Chapter 509: Fire In The Evidence Room (1/2)
”Officer Nie, who else have you told these things?”
Interrupted mid-conversation, the old man looked very impatient. ”I’ve never told anyone,” he frowned. “Although I’m not wearing a police uniform now, I’m still a policeman in my heart. I would never tell these secrets to an outsider.”
”But since we entered the room, you haven't asked us for our identification!” Song Xingchen hit the nail on the head.
The old man paused, suddenly bursting into a temper and chasing us out the room. It was no wonder people say one behaves more and more like a child towards the end of one’s life, throwing a tantrum over the slightest issue. I coaxed the old man while Xiaotao went out to get a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes.
As soon as he laid eyes on the cigarettes, the old man delightedly lit one on the spot and continued with his story on cloud nine.
On the night of the fire, he, Officer Xiao, and Officer Sun from Nanjiang City were drinking. Officer Sun had rented a separate space because the other expert had a strange temper and required absolute silence during the autopsy process. Thus, the evidence was also stored there.
The three people were in a good mood that day since “Song Zhaolin” was about to be convicted, and the good people of Liangchuan City would no longer have cause for panic. All of a sudden, someone yelled fire! They turned to look, only to discover that it was the evidence room.
They immediately rushed over and found that Song Zhaolin had set the place on fire. Officer Sun grabbed Song Zhaolin by the shoulder and demanded why.
Afraid that the evidence would be destroyed, Officer Nie rushed in to save them. Unfortunately, he was hit by a burning beam. After being rescued, he found himself burned beyond recognition and could no longer walk.
What was even more depressing was the fact that a few days later, all charges against ”Song Zhaolin” were dropped. The man was no longer considered a criminal suspect. However, Officer Xiao insisted on returning justice to the dead girls and was suspended.
Because “Song Zhaolin” was cleared of suspicion, Nie Yalong's injury wasn’t deemed work-related, so he couldn’t receive his pension. Although his colleagues donated a sum of money for the injury, it would’ve taken 500,000 yuan for him to stand up again, which he couldn’t afford!
Thus, the case faded just like that. After the experts from Nanjiang City left, Officer Xiao shouted, ”How unfair the heavens are!” three times in front of his fiancee's grave before committing suicide.
And “Song Zhaolin” who was still at large was put under the spotlight in the newspapers, receiving much glory for his crimes. Every time he thought about it, the old man hated it to the bone.
At this point, the old man clenched his fist and pounded his wheelchair. Afraid that he would hurt himself, we quickly stopped him. ”It was Song Zhaolin who killed my partner and ruined my life. Even after I’m dead, I’m going after him!” he gritted his teeth.
Hearing such anger directed at Grandpa left a bitter taste in my mouth. He hated Grandpa so much that in his chaotic memory, the suspect had become Grandpa.
Although I didn't want to reopen the old man’s wounds, I had to correct his memory. ”Who was the other expert from Nanjiang City?”
The old man shook his head, so I asked, ”Was it Song?”
”I don't know, I can't remember.”
”What were the characteristics of ‘Song Zhaolin’? Does he still live here now?”
The old man frowned as he muddled up the suspect’s characteristics. One moment he was tall, the other short; he had dead fish eyes and tiny eyes like mung beans...
Xiaotao sighed, ”There’s no point asking him. Those with dementia have confused memories. They can't tell who’s who.”
Still unwilling, I handed the pack of Zhonghua to him and said, ”Thank you, old man. Take this, it’s for you. Shall I put it under your bed?”