The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

On the other end of the phone, Director Li Jian remained silent for a moment.

Only the sound of fingers rhythmically tapping on the desk came through the receiver, each tap carrying an unimaginable weight.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and heavy: ”Jiang An, have you thought it through... is it possible that the victim, along with the car, was forcibly pushed into the river by someone?”

Jiang An wedged the phone between his shoulder and ear, squinting to shield his eyes from the river’s dazzling glare as he replied.

”Mr. Li, logically speaking, that possibility indeed exists.”

”But the traces at the scene... are odd.”

He paused, organizing his words, trying to convey what he saw with precision, ”The motorcycle’s axle tracks are very clear and complete, stretching from the road right into the riverbank mud, with a sharp trajectory into the water, almost without any dragging marks, this doesn’t seem like it was pushed down by someone.”

”If there was a struggle or shove by two or more people, the tire marks wouldn’t be so smooth.”

He squatted, using his finger to sketch the perimeter of the grassy area by the bank: ”The most crucial part is the grass on either side of the tire marks.”

”You see, besides the track made by the motorcycle wheels, the grass on the sides is basically intact, without obvious signs of being stepped on, dragged, or trampled.”

”If indeed someone exerted force to push the vehicle here, the ground is soft, the leaves slippery, it would be impossible not to leave any footprints or struggle marks.”

”But now... it’s too clean, so clean it’s like...”

”...like he rushed in himself.”

Li Jian on the other end of the phone continued his thought, his voice even heavier.

”Your deductions make sense, the traces at the scene often speak the most honestly.”

”So, what are your next steps?”

”We’ve just arrived at the riverbank, and we’re preparing to conduct a thorough search downstream.”

Jiang An stood up, looking out at the shimmering river surface.

”If the suspect entered the water here, whether actively or passively, they would eventually have to come ashore.”

”The incident didn’t happen long ago, the soil is not dry, watermarks are still present, so if he climbed onto the shore, he would definitely leave water stains, mud, or even fibers from torn clothing, or scrape blood. These are all clues.”

Li Jian responded with an understanding grunt, but his tone soon showed tension.

”I understand.”

”You go ahead, but...”

He paused, and in the background, faint noises of crowd and hurried footsteps could be heard, ”I have an urgent situation to handle on this end.”

”The media has already swarmed at the entrance, and the online sentiment is escalating rapidly, the attention on this case is beyond expectations, I have to immediately hold a spontaneous press conference.”

Jiang An was not surprised.

Such cases, happening under public observation, always spread ripples faster than the rhythm of investigation.

Numerous eyes watching, numerous speculations circulating, but the truth gets caught up and progresses with difficulty.

He thought for a moment, then quickened his speech: ”So what information can we release to the public now?”

”Tell me the conclusions you can currently confirm, so I’ll know what to expect.”

”First, the case can be definitively classified as murder, not an accident or suicide, and the killer is still at large, this can be disclosed.”

”Second, the preliminary estimated time of death is around 2 AM, this can be mentioned.”

”Third, as for the motive...”

Jiang An lowered his voice, ”The initial investigation suggests emotional entanglements in the victim’s social relations, although there are no signs of violent struggle at home, the possibility of the crime being committed by an acquaintance cannot be ruled out.”

”As for the specific identity of the killer—it remains under thorough investigation, and cannot be disclosed.”

”Got it.”

Li Jian quickly noted the key points in his mind.

”Alright, I must go now.”

Li Jian gave a final instruction, his tone brooking no argument, ”Safety first while you’re working on the riverbank!”

”Especially you, Jiang An, keep your team well together, no one should let their guard down.”

”That river is complicated with dangerous currents, the water depth is not what it seems on the surface!”

”Search for traces, but ensure everyone returns safely!”

”Rest assured, Mr. Li, we understand.”

”As soon as there’s a significant development, I’ll report to you immediately.”

After hanging up, Li Jian held the still warm phone, taking a deep breath, as if trying to press down the pressure in his chest for a while.

He turned to his assistant who had been on standby, his eyes regaining their usual sharpness and decisiveness, his orders clear and precise: ”Prepare the conference room immediately, the press conference starts in fifteen minutes.”

”Also, tell me, which media reporters are here this time?”

”I want to know what exactly they’re trying to dig from us.”

Meanwhile, the investigation by the river had quietly commenced.

Jiang An, Wan, Zhang Yean, and Qin Feng split into two groups, advancing along the winding riverbank one on the left, and one on the right.

Sunlight filtered through sparse treetops onto the water, casting tiny golden sparks, yet failing to ease the four’s tightly furrowed brows.

This river wound along interminably, seemingly without end.

They hadn’t summoned more manpower—an overcrowded scene investigation is the most feared, especially involving inexperienced outsiders, who might inadvertently destroy crucial clues.

Some evidence, like pebbles at the riverbed, can only be found by those with a calm demeanor.

”Mr. Jiang, what do you think the murderer is after?”

Zhang Yean suddenly broke the silence beside him.

He and Jiang An were in the same group, treading cautiously on the slippery riverbank.

”If it was really because of a love dispute, wouldn’t it be enough to kill the man? Why not spare the woman?”

Jiang An turned at the words, a hint of contemplation in his eyes.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice steady: ”That’s the question that’s been troubling me too.”

”In previous cases, motives are often clear and direct, but in this case...”

He paused, his tone becoming firm, ”The motive seems to have changed during the act.”

”We can’t even rule out the possibility that the female victim encountered an accident.”

Zhang Yean scoffed lightly, kicking a stone by his feet: ”Killing two birds with one stone? Such a method is arguably too clever.”

He looked around, the river surface calm without a ripple, yet seemingly hiding undercurrents, ”Something feels like we’ve missed it.”

The other group with Wan and Qin Feng was equally focused.

Qin Feng was parting the dense water grass with a long stick, while Wan held a camera ready to record any emerging evidence.

The sunlight grew hotter, sweat soaking through their shirts.

An hour slipped quietly by, and both groups had advanced nearly two kilometers, but along the riverbanks, except for the swaying reeds, there were no suspicious signs.

Calling a group chat, Jiang An’s voice carried a hint of fatigue: ”Normally swimming for two kilometers is almost impossible, we should check the other side.”

The four crossed the nearest bridge to the opposite riverbank.

This side was steeper, and the weeds grew taller than people, requiring them to push back obstructing branches with each step.

minutes later, Zhang Yean, walking in the lead, suddenly halted.

”Mr. Jiang!” He raised his voice abruptly, squatting down to point at a spot near the bank, ”Look here!”

Jiang An dashed forward, peering in the direction Zhang Yean pointed.

Less than half a meter from the water, several deep claw marks were shockingly visible in the mud, forcibly gouged out by an external force, extending up onto the bank.

Even more startling, large swaths of grass lay trampled beside, as if someone had struggled fiercely here.

”These marks...”

Jiang An put on gloves, gently caressing the marks in the mud, ”The soil is fresh, and the force was substantial.”

His gaze followed the marks up to the bank, where wild grass lay trampled in disarray, the area more extensive than imagined.

After a long observation, Jiang An finally straightened up, speaking solemnly into the phone: ”We found it, this should be the place.”

But he then looked around—the river stretch was quite secluded, with dense thickets on both sides.

”However...”

After a long while, Jiang An murmured to himself, ”Why would anyone choose to come ashore here?”