readsfreenovel Chapter 131 Destroying the Corpse and Covering Up the Evidence
Chapter 131 Destroying the Corpse and Covering Up the Evidence
Zhou Shasha understood that her mother was worried about her. "Mom, don't worry. As long as Officer Qi takes the case, he will definitely protect us. The truth about Dad's death cannot be buried."
Wang Guizhi sighed, "Let your mother think about it carefully."
"Mom, don't think about it anymore. I can overcome any difficulties in the future."
Seeing her daughter suddenly become so sensible, Wang Guizhi felt both gratified and saddened. Her daughter had a very good relationship with her father, so even though her grades had dropped, she had never blamed her.
"Okay, then go and call Officer Qi."
"Okay, Mom, I'll go right away."
Zhou Shasha excitedly ran to a phone booth outside the hospital and called Qi Tongwei, briefly explaining the situation. Qi Tongwei immediately turned around and went back to the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Wang Guizhi had her daughter wait outside the door and told Qi Tongwei everything that had happened in private.
Qi Tongwei asked suspiciously, "Sister Wang, you suspect your husband was murdered. Besides the body being cremated without the family's consent and the thugs threatening you not to petition, is there anything else?"
Wang Guizhi mustered her courage. She hadn't even told the police this secret, for fear of getting herself killed. She was gambling her life on Qi Tongwei.
My husband suspects the oil he's transporting is smuggled.
Qi Tongwei was surprised, "Where was that oil transported to?"
Shanghai Oil and Gas Group
Have you told the police about this?
"I didn't say that. I'm afraid the police are in cahoots with them."
"Aren't you afraid of me too?"
"My daughter believes in you, and I believe in you too."
Qi Tongwei could tell that Wang Guizhi was actually very nervous. "Your husband drives for that transportation company."
"Sifang Transportation Company"
Qi Tongwei immediately remembered that this was a company under Huang Liansheng. Coupled with the previous incident involving Deputy Customs Chief Cai's wife, this suddenly connected a new clue, suggesting that there might be more than one smuggling ring.
"Sister Wang, I'll take this case. If your husband was murdered, I will definitely seek justice for him."
"Thank you, Officer Qi, thank you, Officer Qi."
Wang Guizhi couldn't help but burst into tears. She had been petitioning for a long time but no one was willing to help her. Qi Tongwei's words gave her hope.
When Qi Tongwei returned to the Municipal Public Security Bureau, he learned that Zhou Dequan's case was being handled by the Xipu Branch. To reinvestigate the case, he needed Han Weiping's support.
"Director Han, I have a bold hypothesis: if the fabric tycoon Huang Liansheng was also part of a smuggling ring, and Zhou Dequan was murdered to cover his tracks because he saw something he shouldn't have, then the hasty cremation of his body was to destroy the evidence."
This conjecture is too audacious; Han Weiping finds it hard to believe. This would mean that the Xipu branch could very well be acting as a protective umbrella. Considering that Qi Tongwei was almost framed for soliciting prostitution, this possibility certainly exists.
The fact that Deputy Customs Chief Cai's wife frequently plays mahjong with Huang Liansheng's wife and always wins money suggests an abnormal relationship. If there's no profit to be made, why would Huang Liansheng drive her around? Is he in a hurry to give her money and act like a living saint? That's impossible.
The reform and opening up policy allowed some daring individuals to get rich first, and power-money transactions also increased.
Han Weiping thought for a while. Since they had come this far, there was no turning back.
"You should reopen and investigate Zhou Dequan's case. You must be careful at this time."
"Yes, Director Han. Since the smuggled oil was sold to the Shanghai Oil and Gas Group, there must be corruption within the group, and it must involve high-ranking officials, perhaps more than one."
Han Weiping felt immense pressure when he first received this task, and now it seems the number of people involved is unimaginable.
"Investigate further, keep investigating."
"Yes, Director Han."
Qi Tongwei could sense the immense pressure Han Weiping was under. If the investigation continued, it was likely that a whole string of corrupt officials would be implicated, and he was now a thorn in their side.
Without hesitation, Qi Tongwei immediately led Tang Guozhong and Tian Xiaobing to the Xipu branch to retrieve Zhou Dequan's case file.
Upon arriving at the Xipu branch, Tang Guozhong and Tian Xiaobing were both a little apprehensive; this was a den of wolves and tigers.
Qi Tongwei was fine; it wasn't the first time he'd stormed into a police station.
Tian Xiaobing asked worriedly, "Captain Qi, won't we get beaten up and thrown out if we go in?"
Qi Tongwei strode into the Xipu branch of the police station. "I, Qi Tongwei, am here. They should be the ones worried now. Zhou Dequan's case might be a case of police-criminal collusion to destroy evidence."
Hearing this, Tang Guozhong felt a chill run down his spine. How could working on cases with Qi Tongwei be so dangerous?
Luo Xiong walked over with his men, his eyes looking as if he had seen his father's killer.
"Qi Tongwei, what are you doing here?"
Qi Tongwei stared at him, showing no fear. "Luo Xiong, didn't your Director Ding notify you? I'm here to pick up Zhou Dequan's case file. I heard you led the police on that case; I'm sure you remember it well."
"Qi Tongwei, what do you mean by that?"
Luo Xiong was furious; he knew Qi Tongwei suspected him.
Qi Tongwei smiled and said, "What could I possibly mean? Captain Luo cremated the victim's body without the family's permission. Do you think that's acceptable? No wonder the victim's family insisted on petitioning."
Luo Xiong tried hard to control himself. He was well aware that Wang Guizhi had been petitioning about this matter, and that she only stopped petitioning after being threatened by people from Sifang Transportation Company. Now, Qi Tongwei's decision to reinvestigate Zhou Dequan's cause of death was a very bad sign.
"Qi Tongwei, I never make things up without evidence. If everyone handled cases like you, I don't know how many wrongful convictions would be created."
"Is that so? If Captain Luo has a clear conscience, then please cooperate."
"I'm very busy and have no obligation to cooperate with you. Everything you want to know is in the case file."
Luo Xiong threw Zhou Dequan's case file at him.
Qi Tongwei caught it quickly; if he had been even a little slower, he wouldn't have been able to catch it.
When he opened it, the file was very simple, describing how Zhou Dequan accidentally ignited a gasoline can while smoking and burned himself to death. Because he was burned beyond recognition, his family was worried that they would not be able to bear it, so he was cremated directly.
"Captain Luo, you're really dedicated! A person was burned alive, and you didn't even do an autopsy."
"There are three witnesses at the scene, it's clear and unambiguous that Zhou Dequan himself set fire to the gasoline can, so is there any need for an autopsy?"
Qi Tongwei laughed, "Captain Luo, if you handle cases like this, I reckon your mentor will be furious. Unless it's a natural death, an autopsy is mandatory. I have every reason to suspect you have some shady dealings with the owner of Sifang Transportation Company."
Luo Xiong flew into a rage, "Qi Tongwei, are you addicted to making false accusations? I've done nothing wrong, I'm not afraid of your investigation. This assault isn't over yet, and I don't believe the leadership can protect you forever."
Qi Tongwei stepped forward, and the two almost touched nose to nose. Their eyes met, sparks flying.
"Luo Xiong, you fucking framed me! That's what I should be saying. You just wait, if you deliberately conceal Zhou Dequan's case and collude with criminals to destroy evidence, I'll personally send you to prison."