65 Curiosity Caught the Cats 3 (1/2)

\”How are you related to the victim?\” Lin Yang asked

\”We were dating but we recently broke up.\”

Lin Yang raised an eyebrow, \”Really what was the reason for breaking up?\”

\”She stopped messaging and barely replied to my texts. One day she sent me a message saying she didn't really feel like there was a connection between us, and that she didn't picture me in her life. So we broke up.\”

Frank reached for his phone and showed them the messages.

\”Wowee what did you do to make her say that? Sending this via text is harsh\” Lin Yang hissed.

Officer Yuanji coughed, \”Be professional Officer Lin.\”

\”Ah yes, so she broke up with you via text on…\” she looked at the date of the messages, \”on the 11th of December. Did you have any contact with her after that?\”

Frank shook his head, \”No, none at all. I obviously wanted to talk with her and sort things out, but when I went to her workplace I found out she had quit and they didn't know why or where she'd gone. And when I went to her flat I learnt from her neighbour and Landlord that she'd just collected her deposit and moved out in a hurry the day before. So I lost track of her.\”

\”It must have been shocking for you to see her again like this after the breakup.\”

\”Yes, it was shocking. It was the last thing I expected to see.\” Frank explained.

Yuanji Lyu nodded, \”That checks out with the information we have. Around about the time she broke up with you Qi Zhou mysteriously quit her job and moved out in a hurry. For two weeks her whereabouts were unknown until recently.

We've spoken to a few eyewitnesses and many claim that she was purposefully dumped in front of your building. A handsome man, who looked like a model, was holding a sack over his shoulder. He walked straight up to the entrance and then he dumped her there like trash and just strolled off. Many couldn't believe it because the man did it so casually.

We have many witnesses saying the same thing, but none of it was captured on camera, and no one has a definite idea of the man's face. All they know is that the suspect is a handsome male.

Considering all these circumstances this seems like a hate crime. Our guess is that the suspect is someone who has a grudge against Qi Zhou and may be someone she personally knew, but since she was dumped in front of your building we also believe that it could be someone who has a grudge against you personally. Do you know of anyone that fits the suspects description that could have a grudge against you or Qi Zhou?\”

Why was Qi Zhou dumped at his door?

\”No I can't think of anyone. On Qi Zhou's end...well I just don't know. We weren't dating for that long. I didn't meet any of her friends. There's a lot about her that I don't know, she might have been close to the suspect but she might not have been. I have no idea.\”

\”I understand.\” Yuanji nodded, \”Well that's all the questions we have for you today but we may come back to you for some more follow up questions.\”

\”I'm sorry that I couldn't be of more help towards the investigation.\” Frank stood up and bowed apologetically.

\”It's fine you've done more than enough.\” Officer Yuanji reassured, \”There will be some officers coming later for protection, since we don't know whether the suspect will come back or not.\” After saying this Officer Yuanji left with Lin Yang.

As they turned around the corner, Lin Yang gave Frank a thumbs up and a silent 'you can do it' sign.

Frank gave her a small smile and waved her off.

When she was out of sight he rubbed his eyes tiredly and sighed. He had so many questions now. Like what was Category P, who could have done to Qi Zhou and why? What had Mao Lu gotten himself wrapped up in? He wondered if he'd ever get the answers, he wondered if he even wanted to know.

...

Eventually Qi Zhou emerged from the operating room and was placed in an emergency ward intensive care unit.

Zhao Detong, Fei Bing Bing, Tanaka Kato, and Bei Lao eventually went home and in the end Frank was the only one left at the hospital.

\”Are you planning on staying there overnight?\” His Mother asked him over the phone.

\”She's all alone and there's the risk that whoever did this to her might come back to finish the job, and even though we broke up I still have feelings for her. So I'll stay by her side.\”

\”Aiyoo, my son is so chivalrous, I raised you well, but you shouldn't be putting yourself in danger. Aren't there other officers at the hospital to protect her?\”

\”There are other officers here, but I want to be here for her.\” Frank replied adamantly.

\”Aiya, I see you're determined, but what will I do, I'll end up on my own on Christmas morning.\” Fay Wang sighed.

\”Sorry Mum.\” Frank felt guilty, \”Why don't you spend it with Uncle Charles. I'm sure he'd love to see you.\” Frank Suggested.

\”Hmm maybe I will. Well be safe okay, make sure to come by for Christmas lunch.\”

\”I will. Bye.\”

Frank ended the call and re-entered the emergency ward. He sat down just outside Qi Zhou's room. He could see her lying there in the ICU, connected to all these medical equipment and wires, through the glass window.

Next to him stood two police officers.

He nodded towards them and they nodded back.

A clock on the wall went tick tock tick tock….

Frank didn't know when he fell asleep but he suddenly found himself in a dream.

He could see himself at the police station, he was in his uniform, sitting at his desk.

\”Huh, is this one of those lucid dreams?\” Frank wondered. It felt so real, like he was really watching himself working at the police station.

The Frank in his dream put down his phone and muttered to himself, \”Where were you last Mao Lu?\”. Frank watched the other Frank typing quickly on his keyboard, zooming in on maps and looking at locations.

\”I remember this!\” Frank exclaimed. He realised that this dream was actually a memory from a few months ago. When Zhao Detong had been worried about Mao Lu, Frank had decided to track Lu's location and check the CCTV to see if he was okay. Frank remembered going through all that effort only to realise that Lu was home the entire time, and that there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Frank continued watching as the version of him in this memory sat stooped over his desktop, analysing CCTV footage from outside Mao Lu's apartment.

Just as Frank became bored of the dream and began wondering when it would end, something that he didn't remember happening, happened.

There were crowds of people outside of Mao Lu's building surrounding it in the CCTV footage.

Frank began to shake, fear and panic began to fill him entirely.

A red eye appeared on the screen. The Frank in the dream jumped back in horror.