We were like a rocket, quickly arriving near the Weidona Zoo. I hadn't realized how remote it was until I got here. From a distance, the zoo looked like it had been abandoned for a long time, with dilapidated fences, dilapidated pavilions, and some extremely withered trees everywhere.
Fortunately, we had brought a SWAT team and members of the criminal investigation team this time, totaling nearly 30 officers. We were equipped with individual police equipment. Liu Yuning and I, along with others, gripped our weapons and first completely surrounded the Weidona Zoo. Then, Liu Yuning, Gao Mingqiang, Xiahou Tengfei, and I led the remaining officers in a single charge.
Inside the zoo, we discovered countless iron cages lined up on the open ground. Near some public seats that were originally for visitors to rest, we saw many dead animal carcasses.
Many had been reduced to bones. I put on rubber gloves, squatted down, and after a brief examination, I deduced, "Considering the surrounding air, temperature, the hardness and humidity of the bones, and the degree of tooth wear, these animals have been dead for at least two years. Judging by this timeframe, the zoo has likely been closed for over two years."
"I feel the same way. This is my first time visiting this zoo. If it weren't for this case, I wouldn't even have thought that Fuming City had such a place!" Liu Yuning said, looking at an iron cage in the distance.
I stood up and looked around. The interior of the zoo was filled with animal skeletons, yet we couldn't find the escaped wolfdog anywhere.
My God, we actually tracked down a suspect dog to this place.
As the officers were searching, a SWAT officer suddenly detected a strange smell near a service station in the zoo. My nose twitched, and I charged forward like a mad bull.
I told everyone to follow me. Keeping my body sideways, I passed the service station wall and sprayed Luminol reagent everywhere. There was a strong blue-purple reaction. My nose twitched, and I continued to advance. Liu Yuning suddenly tugged at my clothes from behind: "Your nose is that good? Can it actually scout ahead?"
"It's alright. My grandfather used to try to improve my sense of smell..."
"Damn it! Stop! Don't keep bringing up your grandfather!"
Hearing Liu Yuning's curse, I couldn't help but laugh: "I didn't expect you to be like this."
"What's there to it? When I get excited, I like to say other things too! Is that not allowed?" Liu Yuning pretended to be angry, twisting her small fists in front of me and urging me to move faster. My dear lady, I'll go right now, won't I?
My grip on my gun was incredibly firm. As I stepped out from behind the wall, a series of fierce barks suddenly echoed. A sharp glint flashed in my eyes as a completely black, curly-haired wolfdog lunged directly at my head!
"Careful!" Liu Yuning shouted, and then pulled the trigger!
Bang!!
A gunshot grazed my head as it exploded. My God! Didn't you know to warn me when you were about to shoot? What if you accidentally injured me?
Fortunately, her bullet hit the wolfdog, and I was spared.
Liu Yuning and I exchanged glances and rushed to the wolfdog's side. Liu Yuning's bullet had indeed injured its left front leg.
The wolfdog yelped twice. I pinned it to the ground. Since it was inconvenient to use handcuffs, I had to ask someone to carry it over. However, we had first tied it up with a rope.
We searched the zoo thoroughly but found nothing else. We decided to take the wolfdog back. At this point, if the real culprit knew that their wolfdog had been captured by the police, they would surely be extremely nervous.
On the way back, Liu Yuning asked me, "We've caught the wolfdog, what's the next step?"
"Can't you figure it out yourself!" I teased deliberately.
"Ugh, I admit defeat. Alright, tell me!" Liu Yuning bowed her head and apologized.
"Hmph, then I'll deign to tell you. With the wolfdog as leverage, we can force the culprit to appear!"
"Are you that confident he'll reveal himself for a dog?"
"Then you don't know the story of dog owners."
Liu Yuning patted my shoulder and rolled her eyes at me: "I don't like dogs. Taking care of them is too much trouble. As a female criminal investigation captain, how could I have the time?"
"I wasn't talking about you. Cough, cough. Simply put, for dog owners, most of them want an extra companion, someone to accompany them. This is more easily understood. Especially when traveling alone, it's inevitable to feel lonely. Having a dog can indeed reduce loneliness and also teach one how to care better."
"Then, some people feel that owning a prestigious dog is a matter of great face. For example, some particularly expensive breeds, like Labradors. Some people might not understand or care, as long as it's expensive, they can show off and prove they are wealthy."
"Uh, no way? Owning an expensive dog makes you feel great? Then what about us police officers, who work for everyone all day?"
"Everyone's lifestyle is different. As long as you like it!"
"I find that every time I talk to you, I discover you are very intelligent!"
"No, I just read a few more books."
"Hmph, no wonder you still don't have a girlfriend. You really are a bookworm!"
"So what? Do you have any recommendations?"
"I'll keep an eye out for you. Judging by you being such a bookworm, you probably like artistic young women, right?"
I didn't answer and looked out the window. Soon, we arrived at the police station.
Upon our return, the first thing we did was help the wolfdog receive treatment. Someone had called a veterinarian. The man brought a medical kit and wore a perfectly fitting white coat, looking quite professional. His height was exactly the same as what I had inferred from the footprint.
Could it be that coincidental?
However, the man appeared very calm and not nervous at all. Upon seeing the wolfdog, he cautiously knelt down, gently petted it, and began its treatment.
His technique was very skilled. Facing the wolfdog, he seemed like a kind father comforting his child, with an extremely warm face radiating immense care.
His hands were like the hands of God. After giving the wolfdog an amino acid injection, it slowly regained consciousness. As its eyes widened, it seemed to want to embrace the veterinarian, but then it immediately showed a look of unfamiliarity.