“It hurts.” Jiang Yanzhi let go abruptly his stern expression fading instantly into alarm. He took her hand again and examined it carefully. A faint red mark showed clearly on her pale slender wrist. His grip had been too strong and her skin was delicate.
“Did I hurt you too much”
Xu Jiu shook her head and held his hand in return. “Why do you ask that Are you trying to push me away”
Jiang Yanzhi looked flustered. “How could I It is just that you have been acting so differently lately”
She cut him off. “Good then. I thought you were still angry with me and did not want me anymore.”
Her gentle reversal left him completely at a loss. A flush rose high on his ears. “That is not true.”
She had lived thirty years longer than him. Guiding a twenty year old Jiang Yanzhi did not seem difficult at all. She squeezed his palm. “I am going inside now.”
Inside the room Chen Qingqing’s body had been lowered and lay flat on the floor the thick hemp rope that had bound her still attached. Li Mingyuan crouched beside the body and looked up at her. “Little ungrateful thing how did they let you in here”
Ungrateful Xu Jiu looked back toward Jiang Yanzhi confused.
Jiang Yanzhi glared at Li Mingyuan. “Do not speak nonsense.”
“All right all right precious little one then.” Li Mingyuan waved a hand dismissively. “Now go on outside this is no place for a girl your age.”
“I am here to help.”
“You Are you even an adult Do not tell me I am employing child labor”
“I will turn eighteen soon.”
“And does your brother agree to you being here” Li Mingyuan glanced toward the doorway where Jiang Yanzhi stood watching them intently his face serious.
Xu Jiu smiled. “He listens to me.”
“Fine fine as long as he has given permission.”
She lifted the camera and took photographs of Chen Qingqing’s face. Her skin was dark purple there were pinpoint hemorrhages beneath the eyelids and saliva ran down the side of her face in a distinct dried streak. Li Mingyuan pulled back the thick rope around her neck to reveal two ligature marks. Both were below the laryngeal prominence. The clearer one formed a complete circle with consistent depth and bruising all along its length.
“This was not suicide.” Chen Qingqing had been strangled and then hung from the beam.
Li Mingyuan’s eyes widened. “You know forensic science”
“A little.”
He looked at her with sudden excitement. “Become my apprentice. Do not let the work frighten you many have asked to study under me and I have refused every one.”
It was true. When she interned at the station during college Li Mingyuan was already the most respected senior forensic expert. Many sought to become his pupil yet he had chosen only her. Li Mingyuan touched the neck gently. “Fractures to the thyroid and cricoid cartilages.” He then examined her hands. There were scratch marks on the fingertips and blood under the nails yet the nails themselves were neatly trimmed and clean as if someone had carefully removed evidence.
“Clever killer removing every trace.”
Xu Jiu spoke softly. “Check if she gave birth recently.”
Li Mingyuan understood immediately. “She is the mother of the abandoned baby”
There were fresh tears and swelling consistent with recent delivery. After completing the initial examination together they moved to the bodies of Chen Qingqing’s parents. Blood spatter covered the wall and cabinet behind them and large dried pools lay beneath. This was indeed the primary scene. Both had died from multiple stab wounds. The edges of the wounds were torn and irregular and there were more than ten separate injuries. Some showed clear impressions of a hilt indicating immense force. The fatal wound was to the heart. The blade appeared to be single edged and further details would come from the full autopsy. Based on rigor mortis and lividity the parents had died between eight and eleven in the morning while Chen Qingqing had died two hours later.
The bodies were placed in bags and carried to the van. Li Mingyuan left with Zhang Haiyang who was still pale and unwell. Su Changsheng rubbed the back of his neck gravely. “Murder and an entire family This complicates things greatly.”
A cordon was set up. The town mayor approached and introduced himself asking what had happened. Su Changsheng stepped outside to speak with him and learn more about the family. Xu Jiu and Jiang Yanzhi remained inside with the investigators. There were clear signs of struggle and also of thorough ransacking. Drawers had been pulled open clothes and belongings scattered everywhere. If robbery had been the motive the killer could have come when the house was empty. There was no need to kill everyone. The number of wounds suggested deep personal hatred. This was revenge. Yet why search so thoroughly What was being sought And why fake Chen Qingqing’s manner of death
Xu Jiu looked closely at their belongings. The family lived simply. The parents farmed and the father did occasional work at the tobacco factory. Their savings were modest. Chen Qingqing however owned fashionable clothes and an expensive handbag one Xu Zhen also possessed that cost nearly ten thousand yuan far beyond what her family could afford. The new television was also far out of place. Who was the father of Chen Qingqing’s child
It was past one in the morning when they returned to the city. The car stopped before the Xu family villa and lights came on first downstairs then in an upstairs bedroom. Jiang Yanzhi glanced toward the house. “Go inside and rest. If you cannot wake for school send word to your teacher.”
Xu Jiu nodded.
“And keep a light on if you are afraid.”
She nodded again obediently. She adjusted her bag turned and walked through the gate glancing back up at the window. There was much still to face.
The door opened. Xu Zhen stood there wrapped in a shawl her long hair loose and sleepy. Behind her the housekeeper also appeared having been woken. She offered slippers and to prepare food and water but Xu Zhen spoke first.
“Go back to sleep auntie. I will see to my sister. And please say nothing of what time she returned if father asks.”
The woman nodded and withdrew looking curiously at Xu Jiu. Xu Zhen guided her inside her expression one of careful concern. “Servants talk too much it is best they know as little as possible.”
Xu Zhen was four years older. She took after Fang Xue rather than Xu Yongcheng and had spent great effort on her appearance. She was also Xu Yongcheng’s daughter born before he had married Xu Jiu’s mother. He had never told his wife. Xu Jiu had learned the truth only after Fang Xue and Xu Zhen had seized control of the family business. “I will ruin everything you have” Xu Zhen had once told her. “You have always had everything while I had nothing.”
“I saw someone drop you off” Xu Zhen said casually. “A man Who was it”
Xu Zhen had not recognized Jiang Yanzhi which made things easier. “A friend I met somewhere.”
“Just a friend.” Xu Zhen smiled knowingly. “Why back so early”
“There was nothing to do.”
“Make more friends then.” Xu Zhen walked her to her room. “Father asked about you this evening. I told him you were studying at a classmate’s house. Do not let it slip.”
“You are so kind to me sister.”
“You are my sister why would I not be.” Xu Zhen glanced at the desk approvingly. “I got the latest Conan volume for you. Tell me what else you would like.”
“Thank you.”
“Sleep as late as you wish. I will tell everyone not to disturb you.”
Xu Zhen was working deliberately to keep her idle and helpless. In another life without Jiang Yanzhi’s care she might have accomplished nothing at all. Xu Jiu washed and lay down physically exhausted yet wide awake. She feared closing her eyes and waking again to loss and silence. She sat up abruptly went to the desk and took a fresh notebook from the drawer. She began to write down everything she could remember.
September fourth Jiang Yanzhi is injured and hospitalized. September fourteenth Xu Zhen plots against me on father’s birthday. September twenty first major theft at the tobacco factory Jiang Yanzhi and Qin Shuo are mentioned in news. October thirteenth dismembered body found at the compound Jiang Yanzhi leads the investigation.
The list was short. She had paid little attention to such things back then. She closed the notebook and looked up at the calendar on the wall. She turned three months ahead to December and circled the twenty fifth in bright red ink. The day Jiang Yanzhi died.
She took out her Motorola flip phone and entered his number. She knew it perfectly after all these years. It rang once and was answered.
“Did you have a nightmare”
Her eyes stung. In the other timeline this same number had been the last one he had tried to reach her and she had not answered. Later when she had called he had never picked up.
“Jiang Yanzhi I am afraid to sleep.”
“I will come over” He paused. “Or I will send my mother to stay with you.”
“No please do not hang up. Just stay on the line with me.”
“That is all you need”
“Yes.”
“Then close your eyes and sleep.”
She held the phone tight and did as he said. She only wanted him to be alive and well.