Madness of the Heart

Lai Cheng took off the earphones, stretched his neck, and looked in the direction of the smell.

The southern part of the "Chunchao Riverside" is near the river. There are two small roads next to the green road leading directly to the river. Although this section of the river bank is not the private domain of the owners, ordinary outsiders will not come here.

The riverside is very sluggish in winter and it is rare to see people, but it is very lively in summer and spring, setting up tents, holding barbecue conventions, setting off fireworks, watching stars... and everything.

In order to provide convenience to the owners, at the beginning of this year or last year, the property management set up a few tool houses on the warm pebbly beach by the river, which are similar to the "containers" that the migrant workers live on the construction site. They can be placed inside without taking them home. Items.

After the autumn, let alone the tool room, even the Nuanian Stone Beach, almost no one went to it.

The peculiar smell came from a tool room.

Lai Cheng hesitated for a while, then bowed his head and said to Samoyed: "Let's go and see?"

Samoyed didn't understand, and tilted his head stupidly, "Oh?"

"Playing the piano to the dog is a waste of expression." Lai Cheng laughed at himself, pulled the dog's chain, and led the Samoyed toward the path one kilometer away.

There is also an entrance guard on the small road, and Lai Cheng punched the card and pushed the blocking bar away, even if he was out of the community.

Samoyed dragged him forward excitedly, but the closer he got to the tool room, the more he felt uncomfortable.

There are no street lights on the warm rocky beach. The light comes from the greenways in the community and the background light of the city.

Lai Cheng smelled a strong peculiar smell and wanted to pick up a branch and go to open the door of the tool room. But after searching for it for a long time, he couldn't find it. So he picked up a few geese warm stones and threw them toward the door vigilantly.

The door was unlocked, and it cracked once it was hit, but it quickly closed again.

Lai Cheng cursed secretly and had to walk to the door in person.

Samoyed suddenly became extremely excited, and before Lai Cheng pushed the door, he rushed over.

The moment the door was completely opened, an unbearable stench rushed over his face.

Lai Cheng almost vomited and hurriedly pulled Samoyed back. But Samoyed, who has always been docile, didn't listen to him this time, and tried to drill inside.

His stomach tumbled and he couldn't hold his hand, Samoyed rushed in, howling excitedly. He cursed an swear word, picked up the rope that had fallen outside, and dragged Samoyed out.

The moment he saw Samoyed again, his heart beat wildly-the white hair of Samoyed was stained!

He suddenly understood what the stench came from.

The mobile phone flashlight was turned on, and Lai Cheng pushed open the door of the tool room again, his eyes slowly sweeping in the dark and narrow space.

No, nothing.

But there are large black spots on the ground and on the walls.

Lai Cheng swallowed hard and looked from the bottom up. When he saw the "thing" hanging on the roof, his pupils suddenly closed, took a step back gently, and let his hand holding the rope loose, and a terrified eruption broke out. scream--

"what!!!"

At night, the river breeze was especially strong, and the warning belt was blown bulging. The green roads were crowded with residents who came to hear the news. The owners of the southern and northern districts seemed to temporarily let go of their grievances, rubbing shoulders and waists, looking like a dense wall of people from a distance.

The high-power searchlight illuminates the tool room directly, illuminating the face of every criminal police officer pale.

A male corpse was supported under the ceiling by a steel frame. The sharp ports of the steel frame pierced his chest, abdomen, shoulders, neck, and both thighs. The steel frame was soaked with blood flowing from his body.

How to remove the person is a difficult problem. If the steel frame is removed, some important information on the corpse may be destroyed, but if it is not removed, it will be difficult for forensic doctors and trace examiners to work.

"Let it go first." Xiao Man has put on a full set of equipment, "I'll go up and take a look."

Ming Shu stood by the door, looking up at the face of the corpse.

The victim's eyes showed two blood holes, and half of his mouth was full of blood. If he guessed correctly, the murderer should have cut off the victim's tongue.

Cut off the eyes, cut off the tongue, and let the steel bar pierce the victim's body. How much hate does the murderer hate the victim?

Thinking about it, Ming Shu turned around and looked at the nearby river.

What is the significance of the murderer putting the body here?

This weird posture...

"Woo-"

There was a heavy ship sound in the distance, and the quarrying ship began to work at night.

And fishermen live by this river.

Mingshu had been in contact with fishermen, who sometimes dried the fish they caught in the hut on the riverside.

The murderer was "drying" the body?

"After cleaning, there is only a set of fresh footprints." Xiao Man walked to Ming Shu, "It was left by the reporter just now. According to my preliminary inference, the steel bars are the same material as the iron gates in this community. Judging from the distribution of dust, it was only recently placed here."

"There was an accident in this community shortly before the Spring Festival." Ming Shu said: "The property management once locked the door into and out of the South District Greenway to prevent residents of the North District from going to the Greenway."

Yi Fei said: "The death is so weird, is it revenge for the Greenway Incident?"

Ming Shu shook his head, "It's hard to tell."

The steel frame was removed, and the body was moved to the warm rocky beach.

Xing Mu hurriedly performed a preliminary autopsy. Ming Shu observed the scene for a while and called Lai Cheng, who was trembling.

Apparently frightened by the situation in the tool room, Lai Cheng's eyes straightened, and He Mingshu looked like two of them the last time they saw him.

"How do you want to come here?" Ming Shu asked.

"Walking the dog." Lai Cheng said with a cold sweat on his face, "When I smell it, I'm here."

Ming Shu said, "You still live alone?"

Lai Cheng nodded stupidly, "My dad hasn't bothered me for a long time."

"No one usually comes to this area?" Ming Shu asked again.

Lai Cheng said, "No, it's cold here."

Ming Shu stared at Lai Cheng's face for a while, knowing that if he continued to ask him, he couldn't ask anything. Just as he wanted Fang Yuanhang to take him back to the community, the corner of his clothes was suddenly pulled.

Lai Cheng's eyes were occupied by panic, "You, have you found out who it is?"

The face of the corpse was severely damaged, and there was nothing on the body that could prove the identity. Fortunately, the fingerprints were not destroyed, but the comparison took a certain amount of time.

Ming Shu wanted to explain a few words to Lai Cheng, but before speaking, he realized that Lai Cheng's mood was very abnormal, so he asked, "Do you know who the victim is?"

Lai Cheng opened his mouth several times, "It seems, it seems to be..."

"who is it?"

"I don't know, but I think I, have seen, met him."

Ming Shu took a breath of cold air, "Who do you think he looks like?"

Lai Cheng's eyes were red, "It seems to be my dad. I called him just now, but I couldn't get through!"

After speaking, Lai Cheng finally collapsed, squatting on the ground and shaking while crying.

When Xing Mu stood up from the corpse cloth, he staggered. Fang Yuanhang hurriedly supported him, "Teacher Xing, what's the matter with you?"

Xing Mu shook his head and signaled that he was all right.

Ming Shu came over, "Ms. Xing?"

"Sorry, sorry, I'm a little panicked here." Xing Mu pointed to the position of his heart and sighed, "Why are the cases we have recently encountered so cruel?"

Ming Shu understood immediately, "Is the victim thrown onto the steel frame alive?"

Xing Mu nodded: "The deceased had very significant struggling injuries, and all the places where the steel bars penetrated had life reactions. The cause of death was excessive blood loss. This is the scene of the murder."

Mingshu's eyes were gloomy, looking at the victim's mouth and nose.

"In order to prevent the victim's screams from attracting attention, the murderer wrapped multiple layers of tape on his face. Although it has been torn off now, the traces are obvious." Xing Mu said: "The deceased's limbs were tied, and he was released after death. Open. I guess the murderer was here to witness the death of the deceased before tearing off the tape, untying the rope and leaving."

After a pause, Xing Mu added: "Before leaving, the murderer smashed the eyes and mouth of the deceased."

Fang Yuanhang said: “The southern district is relatively quiet, even if the deceased’s mouth is sealed, there will still be noises.”

Ming Shu shook his head, "Listen to the sound of the wind and the river now. No matter how loud the sound of the dead, they will be overwhelmed."

The body was put into a body bag and quickly sent to the Criminal Investigation Bureau. After fingerprints and DNA comparison, the identity of the deceased was confirmed: Lai Xiuliang, 45 years old, divorced, partner of Liangchen Technology.

He is also Lai Cheng's father.

Lai Cheng came to the Criminal Investigation Bureau, but did not identify the body. He had been sitting on the bench in the hallway, no longer crying, but as if he had not accepted the fact that his father had been killed, he whispered something to himself.

Xiao Yuan went to the capital a few days ago and is currently in the special operations team. Ming Shu is in charge of the serious case team alone.

"This case seems to have something to do with the conflict on the'Chunchao Riverside' some time ago." Ming Shu said: "It has now been determined that the steel frame used as the murder weapon was the iron gate that was blocking the greenway at that time."

The projector was showing photos of the scene, and Ming Shu continued: “The iron gate was dismantled on the night of the third day of the junior high school and placed in the material warehouse in the southern district. According to the warehouse manager, it is waiting to be sold after the beginning of the new year. But Some of them were stolen. The warehouse was full of waste, there was no lock, and no monitoring, and no one went there. It was not until we asked to count the number of steel frames that the administrator discovered that a part was missing."

Yi Fei said: “Someone stole the steel frames and took them to the river. These steel frames are very important to the murderer and represent a certain meaning, otherwise the murderer will not risk stealing it from the warehouse.”

Ming Shu put down the pen, "So I said that this case is related to the previous conflict. The victim, Lai Xiuliang, is the owner of the Southern District. He has a wealthy family and lives in a villa with a private garden. He represents the wealthy in the Southern District. He does not rule out. It is possible that the North District industry, who hates the rich in the South District, will take the initiative. But there is a contradiction."

Ming Shu's tone changed slightly, "Assuming that the murderer is the owner of the North District, I don't think the victim should be Lai Xiuliang."

"Lai Xiuliang doesn't live on the'Chunchao River' at all." Yi Fei said: "Lai Xiuliang has four properties in the main city of Dongye, either villas or high-end commercial buildings.'Chunchao River' is the residence of his son. I usually live in Beicheng District, which is closer to his company."

"Yes, why is such a rich man who rarely appears on the banks of the'Chunchao River' killed?" Ming Shu said, "It's a bit far-fetched."

"But if it has nothing to do with the conflict on the'Chunchao River', why does the murderer have to spend a lot of time to steal the steel frame?" Fang Yuanhang said: "The murderer can use a simpler method to commit the crime, and there is no need to choose the'Chunchaojiang'. The warm stone beach outside the bank."

People in the meeting room were noisy, and everyone was expressing their opinions.

Ming Shu listened and thought, and finally said: "Yi Fei, you can find out the background of Lai Xiuliang and his company. I have been in contact with Lai Cheng. He has a cold personality and can hardly empathize with others. I doubt this. The formation of this personality is related to his elders."

It was almost dawn, and Lai Cheng was still sitting in the corridor.

Ming Shu patted him on the shoulder and handed him a cup of hot cocoa, "Can you answer my question now?"

Lai Cheng's hand holding the cup was shaking, and a few seconds later he lifted his head, his eyes hollow.

Ming Shu said, "Come with me."

Lai Cheng's reaction was a little slow, but after Ming Shu took a few steps, he stood up and followed like a wandering soul.

Ming Shu took him to a small meeting room, turned on the lights, closed the door, and "sit down."

Lai Cheng sat down with a hoarse voice, "Do you know who killed him?"

"I don't know, I don't even have a clue." Ming Shu said: "So even if you are sad now, I must find you to understand your father's situation."

Lai Cheng drank hot cocoa mechanically, "I don't know much about him.... He has not contacted me for so many days, and I have never worried about him."

Ming Shu saw strong regret on Lai Cheng's face.

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"Before the Spring Festival." Lai Cheng said: "It's about 20 in the twelfth lunar month, after the school winter break. He took me to eat Japanese food. I asked him whether he would spend the Spring Festival with me, and he said that the company has something to do and may not be able to keep up.

Ming Shu asked: "You haven't contacted you since then?"

Lai Cheng said: "He called me on New Year's Eve and asked me to give my grandma a New Year greeting. My grandma is in the country, and he reminds me every year."

"Does he know what happened in the community?"

"I don't know if he knows, I didn't tell him."

Ming Shu pondered for a while and asked, "As far as you know, what kind of person is Lai Xiuliang? Who has he offended?"

"He..." Lai Cheng fell silent as soon as he said.

"You think about it." Ming Shu said: "You may be able to provide us with important clues."

Lai Cheng raised his head, "Do you think I am a cold-blooded animal?"

Ming Shu was slightly surprised.

"He is also a cold-blooded animal like me." Lai Cheng laughed self-deprecatingly. "I think I am a copy of him. I don't feel the pain of others very much, or that every time I see others suffer, I I still feel a little happy in my heart."

"You ask me who he has offended. I don't know. I don't even know what his business is. I only know that he is very profitable and very generous to me. He will give whatever I want." Lai As if remembering the scene in the tool room, he shivered suddenly, "Did he be killed by an enemy? Will it be my turn next?"

·

Tianyue Hot Spring Villa in the southern suburbs of Los Angeles.

Hot springs are a great treat in winter. In the past, bathing in hot springs was regarded as a luxury activity, but now wage earners can also enjoy the fun of bathing in hot springs for dozens of dollars.

However, there are very few good springs in cities, and many places under the banner of hot springs use hot water from boiling, and the sanitary conditions are worrying.

In the past ten years, Tianyue Hot Spring Resort has been the most high-end hot spring in Los Angeles. The per capita consumption is as high as several thousand yuan. One night stay and one meal cost tens of thousands.

When it comes to Tianyue, many people shook their heads—"Never have been, can't afford to go, that's where the rich go."

However, three years ago, Tianyue Hot Spring Resort was expanded to the east, and a consumption area for ordinary people was developed, and the per capita consumption was controlled within 800 yuan.

Although this price is still much higher than most hot springs in the city, it is no longer unacceptable. At first, some young people came to "explore the way", and then more and more middle-aged people also dragged their families to come.

Every Spring Festival is the best time for business in Tianyue Hot Spring Resort Dongzhuang. People who have been busy for a year are rushing to enjoy life during the holidays. If you don't make an appointment a week in advance, there is basically no soup to soak.

As for Xizhuang, which only accepts VIPs, there are very few guests during the Spring Festival.

The rich generally choose to come to Tianyue for consumption. On holidays, they either go abroad or participate in banquets, and rarely come to join in the fun.

Dongzhuang and Xizhuang, connected by a quiet mountain road, present two completely different festival scenes.

In the past few days, the waiters in Dongzhuang have clearly noticed that more middle-aged and elderly people come to hot springs—because almost all young people go to work.

Most middle-aged and elderly people have a bad habit of bathing in hot springs, that is, they don't want to get up for a long time. Many hot springs have experienced middle-aged and elderly fainting in the water, and the waiters are extremely nervous.

When the business hours were over, there were still a few elderly people who did not come out.

Waiter Chen Mian had to rush them.

"Do you smell any strange smell?" an old man said.

Chen Mian picked up his eyelids, "How come there is a strange smell? We are the best hot spring in Los Angeles."

"It's really weird, I can smell it too!" said another old man, "from below."

Chen Mianxin said, strange smell? Isn’t it the smell of your urine?

It is common for customers to excrete in hot springs, and although the waiters are not surprised, they still feel sick.

The old people were coaxed out, and they still said something before they left, "Girl, check it out. The strange smell comes from the drain. If something is blocked, it will be bad if it is rotten inside."

·

Capital, special operations team.

No one was speaking in the conference room, and there was a scene of Zhou Lan being interrogated in the video.

Xiao Yuan leaned against the table, Shen Xun propped his chin with one hand.

The picture stopped and Xiao Yuan said: "We have thoroughly investigated the families of these three children. The formation of their extreme personalities has not been affected by the family. In other words, they are born with anti-social tendencies. Before high school, this tendency was They hide, the first grader finds their accomplices, and their "sense of identity" and "sense of belonging" drive them to commit crimes together.

Shen Xun said: "'Finding each other' is the key to them starting to act maliciously...but teenagers with antisocial personality are more susceptible to outside influences than adults."

Xiao Yuan said: "We haven't found that they have been influenced by the outside world for the time being. All the influence comes from within their small group."

Shen Xun stood up and took a few steps, "But you suspect that their behavior may have an external fulcrum, otherwise you would not make this trip."

Xiao Yuan nodded, "Neither the Ming team nor I can let go of this case. In fact, I came to you this time and there is another thing."