Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQGTDQYDSDBZ7469NA0SD9

The rain drummed against the cobblestones as Detective Mara Voss adjusted her coat collar tightly. A flickering streetlamp cast long shadows that danced like restless spirits in the alleyway’s gloom. The body lay sprawled near the dumpster, limbs twisted in an unnatural, lifeless pose. Blood pooled beneath the victim’s head, glistening darkly under the dim orange light. Mara knelt beside the corpse, her gloved fingers brushing the cold, clammy skin. A single playing card—the ace of spades—was tucked into the victim’s stiffened hand. The detective’s breath fogged in the chilly air as she studied the card’s edges. Footsteps echoed behind her, and she turned to see Officer Reynolds approaching cautiously. “Another one, Detective?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper in the silence. Mara nodded grimly, her eyes scanning the alley for any sign of the killer. The victim’s face was frozen in a mask of terror, eyes wide and unseeing. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood. Mara’s mind raced as she pieced together the clues, each one a thread in a deadly web. The killer had left no fingerprints, no obvious signs of struggle, just this eerie calling card. She stood slowly, her gaze sweeping the rooftops and windows for any movement. The rain continued to fall, washing away evidence as the night swallowed the truth. Mara knew this was only the beginning of a hunt for a killer who loved games.