Chapter 16: The Headless Female Corpse Case (4)

“Dad…” Xiaoman suddenly sat up, her big eyes wide open, filled with both hope and a hint of fear.

Zhou Lin thought it was unbearably cruel to make a little girl just over four years old endure all this.

Fortunately, the outcome…

“Xiaoman, it’s not your mother.”

When Zhou Lin said this, Xiaoman immediately threw herself into his arms, clutching his neck tightly.

Relieved, Xiaoman finally exhaled deeply.

Then, she worried about not finding the head of the female corpse. If that happened, her father would be troubled again.

“Dad, have they found the man who dumped the body?”

“According to our investigation, although there aren’t many people involved with the ‘Wenmi Mouse’ group, there are probably over a thousand in the city. It will take time to find him.”

“Xiaoman believes that Dad, uncles, and aunts will definitely find him!”

Zhou Lin stroked Xiaoman’s head. What a wonderful child—always giving him positive energy and maintaining such steady emotions.

Though small, her spirit was incredibly strong.

“Xiaoman, are you hungry? What do you want to eat?”

“I’m not hungry. Auntie brought lots of snacks.”

Xiaoman opened the snack pack and took out a chocolate to give Zhou Lin. “Dad, you’ve worked hard. Here, eat this!”

His team doted on Xiaoman, treating her with great affection, as if they wanted to clear out the entire supermarket.

Blade’s “Woof Woof”: [I want beef jerky!]

Xiaoman opened the box. “Got it! Aunt Lin also prepared some delicious beef jerky for you!”

Zhou Lin had intended to take Xiaoman home, but neither she nor Blade was willing to leave; they wanted to wait for him here.

When work ended, he hurriedly took Xiaoman home, lest the old lady scold him again.

After a quick dinner at the Zhou residence, he left again.

He didn’t return home until the next day.

That morning, the old lady grumbled at the breakfast table, “This is a dad so busy with work he forgets his kid! Unacceptable!”

Xiaoman smiled and said, “Grandma, Xiaoman really likes that Dad loves his work so much! I want to be like Dad when I grow up!”

“You two are born to be father and daughter!” Though not related by blood, your bond surpasses kinship.

One policeman is already busy enough; adding another is unimaginable.

“Grandma, Dad is busy. Xiaoman will go hiking with you, okay?” Xiaoman pulled her arm gently. “Our kindergarten teacher said that going out to see the scenery will make you feel better.”

“All right!” the old lady nodded.

Outside the door, Blade heard this and immediately barked twice: [I want to go too!]

After breakfast, the elderly lady, the child, and the police dog went to Yuanbo Park, where many rare plants grew. Towering trees stretched into the clouds, and birds and squirrels played happily among the branches.

The old lady’s stamina was limited, so she walked slowly. Xiaoman held Blade’s leash and climbed to a higher spot.

Looking down the hill, she saw the towering Keli Biotechnology Research Building standing proudly in the city.

She thought of the headless female corpse, then leaned against a great pine tree and took out her sketchbook.

A squirrel hopping on the pine tree chirped: [On the human child’s drawing, the woman has no head. I saw someone bury a head under the tree before.]

Xiaoman suddenly stood up and looked at it intently. “Squeaky, quickly tell Xiaoman, where is that head buried?”

Silence fell, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind.

The little squirrel clutching a pinecone was stunned. It thought it was hearing things—could a human child really understand its speech?

It had been chattering about this for a whole year, and finally someone heard it.

The pinecone fell from above and struck Xiaoman’s sketchbook.

The squirrel darted down, its fluffy tail spreading like a parachute: [Squeaky’s pinecone—]

Xiaoman caught the pinecone in her palm. As the squirrel landed, she handed it over. “Squeaky, here you go!”

Seeing her grandmother not far away, she whispered, “Xiaoman can understand your talk. Please lead Xiaoman to where the head is buried!”

The squirrel hugged the pinecone again, its little eyes spinning. [Only one severed head. Aren’t you scared, Xiaoman?]

Xiaoman showed it her sketchbook. “We found the headless female corpse and are searching for her head! Squeaky, be good! Please tell me!”

The squirrel held the pinecone in one hand and pointed to the big pine tree Xiaoman leaned against. [Right here.]

Xiaoman leapt up and climbed onto Blade’s back. Suddenly, a chilling feeling crept over her.

Blade, always protective, barked at the squirrel: [Don’t scare Xiaoman!]

The squirrel took a step back, frightened by his fierce gaze, dropping the pinecone again. Its eyes welled with tears: [Big guy, it’s true. We squirrels never lie.]

Blade snorted coldly: [Like you’re some saintly squirrel! If there really is a severed head buried under that tree, do you think my nose won’t detect it?]

Though retired, Blade’s rigorous training meant his skills hadn’t faded one bit.

The squirrel hurried to retrieve the pinecone. [Big guy’s nose is so sharp, just search this patch of primeval forest!]

Then, it nimbly leapt up a tree and disappeared into the lush branches.

Blade refused to be outdone. He sprang into action, carrying Xiaoman as he galloped off.

The old lady called after them, “Xiaoman, Blade, don’t run off! Grandma won’t find you!”

But Blade didn’t stop. Though retired, the spirit of a police dog remained strong. As he ran, he focused intently on the scents around him.

Worried that the child and dog might get lost, the old lady quickly called the driver.

“Li Shun, go watch over Xiaoman.”

“But madam, you…”

“I’m fine. I’ll just sit on that rock and wait for you.”

“All right!”

Li Shun had been the Zhou family driver for over twenty years. Treated well by them, he hurried toward where Blade had run.

Blade came to a sudden halt, nostrils twitching. [Xiaoman, there’s a scent.]

Xiaoman slid off his back. “Blade, take your time! Once you find the exact spot, call Dad right away.”

Blade took a few steps forward. [The scent’s getting stronger!]

Xiaoman trotted after him with her little legs. The child and dog advanced another fifty meters before Blade stopped.

His nose twitched sharply. The squirrel followed closely, leaping among the leaves. [It’s right here!]

Blade barked at the squirrel: [Cheater! I found it first!]

The squirrel covered its face with its paws. [It’s been a year, it’s normal for Squeaky to forget! Our long-term memory isn’t so good!]

Xiaoman nodded. “Blade, Squeaky is right. I heard from Mom that squirrels have excellent short-term recognition but limited long-term memory. It’s okay if Squeaky made a mistake. At least it gave us a clue. You’re still a great squirrel.”

Now, Xiaoman just wanted to inform her dad as soon as possible!