Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 423: The Hidden Logic

The report suggested a metal pipe might have caused the puncture, but every tool on the boat was neatly stowed. Not a single piece of equipment was stained with blood, and no murder weapon was found at the scene.

Even more baffling was the engine room. That heavy, waterproof door had also been deadbolted from the inside.

Nancy flipped to the third page. Officer Dan Andrews.

He was found sprawled on the aft deck. The cause of death was drowning.

However, the forensic exam revealed that the water in his lungs was not seawater. It was fresh water, identical to the supply in the ship’s freshwater tank.

There were no claw marks on the railings and no signs of a struggle on the deck. It was as if he had simply and quietly drowned where he lay.

On the large screen in the conference room, a simulation replayed the eerie scene of the Seabed-173 drifting alone on the open sea that night.

A red dot from the Chief Commander’s laser pointer settled on the 3D model of the vessel.

"There are three points about this case that defy logic," his voice rang out clearly in the silent room.

"First, the locked rooms."

The red dot traced the closed hatches and portholes. "When the ship was discovered, every external opening was locked from the inside. It had become a completely sealed, double-locked chamber floating on the sea. From the outside, entry was virtually impossible without destroying the locks. Second, the lack of evidence."

The screen switched to a close-up of the forensic report.

"We found no trace of an outsider. No unfamiliar fingerprints, hair, or DNA. Not even a stray footprint that shouldn't be there."

The Commander frowned. "It is unnaturally clean. Third, the contradictory methods."

The crime scene photos of the three victims appeared side by side.

"Their causes of death and locations were entirely different. Asphyxiation, a puncture wound, and drowning. It does not seem possible for one person to carry these out in such quick succession. As for suicide or mutual homicide..."

The Commander shook his head. "There is a complete lack of motive. The weapons and the methods simply do not make sense."

He looked at the crowd, his tone heavy. "Traditional investigative methods have hit a dead end. There is no sign of an external killer, and we can find no reasonable conflict or motive within the crew. Even worse is the environmental evidence."

The simulation changed to show a storm battering the hull. "The wind, rain, and salt corrosion at sea have long since wiped away any trace amounts of physical evidence that might have remained."

The red laser dot finally settled on the cold digits of the case number.

"This is why, three years later, it remains an unsolved mystery hanging over our heads. The deaths of three of our fellow officers cannot remain an eternal puzzle."

The Commander’s gaze was sharp as it swept the room. "As long as it is murder, there is a logic behind it. Our mission is to find that hidden line of logic."

During the remainder of the meeting, the Commander introduced six more cold cases. Each was twisted and bizarre.

However, Nancy’s mind remained fixed on the first case.

It wasn't just because of how strange it was, but because she had a natural advantage in that kind of environment.

On the vast ocean, human witnesses might be scarce, but the actual observers were likely more numerous than on land.

Nancy had already carefully examined the electronic nautical charts of the area where the incident occurred.

That specific patch of sea was a vital corridor for the seasonal migration of various fish species.

Migration meant that fish, much like migratory birds, followed fixed routes every year between breeding and feeding grounds.

This meant that tens of thousands of fish passed through that spot with regular frequency.

Those schools of fish that traveled back and forth year after year were likely the witnesses to the event.

Even if individual small fish did not live long, their collective memory or behavioral patterns might have left a trace.

A ship wandering abnormally and making strange noises at sea could not have escaped the notice of the local marine life.

Just as Nancy was immersed in this bold concept, the Commander’s voice rose, drawing everyone's attention back to her.

"Everyone, which case we prioritize for this joint task force..."

He paused, smiling at Nancy. "That depends on which mystery our Miss Nancy wants to solve first!"

The eyes of the entire room converged on her once again.

"Oh?" Nancy blinked, pointing at herself in uncertainty. "I get to decide?"

"Correct." The Commander nodded, his tone solemn. "We have investigated these cases for a long time and studied them repeatedly, but we have always lacked a key breakthrough. This time is different with a unique animal communication expert like you on the team. We must set our priorities based on which case is most likely to yield a breakthrough using your abilities to maximize our efficiency."