The Brain Science Case 26

Chapter 26: The Ulysses Contract – 2

In the Criminal Investigation Division, the busy and tense atmosphere remained unchanged.

Zhou Jinglin, having just come out of the interrogation room, returned to her seat, replaying Dai Yicheng’s testimony in her mind, and the almost obsessive expression she had when she mentioned the murders.

“This person is sick,” she said, dropping the folder and rubbing her arms.

“Who are you talking about?” Cai Yuwei asked.

“Of course, that nurse! She said she heard the victims’ requests… but the problem is, they never said anything like that. Her perception is skewed. She’s sick.”

“The brainy teacher said it. She might be… schizophrenic?”

At the mention of the “brainy teacher,” Zhou Jinglin instinctively glanced at the corner seat.

Tang Yingli wasn’t in today.

She hadn’t been in yesterday either. The semester had started, and Yingli, who had been invited to lecture, had already informed Fang Zijun that unless there was a case, she would not be coming to the office every day. After all, her presence there was entirely due to a personal request, and Fang Zijun could only respect her wishes.

“Schizophrenia. Female onset is more common after the age of thirty, and the earlier the onset, the greater the impact on personality… Dai Yicheng’s symptoms are relatively mild. After all, her work ability hasn’t significantly declined, but her mental state has already affected her judgment of values, and she is clearly dangerous and aggressive.” Zhou Jinglin recited the long passage while twirling her pen. “She also has a tendency toward hypomania… no wonder she’s always so energetic.”

“You’re so knowledgeable about this disease.”

She shook her head. “The teacher told me. She even said she’s not an expert in the field of mental illness and suggested we find a psychologist to help.”

“Is that necessary? It feels like as long as we have her, everything can be solved.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “The teacher is just a neuroscientist and a criminal profiler, okay?” Don’t treat Tang Yingli like a god.

Putting on her headphones, Zhou Jinglin was about to file the interrogation data when the order to move out suddenly came, fast and urgent.

A case had occurred. “Little Zhou, Ah Wei, get ready to move out in two minutes!”

They looked at each other. “Roger that.”

**

In a large lecture hall that could accommodate about a hundred students, the number of auditors far exceeded the number of enrolled students.

The lecturer, in a black lace dress, pushed up her glasses and calmly faced the large number of auditing students, continuing her lecture in a clear and elegant voice.

“…Damage to specific areas can lead to certain abnormal behaviors. For example, damage to a certain part of the parietal lobe can cause ‘reduplicative paramnesia’.”

She wrote down the specific term. “The patient will believe that a certain place has been duplicated, that they are in two or more places at the same time, or that they have moved to a different location.”

A student immediately raised his hand. “Is that different from disorientation?”

“That’s an interesting question.” The corners of her rose-colored lips lifted. “Disorientation refers to a state where the patient may be confused, that is, unable to clearly distinguish time, place, and objects. A patient with reduplicative paramnesia is conscious but has a false belief. For example, if a patient with reduplicative paramnesia were sitting here, and you asked her why there were so many people here and this big blackboard, she might calmly and irrefutably answer that she was holding a lecture at home and had spent a lot of effort to hang the blackboard on her own wall.”

She turned to the student who had asked the question. “Is that clear?”

Her explanation convinced the student. “The brain is a highly modular organ, and each location has its specific function. For example, damage to the lateral prefrontal cortex can cause deficits in sequencing behavior, and the patient will be unable to plan things well or multitask. Damage to the orbitofrontal cortex may interfere with a person’s cognitive state, affecting their ability to judge right from wrong…”

Unlike in other classes, where students would often sleep or play on their phones to pass the time, almost everyone was captivated by this guest lecturer. It wasn’t just the content of the class; her charm and every gesture were also a reason. It was only the third week of the semester, and the auditing students were already having to sit in the hallway.

Brain and Free Will was the name of the course. Although the lecturer was young, she already had a PhD, and her academic and professional background were impeccable.

Zeng Pingyun was diligently taking notes. She had originally just intended to take an easy elective, but after a few classes, she was completely drawn in by the course content and couldn’t help but be glad she had gotten in.

But beautiful moments always passed too quickly. “…The bell rang? Then that’s all for today’s class. If you have any questions, you can come to the front and ask.”

Zeng Pingyun rushed to the front with her notes, and several other students from the front rows did the same. She thought she was fast enough, but another tall girl from the middle-back rows had beaten her to it.

The person in front of her was holding a notebook and wearing a suit, looking like a professional.

When it was finally the girl in front’s turn to ask a question— “Officer Zhou! You’re auditing too?”

Huh? An officer?

“I guess so. Teacher, there’s a case I need your help with…”

A case? Zeng Pingyun caught the keyword, and they seemed to be about to discuss the details.

“Wait a minute.” The lecturer noticed her, standing alone and helpless. “Student, do you have a question?”

She nodded gratefully. “Teacher, I wanted to ask…”

The lecturer answered her as thoroughly as she had the previous student. “…Do you understand now?”

“Yes, I do. Thank you, Teacher.” She put away her notebook.

The lecturer made a mark on the attendance sheet. “You also asked a question last week, right? I remember you.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and the lecturer’s clear, pleasant voice continued, “Your name is… Pingyun, right? I see you have a basic understanding of brain-related topics, and your questions are very insightful.” She winked at her. “I especially appreciate students like you. Keep it up.”

Although she wanted to continue the conversation, there were still classmates waiting behind her, and the female officer next to the lecturer seemed to wish she would leave quickly, so she had to pack up her things.

As soon as she stepped into the hallway, a wave of heat washed over her. Zeng Pingyun fanned herself and heard a classmate say to her, “Pingyun, I see you really like this teacher’s class.”

“Yeah, I find it very interesting.”

“Hmph, if you weren’t a girl, I would have thought you were just looking at how pretty the teacher is.”

“What are you talking about?” She laughed with her classmate. Her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at it, and her face changed when she saw the message.

“…What do you want to eat? Pasta? Pingyun, are you listening? Pingyun!” Her classmate shook her. “What’s wrong? You look a little pale.”

She quickly typed a few things on her phone and forced a smile. “Uh, it’s nothing. I’m fine with anything.”

“Then let’s have pasta…”

While her classmate was deciding on lunch, Zeng Pingyun glanced back.

Besides them, the long hallway was empty.

**

After finally answering all the students’ questions, Tang Yingli packed up her teaching materials. The bell for the next class rang.

“I didn’t expect your class to attract so many students.”

“I’m surprised too. I only opened eighty spots, and the class isn’t even full.”

Zhou Jinglin’s mouth formed an ‘O’. “So many auditors?” If she had been even a little late, she would have had to stand for the whole lecture.

“Yes. But I wonder how many of them are genuinely interested in the brain?” She shrugged with a smile.

They found a nearby coffee shop for a simple meal. As Yingli took a sip of her coffee, Zhou Jinglin opened her notebook and began to detail the scene and the progress of the investigation.

“The victim is a thirty-eight-year-old housewife. The fatal wound is a stab wound to the chest… According to the scene, in addition to the victim’s body, the furniture and cabinets were also rummaged through, and her husband confirmed that some jewelry was missing.”

Yingli rested her chin on her hand, her index finger tapping her lips. “The main door was locked? And there were no signs of forced entry on the doors or windows?”

“Yes, the on-site investigation confirmed that.” She showed her the crime scene photos on her phone.

Although the background of the victim and her husband was not specified, just from the decoration and size of the house, it was clear that the victim was wealthy. “The French doors in the kitchen were open?”

Zhou Jinglin nodded. “It’s highly likely that was the suspect’s point of entry and exit.”

“This body… is the autopsy report out yet?” A flicker of doubt crossed her eyes behind the lenses.

“Dr. Tao is examining it now. I think we should get the news later.”

“Her underwear was only pulled down to her knees?”

Zhou Jinglin stared at the photo and nodded with difficulty but certainty. “That’s how we found her when we arrived at the scene.”

“So the scene wasn’t disturbed—other than by the killer and the first person to find her,” Yingli muttered to herself.

“Teacher?”

“It’s nothing. The weapon, was it found?”

“Yes. The most likely weapon is this fruit knife that was thrown in the yard. It has the victim’s blood on it.”

“A fruit knife…?” Staring at the close-up of the fatal wound, Yingli touched her lips again. “I think this wound has been repeatedly disturbed. If we define this case as a robbery-murder, with the sexual assault as a byproduct… I feel like there are a lot of questionable points.” She handed back the phone.

“That’s why I came to ask for your opinion… Thank you.” Zhou Jinglin took her meal. “What do you think… T-Teacher?”

The waitress was also taken aback, because Yingli had suddenly put her hands on the window and arched her back. The embarrassing pose made those who saw it blush.

“That’s fine, thank you.” Zhou Jinglin quickly shooed the waitress away. “Teacher! What are you doing?” Thank goodness each booth has a curtain.

“If the crime scene wasn’t disturbed, then the killer probably assaulted her from behind in this position, right?” Yingli turned, pointing to her spread legs. “Either kneeling or standing, right?”

Zhou Jinglin almost couldn’t keep up with her train of thought. “Uh… probably.”

“In that case, why is the fatal wound on her chest?” She frowned, crossing her arms. “If the victim didn’t see his face, wouldn’t it be more logical to deliver the fatal blow from behind? Why would he let the victim turn around and stab her from the front?”