Afterlife Department

Chapter 546 – Third Party

Inside You Ri's apartment, Huo Ling and Yi Bing are looking around, searching for clues. Because the police is still investigating You Ri's case, the owner of the apartment complex didn't look for a new person to rent You Ri's unit yet. It also still hasn't been a week or two. Thus, Huo Ling and Yi Bing are looking around unimpeded.

But, just as they are in the middle of it, they heard footsteps outside the hallway along with some voices. The direction of the footsteps are going their way and they caught the words 'victim', 'family', 'out'. These newcomers are definitely going to You Ri's apartment!

Huo Ling and Yi Bing looked at each other before they went to the living room to 'greet' these people.

Song Mingfan and Xiao Xie moved the police tape and opened the door before they entered. "The You family's vacation should be ending today and maybe they'll return to the country this evening or tomorrow." He spoke.

Xiao Xie nodded. "Shameless family to finish their vacation rather than immediately go home to prepare their family member's funeral." He frowned.

"Their neighbors said that this vacation of theirs was won from a lottery since they don't have enough money to go on a vacation as a family." Song Mingfan reminded him that the You family's tickets and other expenses are free thus they dared to go.

In short, they are poor.

Xiao Xie sneered. "Because it's only You Ri who is supporting them all!" he said. "They would be too black-hearted to even ask money from her to go on a vacation." He huffed in anger.

Huo Ling and Yi Bing looked at each other and caught the details of the You family returning and their vacation is due to winning in a lottery.

"Wait." Huo Ling muttered. "They went on a vacation… but You Ri didn't?" he asked.

"Must be she is the only one who has a work while the rest of her family are free, including the students." Yi Bing explained.

"Oh." Huo Ling nodded in understanding. "This is too coincidental?" his brows furrowed.

Yi Bing couldn't agree more. "This case… is really full of 'coincidences'." He frowned.

Huo Ling looked at him.

Yi Bing noticed his gaze. "Accidents are due to fate. Coincidences are man-made." He told him.

As you say. Huo Ling thought and shrugged. He turned back to Song Mingfan and Xiao Xie who are walking around You Ri's apartment like he and Yi Bing did earlier.

"How's the investigation on You Ri's classmates and acquaintances?" Song Mingfan asked Xiao Xie.

"The informant is summarizing the list along with the connection of the people in the list to You Ri." Xiao Xie answered as he poked a decoration. "Say. If they are poor, then, how can they hire someone to kill You Ri while they are in the middle of their vacation?" he asked Song Mingfan.

It's as if there's a bomb that exploded inside Huo Ling's head. What?! He thought as his eyes widened. Hiring someone… that's right. Why didn't he think of this?! He slapped his forehead in frustration. "That's right… since everyone has an alibi, then they could have hired someone to do the dirty job!" he exclaimed as he grunted in anger because of his stupidity.

Yi Bing is nodding as he rubbed his chin. "There's also this possibility… a third party person." He said.

What he meant by 'third party person' is that the victim is the first person, the mastermind is the second party person and the hitman is the third party person. The third party is paid by the second party to kill the first party.

"The eldest daughter could hire one. She hasn't spent a penny after she married He Li." Song Mingfan spoke, returning Huo Ling's attention on him.

"Hmm. You have a point." Xiao Xie nodded as he considered it. "But, if you are talking about money, that You Zi, the youngest daughter, also could hire one. She is quite successful as a teenage magazine model." He said. "Yet, would she really hire one? She's just a girl, right? She shouldn't that be malicious to her elder sister, should she?" He looked at Song Mingfan.

"What are you asking me for? I'm not a roundworm on her stomach to know what she's thinking." Song Mingfan said. "Who knows there might be a complicated relationship between then all family." He told him.

"Hmm… you are right." Xiao Xie agreed. "Judging by this angle, aside from the parents, only that You Shi is the least suspect." He spoke. "But… he could have borrowed money from his peers. We can't rule out this possibility, too." He told him.

"En." Song Mingfan nodded, noting it.

"So, what are you bringing me in You Ri's apartment for?" Xiao Xie asked as he looked around. "Aren't we going to the airport to see what lottery was it and who sponsored it?" he said.

Huo Ling's eyes narrowed when he heard this. "A lottery…" he muttered. His expression looked pensive.

Yi Bing glanced at him.

"Say, someone from the You family won and the vacation prize coincides with all the family's members' vacant schedule aside from You Ri's." Huo Ling slowly spoke. "Then, while the whole family was out of the country, You Ri was killed." He looked at Yi Bing. "What happened to You Ri was no accident. Then, this should be 'coincidence'. But, accidents are due to fate. Coincidences are man-made. This is what you said earlier. So – " he turned to look at Song Mingfan and Xiao Xie looking around. " – this case has a mastermind." He said. Just as his voice fell, he heard Xiao Xie's voice spoke.

"Is this what you are looking for?" Xiao Xie asked as he turned to Song Mingfan, showing him a colorful piece of paper.

Song Mingfan nodded and took it. "'Lifea'." He muttered when he saw the sole logo beneath the ticket.

"'Lifea'?" Xiao Xie tilted his head. "Isn't that the famous Western company for lifestyle products, from health supplements to fashion and electronics?" he asked. "Right. They also have travel products. So, this vacation of the You family is actually from them?" he said.

"I am actually thinking that the date of vacation is coincidental." Song Mingfan spoke.

Xiao Xie's eyes widened in shock. "Mingfan, don't tell me you suspect it's the Lifea?" he asked. "What does You Ri got to do to them? They are a big company. Although You Ri can be called a successful designer, she…" his voice suddenly fell. "Wait. Could it be she had a client that is related to Lifea?!" he exclaimed.

Huo Ling watched the two police officers while silently listening to the side. "This Xiao Xie is smart. I am thinking the same, too." He smiled.

Yi Bing. "…" so you are actually like this? Indirectly complimenting yourself. He thought.

Huo Ling isn't aware of Yi Bing's thoughts. "Actually, I was thinking that You Ri doesn't have a ticket and that the ticket is only for her family members." He spoke. "But, since these two police officers are looking for You Ri's ticket, I concluded that the mastermind is really a schemer." He said.

"Why?" Yi Bing asked.

"This mastermind already planned for You Ri's family members to leave the country and kill You Ri in that time frame, making the family be suspects." Huo Ling answered. "The whole family left while the victim was left behind and was even killed while they are not around. Although this should actually eliminate the You family from the list of suspects, we can also do the reverse." He said.

Yi Bing understood. "They left to not be suspected. This is their alibi." He said.

Huo Ling nodded in agreement. "But, we know that this vacation 'prize' was given to them through the ticket." He continued. "Let's say that the You family is actually innocent. Then, the mastermind should be someone related to this Lifea. They used the You family as a cover." He said. "They also purposely included You Ri's ticket to not make their intention to kill her obvious. They included it since they know that You Ri won't be able to go." He added.

Yi Bing nodded in agreement. "The culprit is really a schemer, then." He said.

"Xiao Xue." Song Mingfan called. "Have someone check the airports and look at the flights for this week. We'll go recheck You Ri's clients that could be related to Lifea." He said.

"Yes!" Xiao Xie answered. They looked around for a while, looking for more clues before they finally left, bringing the flight ticket with them.

"We'll be leaving, too." Huo Ling told Yi Bing.

Yi Bing nodded and followed him, only for them to bump into Jiu Ye and Bai Wu sneaking around the emergency exist stairwell. "What are the both of you doing? You look like thieves." He told them.

Jiu Ye's face flushed but Bai Wu's eyes are bright. "Seniors!" Bai Wu called. "My dad… ehem, the chief sent us to tell you that they are in a hurry to find clues about the exorcist society!" he told them.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling. "…" what society? What did we miss?