Rain pounded the cobblestones. A figure slumped in the alley. A single gunshot echoed through the night. Footsteps retreated, disappearing into darkness. A nearby clock struck midnight, chilling the air. A solitary streetlight flickered, casting long shadows. The scent of gunpowder lingered ominously. In the distance, a dog howled mournfully. The once-quiet town now held a secret. Another mystery lay in its cold heart.