After obtaining a search warrant, the police inspected Liu Qiangmin's car.
When Dean Liu learned that Fang Rui and his team were going to search his car, he stood in front of the vehicle, looking bewildered, and asked, "Officers, why are you searching my car? I havenât violated any traffic rules recently. Shouldnât traffic violations be handled by the traffic police?"
"You are suspected of being involved in a murder case."
"A murder case? How is that possible?"
The forensic team carefully examined Dean Liu's car. The scratches on the front of the car showed no signs of oxidation, indicating they were recent.
The color and texture of the car paint were similar to the traces left on the curb. Wang collected soil samples from the tires and conducted a thorough inspection of the entire vehicle.
"Boss, look, there's blood in the trunk."
Near the outer edge of the trunk, there was a small drop-like bloodstain.
Dean Liu turned pale upon seeing the bloodstain. Pointing at it, he stammered, "How did this blood get in my trunk? Officers, I didnât do this. I have no idea how it got there."
Wang collected a sample of the bloodstain from the trunk.
After analysis, the blood was confirmed to belong to the victim.
Dean Liu was taken to the interrogation room.
Fang Rui placed a photo of the victim in front of him and asked again, "Dean Liu, are you sure you donât know this child?"
Dean Liu carefully examined the photo of the child and shook his head. "I donât know him! This child looks so unusual. If I had seen him before, I would definitely remember. Officer, could someone have maliciously reported me? Tell me who it is, and Iâll confront them."
"Why is there blood from this child in your trunk?" Fang Rui pressed.
Dean Liu vehemently defended himself. "The blood belongs to this child? I donât know how that happened. Iâve never seen him before. And why would I want to kill a child?"
Fang Rui continued, "On the night of the 14th, surveillance footage captured your car at the scene where the body was dumped. But you claim you were at home that night. How do you explain that?"
"I... I was at home!" Dean Liu looked panicked.
"Dean Liu, youâd better stop lying! Weâve already investigated your neighborhood. The surveillance footage shows you never returned home that day."
Dean Liu hesitated for a moment before finally confessing, "I was at home, but it was at my girlfriendâs place. Since my divorce, I rarely stay at my own house. I usually stay at my girlfriendâs."
"At your girlfriendâs? Then why did you give us a false address earlier? Donât waste our time with lies!"
"Officer, Iâm telling the truth this time. I didnât tell the truth earlier because sheâs my mistress, a recent college graduate. I was afraid people would gossip about my personal life and ruin my reputation. Thatâs why I lied when you asked. I didnât think Iâd get involved in a murder case. If I had known, I wouldâve told the truth from the start."
Fang Rui asked, "Can your girlfriend corroborate your story?"
"Y-yes. I was with her the whole night."
"Were you in the same room?"
"O-of course!"
Zhang interjected, "Youâre not lying again, are you? Why are you stuttering?"
"I stutter when Iâm nervous. Officer, look at my nerves. I donât have the guts to commit a crime."
"Where was your car parked on the night of the 14th?"
"In the underground parking lot of my girlfriendâs apartment complex. There are surveillance cameras there. You can check the footage. I drove there after work and left the next morning."
Liu Qiangminâs girlfriend lived in Dongjiang Yujing, a mid-range residential complex in the city. While the property prices werenât exorbitant, the complex was new and had excellent infrastructure.
Fang Rui sent Li and Old Zhang to the security office to retrieve the surveillance footage from the parking lot entrance, while he and Zhang went to Liu Qiangminâs girlfriendâs apartment.
The door was opened by a very beautiful young woman wearing a loose dress, clearly several months pregnant. She was Liu Qiangminâs girlfriend, Wang Yuqing, a 23-year-old dance major who had recently graduated from college.
"Who are you looking for?" Seeing Fang Rui glance at her belly, she immediately covered it and took a few steps back, eyeing them warily. "What do you want with my baby?"
Fang Rui and Zhang showed their badges. "Weâre police officers. We need to ask you a few questions."
Upon learning their identities, Wang Yuqing closed the door behind her. Standing in the doorway, she said irritably, "I havenât done anything wrong. Why are you here?"
Fang Rui asked, "Can we come inside?"
"No, itâs not convenient. Iâm alone here, and youâre two men. How can I feel safe letting you in? If you have something to say, say it here at the door."
Zhang pointed to the body camera. "Weâre police officers. The entire process is being recorded. What could we possibly do to you?"
Wang Yuqing rolled her eyes. "Who knows? Every profession has its bad apples. Better safe than sorry."
"..."
Fang Rui asked, "Do you know Liu Qiangmin, the hospital dean?"
Wang Yuqing replied, "Yes, heâs my boyfriend."
"Where was he on the night of the 14th?"
Wang Yuqing answered without hesitation, "He was here, of course."
Zhang questioned, "Are you sure? Can you prove it?"
"Ever since I got pregnant, heâs been coming here every day to take care of me. He was definitely with me that night. If you donât believe me, check the surveillance footage!" Wang Yuqing pointed toward the elevator exit. "Thereâs a camera right there. Go take a look."
After leaving Wang Yuqingâs apartment, Zhang said, "I didnât think there was anything suspicious about her place at first, but the way she kept us out makes me think thereâs something sheâs hiding."
Fang Rui agreed. "The moment she found out we were police, she shut the door. That suggests thereâs something in her home she doesnât want us to see."
Zhang speculated, "Do you think sheâs hiding billions in cash that Liu Qiangmin embezzled?"
"Cash is unlikely, but the interior decor might reveal Liu Qiangminâs true financial status."
"Weâre ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââânot from the economic crimes division. Why would she be so scared if itâs not about money? Maybe Liu Qiangmin embezzled so much that theyâre paranoid."
Fang Rui also found it strange. Even if the interior was luxurious, that didnât necessarily mean Liu Qiangmin was corrupt. As the vice dean of a private hospital, it was normal for him to have a high income. Why wouldnât they let them in?
"Wang Yuqingâs attitude is very suspicious. When we asked about her boyfriendâs alibi, she didnât even seem curious about what case he was involved in. If their relationship wasnât good, why would Liu Qiangmin spend so much time with her? If it was good, why arenât they married? And she doesnât seem very concerned about him."
Li retrieved the surveillance footage. After reviewing it, they discovered that at 6:23 PM on the 14th, Liu Qiangminâs car entered the underground parking lot. At 7:30 AM on the 15th, his car left the parking lot.
The surveillance footage captured the driverâs face. Although the image wasnât very clear, it was evident that the person driving into the complex was indeed Liu Qiangmin.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!