Wrong Interrogation Room, The First Cracked Case Shocked the World

Chapter 69 Subversive skills, one million people choose one!

"Ning Cheng, what do you mean?" Zhou Ziyan questioned, puzzled. "How is this not the work of the Scalpel Demon?"

Ning Cheng replied calmly, "It's simple, Team Zhou. Carefully review the Nanlian Township Police Station's case file."

"I don't understand," Zhou Ziyan stated frankly.

"The city bureau provided files on the previous Scalpel Killer and his three victims," Ning Cheng explained. "Their data shows the killer acted randomly, targeting victims indiscriminately."

"The victims were a young girl, a middle-aged woman, and an elderly woman. Each had a fatal throat wound, a chest wound, and a cross-shaped mark on their wrists."

"But Wang Shuzhen's file from Nanlian Township differs significantly."

Zhou Ziyan examined the file Ning Cheng provided. "What's the difference?" she asked.

"The cross-shaped mark on Wang Shuzhen's wrist matches the Scalpel Killer's signature," Ning Cheng pointed out. "However, the previous victims had the mark on their left wrists. Wang Shuzhen's mark is on her right wrist. And upon closer inspection, it's more of a simple cross, not the distinctive cross-shaped knife symbol used by the Scalpel Killer."

"This subtle difference is key. It suggests the Wang Shuzhen murder was committed by an imitator, someone who lacked detailed knowledge of the Scalpel Killer's methods."

Following Ning Cheng's lead, Zhou Ziyan and her team compared the Nanlian Township file with the city bureau's Scalpel Killer files. The difference in the wrist markings was immediately apparent. The Scalpel Killer's mark was always on the left wrist; Wang Shuzhen's was on the right.

"It seems this is an imitation crime," Zhou Ziyan concluded. "Why would someone do this?"

"To frame the Scalpel Killer," Ning Cheng deduced. "But the imitator lacked access to detailed information about the victims. Our files are strictly controlled. The imitator likely gleaned superficial details from news reports or television broadcasts."

"That makes sense," Zhou Ziyan agreed. "If this is an imitation, the case should be much easier to solve." The Scalpel Killer's randomness made the cases difficult to solve. This imitation, however, offered a new avenue of investigation.

"Let's focus on Wang Shuzhen's social network," Zhou Ziyan proposed.

Their investigation divided into two teams. Zhou Ziyan, Mu Xiaoyu, and Chen Kai focused on Wang Shuzhen's work as a bar girl. Ning Cheng, Tang Xin, and Wang Jin investigated her family and friends.

Leaving the crime scene, Ning Cheng encountered a team of veteran detectives from the city bureau. He recognized the team leader, an old captain he'd met at a previous case briefing. They exchanged a brief, almost imperceptible acknowledgment.

The veteran detectives' team members were immediately unimpressed. "Liu Team, who was that kid? So young, and he didn't seem to show you any respect," one muttered.

"That was Ning Cheng," the captain replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "He was instrumental in solving the Sibutramine case. It's natural for people to react differently to me now."

The team members were stunned. The Sibutramine case was nationally renowned, largely due to Ning Cheng's efforts. They were awestruck by his youth and composure.

"Solve the case," the captain said. "Prove yourselves. Don't let Ning Cheng outshine you."

Meanwhile, Ning Cheng's team arrived at Wang Shuzhen's dilapidated home. A young woman answered the door – Wang Shuzhen's 16-year-old daughter, Zhao Xiaoli. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

Zhao Xiaoli confirmed her identity and invited them in.

"My dad is sick," she explained, gesturing toward a gentle cough from within the house, accompanied by the scent of traditional medicine.

The team learned from the file that Wang Shuzhen's husband, Zhao Cong, was gravely ill and relied on traditional medicine. Wang Shuzhen worked at a bar to support them.

Zhao Cong, weak and clearly ill, was ruled out as a suspect. Neither he nor Zhao Xiaoli showed any signs of involvement.

After calming the grieving family, Ning Cheng began his questioning. Both Zhao Cong and Zhao Xiaoli insisted Wang Shuzhen had few conflicts and was generally well-liked. They couldn't identify anyone who might have wanted her dead.

Ning Cheng's investigation of the neighbors yielded little. Wang Shuzhen was described as a kind, responsible wife and mother with limited social interaction.

"Boss Ning Cheng, we haven't found any suspects," Tang Xin observed.

"Neither have I," Ning Cheng replied. "Let's meet with Zhou Ziyan and compare notes."

At the cafe, Zhou Ziyan reported similar findings. Wang Shuzhen's coworkers at the bar spoke highly of her. She had no known enemies.

"Could this be another random killing?" Zhou Ziyan wondered.

"Perhaps," Ning Cheng mused. "But there's another angle to consider. This was an imitation of the Scalpel Killer's crimes. The killer likely learned about the case from news reports, the internet, or television. The errors in the imitation suggest a lack of detailed knowledge."