Netherworld Investigator

I put on my gloves and picked up the bones, then repeated the whole process I did earlier. Only this time, instead of pouring white vinegar, I placed the wormwood under the bones and covered it with the straw mat.

This technique was an extremely advanced autopsy procedure that was recorded in The Collected Cases of Injustices Rectified. It was invented by one of the most outstanding members of the Song family. Through this technique, it was possible to detect the scars left on the victim’s body caused by the injuries that killed the victim and also extract drug components in the victim’s body from the bone marrow.

As we waited, my eyes were glued to the straw mat. The temperature inside the pit was very high and steam continued to rise from under the mat. I didn’t notice it at the time, but I was soaking in sweat. Xiaotao surprised me when she wiped the sweat on my forehead with a tissue.

I then removed the straw mat. The scent of wormwood filled my nostrils. When I removed the wormwood leaves, I found the bones underneath still completely unchanged.

I noticed that Xiaotao’s expression turned sullen. I knew that she trusted me to solve any case as long as I put my heart into it, but at that moment, even I had doubts about my own capabilities.

I resolved not to show any signs of worry or anxiety to Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao, for fear that they might feel too discouraged. 

“Yuanchao, help me pick up the bones,” I commanded, trying to sound confident. “We’ll repeat the process one last time.”

“Can’t you test it more than three times?” Xiaotao asked.

“I can,” I replied, “but it wouldn’t yield any results. White vinegar is acidic, and wormwood is basic. That means when both are used, drugs that are acidic and basic can be detected. If both of them detect nothing, then that means there really is no drug residue in the victim’s body.”

I proceeded to do the third testing. This time, the procedure was slightly different from the previous ones. I sprinkled both vinegar and wormwood leaves over the bones, then covered them with the straw mat. We then waited anxiously.

“It’s alright,” Xiaotao comforted me. “If this method doesn’t work, then we’ll just find another way to gather evidence.”

I sighed. I knew that there would be no other way. This skeleton was the only evidence left. If this method didn’t yield any results, the murderer would most likely go unpunished forever.

The Collected Cases of Injustices Rectified stated that human bone marrow could retain drug residues for a long period of time. Even corpses in ancient tombs could be tested this way, and it would be possible to deduce what kind of medicine the deceased took before their death. 

Please help your descendant bring justice to the murderer, Song Ci! I silently prayed.

When we uncovered the straw mat, Xiaotao couldn’t wait until the steam had completely dissipated before checking the bones.

“Nothing happened to the bones, Song Yang,” she stated, trying to conceal the disappointment in her voice.

I was slightly shocked. I went over to pick up the bones. 

“Don’t be discouraged,” Xiaotao comforted me. “I believe in your method. Perhaps the murderer didn’t use any drugs on his wife.”

“Wait!”

I picked up a rib bone and noticed that there were many small yellow dew-like droplets on its surface. I held it under my nose and sniffed.

“It smells like an anesthetic! Quick! Bring me the plastic vial!”

I collected the drops into the vial and sealed the ribs inside an evidence bag. It would later be handed over to the forensics team for further testing.

“Awesome!” cried Xiaotao with joy. “We’ve got key evidence!”

“Are you sure this isn’t just the preservative applied to the bones after the victim’s death?” asked Wang Yuanchao uneasily.

“I’m sure it isn’t,” I replied. “If it was just the preservative, it wouldn’t seep out of the bone’s pores the way these droplets do. We can conclude that the drug was ingested before the victim’s death.”

“How can this be used as evidence in court?” Wang Yuanchao wondered.

“The techniques used by Traditional Coroners have a lot in common with modern forensic science,” I explained. “Let Xiaozhou test the bone marrow. He should be able to detect the anesthetic contained within it. If he writes up a formal report about it, that can be used as evidence in court.”

“You’ve been acting weird today, Wang Yuanchao,” remarked Xiaotao. “Why are you so skeptical all of a sudden?”

Wang Yuanchao smiled. In truth, I knew exactly how he felt, because I felt the same way too. Both Wang Yuanchao and I were worried that if this all went wrong, Xiaotao would get suspended. Xiaotao was important to Wang Yuanchao, because she was his Bo Le[1].

We then packed up and tidied up the place, then rushed back to the police station with the evidence. Xiaozhou tested the bone marrow immediately. The next day when he handed his test report to us, he remarked, “You never cease to impress me, Detective Song! I would never have thought to test the bone marrow for drug residues!”

I smiled humbly and replied, “Human bones aren’t just dead structural organs in our bodies. They are composed of living hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow with blood constantly flowing through them, which means that any drug in the blood system would accumulate in the bone marrow!”

“You should write a dissertation about this topic, Song Yang,” he said while looking at me with admiration. “It would greatly advance modern forensic science.”

That was in fact a great idea. I thought I could earn the last five credits that I needed to graduate with that dissertation paper. It never occurred to me that the paper I would eventually write about would rewrite forensic science textbooks, and it would even earn me a medal of honor from the Red Cross Society of Boston University.

The drug component that Xiaozhou detected from his testing was isoflurane, a general anesthetic that would paralyze the whole body once inhaled.

The next day, Xiaotao decided to use the evidence to arrest Zou Wei. I suggested that she apply for an arrest warrant first, to avoid any possible trouble. Xiaotao retorted that the arrest warrant application must go through Captain Lin, and he would never approve it. Hence, our only choice was to use this evidence we found to take him back to the police station for questioning.

I had no mood to do anything that day. So I just waited anxiously for Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao in the police station. It was late afternoon when both of them returned, but I noticed that Zou Wei did not come with them. That alarmed me. I asked them, ‘What happened? Was the evidence not watertight enough?’

Xiaotao was about to answer me, but Captain Lin interrupted her by shouting, “What are you waiting for? Get into my office now!”

Before she went, Xiaotao whispered to me, “That bastard was more cunning than we imagined! He prepared an explanation that made our evidence completely useless!”

I was about to go with them, but Captain Lin politely said to me, “You don’t have to come in, Song Yang. I just want to talk to these two about the case.”

As soon as the door was closed, Captain Lin’s thunderous shouts could be heard clearly even from outside. 

“Who gave you permission to investigate Zou Wei, Huang Xiaotao? Didn’t I order you to give up the case? How dare you disobey an order from your superior! And you, Wang Yuanchao, you’re just a low-ranking officer now, yet you’re acting independently against the orders of a superior? If all police officers act according to their whims like the both of you, what difference is there between us and the hooligans we’re catching?”

This went on for about half an hour. I stood there waiting for them at the door, worried sick about what would happen to Xiaotao.

When they both came out, Xiaotao smiled to me and simply uttered, “We’re suspended!”

“I’m sorry,” I told her. “This is all my fault. If I didn’t insist on investigating this case, you wouldn’t have…”

“I’m not blaming you,” Xiaotao interrupted me. “Let’s go and get some coffee!”

We went to a Starbucks nearby. I asked them what Zou Wei did. Xiaotao replied that he had a medical record of his dead wife. It showed that she had sinus surgery three days before her death.

I really underestimated Zou Wei. But this further proved his guilt. Why would he keep his wife’s medical record after she died a year ago? The document must’ve been forged. He used to work at an insurance company. There was a high possibility that he would know a doctor who could help him with this.

Just like that, our evidence had been rendered utterly useless. Moreover, Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao were now temporarily unable to act as police officers. It was almost a complete defeat.

I suggested calling Sun Tiger for help, but Xiaotao shook her head and said, “No, we can’t rely on him for every roadblock that we encounter.”

“But it’s important that we carry on the investigation!” I argued.

“I’ll go to him, alright, but before that, we must find compelling evidence that would incriminate Zou Wei without any doubt. Then we’ll just ask for Sun Tiger to help us bring the murderer to justice!”

“That makes sense,” I nodded.

As we were discussing the case, Wang Yuanchao was constantly on the phone. 

“Are you listening, Wang Yuanchao?” Xiaotao rebuked him. “We’re only temporarily suspended. Are you already looking for a new job?”

Wang Yuanchao hung up the phone and said, “My informant told me that Zou Wei just went to see a Chinese medicine doctor…”

1. Bo Le is a legendary tamer of horses, used figuratively to mean someone who is a good judge of hidden talents. In this case, it was implied that Xiaotao was the person who recognized Wang Yuanchao’s capabilities even though he’d been demoted to a low rank.