Chapter 9 Little Sister 3

  Zhang Tong didn't say anything else, picked up the inspection report and quietly turned around and walked out of Director Li's office.

  "Has there been any result?" Back to the dissection room, Zhang Tong calmly walked in front of the X-ray scanner. Before she went to Director Li's office, she had already instructed Pan Jian to perform an X-ray scan on all the skeletons, hoping to find those cracks that might not be visible to the naked eye.

  "The third vertebra is close to the neck, so it seems that all of them were killed instantly by a broken neck. The only comfort we can take is that they didn't suffer and lost consciousness quickly. And there's another point," Zhang Tong said coldly. "The method is exactly the same, the killer is the same person."

  "I really can't understand why these underage girls were killed and their bodies buried in the wilderness. Why did the murderer do such a thing."

  Just as Zhang Tong was about to respond, a scene suddenly flashed before her eyes like lightning. A little girl lay on the ground, struggling desperately. A bloody dagger slowly approached her face. The little girl's initial crying turned into heart-wrenching screams. But all her efforts were in vain. Because an emotionless large hand firmly covered the little girl's mouth, making the sounds she made ultimately turn into weak whimpers.

  Zhang Tong couldn't help but tremble all over, her pupils constricted, and her breathing quickened. She wanted to step forward to stop it, but she couldn't move...

  "Zhang Fa Yi! Zhang Fa Yi!" The urgent cry of Pan Jian echoed in his ears.

  Zhang Tong slowly opened his eyes, only to realize that he had somehow fallen onto the cold ceramic floor of the autopsy room.

  "Dr Zhang, you just fainted suddenly. Are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital?" The sudden scene earlier obviously frightened Pan Jian.

  "No need. I'm fine. Pan Jian, take a look at the deceased's skull. Take a closer look. Especially the sixth skull. Don't miss any details."

  "Okay, I'll go right away. You be careful too."

  Zhang Tong nodded. She didn't dare close her eyes again, afraid that what had just happened would appear before her once more.

  Time passed minute by minute, second by second. Pan Jian's excited voice broke the suffocating silence in the room. "I found it! I found it!" He beckoned to Zhang Tong. "Forensic Zhang, you're really something. You didn't guess wrong. There are indeed obvious scrape marks on the bones around the deceased's eye sockets."

  "What about others?"

  "The remaining ones also have such marks, but they are not very obvious. It's just that this sixth skull is a bit special."

  Zhang Tong naturally understood the reason behind it. Although she couldn't recall that dark memory hidden deep in her mind, her impression of her sister was still very vivid. Her sister was young but had a very stubborn personality. She remembered one time when she had a fever and went to the hospital for an injection. Because she was afraid of pain, her sister struggled and squirmed nonstop. Her father tried his best to hold her down, but it was no use. As a result, the needle broke off inside her sister's body. Zhang Tong could completely imagine the scene of her sister struggling desperately when faced with the threat of death. Was it because of this that there were so many knife scars above her eyes? Thinking of this, Zhang Tong's heart trembled with fear. Because she suddenly realized that these scars told her a cruel fact... her sister's eyes had been dug out alive.

  Wang Yanan sat in the office, unable to focus her attention. The phone call from Director Li earlier gave her a bad feeling. Objectively, no one knew more about this case than Zhang Tong. Subjectively, thinking back to Zhang Tong's worried look recently, Wang Yanan knew that she was now standing at a crossroads. Wang Yanan hesitated, unsure of how to face this difficult situation.

  The phone suddenly rang, startling Wang Yan. She reflexively quickly picked up the receiver.

  "Yan Na. I am Xiao Tong. The deceased were all strangled to death with their necks twisted off. Their eyes were dug out before they died."

  "What did you say." Wang Yanan's first thought in her mind was that she must have misheard. "Are all seven like this?"

  "Yes, we've double-checked many details and it shouldn't be wrong. The autopsy report will be sent to you in half an hour."

  Tianchang City Public Security Bureau conference room. Those present were not only Wang Yanan and the members of the Major Crimes Unit under her, but also personnel specifically responsible for investigating human trafficking cases.

  It was originally a needle in the haystack job. Fortunately, with the help of detailed information on Liu Chunxiao's notebook, it became much more convenient to check the files. And as a special consultant, Liu Chunxiao sat at the last row near the door.

  Wang Ya Nan pointed to the seven enlarged photos on the whiteboard behind her, and said seriously: "The identities of the ones I marked as No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6 have been confirmed, and we have contacted their relatives. They will come soon for the final DNA confirmation, and after that, they can claim the bodies. As for the remaining four, we only know their names and ages. Their families had moved away from their original addresses a long time ago, and we lost contact with them. We need to find them again, but it's very difficult."

  "Our city's poplar forest is a provincial-level natural protection and tourism resort. Every year, many tourists come here. However, due to the large area of the forest, it wasn't until recently that specialized forest police were equipped with helicopters for aerial patrols to maintain law and order. An investigation showed that despite being fully equipped, last Wednesday several university students got lost in the woods and have yet to be found. From this, we can conclude that the perpetrator must be extremely familiar with the terrain of the forest, able to abduct the children in a very short time without leaving any trace, and ultimately escape safely."

  "It's likely that the killer is a local person. Otherwise, how could he be so calm and collected? And also kill so many people in a row? After the incident, he instantly disappeared without a trace. It seems like he doesn't worry about being discovered by others at all." someone said.

  Wang Yan nodded: "It's possible. Moreover, according to the forensic autopsy report, the deceased was instantly strangled to death. No other injuries were found on the rest of the body except for the eye sockets. This means that the killer's movements were swift and decisive, without any hesitation or dragging. At least, he is very familiar with how to quickly kill someone."

  "How can you explain that eight years ago, the disappearance cases suddenly stopped happening?"

  "There are two possibilities. One, the murderer had an accident and was unable to continue committing crimes, possibly dead; Two, the murderer left Tianchang for special reasons and did not have the opportunity to commit another crime again. I think both possibilities exist." Wang Yan frowned and analyzed, "For ordinary people, eight years is not a short period of time. Where did he go?"

  "It would be great if Zhang Faming could recall the scene at that time."

  Liu Chunxiao didn't make a sound. His ten fingers were intertwined and placed together. He looked at the notebook spread out on his legs with a heavy heart. Would Zhang Tong be willing to open up her own heart? Things wouldn't be that simple.

  Zhang Tong stood at the door of her mother's hospital room. She didn't rush in to talk to her mother like she usually did. Because her sister had died. And her mother's subconscious would definitely not accept this cruel fact. Zhang Tong dared not face her mother. She was afraid of losing control of her emotions.

  "Little Tong, what's wrong? Don't go in and see your mom?" Just after finishing the ward rounds, Uncle came to Zhang Tong's side. "Your mom's condition is now under control. As long as she doesn't get stimulated, nothing will happen to her. You haven't come these past few days, your mom has been thinking about you."

  Zhang Tong thought for a moment and dispelled the idea of pushing the door open to go in. "Uncle, my mom has entrusted me with something. I've been busy with work these past few days and might not be able to come visit her. You take good care of her and talk to her, she'll understand. By the way, uncle, when I'm not around, has anyone come to visit my mom?

  "No. I have assigned special caregivers here. If someone comes to visit, they will notify me. Xiaotong, what's wrong? What happened?" Uncle looked puzzled.

  "Nothing, uncle. I can't talk to you much now. Please take good care of my mom. Remember, don't let anyone except me visit her. I'm worried about my mom's personal safety."

  "Don't worry." Uncle thought for a moment, looked up at Zhang Tong and said seriously, "Little Tong, you've grown up. I won't interfere with your work too much. I know you don't like me nagging. But when something happens, don't bear it alone either. Look at you, your face doesn't look good either. Little Tong, as long as you're willing, just make a phone call and I'll come to help you. We're family after all. Don't forget that."

  "Thank you, Uncle. With your words, I feel at ease."

  Walked out of the hospital, Zhang Tong saw Liu Chunxiao standing at the end of the corridor looking over this way. Seeing Zhang Tong, a smile appeared on his face and he beckoned him over.

  As they walked closer, Zhang Tong furrowed his brow and asked, "What are you doing here?"

  "I've been looking for you. Your assistant said you came to First Hospital to visit a patient."

  "You're asking for it." A hint of hostility flashed in Zhang Tong's eyes.

  "There's no misunderstanding, I'm not that kind of person. Old classmate, I really have an urgent matter to discuss with you. I've been waiting for you here for a long time." Liu Chunxiao was somewhat nervous, constantly putting his hands in and out of his pockets, unsure where to place them.

  Zhang Tong's tone softened: "I'm here to see my mother, she's hospitalized on this side. Let's go out and find a place to talk, there are too many people here."

  "Then let's go to my car. My car is parked outside the hospital."

  Zhang Tong nodded and followed closely behind Liu Chunxiao as they left the hospital gate.

  Before Liu Chunxiao could finish speaking, Zhang Tong shook her head and refused. She didn't hesitate to open the car door and get out. With a flick of her hand, she slammed the car door shut.

  Liu Chunxiao quickly got out of the car and tried to persuade her, saying: "Xiaotong, listen to me. You can only face that memory and have hope to walk out of the shadow in your heart. Xiaotong, you must believe me. Let me help you. We can't let you suffer anymore in the future. You must muster up the courage to face it."

  "No, no, don't think about it anymore. The past is already gone. Please don't mention it again." She turned around, her face filled with sorrow. "My father committed suicide. My sister was murdered. My mother went mad. What do you want me to be? Would I have to go mad for you to feel at ease?"

  "Xiao Tong, calm down. You have to understand that only by recalling that memory do we have a chance of catching the killer. What you said is right, your sister's death cannot be undone, but if we catch the killer..."

  "Don't say anything more, I'm begging you." Zhang Tong suddenly roared and interrupted Liu Chunxiao's words, glaring at him fiercely before turning around and leaving without looking back, leaving Liu Chunxiao standing alone by the car, dejectedly watching Zhang Tong's figure gradually disappear into the vast darkness of night.

  It was late at night. Zhang Tong lay in bed for a long time, unable to fall asleep. Her mother was not home. She had to turn on all the lights in the house. The news of her sister's death made Zhang Tong feel suffocated. And Liu Chunxiao's words made her even more anxious and flustered.

  Could it be that I was really too selfish? Zhang Tong's gaze fell on the only family photo once again. The last memory of his father gradually became clearer.

  Twenty years ago, that golden autumn. My sister left. Not long after, my stubborn father, ignoring my mother's persuasion, took responsibility for not taking good care of my sister and resolutely quit his job to leave home. As he was about to leave, he hugged Zhang Tong and repeated over and over again: "Believe in Dad, I will definitely bring Autumn back... You must believe in Dad..."

  For a long time afterwards, Zhang Tong would often lie on the windowsill, looking down at the narrow path below, expecting to see his father's tall figure appear with his little sister sleeping in his arms.

  It wasn't until a cold early winter night that Zhang Tong was about to fall asleep on his small bed when the door was knocked on, and he immediately heard his mother's sobbing voice beside his ear.

  Zhang Tong rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she pushed open the bedroom door. She had never dreamed that her father would return at this time, his face gaunt with exhaustion, his entire person much thinner than before.