Chapter 289: Suspecting the Wrong Target?

Dark under the lamp? Han Fei felt a tightening in his chest.

He instantly thought of the boy Xu Mo had brought back.

Not long ago, Han Fei had just dispelled all his doubts about that boy.

But because of that one sentence from Xu Mo, he began to doubt the boy again.

Xu Mo's analysis was not without reason.

If the murderer committed a Crime of passion, there would be no need to use Castor toxin at all.

Because a Crime of passion is the hardest to investigate, and without surveillance or other direct evidence, merely examining the deceased's social connections cannot crack the case; the deceased and the murderer have no relationship at all!

Then why would the murderer bother to obtain Castor toxin?

Just stabbing someone with a kitchen knife would suffice, right? Anyway, the Police would find it hard to pin it on him.

But since the murderer used this so‑called Perfect poison, Castor toxin,

that means the murderer intends to mislead the Police into thinking the death was accidental, thereby abandoning the investigation.

In other words, there must be a link between him and the deceased; the murderer would be an easy suspect for the Police!

With that in mind, Han Fei doubted the boy Xu Mo had brought back once again.

Although in the earlier questioning the boy's answers could prove he had no time to commit the crime, providing a very solid alibi.

But don't forget.

The autopsy report just came out, stating the cause of death was poisoning.

Unlike a direct stabbing, poisoning can kill even if the murderer is not present.

It should be noted that this little boy was the deceased's bedside companion.

If he wanted the deceased poisoned, it would be simple: just put the toxin in water or food, and the deceased would die as soon as they accidentally ingested it.

The cleverness of this method is that the murderer can fabricate a perfectly solid alibi.

Realizing this, Han Fei assigned Xu Mo a task.

"Xu Mo, take Team One to the deceased's house and bring back all residue of everything she ate or drank for testing, to see if any contains Castor toxin."

If the toxin was placed in water or food, there would inevitably be residue.

If they can locate cups, utensils, or food packaging with residual toxin, they can test those items against the suspects.

Whoever reacts most strongly to the toxin‑tainted items is the murderer!

Xu Mo nodded and set off with the task.

Immediately after, Han Fei gave the forensic doctor a glance.

He then deliberately raised his tone slightly to ensure the boy could hear him.

At that moment, Han Fei's face was full of 'surprise.'

"Cause of death is flu? Are you sure? So the death was accidental?"

While saying this, Han Fei also sidelong‑glanced at the boy.

Hoping to read something from his expression.

Having worked with Han Fei for years, the forensic doctor understood the meaning of Han Fei's glance and immediately played along.

"I've examined it carefully; the cause of death is indeed flu. I think this isn't a murder case, just an accidental death."

The forensic doctor performed the act with Han Fei.

But soon, the two were disappointed.

Because the boy, upon hearing this, showed no odd expression.

Is he not the murderer? Or did he conceal it so well that even he didn't notice? Han Fei thought.

"Alright, I understand, you may go," Han Fei handed the autopsy report back to the forensic doctor, then walked toward the little boy sitting at Xu Mo's desk.

He prepared to probe further: "The forensic doctor erred on site, originally thinking it was homicide, but the autopsy revealed the death was due to flu. Guan Yiliu died a natural death, so natural death is no longer our concern; you're cleared, you can go back."

"Huh?" the boy was momentarily confused: "Accidental death? Can that still be a misjudgment..."

His tone and expression were all too normal.

Han Fei sensed no relief whatsoever from his demeanor.

It seemed that the Police's view of Guan Yiliu's accidental death raised no ripple in his mind.

Either he can conceal his emotions so well that even Han Fei cannot detect them.

Or he is not the murderer; the real killer is someone else, and Han Fei has suspected the wrong person.

"Are you going back to school today? If so, I'll find someone to take you back," Han Fei said to him. "Sorry, our mistake delayed you; I'll arrange someone to escort you."

"No need, I can hail a taxi myself," the boy replied.

Han Fei persisted in having a police officer escort him back.

"It's fine, I'll send someone to take you back. Same thing, a taxi costs money. Wait a moment, I'll find someone to escort you."

Having said that, Han Fei left.

He found Wang Dachuan.

"Take that little boy back to school, and also check where he was yesterday, his recent purchase records, and whether he borrowed the school lab for anything—be clever."

"Got it, mission guaranteed!" Wang Dachuan said with a smile, nodding.

Although the boy's behavior remained perfectly normal.

Han Fei still decided to investigate him.

If he hasn't recently bought Castor seed nor entered the school lab,

that would basically rule him out as the murderer.

After all, Castor toxin is so potent that it can't be bought outright; presumably no one dares to sell such a poison.

To obtain Castor toxin, one can only purchase Castor seed, borrow a school lab, and refine the toxin oneself.

The other side.

Xinhewan.

Xu Mo returned to the residential complex with several police officers.

He prepared to complete the mission Han Fei assigned to him.

Because fans had blocked the gate that morning, Xu Mo didn't drive his own car when he went to the Police Station; he rode in a police car instead.

His car was still parked at home.

This time, for the mission, he also used a police car.

The residential complex's access control couldn't recognize the police car's license plate, so it wouldn't open automatically; he had to get out and tell the security guard to open the gate.

While talking to the security guard to have them open the gate, Xu Mo inadvertently overheard the conversation between two guards.

"Where's Xiao Li? Why didn't we see him today? Did he take leave?"

"He didn't take leave; he quit. He came in early this morning to resign, and you arrived late, so you didn't see him."

"Oh, I was just saying, we haven't seen his figure all morning; why did he quit?"

"Who knows, but he left in a hurry, didn't even take the salary he was owed."

"Isn't that crazy? He quit after less than half a month and didn't even want his pay? Sigh... young people these days!"

There were three security guards at the gate, but now only two remain.

Xu Mo didn't have any particular impression of the two remaining guards.

He, however, had a strong impression of the guard who had resigned and already left.

Because that guard's appearance was very distinctive—he had a huge nose—such an obvious facial feature would be hard for Xu Mo not to remember.

However, Xu Mo didn't really mind; quitting because things weren't going smoothly was too normal.

Without thinking much, after the guard raised the barrier with a remote control, Xu Mo immediately drove the car into the residential complex, heading straight toward the villa where the deceased had been found.