Chapter 19: The Mysterious Family Massacre (3)

That evening, the entire Second Unit gathered around the crime board, which was now covered with information.

Meng Siqi carefully examined the details. The victims were a family of three. The male victim, Zhu Gongyou, was thirty-eight years old and the financial manager at Qiankun Steel. The female victim, You Meihua, was a thirty-seven-year-old housewife. Their daughter, Zhu Xinting, was a fourteen-year-old student at Jinyang No. 2 Middle School.

Looking at Zhu Xinting’s bright and youthful photo, Meng Siqi felt an indescribable sorrow.

Tang Xiaochuan summarized the current findings.

According to the wound analysis, the forensic team determined that the murder weapon was a single-edged blade approximately 13 centimeters long and 3 centimeters wide. However, the weapon itself had not been found at the crime scene.

Zhu Gongyou’s fatal wound was to his chest, causing massive bleeding due to organ rupture. You Meihua’s throat had been slit, leading to blood entering her lungs and causing asphyxiation. Zhu Xinting’s carotid artery had been severed, resulting in hemorrhagic shock.

Forensic evidence suggested that the killer first attacked Zhu Gongyou in the living room, then entered the master bedroom to kill You Meihua, and finally stormed into the bathroom to murder Zhu Xinting.

Tang Xiaochuan added, “Based on the crime scene, the television was on at the time of the murder. The killer turned it off before leaving. Bloodstains were found on the TV’s power button.”

Combining this with Feng Shaomin’s investigation, they discovered that around 8 p.m. that night, nearby residents were engaged in renovations, creating significant noise. Between the television and the construction sounds, no one noticed anything unusual during the attack.

“Wait a minute,” Han Changlin said as he read the autopsy report. “There’s a nail embedded in the top of the male victim’s skull?”

Tang Xiaochuan confirmed, “Yes, the forensic examination found a five-centimeter-long iron nail. However, it was driven in postmortem.”

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. Why would the killer do this? Some murderers had strange habits, often stemming from deep-seated hatred or psychological disorders.

Han Changlin asked, “Could this nail be a clue?”

Tang Xiaochuan replied, “Captain Han, it’s just an ordinary furniture nail, slightly rusted. It would be difficult to trace it back to any hardware store.”

Han Changlin pondered aloud, “Why would the killer do this?” He wasn’t just referring to the nail in the victim’s skull but also the other disturbing details—such as the female victim’s tongue being cut out and the young girl’s skin tissue being removed and fried.

The room fell into deep thought. After a moment, Tang Xiaochuan said, “The first thing that comes to my mind is hatred. Maybe the killer wanted to torture the victims, even after their deaths.”

“Not entirely true,” Zhao Leiting shook his head. “I’ve seen foreign films where killers use unique methods to send a message. Like Jack the Ripper—there was even a movie about him in 1988.” His eyes lit up as he spoke, scanning the room for validation.

Meng Siqi, however, had no interest in such films. When Zhao Leiting looked at her, she merely pressed her lips together in response.

His theory wasn’t impossible, so everyone fell into another round of contemplation.

“Actually, I lean toward a combination of both your theories,” Feng Shaomin suddenly said.

Zhao Leiting’s eyes brightened as if he had just received approval. He licked his lips and focused on Feng Shaomin.

Feng Shaomin explained, “The killer’s motive could be hatred, but it could also be money, power, or other interests. However, after committing the crime, they deliberately created a mystery, using bizarre behaviors to mislead the police. At the same time, we can’t rule out the possibility that the killer takes pleasure in such acts due to psychological abnormalities.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. This seemed like the most comprehensive analysis so far, especially since there were no further clues to explain the killer’s actions.

Han Changlin signaled to continue the briefing.

Tang Xiaochuan displayed a diagram featuring three simplified figures representing each murder scene.

Based on the struggle marks and the locations of the wounds, he explained, “The evidence strongly suggests a single perpetrator. The suspect is male and approximately 170 to 175 centimeters tall.”

Han Changlin asked, “There were no fingerprints found at the scene, which means the killer took precautions. But why weren’t there any footprints? Has anyone considered this?”

Meng Siqi recalled visiting the crime scene with Zhao Leiting. They had specifically checked the entryway. Some households kept a shoe cover dispenser for guests, preventing footprints, but this family clearly did not have such a habit.

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Zhao Leiting took the initiative to bring up this discovery.

Feng Shaomin followed up, “The killer might have taken measures before entering, such as wearing protective shoe covers, or they could have cleaned the floor afterward. However, given the large amount of blood at the scene, cleaning up after the murder would be difficult. So, I lean toward the idea that the killer planned ahead. If that’s the case, and considering the fact that the doors and windows showed no signs of forced entry, the suspect might have been someone in a specific profession—such as a gas delivery worker or a water delivery person—who wore shoe covers before entering.”

This was an important lead. If the killer had used such a disguise, tracing their real identity might be possible.

“Unfortunately,” Feng Shaomin added, “the victims’ gas and water supplies had not been recently replaced. We found no evidence that a delivery had been made. However, we should still investigate whether the killer might have used a similar professional identity to gain entry. We also can’t rule out the possibility that the suspect was someone the victims knew personally.”

Everyone nodded. For now, Feng Shaomin’s analysis accounted for most of the scene’s details, making it a valuable direction for the investigation.

Han Changlin acknowledged the insight, saying, “Old Feng, your attention to detail is impressive. Alright, Xiaochuan, update us on today’s field investigation.”

One key lead was the steel company, Qiankun Steel, where Zhu Gongyou had worked. Three months prior, the finance office at the company had caught fire, and this could be strongly linked to the current family massacre.

Tang Xiaochuan quickly flipped through his notebook and reported, “Earlier this year, a batch of steel went missing from Qiankun Steel’s outdoor warehouse. It was valued at seventy to eighty thousand yuan and has never been recovered. A month later, the finance office caught fire. Brother Feng and I suspect there’s a connection between these incidents.”

Han Changlin asked, “Why wasn’t the stolen steel reported?”

Feng Shaomin answered, “Maybe the steel wasn’t legally acquired, or someone had a reason to keep it quiet.”

Silence filled the room again. Everyone’s eyes returned to the crime board as they processed this new information.

Han Changlin, deep in thought, habitually pressed his thumb and index finger against his lower lip. After a moment, he looked up and said, “If we assume Zhu Gongyou was involved in both incidents, then someone might have killed him to cover their tracks—eliminating all evidence by murdering his entire family.”

Feng Shaomin’s expression darkened. “Captain Han, I’ve had the same suspicion, but right now, we don’t have solid proof linking Zhu Gongyou to these events. He’s dead, and any financial records that could implicate him were likely destroyed in the fire.”

“It’s not that difficult,” Han Changlin’s experienced eyes gleamed with confidence. “Do we know who was responsible for managing the steel inventory and handling the outgoing shipments?”

Tang Xiaochuan checked his notes and answered, “Captain Han, based on today’s investigation, two people stand out as potential suspects. The steel shipments required approval from Ma Changgui, the head of sales department,, while the person in charge of storage was Hu Gang, the warehouse manager. Hu Gang happens to be Ma Changgui’s nephew. Two years ago, Ma Changgui helped him get the job at the company.”

This connection seemed suspicious. The room grew tense as everyone processed the implications. Each person was now focused on dissecting the case’s finer details.

Meng Siqi was not involved in the investigation of the company that day, so she simply listened. However, she had a strong intuition that these two people were closely linked to Zhu Gongyou’s murder.

Zhao Leiting stated with certainty, “If Zhu Gongyou’s colleague really visited that night, then Zhu Gongyou’s family wouldn’t have had any reason to be on guard, right?”

Han Changlin picked up a piece of chalk and forcefully circled the names Ma Changgui and Hu Gang on the case board. “Bring these two in tomorrow for separate questioning. I don’t believe they’ll be able to keep their stories perfectly consistent.”

The next day, Ma Changgui and Hu Gang were both brought to the station. As they entered the interrogation room, Meng Siqi happened to glance at them. Ma Changgui, in his forties, had a receding hairline, a slightly overweight build, and a height close to 170 cm. His expression was calm, and he carried himself with a certain authoritative air.

Hu Gang, on the other hand, was under thirty, standing around 175 cm tall with a strong build. His brows were slightly furrowed, and he appeared somewhat nervous.

Han Changlin suddenly changed his mind. “Old Feng, switch with me. You and Xiaochuan handle Ma Changgui. I doubt we’ll get much out of him. I’ll interrogate Hu Gang.”

Feng Shaomin nodded. “Don’t worry, Captain Han. Even if they try to stick to their story, we’ll find a way to break them.”

As expected, Ma Changgui was like a smooth stone, answering every question with practiced ease and confidence. “I don’t think there’s any need to discuss the stolen steel. After all, our company never reported it. Let’s just call it a financial loss and move on.”

Feng Shaomin’s voice turned cold. “Ma Changgui, we didn’t bring you here just for the stolen steel. On the night Zhu Gongyou was murdered—two nights ago, around 8 PM—where were you?”

“Zhu Gongyou?” Ma Changgui scoffed. “Are you serious? What does his death have to do with me?”

Throughout the interrogation, Ma Changgui remained evasive, giving nothing away.

Feng Shaomin found no cracks in his defense. Ma Changgui smirked and said, “Officer, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to leave now.”

“What’s the rush? Wait for our captain’s word,” Feng Shaomin said, stalling for time as they waited for results from the other interrogation room.

“Fine. Got a cigarette?” Ma Changgui asked.

“Xiaochuan, give Mr. Ma a cigarette.”

Meanwhile, in the other room, Hu Gang’s interrogation was tense.

Han Changlin was confident that Hu Gang would be the weak link. Both Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting were present for the questioning, with Meng Siqi taking notes.

Sitting across the table, Hu Gang appeared weighed down with anxiety. He took several deep breaths, seemingly trying to calm himself. Compared to when he first entered, he looked slightly more composed.

“Hu Gang, do you know why we brought you in today?” Zhao Leiting asked sternly.

“Isn’t it about the stolen steel? Officer, I really don’t know anything about that.”

“You really don’t know anything? Confess now while you still have the chance,” Zhao Leiting pressed.

Hu Gang answered in a rehearsed manner, “That batch of steel was under my supervision, but the quality wasn’t great. The company didn’t really care about it. Besides, it was so heavy that anyone trying to steal it would have needed a truck. That would have been too obvious. And who would buy such a large quantity? No one was worried about theft. So, my job was mostly for show. That night, I was out playing cards—there are witnesses. The next morning, around 8 AM, I went back to the warehouse and realized the steel was gone.”

Although he seemed nervous, Hu Gang’s responses were smooth, as if he had rehearsed them beforehand.

Following their pre-planned approach, Zhao Leiting asked, “Hu Gang, where were you two nights ago around 8 PM, the night Zhu Gongyou and his family were murdered?”

As soon as the question was asked, Hu Gang became visibly agitated. His lips paled slightly. “I didn’t kill anyone! Zhu Gongyou’s death has nothing to do with me!”

Meng Siqi noticed his unusual reaction. Why was he so nervous at the mention of Zhu Gongyou? She could see the suspicion growing in Han Changlin’s eyes as well.

Zhao Leiting continued, “Hu Gang, think carefully. Where exactly were you that night?”

Hu Gang’s panic deepened. His head shook slightly, almost involuntarily. “I swear, I didn’t kill anyone! I wasn’t anywhere near his house that night… I was playing cards! There are people who can vouch for me!”

He clung desperately to his alibi, making it difficult for Zhao Leiting to make further progress.

Just then, the door opened slightly. Feng Shaomin poked his head in. “Captain Han, sorry to interrupt. Ma Changgui has finished talking. He’s confessed everything.”

Han Changlin gave him a knowing look.

Feng Shaomin shut the door. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy and oppressive.

Meng Siqi noticed that Feng Shaomin’s words made Hu Gang visibly uneasy. He started shifting uncomfortably, his hands twisting together tightly.

“Hu Gang!” Han Changlin suddenly roared. His voice was like a thunderclap, making Hu Gang jolt in his seat.

Seizing the moment, Han Changlin pressed forward, “You and Zhu Gongyou conspired to secretly sell the company’s steel. After splitting the profits, you were afraid the company would find out, so you destroyed the sales invoices and staged a fire in the finance office. That was the July 12 arson case!”

“No, no…” Hu Gang shook his head frantically, denying everything.

“But you were even more afraid that Zhu Gongyou would betray you. So you silenced him—along with his entire family. We already have plenty of evidence against you.”

“No! I didn’t do it!” Hu Gang broke down, his composure shattering. “It was Ma Changgui! He made me do it!”