The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

Since the host was General Director Yang, and they were drinking loose homemade liquor with only ordinary stir-fried dishes on the table, the atmosphere felt particularly relaxed and easy.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, General Director Yang suddenly furrowed his brow and said in a deep voice, ”As I mentioned earlier, the campaign to crack all the province’s outstanding homicide cases has only just begun. At present, there are still more than seventy unresolved cases.”

”So, I’ll first toast the two comrades from the task force, then talk about the follow-up work arrangements.”

With that, he turned to the two people beside him. ”Director Hou, Jiang An, come, the three of us will share this drink! You’ve both worked hard these days.”

”I’m very clear about how difficult frontline work is—many cases are from long ago, crucial traces and physical evidence have long since disappeared, eyewitnesses are hard to find, and coupled with the limited technical conditions back then, investigation methods were crude. Surveillance and forensic exploration were almost out of the question.”

”Faced with this kind of objective predicament, there are times when we truly feel at a loss.”

”But it’s precisely because of this that we need you to bring your wisdom to bear, to re-examine those shelved old cases with today’s investigative mindset, and to find breakthroughs in the midst of difficulty.”

Then the three of them raised their glasses and drained them in one go.

Next, General Director Yang continued his instructions: ”The next place you’ll be heading to handle a case is Dongjiang City. It’s more than five hundred kilometers from here, not a short drive, so be cautious on the road.”

At this moment, the private room fell silent, and everyone’s gaze was fixed on General Director Yang.

From his grave words and solemn expression, everyone could sense that the task about to be assigned was anything but simple; it might even prove especially thorny.

General Director Yang spoke slowly, his tone heavy and serious: ”This case dates back a full ten years.”

”At the time of the crime, an entire family was slaughtered; the scene was extremely gruesome.”

”What was even more shocking was that the investigators found a newborn baby in the living room, the umbilical cord not yet cut.”

”Because of this, a saying spread among the local people that this was ’postmortem childbirth,’ and they regarded it as a profoundly ominous sign.”

”And precisely because the case has remained unsolved for so many years, all sorts of rumors have snowballed, with some even speculating that it was the work of supernatural forces.”

He paused briefly, let his gaze sweep over everyone present, and went on: ”This time, your mission is critical. You must get to the bottom of this case and bring the truth fully to light!”

”I have always believed that there is no crime in this world without cause, and there is no such thing as an offense committed by some unnatural force.”

”We must rely on science, on evidence, and on rigorous investigative logic.”

”As for the so-called ’postmortem childbirth’ phenomenon, Jiang An, as a seasoned criminal investigation captain and forensic doctor, you should possess the relevant professional knowledge.”

”Once you’re on scene, you must maintain a professional attitude, strictly adhere to work protocols, fully apply your intelligence and experience, and strive to crack the case as soon as possible!”

”Yes, sir!”

Director Hou immediately stood up, holding his glass with both hands. ”Come, colleagues, let’s all toast General Director Yang together! We will definitely keep the Director’s instructions firmly in mind, remember the mission we shoulder, and, with the most professional attitude and the most solid skills, provide our full support to solving this case!”

At the same time, smoke hung thick in the air of the deputy director’s office at the East River City Public Security Bureau.

Criminal Investigation Captain Li Ming sat facing Deputy Director Zhao, who was in charge of criminal investigations. Cigarettes between their fingers flared and dimmed from time to time, grayish smoke curling slowly in the oppressive air.

Li Ming held a case file in his hand, the rustle of turning pages faintly audible.

He glanced up at the wall clock and spoke in a low voice:

”The schedule for the two criminal investigation experts sent by the Department has been finalized. They’re expected to arrive tomorrow morning, specifically to assist us in investigating that ’4·30’ family annihilation case.”

Director Zhao drew deeply on his cigarette and nodded slowly. ”After the City Bureau compiled and reported the outstanding homicide cases from recent years last week, General Director Yang from the Provincial Department personally called me this afternoon to emphasize the arrangements for this expert support.”

”So we need to get our coordination work ready in advance—this case has already seen two groups sent by the Department in past years, but unfortunately no breakthrough was ever made. This time, they’ve restructured the task force and I hear they’ve added new key personnel.”

As he said this, he stubbed out the cigarette butt in a glass ashtray already piled with ash, a faintly bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth:

”I don’t yet have the full list of names, but General Director Yang did mention that one of them has been seconded from Jiangcheng City Bureau. His name is Jiang An, and he currently serves as their criminal investigation captain.”

”Jiang An?”

Li Ming’s eyes lit up abruptly and he leaned forward slightly. ”You’ve dealt with him before?”

”I wouldn’t say dealt with, but I’ve long heard his name and what he’s done.”

Director Zhao lit another cigarette, a note of emotion in his voice. ”That kid is something else—one of the youngest backbone investigators in the provincial system, and he came up from a forensic position.”

”You know that under normal circumstances, when a forensic doctor transfers into investigation, the room for development is limited, since the specialties differ so much. But Jiang An is an exception.”

He paused for a moment, as if recalling something, then continued, ”I’ve heard that not only is his forensic foundation solid and his crime scene reconstruction skills outstanding, but, more importantly, his thinking breaks away from convention. He’s good at deducing human behavioral logic from chains of physical evidence.”

”Several cold cases over in Jiangcheng were cracked by teams he led.”

”In last year’s provincial criminal investigation competition, the team he led took first place, and an internal bulletin specifically highlighted his investigative approach.”

Li Ming listened quietly, nodding from time to time.

Only after Director Zhao finished did he respond thoughtfully: ”With that kind of ability, it’s no surprise he’s been seconded to take part in the province-wide push on homicide cold cases...”