Shi Ting gave a light scoff. “And to think you’re the head of a school that teaches nursing and medicine — and you believe in ghosts and spirits?”
The principal felt immediately aggrieved. “Director Shi, it’s not that I’m superstitious — think about it. A fish tank that size, full of water, even four or five burly men couldn’t lift it. How did it just walk over to that haunted room 104 on its own? This is beyond human ability!”
“Whether it was a person or a ghost, the fact remains that a student from your school is dead. As principal, the primary responsibility falls on you. From this moment on, every student and staff member is to cooperate fully with our Military Police Bureau investigation.”
“Of course, of course.” The principal mopped the sweat from his brow. “We will cooperate fully.”
Outside the principal’s office, Bai Jin scratched the side of his nose. “Seventh Brother, the bald principal does have a point. I did a rough estimate of the tank’s weight — even filled to two-thirds it would exceed two hundred catties. Room 104 is to the north, the principal’s office to the south, with more than fifty meters between them. Moving a tank that heavy is no easy task. And why would the killer go to so much trouble putting the victim in a fish tank? What was the killer trying to say?”
Shi Ting’s long legs moved at a rapid pace as he walked and talked. “When the killer transported the fish tank to room 104, it was empty. There was no water inside.”
“How can you be sure?” Bai Jin looked puzzled.
“The killer drained the water, disposed of the fish, and moved only the empty tank. The dried fish the principal showed us had traces of half-dried water plants on it — which means the tank originally contained aquatic plants. But when we examined the water in which the body was submerged, there were no traces of any aquatic plants.”
Bai Jin nodded. “If it really were an all-powerful ghost doing the killing, why would it drain the water and move just the empty tank? This confirms the killer is human — draining the water was simply a way to reduce the weight. Even so, an empty tank of that size would weigh close to seventy catties. Moving it would still take considerable effort.”
“Not necessarily.” Shi Ting said. “There were faint, evenly-spaced scratches on the four bottom corners of the tank. I believe the killer attached wheels beneath it and used them to roll the tank to room 104.”
“Why would the killer go to such elaborate lengths? What was the point of all this?”
“It’s quite simple — the killer was laying a false trail. First, rumors of the haunted classroom spread far and wide. Then a body turns up drowned in a fish tank. Everything has been designed around that girl in red who died here, calculated to lead everyone toward believing this is a ghost murder.” Shi Ting paused. “The killer is certainly someone within this school. Not only are they familiar with the layout of the grounds, they knew about that classroom where someone had previously died. Therefore, every student and staff member in this school is a suspect. Take a team and collect statements from each person. Focus your investigation on everyone’s whereabouts around nine-thirty last night.”
As they spoke, Yan Qing came walking toward them.
Shi Ting stepped forward. “Sixth Miss, would you please come with me back to the Military Police Bureau? We need to establish the cause of death before we can proceed with the investigation.”
“Of course.” Yan Qing agreed without hesitation. “Happy to help.”
—