Poison City

 

“The rent is very cheap, actually. I think - well, the only explanation I have is because the Fengshui here is considered not good.” After knocking on ten doors and interviewing six households, Kevin summarized from the notes he took: “I just searched for the real estate nearby - houses and townhouses of similar sizes, their rents are at least twenty to twenty five percent more. Some are even twice or three times the price.”

 

“So - what’s it say regarding the Fengshui?” Marcus checked his phone while waiting by the side of the road - Keryn and Pahaik told them that they would be meeting them here.

 

“I think - I think it’s because this place is a ‘imbalanced?’” Kevin looked around some more: “I mean, I’m no expert, but that looks like it. There’s some kind of rapid alternating energy flow here, and if you stay here for too long, it won’t be good for your life, since it’s unstable.”

 

“So that’s where the chrysanthemum flowers are for then?” Marcus turned around and took a peek at the row of flowers around the rental townhouse of Luo Zhuge. The flowers were well kept and clearly taken care of. If it weren't for the fact that a person of interest lived there, they would have thought the renter to be a pleasant old couple, or someone neat, kind and considerate.

 

“Yeah - they’re the universal flower of auspiciousness, and they bring peace, balance and tenderness to your life.” Kevin frowned as he tried to read the words off his phone under the bright sun: “I’m not a hundred percent sure, man, but if you asked me I’d say the guy’s smart to pick this place.”

 

“Yeah. He’s more than meets the - I mean, rumor.” Marcus sighed. His phone buzzed, it was a message from Pahaik - they’re about five minutes away. “Pahaik and Keryn are five minutes away.”

 

“Cool. What’d they find?” Kevin asked.

 

“Didn’t say. Just ask when they’re here.” Marcus shrugged.

 

It took around 10 minutes before they met up with the other two detectives. Parking was not easy around here, with all the narrow streets and twisty turns. It was the case for Marcus and Kevin, and it seemed to be the case for Keryn and Pahaik. 

 

“Sorry guys - had to find a parking spot around two blocks away.” Keryn scoffed: “I’ve been to this area a few times, each time is just as bad.”

 

“What’d you find?” Pahaik asked Marcus and Kevin, his sunglasses could not cover up the weariness, nor could the big coffee cup in his hand lighten things up. Keryn, on the other hand, appeared to be more at ease.

 

“I’ve got a very rough outline of the man.” Kevin handed Pahaik a page of his notepad: “Well, we really need to find an actual sketch artist of our own. Maybe next time you don’t have to make your eyes suffer.”

 

“Eh, it’s okay.” Pahaik showed the sketch to Keryn, who chuckled and nodded long.

 

“It’s good enough for now. It’s a start.” Keryn shrugged: “What else?”

 

“The man’s got a routine, hard worker, likes to go on walks along the lake, and oh - he’s got some injuries on his legs, or waist. The locals mentioned that he walks funny.” Kevin sighed: “He’s semi-professional in covering his tracks. Never showed his face to the residents here. What have you found? Anything?”

 

“Same thing - the guy’s good. He paid cash, paid off some local identity forger for the necessary papers to get garbage disposal, electricity and water. He did not get internet though, probably didn’t want his search history profiled.” Keryn sighed: “Everything he paid for he paid in cash and/or cashier checks. He mailed all of his stuff from the company’s common outbox.”

 

“But - that’s strange, right?” Marcus scratched his nose.

 

“What do you mean?” Pahaik asked.

 

“Why does he live here? If he really is John Mitchell, he’s got another residence with that alias, or his own dorm from the company. He could have just rented the place and not actually live here. This place is not close to where he worked. So I guess my question is - why?” Marcus shrugged.

 

“Didn’t you mention he had a scapegoat doll in his place?” Pahaik asked: “Maybe it’s his place of shelter?”

 

Marcus thought for a moment. This was a plausible theory. Scapegoat dolls, contrary to what they were to the non-users, were most effective when they were near the user. So if that doll was to indeed serve a purpose, then THIS would be the actual place where John Mitchell, or Luo Zhuge, lived.

 

“I think you’re right. So IF John Mitchell and Luo Zhuge are indeed the same person, then he’s at least splitting his time living in both places.”

 

“Alright then.” Pahaik took a big gulp of his coffee: “Time’s still early. Let’s check some more households.”

 

They divvied up the surrounding households and went on to further interview the neighbors. Marcus and Kevin took on the eastern side, and Pahaik went on to the western side with Keryn.

 

“Hello, there.” Marcus waved his hand at two older gentlemen chatting and playing chess under a tree: “How are you?”

 

“How can I help you, young men?” One of the old gentlemen, one without hair and fanning himself with a rattan fan asked Marcus and Kevin.

 

“We just wanna ask you about the young man whose name is Luo Zhuge, who lives across the corner over there.” Kevin posed the question, because Marcus appeared to be distracted and was looking around.

 

“Oh, yeah, we saw him only a few times. But we don’t really know him that well.” The other old gentleman, with a full head of silver hair and playing with two jade balls on his left hand, smiled and shook his head as he moved a pawn across the board: “Check, my friend. And oh, officers, we don’t really know much about his routines either. He helped us fix our sink and our door once, but that’s about it.”

 

“Yeah, my apologies.” The bald old gentleman sighed and shook his head: “I guess - you can ask OUR neighbor - an old woman living there, she hired the young man’s help for quite a few times.”

---

Shout out to my patrons:

mant06,

Jonathan

Thank you very much for your support!