Chapter 300: Chapter 300: Una Really Hated Him

When Sawyer heard what Renee Jennings said, he recalled what Linus Hollis had told them earlier.

"In that case, Linus Hollis must be lying."

"What did Linus Hollis say?" Chloe Kent asked urgently.

Sawyer said, "He claims Una was always texting him after they broke up."

"So what’s the real story?" Chloe Kent’s brow furrowed. "What on earth is Linus Hollis playing at?"

"Ms. Kent, what’s your impression of Linus Hollis?" Levi Hollis continued his questioning.

Chloe Kent’s face was etched with sorrow. "I... I used to think he was an obedient, sensible boy. He got good grades since he was little, had a good job, was filial to his parents, and had a big heart. He even adopted stray cats."

"He adopted stray cats?" A flicker of interest showed in Renee Jennings’s eyes.

Chloe Kent nodded. "Yes. He even set aside a whole room just for them."

"What about Una?" Renee Jennings asked. "Did she have any pets at home?"

"Una didn’t have any pets," Chloe Kent said, "but a few months ago, a good friend of hers had to go abroad for a while and asked Una to look after her cat."

Sawyer’s eyes lit up. "Ms. Kent," he asked at once, "would you be able to take us to Una’s apartment?"

"Yes, I can," Chloe Kent agreed. Then she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, that’s right! Una had a camera installed at home to keep an eye on the cat."

"That’s perfect," Levi Hollis said. "Let’s head over to Una’s place right now."

**

Moira Ford’s family bought her a small two-bedroom apartment when she graduated from high school.

She moved in on her own after graduating from college and would occasionally go back to her parents’ house on weekends.

Chloe Kent took out her spare key to open the door, and Sawyer handed her a pair of shoe covers and gloves to put on.

The door opened, and a sensor-activated strip light in the entryway flickered on.

Chloe Kent flipped a switch on the wall, and the lights in the dining room, the main light in the living room, and the accent lighting all came on at once.

The apartment was small, but it was tidy and warm.

After a quick look around, they found neither the camera for watching the cat nor the cat itself. Sawyer asked, confused, "I thought you said Una had a cat here?"

"There is," Chloe Kent said, frowning as she scanned the room. "I don’t know where it could have gone."

Renee Jennings glanced at her. "Ms. Kent, do you know the cat’s name?"

"Let me check." Chloe Kent took out her phone, her eyes welling with tears again as she searched for a video her daughter had sent her.

She sobbed quietly, wiped away her tears, and played a video.

Moira Ford, her hair in a bun, was holding a Golden British Shorthair and beaming at the camera. "Mom, this is Joy! Who’s cuter, her or me?"

Chloe Kent watched the video several times, her voice trembling as she said, "The cat’s name is Joy."

"All right." Renee Jennings gave a slight nod and called out gently, "Joy, are you there? I’m a friend of Una’s. Are you hungry? Want something to eat?"

Everyone fell silent.

A faint sound then broke the silence in the room.

"MEOW~" a cat’s cry sounded.

Renee Jennings looked toward the sound and saw a Golden British Shorthair emerge, stepping forward with cautious, feline grace.

Goldie meowed as it walked, "’My tummy is so hungry...’"

"Joy is hungry," Renee Jennings said softly. "I’ll get you something to eat."

Joy walked up to her, tilted its head back, and meowed. "’So hungry, I’m really, really hungry.’"

Renee Jennings glanced around, her eyes settling on a spot in the living room. She walked over, scooped some cat food, and poured it into a bowl.

The starving Joy didn’t waste a second, immediately burying its head in the bowl and eating greedily.

Chloe Kent looked around the cozy apartment. In a daze, she could almost see Una, hair in a bun and wearing pajamas, eating snail noodle soup at the dining table.

A glass vase in the living room held freshly bloomed lilies. Una had always loved the scent of lilies.

An unfinished comic book lay on the sofa, the TV remote holding its pages open... Traces of Una’s life were everywhere, but Una herself would never be back.

Chloe Kent bit down hard on her lower lip, crying silently as the pain in her heart grew more and more intense.

She turned her head and saw a photo frame on the TV stand. It was a picture of their family of three.

A woman’s suppressed sobs gradually filled the quiet room.

Having eaten its fill for the moment, Joy’s attention was drawn by the crying. It turned its head, a look of confusion in its round, feline eyes.

’Why is Una’s mom crying?’

"Joy, do you recognize Una’s mother?" Renee Jennings asked.

’Una introduced her mom to me.’ Joy, realizing this human girl could understand it, meowed again, pressing the question. ’Right, where is Una? Why hasn’t she come back in so long?’

"Something happened to Una," Renee Jennings said, squatting down in front of Joy.

Hearing this, Joy’s furry face grew serious. ’Something happened? What’s wrong with Una?’

"She’s gone to another world," Renee Jennings said softly. "Joy, do you know Linus Hollis?"

’Linus Hollis!’ Joy reacted strongly to the name. ’I know him! Una couldn’t stand him!’

"Una hated Linus Hollis? Why?"

’Una said he was a total nuisance.’

"Can you tell me everything you know, in detail?"

Chloe Kent was stunned to see Renee Jennings squatting down and talking to Joy. She was so shocked she even forgot to cry.

"Is... is she talking to Joy?" she asked, astonished.

Sawyer explained, "She’s a special criminal investigation consultant retained by the state. She can communicate with animals, which helps the police pinpoint crucial clues."

Chloe Kent didn’t seem to fully grasp the explanation, but she nodded anyway. "Does that mean she can help find the person who killed Una?"

"Yes," Sawyer nodded. "Consultant Jennings has already helped us solve numerous cases."

Hearing this, Chloe Kent quickly wiped away her tears and fixed her gaze on Renee Jennings.

Joy heard Sawyer’s words, too. ’This human girl who can understand me must be really something,’ it thought.

It quickly meowed, "’Consultant, Linus Hollis was originally Una’s boyfriend, but they broke up.’"

Renee Jennings asked, "Joy, did Una ever tell you why they broke up?"

’She did.’ Joy nodded its fluffy little head. ’I remember Una said Linus Hollis was a total player. He had tons of girls’ contacts in his phone and followed a lot of local girls on social media.’

Renee Jennings frowned. "So Una found out about all this and broke up with Linus Hollis because of it?"

’Yes!’ Joy said. ’Una was furious. She said his behavior was disgusting and she couldn’t accept it, so she told Linus Hollis they were breaking up.’

The day Moira Ford broke up with him, she came home, and Linus Hollis followed her to this very apartment.

"Una, can you just let me explain?" he pleaded, his face etched with desperation.

Moira Ford’s face was grim as she looked at him with disgust. "What is there to explain? Isn’t it obvious? Didn’t you already confess your feelings to that girl, Eve?"

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