Chapter 374: Luo Youyou’s Disappearance (2/2)

”Okay, you specified that the victims weren’t raped. Were they sexually assaulted then?” she added.

“You can say that!”

I opened the Autopsy Umbrella and adjusted the light so that the umbrella’s shadow fell upon the victims. Messy handprints appeared on their pale skin, especially on the breasts. The two girls gasped in astonishment.

There were no ridges on these prints, which suggested the murderer was cautious enough to wear gloves.

I compared the handprints and found the murderer’s palm wide and thick, like the hands one would see in a man engaged in heavy manual labor. I estimated the murderer to be about forty or fifty years of age. The sexual assault was most likely an afterthought. The murderer felt the urge to fondle their breasts after seeing them naked. I didn't believe anyone would kill just to molest their breasts.

A picture of the murderer’s characteristics gradually formed in my head. ”The murderer may have a criminal record. He’s restrained and composed, and not highly educated. He probably works as a carpenter, foreman or a tailor, though I believe it’s most likely to be the second one!”

Xiaotao's eyes widened in surprise, ”How can you tell? Is it the mace?”

”No,” I chuckled. “The murderer is a perfect executor to be able to plan and execute everything down to a T! His goal was to create the illusion that the victims had drowned. Although there were many flaws from a professional perspective, it’s still an overall success. So I deduced he was either a carpenter, foreman or a tailor. Since foremen have the best physical strength, that was the most likely occupation!”

”That makes sense,” smiled Xiaotao.

After examining the bodies, I burned two stacks of yellow joss paper as usual. Bingxin took samples of the victims’ skin and tested them. Just as I was about to leave, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. ”By the way, where are their belongings?”

”Their clothes were tucked under the bed by the murderer,” reported Xiaotao. “One of the victims’ cell phones, a Huawei, was thrown into the toilet. It’s no longer operable. The other, an Apple iPhone, had the SIM card removed and taken away by the murderer.”

”So it looks like the murderer is of average economic conditions,” I remarked.

Xiaotao nodded, ”I've asked officers to pay close attention to the black market to look out for anyone who has recently sold Apple phones.”

Worry clenched at my gut; if these serial murders were really related to ghost bus, then the one in most danger was none other than Luo Youyou, whose whereabouts were unknown. I could only silently pray that I was mistaken.

”Please help me locate this cell phone number!” I said, asking Xiaotao to check Luo Youyou’s position.

Luo Youyou’s cell phone was now turned off so she couldn’t be located. Xiaotao phoned the telecommunications department to check her call records for the day. There were only three, one from Dali, one from the railway station and an unfamiliar number. It seemed she had really purchased a train ticket.

The last number belonged to Zhou Yang, indicating that he had recently called her.

I didn't think Luo Youyou would actually meet up with Zhou Yang. After all, she wasn’t that sort of girl. My fear was her accidental involvement in this case. I pointed to Zhou Yang's number and said, ”Check this number!”

The technical officer typed away on his keyboard for a while and reported, ”It's also turned off!”

”What's going on?” Xiaotao frowned. “Why are both of their cell phones turned off?”

I had two conjectures–they were either currently together and Luo Youyou had moved onto Zhou Yang, or their lives were in danger.