Chapter 162: Problems Left Over from the Previous Administration
"Who's with me?" The team was still working in two groups, as usual. Since Shen Zhenzhu had taken on this case, not everyone could participate. Two people from Team Four needed to stay behind.
Lu Ye glanced at the eager Xiao Bai and Zhao Qiqi and said, "Let them go with you. Uncle Wu and I will stay here. If there are any cases, Uncle Wu and I will work together."
“Okay, Brother Aqi will go to the car team to borrow a car. Xiaobai and I will get ready.” Chen Zhenzhu said, “It will take two hours to get there, and we may not be able to get back by tonight. Everyone, please make sure you have all your things.”
"Okay." Xiaobai quickly stuffed water and instant noodles into her huge backpack, and didn't forget to put King of Kings and cat ears on Pearl.
Shen Zhenzhu stuffed a stack of new gloves into her bag, checked her notebook and papers, and then asked Xiaobai to ask who was accompanying her from the forensic department. After finding out that it was Rong Chengcheng who was accompanying her and that he would drive over later, Shen Zhenzhu went downstairs to wait for Zhao Qiqi to borrow a car.
“No wonder Rong Chengcheng wanted to drive himself.” Zhao Qiqi held up an old steering wheel with one hand, laughing and crying at the same time, “This is the only car we have left that’s almost scrapped. All the others have been used.”
Chen Zhenzhu was dumbfounded: "Can it be opened?"
Zhao Qiqi said, "It's simple, just hit it and it'll open."
He had learned car repair skills in the army, and he quickly put the steering wheel back on.
Chen Zhenzhu, sitting in the back seat, chuckled: "This way, we don't have to worry about the car being stolen. We can just get out and take the steering wheel."
"Hey, is it safe?" Xiaobai asked nervously, clutching his big backpack. "There aren't any decent cars left?"
"There's another one parked in the back parking lot, but all four wheels are missing." Zhao Qiqi opened the hood to check, started the car and listened to the engine, then returned to the driver's seat and said, "Don't worry, I'm here. Unless the wheels are missing, it will definitely be able to run."
After hearing this, Chen Zhenzhu was truly relieved.
Xiao Bai, standing next to her, felt the wind blowing from all directions. She shrank her neck and said, "Jinshan Funeral Home belongs to Baolu City, so why did you report it to us?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "You're not a local, so you don't know, but Liancheng's urban area has been expanded. The deceased, Qiao Jinqiu, originally lived in Puhe District, which belonged to Baolu City. Later, after it was allocated to Liancheng, the land belonged to Liancheng. It was agreed that the buildings and taxes on the land would belong to Baolu City for 30 years, which is still more than ten years away. This has resulted in both sides having jurisdiction over the same area. The deceased was taken from Baolu Workers' School to the funeral home. The funeral home or the family can report the case to the Liancheng or Baolu City Public Security Bureau."
Zhao Qiqi, who was driving in front, said while gripping the trembling steering wheel, "That's too much trouble. Two departments are in charge of the same place. Who should we listen to?"
"So Park Heung-sung dumped this tricky case on us." The car was full of their own people. Chen Zhenzhu put her hands inside the sleeves of her police cotton-padded jacket: "Whoever can solve the case, we'll listen to them."
"Then we need to hurry." Xiao Bai thought Shen Zhenzhu was right.
She tried to shake the window but couldn't budge it. She and her sister Pearl arrived at the police station with their hair disheveled, having been blown all the way by the strong wind outside.
They arrived at Jinshan Funeral Home at 3:30 p.m. The two of them smoothed each other's hair in the car before getting out.
"I'm completely chilled." Xiaobai sneezed, rummaged through his large backpack and pulled out a worn-out leather bag, which he slung over his shoulder and filled with office supplies, a thermos, and tissues.
The person who reported the incident was a mortician from the funeral home. She stood outside looking unwell, and when she saw another police car arrive, she quickly went down the steps from the lobby to greet it.
"Liancheng Public Security Bureau?" Mu Zi, who was in his forties, saw Chen Zhenzhu and the others arrive, and a fleeting joy appeared on his face: "I didn't see wrong, did I? I really fooled you. I was just trying my luck."
Shen Zhenzhu greeted them politely, extending her hand and saying, "Hello, this is Shen Zhenzhu from the Liancheng Criminal Investigation Team Four. These two are my colleagues. We received the report and arrived as quickly as possible. Details—"
“The Liancheng Fourth Team? The famous Major Crimes Unit.” A man in his thirties dressed in plainclothes, named Qiu Taishan, came out of the hall. He was tall and upright, and looked like he had been in the military.
He stood outside the funeral home lobby and said to his colleague in police uniform, "Huh, I remember there's Captain Gu and Captain Park from the Liancheng Major Crimes Unit. How come there's another one I've never seen before?"
Zhao Qiqi keenly sensed the tension in their words. He pulled the steering wheel out, walked to the front, and said in a calm voice, "This is our Captain Chen. He started taking over Captain Gu's work this year. Is there a problem?"
"No problem, of course no problem. It must have been difficult for you to get here, right?" Qiu Taishan turned his head and glanced at the police car they had driven up, revealing a circular scar near his temple.
Gunshot wound.
Zhao Qiqi stared blankly at the scars and pursed her lips.
Shen Zhenzhu noticed his emotions, followed his gaze to Qiu Taishan, and then followed Qiu Taishan's gaze to the arrogant Cherokee driven by the Bao Lü Criminal Investigation Team.
"......" So what if you drive a Cherokee?
"My name is Qiu Taishan, and I am the head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Baolu Criminal Investigation Team. I should do my best to be a good host when I meet colleagues from other units, but unfortunately we are busy with this case today and don't have time for formalities. I'll treat Captain Chen to a drink next time, just like Captain Gu treated me back then."
"..." Shen Zhenzhu realized that this was another historical problem left to her by her brother Zheng.
Shen Zhenzhu said without changing her expression, "There's no need to invite me. I'm here to handle a case after receiving a report."
Qiu Taishan said without hesitation, "I also received a report from the curator. You're too late. This case is under my jurisdiction."
Shen Zhenzhu raised an eyebrow, walked up to the tall Qiu Taishan, slightly raised her chin, and revealed her signature, sarcastic smile that Gu Yanzheng was extremely familiar with, saying, "Captain Qiu, are you in such a hurry to get rid of me because you're afraid I'll treat you to a pot of tea?"
"..." Qiu Taishan was rebuked by her, and after taking a closer look at her, he realized that the new captain of the Liancheng Criminal Investigation Team had inherited the excellent and glorious traditions of his predecessors.
"Since you insist on inviting me, then I won't refuse. Let's see who can do it best." Qiu Taishan glanced at Mu Zi, who had reported the case to the Liancheng City Public Security Bureau. He wasn't angry, but his expression wasn't pleasant either.
Director Wang of Jinshan Funeral Home was a nimble old man, about 160 cm tall. He ran out of the funeral home and was about to give Mu Zi a lecture when he saw Qiu Taishan wave his hand and stopped himself.
The old man's hair was still black, but his eyebrows were white, making it difficult to tell his age at first glance.
Shen Zhenzhu said to him, "Director Wang, there's no time to lose. Where is the body?"
"Let's line up first and wait for Captain Qiu to finish looking at it. We can't all rush over there at once, can we?" Director Wang said to Shen Zhenzhu. "Whoever reports the case will cooperate with you. Liancheng Public Security Bureau, do as you please."
Xiao Bai got angry at his attitude, but Shen Zhenzhu stopped her and said something.
Shen Zhenzhu said, "He speaks with a local Baolu accent, so it's understandable that he sides with the local police. Solving the case is the main thing; don't waste time with them."
Xiao Bai responded and noticed that Zhao Qiqi was still standing there. He patted him and said, "Don't just stand there. We have to solve the case faster than that Qiu guy, you know? Otherwise, if the news gets out that the Liancheng Major Crimes Unit can't beat the Baolu Major Crimes Unit, you, me, and Sister Pearl will all be ashamed."
"Oh, here it comes." Zhao Qiqi followed.
“I didn’t recognize you at first, but it really is you, Section Chief Shen.” After they left, Mu Zi jogged up to Shen Zhenzhu and said, “My name is Mu Zi, and I’m the groomer here. I watched your program two years ago, and that’s when I became interested in criminal investigation.”
Shen Zhenzhu extended her hand and said, "Judging from your accent, you're from Liancheng."
"I have a strong oyster accent," Mu Zi said with a smile, shaking hands. "Never mind Director Wang and Captain Qiu, let me show you the situation. Let's go to my office first."
"Where are the deceased's family members?" Shen Zhenzhu followed them into the funeral home hall, which was filled with wreaths and family members with somber expressions.
Opposite the funeral home lobby stood a tall chimney, constantly billowing smoke. Inside the lobby, the smell of burnt, roasted meat lingered.
As for what it tastes like, there's no need to go into details.
"Didn't we report it to the police? They're with Director Wang." Mu Zi led them through the corridor filled with crying and into her office.
Her office was long and narrow, divided into two sections. The front section was a normal workspace, with cabinets containing various materials for "decorating" faces and bodies. The back section was covered by a curtain, through which a pair of feet could be vaguely seen lying.
"Please have a seat, I'll pour you some tea," Mu Zi said.
“No need for that, we brought water,” Chen Zhenzhu said, sitting on the sofa. “Could we ask about the situation first?”
Mu Zi slapped his forehead and said, "Look at me, I'm like a headless fly."
She didn't return to her desk, probably because she really liked Shen Zhenzhu. She brought a chair and sat opposite Shen Zhenzhu, saying, "The deceased's name was Qiao Jinqiu. We were notified the day before yesterday that the person brought him here. We've had a lot of work piling up lately, and we're trying to cremate him before the seventh day after his death. This morning, when I saw Qiao Jinqiu's body, I felt something was wrong, but his family still insisted that I draw it well so they could hold a big farewell ceremony."
Shen Zhenzhu watched her babbling on and on without interrupting her train of thought.
Xiao Bai and Zhao Qiqi both took out their notebooks and jotted down a sentence or two from time to time.
Mu Zi recalled, "Because I'm interested in solving cases and forensic medicine because of my job, I immediately noticed something was wrong with the body. I notified Director Wang while the family wasn't looking, but he told me not to call the police. I was puzzled. Later, I heard that Director Wang had called the Baolu City Public Security Bureau behind my back. That made me furious, so I immediately called your city bureau. I was the one who discovered it first, so why did he call the police?"
Shen Zhenzhu nodded and said, "What was the situation when you found the body?"
Mu Zi said, "His death report stated 'cardiopulmonary failure,' but when I was tidying up his appearance and wiping his face to prepare for makeup, I found that his face and ears were bluish-gray. I had previously done makeup for a person who died of heart disease, and that person's face was white. Although I don't understand why it was bluish, I don't think it was a heart problem."
“You’re right,” Chen Zhenzhu said. “The old man’s face and ears turned bluish, which is medically known as cyanosis. It’s caused by the compression of the chest cavity or the obstruction of the airway during asphyxiation, which obstructs venous blood return and leads to the dilation and congestion of capillaries.”
Mu Zi was overjoyed and said, "Then I reported the case to the right person."
Shen Zhenzhu inquired further, "Are there any other characteristics?"
We can't see the body now, but it's good to get a clear picture from the side.
“Yes!” Mu Zi said, “I couldn’t cover the bluish color on the deceased’s face with any amount of foundation. I had no choice but to clean his eyes and lift his eyelids, and I found tiny blood spots!”
Shen Zhenzhu turned to Xiaobai and Zhao Qiqi and asked, "How do you understand this?"
Xiao Bai had already thought of it, so she gave the opportunity to Zhao Qiqi and nudged him, saying, "You speak."
Zhao Qiqi said, "I know this. It's an important sign of death by asphyxiation, called Taut's spot. It's caused by the rupture of capillaries in the head and face due to increased pressure during asphyxiation."
Upon hearing the correct answer, Chen Zhenzhu nodded and then turned her attention to Mu Zi, asking, "Did you see any bruises or injuries around his mouth and nose? If he was suffocated by a pillow, palm, or a soft object, the skin around his mouth and nose would be slightly pale and have indentations. If he was suffocated by a hard object, there would be abrasions."
"Yes, there is." Mu Zisan pondered Chen Zhenzhu's words, then slapped his thigh and said, "When I pried open his mouth to fit his dentures, I saw bleeding inside his mouth and on his gums. Does that count?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Yes, struggling and pressure can cause damage inside the mouth. Did you notice what color the lividity on his body was?"
Mu Zi shook his head regretfully and said, "I hadn't even changed his burial clothes before Director Wang sent him away."
Shen Zhenzhu is almost certain that Qiao Jinqiu died from suffocation, if Mu Zi is not lying.
Shen Zhenzhu thanked Mu Zi, saying, "Thank you for your meticulous observation and for being able to respect life even after seeing so many deceased people."
Mu Zi said embarrassedly, "Because the description 'cardiopulmonary failure' written on it is completely different from the deceased's condition at death. I was worried that the son and daughter were being unfilial and wanted to kill the old man. I've seen this kind of thing quite often at the funeral home. But seeing that they brought a caregiver and were making a scene, I felt that something was very wrong. No matter what, I have to report it to the police, I must report it to the police."
After asking a few more questions, Chen Zhenzhu came out of Mu Zi's office.
Family members were already waiting outside the door for her to do the makeup for the deceased.
"I just went over to ask about the body, but Director Wang wouldn't let me see it, saying he only handles cases with the Baolu City Public Security Bureau." Zhao Qiqi returned from her errand, looking rather grim.
Xiao Bai went to the other side of the corridor, to the cremation waiting room. He saw a group of family members arguing, who seemed to be Qiao Jinqiu's family members.
"Sister Pearl, Qiao Jinqiu's family members have all gone to the cremation waiting room. You should go there quickly." Xiaobai rushed back in a hurry.
"The cremation waiting room? The case hasn't been solved yet, why are you in such a hurry?" Shen Zhenzhu quickly left the funeral home hall and headed towards the cremation area across the street.
Xiao Bai said from behind, "Qiao Jinqiu's wife demanded cremation, but Qiao Jinqiu's daughter disagreed. They were arguing and almost came to blows."
When Shen Zhenzhu arrived at the cremation area, it was divided into two sections. One side was a cremation waiting room, and the other side was a large restaurant, which seemed to be used for funerals.
"Anyone who didn't know better would think there was something delicious cooking in the stove." Zhao Qiqi didn't understand the intention behind this layout, and hearing Buddhist music playing in the restaurant, she didn't feel comfortable; instead, she felt heavy.
When Shen Zhenzhu arrived, Qiu Taishan's subordinates were yelling at Qiao Jinqiu's noisy family members: "What's all the fuss about? What's the use of arguing?! Captain Qiu said that no one is allowed to leave here, and the body is not to be moved!"
Shen Zhenzhu glanced inside and asked, "Where is Qiao Jinqiu's nanny?"
An elderly woman watching the commotion outside munched on sunflower seeds and chuckled, saying, "The nanny has become the daughter-in-law. Look, the son and daughter are upset about their stepmother getting the inheritance, and they're about to fight."
There was still regret in her tone.
Shen Zhenzhu walked over and saw Qiao Jinqiu's son Qiao Kaiyue, daughter-in-law Liu Yuji, daughter Qiao Qiao, and former nanny, now wife Yu Wanqing.
Yu Wanqing stood out in the crowd, wearing a mink coat, her eyes red, and her hands adorned with gold bracelets constantly wiping away tears.
The once simple red apple was meticulously packaged as the elegant widow of a master calligrapher and painter, only to be severely berated by the master's daughter.
"The police are here, and you still want to cremate my dad? What are you up to? My dad could clearly sit up, so why did you get your marriage certificate with him last month, and he's gone this month?" Qiao Qiao said, hands on her hips, her features unlike Qiao Jinqiu's, somewhat fierce.
Yu Wanqing continued to explain gently, "Your father was bedridden for more than half a year and I took good care of him. How could I possibly harm him? I have real feelings for him. You married far away and rarely come back. You can't come back and then blame me for taking care of him at his bedside, can you? Besides, I didn't force him to get a marriage certificate. He insisted on proposing to me, saying he wanted to give me a proper status and a stable life for the rest of my life."
"How disgusting is it for someone your age to say such things?" Qiao Qiaoyuan's round face looked even rounder as she got angry.
Whether she was deliberately trying to provoke her or genuinely upset, Yu Wanqing said with a wronged expression, "Your father kept saying he loved me, and you didn't object when he married me. Now that he's gone, you're all objecting. What did you gain from that?"
An elderly man watching the commotion in the crowd said coldly, "He's not a filial son normally, but he becomes one when someone dies. If you ask me, giving all the property to him is no problem!"
Qiao Qiao was furious and turned to argue with him, but Liu Yuji stopped her, saying, "Don't be angry, getting angry is bad for your health."
Qiao Qiao said angrily, "Is it that I don't want to come back? It's that my dad won't let me come back. Haven't I been giving him my monthly pension?"
Liu Yuji sighed, glared at Yu Wanqing, and said, "Who knew we'd hired such an ungrateful wretch? Your brother is regretting it to death."
With red eyes, Yu Wanqing sat down in a chair and said, "Anyway, I have a will. You can't take my money."
Besides his family, many of Qiao Jinqiu's students and old friends were also present at the farewell ceremony. They never expected things to escalate to this point, and for a moment, they didn't know who was right.
All we can do is try to persuade them from here and there.
"The person is already gone, so let's not make things so awkward after their passing."
"With you making such a fuss, he won't be able to leave in peace."
"If there is a will, follow the will. But one shouldn't be too ruthless; it's good to make some concessions."
Some are also curious about how much property Qiao Jinqiu left behind that could cause her stepmother and children to turn against each other so badly at the funeral home.
"Where's Kaiyue? Where is he?" Mr. Song, Qiao Jinqiu's old friend, leaned on his cane and said with exasperation, "At a time like this, where has he gone?"
“My husband heard that his father was murdered and couldn’t accept it. He almost fainted. He’s just sitting there resting.” Liu Yuji glared at Yu Wanqing and said, “I was really blind to agree to let a wolf into the house. After only one month of marriage, she got my father’s three properties and all his calligraphy and paintings as collateral. What a clever scheme.”
Following the direction she pointed, everyone saw Qiao Kaiyue leaning against the corner, looking utterly dejected. He was talking to Qiu Taishan, his grief barely concealed.
After listening to their argument for a while and getting a general idea of what was going on, Shen Zhenzhu went over to Yu Wanqing and said, "I'm from the Major Crimes Unit of Liancheng Public Security Bureau. Mr. Qiao has a lot of social influence, so the Municipal Bureau sent me to investigate the case. Can we talk for a bit?"
Yu Wanqing glanced at Qiao Kaiyue, who was talking to Qiu Taishan in the corner, and came to the side at Shen Zhenzhu's urging: "Someone asked about this just now."
Chen Zhenzhu said, "Is there a problem asking again? Or are you afraid that you won't be able to keep your word?"
Yu Wanqing hurriedly waved her hand, a flash of panic crossing her eyes: "How could that be? It wasn't me who killed them."
Shen Zhenzhu opened her notebook, held her pen, and said, "Who discovered that Mr. Qiao had passed away?"
Yu Wanqing stroked the gold bracelet on her wrist and said reluctantly, "It's me."
Shen Zhenzhu asked, "What was the exact time? And who else was at home?"
Yu Wanqing said, "At 7:30 a.m. the day before yesterday, I made breakfast and went to Lao Qiao's room to wake him up. Usually, he can get up without me having to wake him, but the day before yesterday, when I went into the room, I thought he was sleeping."
"As the person who takes such good care of him, how could you not see the changes in his facial skin?" Shen Zhenzhu observed her expression and noticed that she seemed a little guilty and flustered.
Could this case really be that simple—the nanny murdered to seize the old man's property?
Yu Wanqing licked her lips, her expensive but somewhat outdated mink coat draped around her shoulders, and an inappropriate scent of perfume emanating from her. She lowered her head and said, "Actually, I don't really like him either. He's an old geezer who's paralyzed on one side, and he's always leering at me."
Xiao Bai couldn't help but ask, "So what do you want from him?"
Yu Wanqing said, "I plan to endure this for two or three years, coaxing him to paint more pictures for me. If we run out of money, we can sell the paintings. I won't have to be someone else's nanny for the rest of my life. Isn't that a great thing? Otherwise, what do you think I'm after?"
Xiao Bai exclaimed, "Your plan is pretty good."
Yu Wanqing said sadly, "That can't keep up with the changes."
Shen Zhenzhu asked again, "Who else was in your family at that time?"
Yu Wanqing said, "It was just me and Lao Qiao. Originally, his son and daughter-in-law were going to come over for dinner, but then Lao Qiao passed away, and they didn't get to eat."
Shen Zhenzhu noticed her long fingernails and rough hands. Even though she had inherited a fortune, the traces of her hard work were still there.
"Did you notify them to come, or did they come on their own?" Shen Zhenzhu asked.
Yu Wanqing said, "It was Lao Qiao who made the arrangements. He talks about his son all the time, and he invites his son's family over for meals all the time. I'm so annoyed by it. It's bad enough that I have to take care of him, but I also have to take care of his whole family."
"I heard you got your job at his company through an introduction?"
Yu Wanqing swallowed hard, glancing to the side. Hearing Qiao Kaiyue's tearful accusations that she was the murderer, she pursed her lips and said, "It was introduced by Qiao Kaiyue's friend. At the time, Old Qiao was paralyzed in bed, and the caregiver fees were low, and the work was filthy. Many people didn't want to do it. Those who were willing were driven away by Old Qiao's unpredictable temper. Qiao Kaiyue came to me, saying how much he loved his father and begging me to take care of him. Who knew I would get into this mess?"
"Then who do you think could be the murderer?"
Yu Wanqing thought for a moment and said, "I really don't know. Old Qiao occasionally makes phone calls to some old folks, but he doesn't meet with people much. He's so old, the people he had grudges against have all passed away."
Shen Zhenzhu turned her head and saw Director Wang coming over. She said a few words to Xiaobai, and Xiaobai ran over to Director Wang.
Shen Zhenzhu continued to ask Yu Wanqing some questions. When Xiaobai returned, he told Shen Zhenzhu, "They still won't let us see it. They must be afraid that we will solve the case before the Qiu family. When they saw me coming, they were so scared that they quickly had someone close the morgue door."
Can't we see the body?
Shen Zhenzhu held the notebook, tapped on it, and then smiled: "It's okay if you can't see it."
She looked around but didn't see Zhao Qiqi.
After a while, they saw Zhao Qiqi sneakily waving to them from behind the crowd.
Shen Zhenzhu walked over and saw a photo sticking out of his pocket. She pulled it out and saw that it was a photo of Qiao Jinqiu's corpse.
Chen Zhenzhu asked in surprise, "Where did you get this?"
Zhao Qiqi made a "shh" gesture and whispered, "We found it in Captain Qiu's car. His car window wasn't rolled up. Anyway, once Forensic Doctor Rong gets here, he'll definitely be able to get them to open the door and see the body. If all else fails, we can just call Section Chief Qin over to cause trouble. We can look at the photos first."
“Okay, very good.” Shen Zhenzhu and Xiaobai looked at each other and were overjoyed. Shen Zhenzhu patted Zhao Qiqi’s shoulder heavily and said, “GOOD! Very GOOD! Don’t feel guilty. They were the ones who acted dishonestly first. Taking a picture is no big deal.”
Zhao Qiqi chuckled and said, "It's quite exciting. No wonder there are habitual thieves here."
"Don't let it become a habit," Xiaobai said.
"Come on, my grandma could break my hand," Zhao Qiqi said.
Chen Zhenzhu glanced at the Bao Lü police officers everywhere and said to them, "Let's go outside and take a look."
The three of them went out of the incineration waiting room, went around to the back of the incineration smoke, and carefully observed the state of Qiao Jinqiu's death in the photos.
“It seems Mu Zi was right. She observed very carefully. Qiao Jinqiu was suffocated to death by having her mouth and nose covered.” Chen Zhenzhu pointed to the edge of Qiao Jinqiu’s lips and said, “There are still bruises here, but unfortunately the finger marks are not very clear.”
Xiaobai said, "I think the nanny is highly suspicious. What should we do next?"
“Someone is keeping an eye on the people for us,” Shen Zhenzhu said. “We’re not going to stay here anymore. Let’s go to the crime scene first.”
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Author's Note: Pearl's Melancholy: After passing through Chen City, Bao Lü has arrived. What other surprises does Brother Zheng have in store for me?
Old Gu: Hey, my signal isn't very good. [Clown]
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See you tomorrow, there are 100 red envelopes! [Let me see]
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Referenced and revised from "Forensic Medicine", "My Corpse Can Talk", and online sources.
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