Chapter 461: Identical Handwriting

"By the way, there's one more thing: when Lao Ding somnambulates he not only reads books but also practices calligraphy, so when we go back later we might happen to catch him practicing; comparing his calligraphy with the note left at the scene will make it crystal clear whether he's the murderer," Xu Mo added.

"The Police had no knowledge of psychology, so Xu Mo's suggestion felt, for a moment, hard for them to accept."

"After all, everyone had only seen Split Personality in TV dramas and had never encountered such a person in the real world."

"Getting them to accept it immediately was still somewhat difficult."

"Half past ten."

"The Police drove the car to a spot just over a hundred meters from the Mental Hospital, then got out and chose to sneak on foot toward the Mental Hospital."

"Before acting, Xu Mo repeatedly instructed them to be as quiet as possible, not to disturb Lao Ding in the Gate Guard Duty Room, and not to give him time or opportunity to react."

"The well‑trained Police crouched low and stealthily slipped around the main gate, arriving at the entrance of the Gate Guard Duty Room."

"At Xu Mo's command, the Police said nothing, kicked open the Gate Guard Duty Room door, and entered."

"At that moment, Gate Guard Lao Ding was sitting upright at a desk, pen in hand writing something, with Dream of the Red Chamber placed beside him."

"The Police's forced entry startled him."

"Seeing the officers return, Lao Ding's eyes flashed with a hint of panic; he immediately gathered the notebook on the desk, glanced around, found nowhere to hide it, so he clutched it tightly to his chest, stepped back two paces, and casually picked up the old aluminum flashlight on the desk, assuming a stance as if to confront the Police."

"These were all subconscious actions."

"After a moment of daze, Lao Ding's expression returned to normal; realizing his behavior was odd, he set the flashlight down, forced a smile, and tried to appear as calm as possible."

"You... why are you back again? You scared me... I thought it was someone else,"

"Hand over the notebook," seeing Lao Ding's reaction, Xu Mo had almost confirmed his suspicion and simply didn't bother to waste words with Lao Ding.

"Lao Ding hid the notebook behind his back, refusing to hand it over."

"I was just doodling, nothing worth looking at,"

"Seeing this, Xu Mo stepped forward directly, ready to snatch the notebook."

"Gate Guard Lao Ding was naturally no match for Xu Mo, who mastered the Qinna Technique; with just a glance, Lao Ding was at a disadvantage, seized by Xu Mo with one hand and forced onto the desk."

"Xu Mo held Lao Ding with his right hand, reached with his left, took the notebook Lao Ding had protected behind him, placed it on the desk, and prepared to open it."

"Don't open it!" Lao Ding began to struggle violently.

"He knew that once the notebook was opened, he would be finished."

"However much he struggled, it was futile; Xu Mo's hand was like iron tongs, clamping him so tightly he couldn't move at all."

"Han Fei and the others also stepped forward at that moment, glancing at the notebook Xu Mo had just snatched from Lao Ding's hand."

"They opened the notebook, and Lao Ding's written contents came into everyone's view."

"After a glance at the handwriting, Han Fei and the Police couldn't take their eyes off it."

"The Police officer in charge of evidence retrieved the note left at the scene, which was stored in a transparent disposable sealed bag."

"That officer placed the sealed bag on the table, next to the notebook."

"Han Team, Team Leader Xu, the handwriting is identical!"

"The handwriting in the notebook was strikingly identical to the handwriting on the note the real murderer had left at the scene."

"Xu Mo's conjecture was correct; Lao Ding was indeed the murderer."

"No, to be precise, the murderer was Lao Ding's Alternate Personality."

"After a moment of shock, Han Fei glanced at Xu Mo, then looked at Lao Ding, who was still clamped by Xu Mo."

"Do you have anything else to say?"

"Lao Ding, who had been struggling, fell silent the instant the notebook was opened and the Police placed the note beside the notebook for a handwriting comparison."

"At this point, no amount of struggling would help."

"After a pause of silence, Lao Ding looked at Xu Mo."

"How did you determine that I am the murderer?"

"Although captured, Lao Ding was still somewhat puzzled; only he knew about the killing, the Primary Personality was unaware."

"The Primary Personality was completely unaware of the killing; under such circumstances, even when questioned by the Police, he could appear perfectly natural, because he truly didn't know he was the murderer, and logically the Police could never suspect him."

"When I saw Dream of the Red Chamber on your bedside table, I already thought something was wrong with you," Xu Mo answered honestly, "When I learned that you somnambulates at night to read and write, my suspicion grew even more."

"Speaking of that, Xu Mo picked up the flashlight on the desk and aimed the cracked tip—resembling a drop mark—at Lao Ding."

"And this, the shape of the victim's head wound matches the shape of the flashlight's tip, and your flashlight happens to have a similar drop mark; this is the murder weapon, right?"

"You have Split Personality; the Primary Personality doesn't know the Alternate Personality exists, but the Alternate Personality knows the Primary Personality. The Lao Ding we saw during the day wasn't the murderer, but you are. He doesn't know you exist, so his behavior during interrogation was perfectly natural, with no issues. If I hadn't later noticed other details, I might have completely dismissed my suspicion of you."

"Xu Mo is proficient in psychology; its application is not limited to detecting lies."

"Psychiatrists also fall within the scope of psychology."

"Xu Mo knows the symptoms of Split Personality, and he also knows that a patient's Primary Personality is unaware of the Alternate Personality, so the Primary Personality has no idea it is the murderer, which explains its normal behavior."

"Another point is that this murderer is extremely brazen, to the point of being abnormal, making one think the murderer is a mental patient, which is why he dares to taunt the Police."

"If Lao Ding also has a mental illness, has Split Personality, and the Alternate Personality acts aggressively, then everything is easily explained."

"Hearing this, Lao Ding appeared both shocked and somewhat delighted."

"You know I'm not him?!"

"Xu Mo not only knew he was the murderer, but also knew he was Lao Ding's Alternate Personality!"

"Although Lao Ding has Split Personality, he only likes to read at night and doesn't take other actions, so the staff at the Mental Hospital didn't realize their gate guard was also a patient; they simply thought Lao Ding was somnambulating."

"In fact, with careful observation, the staff would surely notice that Lao Ding's symptoms were not somnambulism but Split Personality, but they neither observed him closely nor thought it through; after all, who would devote attention to a gate guard with somnambulism?"