Case Files 013

I nodded. Liang Mei couldn’t be reached at the moment, but we had the phone numbers of Zhou Moli and Zhang Xue. I asked Zhao Mingkun to call Zhang Xue first, and Zhang Xue promised that he would come after a while.

But before Zhang Xue came, it was first necessary to prove whether Liang Mei was pregnant seven years ago.

Thinking of this, I asked Zhao Pingjuan, “Zhao Pingjuan, was Liang Mei pregnant seven years ago?”

When it was mentioned, Liang Mei turned her head and gave Yang Licheng a blank look, and then began to say: “If you hadn’t mentioned this, I’d almost forget. It's Yang Licheng who is shameless. Not to mentioned how he cheated my feelings, but he also knocked me up.”

“Did you see Liang Mei the night Lu Zhiqiu died, seven years ago?” I asked.

When asked, Zhao Pingjuan directed back a “huh” and said, “This, I really don’t know how to put it. At the time, Liang Mei had missed her periods and had begun to suspect that she might be pregnant, and told me about it. At the time, I inquired about the situation, but it hadn’t been that long, and asked her to wait for a week and observe for further developments. Even if we had gone to the hospital, it would’ve been impossible to detect anything. She might’ve been a little scared by it all, so told me that she wanted to be alone, and I let her be.”

I frowned, and then asked: “Then what do you mean, Liang Mei was alone in the dormitory and didn't go out drinking with you at all, didn't she?”

I frowned, and asked: “Do you mean to say, Liang Mei was alone in the dorm and didn’t go out for a drink with you at all?”

“That's right.” Zhao Pingjuan said.

“What time did you leave that night?” I looked at the three people sitting on the sofa.

Wang Yikai still rubbed his stomach and said first: “I don't know. Anyway, I remember that it was dawn when I went back, and just after I fell asleep, I heard that someone had met with an accident.” After that, we all went to see what's going on and saw Lu Zhiqiu's body. To be honest, I wasn’t completely conscious due to the wine.

“It was almost dawn the next day.” Yang Licheng also said.

“That is to say, from the beginning to the end, Liang Mei was not there at any time in the party?.” I asked.

Zhao Pingjuan nodded and said, “Anyway, from the beginning to the end, I didn't see Liang Mei there. Are you saying it is Liang Mei's hand?”

I didn't answer that, but said: “I can't draw this conclusion yet; Zhang Xue will be here in a while. You should be in the other room. Zhang Xue might not talk if you’re present.”

Zhao Pingjuan nodded and walked into the room.

Soon after, Wang Yikai rushed to the toilet, I do not know why.

Half an hour later, Zhang Xue walked into the house. Seeing us, Zhang Xue just nodded slightly.

I signalled for Zhang Xue to sit down, and I cut to the chase: “Zhang Xue, you know why we’re here. I’m here to ask you about what happened seven years ago. In the beginning, Lu Zhiqiu died unknowingly, but now someone has back for him; to avenge him. If we don’t get to the bottom of this, I’m afraid all thirteen of you will be in danger.”

Zhang Xue looked at us. Her expression was a little melancholy, and she seemed hesitant to say anything.

I hurriedly said, “Zhang Xue, if you have something to say, don't be restrained. If you hesitate like this, people will suspect you. Do you understand?”

Zhang Xue seemed to have made up her mind. She gave an “um” before saying, “I know who the murderers are.”

“You know the murderer?” Zhao Mingkun and I looked at each other.

Zhao Pingjuanzhi.

This is what he said before, but now, Zhang Xue and Zhao Pingjuan said the exact same things. She also knew who the murderer was. Could it be that Zhang Xue would allude to the same thing, similarly, to Zhao Pingjuan?

Zhang Xue nodded lightly and said to the crowd, “I have one thing I want to tell you about. During our internship at the construction site, our dormitory did discuss how to kill Lu Zhiqiu.”

“But-but!” Zhang Xue seemed to be afraid that we would suspect her, so she hurriedly said: “But at the time, I felt that after everyone had drunk their fill, they were done venting their unhappiness towards Lu Zhiqiu. I would never have thought that it turn true afterwards, and someone would really kill Lu Zhiqiu, later. At that time, I remember that Zhao Pingjuan said something about how he would thrash Lu Zhiqiu to death with bricks.”

Although Zhao Pingjuan had given the details, Zhao Pingjuan did not mention that he was the one to propose the murder method. But this is understandable. People are emotional animals, and they always hide things that make them look bad or aren’t good for them when they describe something. This is a human instinct, and it is not necessarily the wicked who complain first.

I did not interrupt Zhang Xue, but continued to listen to her.

Then, Zhang Xue continued to say: “Lu Zhiqiu, this person was too cunning and was playing innocent, we didn’t like her. That day, I too said something about killing Lu Zhiqiu that day, but those were all said out of anger. Why’d my boyfriend have to keep comparing me to Lu Zhiqiu.

Zhang Xue sighed: “Afterwards, when we returned to the construction site, no one mentioned this matter. However, on the last day, this kind of thing happened. I was so frightened at the time that I didn't dare go to the scene to see the body. But later I heard that Lu Zhiqiu was beaten to death by someone.”

I nodded, glanced at the room. Zhao Pingjuan entered, and said, “What do you mean?”

Zhang Xue was silent for a moment, and then said: “I think the murderers are the other three people in our dormitory. Though it was Zhao Pingjuan who first brought up the idea to trash her with bricks, but it is not necessarily Zhao Pingjuan who killed people, and the other two are also suspect. However, I think Zhao Pingjuan's is the one I suspect the most.”

I frowned, wondering if Zhao Pingjuan, who was in the room, had heard these words.

I asked, “Then do you have any proof that you didn't do it yourself?”

Zhang Xue was silent for a while, then said, “I have no way to prove it. If I had a way to prove it, I would have told the police about this as early as seven years ago. But I don't know who did it. I was afraid that if I say it myself, the murderer would come after me and brutally kill me. I thought I would never bring this up again in my life, but I didn't expect this to come to light."

“It's been seven years, and this matter has yet to settle down. I think it's necessary for me to speak now. If the pool can be reduced to three from thirteen, It should be a lot less troublesome for you. I hope you don't talk about this matter. If there is a murderer, I'm afraid there will be danger.”

I shrugged and said helplessly, “I'm afraid I can't agree with you about this matter, but judging from your words, do you mean that the murderers may be Zhao Pingjuan, Liang Mei, and Zhou Moli?”

Zhang Xue nodded.

I said, “If that's the case, I'll ask someone to verify what you’ve said. In this way, I'll go to Zhou Moli and ask, “Can I know what happened back then?”

“Okay.” Zhang Xue said, “As long as you do not mention me.”

I pointed to the next room and said, “Okay, then, you go inside and wait. Your good friends are inside.”

Zhang Xue frowned and walked into the room. At this time, Zhao Mingkun had already called Zhou Moli in.

Before Zhou Moli came back, Wang Yikai finally came out of the toilet. I noticed his was forehead covered in sweat, his face gone pale, and his whole body trembled. He was walking with a little jump to his steps. He clasped his hands tightly on his stomach, blue veins bursting out.

“What's the matter?” I asked, “No, go and have it checked.”

Wang Yikai slumped on the sofa and said, “It's alright. I don't know what's wrong. Maybe it's hemorrhoids, and I'm bleeding out.”

Zhao Mingkun rolled his eyes at Wang Yikai and said, “When you take the plane in the afternoon, don't spray blood on the plane.”

Wang Yikai smiled, “If I want to spray blood, I can also spray blood here.”

Zhao Mingkun contacted Zhou Moli. Zhou Moli is a full-time housewife. She received a call from Zhao Mingkun and promised to come over.

These three people are easy to contact, but I don't know if Liang Mei can still contact them now.

Thinking of this, I said to Zhao Mingkun, “Call Liang Mei and see if she can still be reached.”

Zhao Mingkun nodded and continued to call Liang Mei, but still no one answered. Why doesn’t Liang Mei answer the phone? Was it really because she was the murderer seven years ago?

In about twenty minutes, Zhou Moli arrived at Yang Licheng's house.

I said, “Miss Zhou Moli, you also know why we’re here. I have something to ask you about seven years ago.”

Zhou Moli nodded, sat down where Zhao Pingjuan and Zhang Xue used to sit, and said, “The reason I am here is that I want to tell you something regarding the incident seven years ago; I know who the murderer is.”

“You know too?” I couldn't help but exclaim when I heard Zhou Moli's words.

Zhou Moli looked at me suspiciously, not understanding why I made such a fuss. I heard Zhou Moli say: “What's the matter? I know who the murderer is. Seven years ago, we mentioned in the dormitory that we were going to kill Lu Zhiqiu. At that time, I remember someone suggested that we kill Lu Zhiqiu. At that time, we had all agreed.

I shook my head, followed Zhou Moli's words, and continued: “You mean, you didn't kill the people, but maybe the other three people in your dormitory killed them, right? And after returning to the construction site for the internship, you all forgot about it. But on the last day, Lu Zhiqiu died, so you suddenly remembered it. It's just that you don't know who the murderer is, so you don't dare to say it.”

“Yeah.” Zhou Moli was a little surprised by what I said and said, “But, but how did you know?”

I was really helpless. If I didn't know the inside story, I would have thought that the three of them had negotiated and lied to me. These three, all said that they didn't do it themselves, but Liang Mei can't be contacted now. So is it possible that Liang Mei is not the murderer, and the reason she can't appear is that some people don't want her to appear?

So, could it also be possible that these three are in cahoots and are trying to blame Liang Mei for the murder of Lu Zhiqiu?

“What's the matter?” Zhou Moli looked puzzled.

“You two can come out.” I said. “Presumably, you have heard what Zhou Moli said. Then, who is the murderer?”

(End of this chapter)