Chapter 46 The Deceased's Husband

The identity of the deceased had been confirmed. All squads of the First Unit set out, each to carry out their respective tasks.

Han Ling followed Fang Zhou into the car, accompanied by Tong Feng and an unfamiliar colleague.

Ji Bowen was in another police car.

“Don’t be nervous; it’s always like this the first time you handle a homicide case,” said Tong Feng, not Fang Zhou, as the police car pulled away from the precinct.

Hearing this, Han Ling turned around in surprise, and Fang Zhou cast a strange look at Tong Feng.

Only the driver was focused on the road; otherwise, he probably would have turned to look as well.

Had Tong Feng forgotten how he behaved at the scene yesterday? Han Ling had remained calm throughout, his psychological resilience far stronger than Tong Feng’s.

“Feng, are you running a fever?” Han Ling asked.

The driver chuckled.

Tong Feng looked puzzled. “Fever? What fever?”

Han Ling retorted, “You have the nerve to lecture me? Who was the one vomiting all over the place at the scene yesterday? And by the way, it’s not my first homicide case. Who was it that caught Qian Zhifeng?”

Tong Feng’s face darkened. “Don’t insult me by revealing my flaws!”

“I’m not insulting you, just asking,” Han Ling said. “Fang squad leader, what do you think?”

Fang Zhou smiled and said, “In terms of both psychological resilience and professional ability, Tong Feng is far behind you. When you officially join the First Unit, help me train him properly.”

He knew the two were classmates and good friends, so they could speak freely.

“Eventually?” Han Ling understood that the precinct would soon issue transfer orders, but only after this case concluded.

“You’re that good with a gun? Isn’t the SWAT team interested?” Tong Feng asked, puzzled. He didn’t know that two deputy directors at the municipal bureau had already discussed this.

Han Ling replied, “Even if they were interested, I wouldn’t want to go.”

Mentioning marksmanship, Fang Zhou couldn’t help but say, “Achieving full marks twice in such a short time? I’ve never heard of that before. I didn’t expect Jiangyuan Police Academy to have such an outstanding junior. It’s an honor to work with you. I look forward to your cooperation.”

Fang Zhou had no airs; despite being a deputy squad leader, he never acted like a superior.

They were all roughly the same age, just a few years apart.

Han Ling had a good impression of Fang Zhou. Working with such a colleague would be comfortable, allowing him to focus fully on investigation without wasting energy on unnecessary workplace politics.

Ji Bowen was equally competent, and Hu Lihui showed no problems so far. He had no resistance to joining the precinct.

Since they were police officers, they intended to do the job well. If one day they no longer wanted to, they could just quit—simple as that.

“Thank you for your kindness, squad leader,” Han Ling said.

Fang Zhou replied, “You’re younger than me, just call me Brother Zhou like Tong Feng does.”

Han Ling didn’t hesitate. “Brother Zhou.”

They chatted until they arrived at their destination—a bank.

The deceased’s husband, Yang Qi, worked there.

After some questioning, it was confirmed that Yang Qi was at work today. Soon, they met him in an office. He was dressed in a suit and handled loan services.

Yang Qi was thirty-one, wore semi-rimless glasses, and looked refined.

“Hello, are you looking for me?” Yang Qi smiled as he left his desk.

The office was spacious, with five or six workstations. Ji Bowen got straight to the point: “Hello, Criminal Police from the precinct. Where is your wife, Hou Jiarou?”

Hearing the words “criminal police,” other bank employees looked up.

“My wife?” Yang Qi was clearly stunned. “She must have gone back to her parents’ home. I don’t know. Officer, what’s going on?”

Ji Bowen stared at him. “You don’t know where your wife is?”

Yang Qi hesitated. “Well... after the New Year, we had a big fight, and she left. I thought she went home. Officer, what exactly happened? What did she do?”

Concern appeared on his face. If the criminal police were involved, it probably wasn’t good news.

“After the New Year?” Ji Bowen calculated the date. “More than two months ago? Not a single call?”

Yang Qi shook his head. “No. Our relationship has always been bad. That fight after the New Year was serious. We’re currently in a cold war phase. But officer, please don’t beat around the bush. What’s really going on with her?”

Everyone watched Yang Qi closely.

Judging by his reaction, no signs of deceit were evident.

Ji Bowen asked, “What exact day was the fight after the New Year?”

Yang Qi recalled, “The... the fifth day. Yes, the fifth day.”

Ji Bowen pressed, “What time exactly?”

Yang Qi answered, “Around three or four in the afternoon.”

Ji Bowen asked, “Why was your relationship strained?”

Yang Qi hesitated, reluctant to say, “That... is a bit private. Can I not answer?”

Ji Bowen didn’t press further and gestured, “Then come back to the precinct with us. We need more details from you.”

Yang Qi asked, “To the precinct? Is it that serious? What happened?”

Ji Bowen replied, “You’ll know when we get there. Let’s go. As her husband, you should be concerned, right? After all, you’re not divorced yet.”

Yang Qi did not refuse. “Alright, I’ll ask my supervisor for leave.”

The police car took Yang Qi to the precinct.

“What did you say?!” Yang Qi exclaimed.

“Dead??”

Upon hearing news of his wife’s death, Yang Qi was shocked.

“Officer! You can’t joke about something like this! She didn’t do anything wrong, did she?”

Ji Bowen said, “We’re already notifying Hou Jiarou’s parents. Do you want to identify the body now, or wait for them to arrive?”

Yang Qi, realizing the police wouldn’t joke, turned and hurried around like a headless fly. “Where? Where? Where is Jiarou?”

Ji Bowen said, “Take him there.”

Fang Zhou stepped forward and led Yang Qi to the medical examiner’s morgue.

Qingchang City’s Public Security construction was well-funded. Gu’an District was the core area; the precinct had almost everything it needed. Only some remote districts or county bureaus might lack facilities and send bodies to funeral homes.

Seeing the pale, shriveled familiar face before him, Yang Qi was so frightened that he collapsed to the floor. Officers quickly helped him up.

“Is this Hou Jiarou?” Fang Zhou asked.

Yang Qi was speechless, nodding mechanically, his throat working as he swallowed repeatedly.

After a while, Fang Zhou sent his subordinate to take Yang Qi to the reception room for some hot tea and to calm down.

Throughout, Yang Qi showed sadness but shed no tears.

Given their troubled marriage, not crying was understandable. Sudden tragic news often triggers a self-defense mechanism; it’s not necessarily coldness.

Grieving can be a slow and gradual process.

Back in the First Unit’s case hall.

“Do you think there’s something off about this man?” Ji Bowen asked, focusing his gaze mainly on Fang Zhou.

From being top of their class to joining the Major Case Unit and now deputy squad leader, Fang Zhou’s performance was unquestioned, his professional skill far exceeding others. Everyone respected him.

Many criminal police in the First Unit were older than Fang Zhou.

But in criminal investigation, seniority doesn’t matter.

Fang Zhou waved off a cigarette offered by a colleague and said, “Not obvious yet. But it’s been two months. He’s had plenty of time to prepare his story for the police, including his acting skills. Captain Ji, could we apply for a search warrant? Something direct.”

The fibers found on the victim’s mouth and nose were critical evidence. They could search related items for comparison. The Technical Unit had a dedicated forensic lab.

Ji Bowen replied, “Of course. After all, it’s the deceased’s home.”

Fang Zhou said, “I’ll take the team.”

Han Ling observed the entire process, following the leader’s instructions.

In the realm of professional criminal investigation, to be honest, he was still learning.