The crackdown on organized crime began with the arrest of the mother-in-law.

Chapter 1042 Time and Cause of Death

High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that the concentration of molting hormone in the final instar larvae reached its peak, while the concentration of juvenile hormone decreased significantly. This was consistent with the morphological identification results, further confirming the developmental stage of the larvae.

After a series of rigorous identification procedures, Zhang Lin finally concluded: "Based on the species, morphological characteristics, developmental accumulated temperature, and hormone levels of the blowfly larvae, the deceased was murdered 21 days ago." This precise time estimate provided an important time coordinate for the case investigation and gradually revealed a glimpse of the truth hidden behind the fog of time.

After determining the time of death, Zhang Lin shifted his focus to determining the deceased's age. He first observed the skull features and used a craniotomy to measure key areas: "The brow ridges are thick, the mastoid process is prominent, and the mandibular angle is blunt and rounded, consistent with male characteristics. The length from the root of the nose to the anterior edge of the foramen magnum is 128 millimeters. Based on relevant databases, the age is preliminarily estimated to be between 45 and 55 years old."

Next, Zhang Lin began examining the deceased's teeth. He carefully probed the oral cavity with a dental probe and found severe wear on the teeth: "Large areas of enamel wear on the incisors, exposing the dentin; the occlusal surfaces of the molars were concave, with obvious wear planes visible. According to the tooth wear grading standard, it belongs to grade five wear, corresponding to an age of 45-55 years." He took out a dental X-ray device and took X-rays of the teeth to observe the condition of the tooth roots and alveolar bone. "The tooth roots showed slight resorption, and the alveolar bone showed mild atrophy, further supporting the above age estimation."

But Zhang Lin wasn't satisfied with that. He decided to use the bones to determine the deceased's age more precisely. Using a bone saw, he carefully cut open the right femur of the deceased, exposing the medullary cavity: "The ratio of red bone marrow to yellow bone marrow is about 3:7, which is consistent with the characteristics of an age group of 45-55 years old." He then measured the pubic symphysis surface: "The pubic symphysis surface prominence has disappeared, and there are more ossified nodules. According to the Suchey-Brooks classification, it is in stage four, corresponding to an age of 40-50 years old."

Based on comprehensive data including skull features, degree of tooth wear, changes in the medullary cavity, and pubic symphysis grading, Zhang Lin ultimately concluded that "the deceased was between 45 and 50 years old."

After resolving the age issue, Zhang Lin began a comprehensive autopsy. He used a scalpel to cut open the skin of the chest and abdomen, separating subcutaneous tissue and muscle to expose the thoracic and abdominal organs. While examining the abdominal cavity, his movements suddenly stopped—the deceased's stomach was significantly smaller than normal and showed obvious surgical suture marks.

“The deceased had undergone gastrectomy.” Zhang Lin’s voice carried a hint of excitement, which could be an important clue to confirm the deceased’s identity. “About two-thirds of the stomach was removed using the Billroth II anastomosis technique. The anastomosis healed well, and the surgery was at least two years ago.” He carefully examined the tissue sections from the surgical site. “No residual cancer cells were found, suggesting that the surgery was likely performed for a benign condition such as a gastric ulcer or gastric perforation.”

Zhang Lin continued examining other organs and found mild fatty degeneration in the liver and pathological changes in the kidneys indicating chronic glomerulonephritis, all reflecting the deceased's health condition before death. "Tissue samples will be extracted for pathological section analysis to detect any drug residues or toxins," he told his assistant.

The autopsy lasted nearly four hours. By the time Zhang Lin finished the last examination, dawn was breaking outside. He removed his protective mask and summarized into the recording pen: "The deceased died from mechanical asphyxiation combined with craniocerebral injury, approximately 20-22 days prior to death, aged 45-50, and had previously undergone gastrectomy. No direct biological evidence pointing to the perpetrator has been found so far; further investigation is needed, combining on-site evidence with subsequent pathological analysis."

The autopsy that night provided Zhang Lin with crucial information for solving the case. Every feature and surgical mark on the deceased's body was like a silent language, waiting for the police to decipher its secrets and uncover the truth behind the case.

While the on-site investigation and autopsy are underway, interviews and investigations about the scene are also being conducted.

Inside the makeshift shed, plastic sheeting rustled in the wind. Xiao Zhou pushed a disposable paper cup in front of Lao Chen, the rising steam blurring the man's bloodshot eyes. The person who reported the incident was wearing work clothes covered in mud, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the cup, dark brown stains embedded in his fingernails—it was hard to tell whether they were dried blood or dirt.

“Tell me again from the beginning, about what happened at 7 a.m. on July 12th.” Xiao Zhou pressed the recorder, the pen tip hovering over the yellowed pages of the notebook. Old Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently, spilling a few drops of tea from his paper cup: “I was driving an excavator digging a foundation when the bucket suddenly jammed shut, and the dashboard alarm went off like a horrible blast.” His voice suddenly rose, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably, “I went down to check and saw half a leg sticking out of the ground, the skin rotten and festering, maggots crawling straight out of the trouser leg!”

Xiao Zhou flipped through the on-site investigation records, circling the burial point on the excavator's trajectory map: "You said you heard a metallic clanging sound underground, are you sure it wasn't the bucket scraping against the rebar?" Old Chen shook his head violently, the strap of his hard hat swaying: "It wasn't! The sound was muffled, like a drumbeat, just one loud bang. I thought it was an old pipe, and I even cursed and adjusted the digging angle." He suddenly covered his face, suppressed sobs leaking from between his fingers, "I should have stopped work and called the police, my hands... have touched dead people!"

The roar of heavy trucks came from outside the workers' shed. Xiao Zhou lowered his voice and asked, "The project department said you submitted your resignation last month?" This question made Lao Chen freeze instantly. He stared at the tea leaves at the bottom of his cup, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down three times before he finally spoke, "My child is going to college, and the construction site wages have been delayed for three months." His answer was watertight, but Xiao Zhou noticed that the other man's left little finger was unconsciously curled up—a habitual gesture when lying.

"From July 1st to 11th, could you draw a detailed route for your work each day?" Xiao Zhou handed over a sheet of paper and a pencil. Old Chen's hand holding the pencil trembled, and crooked lines spread across the paper: "On the 1st, I demolished the wall in the northwest corner; on the 2nd, I moved to the south to clear construction debris..." When the pen tip passed over the burial area, the lines suddenly paused with jagged edges. "On the 10th... the machine broke down that day, and I spent the whole day in the repair area."

Technician Xiao Li suddenly pushed open the door and whispered in Xiao Zhou's ear: "The site surveillance footage shows that at 3 pm on the 10th, Lao Chen's excavator appeared near the burial site." Xiao Zhou's eyes sharpened instantly. When he looked at Lao Chen again, the man was frantically wiping sweat with his sleeve, and the fabric of his work clothes was already deeply wrinkled.