The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

Chapter 373: Chapter 225: She’s a Bit Suspicious!

Zhang Yean glanced at it and immediately said, ”Junior brother, leave this to me, I’ll retake those photos for you.”

Saying that, Jiang An arranged the reconstruction materials and photos neatly, and started to work methodically based on past experience.

He first poured an appropriate amount of plaster powder and shaping agent into the bucket, gently stirred it evenly, and then carefully placed the skull in.

Once it solidified into a model, he cautiously removed the skull.

Then, he picked up the tools and, based on the hard marks on the skull, meticulously added muscle lines bit by bit.

Having worked together twice already, Wan and Zhang Yean were cooperating seamlessly on the side, handing over tools and assisting, the entire process flowing smoothly like moving clouds and flowing water.

Wan would occasionally look up at Jiang An and joke, ”Jiang An, with your level of concentration, is there nothing in your eyes but this skull? I’m beginning to wonder if you can see flowers from these lines.”

Jiang An just smiled and stayed focused, his hands never stopping, ”Don’t distract me, this work is meticulous; the slightest mistake would waste all efforts.”

Zhang Yean chimed in from the side, ”Exactly, don’t cause a ruckus. Once we finish this busy period, there’ll be plenty of time to joke around.”

8:10 PM.

In the interrogation room, Mr. Qin put down the pen in his hand, looked at the woman, and gently asked, ”This is what I mainly wanted to understand, is there anything else you wish to tell us?”

The woman was already in tears, she raised her hand to rub her swollen eyes and said with a sob, ”May I ask when I can claim my husband’s remains?”

”In Xinghua Village, we hold dear the belief of returning to one’s roots.”

”I hope that even if he didn’t pass away back home, he can at least return to his parents and be buried in our family’s land.”

Mr. Qin nodded understandingly, his tone gentle, ”I completely understand your feelings.”

”But there are procedures in handling cases; until the identity of the deceased is confirmed, we really can’t hand over the remains to you.”

”We ask for your understanding and patience.”

The woman was silent for a long time, finally nodding helplessly, ”Alright then, I’ll wait for your news.”

Watching the woman’s slowly departing back, a fellow officer leaned over to Mr. Qin and asked softly, ”Mr. Qin, this woman seems truly sad, doesn’t seem to have any issues, does she?”

Mr. Qin stared in the direction the woman left, pondered for a moment, and shook his head, ”It’s hard to say at the moment.”

”Throughout the interrogation, I found that what concerns her most is the remains.”

”What’s the problem with that?”

”It’s normal for family members to wish for the deceased to be buried properly.”

The officer next to him asked with a face full of confusion.

”It is normal, but isn’t she too eager?”

”In my experience with cases, when a loved one suddenly dies, shouldn’t what concerns people most be the cause of death?”

”Shouldn’t everyone’s focus be on whether it was suicide, homicide, or an accident?”

”Why is she so fixated on claiming the remains?”

Mr. Qin’s eyes showed doubt, his tone full of contemplation.

10:30 PM, in the forensic lab.

Jiang An, Zhang Yean, and Wan finally completed the main part of the skull reconstruction.

The three of them were already starving, their stomachs growling loudly.

Wan, rubbing his stomach, turned his head to ask Jiang An, ”How much longer do we need to finish the final repairs?”

”My stomach is starting to protest.”

Jiang An estimated, looked up and smiled, ”About another hour, I’d say.”

”An hour?”

Wan quickly waved his hand, ”I can’t hold on, I’m going downstairs to grab a few cups of instant noodles.”

Saying that, he immediately got up and walked out the door.

”I’m also starving, feels like I’m about to have hypoglycemia.”

Zhang Yean chimed in agreement.

Soon, the two of them returned with three cups of instant noodles in a hurry.

Zhang Yean looked at Jiang An and said in a deep voice, ”Junior brother, have a cup too.”

Jiang An nodded softly, ”Thank you, senior sister!”

For a moment, the lab was filled with the aroma of instant noodles, mixed with the smell of chemicals, creating a peculiar atmosphere.

The instant noodles hadn’t fully soaked when Li Jian, in casual clothes, strode in.

As soon as he entered, he exclaimed, ”Haha, well done everyone!”

Suddenly, the smell of instant noodle seasoning wafted to his nose.

”Wait, why are you eating instant noodles?”

”Captain, we couldn’t hold out any longer, been doing skull reconstruction, starving here.” Wan complained with a bitter face.

Li Jian looked full of apology, waved a big hand, ”It’s my fault as the captain, stop eating instant noodles.”

”Let’s go, to the barbecue place across from the police station.”

”I’ll treat you to barbecue to fill your bellies.”

”No need, instant noodles are enough, the work is not done yet.”

Jiang An declined, but couldn’t help glancing at the not-yet-soaked instant noodle.

”When is work ever finished, you need to take care of your health first.”

”There’s barbecue just across from the police station, a few steps away, eat up and then come back to work.”

”You guys are working hard; you’re the backbone of the investigation team.”

”If I let you eat instant noodles while working overtime, I’d be failing as a captain, people would laugh at us.”

Li Jian persuaded earnestly.

Wan smiled and stood up, ”The captain said so.”

”It’d be rude to refuse, let’s go, and have a good meal on us.”

Soon, the four of them arrived at the barbecue shop across from the police station.

Li Jian picked up the menu, boldly saying, ”What do you three want to eat, I’ll order.”

”Anything, I’m not picky anymore.” Wan patted his stomach.

”I don’t have any specific cravings either, just a simple meal is fine.” Jiang An agreed.

”Simple won’t do, we need to eat well.”

Li Jian said while checking off the menu, ”Four chicken wings, a plate of peanuts, four oysters, two grilled squids, plus some grilled gluten and gluten skin...”

The server walked up and politely asked, ”Would you like any drinks?”

Li Jian waved his hand decisively, ”No alcohol during work hours, bring us four colas.”

Soon, four canned colas were brought over.

Li Jian and Wan opened the colas, handing them to everyone, ”Let’s drink some cola before the barbecue arrives.”

Holding a cola in hand, Li Jian said deeply, ”Thanks to you three for your hard work, as your captain, I’m truly touched.”

”With team members like you, I feel confident in holding up the investigation team for a few more years here.”

”But, don’t overwork yourselves, take care of your health.”

Pausing slightly, he said solemnly, ”Mr. Ma is very concerned about this case, if it’s solved first-time, there’ll be no shortage of honors and rewards.”

”However, I trust the strength and capability of our investigation team, we surely can tackle this tough case.”

”To the successful resolution of the case, cheers!”

The four clinked their glasses, Wan, full of excitement, curiously said, ”Captain, this case is being handled pretty smoothly, we seem to have found our direction right at the start, feels like we’re not far from solving it.”

Li Jian nodded in agreement, ”Indeed, but I do have some doubts, the identity of the deceased is confirmed,”

”But why was he victimized? Was it suicide or homicide?”

Just then, his phone rang, upon seeing it was a call from Mr. Qin,

He quickly answered, ”Mr. Qin, is the investigation on Wang Jianghe’s wife completed?”

”Yes, she appears quite sad, nothing suspicious throughout the process.”

”She reported that Wang Jianghe was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer half a year ago, and had been having suicidal thoughts since, especially in the past one or two months, he mentioned it more frequently, the late-stage liver cancer pain was severe.”

”That late-stage cancer pain is indeed unbearable.” Li Jian responded.

”However, I feel something’s odd.” Mr. Qin’s voice held a trace of doubt.

”What’s odd?” Li Jian pressed urgently.

”Throughout my interactions with her, she repeatedly expressed wanting to claim the remains for burial.”

”But, regarding the nature of the deceased’s death, whether it’s suicide, accident, or homicide, she doesn’t seem too concerned.”

Li Jian, after hearing this, was momentarily stunned.

He frowned deeply, falling into deep thought.