Chapter 13: Getting rid of the old (4)

The elevator descended, stopping when the number reached "-3". As soon as the doors opened, the smell of disinfectant mixed with the coldness of metal hit us.

When Zhang Mo and Qin Yuechuan appeared in the rest area of ​​the forensic laboratory carrying insulated bags, Bai Tianjin had just come out of the laboratory a short while earlier. She draped her white coat over the back of a chair and took a bottle of mineral water out of the refrigerator.

"Thank you for your hard work. I brought you dinner." Qin Yuechuan said, placing the insulated bag on the table. His voice was deliberately softened with a smile, and his attitude was incredibly filial and gentle.

Bai Tianjin glanced at Zhang Mo, who was standing quietly beside her, and took a sip of water. "But I've already ordered takeout."

Qin Yuechuan quickly replied, his familiar tone softening the awkwardness: "Takeout is so unhealthy, you should eat this."

This matter involved Mr. Zhang's employees, and Mr. Zhang specially delivered it to thank you for your help. I'll just eat the takeout.

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhang Mo, hoping that the usually quick-witted CEO Zhang would chime in and say something to make the situation less awkward.

As a result, Zhang Mo just pursed her lips and remained silent, seemingly losing her usual composure.

Qin Yuechuan: "......"

Qin Yuechuan chuckled twice, trying to save face for her: "Um, this must be Ms. Zhang's first time in the forensic laboratory. Are you a little nervous?"

It took Zhang Mo a long time to squeeze out two syllables from her throat, her voice so soft as if she were afraid of disturbing something: "Mmm... Mmm."

Qin Yuechuan: "".

It failed at the crucial moment. Mr. Zhang, are you even capable?!

Fortunately, Bai Tianjin seemed hungry, or perhaps she was too lazy to delve into the strange atmosphere. She placed the mineral water bottle on the table, and the water droplets at the bottom of the bottle left a small wet patch on the table: "Well, since I've already given it to you, I might as well try it."

Qin Yuechuan rushed over and attentively opened the insulated bag for her.

He was shocked the moment he opened it.

Eight palm-sized insulated boxes were stacked in two rows inside the bag, with a soup bowl standing next to them. The red, green, and yellow ones were dizzying to look at.

Eight dishes and a soup! No wonder it's so heavy!

This is no dinner, it's practically a mini-feast!

Does having money mean you can be this capricious?!

Bai Tianjin looked at the food that almost filled the small round table and chuckled, "President Zhang is quite generous."

Bai Tianjin's tone was unreadable, neither mocking nor praising. She then turned and walked to the storage cabinet against the wall. When she opened the bottom drawer, it made a soft "click" sound, revealing neatly stacked disposable tableware inside: "Don't just stand there like an idiot, let's eat together."

So the three of them began to eat, the clinking of chopsticks and the soft sounds of chewing were particularly clear in the empty rest area, making the atmosphere quite eerie.

Qin Yuechuan looked around, feeling he had to break the suffocating silence with something. He swallowed the food in his mouth and cleared his throat: "At this stage, can we already determine the age and cause of death?"

Bai Tianjin was scooping crab roe tofu with a small spoon. The tender yellow tofu trembled in the spoon. She replied casually, "The anterior end of the coronal suture is closed about 1/3, and the middle section of the sagittal suture begins to fuse. This suture closure progress is more common in men around 35 years old."

There is a roughly round depressed fracture on the left side of the parietal bone, about 4.5 cm in diameter and 1.2 cm deep. The fracture line extends radially towards the temporal bone, with the furthest point reaching 6 cm. This is a typical sign of blunt force trauma.

There is slight cortical detachment at the edge of the depression, and the radial cracks terminate abruptly at the squamous part of the temporal bone. This fracture pattern of 'gradually decreasing force' can only be formed when there is a high-speed impact on a flat, hard object.

Based on the diameter and depth of the skull indentation, the impact force was at least equivalent to a fall from a height of 3 meters or more, requiring the head to directly hit a concrete or rock surface.

Based on the date on the newspaper used to wrap the head and bone density tests, the time of death was approximately 50 years.

My assistant is already writing the preliminary test report, and it will be submitted shortly.

In short, it was about a man around 35 years old who fell to his death from a height 50 years ago.

Zhang Mo thought this was good news, at least it could clear the homeowner and Zhou Jing of suspicion.

After all, the homeowner, Fang Yurong, is now 57 years old and was just a child 50 years ago, while Zhou Jing's current age on his ID card is only 23.

Bai Tianjin: "We are currently extracting DNA and comparing it with the homeowner's mother and daughter and the national DNA database. But based on my experience, it should be the homeowner's father who left home more than 50 years ago."

For bones that have been stored for many years, dense bone tissue is usually extracted first, such as the parietal bone of the skull and the body of the mandible, as the bone in these areas is hard and the DNA degrades more slowly. If the teeth are well preserved, the pulp cavity residue is a better choice.

The skull we have is one of the best preserved, and a lot of useful information can be extracted from it.

Qin Yuechuan frowned: "But our colleagues in charge of criminal investigation have visited the surrounding area, and everyone knows that back then, this father ran away with his mistress and eloped with her."

According to Fang Yurong, her mother had deep feelings for her father, even though he frequently abused her at home. After he left, she refused all attempts to remarry, despite advice from her family, neighbors, and even her husband's family.

To commend her loyalty, the man's family sent her food and money every year. It became a popular story.

Bai Tianjin's gaze was sharp and incisive: "Knowing or witnessing? These are two completely different things."

Qin Yuechuan was somewhat at a loss for words: "Uh..."

Bai Tianjin sneered, "It's right that your Director Su only put you in charge of information collection and coordination. You have absolutely no talent in practical combat."

There are hardly any eyewitnesses to elopement; it's mostly just word-of-mouth. And then, as the story spreads, it becomes common knowledge.

Qin Yuechuan choked for a moment, with a hint of defense: "This all happened fifty years ago. The neighbors around here are either dead or gone. There are hardly any people left from back then."

Strictly speaking, of all the people involved back then, only old lady Ma Qiuhe remains.

Now that she has dementia, she can't get any information out of her.