Chapter One: The cruise ship sets sail
The sun shines on the shimmering sea, and a luxury cruise ship slowly leaves the harbor, the sound of its whistle breaking the early morning silence. On the deck of the cruise ship, passengers stared excitedly at the journey they were about to embark on.
In the first class, Li Ming, a wealthy businessman, wears an expensive bespoke suit with a sparkling watch on his wrist. There was a hint of arrogance in his confident smile, and he was proudly telling people around him about his recent success in business.
"Look at that big deal I just made, leaving my opponent defenseless!" "Li Ming exclaimed, his voice echoing around the spacious cabin.
An elegantly dressed woman nearby responded politely with a slight frown: "Mr. Li, you are very impressive." But there was a hint of disdain in his eyes.
At this moment, a young crew member passes by, and Li Ming calls out to him: "Young man, give me a glass of top-class champagne, quickly!" The crew nodded respectfully and quickly prepared.
The atmosphere on the cruise ship is lively, with people walking, chatting and enjoying the sea breeze on the deck. Children were running and playing merrily, and laughter echoed in the air.
Li Ming paces onto the deck and comes across an old couple. The old man smiled and said hello to Li Ming, "Young man, this trip must be wonderful." Li Ming only gave a perfunctory reply and continued to walk with his head held high.
A mysterious woman sat silently in the corner, looking coldly at Li Ming. She wore a long black dress and a wide-brimmed hat that covered most of her face. She stirred her coffee gently and seemed to be thinking of something.
As night fell, the cruise ship moved smoothly on the sea. The waves made a rhythmic noise against the side of the ship. Li Ming talked with other passengers in the restaurant, showing off his wealth and achievements.
"What I have, you people will never earn in your life!" "Li Ming shouted, raising eyebrows around him.
A gentleman at the table could not resist saying, "Mr. Li, wealth is not the measure of everything."
Li Ming sneered: "Huh, without wealth, you are nothing!"
After dinner, Li Ming returns to his cabin. He took off his coat while humming a little song. At the very moment he closed the door, he heard a slight noise. He looked back warily, but found nothing.
"Maybe I misheard you." Li Ming said to himself and went to the bed to rest.
However, danger looms. In the darkness, a dark figure approached slowly, holding a sharp dagger in his hand.
Chapter Two: The First signs
In the early morning, the soft sunlight shines through the porthole, trying hard to illuminate Li Ming's luxurious cabin. But there was an eerie silence in the cabin. Xiao Wang, the waiter in charge of cleaning the room, knocked gently on Li Ming's door as usual and shouted in a clear and sweet voice, "Good morning, Mr. Li, I'll clean the room for you."
After a while, there was no response from the room. With a little doubt in her heart, Xiao Wang raised her voice again and said, "Mr. Li, are you awake?" There was still a deathly silence. The uneasiness in Xiao Wang's heart gradually expanded, her heart began to beat faster, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
After hesitation, Xiao Wang took out the spare key from his waist, slowly inserted it into the lock hole, and turned it gently. There was a click and the door opened. Xiao Wang took a deep breath and carefully opened the door. "Mr. Li, I'm coming in..." Before she could finish her sentence, she screamed in horror at what she saw.
Li Ming was lying upright on the bed with his eyes wide open, as if he had seen a terrible scene at the last moment of his life. His expression was twisted and filled with unspeakable fear. The wounds crisscrossed the body, the blood has dyed the white sheets into dark red, and some wounds are still constantly oozing blood, dripping on the floor, forming a small pool of blood. The room was a mess, with expensive clothes carelessly thrown around, neatly placed drawers roughly pulled apart, and contents such as papers and jewelry scattered on the floor.
The shrill scream broke the silence of the cruise ship in an instant, like a heavy bomb detonated in the crowd. The news spread through the cruise ship with astonishing speed, and passengers poured out of their cabins, restaurants, and entertainment venues with panic and confusion written on their faces.
When the captain heard the news, his face was grim, and he immediately ordered the scene to be sealed off and summoned all the security personnel on board. Security guards sprang into action, putting up a cordon to separate the onlookers.
Zhang Hua, the security supervisor responsible for investigating the case, came to the scene with a steady and rapid pace. He wore a neat uniform and his eyes were firm and piercing. Zhang Hua first stood at the door, carefully observing the overall layout of the room and the degree of chaos, and then carefully entered the room, showing extra caution at every step.
"It is clear from the scene that it was a fierce struggle." Zhang Hua frowned and said to himself. He crouched down and looked carefully at the wounds on Li Ming's body. "The wounds are different in depth. The weapon should be a sharp dagger."
At this time, Lin Yue, a young woman wearing a light blue dress with a beautiful face, hesitated for a while in the crowd, and finally plucked up the courage to squeeze through the crowd and actively found Zhang Hua. There was a hint of panic and unease in her eyes, and her voice trembled slightly as she said, "I thought I heard an argument coming from Li Ming's room last night."
Zhang Hua stared at her closely and asked, "Can you determine the time and specific content?"
Lin Yue shook her head, her hands unconsciously twisted the corners of her coat, and said: "Not sure, just vaguely heard some." I was already asleep at the time, and in my sleepiness I heard what sounded like a man and a woman arguing. It was very loud, but I couldn't make out what exactly was said."
Meanwhile, other passengers are talking about the murder.
In the restaurant, a potbellied middle-aged man whispered to his table mates: "I heard that Li Ming has offended a lot of people, perhaps the enemy has come to the door." There was a hint of mystery in his eyes.
A fashionably dressed woman at the table curled her lips and retorted, "Or maybe it's for his wealth." Li Ming is so rich, who is not jealous?"
On deck, several young people were also discussing.
"It's terrible that this could happen on this ship." "Said a young man in a hat, worried.
"Yeah, I hope we find out who did this soon, or I'm not going to rest easy on this trip." "Agreed the girl next to her.
During the investigation, Zhang Hua found that Li Ming's valuables, such as expensive watches and jewelry, were still well placed in the drawer, as if the murderer's purpose was not money. This makes the case even more confusing.
While Zhang Hua was deep in thought, a young security guard ran breathlessly to report, "Supervisor, we found a bloody dagger in the trash can at the end of the hallway."
Zhang Hua's eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately followed the security guard to the past. The blood on the knife had dried up, and there were tiny fragments of tissue left on the blade. Zhang Hua put on gloves, picked up the dagger, and looked at it carefully, with doubts in his heart: "Will this be the murder weapon?" If so, why was it casually dumped at the end of the hallway?"
Chapter Three: The Mysterious Visitor
Zhang Hua held the bloody dagger and fell into deep thinking. Just then a mysterious figure appeared at the corner of the corridor. It was a tall man, wearing a long black trench coat and a low hat, whose face could not be seen.
Zhang Hua raised his head alertly and stared at the mysterious man. The mysterious man walked slowly toward him, his feet steady and strong.
"Who are you?" Zhang Hua asked aloud, his hand involuntarily placed on the side of the gun at his waist.
The mysterious man smiled and his voice was low and hoarse. "Relax, officer, I might be able to help you."
Zhang Hua frowned and looked at the people in front of him: "How do you know that there has been a murder here? How can you help me?"
The mysterious man gently took off his hat, revealing a handsome but somewhat vicissitudes of face: "My name is Shen Feng, a private detective, and I happen to be on this ship." I've been watching the ship, and I have some ideas about the case. '
Zhang Hua looked at him doubtfully: "Then you tell me, what did you find?"
Shen Feng looked around and said in a low voice, "I noticed that Li Ming had a tense relationship with several people on the boat. One is Wang Qiang, who competes with him in business, and the other is Lin Xiao, the lover he once abandoned. Another is his partner Zhao Gang, who is said to have been at odds over the unequal distribution of profits."
Zhang Hua listened, thinking secretly about the possibility of these clues.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere on board was growing tense. The passengers huddled together in small groups, whispering.
"Why is there a private investigator on this ship? It feels like things are getting more complicated." 'said an old lady, worried.
"Perhaps this detective is the murderer, deliberately to confuse the public." "Whispered the young man nearby.
In the dining room, Wang Qiang was sitting alone, his face gloomy. The food in front of him did not touch, and his mind seemed to be planning something.
At this time, Lin Xiao walked in, her eyes through a trace of anxiety and unease. Seeing Wang Qiang, she hesitated and walked over.
"Wang Qiang, who do you think could have done this?" Lin Xiao asked.
Wang Qiang snorted coldly, "I don't know, but Li Ming's death is good for everyone."
Lin Xiao glared at him: "Don't talk nonsense, the police will find out."
On the other side of the lounge, Zhao Gang was pacing back and forth anxiously, cigarette after cigarette in his hand.
"What can I do? If I get suspected, my business is over." Zhao Gang muttered.
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng continue to investigate on the ship, not letting go of any details.
Chapter 4: Clues emerge
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng decided to join forces to conduct a deeper investigation into the case. They first came to Wang Qiang's cabin, Wang Qiang saw them coming, a little panic on his face, but soon composed.
"What do you want to see me about?" Wang Qiang asked, pretending to be calm.
Zhang Hua cut to the chase: "Mr. Li was killed, and we need to know about your relationship with him."
Wang Qiang frowned and said impatiently, "I'm just business competitors with him. What does that mean?"
Shen Feng observed Wang Qiang's expressions and actions on the side, and slowly said: "But as we understand, the competition between you is not simple, even to the point of water and fire."
Wang Qiang suddenly stood up and shouted, "So what? Does that mean I killed him?"
Zhang Hua soothed: "Don't get excited, just a routine inquiry."
After leaving Wang Qiang's cabin, they came to Lin Xiao's room. Lin Xiao's eyes were red and swollen, and it was clear that he had just cried.
"I really didn't expect anything like this to happen." Lin Xiao choked and said.
Shen Feng asked softly, "I heard that you and Li Ming once had an emotional entanglement?"
Lin Xiao was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, but that is all in the past."
Zhang Hua then asked, "Did you have contact with each other on the ship?"
Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment: "Only met once, briefly chatted a few words."
Then they found Zhao Gang. Zhao Gang looked tired and sighed helplessly when he saw them.
"I knew you were coming. I did have a problem with Li Ming over business, but I definitely didn't kill him." Zhao Gang said.
In the course of the investigation, Zhang Hua and Shen Feng found some new clues. They found an anonymous letter in Li Ming's room. The handwriting on the letter was vague, but it was vaguely threatening to Li Ming.
"This letter could be the key clue." Shen Feng took the letter and said.
In the meantime, the passengers on board are even more nervous.
By the pool, several passengers were talking.
"It's terrible to hear that the killer hasn't been found."
"The ship won't be stuck at sea forever, will it?"
In the dining room, the head chef, while busy, said to his assistant: "This thing is so noisy, no one is in the mood to eat."
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng decided to further analyze and study these clues.
Chapter Five: Clouds of Suspicion
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng took the anonymous letter and studied it carefully under the light. The handwriting on the letter is vague and sloppy, as if the writer was in a panic and anger. "It looks like it was written in a hurry," said Zhang Hua, squinting his eyes and gently rubbing the paper with his fingers. "Look at the strokes. They're all trembling, and the force is uneven."
Shen Feng bowed his head slightly, stared at the letter and replied, "But from the few words that can be seen clearly, the writer is full of anger and resentment toward Li Ming." There was a sense of wanting to kill him."
They decided to start their investigation with the handwriting. The two men walked side by side to the ship's library, which was once a quiet place for passengers to relax and read, but now filled with tension. Inside the library, the light is soft, the rows of bookshelves are neatly arranged, and the words on the spine of the book are faintly visible in the light.
Zhang Hua was the first to walk to the reception desk and politely asked the staff: "Have any passengers been behaving abnormally recently or often staying here for a long time?"
The staff frowns and tries to remember: "It seems that nothing stands out, but there are quite a few passengers who have borrowed books and taken notes these days."
Shen Feng went directly to the table where the register and message book were placed, and began to look through a local book. His eyes are focused and sharp, and he doesn't miss any possible clue. At each turn of the page, he paused lightly to compare the handwriting on the anonymous letter.
Zhang Hua also joined in, and the sound of their breathing was particularly clear in the quiet library.
"Not in this one." Shen Feng shook his head and put the register back in his hand.
"It's not like that either." Zhang Hua put down the message book in his hand and sighed.
Just when they were feeling a little frustrated, a young waiter came in. Seeing the concentration of Zhang Hua and Shen Feng, he hesitated and then said, "Two officers, I think I saw Li Ming arguing with a man wearing a mask and a hat on the deck the night before he was killed."
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng immediately turned their heads, looking eagerly at the waiter.
"Are you sure? What was the situation?" Zhang Hua asked quickly.
The waiter swallowed, as if trying to remember the scene: "I was cleaning up on the deck when I saw Mr. Li Ming and the man standing in the corner, the sound was very loud, as if they were arguing violently, but I was a little far away and didn't hear the details." The person covered himself up so much that he couldn't tell what he looked like or what gender he was."
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng look at each other, the doubts in the heart heavier.
By this time, the atmosphere on board was growing more subdued. Passengers no longer enjoy the journey as easily as before, and everyone has a look of anxiety and fear on their faces.
In the bar, the lights are dim and the music is unusually dull. Several passengers sat around, talking in low voices.
"When is this going to end? I'm afraid every day." "Complained a man in a floral shirt, shaking his glass as the ice inside made a crisp sound against the sides.
"It just feels like the killer is all around us and we don't know who it is." "Agreed the woman next to her, her eyes filled with unease, her fingers clutched tightly around the corner of her coat.
In the gym, the lively scene has become quiet. Only one able-bodied passenger ran mechanically on a treadmill, sweat soaking through his clothes and dripping onto the treadmill's conveyor belt. His eyes were empty, as if he were merely exercising to relieve his fear.
Wang Qiang was drinking wine alone in his cabin, and the room was filled with a strong smell of alcohol. He sat on the edge of the bed, swaying slightly and muttering, "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me." The bottle in his hand tilted and spilled on the floor.
Lin Xiao sat in front of the mirror, staring at himself, tears rolling down his cheeks. Her hands clutched the edge of the dresser, her knuckles white with exertion.
Zhao Gang paced back and forth in the room, holding his mobile phone tightly in his hand, as if he was waiting for some important news. His brow furrowed, and he muttered: "What can I do? What can I do?"
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng feel great pressure, the case of the cloud of suspicion more and more thick, the truth seems to be hidden in a deeper fog.
Chapter 6: Surprising Discoveries
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng decide to take a closer look at the spot where the mysterious man in the mask and hat is arguing with Li Ming. They came to the corner of the deck, the sea breeze blowing loudly, lifting the corners of their coats.
"From the signs here, it looks like they were arguing violently and their footsteps were messy." Zhang Hua squatted on the ground and carefully observed the marks on the ground.
Shen Feng looked up and around, staring at a surveillance camera not far away, "Maybe the surveillance can capture something useful."
The two men immediately went to the monitoring room and asked to see the video from that night. After some searching, finally found the relevant picture. However, due to Angle and light problems, the mysterious man's face is still unable to see, but they found that the mysterious man wore a unique ring on his hand.
"This ring may be a key clue." Shen Feng pointed to the screen.
Armed with surveillance screenshots, they began going around the ship asking passengers one by one if they had seen the ring.
During the questioning, a passenger named Liu Mei provided a shocking piece of news.
"I think I've seen a ring like this on Lin Xiao's hand." "Liu Mei whispered, her eyes tinged with fear.
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng looked at each other and immediately went to Lin Xiao's room.
Lin Xiao saw them coming again, his face turned white.
"Ms. Lin Xiao, someone said you saw a ring similar to the one in the surveillance on your hand, can you explain?" Zhang Hua asked seriously.
Lin Xiao's body began to shake and he stammered, "This...... It's just a coincidence. I...... I don't know."
Shen Feng looked her firmly in the eyes and said, "Ms. Lin Xiao, the situation is very serious now, I hope you can tell the truth."
Just then, Zhang Hua's mobile phone suddenly rang, it was the medical examiner calling.
"Zhang Hua, we found new clues on Li Ming's body. There was a tiny pinhole in his clothes, like something had been injected."
This news makes Zhang Hua and Shen Feng more shocked, the case is more complicated and confusing.
At the same time, the passengers of the ship were thrown into a deeper panic by the new discovery.
In the dining room, people were whispering and talking.
"I was surprised to hear that Lin Xiao might be involved in the case."
"This is terrible. Is she the murderer?"
At the swimming pool, passengers who had been enjoying the sun also lost their interest and worried.
Wang Qiang in his room, after hearing the news, revealed a subtle smile.
Zhao Gang nervously packed his bags in the room, as if ready to leave at any time.
Chapter 7: The Truth Comes out
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng heard the forensic findings, the doubt in the heart more heavy. They decided to focus first on breaking through the line of defense Lin Xiao.
"Ms. Lin Xiao, the evidence is now against you, and if you don't tell the truth, there will be serious consequences." Zhang Hua stared at Lin Xiao sternly, his voice low and serious.
Lin Xiao slumped in his chair, covered his face with his hands, and sobbed, "I... I'm not the killer. It's not me. That ring was given to me by Li Ming, but... But I didn't kill him. '
Shen Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and softened his tone. "Then tell me what really happened that night."
Lin Xiao took a deep breath and tried to calm himself: "That night, Li Ming invited me to the deck and said he wanted to make friends with me again. But we didn't say a few words before we got into an argument, and then I left."
Zhang Hua frowned: "Is it that simple?"
Lin Xiao nodded: "Really, he was fine when I left."
Just then, Zhang Hua's mobile phone rang again, it was a technician calling.
"When we checked the passenger's belongings, we found a syringe in Wang Qiang's room that matched the pinholes found on Li Ming's body."
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng immediately rushed to Wang Qiang's room. Wang Qiang looked flustered when he saw them.
"This is... It's not mine, someone set me up!" Wang Qiang shouted his defense.
Zhang Hua sneered, "Then explain why this syringe is in your room?"
Wang Qiang, with a cold sweat on his forehead, hesitated and could not speak.
By this time, the atmosphere on the ship was tense to the point.
In the recreation room, the passengers were in no mood to have fun and all looked nervous.
"Why is Wang Qiang involved again? Who is the murderer?" A middle-aged man said anxiously.
"I don't know. It's getting messy." "Agreed the woman nearby.
In the corridor, several children were pulled close by the adults, afraid to run away.
Zhao Gang hid in the room, called a mysterious person: "Things are going to be exposed, you quickly think of a way!"
And Zhang Hua and Shen Feng after a trial, found that Wang Qiang is not the real murderer, the case once again reached an impasse.
Chapter 8: The final revelation
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng sat in a small, dimly lit conference room, the table in front of them cluttered with clues and information, papers scattered about. The two men, their brows furrowed, their eyes focused and tired, agonized over the details of the case.
"From the current situation, it is unlikely that Lin Xiao and Wang Qiang are the killers, so who could it be?" Zhang Hua rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with helplessness and confusion. His fingers unconsciously beat on the table, making a "tutu" sound.
Shen Feng leaned back in his chair, clasped his hands to his chest and stared at the ceiling, as if trying to scour his memory for overlooked clues. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, he sat up straight and said, "Could it be that we missed some crucial detail? There may be something seemingly inconsequential that holds the key to solving the puzzle."
Zhang Hua nodded slightly, agreeing with Shen Feng's idea: "Reasonable, let's comb through all the clues and witness testimony, see if we can find a new breakthrough."
With that, they began to revisit the material they had seen countless times. Zhang Hua's brow became tighter and tighter, and the wrinkles on his forehead seemed to mark his anxiety.
At this moment, Zhang Hua suddenly stopped the action in his hand, and a flash of thought flashed in his eyes: "Shen Feng, do you think that Zhao Gang's abnormal actions could hide something?" He was nervous from the start, and I always felt he was hiding something."
Shen Feng put down the information in his hands and responded seriously: "Indeed, Zhao Gang has been acting too anxious, and he is also trying to contact the mysterious man." It's all so suspicious."
They looked at each other and decided.
They got up and walked quickly to the door of Zhao Gang's room. Zhang Hua knocked hard on the door and said, "Zhao Gang, open the door. We have some questions for you."
There was silence in the room, then Zhao Gang's trembling voice said, "Wait a minute, I... I'll come right away."
After a long time, the door opened slowly, Zhao Gang appeared at the door, his face suddenly turned white as paper, eyes wandering, dare not look at the two people.
"Zhao Gang, at this point, you'd better tell the truth. We have a lot of clues and the truth will come out sooner or later." Zhang Hua's eyes were burning like a torch, and he stared at Zhao Gang closely. His tone was serious and firm.
Zhao Gang's body trembled slightly, his lips trembled: "I... I..."
Shen Feng stepped forward, and his tone was gentle but full of pressure: "Zhao Gang, it is still time to confess, don't be stubborn any more."
Finally, Zhao Gang could not bear the inner pressure, his legs were weak, he collapsed to the ground, covered his face with his hands, and cried, "It is I, I killed Li Ming." I really have no choice!"
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng look at each other, the big stone in the heart finally fell to the ground.
Zhao Gang continued to cry, "Li Ming is too much, we do business together, agreed on the distribution of benefits, but he reneged." He threatened to expose some of my wrongdoing and ruin my reputation. I couldn't let him destroy me, so in a fit of rage I decided to strike first."
Zhang Hua asked sharply: "Then you tell me the specific process of the crime."
Zhao Gang sobbed and replied, "That night, I prepared a syringe in advance and saw Li Ming alone on the deck. When he wasn't looking, I injected the poison into his body." I thought no one would find out, that the plan was perfect, and then you guys found out. I regret it, I really do!"
With Zhao Gang's confession, the truth of the murder on the cruise ship was finally revealed.
The news soon spread throughout the ship, and the tense atmosphere began to dissipate. On the spacious deck, the sun was back on people's faces, warm and soft. The passengers returned to their usual ease and cheerfulness, with children laughing and running and adults gathering together to talk about the thrilling case.
"It's finally over. It's been a thrilling trip." "Said a middle-aged man in a floral shirt, his face full of relief.
"Yes, but justice has come at last. It's a good thing the murderer was caught, otherwise it would have been very uncomfortable." "Said a woman in a sun hat nearby, smiling with a relaxed look in her eyes.
Zhang Hua and Shen Feng stood on the side, looking at all this, the heart is full of relief.