American Zombie Detective

Qin Jin called Constanze and Catherine, telling them to go to the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters immediately. When he arrived, the two were already waiting downstairs.

"Qin, what's wrong?" Catherine asked with a puzzled look, while Constanze, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked like he hadn't woken up yet.

"There's a case," Qin Jin said briefly, "arranged personally by the bureau chief." He then tucked the sleeping Yuanxiao into Catherine's arms, saying, "Hold him for me."

The three went straight to the floor where the director's office was located, pushed open the door, and found the atmosphere inside to be heavy.

Director Edward sat on the sofa, opposite a well-dressed middle-aged couple. The woman was silently weeping, while the man, though trying his best to maintain his image, was puffing on his cigar rapidly...

Hearing the door open, Director Edward turned around and immediately called out, "Qin! You're here, come over quickly..."

As they spoke, they both stood up, and the introduction was brief and quick:

"Congressman Michael, Mrs. Michael, this is the second group you're looking for: Detective Qin and his comrades!"

Congressman Michael immediately strode over, grabbed Qin Jin's hand, and shook it vigorously:

"Detective Qin! I've heard so much about you! A friend of mine once attended Mr. Howard's party, and he recommended you to me, saying that you... yes, the guardians of Los Angeles! Please take care of things concerning my daughter's disappearance!"

Upon hearing the cheesy slogan Qin Jin had improvised, Catherine's lips twitched, and Constanze instinctively turned his head away. Only Qin Jin, with a righteous expression, grasped Congressman Michael's hand and nodded emphatically:

"Uh! Representative Michael?! Well...yes, don't worry, we are mortal enemies of evil! As long as it's within our jurisdiction..."

He looked at Director Edward, his tone quite official:

"Chief, say something! Is the location of this case within the jurisdiction of our Canyon Branch? Are there any supernatural phenomena? You need to know..."

"No problem! No problem!"

Mr. Michael interrupted urgently, also looking at Chief Edward:

"The case has already been agreed upon, right? Only Detective Qin can handle this case..."

After seeing Edward nod, his gaze turned to Qin Jin, followed by Constantine and Catherine beside him:

"Detective Qin, if you can successfully find my daughter Amy, and as long as she's alive, besides my continued support and sponsorship of the Los Angeles Police Department, I will personally award an extra $100 million to your team. Even if... even if the result isn't ideal, as long as you confirm her whereabouts, this million is yours!"

Director Edward then took over the conversation, nodding to Qin Jin in confirmation:

"Yes, Qin. Congressman Michael has always been a key supporter of our precinct. Given his request, and considering the unusual nature of this case, I've agreed to have your team take over the investigation. Go ahead and investigate."

Seeing that the bureau chief had given clear instructions, Qin Jin said no more and nodded:

"Understood, Chief." He turned to Congressman Michael: "Then, Mr. Michael, please explain the situation in detail."

Congressman Michael breathed a sigh of relief and gestured for everyone to sit down and talk. Qin Jin sat down on the sofa opposite Congressman Michael.

Catherine handed the sleeping Yuanxiao to Constantin, took out her notebook and pen, and sat down next to him to take notes; Constantin, meanwhile, held the cat Yuanxiao and leaned against the bed, listening and stroking the bear cub's fur.

Congressman Michael took a deep breath and began to speak:

"About 11 days ago, my daughter Amy and her best friends, Sarah and Lina... decided to go to our holiday home deep in the Santa Ana Mountains. It's a remote place, and the nearby towns are practically deserted..."

"I told them right then and there that they shouldn't go. You were the one who said it didn't matter if there were many people, you were the one who agreed!"

At this moment, Mrs. Michael, who was wiping away tears, raised her voice and shouted, pointing the finger directly at her husband. Mr. Michael, somewhat embarrassed, tried to stop her, but Mrs. Michael ignored him and continued shouting:

"Her so-called best friends! They only lead her astray! One of them has a father in jail, those kinds of people..." Mrs. Michael began to cry again.

"You actually let Amy go out with them... my poor child..."

Mr. Michael's embarrassment and Mrs. Michael's weeping were intertwined, making it impossible for Qin Jin to ask any questions.

He suddenly raised his voice, and his words clearly reached everyone's ears:

"Mrs. Michael! Now is the golden time to solve the case. I need to know the details as soon as possible to rescue your daughter. If you continue like this, then—"

He spread his hands at Chief Edward: "I can't take this case!"

Qin Jin's sudden burst of powerful aura surprised everyone present, even Director Edward seemed to be seeing him for the first time and showed a look of astonishment!

What no one knew was that Qin Jin did this entirely because of the 100 million yuan...

Mrs. Michael realized her lapse in composure and quickly composed herself. Congressman Michael apologized to Qin Jin. After this brief interlude, the narrative continued:

"...About three days ago, we couldn't get through to Amy and the others by phone. After waiting a day, we started contacting her best friend's family, but the situation was the same! That's when we notified the local police, who sent a helicopter to the town, but..."

Congressman Michael sighed:

"Everything was normal at the holiday home! Their luggage, backpacks, and computers were all there, and the door locks and windows were intact, as if the owners had just gone out temporarily... but they were just gone! The forest rangers and police searched the surrounding area but found nothing. There was no crime scene, no signs of a struggle, it was like... like they vanished into thin air..."

Having recounted the events, the case was now largely clear. Qin Jin thought for a moment and first confirmed the number of people involved:

"Has the number of people going this time been confirmed?"

"Oh, it's confirmed." As Mr. Michael spoke, Mrs. Michael took a piece of paper from her handbag and handed it to him, which he immediately passed to Qin Jin:

The paper listed five people: Amy, Sarah, Lina, Mark, and Ethan, making a total of five.

Catherine, who was standing nearby, keenly noticed the discrepancy in the number of names. Just as Qin Jin was checking the names, she asked:

"Congressman Michael, are these boys and girls... in a romantic relationship?"

Mr. Michael seemed unsure about the answer to this question. He looked at Mrs. Michael, who also shook her head, indicating that she did not know.

"Let me ask," Qin Jin said, having also noticed this.

Mr. Michael called the girl's tutor, and after speaking with her, he arrived at the answer:

"According to what the teacher knows, Mark seems to be pursuing our Amy, but he hasn't agreed yet. Ethan is Sarah's boyfriend, and Lina's boyfriend Ryan had to cancel at the last minute because he had an important interview."

After listening, Qin Jin pondered for a moment and then spoke:

"Okay! I'll investigate this case as soon as possible. Now I need information about your holiday cottage, the girls' information, including this Ryan—I need to talk to him."

"No problem, the information is ready, it's all here!" Congressman Michael picked up the large file folder from the table and handed it over. Catherine took it, and then he dialed the counselor and got Ryan's phone number.

Qin Jin gestured to Catherine: "Contact him now, arrange to meet him immediately."

Catherine dialed Ryan's number, and after he answered, she made her request in a clear and professional tone. At her insistence, Ryan agreed to come out now and talk next to a coffee shop near his home, which was his apartment in Westwood.

Qin Jin stood up:

"Well then, Mr. Michael, Mrs. Michael, please go back and rest. We will begin the investigation immediately and will notify the Chief and you as soon as there are any developments. Please keep your phones accessible! Catherine, Jack, let's go."

After nodding to Director Edward and the Michaels, the three left the office.

Objective: Westwood District, to meet with her absent boyfriend, Ryan Davis, and uncover the first clues behind his disappearance.