In the restaurant, Jian Jing sat alone by the window, recording today's investigation results in a small notebook.
At present, there are three motives for killing rats:
1. Sabotage the deal (the buyer failed in the bid? Did he not want the auction to be successful? To prevent the outflow of the bronze heads?)
2. Believe that the Rat is the seller (to snatch the bronze head? Out of historical hatred?)
3. Factor rats: fake behavior, personal revenge
The time of death of Rat Zi was between 20:30 and 22:30. By screening each person's timeline, we can get the following suspects.
Ox: 19:52-20:30, buy number 2
Monkey: 19:50-20:35, buy number 2
Wu Ma: 20:15-21:00, claims to be an agent, refuses to reveal the client and the auction items
Tiger: 20:40-21:20, buy number 2
Snake: 21:30-21:55, buy number 1
Chen Long: 21:50-22:00, refused to disclose
--Auction Ends--
Dog: 22:05-22:15, buy number 3
Tiger: 22:10-22:20, third departure
Pig: 22:15-22:25, buy number 2
The people who can be ruled out through the timeline are the Sheep and the Rooster, but we cannot assume that they are not suspects. For example, the Rooster old lady, is it possible that she is in collusion with the Monkey
But there is a crucial issue here.
After 22:00, everyone went to the auction room, but before 22:00, everyone went to the auction room. If the rat had died long ago, how could the people behind not have discovered it? Or to be more precise, would they have concealed it for others
Maybe, but the bodyguard said that a little after 9 p.m., we saw with our own eyes that Rat ordered us to get some fruit.
The range can be further narrowed.
Tiger: 20:40-21:20
Snake: 21:30-21:55
Dragon: 21:50-22:00
--Auction Ends--
Dog: 22:05-22:15
Tiger: 22:10-22:20
Pig: 22:15-22:25
The murderer is among these five people.
Then, don’t forget the missing auction sheet. It could have been taken by the murderer, or by someone later. There is no more information at this time.
Jian Jing bit the pen and tried to reason out the feasibility:
1. The Tiger knew that the auction had failed, so he impulsively killed the Rat and left in a hurry. The Snake and Dragon who came after him discovered the problem, but chose to remain silent for various reasons (such as the auction order). Afterwards, the Tiger was afraid that the matter would be exposed, so he returned to the auction room and forged a secret room.
It makes sense, but it's far-fetched. Could it be that the Snake and the Dragon both have a grudge against the deceased? The Tiger should also be very clear, because the people who come later will immediately discover the problem.
Besides, it is too difficult for both of them to remain silent.
2. The murderer was the Snake, but the Dragon remained silent for some reason. So, it is highly likely that the latter took the auction sheet and forged a secret room - if he cannot enter and does not know what happened to the deceased, it seems a bit unreasonable to remain silent.
3. The one who kills someone is the last one to go, Chen Long.
But don't forget that the Dog, Tiger, and Pig went out again at 22:00. It can't be such a coincidence that everyone really went to the toilet? If only one of them had been to the auction room, why didn't they mention the secret room
Oh, right, the secret room.
She circled the word.
There are many possibilities for creating a locked room, and it has been mentioned more than once in detective novels.
for example:
1. Disguise the death of the deceased as suicide or accident;
2. Put the blame on someone who has the key or is in the same room;
3. Delaying the time when the deceased is discovered;
4. Use the secret room to interfere with the investigation and make people ignore certain important evidence;
5. Criminal artist, be a closed room detective or the police.
But the case cannot be solved by following the clues alone. Based on the known clues, Jian Jing can make up seven or eight versions of the case that meet the requirements.
To be honest, although Ji Feng had laughed at her novel-like reasoning countless times, Jian Jingzhi was able to succeed every time. The reason was simple—the truth was unique.
Only the version of the truth can perfectly match every clue and there is no second possibility.
What's missing? She rested her chin on her hand, thinking, and didn't even notice the waiter bringing the food.
Just then, other guests arrived for dinner.
The Horse sat down with the Sheep, Rooster and Monkey. After a few words, he mentioned that his safe had been broken into. He reminded the Sheep: "You have a lot of stuff there, so you'd better be careful and don't let the thief get his eyes on it."
Wei Yang was really surprised: "There is a thief on the boat? Have you found him?"
"I asked everyone on the ship, and they said they didn't lose the card," Wu Ma said, "but you also know that electronic devices are unreliable. Anyone who knows can easily copy one, so be careful."
Wei Yang frowned.
The old lady suggested to her: "Why not ask the secretary to borrow a safe? Our safe is definitely safer than the one in the cabin."
"I'll go ask." Wei Yang brought some small gadgets, each of which was not worth much, probably worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, but they were all small and exquisite, and if someone stole them, it would be difficult to find them.
She left in a hurry, and in less than half an hour, she came back with a relaxed look on her face: "There is indeed a safe on the ship, and I have transferred the things there."
"Is it reliable?" Wu Ma asked.
Wei Yang said: "It's OK, the door is a professional anti-theft door, much stronger than the room."
"That's good." Shen Hou nodded briefly and thought, "But it doesn't make sense to steal from you."
Wu Ma said, "I'm also wondering, no matter how you look at me, I don't look like a rich man, right? If there were really only two people on the boat, would we not know who is richer?" As he spoke, he winked in the direction of Hai Zhu.
The pig was wearing all branded clothes, including a Patek Philippe watch, an Hermes belt, Gucci clothes, and a string of very pretty bracelets. He shouted loudly, "What the hell is this? It's so disgusting! Bring me some shark fin."
The chef who was called out to be scolded: “…”
Shen Hou pulled his face, his old face shining with brilliance: "To be honest, what you want to steal is not valuable."
Wei Yang put down his knife and fork and took a sip of champagne: "What is that?"
Shen Hou sneered and did not answer.
Jian Jing, who was sitting at the next table, listened to the whole process and completed the answer in her mind: power of attorney.
Entrusted to Rat Auction, seller's power of attorney.
The Rat is dead, and Mr. Gu doesn't know who the seller is. Whoever gets the power of attorney can take the collection away.
This thief is really good, he has a very smart brain.
However, only eleven guests and Tina knew about this. If the secretary's identity was not a problem, was the thief also among the ten people
There are so many things to think about, but everything is still unclear.
Jian Jing closed her notebook, picked up her knife and fork, and prepared to finish the slightly cold pasta.
During this time, Ox and Dog also came for dinner. The former ordered steak, but it was served with papaya and snow clam stew, while the latter ordered French onion soup and stewed potatoes.
They all smell good.
Jian Jing: "... Please give me another serving of shrimp dumplings."
After eating and drinking, we returned to the scene.
This time, she carefully inspected the scene again and had more doubts: Was the Rat going to get the wine to celebrate something? Was the knife made from local materials, meaning it was not prepared in advance? Did the murderer decide to kill someone on impulse
Several people have said that the Rat King did a good job of keeping secrets and would not reveal the results before the auction was over. Why would the murderer kill people if he didn't know the result
From this point of view, people who leave after 10 p.m. are more likely to be suspected.
In addition, can this rule out revenge? Revenge must be prepared and carefully planned. In this special terrain environment, entry and exit are restricted, and it is not a good time to act.
Was he dissatisfied with the auction result? Or did he accidentally find out that Rat was the seller during the conversation
Dog: 22:05-22:15; Tiger: 22:10-22:20; Pig: 22:15-22:25.
The Dog (if he is not lying) wants to buy number 3. He has no competitors at all, so his motive is invalid. The Tiger and the Pig are one introverted and one extroverted, but they are determined to get number 2, so they are more suspicious.
Moreover, in terms of the murder method, it would be difficult for the Dog to kill a man in his fifties quickly, fiercely and accurately, both in terms of physical strength and technique.
Could it be that the murderer is the Tiger or the Pig
The Tiger went back and forth three times, showing a strong will. The Pig was rude and deliberately rushed to the secret room first, which seemed to be in line with the motive of the creator of the secret room - but what was the purpose of this secret room
No, something's wrong.
Something is totally wrong!
Jian Jing suddenly became irritated. She always felt that this case was not at all like the current analysis. It seemed to make sense and reasonable. There was no other explanation, but it just made people feel uncomfortable.
This is not the feeling of taking the pulse.
Her intuition told her no, but under the "Spiritual Sense" limit card, intuition was usually correct.
The deduction just now is definitely not the truth.
She knocked her forehead hard, putting aside all her previous thoughts.
Forget the auction, forget the collection, forget the motive.
Start sorting out the clues again.
The reliable clues currently known include: 1. The timeline she witnessed herself; 2. The testimonies of the two bodyguards; 3. The secret room environment in terms of terrain, including the auction room and the large secret room leading from the hall to the auction room; 4. The missing auction order.
Anything else
Is there some clue that has been overlooked
Jian Jing pondered over it, but still had no answer.
The clock ticked to eleven, and she glanced at the clock on the wall of the auction room, moved a chair over, climbed up and took a look. Fortunately, the dust was evenly accumulated, with a moderate thickness, and no one had tampered with the time.
So why build a secret room
What is the need for a simple secret room that is so simple that anyone who has read detective novels can tell how to solve it
Could it be that the murderer suddenly had an idea and did it because of his second-year syndrome
Any author who dares to write this should prepare a rating of 1.0 on Bookworm.com.
After a lot of searching, it was already twelve o'clock and there was still no clue, so she had to go back to sleep.
The sleep quality is very poor.
She seemed to be half asleep when she heard a strange noise outside. She jumped up and rushed to the door, looking around the corridor alertly: "What's going on?"
A staff member rushed down the stairs, panting and saying, "Oh no! Something happened in the safe."
Jian Jing: “Ah?”
She hurried upstairs and when she reached the hall, she saw white pungent smoke overflowing and the character panel indicated "trace amounts of drugs".
"You wait here, I'll go take a look." She stopped the staff and went in alone.
Entering the passage, the white fog became thicker, and she held her breath, wanting to use her immunity to rush in. However, this time she overestimated the increase by 1 point.
As soon as he rushed to the safe room, he felt dizzy and his vision was blurred. He only vaguely saw that the four bodyguards guarding the door of the safe room had all fainted on the ground and were unconscious.
She really wanted to take a closer look, but it was difficult to stay in such a closed passage for even a second, so she had to retreat quickly, return to the hall, open the door wide, and ask the staff to adjust the ventilation equipment to quickly disperse the smoke.
After about ten minutes, the white smoke finally dissipated and she rushed in.
There were 8 safe rooms, all with their doors wide open. Safes 1 and 3 were intact, but safe No. 2, which contained a copper-headed safe, had its door violently cut off, leaving nothing inside.
Jian Jing couldn't help but swear.
The accompanying staff were all dumbfounded: "What should we do?"
"Wake up Tina, contact Mr. Gu, and then call all the guests to the restaurant." Jian Jing said.
The staff hurriedly complied.
When Tina arrived, she was still wearing her silk nightgown and asked in a shocked and dazed tone: "The collection... was stolen? Who stole it?"
Jian Jing was also about to collapse, she wanted to know too. But she couldn't panic, so she said calmly: "We are just about to investigate this matter, go and ask all the staff on the ship, who was not sleeping or left their posts just now."
Tina had one advantage. Although she couldn't make up her mind, she could do things as long as she was given an order: "Oh, okay."
Jian Jing called the four fainted bodyguards over. They were still a little dizzy and couldn't figure out the situation.
"Tell me what happened just now. You go first." She pointed to someone at random.