Chapter 39 Decoration
It feels great to carry a gun.
With the cold gun against my waist, I felt as if I had a bodyguard protecting me closely, giving me an inexplicable sense of security.
During the operation to capture Wu Dameng, if Xia Mufan had a gun, he would have shot Wu Dameng dead when he got out of the car, and there wouldn't have been so much trouble afterwards.
All members of the Serious Crime Unit 7 once again came to Xinzhang Town.
The five people went in and out together, arriving in the morning and returning in the evening, and re-investigated Shen Yitong's disappearance case.
Since Yue Yuan asked them to carry guns, it was clear that the disappearance case in Xinzhang Town was very dangerous.
It is not yet time to close the case, so Xia Mufan will first inquire into the unreasonable aspects of the case.
How could a girl as outstanding as Shen Yitong not see anyone on her way home from get off work? Someone must have seen or noticed it, but they didn't tell the truth because they were afraid of getting into trouble or being threatened.
Section Chief Wang Xiumei, who claimed to have received Shen Yitong's resignation letter, broke out in a cold sweat when asked.
——When did you see the resignation letter?
——I only saw the resignation letter after he disappeared. How can I be sure that it was sent by Shen Yitong?
——As Shen Yitong’s direct supervisor, have you noticed that she is willing to resign?
——When government workers go missing, have you ever reflected on your lack of concern for the workers? Have you comforted the family members?
When the police from Xinzhang Town Police Station conducted the investigation, they did not ask such detailed questions!
For a moment, Wang Xiumei remained silent and did not dare to answer.
However, the five members of the Serious Crime Unit 7 were all in uniform and had stern looks, and Wang Xiumei's heart beat faster and faster. She felt that things were about to change in Xinzhang Town.
Under tremendous psychological pressure, Wang Xiumei could only tell the truth.
In fact, she was also surprised that Shen Yitong resigned, because Shen Yitong was usually serious and responsible at work and never complained about anything. The resignation letter was discovered when Xiao Zhenwei reminded her to check her desk after the police station intervened in the investigation.
The reason why it was not said at the beginning was because the town government held a meeting and required a unified statement at the meeting, saying that Shen Yitong submitted a letter of resignation, left his post without permission, and was fired. If anyone from above investigates, they will all say they don't know.
Xia Mufan wrote down the names of all the town government leaders who demanded a unified voice.
The other two Propaganda Department colleagues who worked in the same office with Shen Yitong could not withstand the pressure from the serious crime squad and chose to tell the truth.
Shen Yitong behaved very abnormally on the day she disappeared on Friday. She kept looking at her watch and seemed restless, as if she was waiting for something.
She received a call around five o'clock. After she answered the phone, she left work early and left the office with her bag.
A colleague standing by the window saw her get into a black sedan.
Everyone in the town recognizes this car; it belongs to Mr. Wu, the boss of the Yu Furong Hotel.
When the people from the Serious Crime Unit 7 heard this, they exchanged glances.
There is no need to ask them why they didn't speak out in the first place.
There is only one answer: because their leaders asked them to keep silent.
No wonder not even a single passerby saw Shen Yitong after get off work. It turned out that she left early and was picked up by a car.
Wu Tong answered questions from the Serious Crime Unit 7 fluently.
"Did Shen Yitong get into my hotel car before she disappeared? It seems like that's the case. Police comrades, you know that I've made some money running the hotel in the past few years, and men want to find a beautiful woman when they have money. Shen Yitong is considered a beautiful woman in our town, so I asked her to meet that day. However, Shen Yitong is very principled. She said she doesn't date married men. She turned hostile after just a few words and asked me to stop the car and leave before we even got to the hotel."
Gong Weiguo asked: "Why didn't you say it at the beginning?"
Wu Tong spread his hands, his face was as fat as if he had gotten fat, and with his protruding belly and fat limbs, he looked like a blackhead fish: "No one asked me."
Gong Weiguo said: "Don't you know that Shen Yitong is missing? Don't you know that her family is worried?"
Wu Tong shook his head: "I have a lot of things to do. After I arranged to meet her, I forgot about it."
It's pure sophistry.
There is no point in quibbling. At least it is certain that Wu Tong did pick up Shen Yitong on Friday afternoon, and he is in cahoots with Lu Chengji and Xiao Zhenwei. The last person to meet Shen Yitong was Wu Tong, who was a major suspect.
The investigation by the Serious Crime Unit 7 naturally alarmed Xiao Zhenwei.
He wanted to invite Xia Mufan and the others to dinner several times to bond, but Xia Mufan always declined with the excuse that he was busy with official duties. Even his attempt to arrange for Qiao Antai to cooperate was rejected.
Xiao Zhenwei was a little panicked.
The town had handled criminal cases before, and when the people from the Criminal Investigation Brigade came, they were always very polite and very much hoped that the police station would cooperate with the investigation.
But the five members of the Serious Crime Unit 7 who came this time were all rookies who only cared about doing their jobs and not enjoying themselves. They refused to go to Yu Furong for a big meal and insisted on eating in a small local restaurant. They refused to stay in the hotel's luxurious king-size bed rooms or enjoy foot massage at night, insisting on rushing back to work.
Are their units made of gold?
So attractive!
To be honest, Xiao Zhenwei doesn’t believe that anyone can be so dedicated.
In his dictionary, there is no word "dedication" at all, everything is an exchange of interests.
Having worked in the police station for so many years, he exchanged "power" for "benefits" and used benefits to win over a group of people. Xinzhang Town was under his control from top to bottom.
After Wu Tong was investigated by the police, Xiao Zhenwei found that his control over Xinzhang Town had weakened.
The town government had clearly issued a gag order, so who would dare to tell others about Wu Tong taking Shen Yi Tong away?
Something must be done, otherwise it will be too passive.
Xiao Zhenwei was startled when Mei Hui, who was in charge of the surveillance, brought new information.
[Xia Xia, the smoker and the fat man met. 】
[The smoker asked if the renovation was completed.] 】
[Fatty Wu said don’t worry, it’s brand new.] 】
furnish? Where to decorate? Why decorate?
Xia Mufan felt a chill rising from his feet, and the first word that popped into his mind was:
——Destroy the body and cover up all traces.
Xia Mushige fed Meihui two small dried fishes: "Where did they meet? Where did they renovate?"
Meihui has been running around outside these days, and his fat body has finally become a little slimmer, looking somewhat like he used to be. It rubbed its little head in Xia Mufan's palm, and did not answer Xia Mufan's question. Instead, it started to act coquettishly.
[It’s so hard and tiring.] 】
I want dried fish and beautiful new clothes. 】
[Xia Xia, you haven’t touched me for a long time.] 】
Xia Mufan felt a little guilty. During this period, she was first busy looking for her mother, and then busy looking for Shen Yitong, and indeed neglected Xiao Meihui. After all, it was just a three-year-old wild cat. It finally had a home, but its owner often abandoned it somewhere else.
Ordinary people’s pet cats are delicate and noble, and they spend the whole day eating and playing. But not only did she feed Coal Ash roughly, she also gave him some jobs from time to time, either catching mice, or watching for bad guys, and occasionally even risking her life to catch criminals.
It's not easy to be her cat.
Thinking of this, Xia Mufan picked up Coal Ash, gently stroked its head, and said softly: "Thank you for your hard work. When this case is over, I will take you home, make you new clothes, change your bed, and give you more food!"
Coal Ash is a stray cat. He has sharp eyes and ears and a strong ability to survive, so it is not difficult to follow him. The reason why it hums is just to show its presence in front of Xia Mufan and get some benefits at the same time. Now being held in Xia Mufan's arms, he squinted his eyes and tilted his neck, his furry tail swaying happily.
[Keep your word, he who deceives a cat is a puppy.] 】
Xia Mufan smiled: "Okay, I won't lie to you."
After enough of talking nonsense, Meihui finally told Xia Mufan the answer.
[The smoker and the fat man said this while having dinner in the hotel.] 】
[The decoration place is in Xishan.] 】
[The other courtyard was mentioned.] 】
After hearing this, Xia Mufan no longer had any doubts.
Xishan Villa is most likely the first crime scene.
Even if it has been renovated, it is still possible to find evidence.
I remember the teacher once said in class that criminal technicians would take some somewhat rough measures to obtain trace evidence during a search.
For example, if there are a few dark red bloodstains on the wardrobe, then cut off a large piece of the wardrobe wood board; if there are suspected bloodstains on the Simmons mattress, just cut the mattress open with scissors and tear off a large piece of cloth with a "swish" sound. If the murder scene is repainted, just scrape off the paint and check if there are any blood splatters on the wall.
In addition to tiny places like corners, skirting boards, and gaps in furniture, sewers also need to be inspected to see if there are any signs of body parts and blood being washed away.
If the crime scene can be found and Shen Yitong's human tissue, blood, clothing, etc. are discovered, then there will be solid evidence in the case.
Thinking of this, Xia Mufan began to plan his next step: investigating the real estate under Wu Tong's name.
Sun Xianbing didn't understand what Meihui said, so he naturally had some doubts: "Do you suspect that Wu Tong took Shen Yitong away and hid her in his house?"
Xia Mufan nodded: "Since Wu Tong was the last person to see Shen Yitong, he is a suspect. If she is alive, we must find her body. If she is dead, we must find her body. A living person like Shen Yitong must have a place to stay."
Yu Jing said, "Didn't Shen Yitong meet with Lu Chengji? Wu Tong might just pick her up. Should we also check Lu Chengji's real estate?"
Xia Mufan pondered for a moment: "Lu Chengji is now at the peak of his career. He is careful about his reputation and dares not let his secret love affair be exposed. He probably won't choose his own property to meet Shen Yitong. Wu Tong is a businessman, and Yu Furong Hotel is where they often meet. It's natural for him to arrange all this."
Gong Weiguo listened and gave Xia Mufan a thumbs up. "Team Leader Xia is right. Lu Chengji has power, Wu Tong has money, and Xiao Zhenwei has guns. These three people are in collusion and have formed a close interest group. Wu Tong plays the role of providing a place for Lu Chengji and Xiao Zhenwei to enjoy themselves. Investigating his real estate may be a breakthrough."
An investigation into the properties under Wu Tong's name revealed that he not only owned a Yu Furong Hotel, but also three properties in the town and the city. In addition, he rented collective land in Xishan a few years ago and built a private courtyard.
There is a mountain to the west of Xinzhang Town. The mountain is not high, but it is covered with dense trees and rich vegetation. It is named Xishan. Because it is far from the town center and belongs to the village collective, few people come here usually.
Wutongjian constructed civil engineering here and built a high-end courtyard full of Jiangnan water village characteristics. Because of its remote location, relative seclusion, beautiful environment and luxurious decoration, it became a paradise for town and city leaders for a while.
Xia Mufan said, "Let's go to Xishan Villa for a walk."
However, the results of the visit were not satisfactory.
Everything seemed normal in the villa.
There are pavilions and terraces, singing and dancing, and this place has always been open for business.
Xishan Villa has a restaurant, a karaoke room, a massage room, and a conference room, which is not much different from a high-end club.
All employees were questioned and their statements were surprisingly consistent.
——Did Mr. Wu drive to the villa on April 12?
Not seen.
——Which guests were received on April 12?
It’s been a long time and I forgot about it.
Xia Mufan asked, "Have you renovated any rooms in your villa recently?"
Manager Ma was stunned for a moment: "No."
Manager Ma's stunned expression immediately caught Gong Weiguo's attention, and he said loudly: "I'll give you another chance. Do you have a room to decorate?"
Once this question was verified, there was no way to lie, so Manager Ma had to answer honestly: "The northwest corner of our courtyard is the kitchen, staff dormitory and utility room. Some time ago, Mr. Wu said he wanted to use the utility room as a chess and card room, so we renovated it."
Gong Weiguo had followed Yue Yuan for several years and had learned his interrogation methods very well. He immediately asked, "Only the utility room was renovated? How many rooms are there?"
Manager Ma said, "There are two utility rooms in total. In the past, they were filled with lime, paint, old furniture, etc. We've cleared them out this time. Let's get rid of the smell first. We'll buy mahjong tables, chairs, etc. later."
Gong Weiguo asked: "When did the renovation start?"
Manager Ma lowered his head and said, "Somewhere around the 20th, I forgot the exact date."
Gong Weiguo asked again: "Have you forgotten which day the workers came into the site? Bring me the material receipt."
Manager Ma had no choice but to bring the purchase order, which clearly showed that the renovation workers would be allowed to enter on Sunday, April 14th.
That was the third day that Shen Yitong disappeared.
Xia Mufan's heart sank: "Take us to see it."
Although there is no search warrant, maybe we can find something if we take a look first?
Xishan Villa is a high-end club, so the business area is clearly separated from the kitchen and staff dormitory. After walking through a corridor, you can see a moon gate separating the two areas.
The staff dormitories are all single rooms, with four people living in one room, with bunk beds. Each dormitory has a table and a metal wardrobe. The house is not big, and is filled with personal belongings, boxes, washbasins, shoes, spare clothes...it has a strong atmosphere of life.
Further northwest from the staff dormitory, there is a public toilet that is separated for men and women. The conditions are limited and you can smell a foul odor as you approach.
The kitchen in the villa was filled with heavy smoke, the walls were turned brown, the stove and the floor were covered with oil stains, and the color of the exhaust fans facing the stove had long been unrecognizable.
The utility room was converted from an old farmhouse. It was located in a very remote area. A dilapidated wall separated it from the other courtyard. It was surrounded by tall trees and vines, making it difficult for sunlight to get in.
When you walk into the utility room, you can see that the walls have been freshly painted, the floor has been newly covered with brown tiles, the fluorescent lights are new, and even the windows are made of aluminum alloy and large glass.
The beautiful new decoration is in stark contrast to the difficult-to-evaluate external environment. Even Yu Jing couldn't help but ask: "Set up a chess and card room here? Which guests will come here?"
Manager Ma said, "It was Mr. Wu who decided it. We just have to do as he said."
Xia Mufan looked around and found that there was an air vent nearly three meters from the ground on the south wall, and the exhaust fan installed was brand new.
She pointed at the exhaust fan and asked, "Where are the replaced windows and exhaust fans?"
Manager Ma's eyes wandered a little: "It's lost."
Gong Weiguo knew he was lying as soon as he saw his expression, and shouted, "Tell the truth!"
Manager Ma was not very courageous. He was frightened by Gong Weiguo's roar and obediently led the members of the serious crime team to the west corner of the utility room: "They are all here. I am going to replace the exhaust fan in the kitchen. The one in the kitchen is really too dirty, and I find it troublesome to clean it. This is perfect. We can replace two and reuse them as waste."
Xia Mufan walked out of the utility room and found a pile of junk on the west side of the corridor. There were paint buckets, lime buckets, old furniture, and two exhaust fans underneath.
Xia Mufan said to Manager Ma, "Don't touch this pile of junk."
Manager Ma panicked when he saw the police were interested in this. "Boss Wu had said a long time ago that he wanted to throw these away. I kept them on my own initiative. I have to move them."
Xia Mufan said: "Then let us help you move it."
After that, she waved her hand and winked at her teammates: "Start moving, put everything in the car."
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