by Gangxueyin
Liu Xiangming hadn’t expected the question. He turned to look at his coworkers, then said in a low voice, “I need a smoke. Let’s go outside and talk.”
They walked to a pergola on the edge of a playing field and lit up.
“How’s work going?” Han Yin asked.
Liu Xiangming pulled deeply on the cigarette and sneered. “Fine. The managers don’t like me. I wish they’d give me something worthwhile to do, but that’s unlikely. No real work’s okay, too. Gives me time to play around in the stock market.”
“And how’s that working out?” asked Han Yin.
“I’ve paid in about all my work savings from over the past few years. If you want to make money, don’t go into the stock market. Also, don’t ever buy funds. That’s even more risky. If you blow your own money, at least you know why. Give your money to them, and they fucking use it on luxury cars and apartments. I’m locked in so if I don’t play, then what? It’s too fucking much!”
“What did you do with your three days off over New Year’s?” Han Yin asked.
“You came to question me? You think I’m the murderer? Do I look like one? What a joke!”
“It’s no joke. Everyone’s a suspect. Answer our question,” said Kang Xiaobei.
Liu Xiangming looked away and took a drag, as if avoiding Kang Xiaobei’s eyes.
“Come on. We’re only asking about New Year’s. What’s the big deal?” pressed Kang Xiaobei.
“Uh, that uh . . . on the first day I went to my parents’ and stayed overnight. I just hung out at my place the next few days. I didn’t go anywhere.” Liu Xiangming licked his lips, a sign of uncertainty. Then he added, “I have my own place.”
“Can anyone vouch for that?” asked Kang Xiaobei.
“My parents can vouch for me. But the other days . . .” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked cagey. “I don’t know how to vouch for those. Just me alone at home.”
“How many male students were there in your class?” Han Yin asked.
Just like Huang Chuanjun, Liu Xiangming let out a big breath at the mention of male students. “In the Chinese Department, not many. Only seven.”
“Do you know what they’ve been up to recently?”
“We keep in touch from time to time through instant messaging. But the year before last, one of the classmates got cancer and died. Two others are abroad, and one is elsewhere in the country. Only the three of us around here are in contact.”
“What do those two do, specifically?” asked Kang Xiaobei.
“Wang Wei is a university professor. He works in the College of Finance and Economics. Feng Wenhao is a doctor now.”
“A doctor!” Kang Xiaobei said out of excitement.
“How does someone who studied Chinese language and literature become a doctor?” Han Yin asked, showing no excitement.
“His mother had been an orthopedic specialist at the Central Hospital. After she retired, she opened a private orthopedics hospital. Through her connections, she sent Feng Wenhao abroad for advanced studies, and he returned as one of her doctors.”
Nodding, Han Yin said, “How much do you know about the female students?”
Liu Xiangming put out what was left of his cigarette and flicked the butt away. “I really haven’t had much contact with the female students. You can find Wang Wei’s old lady, Xue Min. She also went to school with me and was in the same dorm as Yin Aijun. She and Wang Wei teach at some university.”
“Oh, I see.” Han Yin thought for a while, pulled out a business card, and gave it to Liu Xiangming. “Today was my first time here. I may be back. If anything arises, give me a call.”
Liu Xiangming took the card and tucked it into his pocket. “Well, bye for now.”
Han Yin nodded. Just as Liu Xiangming was about to turn away, Han Yin suddenly stopped him and said, “Oh, right. I heard you were divorced not long after you got married. What happened?”
“We were just incompatible. Married on a whim. A quick divorce. No big deal.” Without being conscious of it, Liu Xiangming brushed his hand over his eyebrow a couple of times, and a strange look appeared on his face. “Can I go now?”
Han Yin smiled inside and nodded.
Afterward, Han Yin and Kang Xiaobei chatted with several of Yin Aijun’s former teachers but found nothing of use.
As they left Old Capital University, darkness had already fallen. Han Yin had Kang Xiaobei take him to the cold case group. He wanted to bring some files back with him to study.
Kang Xiaobei, beside himself with worry, blurted out, “I’ve got three questions!”
Han Yin bowed his head.
“First, the deceased. Did Yin Aijun die sixteen years ago or not?”
“Haven’t you read the file? Doesn’t it plainly say she did on the cover?”
“According to the file, the police confirmed the corpse’s identity through university professors and students. No blood matches were done with relatives. And even when her father went to the station, he wasn’t allowed to identify the body. Don’t you think this is a bit strange?”
Han Yin reflected on this, then said, “Objectively speaking, yes, it’s somewhat less than rigorously conducted. But that’s understandable. Maybe the station felt the identification by university professors and students was sufficient. And as far as the father was concerned, the pitiful state of his daughter’s corpse and the feelings of hearing about it versus seeing it with one’s own eyes would be totally different. Maybe the station worried that if he saw the corpse, he’d do something extreme that would cause new complications and add to the pressures of solving the case.”
“Who was the Yin Aijun that appeared in the dormitory?”
“That’s something I can’t explain right now.”
“Why do I have the sense that you don’t suspect Feng Wenhao in the slightest? His profession would be consistent with the specialized nature of the killer’s dismemberment techniques. Also, why wasn’t this aspect reflected in your profiling report?”
“There was no mistake when the killer dragged Wang Li off in a bustling district and dumped her body parts all over the downtown area. This shows that although he might not have been a high achiever in many respects, it did not stop him from being cautious and thinking his actions through. He wouldn’t have left any information at the crime scene that could be clearly linked to him. Therefore, there’s no necessary connection between the specialized dismemberment technique and tools and the killer’s occupation. Naturally, the present profiling report consists of only preliminary opinions and requires further refinement. As for Feng Wenhao, we’re going to have to dig a little deeper with him.”
“And Huang Chuanjun and Liu Xiangming?” This was what Kang Xiaobei intended as his next question. “I feel there’s a problem with these two. They looked evasive when they spoke, and their words were vague and noncommittal. They both have cars but no alibis. Don’t we want to check them again?”
“You’re right. Those two have something to hide. Reduced circumstances, unhappy marriages, lots not going well in their lives. I’d say there’s potential for crime there. Send one or two of your pals to keep a sharp eye on them for a few days. Everyone has secrets, but having secrets doesn’t often lead to murder.”
11
THE PHONE CALL FROM HELL
Midnight
Han Yin was awaked by his cell phone. He heard heavy breathing at the other end, slow and thick, followed by total silence. Then came a deep, low cry. A girl softly sobbing.
Han Yin shot up in bed, held his breath, and exclaimed, “Hello, hello? Who are you? Speak up! Who are you?”
The muffled sobs continued to flow. A scene suddenly flashed into Han Yin’s mind. Under a dim street lamp, in a lonely telephone booth on a street corner, a girl is holding a receiver, tears on her face, her thin form trembling in the cold wind.
Han Yin was about to ask again, when a girl’s hoarse voice came through. “Help me . . . help me, help me . . . help me, help me . . .”
“Who
are you? What kind of help?” he shouted. Then a buzzing sound—disconnected.
Night. All was quiet once again. The room was dark. Han Yin sat on the bed. The bizarre telephone call. The sobbing girl. Just a dream, it seemed.
But his phone showed that he’d answered a call. Han Yin suddenly realized something and called the number back. A mechanical woman’s voice said, “I’m sorry, the number you have dialed has been disconnected. Please hang up and try again.”
Morning meeting
The investigation progress briefing revealed no key suspects had been discovered. Ye Xi ordered everyone to continue deep investigations in line with the profiling report and once again instructed them to collaborate on these two cases to save on police resources.
When the meeting adjourned, Han Yin told Ye Xi about last night’s frightening telephone call. She was shocked. When Han Yin told her about “that pair of eyes,” she was speechless.
Han Yin gave Ye Xi the telephone number for the office to check out. When they regrouped in the evening, they could review it together.
Han Yin and Kang Xiaobei got in the car and took off. Today’s plan was to visit Yin Aijun’s schoolmates—the orthopedic doctor, Feng Wenhao, and the professor at the College of Finance and Economics, Wang Wei, and his wife, Xue Min. One workplace was in the western part of the city, and the other was across town at the east end.
At about ten o’clock, they arrived at the orthopedics hospital. Unfortunately, Feng Wenhao was in surgery and didn’t come out to meet with them until noon.
Feng Wenhao fit the standard image of a wimp. Medium height, pale, self-effacing, soft-spoken, and well mannered. Having just completed surgery, he appeared exhausted, though he politely invited his two visitors into his office. He answered every question and was the very picture of the calm, well-poised gentleman.
He was unmarried and had no girlfriend. He said that on the New Year’s holiday, he was on duty at the hospital and stayed home at night. He lost his father at an early age and had lived all this time with his mother. She could vouch for him. Without hesitation, he called his mother to come to the office.
Feng Wenhao’s mother maintained herself very well. She looked much younger than her actual age. Mother and son resembled each other closely and appeared to be on especially good terms.
She provided an alibi for her son and stayed in the room. With his mother present, Feng Wenhao appeared somewhat inhibited, and the answers he gave were perfunctory and offhand. According to him, after graduating, except for the occasional contact with Wang Wei and Liu Xiangming, he had not stayed in touch with his other schoolmates. He was even less certain about how his female schoolmates were doing and really couldn’t think of which one was most likely to become a killer.
Han Yin and Kang Xiaobei thanked them and walked out.
They stopped at a restroom before leaving the hospital. A custodian was there, cleaning the sink, so Han Yin casually asked about Feng Wenhao. The custodian praised him as a good person, then hesitated and said in a thick Northeast accent, “His mother’s nothing to speak of. She’s very picky and domineering. Dr. Feng’s under her thumb, and she’s always coming down on him.”
“How do you know?” Han Yin asked with a smile.
The custodian glanced at the door and said in a low voice, “I often see Dr. Feng in the bathroom, looking stressed out. I get the feeling he’d rather stay in here than go back to his office. Once I even heard him crying in here.”
Han Yin nodded, and Kang Xiaobei offered a faint smile.
Peach Grove University was located in the eastern suburbs and was one of J City’s new districts. It consisted mainly of high-end neighborhoods and research and cultural institutions. This was where the city’s colleges were concentrated, and the College of Finance and Economics had moved here several years ago.
The first person Han Yin and Kang Xiaobei met in the college faculty room was Xue Min. She was pretty, a little overweight, and dealt with the questions rather well.
“Can you tell us what you and your husband were doing over New Year’s?” Kang Xiaobei asked.
“Of course! Originally, we discussed seeing my parents. Later, we gave my mom a call. It was close to New Year’s, and she didn’t want us to go to any trouble. She said we could visit another time with my older brother and sister. Or was it because my father’s health wasn’t very good? My mom likes quiet and didn’t feel like entertaining us, so Wang Wei and I walked around the city that day. As for the next few days, nothing special. I deep-cleaned the house and did the laundry. Wang Wei’s the class master, so he spent that time writing the end-of-semester summary and review plan. Basically, neither of us went out.”
“Was there any change in Wang Wei’s behavior during that time?” Han Yin asked.
“No, he was normal.” Xue Min laughed. “You don’t think Wang Wei murdered and dismembered Aijun, do you? He couldn’t even hurt a fly, let alone a person.”
Han Yin said, “Forgive me for asking, but have there been any problems in your marriage recently?”
“We’re doing great!” Xue Min said, but there was a slight hesitation. She dropped her voice to a softer pitch and said, “Well, not that good. Like other families, sometimes there’s bickering, but Wang Wei’s good-tempered and always lets me have my way. Usually, I am the one throwing a temper tantrum. He’ll sulk for a little and be over it.”
There was nothing suspicious about her answers, and Han Yin changed the focus. “I’ve heard you and Yin Aijun roomed together in the dorm.”
“Yes, we did.”
“After word of her murder got around, were any girls in the dorm behaving strangely? And in recent years, among the former schoolmates you’ve been in contact with, are any in bad mental shape?”
Xue Min gave this some thought. “Yu Meifen.”
This name sounded familiar. Han Yin searched his memory.
“Yu Meifen. What about her?” asked Kang Xiaobei.
“That year, Yu Meifen stole a hot plate to cook noodles and got Yin Aijun in trouble. When Aijun went missing, Meifen was really worried. Then later when she saw in the newspaper that they had an unidentified corpse, she immediately thought of Aijun and notified the faculty.”
“Was Yu Meifen the first to suggest this was the identity of the corpse?” asked Han Yin.
“Yes. It’s really odd. Especially since she never read the paper.”
“The day Yin Aijun wasn’t feeling well and went out for a walk, didn’t Meifen go out, too?” Han Yin seemed to be grasping at something and was breathing quickly.
“Right. Not long after Aijun went out, Meifen also said she was feeling bad and wanted to go out for a walk.”
Han Yin nodded, then signaled Xue Min to continue.
“After identifying the corpse, Meifen was really upset. She felt guilty and kept saying that if it hadn’t been for her, Aijun wouldn’t have gone out in the first place and wouldn’t have been killed. That sort of thing. Meifen used to be a real chatterbox and loved to laugh. But after that, she became cold and distant.”
“Do you stay in touch?”
“We do. Meifen’s hometown is a remote peasant village. After she graduated, she didn’t want to go back. Plus, at the time, she had a hot thing going with Feng Wenhao. So to stay on, she took a job as an editor at a publishing house.”
“What? She and Feng Wenhao had a relationship?” said Kang Xiaobei.
“Yes! It was love at first sight. We’d only been at the university a few days, and they just hit it off. And they were still going strong right up until graduation. We were all optimistic about them. But the reality was far from what we thought. After graduating, everybody was out looking for jobs, and we didn’t really stay in touch. About a year later, Meifen suddenly called. She said she wanted to meet up. She looked pretty bad, all haggard and thin. Then I knew things weren’t going smoothly between Feng Wenhao and her, mainly because of his mother and her control issues.
“The first time Wenhao brought M
eifen home, his mom said she didn’t agree to their marriage and that Meifen wasn’t worthy of Wenhao and wasn’t what she had in mind for a daughter-in-law. At the time, Wenhao was still pretty determined. He naively thought that once Meifen had a child, his mom would agree to their marriage for the sake of her grandchild. When his mom found out Meifen was pregnant, she went nuts. She went to Meifen’s workplace and railed at her for acting so shamelessly with her son. She used all sorts of tactics to force Meifen to get an abortion. Meifen had no family here and was too scared to tell Wenhao. All she could do was pour her heart out to me. But I couldn’t do anything other than comfort her. A week later, she called again and told me Wenhao’s mom had suddenly agreed to their marriage. She sounded very happy, but deep inside I sensed something wasn’t right about this.
“Sure enough, a few days later, Meifen called, in tears. She said Wenhao’s mom’s sudden affection was a trick to get her to have the abortion. Afterward, she changed back to being horrible. She gave Meifen some money and told her to keep her distance from Wenhao. Later, the mom, through some foreign relative, made arrangements for Wenhao to go to medical school abroad. She also threatened to commit suicide to get Wenhao to go along with her plans. Wenhao had no choice but to go abroad, and Meifen fell seriously ill and suffered from deep depression. She couldn’t work anymore. She was very disheartened and decided to go back to her village. Just before she left, she called to say good-bye. I haven’t heard from her since.”
Han Yin and Kang Xiaobei were deeply sympathetic. After several moments of silence, just as Han Yin was about to ask something, the bell sounded in the hallway, and a handsome, mature-looking man came into the office. He was tall and slender, with a book tucked under his arm. He walked up to Xue Min and put his arm around her. “And these two gentlemen are?”
“We’re from the municipal PSB Criminal Investigation Division. I’m Han Yin, and this is my colleague, Kang Xiaobei.”
“This is my husband, Wang Wei.” Xue Min stood and said to Wang Wei, “Have a chat with them. I’m going out for a bit.”
