The hospital provided the police with detailed investigation procedures and medical records, which proved that Yangyang's death was not a medical accident.
Yangyang's attending physician had never prescribed epinephrine, and the entire treatment process was very standardized.
This investigation result was within Fang Rui and their expectations.
"If it's not a medical accident, could it be intentional murder?" Fang Rui speculated.
Zhang said, "Someone who could use epinephrine to kill is most likely a healthcare worker, but they had no grudge against Yangyang. Why would they want to kill him?"
Chen Xue said, "Didn't they say before that the relative of the hit-and-run driver works at that hospital? Could it be her?"
"She wasn't on duty that night. The medical expenses for Yangyang were being paid by the insurance company, so the hit-and-run driver had no motive to kill him," Fang Rui replied.
"There's another possibility," Lin Sen said.
"What possibility?"
"There is a type of serial killer who are healthcare workers, and their targets are usually patients. There was a serial killer abroad who was a nurse. During her time working in the hospital, she killed over 300 patients, making her the most prolific serial killer."
Mu Mian said, "Yes, her motive for killing was to free up hospital beds. Her story was even adapted into a movie called 'The Good Nurse,' which is a bit ironic, isn't it?"
"To kill patients just to free up beds?" Zhang exclaimed, "That motive is too absurd!"
Lin Sen said, "Don't try to understand serial killers, because as a normal person, you won't be able to grasp their logic."
Chen Xue was puzzled, "She killed over 300 people, and the hospital never noticed?"
Mu Mian said, "Chen Xue, if a professional doctor wants to kill his patient, it's very easy. Many patients die without anyone knowing the truth." Mu Mian looked at Fang Rui, "So having a forensic scientist in the family is very important."
Fang Rui smiled helplessly.
Mu Mian then looked at Chen Xue and continued to explain, "That nurse worked in several hospitals. She wasn't undetected; rather, when she was discovered, it was always considered a medical accident."
Chen Xue speculated, "Could the killer also be someone who doesn't want to waste medical resources, so they targeted comatose patients?"
"But this hospital has only had one comatose patient die recently," Fang Rui said.
"With only one victim, we can't determine the serial killer's criteria for selecting targets," Lin Sen said, pausing slightly, "If there really is a serial killer in that hospital, they will likely be tempted to kill again."
"Can't we prevent it in advance?"
Lin Sen said, "Have the hospital provide me with the death data from all their departments recently. If there's an abnormal death rate among certain patients, the killer is likely targeting them. Of course, this is all based on the assumption that such a serial killer exists."
"My goodness, then they're like the Grim Reaper, freely taking lives?"
After the morning meeting, they received another police report. The incident occurred in a village on the outskirts of the city, but the jurisdiction belonged to Jiangzhou City.
Fang Rui and the team drove to the village. It was a poor village, and it was only in recent years, with the help of the government, that a narrow cement road was built. Most of the houses in the village were single-story bungalows, though they were all painted white.
The village was surrounded by large fields, and most villagers made a living by farming or working outside the village.
They parked their car outside a two-story building. The house had two floors, but the second floor was unfinished. It had a large courtyard enclosed by a wall, with several jujube trees planted inside.
They walked into the courtyard, which was crowded with people. The deceased was an 85-year-old lady who had seven children: three sons and four daughters. Her children had also had many children, so their family was quite large. After the old lady's death, her children immediately gathered from all over.
There was a tradition of vigil in this area. If they didn't send the old lady off properly, not only would they be criticized by the villagers, but they would also have bad luck for years.
The people were standing in several groups, and the groups didn't talk to each other. Some had tears in their eyes, while others looked angry, indicating a family with many grudges and not very harmonious.
Seeing Fang Rui enter, the eldest son, Ye Jianzhong, immediately came forward and said, "Police officer, I called the police. I suspect that my younger brother, Ye Jianmin, and his family abused and murdered my mother with carbon monoxide!"
"Why do you say that?"
The eldest son said, "When I was young, I was a barefoot doctor and knew some medical skills. After death, the face turns white due to the cessation of blood circulation, but my mother's face was red, and she had vomited before her death. There was also a fire bowl in the room, so I can't help but suspect that my mother was murdered."
Ye Jianmin immediately came forward to argue, "Eldest brother, it's not right for you to do this. I've taken care of our paralyzed mother for two years. If I had bad intentions, could she have lived for two years? You're calling the police on me? You're not showing any brotherly love at all!"
Ye Meiying, the third child, tried to mediate, "Big brother, Jianmin couldn't have killed mom, so don't make a fuss. If this gets out of hand, everyone's face will be affected."
Ye Jianzhong accused, "Am I making a fuss? In the middle of summer, why did you put a fire bowl for the old lady? Who would roast themselves in the summer? Jianmin, you didn't want to take care of mom, so you used this method to kill her, right? If you didn't want to take care of her, you could have sent her to my house. As long as I have food, mom won't go hungry."
Ye Jianmin muttered, "The fire bowl wasn't ours! Maybe she wanted to roast herself and got up to do it herself?"
The eldest son laughed angrily, "Mom had a stroke and was paralyzed. How could she possibly get up? You're full of lies! Police officer, look at his attitude. If my mom wasn't killed by him, I'll die right here."
The fourth child chimed in, "Jianmin, how you and your wife treated mom, the neighbors have already told us. Today, this matter won't be settled until it's cleared up."
"Oh, you still know that mom was bedridden? In the past two years, who among you visited? Now you blame us for not taking good care of her? You take good care of her, why don't you do it yourself? It's easy to say nice things. Look at what you've done. Now you blame me, blame my wife, where were you before?"
Ye Jianqing, the sixth child, said, "Mom's house was given to you. If it wasn't you taking care of her, who would it be? One must have conscience."
This house was built by me. I admit that the land use rights belong to my parents, but you didn’t come back to build houses, so my parents could only stay with us. I’ve also said that I can compensate you with money, and we can take turns taking care of mom, but you said no.
“Is this just about the homestead? Mom also took care of your kids for so many years!”
Mu Mian, seeing them argue without end, tried to interject several times but couldn't interrupt them. She looked at Fang Rui.
"Where is your mother's body?" Fang Rui asked loudly.
The eldest son led them to a low house behind them, pushed open the wooden door, and said, "My mother's body is inside. She lived here before her death. Jianmin, this is how you took care of mom, letting her live in such a place!"
This house was originally a firewood house, converted into a room. The walls weren't painted, the ground was uneven and hadn't been paved with cement, and there was only one window, making it poorly lit and ventilated.
As soon as Fang Rui and the others entered, they smelled a strange odor, a mix of excrement and mildew.
The room was surprisingly tidy, perhaps because the old lady had almost nothing except a cabinet. Next to the old lady's bed was a fire bowl with some unburned charcoal.
