The bodies of Levi Ball's family had not yet been cremated and still lay in the morgue of the Old Port District precinct.
Because the precinct had been equipped with fairly basic but functional refrigeration units, the four bodies showed no signs of decay, though all had undergone autopsies.
Accompanied by the precinct's medical examiner, Ronan inspected the bodies.
Just as the case file described, the killer was an old hand. The murders had been carried out cleanly and efficiently, leaving behind no useful clues to pursue.
Levi Ball himself had suffered the worst. He had been stabbed over a hundred times, every strike avoiding a fatal vital spot.
He had bled to death alive!
After examining the bodies, Ronan told Detective Kash to return to the crime scene and wait for him, while he made a trip back to his home in the East District.
Then, taking Little Black with him, he returned to the crime scene.
Detective Kash was utterly puzzled. He had no idea why Ronan had brought along a big cat—was it for fun?
What happened next left the detective staring wide-eyed in disbelief.
Little Black darted around the apartment, sniffing here and there, then meowed twice at Ronan.
"Found it."
Ronan said to Detective Kash, "Luckily, it hasn't been long. The killer's scent hasn't completely dissipated yet."
Detective Kash could hardly believe it. "Officer Ronan, are you saying this cat can smell the killer's scent?"
Ronan nodded. "Of course."
Little Black had the body of a mountain cat and the soul of a spirit cat. Under Ronan's careful cultivation, not only had it acquired formidable combat power, but all its attributes had improved dramatically.
A mountain cat's sense of smell was already extraordinarily keen; after being enhanced, it had become downright heaven-defying.
It was perfectly