In the red BMW.
The mouse couple sat in the passenger seat, sniffing vigorously at the aroma of fried chicken wings.
"Where did you see that stinky old man fry his wife?" Renee Jennings asked, her expression grave.
The female mouse turned her head and said, "Human, we saw it in the stinky old man's shop the other day. He cut his wife into several pieces."
The male mouse chimed in, "Yes, yes! Her head is still frozen in his freezer right now!"
"And that stinky old man usually screams bloody murder whenever he sees us mice, but for the first time ever, he didn't chase us away. He even tried to feed us his wife's meat," the female mouse added.
The male mouse said agitatedly, "How could we dare eat it? The stinky old man might have poisoned it!"
This male mouse was certainly a cautious one.
Renee Jennings asked again, "Do you know why he did that to his wife?"
The female mouse recalled for a moment. "I think the stinky old man wanted to take money to buy a house for his younger brother's son, but his wife wouldn't agree. The two of them started arguing, and the stinky old man happened to be holding a knife. He just swung it at his wife, and the blood even sprayed on me!"
"That's outrageous! I would never treat my wife like that!" the male mouse seized the opportunity to show his devotion. "If my wife says jump, I ask how high! The sky is vast, the earth is wide, but my wife is number one!"
"Oh, you! You're making me blush!" The female mouse playfully punched the male mouse.
Renee Jennings: "..."
'I've lived a long life, but I never thought I'd see mice being all lovey-dovey.'
She thought for a moment, then asked, "Right, you said he put his wife in the deep fryer. After he fried the pieces, what did he do with them?"
The female mouse: "He sold them!"
The male mouse: "That's right. Maybe some of his wife is in that bag you have."
Renee Jennings: "..."
Her gaze fell upon the bag of fried food, and her brow furrowed. "In that case, you two shouldn't eat this. I'll go buy you something else from a different place."
The mouse couple agreed.
Renee Jennings bought some other food as a thank-you gift for the mouse couple's information, then drove to Prosperity Gardens.
She had called ahead to ask Diana Jennings to meet her at the entrance of the residential complex.
Renee Jennings parked the car in front of Diana Jennings and got out, carrying the things she had bought for Zane and Jasmine.
"Renee, why did you buy so much?" Diana Jennings looked at her with a helpless expression. "Don't waste your money."
"This isn't a waste," Renee Jennings said with a smile. "Sis, take this upstairs. I've still got things to do, so I'll come hang out with you all another day."
Diana Jennings took the large and small bags from her and advised softly, "Don't buy so much next time you come over. Keep the money for yourself."
"It's fine. We can spend it together." Renee Jennings waved to her. "You should head up."
"I'll watch you leave," Diana Jennings instructed. "Drive carefully and be safe."
Renee Jennings nodded. "I know. I'm leaving now, Sis."
As the car pulled away, she saw Diana Jennings still standing in the same spot in her rearview mirror. Self-blame and guilt churned within her.
She tightened her grip on the steering wheel, thinking to herself, 'I have to be good to Diana.'
Half an hour later, the red BMW stopped in front of the police station near Old Man Wallace's Fried Food.
Renee Jennings walked in, carrying the bag of fried food.
It was lunchtime, and there was only one officer on duty at the reception desk for case filings—a young man.
He looked at Renee Jennings and asked, "Can I help you?"
Renee Jennings handed over the bag of fried food, her expression solemn. "Hello, I'd like to file a report."
***
"Miss Jennings, please come with me." The officer on duty led Renee Jennings to an interrogation room.
Just as Renee Jennings sat down, two police officers entered. One of them stood tall and ramrod straight, exuding an air of integrity. He was strikingly handsome with a buzz cut, his facial features deep-set and strong, and his eyes were as bright and sharp as black crystals.
"Miss Jennings," the officer on duty said by way of introduction, "this is the captain of our Criminal Investigation Division. He has a few questions for you."
Renee Jennings nodded. "Okay."
Henry Stark sat down across from her. His thin lips moved as he spoke slowly, "Miss Jennings, you're saying the owner of Old Man Wallace's Fried Food committed murder and hid the body?"
Renee Jennings: "Yes."
Henry Stark: "How did you find out?"
Renee Jennings had already prepared her story on the way over. "I was buying something today and asked the owner to use his restroom. I discovered it by accident."
As she spoke, Henry Stark's gaze fell on her, focused and sharp.
Renee Jennings pressed her lips together lightly and continued, "At the time, his freezer door was stuck on something. I was trying to help him close it properly, but I didn't expect to see a human head."
"Was there only a human head in the freezer?" Henry Stark asked.
Renee Jennings frowned. "I don't know. I didn't dare to look closely. And I suspect there's something wrong with the fried meat he's selling."
Henry Stark glanced at the bag beside her hand.
"You can take it for testing. If the composition of this meat is wrong, then it's possible..." Renee Jennings let her sentence trail off.
Henry Stark asked in a calm voice, "Are you suspecting that the fried meat he sells contains human flesh?"
Renee Jennings nodded. "Yes."
Henry Stark was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Understood."
The officer taking notes at the side printed out the statement and handed it to Renee Jennings.
Henry Stark: "Review it, then sign."
Renee Jennings scanned the contents of the statement. Just as she picked up the pen to sign, the man suddenly spoke.
"Miss Jennings, filing a false police report is a punishable offense. Think carefully before you sign."
Renee Jennings lifted her gaze to meet his, then signed her name without a second thought.
It was 1:30 in the afternoon when she left the police station. The snow had stopped, but the sky was still a dreary gray.
Renee Jennings returned to the food street, parking her car about ten meters away from Old Man Wallace's Fried Food.
It was the second day of the New Year's holiday, and the food street was bustling. There was even a small line of people waiting at Old Man Wallace's stall.
Watching this scene, Renee Jennings felt a sense of unease.
'If these people found out later that the meat they were eating wasn't ordinary meat, how terrified would they be?'
After a moment's thought, Renee Jennings resolutely pushed open her car door and got out.
She went to the back of the line at Old Man Wallace's Fried Food stall.
When Old Man Wallace saw Renee Jennings in line, he chuckled and greeted her, "Young lady, back for more? What do you think? My fried meat is delicious, isn't it?"
"Yes, it tastes pretty good," Renee Jennings replied coolly.
Soon, it was her turn to order.
Renee Jennings said, "Boss, how much meat do you have left? I'll take it all."
Old Man Wallace's eyes lit up. He said in pleasant surprise, "Young lady, are you kidding me? You want all of it?"
"That's right," Renee Jennings said. "However much you have, I'll take it."
Once he was sure she wasn't joking, Old Man Wallace was ecstatic. "I have plenty! Young lady, pay a three-thousand-yuan deposit first, and we'll figure out the rest of the payment once the food is ready."
"Alright." Renee Jennings quickly paid the deposit.
After receiving the money, Old Man Wallace immediately turned to the people in line behind her and said, "Sorry, everyone, but I'm sold out for the day."
Renee Jennings heard the people behind her start to complain, and some even began to blame her.
"What the hell? Think you're so great 'cause you have money?"
"That's ridiculous. Buying that much meat... you won't be able to finish it in a lifetime, will you?"
Renee Jennings listened quietly without saying a word.
Old Man Wallace chuckled at the complaining customers. "Heh, what can I do? My fried meat is just too popular. Next time, come earlier!"
Then he turned back to Renee Jennings. "Young lady, do you want to wait here, or come back later to pick it up?"