Transcript

1: A newspaper clipping, describing a mysterious murder. The story has no photos.
Caption: Cairo, 1921
(off-screen): You are all familiar with the recent murders. As some of you have guessed, there are important pieces of information left out of all reports and stories.

Newspaper:
THIRD MYSTERIOUS MURDER

SUEZ, Jan 23. – The body of Subira Theoris Sagira-Ziyad was found murdered in her apartment last night. Reporters were not allowed inside. Subira – a Cheetah woman who moved to Suez from Uganda just last year – was a seamstress and a mother of two.
Deputy Issa Abbas confirmed that the police department believes the murder to be related to the recent brutal slayings that have plagued the city these last few weeks.
This murder in the wake of two others, of which the police have released very little detail. The first, a Feline male Elijah Elkhosht, was found dead on December 19 in his home in Ain Sukhna. The body of Hyena Ali Menes was found on December 30 in Sekhmet Park outside of Baris.
Police officials cite withheld information that leads to the conclusion that this is the work of a single serial killer. The murder of Subria breaks what was predicted to be an all-male pattern of victims. Political motivation has not been ruled out, but detectives have been unwilling to disclose any information regarding any suspects.

Zamalek Community in Uproar Continues.

Northern Gezira was caught in another political debate this week as plans were unveiled for the aptly‑named Cairo Tower to be built in the district. Zamalek’s balance between the natural and the man‑made has been a topic of discussion for some time as greater western influence and trade has made it necessary to increase the number of apartment blocks and restaurants in an area that has become a favored abode for European expatriates. ‘Opinions are mixed at this point,’ says Adeir Gammet Hasseir, Gezira district’s cultural minister, ‘Zamalek is already trying to maintain its green belt in a city being ever pushed to provide for a growing population. Culturally it may come to a vote, do we maintain the gardens or build the tower: both are a testament to Egyptian culture and heritage.’

Residents of the district, native or otherwise, have proved to be sensitive to preserving the culture of the nation, with the unveiled plan for a 600 foot tower designed to reflect the revered Egyptian lotus creating mixed opinions. This is in the light of recent boycotting by Egyptian nationals of plans to convert the long‑standing local Namir Abrim Palace into a multicultural art center in the region. Ms. Kiya Jel Neferekari, a member of the heritage committee in Cairo, described the situation in Gezira as “volatile” in a recent interview, claiming: ‘The region hosts many foreign dignitaries and whilst it is admirable that our [Egyptian] cultural heritage is being protected so vocally with reference to the tower, residents also must consider that their own temples and churches, even their own art centers and specialist stores, all contribute to overcrowding issues in the city. It is one thing to be protective of the Zamalek Gardens and another thing entirely to be ignorant that measures are being taken not to demolish western housing in the area to make room for the tower’.

There are some that accuse the Greater Cairo government of western fetishism and pandering too much to European influences in the city – a topic that is reaching boiling point as re‑elections approach next year, cultural preservation being a key factor in many of the opposing candidates’ manifests.

2: Down a brightly lit alley is the outline of a feral black canine.
Off panel: On the night of every single murder, we have collected reports of people witnessing an apparition in the form of a large, black dog.

3: The Chief of Cairo Police, an old, bearded, male rock hyrax, sits at his desk, talking to an audience.
Chief: Gentlemen, none of you represent the absolute peak of your profession – no offense – but all of you possess the sort of curiosity and… open mindedness that an investigation of this sort requires.

4: Four men have been gathered before the chief, the founding members of the SIU. These men are mouse, Dr. Rice; canine, Professor Morgan; beaver, Professor Armitage; and hyena, Detective Haji.
Off panel: This department can’t be seen investigating the paranormal.
Therefore, I request great discretion from the four of you.
Nonetheless, it is with great pride that I welcome you to the founding of a very special facet of our fine criminal justice agency.
Gentlemen, the Cairo Police Department welcomes you as our new Special Investigations Unit.