Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXPPBQ2PEARFC1D1S3NWH9N

The rain drummed against the cobblestones as Detective Hart stepped into the dimly lit alleyway. A single gas lamp flickered, casting long shadows that danced like restless spirits on the damp walls. The body lay sprawled near the rusted fire escape, its limbs twisted in an unnatural, lifeless pose. A pool of dark liquid spread slowly beneath the victim, glistening under the feeble lamplight’s glow. The detective knelt, his gloved fingers brushing the victim’s cold, pale skin with practiced precision. A single playing card—the ace of spades—was clutched tightly in the corpse’s stiffened fingers. The card’s edges were slightly singed, as if it had been held too close to a flame. Hart’s breath fogged in the chilly air as he studied the scene with narrowed, calculating eyes. The alley reeked of damp earth and something metallic, the scent of violence lingering in the air. A distant siren wailed, its mournful cry echoing through the narrow streets of the old city. The detective’s partner, Sergeant Cole, arrived breathless, his boots splashing through the shallow puddles. “Another one?” Cole asked, his voice tight with grim resignation as he surveyed the scene. Hart nodded silently, his mind already piecing together the fragments of this gruesome puzzle. The victim’s coat pocket held a crumpled note, its ink smudged but still legible in the dim light. The words were simple, chilling: “You were warned.” The detective’s jaw tightened as he pocketed the note, his instincts screaming that this was no ordinary crime. The killer had left no footprints, no witnesses, only this macabre calling card to taunt the authorities. Hart stood, his gaze sweeping the alley once more before he turned to Cole with a determined expression. “We’re dealing with a killer who enjoys games,” he said, his voice low and steady. “And this is just the opening move.” The rain continued to fall, washing away any traces of the killer’s presence as the two men stood in silence. The city’s underbelly pulsed with secrets, and somewhere in the shadows, a predator watched, waiting for the next move.