Early in the morning, when the sky was bright, Tang Zhenguo called me up. I yawned and looked at Tang Zhenguo sleepily and said, "What are you doing so early?" ”

Tang Zhenguo said: "Come with me to Tsz Yun Temple." ”

I asked, "When did you start believing in Buddhism?" ”

Tang Zhenguo said: "I have always believed it, but I am not like those devout believers, who talk about it at any time. Two days ago, I killed someone again, and that person died in our house, and I felt unlucky, so I had to go and pray to the Bodhisattva for peace. Chi Xue's family didn't know if it had touched the mold recently, and the Chinese New Year was approaching, and the old and young in the family were all in the hospital. I'm going to have to go and ask for a peace charm for their house. ”

I wanted to make fun of Tang Zhenguo, but then I thought about it, after all, he only had blood on his hands, and this was not the time to joke. The matter of killing people rests on normal people, no matter what the reason is, it is uncomfortable. Maybe worshipping the Bodhisattva can't really bring him any peace, but at least it can make him feel at peace in his heart. I think that's the power of faith.

So I simply said 'yes', turned over and got up, put on my clothes and pants, and went to Tsz Yun Temple with Tang Zhenguo.

Ciyun Temple, formerly known as Ciyun Nunnery, is located in the west of Wanzhou, Chongqing, in the upper reaches of the Three Gorges Scenic Area of the Yangtze River, adjacent to Taibai Rock, adjacent to Oolong Pond in the south, surrounded by mountains and rivers, shaded by green trees, and beautiful and pleasant scenery.

The temple was founded in the first year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1851), so far more than 150 years of history, the founding of the temple nun Shi Chonglian has been commended by the Qing Emperor Xianfeng, become a generation of famous teachers. Tsz Yun Temple is a famous Buddhist resort in Wanzhou, with a long and ancient cultural history, and is an ideal place for religious activities and a place for sightseeing and leisure. Due to historical reasons, coupled with the disrepair, the original Daxiong Treasure Hall has been burned down, only the ancient mountain gate and part of the house, with the implementation of the party's religious policy and the development of Buddhist culture, rebuilt in 1989, now covers an area of nearly ten acres, the temple sits west and faces east, the north and south are about 45 meters wide, the east and west are 90 meters long, the north is high and the south is low, the natural ups and downs are large, the height difference is more than 30 meters, now the Ciyun Temple, the temple is Xuanang, the Buddha statue *, the Sanskrit sound is melodious, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant, the incense is becoming more and more vigorous, the believers and visitors from all directions come one after another, In an endless stream.

Because of the traffic jam along the way, it was already half past eight when we arrived at Tsz Yun Temple.

There are already many believers outside Tsz Yun Temple, although today is not the fifteenth day of the new year, but there are still many pilgrims here. I guess most people's idea is to come to the Bodhisattva to pray for peace before the New Year, when there are not many pilgrims, so as not to be too busy during the New Year.

Tang Zhenguo is very religious, which I really didn't see before. He even took out a stack of brand-new one-dollar bills and distributed them to the beggars gathered outside the Tsz Yun Temple.

I know that this dollar note has been withdrawn from circulation, and it is not like in the past that you can just go to the bank and get it. I don't know how Tang Zhenguo got these banknotes.

I looked at Tang Zhenguo, and he didn't care if he asked those people which were real beggars and which were fake beggars, anyway, it was two or three pieces of money per person. When he sees an unkempt child, he will send a few more.

In fact, I can't tell at a glance whether those beggars are real or fake, even if a few can occasionally distinguish their authenticity, I don't want to interrupt Tang Zhenguo's 'Yaxing'. As long as he feels at peace and feels that this charity will bring joy, peace, and salvation to his heart, then it will be fine.

A stack of brand-new one-dollar bills was quickly finished, and in the process of his almsgiving, many people took pictures and videos behind him, and some people also drew gourds and gave their change to the beggars. Indeed, in this era, there are not many people who can do this like Tang Zhenguo. Because too many scammers have hurt the hearts of the people, and the people who really need relief have not been properly helped. Who can say for sure these seemingly unkempt beggars, some of them are beggars during the day and sons at night?

Tang Zhenguo no longer had half a penny in his hand, he clapped his hands and looked satisfied.

Of course, I'm a pragmatic person and a curious person, and I don't ask him how he feels now, but I ask him the question, "Where did you get all that change?" ”

Tang Zhenguo said: "Hey! Not to mention, I almost ran all the banks in Wanzhou before I got this 100 yuan. ”

I smiled, which was in line with Tang Zhenguo's personality and style.

Enter the temple sincerely, and worship the Buddha when you meet it.

Although I don't believe in ghosts and gods, I respect faith.

Tang Zhenguo is much more sincere than me. Three bows and nine knocks, chanting words, burning incense and lighting candles, and a solemn expression, that is to worship the Buddha and ask the Bodhisattva to do everything in the way. Of course, I could still smell shampoo next to him, and it seemed that he did the same thing before going out.

Finally, Tang Zhenguo also lit two seven-star lamps in the Buddhist hall. Of course, this seven-star lamp is not like the seven lamps lit by Mr. Kong Ming, and it also has a miraculous life-sustaining effect. This seven-star lamp is seven white porcelain wax lamps in a circle, implying auspiciousness, health, peace and happiness.

And the two seven-star lamps that Tang Zhenguo lit, one is for Xiao Tangtang, and the other is for Chi Xue.

After this pious trip, Tang Zhenguo asked for a number of peace charms, and of course, I was also honored to get one.

This thing must be accepted, it's almost the New Year, and it's auspicious. At this time, there are still those words that do not believe in ghosts and gods, but it is disrespectful to others.

Out of Ciyun Temple, Tang Zhenguo hurried to the hospital to visit Chi Xue, and I still had to go to the criminal investigation team.

Say goodbye. Before leaving, Tang Zhenguo also instructed me to put the peace charm on my body, I patted my chest, signaling that this peace charm was put in my breast pocket, and he nodded and left.

I don't think Tang Zhenguo is ridiculous, and I understand his current mood very well. It is already rare that he can maintain such a mentality after his beloved woman was threatened with death, rescued his woman at the hands of a cruel and terrible murderer, and after brushing shoulders with death and killing the murderer. And Tang Zhenguo still killed that terrible dwarf after all, and he is still a living person after all.

Of course, according to Article 20 of the Criminal Law, an act taken to stop an unlawful infringement in order to protect the State, the public interest, the person, property and other rights of the person or others from an ongoing unlawful infringement and causes damage to the wrongdoer shall be regarded as justified defense and shall not bear criminal responsibility.

If Tang Zhenguo is a policeman, he may be able to get some meritorious service.

Coming to the criminal investigation team, Lao Lu was sorting out some of the previous files. He has such a habit that every time before the Chinese New Year, he will sort out the cases of this year. Perhaps because of professional reasons, the year-end summary of each year needs to report and sort out the cases for a year, so over time, Lao Lu has turned part of his work into a habit.

Admittedly, this is a good habit.

With the help of Liu Sanxun, Lao Lu was concentrating on sorting out the layers of files. When I walked into the office, Lao Lu raised his eyes and glanced at me, lowered his head and continued to tidy up, and said in a mocking tone: "Don't die." ”

I saw Xiao Liu have a smiling expression. In fact, I know that Xiao Liu admires me very much, so he held back his laughter, because he must have thought that my previous boating with Tang Zhenguo on the Yangtze River was not a lifeless act, but a strategy and courage. Uh, a little boastful.

I didn't refute it, and followed Lao Lu's tone with an 'um'. Lao Lu raised his eyes to look at me again, and then buried his head in cleaning up the file and said, "By the way, you don't have to worry about Tang Zhenguo's matter, there is no problem." ”

I know that Lao Lu is talking about Tang Zhenguo killing the dwarf killer with a flying knife, of course I didn't worry about it, and I never worried, but I still said thank you.

Lao Lu said in a deep voice: "If this Qu Mo is not eliminated for a day, we will not be able to live in peace, and I don't know when he will make any moths, which will make people panic and the world will be in chaos." This incident has alarmed the central government, but fortunately there is no big basket. Otherwise, I might not be sorting out the files here, but tidying up my outfits, preparing to roll out and leave. ”

I didn't answer Lao Lu, because I didn't know how to respond to this kind of whining and nagging.

I walked to the desk and was about to help sort out the file, Lao Lu hurriedly stretched out his hand to stop him and said, "You just sit and watch, the consultant of the criminal investigation team is not here to do this, and we have not paid you for this." If you are idle and panicked, there are some cases that we have solved together a few years ago, you can look through them at will, as long as you don't mess up the order of sorting. ”

I looked at Lao Lu, and then at the busy Liu Sanxun, and I felt that when there was no case, I was really more idle than an idler.

I wanted to find out what the car ferry, the tanker truck, and the * came from, and see if I could find some common ground. Because I plan to investigate the behind-the-scenes companies involved in Qu Mo, I hope that through these companies that have surfaced, the criminal gangs under the abyss can be involved.

Since Lao Lu is very busy, I still don't bother him. So he came to this black lacquered iron cabinet, twisted the key on it, and opened the cabinet door.

When the cabinet door opened, a heavy smell of ink and paper came to my face.

I glanced at it, and the name of the case posted on the edge of the brown crusty file box was clear at a glance.

The 'Gold Store Serial Robbery Case', the '3.13 Corpse Crushing Case', the 'Bus Acid Dumping Case', the 'Counterfeit Money Factory Case', etc., these are all cases that Lao Lu and I solved together many years ago.

One of the cases had a strange name, the 'Bloody Handprint Case'. But when I saw the words 'bloody handprint', I knew that this was the strange case that made me and Lao Lu ponder for three months.

I pulled out the file box of the case, sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and looked at the file box carefully.

In 2008, when the New Year was approaching, I received a call from Lao Lu on a warm winter morning.

"Come and get rich in the community, there is a murder here."

I remember tasting the coffee that a friend brought me back from a trip abroad, and it was just brewing and steaming. However, the rich sweetness of the coffee could not match my interest in homicide, so this poor cup of coffee was ruthlessly placed on my cold workbench. It's not that I don't want to drink this coffee, it's just that it's so hot.

Hop on a taxi and I came to the Fortune Community.

The Fortune Community is located at the junction of urban and rural areas, where the environment is complex and is a frequent area for theft and robbery. Because Lao Lu only told me on the phone that there was a murder, I speculated that it was a robbery and murder.

My suspicion was confirmed when I entered the scene of the crime.

The scene of the crime was a four-story residential building, and the entire residential building belonged to a family surnamed Tao. Although a cordon was set up outside the residential building, the onlookers still surrounded the building three floors inside and three floors outside.

I stood outside the building, looked at it, and found that there was a mahjong parlor on the ground floor. On the second floor, there is a sign on the window that reads Fortune Hotel, and apparently the second floor has been converted into a hotel.

The third and fourth floors are strange, and the windows are equipped with aluminum alloy security nets, so it is obvious that the third and fourth floors are residents.

When I approached the building, I found that there was also a kiosk in the mahjong hall, and the main items sold were instant noodles, ham sausages, drinks and dry food. I guess this mahjong parlor should belong to the mahjong parlor that is open all night.

Walking through the mahjong parlor, I came to the stairwell and found that it was inside the house, like the kind of indoor staircase between two floors in the countryside. Of course, the staircase is much more spacious and has handrails.

The hotel on the second floor seems to be empty, presumably because of the murder, and was ordered by the police to wait outside.

The case happened on the third floor, Lao Lu was standing in the stairwell and saying something to a criminal policeman, both of them had serious expressions, and it seemed that there were difficulties in the process of detection.

I stepped forward and said to Lao Lu, "Where is the deceased?" ”

Lao Lu glanced at me and said to the criminal policeman who was talking to him, "Go get busy." Then he said to me, "In the house." ”

I asked again, "Is the medical examiner here?" ”

Lao Lu said: "It's already here." After preliminary identification, the victim was strangled by the neck and suffocated to death. ”

"Who reported the case?"

"The husband of the deceased."

"When did you die?"

"It's about 1 to 2 a.m. today."

I nodded and said, "Well, I'll go in and have a look." ”

After entering the house, the three members of the on-site investigation team were still taking pictures, videotaping and searching for physical evidence. A forensic doctor wearing a police uniform with a mask, hat and gloves examines the deceased.

But I immediately noticed that something was wrong. Lao Lu said that the deceased was strangled to death. If he is strangled in bed, then the deceased will definitely struggle desperately, which will cause the bed to be messy, but the bed is very neat and there are no signs of struggle.

So I deduce that this bed was not the first scene of the death of the deceased. However, I also know that the police will never move the deceased when conducting a scene investigation. Then the most likely possibility that the deceased is in bed is that his family moved him to the bed.

The medical examiner was sorting through his toolbox at this point, and it appeared that the preliminary autopsy had ended.

I crouched down on the edge of the bed and observed the dead man lying on the bed.

The deceased was a woman, about 50 years old, with a wound on the left forehead that was about two centimeters long, and the amount of bleeding was average. There was also blood on the left side of the face, I checked it, there was no wound, the blood was flowing down from the forehead. It means that the deceased had stood up after the forehead injury, so there was blood flowing to the cheeks.

The wound on the left forehead was wiped with a hand. I looked at the deceased's hand, and there was residual blood on her left palm, indicating that the deceased had covered it with her left hand after the forehead was injured.

So how did this forehead injury come about? My first judgment was that I had hit something hard after falling, such as a wound on the edge of a table. As for whether it is or not, I will keep it for the time being, and after the body is examined, I will conduct an investigation of the scene.

The deceased had bruises near his neck and lips, indicating that the killer had put the victim to death by strangling his neck with one hand and covering his mouth and nose with the other. Most of those who kill people in this way do it in the sense of passion.

That is, the murderer did not have a motive to kill before, but because the victim was making a lot of noise, the murderer was forced to kill the victim in a situation of nervousness, fear and anger by covering his mouth and nose and controlling his cries for help.

So what is the real purpose of the murderer?

The woman in her 50s, with dyed yellow hair and the smell of cigarettes in her mouth and nose, wore a good quality red woolen tweed coat.

I looked at the earlobe of the deceased, the ear hole on the earlobe was torn, and it was clear that the earrings that the deceased was wearing had been forcibly removed.

I checked the deceased's fingers again, and there were ring marks on several of them, but the ring was missing. There are abrasions on both sides of the back of the hand, which should have been left when the objects in the wrist were forcibly removed, then it means that the deceased was wearing bracelets and other ornaments on the wrist.

The deceased's ornaments are gone, so will this situation be a murder for money? Of course, there is a possibility.

The situation with corpses is more or less the same. I took another look at the scene of the crime.

There were no traces of the drawers and cabinets at the scene, but the table with the teacups and vases was a little crooked, the vases were still poured on the table, the yellow plum blossoms inserted in the vases were also scattered on the table, and the water in the vases was dripping to the wooden floor.

Indicates that the table was badly impacted. Could it be that the deceased's forehead was bruised on this table?

I checked the edges and corners of the table and found no traces of blood, no marks of wiping, so the deceased's forehead was not caused by the blow on this table. Could the impact on the table be caused by the fight between the dead and the murderer?

At this time, I saw a scene investigation officer taking a picture of a small white cabinet.

This small cabinet should be a bedside table, I looked back at the bed where the deceased was lying, and from the shape and color of the bed, I was sure that this small cabinet was the bedside table that matched the bed.

I approached the bedside table and found a bloody handprint on it, the size of the deceased's hand.

There were also blood stains on the edge of the bedside table, and there was a small amount of skin dandruff, and it seemed that the corner of the deceased's forehead had hit this bedside table.

The bedside table is not high, only about 70 centimeters, so the deceased must have been injured after falling and hitting the edge of the bedside table with his head. After being injured, the deceased wiped his forehead and stood up on the bedside table with his hands propped up.

As for how the deceased fell to the ground? From my analysis of the situation at the scene, it is likely that the deceased was about to leave the house and was pushed down from behind by the murderer. Because the white bedside table was not placed next to the bed, but from the door.

Next to the bedside table, in a relatively wide area, I checked the floor and found that there were blood stains on the floor, but the blood stains were faint, as if they had been wiped.

If you look closely, it's not a wipe mark.

So I rushed to the deceased's side and examined the deceased's hair, which found that there were also blood stains on it.

Then the blood stains on the ground that seem to have been wiped are wiped by the hair of the deceased. This proves that the deceased was in this position, and was strangled to death by the murderer on the ground.

So how did the murderer sneak into the bedroom of the deceased and kill the deceased? I checked the window again, and the burglar window outside the window was intact, apparently the killer would not have come in through the window.

Check that the door and lock cylinder are intact and have not been damaged. So will the killer have the key to this house? Could it be that an acquaintance committed the crime? It's not certain yet.

My investigation of the scene was basically over, and I finally found another point, that is, the quilt on the deceased's bed was not opened, and the deceased was fully dressed, which means that the deceased had not slept before being killed.

I walked up to Lao Lu's side and said, "I have some questions to ask the husband of the deceased. ”

Lao Lu nodded, and said to a criminal policeman beside him, "Go and ask Mr. Wu to come up." ”

When I heard this, I asked a little puzzled: "I just heard people talking downstairs, saying that the owner of this building is not surnamed Tao?" Why is the surname Wu again? ”

Lao Lu said: "The surname Tao is the deceased, and this building is the deceased." ”

I nodded, as if I felt that this case was not simple.

I sat in another room on the third floor, which was a larger room and a living room. First of all, I would like to point out that the structure of this building is not the traditional two-bedroom and three-bedroom living room. Each of its rooms is self-contained, with an aisle in between. There are a total of five rooms on the third floor, three of which have locked doors, and only the deceased's room and living room are open.

I sat on the sofa in the living room, lit a cigarette, and only took two puffs, and Lao Lu brought the Mr. Wu over.

Mr. Wu is not tall, about 165 cm, about the same height as the deceased. Although he was wearing a black down jacket, he could still see that he was very thin. He looked very old, his eyes were sunken, and he had heavy dark circles, which was obviously the result of staying up late. The wrinkles on his face were noticeable, and they had been topped, but he still retained the few black and white miscellaneous hairs, which looked very sloppy.

I can imagine that his old and sloppy appearance and her wife in gold and silver stand together, and there is no match at all.

"Sit." I dusted the ash into the metal ashtray in front of me and spoke.

This Mr. Wu behaved very restrained, looking submissive, and he couldn't see the slightest bit of masculinity of a man.

He sat down carefully on the single couch three of my body away, as if I were the master and he was an outsider.

I don't understand it, and it's weird. Such a person, should I doubt him? Or don't doubt him?

You will only find out when you ask.