Diary of a Criminal Investigator

Criminal Investigation Team.

"Is there one?"

Lu Chuan looked at the information, puzzled.

Lately, there have been three reports of carbon monoxide poisoning suicides.

Chen Jiang nodded, "It’s a bit strange, three in a row, and the suicide method is the same."

"We haven’t encountered similar situations before."

Haizhou City has a large population, with many suicide cases every year.

Jumping off buildings, drug overdose, hanging, drowning—many methods.

But carbon monoxide suicide...

Honestly, not common at all.

Lu Chuan hadn’t heard about carbon monoxide suicides during his years on the job.

And now, within a short time, three in succession...

"Has the forensic doctor seen this?"

"Already examined it, confirmed death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning."

"Furthermore, surveillance around confirms it was indeed suicide."

Lu Chuan heard the report, his brow not eased.

"Let’s go, check the scene."

Xizhou Building parking lot.

By the time Lu Chuan arrived here, the body had been handled.

The station chief who heard Lu Chuan was coming just returned halfway after leaving.

"Director Zhang, hello."

"Captain Lu!"

"Any issues?"

Zhang Feng shook his head, pointing at a nearby surveillance camera: "The deceased drove into the parking lot at 8 PM last night."

"He took the charcoal from the trunk himself, and after lighting it, placed it in the passenger seat, then sat in the car."

"The entire process had no outsiders involved."

"The forensic examination also confirmed the deceased died of carbon monoxide poisoning."

"We found no evidence of homicide at the scene."

A fairly straightforward suicide case.

Yet, Lu Chuan still felt somewhat puzzled.

The process sounded fine.

But why did all three suicides use the same method?

Moreover, the identities of the three.

"The deceased’s family come over?"

"Already been here; the deceased’s son is out of town, couldn’t return, so the daughter signed."

"Wife not present?"

"Single, wife passed twenty years ago."

Zhang Feng continued reporting the deceased’s situation.

"Deceased named Wang Gang, 68, retired from North Sea Power Plant, wife died of illness years earlier."

"He has two children, son away, daughter lives in Haizhou but not with him."

"Security reported, found the will in the car during patrols."

Zhang Feng knew quite a bit, and reported in detail.

"But the deceased didn’t leave his property to his son and daughter, instead gave it to someone else."

"Someone else?"

"Yes, a woman named Liang Juan."

Liang Juan?

"What connection might she have with the deceased?"

"We didn’t conduct a detailed investigation, but the daughter mentioned Wang Gang had been involved with Liang Juan."

"The two initially planned to marry, but the son and daughter opposed it, leading to nothing."

"Could the suicide relate to this?"

"Probably not, they split over a year ago, and due to the suicide..."

Zhang Feng shook his head: "It’s possible, Wang Gang was once North Sea Power Plant’s general manager."

"He was well-educated, once held high office, and after retiring, his pension was quite high, because of this suicide..."

"Not likely, right?"

"Okay, Director Zhang, thank you, recently three similar carbon monoxide suicide cases have occurred."

"Worried there might be underlying issues, so I came by to ask."

"Three cases?"

Zhang Feng was stunned; he didn’t really know this.

For matters of life, coincidences are rare.

"All happening lately?"

"Past half month."

"Then... does need looking into."

"Captain Lu, whenever you need anything, call me freely, will fully cooperate."

"Alright, thanks, we’ll head to check the other two suicide case scenes."

After the two left.

Inside the police car.

"Captain Lu, doesn’t the reason for this person’s suicide seem a bit off?"

Chen Jiang had been on-site just now, though silent, heard Zhang Feng’s words.

"What are your thoughts on this?"

"Age and profession."

Chen Jiang affirmed: "He was just 68, only around seven or eight years into retirement."

"Moreover, his role was quite high, his retirement pension substantial."

"Additionally, deceased’s car was this year’s new Mercedes model."

"A person with money and time, why suicide?"

"Even putting his type aside, say us, getting to retirement surely means traveling around a bit."

"Supposedly, in the midst of enjoying life, yet he committed suicide, doesn’t that sound illogical?"

Indeed!

Lu Chuan found it equally illogical.

"The other one should be at Huaguang Street station?"

"Hm, head over directly?"

"Yes, go straight there."

Half an hour later.

Lu Chuan acquired case-related information.

Not seen for months, Director Huang Jianmin remained unchanged.

"Captain Lu, everything from that time is here."

Since it was a suicide case, with no evidence of homicide found on examination, the station issued a death certificate before cremation.

The station didn’t retain much material.

But Huang Jianmin himself attended the time, was thus clear about it.

"Deceased called Zhao Jun, 66, before retirement a deputy director at our High-tech Zone tax bureau."

"Knew him; before his retirement, we dined together once."

"Sadly, gone."

Hearing this, Lu Chuan paused.

Previous Wang Gang retired general manager of North Sea Power Plant.

Now another, retired deputy director of High-tech Zone tax bureau.

"Director Huang, what about his family situation?"

"Know a bit, Zhao Jun was widowed early, raised one child alone."

"Later, child joined the tax system too."

"Continued unmarried later?"

"Should be, checked his registration info, widowed."

"And in his car found a suicide note."

"Strangely, didn’t leave his property to the daughter, instead to an outsider."

"Outsider?"

Lu Chuan and Chen Jiang paused.

Wang Gang’s house also went to an outsider.

"Yes, a woman, called Liang... something, forget..."

Chen Jiang’s face changed suddenly, "Liang Juan?!"

"Yes, yes, this Liang Juan... hmm? How did you know?"

How did I know?

Chen Jiang gave a bitter smile.

I just learned.

"Director Huang, in Haizhou City this month already three consecutive carbon monoxide suicide incidents, just rushed over from Xizhou Building."

"A retired general manager from North Sea Power Plant carbon monoxide suicide, left a will in the car, house not given to son and daughter, but to a woman named Liang Juan."