C3 The Lie in the Children's Songs(3)

Lu Wangshu crouched down to inspect the plain clothes hanging in the wardrobe. He then glanced over at the white outline marking where the deceased had lain; the victim's slippers were still scattered on the floor.

Suddenly, Wangshu noticed a fine strand of hair among the garments. His keen observational skills never missed a detail. He turned to Qiao Liang and inquired, "Did you bring the case files with you?"

Qiao Liang shook his head. Undeterred, Wangshu pressed on, "Then, do you recall the color of the victim's hair?"

After a moment's reflection, Qiao Liang responded, "I believe it was blonde. The deceased was a beautician, very particular about their appearance."

Wangshu requested a small ziplock bag from Qiao Liang and meticulously placed the hair inside.

"Detective Lu, are your eyes like microscopes or something?" Qiao Liang quipped.

As Qiao Liang held up the bag containing the hair with a puzzled frown, Lin Xiangyi, who was standing nearby, interjected, "And who does this black long hair belong to?"

With a grave tone, Wangshu speculated, "I suspect it belongs to the little girl. Qiao Liang, take it back to the station for analysis."

Qiao Liang nodded and watched as Wangshu continued to rummage through the wardrobe. Wangshu then closed his eyes, deeply inhaling the scent of the clothes.

Qiao Liang, curious, leaned in to sniff as well and asked, "What are you smelling?"

"Don't you catch that very fragrant aroma?" Wangshu asked calmly.

Xiangyi approached, lifted a garment to her nose, and noted, "It's a sweet rose scent, reminiscent of Dior's Blooming Bouquet."

"What about that bottle over there?" Wangshu pointed to a toppled perfume bottle on the dressing table.

Xiangyi examined the bottle and reported back to Wangshu, "It's Chanel No. 5."

Wangshu nodded, "I noticed the scent when I was near the dressing table. It's distinct from the aroma on the clothes in the wardrobe."

Xiangyi pondered, "This dress belongs to the male owner, the suspect. His cologne is different from the scent worn by the female owner. Could it mean the husband was having an affair?"

Qiao Liang continued his analysis, "So it seems the wife discovered her husband's affair. Could their argument have escalated to the point where he killed her?"

Lu Wangshu, with a grave expression, gazed at the white outline of the body and said coldly, "We can't dismiss that theory, but I believe there's much more to this case than meets the eye."

"Qiao Liang, is it possible to take the case files and the murder weapon back to the station?" Lu Wangshu asked earnestly.

Qiao Liang looked troubled. "That... might not be possible."

"Then let's head to the station. I need to review the case details in full!" Lu Wangshu declared, striding out of the bedroom.

Lin Xiangyi, following close behind, stumbled over the door frame and fell with a start, prompting Lu Wangshu and Qiao Liang to rush to her side.

As Lu Wangshu reached down to help Lin Xiangyi, she pointed at the sofa, her face etched with horror, unable to utter a word as if she had seen something truly frightful.

"Xiangyi?" Qiao Liang, noticing Lin Xiangyi lying on the ground with a vacant stare, called out to her in confusion.

Lu Wangshu followed Lin Xiangyi's gaze toward the sofa.

"There are feet under the sofa," Lin Xiangyi whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

Together, Lu Wangshu, Qiao Liang, and Lin Xiangyi lifted the sofa, only to find that the feet were part of a lifelike doll inexplicably stuffed underneath.

"The deeper we go, the more bizarre this case becomes," Lu Wangshu murmured.

"Wangshu, can this doll provide any clues?" Qiao Liang inquired.

Lu Wangshu closed his eyes, deep in thought, as if running through a mental simulation with countless possibilities. After a moment, he opened his eyes and shared his insight, "This doll likely belongs to the little girl. Notice the doll's hair; it's intricately braided, and the clothes appear to be hand-stitched. It's clear the little girl cherished this doll greatly."

Qiao Liang continued, "So, if this doll was hidden here, it must have been intentional. Why would someone want to hide a little girl's doll, and who could that person be?"

"Isn't it obvious? Someone who dislikes the little girl," Lin Xiangyi replied nonchalantly.

Lu Wangshu's mind was in disarray. His knowledge of the case was minimal, and if he wanted to crack it quickly, he needed to make haste.

"Pack up the doll; we're heading to the police station." Having said that, Lu Wangshu left the scene.

The drive to the station was silent, with each of them lost in thought, grappling with numerous questions. The absence of any trace of the male homeowner at the crime scene was causing significant delays in charging the perpetrator.

Soon, they reached the Yongzhou City police station, just after hours. The trio hurried to the Major Crime Division's office. As Qiao Liang was about to open the door, a young officer came running up to him.

"Captain Qiao."

Qiao Liang paused, turning to ask, "Zhao? Can it wait? I've got a case to handle."

Zhao glanced at Lu Wangshu and Lin Xiangyi behind Qiao Liang and cautiously said, "Director Lee wants to see you. He said as soon as you get back, go straight to him."

With an impatient sigh, Qiao Liang turned to Lu Wangshu and Lin Xiangyi and said, "Zhao will show you to the lounge. I'll be back shortly."

Lu Wangshu scratched his ear, casually responding, "Sure, go ahead!" He had avoided the police station since graduation precisely because he dreaded being swayed by superiors at crucial moments. He was someone who preferred to go his own way and loathed outside interference.

As Qiao Liang walked away, Zhao led the two toward the lounge. Zhao kept glancing at Lin Xiangyi and bashfully averted his gaze whenever their eyes met.

"Officer Zhao, is something the matter?" Lin Xiangyi inquired.

Recognizing the voice, Zhao eagerly looked up at Lin Xiangyi and exclaimed, "Are you Lin Xiangyi, the legal news anchor?"

Lin Xiangyi nodded gently and offered a warm smile. "Yes."

Upon receiving Lin Xiangyi's affirmation, Officer Zhao joyfully retrieved a pen and paper from his chest pocket and asked, "Would you mind signing this for me?"

In the office of the Police Chief at the Yongzhou City Police Department, a man dressed in a police uniform, his hair graying and appearing to be in his fifties, scrutinized a stack of documents on his desk, his face betraying neither joy nor anger.

Qiao Liang stood just outside the Chief's office, taking a deep breath. He was certain that the Chief's summons at this hour had to do with Lu Wangshu.

With another deep breath to bolster his courage, he knocked on the door. A resonant, deep voice answered from within, "Come in."