Chapter 95 [VIP] The Headless Corpse Case at the Flower Museum (11)

Chapter 95 [VIP] The Headless Corpse Case at the Flower Museum (11)

The female shop assistant explained, "Some flowers are quite pretty, but we generally don't give them to others as gifts. The tea rose, for example, has a rather bleak meaning. There’s a line of poetry you might know: 'The tea rose blooms, and the spring ends,' which means that once the tea rose blooms, spring is over. Then there's the higanbana, which symbolizes sad memories and is also known as the flower of the road to the afterlife. No one gives those as gifts. You both definitely know the night-blooming cereus, which represents fleeting beauty. Although it's beautiful, it’s too melancholic to give as a gift."

Meng Siqi listened carefully, realizing how much she had yet to learn about flowers. The shop assistant’s detailed explanation helped her a lot.

After thanking the shop assistant, Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting looked at each other and said in unison, "A funeral floral shop!"

Indeed, the appearance of white tea roses wouldn’t be so surprising if they came from a funeral floral shop. Perhaps there happened to be a funeral floral shop selling this kind of flower, and the suspect had bought it.

This coincidence might just be the key to solving the case.

In fact, Meng Siqi had deliberately looked into white tea roses later. The meanings of flowers are human constructs and usually don't have clear boundaries. Because white tea roses are pure and flawless, some people give them to girls they like. There’s also the phrase 'love until the tea rose withers,' which expresses regret for an unforgettable love. Therefore, some people use this flower to commemorate a relationship or give it to someone when parting ways.

Soon, the two found a funeral floral shop. This shop was located near a crematorium. Upon entering, they were met with a sea of white. The concept of death is frightening to many, and funeral-related things are often rejected by many. However, when you step into this snow-white world, it brings a sense of tranquility and calm.

Besides wreaths, the shop also sold various flowers, such as white chrysanthemums, carnations, white lilies, and even white roses. These white flowers made the longing of relatives or lovers even more pure and sincere.

Among the flowers, Meng Siqi quickly spotted the white tea roses. Their white petals and yellow stamens made them look as though the petals had been crumpled by fingers, resembling paper flowers.

Within a ten-kilometer radius of the museum, there weren’t many funeral floral shops. If the suspect had indeed appeared here, it would significantly narrow the search area. Perhaps the shop owner recognized this person.

Meng Siqi confidently gave Zhao Leiting an eye signal, and he swiftly took out his police officer ID. "Shop owner, we’re from the city bureau and need to ask you a few questions."

The shop owner, a fortysomething with a receding hairline, hurriedly replied, "I’m not entirely sure, but there was a man who roughly matches your description. He bought white tea roses and white roses..."

Meng Siqi was almost certain that apart from white roses and white tea roses, there wasn’t a third type of flower from the list in this shop. That meant the suspect had bought white roses and white tea roses here and purchased other flowers elsewhere.

Those other flowers could be found in almost any regular flower shop, and given the high foot traffic in such shops, even if the suspect had visited, the shop owners might not have noticed.

This explained why the suspect hadn’t bought a large number of flowers from a single shop—it would have drawn attention. Although they might not be able to track down the records from other flower shops, the suspect had definitely been to this funeral floral shop.

The fact that the suspect had gone to such lengths to buy different flowers from various places was indeed unexpected. But it wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

Zhao Leiting asked the owner, "Do you remember anything else about that person? Does he live nearby?"

The owner thought for a moment and said, "Well, I didn’t have a clear impression. He was probably in his mid-twenties. He was wearing a black cap and a black face mask, and he seemed to have a cold, coughing a couple of times. People who come to my shop to buy flowers are usually not in great shape, so I didn’t pay much attention."

"What about the clothes?" Meng Siqi probed.

"I can't recall very well," the boss thought for a moment, shook his head, and said, "With so many people coming and going to buy flowers, I didn't pay special attention to his attire."

"When exactly did he come here, and do you remember what he said?"

The boss pondered for a moment, then retrieved a ledger from the drawer, running his fingers over it. After a while, he pointed, "Here it is, the evening of March 24th."

Zhao Leiting picked up the ledger, and both of them looked at the entry. The handwriting was indeed the boss's, clearly noting the purchase of white roses and white double roses on the evening of March 24th.

The murder at the museum had occurred on March 26th. This date, March 24th, seemed highly suspicious.

"What did he say?" Meng Siqi asked again.

"His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if he had a cold. He simply asked for two pots of flowers. After packing them, he paid and left without another word."

Failing to get more details, Zhao Leiting noted down a phone number, and the two of them left the shop. It was already evening.

The area, close to the crematorium, felt chilly.

Besides the funeral flower shop, you could easily see paper effigies. Some stores even placed them outside for promotion. Their white bodies and black eyes were quite alarming at first glance.

In the distance, green flames flickered wildly. Meng Siqi swallowed, "Zhao Leiting, could that be a ghost?"

Zhao Leiting also swallowed, "Don't scare me. As police officers, we shouldn't be superstitious."

"Why is it flickering?"

"Should we check it out?" Zhao Leiting was curious too.

Perhaps due to their long experience in criminal investigation, they were determined to uncover the truth. Zhao Leiting walked a few steps forward but suddenly halted, startling Meng Siqi, "What’s going on?"

Zhao Leiting hesitated, "Never mind, let's go back. We have to report this important matter to Captain Lu early tomorrow morning."

"So, you don't want to know the truth anymore?"

"I trust in science, not superstition."

"Come on, you're just scared."

With his lie exposed, Zhao Leiting licked his lips nervously. "I admit, I was afraid of the dark and walking night roads when I was a kid, but for you, I'm willing to take this risk."

Meng Siqi was torn between fear and curiosity, though the truth perhaps held more significance for her.

Just as Zhao Leiting was about to take a step forward, an eerie voice suddenly came from behind Meng Siqi, "Hello there."

Holding her breath, Meng Siqi slowly turned her head. In the dark night, a cold, gaunt face with sharp fangs and disheveled hair appeared. Startled, she stumbled backward and collided with Zhao Leiting.

Zhao Leiting flinched and steadied her by the shoulders, cautiously asking, "Who are you?"

The person replied, "I have incense, candles, and paper money. I'll give you the last few items at a discount."

Meng Siqi, who had been trembling in fear, suddenly steeled herself. She really wanted to scold the person—why would anyone come out to scare people at this hour of the night?

Looking closely, the person indeed had incense, candles, and paper money in hand. His hair was a bit long but not disheveled. In the dim night, his face did indeed appear somewhat pale. The shadows cast by the branches accentuated his features, making him look even more sinister.

This area was a burial ground, so thinking about it that way, everything seemed normal, unlike her overreaction.

Zhao Leiting said, "We're not buying anything, but we do have a question. What's that flame over there?" He pointed to the distant flame flickering amidst the green mist.

"It's normal to have ghost fires here since there's a cemetery."

Meng Siqi felt a bit embarrassed. As a police officer, being afraid of ghost fires showed a lack of scientific understanding, and she decided to reflect on it seriously.

On the drive back, both of them remained silent, as if the incident with the "ghost fire" had exposed their "weaknesses."

After a moment, Zhao Leiting said seriously, "The human body is mainly composed of three elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but there are also small amounts of phosphorus, sulfur, and iron. Bones contain a rich amount of calcium phosphide. After a body decomposes and undergoes changes, it produces phosphine gas, which has a low ignition point and can self-ignite. When people or animals walk by, the air pressure under their feet decreases, causing the phosphine flame to follow, giving the illusion of a ghost flying."

"Stop explaining; I know you're scared."

Zhao Leiting licked his lips, "I told you, I'm not scared. I just explained the science... I'm a criminal investigator; why would I be scared? I believe in science..."

As Zhao Leiting muttered, Meng Siqi yawned, feeling a bit drowsy. "Zhao Leiting, drop me off at my door and call out to me."

"You go ahead and rest. It's been a long day, and it's almost ten. But I hope you won't tell anyone about today, especially since there are still many girls pursuing me..."

"You talk too much; I wonder which girl would actually like you..."

"..."

The next morning, Meng Siqi boarded the bus, and in contrast to the usual peace and quiet, there were two passengers at the back of the bus discussing the museum murder case. Although their voices were low, they were particularly jarring in the stuffy bus.

One of the men said, "I heard the killer sent a letter to the newspaper, saying he's looking for a second victim, blatantly taunting the media and the public..."

"Who did you hear that from? Don’t spread rumors!" a more clear-thinking passenger immediately interrupted him.

"Rumors?" the man retorted confidently, "My friend works at the newspaper, I wouldn’t just make things up..."

"Which newspaper? I'm a reporter, how come I don't know anything about it?"

The man countered, "Why should I tell you? A reporter of your caliber might not receive the killer's letter..."

At this, an argument immediately broke out on the bus. If not for the crowd keeping them apart, forcing them to exchange words from a distance, it might have escalated further.

Meng Siqi didn’t know about these rumors, but if they were true, the police would have known first. However, she couldn’t deny that the killer may have contacted the newspaper and made such claims, especially since the killer had provoked the police twice already.

Of course, some newspapers might fabricate various false news stories just to boost their online traffic.

Amidst all the true and false news, what concerned Meng Siqi the most was the impact on ordinary citizens. She could clearly see a subtle sense of worry and panic on their faces.

She could imagine how people living in this city, hearing about a gruesome murder involving a mysterious killer, would fear if there was hidden danger around them. The most terrifying thought was, "The killer could be right next to you."

Meng Siqi knew that these true and false rumors couldn’t be effectively stopped. The only solution was to crack the case as soon as possible. As she stepped off the bus, she felt particularly heavy-hearted.

The moment she entered the police station, her heart started racing. That morning, she saw Lu He. He looked very serious, and it was clear that he, like her, had been closely focused on the case.

Ten minutes later, Lu He called an emergency meeting, and the criminal investigation teams, Teams One and Two, rushed to the conference room.

Nine people quickly gathered in the meeting room, gathering around the crime board.

Liang Yunfeng wrote all the clues they had gathered on the new crime board as instructed.

Next to the crime board, a partial city map hung, with a deep red circle near the upper center, clearly marked in red with the museum’s name.

Cai Shuangxi and Lin Tao first reported on their investigation of the handcart and suitcase.

Lin Tao said, "The suitcase appears to have been purchased some time ago. We visited many luggage stores and found similar suitcases but couldn’t locate any purchase records."

Cai Shuangxi added, "Captain Lu, this type of suitcase isn’t a well-known brand and isn’t expensive, so it can be found in many luggage stores, big and small. Plus, since the suitcase has been used for a long time, there’s no way of tracing the purchase record."

"'Any news about the handcart?' Lu He asked.

'We have some news,' Lin Tao picked up his notebook and said, 'The handcart is quite common, but hard to come by. However, we found a clue at a small supermarket. A handcart was left behind outside their store before they closed on the night of the 23rd. But it didn’t draw much attention because it wasn’t expensive.'

Luo Xiaoguo added, 'Yes, Lin Tao informed me of this yesterday when you weren’t around, Captain Lu. I immediately took the photos to the supermarket to verify. The owner confirmed that the handcart looked very similar to theirs. Although they couldn’t be 100% sure, we believe it’s very likely to be the same one.'

'Hmm.' Lu He nodded, his thin lips pressing together slightly, a look of approval in his eyes. To Meng Siqi, that gaze indeed conveyed a sense of encouragement amidst the tense work.

Perhaps Lu He had a natural presence. A single glance could convey strength, a strength that had undoubtedly been forged over the years from his relentless pursuit of criminals and his drive for excellence.

Lu He said, 'Good. The location of this Xiao Tian Supermarket isn’t too far from the museum.'

Liang Yunfeng marked the supermarket’s location on the crime board. As he compared it to the map, he said, 'It’s about ten kilometers away.'

'Hmm.' Lu He glanced around at everyone again, 'Anything else to report?'

His eyes fell on Luo Xiaoguo, who immediately said, 'Yes, an important discovery. During our investigation, Yan Chun and I, along with Old Feng, found a costume shop that sells anime-themed clothing. They had a clown suit similar to the one the suspect likely wore. Our investigation suggests the suspect likely bought a similar clown suit there. Yan Chun, give the address to Xiao Liang.'

Yan Chun immediately handed a piece of paper to Liang Yunfeng, who circled the location on the map.

'Good.' Lu He offered a nod of satisfaction. He then asked, 'How about the search for the head?'

Luo Xiaoguo licked his lips and glanced away. He and Feng Shaomin had been following the lead on the head, which was the most crucial piece of evidence. Finding the head would make confirming the victim’s identity much easier, but it was proving to be the most challenging lead.

Judging by Luo Xiaoguo’s expression, they likely hadn’t found it. Feng Shaomin spoke up, 'Captain Lu, along with Luo and Yan Chun, we searched waste disposal sites, landfills, and garbage bins within seven to eight kilometers of the museum. We also questioned workers who manage the sewers in various communities. We haven’t found the head yet.'

'Good. You’ve all done a great job,' Lu He’s voice was magnetic yet slightly hoarse, making it pleasant to listen to.

The head was an essential clue, and the search must have been difficult. If they had found it, it wouldn’t be discussed in this meeting. Lu He likely anticipated this, so there was no change in his demeanor, only a hint of reassurance in his eyes for Feng Shaomin.

Feng Shaomin added, 'Captain Lu, don’t worry. We’ll keep trying new approaches.'

Lu He finally turned his attention to Meng Siqi. The previous night, Meng Siqi and Zhao Leiting had agreed that Zhao would present today’s findings.

Zhao Leiting picked up his notebook, eager to speak, when suddenly, with a gust of wind, someone entered.

Cai Shuangxi was the first to turn his head, 'Commissioner Liu?'

Hearing the mention of Commissioner Liu, everyone looked towards the door. Commissioner Liu had a grave expression and quick steps. As he approached, everyone hurriedly parted to make an opening for him."

Liu Maoping stood facing the crime board and Lu He directly. His tone was serious, "I really shouldn't disturb your meeting, but the situation is very grave right now. Last night, I received two calls from the provincial police headquarters. This case has escalated beyond a simple murder. Not only is Jinyang City affected, but the entire Haijiang Province is overshadowed by this case. Public panic is spreading rapidly, and several major events have been postponed or canceled..."

Liu Maoping suddenly raised his voice, "The original ten-day deadline is no longer viable. I am ordering you to solve this case within two days; no negotiation is possible!"

Liu Maoping's tone was decisive and unyielding, and no one dared to question him. Everyone looked uneasy—this was his command, and it carried the weight of a military order.

However, Lu He's expression was stern, his gaze sharp. While others were uneasy, he remained composed.

Meng Siqi felt a bit lighter in her heart due to Lu He's composure. In the darkest moments, she trusted Lu He to lead them to solve the unsolved case.

In the next moment, she heard Lu He say, "Director Liu, I need one day!"

She was not the only one shocked; everyone there was stunned.