Confrontation
A thunderbolt cracked across the sky, montarily illuminating the room with a flash of lightning. Inside the makeshift training room, everyone was busy with their tasks, moving hurriedly and with a solemn deanor. No one spoke. Amidst the lingering haze, occasional coughs and the sound of keyboard typing could be heard.
Song Yuhang massaged her temples. It had been a week since she had properly rested. Several blood blisters had ford in her mouth due to her restlessness. She used her tongue to push against them, using the pain to fend off her weariness.
The telephone on the desk rang urgently. Soone answered it swiftly and then turned to call her, Team Leader Song, weve got a new lead!
With a swift stride, Song Yuhang rushed over, her voice sowhat unsteady, Hello?!
Fang Xin held the phone for her, while Lin Yan lay on the floor, asuring the traces on the ground with a tape asure. Her usually boisterous voice sounded so comforting in this mont.
1507060! I understand now! Its the fish tank! Fish tank! I couldnt figure out where Ding Xue drowned before. Even after searching the entire house, I couldnt find any clues. Until I found this.
Lin Yan shook the small fish tank in her hand. Its probably a goldfish tank he bought for his daughter to play with. He took good care of them. These things are delicate; a novice would have them dead in a day. He was experienced.
Furthermore, we discovered that the living room only had a sofa and dining table. Unexpectedly, a bookshelf was placed abruptly in the area that should have separated the living room and the foyer. Moving the shelf, we found a not-so-obvious white scratch. After asuring, its 1507060, matching the common dinsions of a saltwater fish breeding tank on the market.
As she said this, she looked out the window. It was pouring rain outside, and the lightnings brightness traced across her cold brow.
Lin Yans voice lowered, This is the location of the first discovery. Im certain that the cause of death for the victim, Ding Xue, was delayed drowning1.
A faint smile finally graced the corner of Song Yuhangs lips, as if a burden had been lifted. Youve worked hard. Leave the rest to from here.
Entering the interrogation room once again, Song Yuhang was there only to bid him farewell. The next ti they t might be in a courtroom or on the execution grounds.
Did you drown her in the fish tank? She stood at the doorway, staring at him coldly.
Sun Xiangming suddenly clenched his jaw. He had been reclining on the bench, but now he sat up abruptly, looking at her with a hint of gritted teeth.
You dont need to ask how I knew. If you dont want others to know, dont do it.
After she finished speaking, Sun Xiangming looked at the police officer before him, her calm and resolute deanor, and he laughed again. It was a laughter that seed mocking yet also filled with disdain.
What does it matter if you know? What you cant find, you cant use to convict . When day breaks, Ill still walk out of here.
Song Yuhang looked at him, her disgust now openly visible in her eyes. Actually, Im quite curious. When you were gripping her by the back of her neck and pushing her into the water, what were you thinking? Was it relief or regret?
If it was truly relief, Ding Xue would have died at ho a long ti ago, not surviving those few extra hours.
It was said that the phone call made from the school had saved her. Little did they know, the boundary between good and evil rested on a single thought.
After she finished speaking, she turned and strode away, ignoring Sun Xiangmings futile attempt to slam into the iron door. He cried, shouted, and cursed until his throat was hoarse, but she didnt look back.
All mbers of the field team, move out! Use Suns ho as the center and cover all garbage dumps, recycling stations, flea markets, second-hand trading centers, and stores selling used fishing equipnt within a ten-kiloter radius. Dig up every inch if you have to. Understood?!
Rain slid over her temples, wetting one side of her uniform quickly. The young detectives in front of her stared sharply and shouted in unison, Yes!
Move out!
The car doors locked, and the police car once again left the city bureau, charging into the pouring rain.
Sister Lan, Team Song is on their way here. What about us? Fang Xin asked, holding her phone.
Lin Yan took off her gloves and put them into an evidence bag. Do whatever you need to do. Ive completed my task.
Her phone, nestled in her pocket, vibrated slightly. She waved nonchalantly. Carry on with your tasks. Ill go find a restroom.
The garbage dump for our complex is right here. The property managent staff led the group toward the back of the building using a flashlight.
The rain fell heavily and rapidly, pooling sewage into trickling streams in the low areas. Combined with the rains wash, the stench beca even more unbearable.
Song Yuhang wore a raincoat. She was tall, and even the properly fitting pants seed a bit short, exposing a small portion of her ankles. She waded through the water, sweeping her flashlight around.
Did anyone co to throw away sothing big in the past few days?
Dealing with such a large fish tank would inevitably involve selling it as scrap, reselling it, or smashing it to pieces and discarding it. Regardless of the thod, it wouldnt go unnoticed.
One of the property company employees slapped his forehead suddenly. Yes, yes! A few days ago, the owner of 504 brought down a really big cardboard box, saying it was construction waste. It was strangely heavy. I even helped with carrying it.
Where is it? The garbage heap wasnt large, and there was nothing left to find.
Its been taken away long ago. Officer, what are you rummaging through trash for in the middle of the night? The property staff yawned incessantly, clearly displeased about being pulled out of their bed in the middle of the night.
Where was it taken?
To the landfill site in the north of the city.
Without a second word, Song Yuhang turned and walked away. The property staff hurried a couple of steps after her. Hey, hey! You probably wont find anything now if you go. According to municipal regulations, all garbage is processed and destroyed on the sa day. Its either buried or incinerated.
As she reached the entrance of the building, the forensic team also happened to co down. Lin Yan shielded herself from the rain with her hand and looked up at the dark gray sky. The watch on her wrist emitted a faint glow in the darkness.
Theres less than six hours until dawn; ti is running out.
Song Yuhang walked past her, bringing a gust of damp wind.
Lin Yan lifted her gaze slightly. I think you should know that even if we find the fish tank, any residual fingerprints on it might no longer exist due to the heavy rains washing.
Song Yuhangs steps faltered slightly, and she turned to look at Lin Yan.
Lin Yan gazed into those brown eyes. Lets consider the worst-case scenario: even if his fingerprints happened to survive on the fish tank, what difference would it make? It wouldnt lead to a death penalty.
As she said these words, a faintly mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips. The cause of death was delayed drowning. From a subjective perspective, it didnt result in imdiate death at the ti. Plus, there was a three-year-old child involved. In a case Ive assessed, the perpetrator stabbed the other person over thirty tis due to emotional entanglents. Was that cruel? Terrifying? Insane?
But because it was the killer who dialed the ergency call and the victim died while being transported to the hospital, the final verdict was a suspended death sentence. He hasnt been executed yet.
Song Yuhang, give it up. Sun Xiangming knew early on that he wouldnt die. Hes confident and fearless. Your pursuit in this matter is like searching for a needle in the ocean.
From within that mocking smile, she extracted a cold trace of hatred.
The four-pointed star on her shoulder glead in the rain, accentuating the sharpness of her brows and eyes. The two of them stood there, separated by the curtain of rain, locked in a chilly stare-down.
And so what if thats the case? I admit, our countrys current laws might have their flaws. But does that an Dr. Lin has to cross the moral and legal boundaries to beco that blade of murder, seeking revenge through vengeance?
A cold smile spread across Lin Yans lips, her voice dripping with resentnt. Heaven and earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs. I am carrying out the will of heaven. Whats there to be forbidden?
Song Yuhang took a step forward. She was tall, blocking out the faint remaining light under the dim streetlamp.
Lin Yan was enveloped in her shadow, tilting her head back. Rainwater trickled down her sharp chin.
I wont give you that opportunity. And if that day ever cos, even if its an unsheathed precious sword, I wont hesitate to personally shatter it and bury its edge in the sand.
Song Yuhang looked down at her from a higher vantage point, her pale brown eyes still devoid of emotion. Yet, Lin Yan believed that she could indeed say what she ant.
As she thought about the prospect of becoming adversaries with soone like this in the future, Lin Yans lips curved into a smile. Her entire bodys blood seed to boil, carrying a sense of excitent akin to encountering a worthy opponent in a ga of chess.
She lifted her gaze, took a gentle step forward, tiptoed, and softly placed her hand on Song Yuhangs shoulder. To an outsiders eye, it appeared as if two intimate individuals were exchanging whispers.
Lin Yan embraced her shoulders and breathed by her ear, Is that so? Im looking forward to that day.
Song Yuhang remained composed, tilting her head slightly and bringing it close to Lin Yans ear. She couldnt back down; backing down would be admitting defeat.
I will. You wont have to wait too long.
Lin Yans hand slid down her shoulder, following the rains path. Just like Song Yuhang, she was highly skilled in reading between the lines. Her innate talents in certain aspects were simply too astute, bordering on being overly clever.
She hadnt dodged, hadnt moved, and had even directly responded. However, her tensed body had betrayed her long before.
With a slight smile, Lin Yan took the opportunity to raise herself up, much like a poised kiss. Her ear grazed Song Yuhangs lips, the sensation both cool and soft, causing a montary shiver. This was an instinctive response unrelated to romance.
Team Song soone called out.
Song Yuhang discreetly took a step back, once again raising her gaze to look at Lin Yan. Truly a person who remained composed even in the face of Mount Tai collapsing, within a few fleeting monts, her calm deanor had been restored.
But before that happens, I have other matters to attend to. How the law is applied is a matter of the law. Solving cases, gathering evidence, and seeking the truth are my responsibilities. I hold my head high in front of the heavens and have no regrets before the earth. I am true to the uniform I wear, and I am true to my conscience.
As she spoke, her tone was exceptionally calm. It wasnt like she was making an oath or a rash declaration; it was sothing that had matured over ti.
She had long passed that age.
The fiery passion had transford into a professional ethic to be rembered at all tis. In the mundane world of criminal investigation work, it hadnt diminished her enthusiasm but had instead turned into an unceasing river. The calr it appeared, the more powerful the undercurrents.
Lin Yan shuddered all over, biting her lip tightly as she looked sharply at Song Yuhang. However, Song Yuhang had already led her team onto the vehicle.
With a command issued, everyone rushed to the landfill site in the northern part of the city.
The Criminal Investigation Division of the Jiangcheng Police Departnt mobilized its entire force, including those who were on their days off, on leave, and even auxiliary officers who were available.
Director Feng stood by the window. The rain outside had never ceased. The tea in his hand had turned cold, but he didnt bother to replace it. He took a sip and set it down.
A police officer entered, looking troubled. Director Feng, Sun Xiangmings lawyer has arrived. Theyre asking us to release him.
Go tell them that the ti hasnt co yet, and we cant release this person, he placed the tea cup on the table and paced back and forth restlessly with his hands behind his back. Have soone contact Song Yuhang. How much ti has passed? Not a single word, what are they all doing?
The officer hesitated to speak.
Director Feng stopped and looked at him. Whats the matter now?
The reporters have arrived too. The Prosecutors Office has also sent soone to gather information. Deputy Chief Zhang is currently handling it. Would you like to go over
Before he could finish saying the word see, he saw Director Feng Jian raise his eyebrows and explode in anger, Damn reporters, theyre all like dogs with sensitive noses. As soon as they sll at buns, they swarm in, afraid of missing out and not even leaving a hot dog turd for themselves to eat!
The officer wanted to laugh but stifled it, quickly standing at attention without glancing around.
Go tell them that were not giving interviews. Theres nothing much to say about this case. Everything will wait for official notification.
Team Leader Song, here, wipe yourself, sitting in the car, Fang Xin saw that Song Yuhang was completely soaked. She pulled out a tissue from her pocket and handed it over.
Thank you. Song Yuhang sat in the front seat, turned around, and took the tissue to wipe the water droplets from her forehead. However, soone in the back asked another question.
Team Leader Song, are you okay? Your ears are even red. Youre not running a fever, are you? After all, youve been busy for a few days without much rest
Not ntioning it was better, as soon as she did, the area that Lin Yan had touched felt like it was burning up.
Even though she wasnt in the car, that faint and elusive floral scent lingered around her, refusing to dissipate.
Song Yuhang rolled down the car window, letting the cool night breeze mixed with raindrops waft in slightly.
Its okay, its inevitable for it to be stuffy during a typhoon.
As the largest waste processing center in Jiangcheng City, tens of thousands of tons of garbage were brought here daily for centralized landfilling.
Over the years, the accumulated garbage had ford into small hills. Before even driving in, the stench was already noticeable.
Song Yuhang put on a mask, hopped out of the car, and imdiately found the sewage covering her shoes. The team followed her, wading through the ss with each step.
The staff mber leading the way in front was almost suffocated by the sll. He waved his hand and stopped, panting heavily. The garbage brought in a few days ago was dumped over there.
Following the direction of his pointing finger, they looked and saw a dark mass, piled up like small hills.
Duan Chengs face turned pale: This how are we supposed to find anything here?
Song Yuhang didnt look back. She instructed her team of detectives to put on gloves, wear plastic shoes, and take necessary protective asures. Then, she led the way into the garbage pile.
Action spoke louder than words.
When the leader was taking such asures, others also followed suit, pinching their noses and joining in.
Many tis, there were no shortcuts to solving a case, only the day-to-day dedication and effort.
This was the true path to stopping cri.
Doing things like rummaging through garbage, digging through manure pitsSong Yuhang had lost count of how many tis she had done them. Sweat clung to her forehead, trickling out, but before it could even feel warm, the icy rain extinguished it.
Water droplets trailed down her chin, and she couldnt tell whether it was rain or sweat. The sky was dim, the rain unrelenting, and visibility faded after just a few ters.
Rainwater blinked into her eyes, gradually blurring her vision. She removed her hood, wiped her face with a clean shoulder, and glanced at her wristwatch.
3:30 in the early morning.
Impatience was the most accurate depiction of her current state.
HissOuch! It was unclear whether he had touched a tal object or an iron hook, but one of the criminal investigation officers had been pricked. He imdiately took off his glove and started shouting in pain.
Beside him, colleagues were digging through the garbage with their flashlights, and so of them grumbled with dissatisfaction, Weve been getting pricked who knows how many tis while digging through this garbage. Born with bad luck, so people dont even bother showing up. Not to ntion garbage, they havent even been rained on a bit.
Song Yuhang turned around, her lips forming a straight line.
She walked to the side, removed her gloves, and retrieved her phone from the inner pocket of her raincoat. She wiped the water droplets off, but they quickly got wet again from the rain. After a few attempts, she managed to turn on the phone.
She dialed an unlisted number, and the call was quickly answered.
Hello? Help keep an eye on soone.
Amidst lightning and thunder, the howling wind swept through the wilderness, creating a haunting echo.
Her voice was hoarse, giving an inexplicable sense of unease to anyone who heard it.
Delayed or secondary drowning happens when water gets into the lungs and irritates the lining of the lungs. From there, fluid the builds up and can cause a pulmonary edema. In this case, youd notice trouble breathing almost imdiately and the symptoms would worsen over the next few hours.
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