Chapter 1125 576: What We Handle Isn't Just Cases, It's Lives! (2)

"So how could you ensure at that time that the other bones would burn, leaving only these two pieces behind?"

"I had a method in mind back then."

Jiang An looked at Qin Feng and said, "Mr. Qin, do you remember? When you went to the scene, there were two places on the bed with objects pressed on them."

Qin Feng nodded, "I remember, there were items pressing on the deceased's waist and head, while other parts were more heavily burnt."

Zhang Xiang nodded, "Yes, exactly."

"What I thought back then was, if all areas burned at the same time, then I wouldn't achieve my original goal."

"So, to reduce local burning, I specially covered the head and waist with something to hinder further burning."

"And then? What did you use to start the fire?"

"Alcohol, there was a lot of it in the clinic at that time."

"And then?"

"After the incident, Li Ailing and I went to Jiangcheng to buy a house."

"As I said earlier, the original plan was to treat her mother's illness, but her mother committed suicide before a kidney source was found, so the money wasn't used as planned."

"But good times didn't last. During that period in Jiangcheng, I realized Li Ailing had changed, maybe the bustling life made her unable to tolerate the countryside anymore."

"She met other men, and out of rage, I killed her."

Then Zhang Xiang paused, his eyes becoming a bit dazed.

"Every time I think of what happened back then, I always wake up in the middle of the night."

"I always feel like there's a bomb behind me, ready to explode at any moment, so in order to bury the past forever, I put Li Ailing's remains back in the coffin."

"This way, even if the matter was uncovered, opening the coffin would show Li Ailing's remains and no one would suspect the insurance fraud from back then. Li Ailing really did die in that fire."

Hearing him speak so in detail, Jiang An was stunned.

He reflected on the years he'd spent in criminal investigation, the different types of suspects he'd encountered, some cunning, some intelligent, some awe-inspiring.

But never had he met a killer with such meticulous planning, who even took steps to remedy the situation afterward.

After a long silence, Jiang An asked, "I don't understand, why did you keep blocking the exhumation when we first came to your clinic?"

"Normally, since you'd already switched the bones, you shouldn't have feared an exhumation, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiang's mouth twitched. He looked up at Jiang An.

"Officer, to be honest, the day you first came to my clinic, I felt that you were quite something."

"Though you seemed young, your eyes conveyed intelligence and sharpness."

"Why did I keep blocking it back then? The main reason was the coffin had been opened by me previously."

"I worried that if you were a very experienced officer, you might notice when opening the coffin that it had been tampered with before."

Then he gave a bitter smile.

"Luckily, when you did open the coffin, you didn't notice anything unusual, just focused on the remains."

"At the time, I thought the issue had passed, and I felt quite relieved. But unexpectedly, you did find out in the end."

Qin Feng then asked, "Why were you sneaking around in the mountains that night?"

Zhang Xiang smiled at the question, "Actually, I went there to see if, during the second opening, any traces left from the first would remain."

"If there were, I intended to destroy them immediately."

"But I didn't expect you to be there, and it seemed like you'd already found the key issue."

He shook his head, "If you hadn't gone over that night, today might not have ended this way."

Zhang Xiang looked at Jiang An, "Officer, I respect you."

"You really are an excellent policeman, but it's a shame I'm on the opposite side."

Jiang An looked at him and said solemnly, "Bitter seas have no bounds, turn back and you'll find the shore."

"You were a doctor; your job was to treat the sick and heal the injured."

"Yet, you used your medical knowledge to deceive and swindle for money."

"If there's a next life, be a good person."

After saying this, Jiang An left the interrogation room without looking back.

Qin Feng and Wan followed him out one after another.

Outside the interrogation room, Director Hou and Deputy Director Chen Guang also approached.

Both wore smiles on their faces, as the case was finally solved.

They said, "Mr. Jiang, thanks to you this time."

"Your crucial words made him confess all his crimes outright."

As soon as they finished speaking, Qin Feng also smiled and said, "Indeed, if Mr. Jiang hadn't brought up the evidence, Zhang Xiang might never have admitted it."

"Interrogation is like this, half real, half fake."

However, they noticed Jiang An didn't seem very happy.

Director Hou asked, "Mr. Jiang, is there anything else unresolved?"

Jiang An shook his head, his expression somewhat solemn, and said, "Director Hou, this case involves the lives of three people."

"An innocent life, and two people who committed wrongdoings."

"In the past, I never truly grasped the depth of a certain phrase."

"Oh? What phrase? Do tell."

Qin Feng lifted his hand and patted his shoulder.

"My mentor once told me, each case we handle isn't just a case, it's someone's life."

"Look at this case; it involves three people's lives, a single case linking their destinies."

Jiang An shook his head helplessly and sighed.

"If Zhang Xiang had kept his reason back then, he might have become an excellent doctor."

Qin Feng nodded, "Exactly, Zhang Xiang had a good reputation at the health clinic."

"But I never expected him to do such a thing; you can't judge a book by its cover."

As soon as he finished speaking, Deputy Director Chen Guang approached, lifting his hand to pat Jiang An's shoulder, and said, "Mr. Jiang, you helped Guangling solve a big problem this time."

"I've been reflecting on the handling of this case. If Guangling tackled this 15-year-old unresolved murder case, we'd never have linked it to the arson incident back then."

He paused, his tone becoming emotional. "It's truly a moment of both shame and happiness for us."

"Shame because we've been digging in the wrong direction all along;"

"Happiness because this case finally brought justice to the deceased after 15 years."

"Moreover, both victims in the case received justice."

"As deputy director overseeing criminal investigation for the Guangling City Public Security Bureau, I once again express my gratitude for your support and guidance on this case."

As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly raised his hand in a salute.

Director Hou hastily patted Deputy Director Chen Guang on the shoulder, saying, "Mr. Chen, no need for such formality."

"We're old comrades; it's not something to thank for."

"I've participated in several previous task forces myself."

"To speak of thanks, only Mr. Jiang truly deserves it."

"Mr. Jiang, I salute you!"

Chen Guang immediately gave a thumbs up, his eyes filled with deep admiration.

Suddenly, he saw a reflection of his younger self in Jiang An.

To be precise, a more capable and driven version of himself when younger.

Then Chen Guang said, "Director Hou, Mr. Jiang, this case is thoroughly resolved. Tonight, I'll prepare a modest meal; let's celebrate."