“What’s with all this ‘aunt this’ and ‘aunt that’? What right do you have to arrest me?”
Jiang Yanzhi kept it simple. “Take her down.”
Wu Cuilan went off in a torrent of abuse as Qin Shuo led her away. Xu Jiu did not rush off. She looked around the room again. Little had changed since that morning. She found lesson plans and account books on the desk written in two different handwritings. She reached for her phone to take photos then stopped. She scratched her head and put both books straight into her bag. She would have Zhao Bing identify the handwriting later.
She went into the bedroom and pulled open the wardrobe. The clothes were neatly arranged just as they had been that morning. She thought of what Qin Shuo had said about Wu Cuilan burning things. If she was right those were the clothes she had worn during the murders. When a sharp blade strikes the body blood surges out and cannot be fully contained. Even with precautions traces would remain. Wu Cuilan had gone to Chen Qingqing’s home as a guest. She would not have carried a change of clothes. She must have intended to destroy them later but the police came first and took Wang Jianjun away. Afraid the truth would come out she had acted fast and burned the evidence. Now they only needed her blood type to match the stains found on the dagger. Once the results came back no amount of denial would help.
Xu Jiu was about to close the wardrobe door when something caught her eye. She pulled out a dress. It was far too large. Wu Cuilan stood one hundred and sixty eight centimeters tall and around one hundred and seventy two in heels. She was broad boned and slightly sturdier than most women but this size would never fit her.
“What is it?”
Xu Jiu held the dress out to Jiang Yanzhi. “This does not belong to Wu Cuilan.”
She leaned in and searched deeper. There was more than one ill fitting garment tucked away in the corner along with something dark and crumpled. She pulled it out. It was a wig.
Jiang Yanzhi’s eyes narrowed. Could Qin Shuo be right? Had Wang Jianjun disguised himself all along? But his alibi was solid. Xu Jiu felt the fabric. It was worn not brand new. What was really going on?
The drive back was quiet. Xu Jiu’s mind was in turmoil. Wu Cuilan grew loud the moment they arrived. She shouted that the police had no evidence and were tearing her family apart. Qin Shuo raised his voice. “Be quiet. You are here to assist with inquiries.”
“Heaven help me what has my life come to!” Wu Cuilan wailed. When no one paid her any attention she complained of pain and sat on the floor refusing to move. Qin Shuo looked helplessly at Jiang Yanzhi. Jiang Yanzhi said coldly “Put her in the interview room.”
“You are forcing a false confession!”
Xu Jiu frowned. Wu Cuilan had been calm on the journey. Why was she acting this way now? Just then an interview room door opened. Wang Jianjun stepped out. Wu Cuilan broke free and threw her arms around him. The officer beside him hesitated. Wang Jianjun stiffened and his face changed instantly.
“Separate them!” Xu Jiu called out.
The officer pulled Wang Jianjun away. Wu Cuilan clung to him weeping. Wang Jianjun wiped her tears with trembling hands. “Cuilan I have failed you.”
They were pulled apart. Both were in tears. The officer held Wang Jianjun firmly. “Do not try anything.”
Xu Jiu asked “What did she say just now?”
The officer shook his head. “She spoke too softly I could not hear.”
Inside the interview room Wu Cuilan grew calmer. She watched Li Mingyuan prepare to draw blood. “Officer I did not kill anyone. My husband even kills the fish for me. I would never have the courage.”
Jiang Yanzhi looked at her hand. “How did you really hurt yourself?”
“I cut myself on broken glass this morning. You were there.”
“A wound does not lie. There are two distinct marks here. One from a blade and one from a scratch.”
“I was peeling an apple then. Ask Jianjun he ate some too.”
Qin Shuo could not hold back. “You knew about his affair and his plan to raise the child. Out of resentment you had Zhao Bing kill the baby then accompanied Chen Qingqing home to murder them all. Is that not the truth?”
Wu Cuilan struck the table. “No that is not what happened. I know nothing.”
Zhao Bing’s reply came quickly. Neither of the handwriting samples matched the note he had received. “The writing I saw was neater than this” he said pointing to one. “And this one is clumsier but mine was even worse.”
Wu Cuilan wiped her eyes in the interview room. “I was at my stall all day. I had no time to kill anyone.”
Xu Jiu watched from the observation room feeling completely lost. Then came the final twist. Wang Jianjun had confessed.
Jiang Yanzhi and Qin Shuo went straight to his interview room. Wang Jianjun buried his face in his hands. “I have had enough. They would never let go. That child would drain everything I have worked for for the rest of my life. All my efforts would be wasted. The child had to go. Chen Qingqing had to go. All of them had to go. Only then could I find peace.”
“How did you do it?”
“I used a knife.”
Jiang Yanzhi tapped the table gently. “Chen Qingqing left school at seven. You were at home eating dinner then were you not?”
“I took a taxi.”
“Witnesses say a woman with long hair walked her into town. Are you a woman?”
Wang Jianjun grew agitated. “I did it. Please sentence me.”
Something was very wrong. His sudden confession only strengthened their suspicion that Wu Cuilan was the killer. Her alibi however remained rock solid. Qin Shuo slumped as they walked out. “Are they playing games with us? Why would he confess?”
“Because Wu Cuilan told him something” Jiang Yanzhi said.
“What could she have said in those few minutes to make him take the blame for a capital crime?”
Xu Jiu had no answer. She ran her hands through her hair until it was messy. Jiang Yanzhi walked over and smoothed it gently. “You will go bald.”
She lowered her hands. “What is her alibi exactly?”
“She was at the shop most of the day. She went to the restroom a few times and ate but otherwise stayed at her post.”
“Anything unusual?”
“She has been claiming allergies and covering up heavily.”
Xu Jiu shook her head. Her skin was flawless. There was no sign of allergy. “She could be using it as a cover to swap places with someone.”
“How do we prove she is not herself?” Qin Shuo asked.
“Does she have sisters?” Xu Jiu asked. “Anyone of similar build and appearance?”
“You think someone is pretending to be her?”
“Blood tests will be ready in a few hours. Find out more about her family background first” Xu Jiu said then asked “Where is Li Tianci?”
“What has he got to do with this? He was cleared long ago.”
“It makes sense that he knows Wang Jianjun but not Wu Cuilan.”
“I will bring him in right away.”
“We will go to him.”
“He stays in the men’s dormitory. The smell is terrible.”
“I do not think he is as innocent as he claims” Xu Jiu said. “He was deeply in love with Chen Qingqing. Would he stand by and watch her be with another man?”
“Love is about sacrifice is it not?” Qin Shuo offered.
“If he loved her that deeply why would he meet and talk calmly with the wife of the man he believed killed her?”
“That is true. If someone killed the person I loved I would be furious.” Qin Shuo turned to Jiang Yanzhi. “Would you not be the same Chief?”
Jiang Yanzhi did not answer immediately. His gaze rested softly on Xu Jiu. “How they met and when is the key.”
Night had fully fallen as they left the station. The medical school was locked after ten. Even as police they needed permission to enter. Jiang Yanzhi touched her shoulder. “Let me take you to dinner then home.”
“We have leftovers from lunch” Qin Shuo said. “We can just heat them up.”
“You eat them.”
Qin Shuo handed over the car keys and turned back. Jiang Yanzhi took them and walked toward the parking lot. Xu Jiu tugged at his sleeve and called to Qin Shuo. “Come with us. My treat. We will have wonton soup.”
Qin Shuo spun around instantly. “You are the best. I will follow you forever.”
A small restaurant stood across the road. It served breakfast in the morning home style dishes at noon and supper and snacks late into the night. The owner was honest generous and a good cook. Jiang Yanzhi said “Put it on expenses. Include the taxi fare too.”
“Are you paying out of your own pocket Chief?” Qin Shuo teased.
Jiang Yanzhi gave him a look and Qin Shuo grinned. “Whoever pays it goes to the right place.”
“No need” Xu Jiu said. “Xu Yongcheng has plenty of money.”
“Xu Yongcheng? One of the wealthiest men in the city?” Qin Shuo stared at her. “What is your connection to him?”
Xu Jiu smiled. “Why do you think my surname is Xu?”