The flickering gaslight illuminated the cobblestone street, casting long, distorted shadows onto the macabre scene before me. A mangled body lay sprawled in an alleyway, its owner a renowned detective known for his sharp wit and unwavering resolve. Rain began to fall, the icy droplets mirroring the cold dread settling in my stomach as I approached the victim. The air was thick with the scent of blood and damp earth, a grim testament to the violence that had been inflicted.