Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 661 A Case Within a Case

It was just something he did casually, and Lin Ge didn't take it to heart.

As for Yang Xiaotong's joke about some doctors in the hospital looking for Lin Ge to be an honorary anti-smoking ambassador, Lin Ge naturally wouldn't accept it.

In terms of the proportion of smokers, no place has a higher proportion than a police station. Living in such an environment, how could Lin Ge possibly have the face to be a smoke-free advocate? Besides, he's too busy with his own affairs to have time for such things.

Yang Xiaotong knew this too, so after joking with Lin Ge, she didn't say anything more, but instead took out the new collar.

The thing came with a box with Japanese writing on it, but the box was already opened. Yang Xiaotong pulled Lin Ge onto the table, put the collar on him, and then patted him hard on the head.

After filming, she washed her hands with hand sanitizer while explaining to Lin Ge, "The equipment used this time was imported from Japan, and it was quite expensive. It includes functions such as network communication, walkie-talkies, and law enforcement recorders. It wasn't easy to customize it and get it approved by the police department! So Mimi, you have to thank me and help Zhang Yong more from today onwards, okay? Nie Guoqiang is in the hospital, and Zhang Yong is under a lot of pressure right now. All the things that Lao Nie used to handle are now on Zhang Yong's shoulders. He just got back from the Southern Province yesterday and rushed off to work today. Although I understand how difficult it is for the police station, as Zhang Yong's wife, I still hope he can have an easier time. So don't be lazy, and don't hold back when it's time to lend a hand, okay?"

"When have I ever slacked off, or when have I ever been secretive about it?"

Lin Ge glared at Yang Xiaotong unhappily.

But since she'd accepted a bribe, she was indebted to the new collar, which was clearly quite expensive. Add to that the effort required to connect it to the police system, and it probably took Yang Xiaotong and Zhang Yong a lot of work. She might even have had to ask Jiang Yan for help; it certainly wasn't easy for her.

So, for the sake of this thing, and also because Zhang Yong is a colleague at the police station, Lin Ge decided to give the couple face and let them work a little harder recently!

Yang Xiaotong was very satisfied with Lin Ge's attitude.

To be honest, she thought this cat and Zhang Yong were destined to be together; otherwise, she would never have gone to such lengths for a cat. She went to such great lengths, even losing face in front of Jiang Yan, all for more than just Zhang Yong.

A flicker of surprise crossed Yang Xiaotong's eyes as she thought of something.

She shooed Lin Ge off the desk and then said with a smile, "Mimi, by the way, I have something else to tell you! While you and Zhang Yong were in Nan Province, Qin Siya's brainwaves showed unusual activity. Although this doesn't necessarily mean she'll wake up, it's an incredible improvement compared to the past. I know you visited Qin Siya before, so tell me honestly, is this related to you?"

"How should I know? I'm just a cat, not a miracle doctor!"

Lin Ge looked up and glared at Yang Xiaotong.

However, Lin Ge was also happy for Qin Siya that her condition had improved.

If this matter really had something to do with him, then perhaps it was because of his companionship and prayers during those days? So Lin Ge decided to come to the hospital a few more times when he had free time to continue doing what he had done before, to see if things could change for the better.

"Dr. Yang, there's a patient..."

A nurse pushed open the office door with a hint of anxiety. Before she could finish speaking, she saw Yang Xiaotong bending over and talking to a cat. She was stunned and swallowed the words she was about to say.

Rumors circulated in the hospital that Dr. Yang, who never smiled, was actually a cat fanatic. She even defied the objections of hospital leaders to obtain a permit for her beloved cat to freely enter and leave the hospital.

The young nurse had initially thought it was just jealousy and slander directed at Dr. Yang, but now, seeing this scene before her...

In the nurses' private group chat, Dr. Yang, who seemed as cool as everyone's idol, turned out to be a cat lover! But for some reason, the cold-faced female doctor and the cat lover... made people even more excited, didn't she?
"Get out of here! I have to get to work."

Yang Xiaotong quickly put on a stern face and drove Lin Ge away without hesitation.

"This woman... she can turn on you in an instant!"

Lin Ge left Yang Xiaotong's office speechlessly, went up the stairs slowly, and occasionally fiddled with the collar around his neck, slowly trying out its various functions.

To be honest, Lin Ge was quite excited when he learned that this thing could be officially used as a body camera. It meant he finally had a piece of equipment that could prove his identity as a police cat, not counting his police uniform vest…

Previously, the videos he filmed inside his old collar could only be seen by a few people, including Nie Guoqiang and Zhang Yong, and they had to operate the device for it to be used as evidence.

And now... his collar is a body camera, and the videos it records will be uploaded to the police system network at any time, possessing 100% evidentiary value! From this point of view, Lin Ge is fully capable of enforcing the law independently (with an auxiliary police officer).

Thinking happily, Lin Ge climbed the stairs with difficulty, panting, and arrived at the psychiatric department floor once again, and went to Qin Siya's ward.

The psychiatric nurses were already very familiar with this cat. Of course, it didn't really matter whether they were familiar with it or not, since there was probably only one cat in the whole world that dared to wander around the hospital so freely.

Moreover, the significance of Ringo to psychiatry is no longer the same as before.

The doctors and nurses in the psychiatry department were the only ones truly aware of Qin Siya's unusual behavior. Since her care and treatment hadn't changed, the fluctuations in her condition could only be due to other reasons.

For example... could the cat that accompanied Qin Siya every day during that period be a possibility that could awaken a person in a vegetative state?
The doctors dared not guarantee it, but they also dared not deny it.

If Qin Siya's changes really are related to this cat, and if something can really be discovered from this case, then perhaps the Department of Psychiatry at the Central Hospital will have the opportunity to create a world-class miracle!
Even without promotions or anything like that, just the sheer quality of his published papers... would be enough to make psychiatrists and nurses treat Ringo like royalty.

They not only stopped preventing Lin Ge from entering the psychiatric ward, but also provided Qin Siya with more proactive and cost-effective care. This was undoubtedly very good news for Qin Siya, who was still seeking help from the hospital to reduce or waive fees.

"Ah woo~"

Lin Ge couldn't help but yawn, feeling utterly exhausted.

It just so happens that accompanying Qin Siya doesn't require him to do anything. Perhaps all he needs to do is stay with her as before, put his paw in her palm to give her warmth, and lean his body against her to encourage her. That would be enough.

So Lin Ge took this opportunity to take a nap and rest so that he wouldn't be too tired for work in the afternoon.

He hadn't forgotten Nie Guoqiang's instructions, nor his 'deal' with Yang Xiaotong. While the Zhanghe Police Station wasn't exactly in a state of panic due to the loss of its pillar of strength, as a member of the station, he certainly needed to offer his assistance.

"that's it?"

A young male doctor stood outside the door, peering through the window at the cat sleeping on the hospital bed. The cat hadn't done anything since entering; could simply staying by the patient's side possibly awaken a person in a vegetative state?
Although there have been cases in the past where patients in a vegetative state miraculously awoke thanks to the meticulous care and calls of their families.

But those cases at least involved long-term, meticulous care and earnest calls, not just being there by the side like this! If the cat had meowed even twice, the doctor would have felt more at ease; unlike now, where the hospital bed is simply being used as a cat bed.

"But Dr. Zhang, didn't the cat put its paws in Qin Siya's palm? It was also close to Qin Siya. Could that help?"

The young nurse beside him had complete faith in Lin Ge. After all, Qin Siya's brainwave activity had changed after the cat visited a few times—that was an undeniable fact. Even if there was no theoretical basis for this, the nurse was already overjoyed as long as the patients under her care had a chance of waking up. She didn't care about theories or science; she just hoped that all these poor patients could wake up.

A doctor and a nurse stood there dumbfounded outside the door for a long time.

The two women reluctantly left only after the cat had fallen into a deep sleep, rolled over and lay sprawled out on its back, its paws no longer touching Qin Siya, and even grabbed a corner of the blanket to cover its belly.

There's absolutely nothing to see.

"Ah woo~"

Lin Ge opened his eyes, yawned, and looked up to see the family member of the patient in the next bed holding a basin for cleaning, giving him an apologetic smile.

Previously, this family member had been critical of Lin Ge, believing that a hospital room was not a place for cats. However, as a fellow patient's family member in the same ward, no one was more aware than others of the changes that had occurred in Qin Siya.

They were both incredulous and hopeful about the possibility of Qin Siya waking up. If it really was thanks to the cat, if this girl named Qin Siya could truly awaken from her vegetative state, then perhaps their own family could too…

Although they don't understand the scientific principles behind it, there is no doubt that these family members no longer criticize Lin Ge, and even vaguely regard him as a miracle doctor.

Lin Ge guessed what the woman was thinking, but he couldn't respond to her.

After all, regardless of whether Qin Siya can wake up in the future, or whether her awakening is a miracle, Lin Ge himself is not clear about his role in it, nor can he become a vegetative state awakener to do something with such a slim probability or even in vain.

He still has official work to do, such as two cases that are still pending and even have some troubles that must be dealt with.

As he left the hospital, Lin Ge dialed Zhu Jun's number with practiced ease.

Suddenly, he realized that he hadn't made a phone call to anyone in a long time. Even though the collar hadn't been broken for very long, it still made Lin Ge feel an urge to play with it.

By the way, collar communication no longer has a limit on the number of people!
If Lingo is patient enough, he can add more people to his contacts and then have various exchanges with them.

"Mimi?"

When Zhu Jun received Lin Ge's call, he seemed a little awkward. Luckily, he still remembered Mimi's phone number and didn't wait for the other person to speak after answering the phone.

"Ow!"

But Lingo still responded; although he couldn't speak, he could howl.

"It really is you!"

Zhu Jun chuckled dryly, not wasting any time, and said directly to Lin Ge, "Mimi, we've successfully found Xu Sanhe's footprints at the crime scene. After expedited processing by the technical center, we determined the time was before the incident, after Xu Sanhe's conflict with Yan Yun. In other words, this guy probably started tracking Yan Yun and his extortion plan immediately after being fined by the traffic police. As for the ignition device, we've also found the remains of a mechanical timer. It's one of those 'lucky fan' devices that makes a 'buzzing' sound and slowly counts down. With a little modification and a lighter, it can be used for timed ignition. Unfortunately, both items were burned to just remnants and metal, making it virtually impossible to find Xu Sanhe's fingerprints on them. We need more evidence to get him to confess."

"Is it that complicated? In other words, is it another stubborn individual who resolutely refuses to confess during interrogation?"

Lin Ge had a headache.

Although finding evidence is his forte, as a police cat, he would prefer to see criminal suspects turn themselves in as soon as they are caught and tell the truth, so as to save the police from hard work and trouble.

"Furthermore, one thing is certain: the time of the fire was not the time Xu Sanhe set for arson. In other words, the appearance of Yan Yun's suitor was something Xu Sanhe did not expect. The scale of the fire was also beyond his expectations. Considering this aspect, we might have a chance to find more flaws in Xu Sanhe. But this matter will take time to handle, so if you have time, come back and help as soon as possible."

Zhu Jun seemed very busy, and hung up the phone immediately after finishing his sentence.

“There’s almost nothing left at the scene. How can I help with this case?”

Lin Ge had a headache.

He thought the case was basically over and he didn't need to worry about it anymore. He could go to Luo Jue's house this afternoon to see how he was getting along with his grandparents! But now it seems that if he wants to breathe a sigh of relief, he has to solve Xu Sanhe's case first.

I hopped on a bus and arrived at the crime scene, where Zhu Jun was still busy as usual.

Zheng Mingxing wasn't there, but Zhang Yong did come over. He was communicating with the fire department professionals nearby, trying to see if they could find anything else of value using their expertise.

At this time, apart from Yan Yun's BMW, the wreckage of the other burned vehicles had been dealt with and towed away, leaving only a large number of burn marks on the ground.

Because the ground was asphalt, it became somewhat soft after being baked by the high temperature. Lingo accidentally stepped into a softened area, leaving a paw print on the ground, and some mud also stuck to his paw pads.

This infuriated Lingo, and his mood soured.

"I just don't understand. What was Xu Sanhe thinking, setting fire to something just to extort money? Even if he didn't expect the fire to get this big, it shouldn't be a crime punishable by more serious charges than extortion, right?"

Zhang Yong walked over, picked up Lin Ge, wiped the asphalt off Lin Ge's feet with a tissue, and then complained angrily to Lin Ge.

For police stations, the most troublesome thing in the world is never criminal behavior, but rather this kind of thoughtless, foolish behavior where the actions and benefits are completely disproportionate.

"Ok?"

Lin Ge was stunned for a moment.

He looked up at Zhang Yong, who was also taken aback when he saw Lin Ge's gaze. Recalling what he had just said, a speechless grin appeared on his lips.

"No way? There's really more to the story?"

"At least, there's a possibility that there's more to the story, isn't there?"

Lin Ge jumped down from Zhang Yong's arms and looked up at the sidewalk to the right of the accident site.

If you sniff carefully, although it's not very obvious, you can still smell some of Xu Sanhe's scent. Based on Lin Ge's experience, this should be the way Xu Sanhe came from and installed the timed arson device.

Judging from the content of Zhu Jun's phone call just now, Xu Sanhe tracked Yan Yun all the way here after their conflict; if there are any other details in this case, they must have happened during the time Xu Sanhe was tracking him here and along this route.

Previously, they had only considered arson and extortion as simple possibilities and hadn't investigated along that line of reasoning. But now that there might be more to the case, Lin Ge believes the key to solving it lies somewhere along Xu Sanhe's route.

Without further hesitation, Lin Ge lowered his head and sniffed again to lock onto the target's scent, then walked straight towards it, following the scent.

"Tsk! Only Mimi could do something like that!"

Zhang Yong clicked his tongue, already knowing what Lin Ge was planning. Although he wasn't sure if doing so would bring unexpected good fortune, based on his consistent trust in Lin Ge, he still handed the scene over to Zhu Jun and chased after Lin Ge.

“Xu Sanhe stayed here… no! He had a conversation with someone after arriving here, then returned for a while before coming back to continue forward.”

Upon reaching a corner, Lin Ge noticed a change in the aura left by Xu Sanhe. He had walked in a 'Z' shape, then inexplicably turned back, only to return a while later.

The reason why he concluded that he had communicated with someone was because Lingo found a cigarette butt on the ground.

The cigarette butt carried Xu Sanhe's scent, but it was a cigarette of a quality Xu Sanhe couldn't afford. At least for him, smoking a 1916 cigarette while he had just lost his job and was contemplating committing a crime was a bit of a luxury.

"Then...who gave it to him?"

There were too many smells in the area where pedestrians were coming and going, so Lin Ge couldn't tell them apart for a moment. He looked up and around to see if there were any surveillance cameras.

(End of this chapter)