Chapter 10密室布局的演示

A little over ten minutes later, Feng Bujue led Schofield and the police officer who had been guarding the villa to his room, ready to demonstrate the locked room layout.

This room was basically a mirror image of the crime scene. Besides the completely symmetrical layout, the structure and material of the doors and windows were identical. It was perfect for reenacting the case.

Schofield was naturally full of anticipation. He wanted to see for himself how this famous detective would solve the puzzle before him.

Feng Bujue had already obtained the homeowner's consent to get an object similar to the murder weapon from the storage room—a broken piano string. Now, he took it out, walked to the middle of the room, and turned back to the two police officers. "Since the conditions are sufficient and we won't damage the real scene, why don't we reenact the crime first?"

"You mean..." Schofield responded, "the three of us will replay the course of the crime?"

"Two will do," Feng Bujue said, "I'll play the murderer." He turned his gaze to the police officer beside Schofield, "This…"

"Dempsey, sir." Officer Dempsey slightly raised the brim of his hat and introduced himself. He was a rather tall young officer with the same small mustache as Dennis, but his appearance and temperament were much more approachable.

"Officer Dempsey, your build is closer to the victim, so you can play the deceased," Feng Bujue said.

Dempsey exchanged a glance with his superior. After receiving his consent, he took half a step forward and replied, "Happy to oblige, sir."

"Then… let's begin." Feng Bujue gestured towards the chair and said to Dempsey, "Please sit in that armchair."

Dempsey strode over and sat down, bending at the waist.

Feng Bujue said, "Please sit as naturally as possible."

Dempsey replied, "Okay." As he said that, he leaned back against the chair.

"Before Dennis was killed, he was sitting in the armchair, smoking." Feng Bujue began to explain, "And the murderer was in the same room with him." He took a few steps, coming to Dempsey's side and rear. "This side of the room is entirely in Dennis's blind spot. There's a closet, a desk, a cabinet, and the door to the bathroom."

"When Dennis wasn't on guard, the murderer had many ways to get to this area unnoticed." Feng Bujue gave an example, "One possibility is that while talking to Dennis, the murderer paced back and forth, slowly moving behind him; another possibility is that they claimed to need to use the restroom; and another is that the murderer pretended to take something from the closet…" As he spoke, he walked, unknowingly circling behind Schofield. "See, it's very easy."

"Ah! When did you..." Schofield was stunned. He had been concentrating on thinking about what Feng Bujue was saying, and only realized at this point that the famous detective had already demonstrated the first example.

Feng Bujue shrugged and walked back to the armchair. "When people are unprepared and relaxed, they are easily ambushed. It can be said that most people in this world are in an undefended state most of the time."

He gave another example, "For example, you are sitting in a restaurant you frequent, eating a meal. Suddenly, a waiter or a customer walks past you in a hurry. At this time, will your brain remind you: 'Be careful, this guy might pull a knife out of his sleeve and split your head open.'

Or, for example, you are sitting in your warm and comfortable home, having just taken a bath, and are flipping through a serialized novel. At this time, will you consider… right outside the window to your side, someone is aiming at you with a sniper rifle?"

Schofield and Dempsey both instinctively glanced at the windows of the room after hearing this…

Feng Bujue raised his right hand and lightly tapped his temple with his index finger. "Our brains cannot handle that kind of long-term, non-stop, hysterical vigilance. So, as long as you mentally believe that the environment you are in is safe, you will remove 'unnecessary defenses'." He paused. "Let's look at this case... When Dennis was killed, he was in a guest room in his father's mountain villa, and was in the same room with someone he knew. Mentally, he certainly wouldn't be wary of 'the other person suddenly taking out a steel wire and strangling me to death,' but he never expected…"

Feng Bujue said at this point, picked up the piano string with both hands, and walked towards Dempsey. Although the latter knew that this was just a reenactment of the murder, he couldn't help but feel nervous. Jue-ge's various bizarre remarks and his cold-blooded tone made the police officer feel a chill down his spine.

"The victim's build is very similar to yours, and the back of his neck can rest on the top of the armchair. For the murderer, this is an ideal height that is very suitable for exerting force." Feng Bujue said, patting Dempsey on the shoulder, "Please experience the feeling of being suddenly strangled from behind."

"Um…" Before Dempsey could respond, Feng Bujue placed the piano string in front of his chin. "Assuming your neck has been strangled by me at this moment, the intense congestion and suffocation above your neck are taking your life. Then, in the only minute before you die, how will you react in panic and pain?"

"I would try to untie the restraints on my neck, and at the same time..." Dempsey thought for a moment and replied, "Desperately push my body backwards."

Hearing this, Schofield looked at Jue-ge and said, "The marks on the carpet at the scene, as well as the scratches on the victim's neck, all corroborate these reactions."

"What else?" Feng Bujue motioned for Officer Dempsey to continue.

Dempsey experienced it again, and suddenly thought of something, exclaiming, "I think I would try to grab the murderer's arms or body."

"Yes... that's right." Feng Bujue nodded, and pondered, "It's just... sitting in an armchair with a solid base and heavy weight, and with a carpet that is difficult to gain leverage on under your feet, if someone strangles your neck with a steel wire from behind in this state... even if the victim desperately reaches back, it is difficult to reach the murderer's body."

"Forearm!" Schofield suddenly realized and chimed in from the side, "In the process of struggling, the victim is likely to leave scratches on the murderer's hands, wrists, or even forearms!"

"Yes," Feng Bujue continued, "and more than that…" He paused. "Generally speaking, to strangle a two-hundred-pound adult man to death, the movements must be fast and powerful. However, the murderer in this case used a weapon like a steel wire, which is the best tool for strangling, not only is it easy to hide, but it does not require high strength from the perpetrator. Even a woman or a minor can use this thing to kill a strong man. Professional killers often choose this method of killing."

As Jue-ge spoke, he slowly raised his hands, palms forward, "However… what must be noted when using this thing is that if you don't take protective measures, your palms are also easily injured."