Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Disappeared Wife

"Young lady, since you’re so capable, why won’t you help us? You don’t want the victim’s family to spend their days in tears, do you?

Don’t you want to bring justice to the victim and give their family the truth?"

Liu Dezhi frowned, his tone lecturing as he looked at Jiang Li. If he hadn’t been completely out of options, he never would have believed this nonsense about dreams.

Jiang Li’s expression darkened, her eyes taking on a deathly stillness as she stared at the man who had just spoken.

When Liu Dezhi met Jiang Li’s gaze, a chill shot up from the soles of his feet, and a sense of dread crept into his heart.

After a few seconds, Jiang Li withdrew her gaze and looked at the group of people before her.

"I’m sorry, but I can’t help. I can’t control what I dream about." After speaking, Jiang Li sat back down.

"I apologize, Miss Jiang. Old Liu was just getting ahead of himself. Please don’t mind him," Fan Zhenkai said, forcing a smile.

They had rushed over the moment they’d heard she was at the station, knowing she was connected to two major cases.

Zhou Tiancheng and Ji Qinghe also hurried over when they heard people from the investigation division had arrived.

"Mr. Fan, long time no see." Zhou Tiancheng stepped forward to greet Fan Zhenkai.

Hearing Zhou Tiancheng’s voice, Fan Zhenkai shifted his gaze away from Jiang Li. "Hello, Captain Zhou. I came today to ask Miss Jiang for a favor."

Ji Qinghe sat down next to Jiang Li. "The canvassing team says Zhao Qinghe is very good to Xu Wan and her family. He’s hands-on with everything. According to the neighbors, they were the very picture of a model couple."

"Zhao Qinghe is an attending cardiac surgeon at People’s Hospital. He’s saved many patients over the years and has an excellent reputation at work."

"Xu Wan is a housewife with no job. According to the next-door neighbor, she does basically nothing at home. The laundry and cooking are all handled by either Zhao Qinghe or his parents."

"She doesn’t have any enemies, either."

Ji Qinghe looked at the statements in her notebook, her brow furrowed. Based on everything so far, Xu Wan’s disappearance seemed to have no rhyme or reason.

A short while later, Ji Qinghe received a video. "Jiang Li, look. This is Xu Wan’s house. See if anything looks familiar."

Ji Qinghe quickly played the video that had been sent.

Jiang Li looked up. The apartment was about 150 square meters—three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom—and was kept very neat. In the video, an exhausted Zhao Qinghe was showing the police around his home.

On the sofa, Xu Wan’s parents sat weeping, while her son, Zhao Anlan, obediently did his homework.

"Why is his mother missing, yet the child is so calm? He’s acting like it has nothing to do with him."

Jiang Li voiced her suspicion as she watched Zhao Anlan in the video.

"The neighbors said Xu Wan wasn’t good to Zhao Anlan—that she often hit and yelled at him. So maybe the boy doesn’t like his mother."

"In a home filled with love, why would a child dislike his own mother? Even if Xu Wan treated him poorly... according to the neighbors, Doctor Zhao and his family should have intervened. It shouldn’t have gotten to the point where the mother and son’s relationship was this strained, right? And even if their relationship was bad, would a seven-year-old boy really be this calm after hearing his mother has disappeared?"

Ji Qinghe was taken aback by Jiang Li’s barrage of questions.

’Zhao Qinghe doted on his wife. If Xu Wan was in such a loving home, why would she take her anger out on her child?’

After watching the video, Jiang Li turned back to Ji Qinghe and shook her head. "Nothing looks familiar." ’Even if they changed the furniture, the layout wouldn’t have changed. In the dream, she had strangled the woman on a bay window, but Zhao Qinghe’s home didn’t have one.’

Ji Qinghe’s expression grew serious. If that was the case, then they were dealing with two separate incidents.

"I’ll have my colleagues keep an eye out for any other missing persons in the area."

Jiang Li nodded.

Ji Qinghe stood up again to order a detailed check of financial records, insurance policies, and surrounding surveillance footage. She also relayed Jiang Li’s points.

Fan Zhenkai had been observing Jiang Li the whole time. Her speech and mannerisms were completely ordinary; nothing about her stood out.

Lu Xingye walked up to Jiang Li. "Jiang Li, thank you for what you did last time. My sister said she wants to thank you in person once she’s recovered."

After speaking, Lu Xingye awkwardly pulled his phone from his pocket. "Can I get your contact info? For future contact."

Jiang Li glanced at Lu Xingye, then took out her phone, scanned his code, and added him as a contact.

Lu Xingye watched her, surprised. ’He’d thought she would refuse.’

After a moment of observation, Fan Zhenkai decided to take a gamble and stepped forward.

"Miss Jiang, we’re investigating a dismemberment case. It began when a street vendor who recycles gutter oil pulled some bone fragments out of a sewer. Forensics confirmed they were human."

"But the perpetrator used high heat and chemical treatments on them. Our team is still trying to extract DNA, but other than that, we have no evidence whatsoever."

"We can’t find any of the victim’s remaining tissue. That’s why we were hoping you could help."

Jiang Li’s head shot up in shock. ’A dismemberment case!’

"I’m sorry, Mr. Fan, but my dream was only about domestic violence."

Lu Xingye suddenly interjected, "You just told Officer Ji that the victim in your dream wasn’t Xu Wan. Could she be the victim from the dismemberment case?"

Jiang Li’s head snapped up. "It’s possible."

Fan Zhenkai’s eyes lit up, and he shot Lu Xingye an appreciative glance.

"In the dream, the victim was just strangled. I didn’t see a dismemberment."

Just then, Zhao Shuo walked over carrying a pillow and a blanket. "Miss Jiang, are you sleepy?"

Jiang Li was speechless for a moment. Just then, her phone vibrated. She glanced at it and said, "My takeout’s here. I’ll go grab it."

Jiang Li quickly stood up and headed for the door.

Zhao Shuo shrugged helplessly. "No worries. It’s good to sleep on a full stomach."

Fan Zhenkai stared in shock at the items in his hands.

"Tch, do you have to be so dramatic?" Liu Dezhi muttered. But then he recalled the strange look Jiang Li had given him and couldn’t help but shiver.

"Chief, maybe we should just investigate this Jiang Li."

The moment Liu Dezhi finished speaking, a chill ran down his spine. He turned to see Jiang Li standing in the doorway, holding her takeout and looking at him expressionlessly.

"Old Liu," Fan Zhenkai said, glancing at Liu Dezhi. ’The old fool must be losing it, arguing with a young woman like that. In any case, the investigation had stalled. It was worth a shot to see if they could get a lead here.’

Jiang Li carried the malatang she’d ordered over to a corner. As she opened the bag, a fragrant aroma wafted out, and her mood instantly improved.

Jiang Li picked up one of the meatballs with her chopsticks and examined it with curiosity. ’This shape... why is it so strange?’

Her confusion lasted only a few seconds. She brought the morsel toward her mouth, ready to savor the delicious bite.

"Wait!"

A woman in a white lab coat standing at the door saw what she was holding and yelled out.

Startled, Jiang Li’s hand jerked. The meatball fell to the floor, rolled for a moment, and came to a stop at the woman’s feet.

The woman skillfully pulled a pair of rubber gloves from her pocket, put them on, and bent down to pick up the meatball.

Jiang Li’s brain completely short-circuited as she watched. Then, "BLEGH..."