Chapter 14 Waiting for the Rabbit
Zhou Yi immediately looked at the other person with curiosity.
Unexpectedly, the nurse curled her lips and said, "Forget it, I won't tell you."
"No, leaving it unsaid is like eating rice with arsenic. It's so uncomfortable."
The nurse scolded. "I need to tell you something, just in case you tell anyone else. I don't want to be accused of gossiping."
"I'm just an ordinary patient's family member. I don't know anyone in the hospital. Who can I talk to?"
The nurse hesitated for a moment and said, "Yes, then you have to promise me not to tell anyone else."
Zhou Yi had actually noticed a long time ago that this young nurse loved to gossip, but was afraid of getting into trouble, so she kept it to herself and didn't tell anyone around her.
That's why he emphasized that he was just a stranger who didn't know anyone, to dispel her concerns and let her speak out.
"Let me tell you something," the nurse said in a low voice, "about half a month ago, I saw Du Xiaolin arguing with a woman at the back door of the hospital."
"What's the fuss?"
The young nurse shook her head and said, "I was a little far away, so I couldn't hear clearly. I just heard Du Xiaolin scolding that woman, saying she was old and ugly, and that she deserved to be abandoned."
"Is there anything else?" Zhou Yi asked hurriedly.
"Someone came later and the two stopped arguing. Du Xiaolin walked away in a haughty manner."
"Then did you see what the woman she was arguing with looked like?"
The young nurse shook her head. "No, the woman had her back to me. She was wearing a gray woolen coat. I couldn't see her face."
Suddenly the nurse became alert: "Why are you asking so many questions? Hey, why do you look a little familiar?"
The young nurse pointed at Zhou Yi and suddenly realized, "I remember now. Aren't you the man who came to the nurses' station looking for Du Xiaolin last night? Who are you?"
Seeing that the other party became very vigilant, Zhou Yi could only slightly violate his promise to Wu Yongcheng.
He waved his hand, motioning the other person to come over.
The young nurse came closer doubtfully and heard Zhou Yi whisper, "Actually, I'm a police officer."
"Police...is this true?"
"Really? My name is Zhou Yi, and I'm from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Municipal Bureau."
"Oh, did something happen? No wonder the security department won't let us leave work."
"I can't disclose the specific details for now. You can wait for notification from your hospital. I'm not here to investigate a case today. I'm just a patient's family member, just chatting casually. But what you told me is best kept confidential for the time being, especially from those around you."
The young nurse nodded immediately and asked unwillingly, "Did something happen to Du Xiaolin?"
"Why do you think something happened to Du Xiaolin?"
"After handing over my shift yesterday, I went to the warehouse to get something. But the door to the warehouse was locked at night, so I had to go around through the front door. I happened to see her walking out of the hospital gate."
"Walking...is there anything wrong with that?"
Zhou Yi had actually guessed it, but he needed the nurse's words to confirm it.
"Du Xiaolin usually rides a bicycle to get off work, and only takes the bus when it rains. But she didn't ride her bicycle last night, which I found strange."
Sure enough! This completely confirmed his previous suspicion that Du Xiaolin walked home.
But why was there no record of this in the original cold case files? Did the investigators overlook it? Or is there something else going on?
"Where do your employees usually park their bicycles?" Zhou Yi asked hurriedly.
"It's behind the inpatient building, in that blue carport."
"What are the characteristics of Du Xiaolin's car?"
"Features, let me think about it."
"She was riding a pink Forever bicycle with a bunch of plastic peonies hanging from the basket."
Zhou Yi thanked the young nurse and went straight to the staff parking shed.
It's not even seven o'clock yet, and the day shift nurses and doctors start work at eight o'clock, so there aren't many cars in the carport.
He quickly found the Forever brand bicycle that matched the description, and sure enough, the rear tire was flat.
But he squatted there and checked carefully, but couldn't find any damage to the tire.
The only possibility is that the tire is deflated.
In such an environment in the middle of the night, Du Xiaolin instinctively thought that the tire was punctured.
Then the next day, the murderer used an air pump to pump the air back out while he was at work.
In this way, even if the investigators become suspicious, they will not have any doubts because the bicycle is intact.
At most, people would suspect that Du Xiaolin did not ride her bike home from get off work by herself, but was picked up by someone.
Moreover, Zhou Yi concluded that it was impossible for the murderer to run back to the hospital to cheer himself up immediately after committing the crime because there would be a risk of being seen by the hospital guards.
So I must do this during working hours.
The only people who can do this are hospital employees. Even outsiders who have a connection with Du Xiaolin are not allowed to do this because it is easy to attract other people's attention.
Zhou Yi took a breath, looked around, and soon found an air pump in the corner of the carport against the wall.
There were a few words written on the gas pump in black pen: Public equipment, please do not take it away.
It seems that the murderer had made a careful plan long ago.
Using a public air pump is the safest option. Even if the police thought of this, they would not be able to verify fingerprints.
Zhou Yi looked at the carport and the surrounding environment. It was a bit troublesome. There was no place to hide and observe.
If a stranger waits here, it will easily arouse suspicion and alert the enemy.
Just when he was in a dilemma, Zhou Yi looked up and suddenly saw a window on the second floor. He could see Du Xiaolin's bicycle, but the rear wheel was blocked by the carport.
But this is the only convenient position for observation. At my speed, I should be able to run downstairs immediately and catch someone in the act if they move the bicycle.
After making the decision, Zhou Yi immediately ran to the window on the second floor and stared down at the carport.
About twenty minutes later, people started to come to work one after another.
But basically they just quickly enter the carport, park, and leave.
Zhou Yi looked at the sky and estimated that it was almost eight o'clock, but there was still no movement from Du Xiaolin's car.
Just when he was about to give up, he suddenly saw Du Xiaolin's bicycle move.
Judging from the angle of light and shadow, there should be someone under the carport.
Zhou Yi didn't waste a second, he ran to the stairs like a flash, went downstairs, and jumped out in one step.
I saw a figure wearing blue coarse cloth squatting next to Du Xiaolin's bicycle, with the public air pump next to it.
Zhou Yi suddenly felt something was wrong. Just as he was about to speak, the man stood up.
It turned out to be an old man with a beard. He had just finished inflating the tire and was about to put away the pump when he was startled by Zhou Yi who suddenly appeared.
"Oh, who are you? You scared me."
"Who are you?" Zhou Yi asked seriously.
"I'm Old Liu from the boiler room. You look unfamiliar to me."
Zhou Yi's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Oh no, he had made a wrong judgment.
The murderer is such a meticulous person. It is impossible for him to continue to act according to his previous ideas after attacking me last night.
How come I didn’t think of such a simple truth!
Suddenly, Zhou Yi felt like he was being watched, and he turned around abruptly.
A dark shadow flashed by in the distance.
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