wavenovel What exactly went wrong with Chapter 23?
What exactly went wrong with Chapter 23?
Marcus stared blankly at Lu Yiming, not understanding: "What do you mean? He didn't confess?"
Lu Yiming shook his head wearily and repeated his conclusion:
"The subway body dismemberment case...it wasn't them."
To get Timothy to talk, he used rather extreme methods with Marcus's tacit approval.
He blindfolded Timothy and slowly ran the blade across his skin, explaining in a terrifying tone as he did so.
"The ribs are very crispy; it's best to coat them in breadcrumbs and deep-fry them."
"Your lungs are a bit dark; you must smoke a lot, right? That really affects the smell."
"The liver color is off, is it alcoholic liver disease? Stir-fried pork kidneys will taste terrible."
"His kidneys... are even weaker than mine. They're not suitable for steaming. Ugh, my kidneys are fine."
In reality, Lu Yiming only lightly scratched his skin with the back of the knife, without even cutting the skin open.
Scientific research shows that when people are deprived of their sight, the terror they experience through hearing and touch is amplified, causing severe cognitive confusion.
Timothy genuinely believed he was being vivisectioned, while the madman opposite him was still figuring out what to cook.
Driven by extreme fear, he confessed everything.
He colluded with politicians and businessmen, offered young girls to the mayor of Fremont, organized a seven-person party for a big shot... he even revealed that he was eight years old and had been peeping at his neighbor taking a shower.
Of course, he also admitted that he was responsible for the subway corpse piecing case.
But when Lu Yiming pressed for details...
What tools were used to cut it, where was it sewn together, and where is the other survivor hiding?
Timothy couldn't answer a single word, only crying and repeating, "I did it, I did it all! I confess!"
This only proves that he was terrified and was making up false confessions.
The clues to the subway corpse piecing case have gone cold again.
Marcus sighed and patted Lu Yiming on the shoulder:
"It's alright, kid, take your time. Besides, taking down such a large cult hideout is no less meritorious than solving a case of dismembered corpses!"
The surrounding homicide officers also gathered around to offer their comfort:
"Yeah, Ming, don't worry, we'll catch that bastard sooner or later."
"Look at these scumbags we caught! How many people have they harmed? We're doing this on behalf of Heaven!"
"Hey, stop with the proposals! Ming, same place tonight, let's go to the bar! Haven't you been eyeing that bar owner all this time?"
Some people were there out of friendship, while others genuinely admired this young man of Chinese descent.
But for most people, it was because Lu Yiming solved the problem of overtime pay.
When you are useful to others, everyone will treat you politely and care about your feelings.
The simplest and most direct way to establish yourself in a place is to prove your worth.
The cash seized in this operation is enough for everyone to "have a good Christmas".
Lu Yiming is their god of wealth.
As for the case? What difference does it make what we do?
Who says that the merit of destroying a cult den is less than that of solving a serial murder case?
"Ming, don't listen to them! Come to my place tonight, let's have a couple of drinks!"
"Why don't you come to my place? My husband's away on a business trip tonight..."
Several young policewomen also jokingly came over, their eyes gleaming and their tone ambiguous.
Surrounded by the crowd, Lu Yiming was somewhat dazed.
So everyone's so friendly?
Not far away, Mia rubbed her sprained wrist, watching this scene with gritted teeth.
"I knew it! You womanizing scumbag! I'll definitely test you properly for Yan's sake!"
But when she thought about how the other person had saved her life, she felt deflated.
"Never mind... I'll just write it down in my little notebook for now."
……
Just then, a police officer rushed in frantically: "Boss! Reporters! The reporters are here again! They've completely surrounded the area!"
"Damn it, they're like flies!"
Kus cursed and immediately gave the order:
"Attention everyone! Do not reveal any details related to the body-piece case! Separate the cult members from the children, quick! Prepare to evacuate!"
Lu Yiming followed the main group and rushed out, but the area outside the church was already completely blocked by long guns and short cannons.
"Boss! We're running out of hoods! There are too many suspects!" an officer shouted.
Marcus kicked him in the backside: "What do you mean, suspects?! Put all these hoods on these kids! Now!"
So, dozens of cult members were roughly abducted by police officers and shoved into a car like sacks.
There were so many people that even the dog-catching team's van was requisitioned, and a group of people were crammed into it.
Reporters' flashbulbs went off wildly, and questions rained down on them like bullets:
"Is the Lazarus organization the real culprit in the subway body dissection case?"
"I've heard that the mayor frequently comes here for worship. Is that true?"
"Was this raid related to allegations that the mayor's office withheld police overtime pay? Was it a form of pressure?"
The officers worked silently, and no one answered. They either gave the runaround with "no comment."
A brief silence fell when the policewomen escorted out one by one the hooded, petite victims. Then, an even louder uproar erupted.
"My God...they don't even spare such tiny things!"
"Beast! You're a real beast!"
"Fremont also has its own Lolita Island."
Finally, Lu Yiming and Marcus walked out side by side.
"It's that Chinese-American detective!"
"Mr. Lu! Did you lead the investigation into this case again?"
Is the case of "disassembling corpses" related to a cult?
What are your thoughts on the surge in sales of the same suitcase used in the body disposal case on Amazon?
Lu Yiming remained expressionless, lowered his head, squeezed through the crowd, and quickly got into the police car.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and replayed every detail in his mind.
What went wrong?
All reasoning is based on one premise.
The killer is the cult Lazarus.
But what if... they aren't at all?
From the very beginning, the direction was wrong.
"Here you go." A bottle of chilled canned coffee was handed to him.
Lu Yiming looked up and saw Mia.
She turned her face away, her voice stiff: "Have a drink, don't be upset."
Lu Yiming shook his head: "Life is tough enough, I want to drink Mixue Ice Cream. I heard there's a new one nearby?"
"It's more than ten kilometers away!" Mia said irritably.
"Never mind then."
"Drink it or don't, it's up to you!" Mia snapped, taking the coffee back.
Lu Yiming ignored her little tantrum, forced himself to calm down, and reorganized his thoughts:
All five victims were marginalized members of society.
And it is very likely that they went to their deaths voluntarily.
Professor Moriarty once said that the killer's goal was to "create humanity."
He suddenly recalled that Moriarty had also said: the act of dumping a body is itself a provocation and a declaration of war.
Whom are we provoking? To whom are we declaring war?
At the time, he thought it was part of a cult ritual and didn't pay attention to this detail.
But... this time it wasn't a cult that did it.
What if the killer's motive wasn't a "resurrection ritual," but something else entirely?
"Oh, right!"
"Weren't we supposed to be checking if all the corpses had Lazarus tattoos today? What were the results?"
"I checked," Mia recalled.
He casually put the coffee he had just taken a sip of aside.
"Only the Black man had it on his limbs. The other four victims, including Elsa, did not."
Only one person has a tattoo; the others do not.
Lu Yiming gasped. This meant that perhaps only Black men were cult members.
All of this may not be a cult ritual at all.
"The answer to all questions still lies in those three corpses."
"Mia! We need to go back to the morgue!"
As he spoke, he didn't notice that Mia had drunk from the coffee and took a big gulp.
"I need to reassemble the three corpses!"