After making up my mind, I began to examine the deceased's esophagus and lungs. However, we found no clues in her internal organs. Both the solution and food residue in her stomach were normal, and there were no signs of sexual assault.
Thus, we could only focus our attention on the wounds. We measured the dimensions of all the wounds on the deceased and compared them with the size of the python using our equipment. As expected, they were consistent. Even before the results from Xiao Dong's side came back, I knew it was a python.
When the results arrived, we discovered that the skin fragments indeed came from the snake's skin. The python could have easily escaped without a trace, but it actually left its skin behind at that crucial moment, exposing itself.
Although the python itself was not found, a piece of its skin was enough.
I preserved the DNA from that snake skin and also found a DNA profile. Upon verification, it belonged to Kong Zi Yu!
With ironclad evidence in hand, we were all very excited. But the problem was, we still hadn't found them.
The blood showed traces of poison. After comparison, we discovered that the poison originated from the fangs of the python. Li Wen Juan's true cause of death was no longer important.
Later, Xie Chu Chu confirmed that the poison had entered the deceased's body, causing her nerves to numb and ultimately leading to her death. I clenched the report and muttered, "Everything is ready except for the crucial element. But when will that crucial element arrive!"
The manhunt had been underway for three days into the second week. It had already been more than 24 hours since Li Wen Juan was murdered.
I went to the surveillance room. With the help of several police officers, Gao Ming Qiang, and Xia Hou, we reviewed the video from the break room at the time. However, the screen was black for about twenty minutes. I exclaimed, "This guy can even hack into the police department's equipment? That's outrageous!"
"He Xin is investigating; we don't know either!"
"Hey, how could you be so careless? Did you check the external surveillance?" I asked Gao Ming Qiang.
"We did. There were no suspicious individuals in the vicinity. We don't know how that snake got in."
"There are trees near the break room. It probably slipped in through there," Xia Hou suggested.
I remembered that area was a blind spot for surveillance due to the dense trees and walls. But how did they know?
Could there be an inside informant in the police station?
As soon as this thought crossed my mind, I felt a chill down my spine.
Xia Hou and Gao Ming Qiang's expressions also turned to shock. Although they didn't say anything, I knew they had thought of the same thing.
Gao Ming Qiang became agitated, slammed the table, and cursed, "No! We must find those two scoundrels!"
He then made to rush out. I didn't stop him, as Liu Yu Ning was also out searching.
Xia Hou followed Gao Ming Qiang out. I, on the other hand, wanted to meet the victim's family.
In the reception room, I met Li Wen Juan's parents. They both seemed extremely sorrowful and regretful about Li Wen Juan's death.
"My daughter, she was doing so well. Captain Liu always appreciated her. She received a lot of bonuses these past few months. How could she die at a time like this?" Li Wen Juan's mother sobbed, on the verge of collapse.
Li Wen Juan's father, however, said, "I never wanted her to be a police officer. Shouldn't a girl get married and have children early? Now she's gone. What will happen to us two old people? What will we do?"
"Li Wen's father, don't say that. Being a police officer was Wen Juan's dream. We agreed not to interfere with her choices!"
"Alas, but the situation has changed. Now I'm thinking, if we had insisted on stopping her from taking this job back then, perhaps today's outcome wouldn't have happened!"
As they lamented, I could only offer comfort until their emotions calmed down a bit. Then I asked, "Have you noticed Li Wen Juan interacting with any strangers recently?"
"She was always a dedicated police officer, very busy every day. She either went to the bureau or went home. She basically had no time to get to know strangers!" Li Wen Juan's father recalled.
"That's right. Our daughter was probably the most diligent person in the entire police station, working overtime until very late every day," Li Wen Juan's mother chimed in.
I was aware of Li Wen Juan's work ethic. Captain Liu had mentioned her to me several times, and we never expected her to die.
I saw the moment Liu Yu Ning witnessed her body and secretly shed tears, but I didn't mention it.
My heart also ached as I recalled countless moments working with little Li. After all, she had been with us for some time.
I remembered one time when none of us had time to buy lunch, and she went out to buy it for us, even though she was very busy herself.
There were also several occasions where she was on the front lines, in the most dangerous places. It was not easy for a woman to achieve this. Liu Yu Ning once told me that in terms of bravery, she truly couldn't match Li Wen Juan.
As I reminisced, I too felt a sense of sorrow along with the parents. Seeing my silence, Li Wen Juan's father said, "Consultant He, our little Li also spoke of you. She said you were very skilled at solving cases and performing autopsies. You must solve this case for our daughter! She's our only child!"
"Don't worry, I will not disappoint you. In fact, we've already identified the killer, but those two are still on the run!"
"I know your investigative capabilities, but little Juan is truly too pitiful! However, I will never regret her choosing this profession. I believe she would think the same in heaven. May she live happily there!"
I could tell that Li Wen Juan's father loved his daughter dearly. I nodded and smiled with a hint of pride, "She will! Li Wen Juan was a good police officer when she was alive!"
"Thank you, Consultant He. Please inform us immediately if you have any news!" Li Wen Juan's parents said in unison, gripping my hands tightly.
"Yes! Please rest assured, both of you!"
After seeing off Li Wen Juan's parents, my attention returned to the manhunt. One night, around 2 AM, as I was dozing off at my desk, the door was suddenly pushed open. A police officer rushed in anxiously, "Consultant He, we found them! We found them! Kong Zi Yu and Tong Jing Lei are back!"
"Back? Weren't they on the run?"
"They said they weren't, they just returned to their hometown for an urgent matter. It's a remote area, so there was no signal!"
"So where are they now?"
"They've been brought back by us!"
"Hmm?"
I felt something was amiss. We, the police, had always assumed these two were on the run, yet now they had shown up voluntarily?