I walked up to the trash cans and examined them closely.
They were the kind most commonly found in the city, with a canopy to keep out the rain and two bins underneath, labeled "Recyclable" and "Non-recyclable." The whole unit was made of metal, square and plain, with no fancy design. After years of use, it was filthy.
The two bins were identical and stood side by side, a little like the result of a player's slip-up in a management game.
I studied them for a long time but couldn't spot a seam with the naked eye.
There wasn't much trash inside, either. The bins looked nearly empty.
"Is this where you found it?" The skinny man pointed between the bins.
Nantian nodded.
I spent ages investigating, walking all the way around the line where the two roads met, but found nothing.
Just then, I heard a car.
One was coming down Shunshui Road. I recognized it.
Wu Ling was driving. She pulled over by the roadside. Gu Mo was in the passenger seat. The rear passenger door opened, and Nangong Yao climbed out in his hospital gown, a coat draped over it.
I turned around and, sure enough, saw Nantian staring wide-eyed.
He was seething, looking ready to confront his brother.
Before he could reach the other side of the road—or the three people from Greenleaf could come over—I heard a scream.
Right after it, the skinny man shouted.
I looked behind me.
Miss Han had been standing by the trash cans the whole time, watching us inspect the road uneasily.
Now she was clinging to one of the bins, her body collapsed on the ground.
Her feet had vanished into thin air. It was as if someone had erased the lower half of her body.
The skinny man