Chapter 347: An Elaborate Frame-Up (2/2)

At this point, I interrupted him, shouting sternly, ”You didn't return immediately, did you? The neighbor discovered the smell of blood coming from your home at 8:10. It took you 20 minutes to get back. Don't lie to me!”

“Officer, I swear I came back immediately! I wasn’t delaying at all!” Mr. Ding desperately denied.

”Where were you then?” I questioned.

”At a small park nearby!”

”Did you make any detours on the way?” I continued.

”No, absolutely not! After all, she’s my wife. As soon as I heard of her accident, I rushed right back!” Mr. Ding answered honestly.

I paused for a moment before allowing him to continue.

Upon entering his home, Mr. Ding was greeted by the body of his dead wife. Thunderstruck, he stared blankly for some time before noticing several receipts scattered all over the floor. He wasn’t sure if his wife or the murderer had turned them out but they were receipts for transactions he spent on his mistress, and the money was part of a bribe he received from his client. Mr. Ding immediately thought of the consequences if the incident came to light. Dismissal was inevitable so he quickly disposed of the receipts.

He tore them up and washed them down the sink. Then, he opened the door and begged his neighbors to call the police. To his surprise, the police surveyed the scene and immediately handcuffed him, without so much as a word. He pleaded his innocence but no one believed him.

At the end of his narration, Mr, Ding raised his right hand. ”Officer, everything I’ve said is true! If I so much as speak a word of untruth, I swear I’ll be struck by lightning!”

In fact, I didn't need his oath. The entire time he was speaking, I was observing his microexpressions with Cave Vision. And judging from what I saw, he was indeed telling the truth.

”I'll reinvestigate the case!” I declared.

When I got up to leave, Mr. Ding cried, ”Thank you! Thank you so much! You must be the modern day Justice Bao!” Then, I heard a loud thump and I turned around to see the man on his knees.

Out of the detention room, Xiaotao said, ”His testimony has no legal effect. Our laws place more emphasis on material evidence than human testimony. In the face of a mountain of hard evidence, his one-sided statements will not be accepted in court.”

“You’re right,” I nodded. “The murderer understands this as well.”

Xiaotao gasped, ”What do you mean?”

”I think this is an elaborate frame-up.”

”He’s merely a Section Chief. What's the motive behind framing him?” Xiaotao retorted. “Your speculation is based on your belief in his words. But there’s no evidence to back you up.”

”But he wasn’t lying!” I refuted.

”Your eyes aren’t omnipotent,” reminded Xiaotao. “You’re forgetting the criminals who have lied right in front of you.”

Though Xiaotao had a point, I persisted, ”Then we’ll investigate the case based on our own doubts and the truth will come to light the more we debate and discuss.”

”But the investigation of the case has been officially completed and the judicial proceedings are about to begin,” said Xiaotao. “You don’t have much time, three days at most.”