"Is the time of death similar to his?"
"That's right."
Just as we were discussing this, the assistant arrived: "The blood report is out. It shows a high concentration of oxidizing agent compounds, sodium dichromate."
"Oh, this substance combined with nitric acid and alcohol solution can cause delayed skin loss. So that's why!" Ling Xiaotao suddenly understood.
I had actually suspected this possibility earlier, which is why I had the assistant run the blood test.
"Alright, then let's go take a look at the female corpse now!"
Back at the metal rack, I stared intently at the female corpse. He Xin and Liu Yuning entered again. Seeing my expression, Liu Yuning nudged my shoulder: "She's not a beauty, why are you staring so intently?"
Liu Yuning was right, the female victim's face was a mess of torn flesh, but I wasn't looking at her appearance, but at the area below.
The hair in this area had been shaved off, and there was another gash at the position of the uterus above.
Everyone had overlooked this before, but when I touched it, the gash reappeared.
Ling Xiaotao exclaimed in surprise, "How did you know?"
"It seems the killer was extremely enraged by this type of couple. By mutilating these two areas of the victims, he was clearly reminded of their intimate moments."
"That's too sick. Since the female victim's private parts were mutilated, the killer's gender is more likely male, right? The male corpse's chest didn't show any missing flesh, and this looks different from the male corpse!" Liu Yuning said.
I took out the autopsy scalpel and used the reflection from the shadowless light tube to shine it on the area. He Xin helped me rotate the scalpel, a move that left Ling Xiaotao and her assistant dumbfounded.
But they didn't dare to speak carelessly now.
Captain Guo, standing by, also watched us with curiosity.
As the autopsy scalpel rotated, light gradually spread across the female corpse. I discovered that the victim's chest, abdomen, and neck showed signs of whipping, but the killer was clever enough to cover them all with adhesive.
When I stated this conclusion, Ling Xiaotao looked puzzled, "If they wanted to abuse the corpse, why conceal it?"
"This is similar to why the killer mutilated the faces of both victims. He did this purely to make it harder for the police to find clues. This guy is likely very skilled in chemistry as well," I explained.
"Right. With no fingers or toes, it's impossible to check for skin residue or fingerprints. Is there any way to restore the corpse's appearance?" Ling Xiaotao mumbled.
I didn't answer. Suddenly, I noticed reddish burn marks on the female corpse, followed by signs of freezing. It seemed both victims had been held captive using the same methods.
However, the female victim appeared to have been frozen first, then burned, her body's reactions the opposite of the male victim's.
I compared the reports. Before I could speak, Ling Xiaotao snatched them away, saying, "Stop looking!"
"Heh, go and rewrite a new report based on our current findings!"
"Uh." Ling Xiaotao was reluctant at first, but after all this, her attitude improved. Although she still wore an unhappy expression, her body language was quite compliant.
After she turned to leave, the assistant looked somewhat embarrassed, avoiding our gaze.
However, I said to her, "Please help me turn over the female corpse and the male corpse together. I need to examine them again."
The assistant dared not delay. Captain Guo and Liu Yuning also joined in to help.
After the bodies were flipped over, I discovered dense burn marks on both their backs, in the shape of wild beast-like claws. Of course, these were not left by wild animals.
"Were these scratches from wild beasts?" He Xin asked, confused.
I said, "It's likely the killer used red-hot grappling hooks. The difference between animal claw marks and grappling hook marks lies in the depth. Look, these wounds are almost bone-deep. Animal claws can't do that."
"Oh, that's right. I really admire your observation skills!" He Xin praised.
Based on the condition of the two victims' backs, they were both branded from behind by the killer. There were obvious ligature marks on their wrists and ankles, and their chests showed signs of being in prolonged contact with a wall.
These details were also mentioned in Ling Xiaotao's reports, but she omitted one crucial point: the victims had been bound to a metallic surface.
I turned to Captain Guo and asked, "When the bodies were discovered, did you see them bound to a metal panel?"
"Yes. Detective He, how did you know?"
"I deduced it. Were they in a place surrounded by water?"
"Yes, the bodies were found in Qinghe Garden. They were tied to a Zhongding in the center of a courtyard."
"Alright, we're going to the crime scene now!"
Captain Guo drove us there. Qinghe Garden had always been a tourist attraction in Gaogang City. It was unexpected that such a scenic place would be the scene of a murder.
As soon as we entered Qinghe Garden, we were captivated by the fragrance of flowers and birdsong. Magnolias, densely clustered, adorned the classical and elegant pavilions and terraces, making the entire place resemble an ancient royal palace. Clear water flowed across red-grey arched bridges, striking strange-shaped reefs, sending mist swirling. Birds often perched on the bridges, and would scatter in fright whenever someone approached.
Despite the recent murder, there were still many tourists around.
It was rumored that because of the murder, some fearless tourists were even more eager to visit.
We followed Captain Guo to the courtyard sealed off by the Gaogang City police. Numerous caution tapes were present, and white chalk circles marked several areas. We put on shoe covers and masks before entering the scene. We approached the Zhongding and took a few photos around it.
I squatted down below the Zhongding and found a bearing. There were marks of ropes binding around the middle. Inside the wall, there were also impressions of a body having been there. I knew immediately that the corpse had been bound inside.
With its upper body covered by a Zhongding, only the lower legs would have been exposed. The person who discovered the body must have been terrified on the spot.
Even without seeing the scene, merely imagining it sent shivers down one's spine.
For some reason, I suddenly stood up and looked around the surroundings. I asked Captain Guo, "What is this courtyard called?"
"Shiyu Ge."
"Shiyu Ge?" A line from a Song Dynasty poem quickly flashed through my mind.
"Twenty years I served in the imperial court!" I recited thoughtfully. Unexpectedly, this line made Liu Yuning, He Xin, and Captain Guo look at me with confusion.