Rain fell on cobblestone streets. Fog cloaked the sleepy town. A clock tower struck midnight. Silhouettes moved in dark alleyways. Streetlights flickered with eerie glow. Windows reflected shadows and secrets. Detective Marlowe lit a cigarette. His eyes scanned the surroundings. Footsteps echoed behind vacant buildings. A scream shattered the night. He rushed toward the sound. A body lay in shadows. Blood stained the cold ground. Marlowe knelt, examining the scene. Fear gripped the deserted town.