The Death of Number 035 - Wild Cat (4)

"Brother, what was the situation you saw that day? Can you tell me about it?"

"Oh, it was just like that. The guy was drunk, saw a stray cat coming to eat some scraps, and got upset. He took it out on a kitten. The cat's head was smashed, and it couldn't even run properly. It was pitiful."

"I see. Do you remember which way it ran?"

"Probably towards that green belt over there. Is that cat yours?"

"No, we just wanted to see."

"Oh, then suit yourselves. But there really have been a lot of stray cats around here lately."

"Is that so?"

"You bet! Stray cats are always coming around my stall looking for food. Last time, a sly one even stole a whole fish from me!"

"Haha! That's hilarious!"

"What's hilarious about it!"

April 17, 2006. Searched for the injured stray cat. No cat or body found. A pool of blood was discovered in the green belt. Sample collected. Sample ID: 03520060417.

April 19, 2006. Received the blood sample analysis results. It was human blood. Collected blood samples from Kong Rongde and Su Zhuoqin. Sample IDs: 03520060419(1), 03520060419(2).

Appendix: Analysis Report for Sample 03520060417.

April 20, 2006. Investigation revealed that Zhu Bin died suddenly in 2004. Contacted Zhu Bin's uncle. Audio file: 03520060420.wav.

"Ah Bin died not long after he came back. My sister-in-law cried her eyes out. My brother died early, and she raised this son alone. When her son died, she was heartbroken. Her health hasn't been good since."

"According to our information, Zhu Bin died suddenly and was in good health before that. Do you know anything about his condition before or at the time of his death?"

"About that... I'll tell you this in private, but please don't write my name when you publish it."

"Don't worry, we'll interview many people and won't reveal the names of those interviewed in the publication."

"Oh, alright then. I think Ah Bin was taken by heaven!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I watched him grow up. He had two older sisters and a mother. He was the only man in the family, so he was spoiled rotten. He was lawless from childhood. While other young men in the village went out to work and sent money home, he was the only man in the family. Instead of farming, he left the fields for his mother and two married sisters to manage. Every year, he'd get a harvest and still ask for money from home. Tsk!"

"Is that what you mean by 'taken by heaven'?"

"More than that! He never did farm work, never went into the kitchen, never even killed a chicken or a fish. I remember one New Year's, my sister-in-law was killing a chicken, and he happened to see it. Oh, he threw up right then! Honestly... He came back that Spring Festival, idle and doing nothing. His mother was cooking, and knowing he was scared, she didn't let him into the kitchen. That day, he voluntarily went in and helped kill a chicken. My sister-in-law was so happy, she told everyone he was finally sensible. But I didn't see it that way. The chicken he killed had its head chopped off and its insides all messed up. My youngest daughter said he was like those... whatchamacallits from TV..."

"Serial killers?"

"Yes, yes! That's the kind of person! The ones who killed a lot of people!"

"You think he did something bad elsewhere and was therefore taken by heaven?"

"Exactly! Otherwise, why would a healthy person die like that?"

"Besides the chicken incident, is there any other... um, evidence?"

"Evidence..."

"Dad, Grandma Qi's cat!"

"Hey, you little brat, why aren't you doing your homework? What are you eavesdropping for! Adults are talking, don't interrupt!"

"I'm just reminding you!"

"Little sister, what do you mean by Grandma Qi's cat?"

"It's the cat Grandma Qi keeps on the east side of the village. A big, fat cat, very old, doesn't move much. The other day, when I saw Bin Bin-ge, it suddenly jumped up and ran, so agilely!"

"Oh, I see."

"The little girl is right. Old cats become spirits. That old cat must have sensed something."

"We couldn't contact Zhu Bin's two sisters. Can you help us get in touch with them?"

"They're not willing to talk about this. To be honest, when Zhu Bin was alive, their in-laws complained a lot. They said they didn't help their in-laws with chores and always ran back to their maiden home to help their able-bodied brother. What kind of thing is that? Their mothers-in-law cursed Zhu Bin behind their backs. Now that Zhu Bin is dead, do they dare to mention it?"

"You mean cursed as in verbal abuse?"

"What else could it be?"

"Oh, nothing."

April 23, 2006. Analysis of the audio file completed. 03520040415(1)G(1).wav.

"The results from that last file are in."

"Oh? What sound is it?"

"Listen to this."

click!

"...Get out of the way! Ah! Bang! ... Rustle... Rustle... Ah! Awooooh! ... "

click!

"How is it?"

"Still noise, nothing substantial."

"Huh? Ye, you didn't hear it either?"

"No. What did you hear?"

"Talking! A man's voice!"

click!click!

"...rustle...rustle..."

"He said, Fei Wen, you hired someone to kill me. Cough, cough, I'll start again. Hiss—Fei Wen!!! You hired someone to kill me!!!"

"Alright, why are you yelling so loud?"

"That's how he yelled."

"Have you heard this voice before?"

"Hmm? No, I don't think so."

"Isn't it Su Zhuoqin's voice?"

"No. Ye, you suspect it's Su Zhuoqin..."

"Hmm, looks like it's not."

"Could it be Kong Rongde?"

"That's possible too. But we don't have a voice recording of Kong Rongde."

"Then I can't help you."

April 25, 2006, received a call from the client. Call recording 200604252149.mp3.

"Hurry up and save me!"

"Mr. Fei Wen?"

Meow—

"It's me! Hurry up and save me!"

"Where are you now? What happened?"

"I'm at the express station! I saw cats! So many stray cats! Right outside the express station! They kept meowing, and one climbed onto the window, just staring at me! Hurry and send someone to save me!"

Meow! Roar! Meow!

"Okay, we're on our way. Don't worry, don't panic. Do you still have the protective amulet we gave you last time?"

"Yes, yes! It's in my hand!"

"Hold onto it tightly, it'll be alright, we'll be there soon."

April 25, 2006, rushed to the express station, found a group of stray cats, numbering over twenty. One of them looked unusual and could not be captured successfully. Confirmed client's safety and brought them back to the agency.

April 26, 2006, inquired about the client's situation. Audio file 03520060426.wav.

"Mr. Fei, can you tell us what happened yesterday?"

"It was like this... I was sleeping at the express station, watching TV, when I suddenly heard a cat meow. I was quite startled. The cat just meowed once, and I listened for a while. When there was no more sound, I relaxed and went to the restroom. When I came out, I heard something scratching at the roller shutter door outside, like something was trying to get in... It scratched for a while, but probably couldn't get in, so it stopped. I thought it had left, and then I heard the cat meowing again."