Zhang Tian'ai heard this and asked, "Not suicide? Lin Chen, then why not?"
At that moment, Xia Miaoyan returned from the kitchen with two cups of tea and placed them before Lin Chen and Zhang Tian'ai.
Xia Miaoyan listened quietly as they discussed the previous night's case without interrupting.
Lin Chen blew lightly on his hot tea but did not drink.
He looked at Xia Miaoyan and said, "Tell me, why do your police think it's suicide?"
Zhang Tian'ai began explaining...
The building was a regular rental with eight floors. The deceased's room was on the eighth floor near the stairs.
Last night, after Lin Chen and Xia Miaoyan left, Zhang Tian'ai and other detectives entered the deceased's room.
It was about twenty square meters, small but tidy. On the dining table lay a pair of chopsticks and some plastic bags with leftover snacks.
Several beer bottles and liquor bottles were on the table and floor. Forensic doctors found large amounts of alcohol in the deceased's stomach and intestines.
The body had no injuries. Interpersonal relations appeared good with no enemies.
Fingerprint collection confirmed all prints were the deceased's alone. Saliva DNA on bottles and bowls also matched only the deceased.
From this, two possibilities: the deceased planned suicide, drinking to steady nerves, or drunkenly went to the rooftop and accidentally fell to death.
"Based on this, we preliminarily conclude the death was unrelated to others," Zhang Tian'ai said.
Lin Chen fell silent for several seconds.
Finally, Zhang Tian'ai asked, "Lin Chen, why do you say it's not suicide?"
"Right, Master," Xia Miaoyan agreed, "I think he also fell drunk and accidentally died."
"Do you remember what the deceased was wearing when he fell?" Lin Chen asked.
Zhang Tian'ai and Xia Miaoyan recalled quickly.
Zhang Tian'ai: "He wore a watch on his left wrist, a gold ring on his right finger, casual clothes, and leather shoes."
Xia Miaoyan agreed.
Lin Chen nodded slightly. "Usually, when someone plans suicide, they remove personal items like watches, glasses, rings, pendants, shoes — psychologically symbolizing release from worldly bonds."
"The deceased didn't remove his watch and ring. That's suspicious but doesn't prove it wasn't suicide."
"I say he was murdered because of something strange. When we passed under the building, the deceased fell silently."
"If he had accidentally fallen or was going to the rooftop, I would have definitely heard a scream — that's an instinctive reaction."
"Facing imminent death, even a person about to commit suicide would likely make some noise."
"Master, now that you mention it, we didn't hear anything when he fell," Xia Miaoyan said.
Zhang Tian'ai frowned; Lin Chen's analysis was plausible, though not certain truth.
"The deceased fell from the rooftop. Did you visit the ninth floor rooftop?" Lin Chen asked.
Zhang Tian'ai nodded, "Yes. The landlord recently built two rooms on the rooftop for storage. The deceased jumped from the left side near the rooftop stairs. We..."
"Wait!"
Lin Chen abruptly interrupted and stared at Zhang Tian'ai, "You said the landlord was building two rooms on the rooftop?"
"Yes. He said they were for storage. It's an illegal construction. The city inspectors would have demolished them if they knew. Because the area is remote and no one reported it, they let it stay. Why? Is that a problem?"
"Yes, it is," Lin Chen said. "Earlier, I was unsure about the murder theory, but now I'm convinced — he was almost certainly murdered, not suicide."
"Why? Why are you so sure? Just because of the rooftop construction?" Zhang Tian'ai was puzzled.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]