Attending ex-girlfriend's wedding, arresting the groom's officer on the spot

Microscopic examination of the rib cross-section revealed a reduced number of bone units and an enlarged Haversian system, signs of osteoporosis indicating the deceased was over 35 years old. More crucial evidence came from the teeth—although some teeth were missing, the remaining molars showed severe wear on the occlusal surfaces, with over 60% dentin exposed and cementum hyperplasia reaching 0.8 mm in thickness, corresponding to an age of approximately 42 years according to Schhour and Massler's dental development timeline.

The Suchey-Brooks grading system for the pubic symphysis provided important evidence. Zhang Kai placed the pubic bone under a stereomicroscope and observed that the central ridge of the symphysis had completely disappeared, forming a flat bony surface with obvious bone hyperplasia at the edges, conforming to grade five characteristics, corresponding to an age range of 40-49 years. Based on all indicators, the deceased's age was ultimately determined to be 42 ± 3 years.

Determining the time of death is crucial in this case. Zhang Kai first assessed the degree of fossilization of the bones. The skeletons showed a distinct yellowish-white color and increased bone density, indicating that the burial time was more than five years. By testing the degree of collagen degradation in the bones and using amino acid racemic analysis, the aspartic acid racemization rate was found to be 38%, which translates to approximately 7.2 years.

Soil microenvironment analysis provided cross-validation. Soil samples extracted from around the skeleton showed significantly higher than normal manganese levels, a result of microbial activity during long-term burial. Combining the reservoir's 2014 construction records with the degree of corrosion of the iron cage, the time of death was ultimately determined to be around 2015, with a margin of error of ±6 months.

During the examination of the skull fracture, Zhang Kai discovered unusual details. The depressed fracture had a central depth of 1.8 cm, and signs of life were visible at the fracture edges, indicating spongy bone growth at the fracture site. This suggested that the patient had survived for some time after the impact. Even more shockingly, a distinct ligature mark was found at the seventh cervical vertebra—a 0.3 cm deep annular bone groove with smooth edges, consistent with the characteristics of strangulation.

“The deceased had been struck with a blunt instrument before being strangled,” Zhang Kai said, presenting the 3D reconstruction images at the analysis meeting. “This complex manner of death is extremely rare.” He further pointed out that the multiple rib fractures showed varying degrees of freshness, and some fracture lines had already healed, indicating that the deceased had suffered prolonged violence and torture during his imprisonment.

During a careful examination of the remains, Zhang Kai discovered two key features: a bone indentation left by an old surgical scar below the left clavicle, the shape of which matched that of a heart stent implantation surgery; and a clear ring impression on the bones of the right ring finger, perfectly matching the platinum wedding ring found at the scene. These features became crucial evidence for subsequent identification.

Analysis of trace elements in the bones revealed an abnormal level of strontium, with isotope ratios highly consistent with soil characteristics in Northeast China. Combined with the date engraved on the wedding ring, "2015.5.20," Zhang Kai proposed a bold hypothesis: "The deceased was likely a married man from Northeast China who lived locally around 2015 and met with misfortune for some reason."

When the ten-hour examination concluded, Zhang Kai removed his goggles and gazed at the neatly rearranged skeleton on the autopsy table. These cold bones, through scientific analysis, had become speaking witnesses. The scars on the skull, the growth rings in the bones, the trace element memories—every detail told a story of the deceased's life. This evidence would become the key to unlocking the mystery of the body found in the iron cage, guiding investigators towards the ultimate truth.

Wang Shuai held the yellowed file provided by the reservoir management office; the edges of the paper were brittle, and the ink had blurred in the damp air. Outside the window, autumn rain pattered against the glass, blurring the words "Acceptance Report of the 2014 Reinforcement Project of Xingfu Reservoir" into an inky blotch. He looked up and met the bloodshot eyes of the old administrator, Uncle Li, as cigarette ash fell softly onto his faded work clothes.

“There was indeed a major overhaul that year,” Uncle Li’s voice, mixed with coughing, echoed in the empty duty room. “But I was just a gatekeeper. With the construction team coming and going, who would notice the iron cage?” He suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice. “But I heard that the construction company had close ties with the town leaders, and they didn’t even have all the necessary qualifications when they were bidding.” Before he finished speaking, the sound of an iron gate opening and closing came from afar. Uncle Li sat up abruptly, grabbed his teacup and gulped it down, then fell silent.

Wang Shuai and his team spent three consecutive days immersed in the reservoir's archives. In the musty, pungent warehouse, incandescent bulbs flickered among cobwebs, illuminating rows of metal cabinets covered in "confidential" labels. The 2014 construction log showed that the project was won by "Yuantu Infrastructure Co., Ltd.", and the project manager's name was prominently displayed as "Tian Feng"—a name that had appeared in the Ren Tao case, causing Wang Shuai's heart to race. However, upon closer inspection, the daily records were meticulously prepared, with detailed annotations of concrete pouring times and rebar types, leaving no room for error.

"Team Leader Zhang, something's fishy about these ledgers," technician Xiao Chen suddenly pointed at the computer screen. Among the scanned financial expenditures, a 23 yuan "river dredging fee" caught their attention, but the remarks section only had a hastily written "expedited processing." Even more strangely, in the construction photos for the corresponding dates, the river section where work should have been done was calm, showing no signs of dredging whatsoever. But when Wang Shuai requested to see the original receipts, the administrator stammered, "Those old receipts should have been destroyed long ago; you'd have to go to the archives to check."

Interviewing the construction workers from that time was like falling into a fog. Retired bricklayer Old Zhou sat on the doorstep, his pipe clattering against the brick floor: "I only built the dam, I've never seen any iron cages." But when asked if he remembered a supervisor wearing a wedding ring, the old man's hand trembled, scattering tobacco on the ground: "I don't remember, I don't remember." But Zhang, a fisherwoman living by the reservoir, provided a clue: "That autumn, I always heard trucks running at midnight, their headlights reflecting off the river, and then the water became murky for a while." But she couldn't remember the specific dates or the license plate number.

When the investigation hit a deadlock, Wang Shuai turned his attention to nearby surveillance cameras. The old cameras from 2014 produced blurry images, making sifting through the massive amount of video footage like finding a needle in a haystack. After two consecutive sleepless nights, he finally captured footage at 3 a.m. on November 17th of a construction vehicle with a broken taillight in the footage. The license plate was covered in mud, but the outline of the truck bed closely matched the size of the steel cage. Following the vehicle's direction of travel, he discovered it turned into an abandoned factory three kilometers from the reservoir, and when it reappeared, the truck bed was completely covered.

"Check the ownership of this vehicle!" Wang Shuai slammed his fist on the table. However, vehicle registration records showed that the car had been scrapped as early as 2013. A visit to the scrap yard revealed that the vehicle had indeed been sent there, but it was taken away the next day with "special approval from a certain leader," and the signature in the personnel section had been deliberately crossed out. Even more strangely, the staff member responsible for the scrap registration back then has now disappeared. (End of Chapter)