A week later, Xiaotao called to inform me of the location of a second murder.

Awoken by the ring of my cell phone, Dali said in a daze, "Dude, I'll drive you there!"

"Alright, I'll let you know when I'm ready!"

I didn’t wake him but quietly slipped out the door and called for a cab.  

The crime scene was an underground parking lot which was already cordoned off. Several police cars and ambulances had arrived at the scene. Passers-by on the night shift stood outside watching the bustle. Passing the barricade tape, I noticed the technical team taking photos and bagging up the evidence. Then, I saw the murder scene.

I was greeted by a gruesome picture–the victim's upper body was an indistinguishable bloody mess. Like a pancake, her body lay smack on a concrete column, surrounded by blood spatter....