With the autopsy declared complete, Alex reached into his coat and pulled out a stack of yellow ritual paper, slowly igniting it in mid-air.
Seeing the crowd whispering below, he gazed calmly at the fluttering ashes like butterflies: "You're all wondering if this is
somesuperstitious nonsense, right? No—this is just a rite for forensic examiners, a traditional Chinese virtue."
"It reminds us to respect the dead, to revere them. Only then will they reveal their truths to us."
"Forensics isn't just a job. It's a calling!" "One cup of rice wine to honor heaven and earth; two sticks of incense for the spirits. Light the lamp to banish the veil of night; wash away wrongs under Song Ci's justice. Today, in the name of my ancestor, Judge Song Ci, I swear: I will see justice done for you!"
With that, Alex bowed deeply to the two bodies before him, a glimmer of tears in his eyes.
The so-called "lecture" ended there. Many of the pathologists who'd come from afar wanted photos with him, eager to discuss his legendary techniques.
But Alex's mind was solely on catching the killer fast—he didn't give them the chance.
He strode out of the hall without delay, heading straight to his car for the station. Captain Lane and the team followed close behind.
Whether it was age catching up or the blow hitting too hard, Lane's hair had turned almost completely white overnight, his movements slower, more labored.
In the office, Lane—eyes still red—reached out to shake Alex's hand, thanking him for everything he'd done for Lily.
Alex, already carrying a heavy guilt over her, felt his heart twist further hearing Lane mutter about how much she'd adored him—how she'd ditched art school to follow in his footsteps and join the academy.
This upright, joyful young woman didn't deserve an end like this.
"Captain, I need photos from both Emma's and Lily's primary crime scenes. Plus every file Task Force 150 has compiled over the past month—reports, notes, everything."
Alex cut right to it; finding the truth was priority one.
Lane was still lost in grief, barely responding.
Luo Weiwei jumped in: "That's a stack over three feet high. You want it all?"
Alex nodded firmly: "Yes—every last bit. Even if a neighborhood camera caught a bird flying by the day the body was found, I need it."
"A lot of clues hide in details no one notices. Remember: everything leaves a trace!"
At the time, they didn't get why he insisted—it seemed like busywork. But once Alex laid out the
connections, they realized the gulf between them and him was wider than the Milky Way...
Alex locked himself in a small room with the mountain of case materials.
Except for bathroom breaks, he didn't budge from that desk.
When he finally emerged, it was the next morning.
He'd spent nearly twenty-four hours poring over it all. His eyes were bloodshot, but there was no fatigue—just sharp focus—as he announced: "This case..."
The task force held their breath. They'd waited outside all night too!
Every eye locked on him, wide and expectant.
Alex paused dramatically, then grinned: "...can be solved."
A collective sigh of relief swept the room.
Alex's smile grew satisfied as he added: "Barring surprises, we'll crack it two weeks ahead of the state deadline."
"Detective Song—thank you so much!" Several team members surged forward, hands out for shakes.
Alex held up a "stop" gesture, keeping them at arm's length: "First off, I'm not Detective Song. Just a concerned citizen offering tips."
"Concerned citizen? Come on, you're being way too modest now."
Luo Weiwei, clueless about what had changed in Alex's life, tried goading him back into the fold.
But Alex restated firmly: "No—I need to set three ground rules with you all."
"One: Don't call me Detective anymore. I retired ages ago. Now I'm just a helpful Riverside resident sharing leads."
"Two: Whether it's investigating or arrests, I won't be hands-on."
"Three: Cops and civilians are family, right? So if this helpful guy helps you close the case, a little reward to encourage good citizenship wouldn't hurt..."