in her sense of justice.

“Zhang Jun, we found your fingerprint on the murder weapon. How do you explain that?” Su Tianmu asked, changing tactics.

A flicker of panic crossed Zhang Jun’s face.

“I work for them; how would I know where I left my fingerprints? Maybe I left them while helping with the renovation,” he replied, exactly as expected.

“I never said the fingerprint was found on construction materials. How did you know the murder weapon was something from the renovation?” Su Tianmu pressed him sternly.

“You’re not being honest! How did you know the murder weapon was a piece of construction material?” he continued, trying to break Zhang Jun’s psychological defenses.

Realizing he’d slipped up, Zhang Jun tried to play dumb.

“Officer, I was just speaking casually. It’s normal for my fingerprints to be found at my workplace. You can’t suspect me of murder just because of that!”

“And what about your relationship with the proprietress? Did you covet her beauty and desire her long before?” Su Tianmu pressed further, step by step.

“Of course not! Zhao Juan was the one who fancied me. She’s already a mother—how could I be interested in her?” Zhang Jun retorted, growing agitated.

“Zhao Juan”—the name of the deceased proprietress.

As her name slipped from Zhang Jun’s lips, a powerful surge of energy struck Xia Wuyou.

She knew—it had come.

“You’re lying! If I hadn’t seen you as honest, how could you have become the lobby manager?” Suddenly, a different woman’s voice emerged from Xia Wuyou’s mouth.

This was the first time Xia Wuyou had experienced such a phenomenon; she was startled herself.

“I helped you so much, yet you committed such a heinous act. You’ll meet a dreadful end!” The woman’s voice continued.

Fortunately, only Su Tianmu and Xia Wuyou were present in the interrogation room; otherwise, everyone would have been frightened by the scene, not just Zhang Jun.

At that moment, Zhang Jun was already terrified, his soul seemingly shattered, unable to comprehend what was happening.