Chapter 5 The Bone Collector 2

  Back in the office, Zhang Tong suddenly felt a sense of relief. She snuggled into her own heavily cushioned office chair. Long hours of standing work and overtime without distinction between day and night had left Zhang Tong extremely exhausted. Bending over and sitting for long periods would hurt. Even binding thick cushions to the chair and backrest was an unavoidable move. She looked up at the human skeleton model in the corner of the office, which had been covered with dust for a long time, and fell into deep thought.

  Almost everyone who studies forensic medicine is fascinated by the human skeleton, including Zhang Tong. He still remembers his instructor in medical school saying that the human skeleton does not represent death, but rather the most primitive manifestation of human life. The average 206 bones are balanced and delicate, a truly remarkable creation. Every human movement, no matter how slight, relies on the perfect structure of the bones. Returning to reality, Zhang Tong couldn't believe that there were still people in this world who would kill others just to get their hands on bones.

  Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind and she blurted out: "The Golden Theory."

  The Golden Ratio is a calculation method for the perfect proportion of the human body, which includes the ratio of height to weight and the ratio of skull length, body length, and limb length. If someone meets the legendary "Golden Ratio", they are called a "perfect person" with a perfect skeleton.

  Zhang Tong opened his computer and found the autopsy report he had just completed. He looked at it carefully, but due to the complete loss of internal organs, the deceased's skull and hands and feet were also missing. As a result, what was usually an autopsy report of at least five pages or more was compressed into only one and a half pages.

  "Weight... roughly height..." Zhang Tong muttered to himself as he calculated on paper. The result came out quickly. Zhang Tong anxiously looked at the three numbers that finally appeared on the paper: 2, 2, 3. It was indeed so. Was the cause of death really just because she had a "perfect" skeleton?

  At this moment, Pan Jian pushed open the door and walked in, handing a autopsy report to Zhang Tong: "It was sent by Captain Wang."

  The autopsy report is a fax copy. The year marked on it was five years ago, which was 2006. The name of the director forensic doctor who wrote the report was Li Huiming, the forensic doctor in Chenhai City.

  Wang Yanan attached a brief note to the report, which read: "After querying the database, only this similar case was found."

  "Did Captain Wang say anything else?"

  "She didn't say anything else, just asked you to call her as soon as you've read it."

  Zhang Tong nodded and immediately spread out the autopsy report on the office desk in front of him, carefully studying it.

  Case number Chen 2006A45. Date of submission: April 5, 2006. Autopsy subject: Female. Age around thirty years old. Nulliparous. Identity unconfirmed. Remains missing head and limbs, only partial torso remaining. Skeleton and **missing. Internal organs completely hollowed out, only intact **. No obvious signs of sexual assault. Toxicology tests have been conducted. Proven to have taken a large amount of sedatives before death. A slash wound was found on the deceased's throat, 4 cm deep, with drag marks at both ends, indicating that the wound was not caused by a single knife cut. The deceased was slashed from the broken neck directly to the bottom of the abdominal cavity **, measuring 87.4 cm in length...

  Here is the translation:

  Upon seeing this, Zhang Tong furrowed her brow tightly. She grabbed the phone on her right side and directly dialed the forensic department of Chenhai Municipal Public Security Bureau. After some explanation, she finally found Li Hui, the forensic doctor who was working in front of the autopsy table and was the author of the original autopsy report.

  "Dr. Li, I'm Dr. Zhang Tong from the Tianchang Public Security Bureau's forensic department. I've come to ask you a few questions about the autopsy report you just faxed over."

  "You said."

  "The deceased had knife wounds on his neck and penetrating wounds all over his body. In your observation, were they inflicted by the same person?"

  The other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds before a firm answer came through. "I think it should be two people. Because the knife wound on the neck looks very hesitant, and the depth is not deep, with drag marks in front and back. And another wound is extremely forceful, without any sign of hesitation, penetrating the whole body, and very accurate, no deviation of the knife wound."

  Several "very" made Zhang Tong's heart beat fiercely. She thanked him briefly and asked to see the original autopsy report as soon as possible, then hung up the phone. She turned around and called Wang Ya Nan over.

  "Ya Nan, I think we're facing a serial killer. And it's possible that there's more than one person involved." Wang Ya Nan had just arrived when Zhang Tong eagerly told her what she had found out.

  "Why did it have to be separated by five years, which is not a short period of time?" Wang Yan's heart was still filled with doubts.

  "I have no way to answer you, but the same knife, we each use it with our own habits and there are obvious differences." As he spoke, Zhang Tong picked up a No. 2 autopsy knife from the tool tray beside the autopsy table. "Look closely, the knife is the same, but as long as the person using it is different, depending on the force and direction, the knife marks left on the object being cut will be like our signatures, with subtle differences that may not be noticeable to you, but to us forensic doctors who have undergone professional training, there are obvious differences. I've already asked Dr. Li Hui, the forensic doctor on duty at Chenhai Municipal Public Security Bureau, and he confirmed my opinion. The first knife mark, which is the neck wound of the deceased, is shallow and not done in one go, with signs of hesitation; while the second one, which goes through the entire body, is neat and efficient. If this corpse was handled all at once, then from the difference in the way the knife was used before and after, there should have been two people at the scene."

  Wang Yan nodded: "Really didn't think that in just five short years, this person's skills have become so proficient." She thought for a moment and continued to ask, "Xiao Tong, what do you think about the murder weapon? Can you determine the specific range?"

  "I've also arranged for the original autopsy records to be sent over from Chen Hai's side as soon as possible. I want to further compare the wounds on the two bodies. Based on the current situation, all I can say is that they were caused by a very sharp knife, and it's a special kind of knife, not the kind used in ordinary households. I couldn't determine its exact length, but I can say it's professionally used because the blade is very thin and extremely sharp, with a typical conical shape at the tip. This type of knife is commonly used in medical or culinary fields."

  Reminded of Pan Jian's previous words, Wang Yanan blurted out: "Bone scraper."

  "It's possible. I'll arrange for the trace evidence team to make a comparison. If there are any results, I'll notify you immediately."

  "Also, I remember you said earlier that the victim's body part was the only one that remained intact. So, are there any signs of sexual assault?"

  Zhang Tong shook his head: "So far, no discovery has been made. Chen Hai's autopsy report also noted that there were no obvious signs of this aspect."

  "Let's leave it at that for now. If I have any questions, I'll find you." Wang Yan nodded and was about to turn around and walk out of the autopsy room when she suddenly remembered something. She stopped in her tracks, turned her head and said, "Xiao Tong, when I came over here just now, the security guard told me that someone was looking for you at the entrance. It was an old man."

  "Old man." Zhang Tong furrowed his brow.

  "Yes. He has been here for a while now. You'd better go take a look. Your phone is always busy."

  "Oh. I'm talking to Chen Hai on the other side. I'll go over now." Saying that, Zhang Tong stood up and followed Wang Ya Nan out of the autopsy room.

  It only took a few seconds... Zhang Tong's guess was also just for a short moment... She quietly gazed at the side profile of this old man in his sixties on the long bench in front of her. As if time had flowed backwards. She didn't move. Just standing there like that. Nothing happened around her. She could confirm this completely; but she knew in her heart, everything in front of her was an illusion. Underneath the calm surface, undercurrents were surging silently.

  "Uncle Chen." Zhang Tong called out in a low voice.

  The old man turned around. The afterglow of the setting sun formed a special silhouette behind him. Zhang Tong couldn't see his facial expression clearly. He stood up.

  "Tong Tong. Long time no see. You've grown so big." The old man's voice seemed to transcend the gap of time and space. Except for the hoarseness and age, everything else remained unchanged.

  Zhang Tong's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He was actually a little afraid of his approach.

  The person who suddenly came was Chen Baobao, the one Zhang Tong had been searching for. His full name is Chen Haijun, a retired neurosurgery expert and also a good friend of Zhang Tong's father when he was alive.

  "Uncle Chen, you... how did you come?" Zhang Tong asked hesitantly.

  "I happened to be passing by your house, so I dropped by for a visit. Your mom has aged quite a bit."

  Zhang Tong nodded, hesitated for a moment, and sat down on a bench not far from the old man: "After my father died, my mother raised me alone. She worked hard all her life."

  Chen Haijun let out a deep sigh: "I didn't think your father would ultimately choose to take this path. Cough..."

  Witnessing Chen Bo's sorrow, Zhang Tong felt a pang of sadness and couldn't help but put down the guard and unease in her heart. She comforted him instead: "It's okay, Chen Bo. You don't have to be too sad. My father's path was his own choice. No one else is to blame. Besides, my mom and I have already gotten through it. The hardest days are already behind us."

  "That's right, I heard from your mother that you're now following in your father's footsteps and are also a forensic doctor." The old man's tone became much more pleasant. "I think your father's spirit in heaven would be proud of you too."

  Zhang Tong smiled slightly: "Uncle Chen, how long are you planning to stay in Tianchang this time? I'd like to invite you to come home for a meal."

  "I'll be staying for a while. There are some family matters to attend to. I've already immigrated to the United States. Tongtong, Uncle forgot to ask you, have you gotten married? You're not young anymore either." The old man's eyes were filled with a long-forgotten expression from deep within Zhang Tong's memories.

  "It's not easy being a doctor." Zhang Tong sighed unconsciously. "So for now, I'm not considering those personal matters. Let's focus on work first. Chen Bo Bo, Mei Mei, is she in the US too?"

  The old man's face changed slightly. His words revealed a dry tone: "Car accident. He's gone."

  Zhang Tong's heart tightened involuntarily. She knew that Mei Mei was Chen Haijun's only daughter, and since childhood, she had often followed her father to the Zhang family home to play. They were close in age, and the two of them were like sisters: "When did she leave?"

  The old man let out a long sigh: "It's been eight years since they left."

  At that moment, Zhang Tong's tears rolled down rapidly. She bit her lip tightly and took a deep breath: "Uncle Chen, I'm very sorry to bring up your painful past."

  "It's nothing. So many years have passed already. I'm also used to it. I think Meimei is happy in heaven too."

  Zhang Tong's heart felt a pang of sadness. "I didn't expect Mei Mei to leave so soon. Heaven is really unfair. Chen Bo Bo, now that you're alone, do you have any plans?"

  The old man's face flashed a strange expression: "It's okay, I often give lectures all over the place, and it's quite busy too. When you're busy, you won't think too much. Your uncle is the same as you, work is good."

  Zhang Tong nodded. She suddenly thought of something and asked: "Uncle Chen, how long have you been in Tianchang? Have you gone to see my father?"

  The old man nodded: "I've been there. A few days ago. His memorial day."

  "What time did you go?"