Rain hammered the cobblestone streets outside. A shriek pierced the night. Detective Harding clutched his fedora. The alleyway was dark, narrow. Only dim streetlights offered weak illumination. Black and unblinking, they hid the crime. He hurried through the downpour. The night air was frigid. Rain slicked the brick walls. Footfalls echoed softly. He found a dead body. His heart skipped a beat. The victim's face was obscured. Hard shadows hid their identity. A gruesome sight lay before him. Immediate attention to every detail.