Bloodstains on the Sidewalk: A Murder in the City

Cazenovia, New York.

Maria Rodriguez stood at the edge of the crime scene, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any clues or evidence that might help her solve the case. She had been called in early that morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise, and had rushed to the scene without even stopping for a cup of coffee.

Maria stood outside the crime scene, her heart racing. She had been a detective for years, but every new case still made her apprehensive. She took a deep breath and walked towards the yellow police tape, her hand flashing her badge to the officer guarding the entrance.

Inside, the crime scene was chaotic, with officers running around gathering evidence and taking statements. Maria surveyed the scene with a critical eye, taking in every detail. As she made her way towards the body, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

It was a brutal murder, one of the worst she had ever seen. The victim, a young woman in her early twenties, had been found lying on the sidewalk, her body contorted in a grotesque position. Her throat had been slashed, and her blood had stained the concrete around her.

Maria took a deep breath, trying to push down the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. She had seen countless crime scenes in her career, but each one still managed to take a toll on her. She reminded herself that this was why she became a detective - to catch the monsters who preyed on the innocent.

As she began to move closer to the victim, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Detective Rodriguez? Over here."

As she examined the victim, Maria couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this case. It wasn't just the brutality of the murder, but something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She made a mental note to dig deeper into the victim's background, hoping it would provide some answers.

Maria began to scan the surrounding area for any clues, her eyes darting around the room, trying to make sense of the scene. She noticed a faint smell of perfume lingering in the air, which seemed out of place in the dingy alleyway. She made a mental note to have the lab analyze it for any potential leads.

Maria turned to see one of the uniformed officers waving her over. She made her way over to him, trying not to let the sick feeling in her stomach show on her face.

"What have we got?" she asked, her voice steady and professional.

The officer gestured towards the alleyway next to the crime scene. "Witnesses reported hearing a scream coming from over there. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I figured you'd want to take a look."

Maria nodded. "Good thinking. Let's go."

As they made their way towards the alley, Maria's mind raced. She knew that this was a high-profile case, one that would require her to be at her best. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes, not when the stakes were so high.

The alleyway was dark and narrow, the walls lined with trash cans and dumpsters. Maria's hand went instinctively to her gun as she made her way deeper into the shadows.

And then she saw it - a glint of something metallic caught her eye. She moved closer, her heart pounding in her chest, and saw that it was a knife. The same knife, she was sure, that had been used to kill the victim.

Maria bent down to get a closer look, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the clues. The killer had been here, she knew that much. But had they left any other evidence behind?

As she stood up, something caught her attention - a faint humming noise coming from further down the alleyway. Maria's curiosity was piqued, and she began to follow the sound.

The humming grew louder as she got closer, and soon she could make out the sound of chanting. She stopped in her tracks, her hand once again going to her gun. What was going on here?

As she continued her investigation, Maria felt a sense of unease settling in. This wasn't just any ordinary murder case. There was something more to it, something she couldn't quite understand yet.

She moved closer, peering around a corner, and saw a group of people gathered in a circle. They were all dressed in black robes, their faces obscured by hoods. They were chanting in a language she didn't recognize, and in the center of the circle was a small fire.

Maria felt a chill run down her spine. She had seen enough horror movies to know that this was not a good sign.

She took a step back, trying to decide what to do next. Should she call for backup? Or should she try to get closer and see what was going on?

As she debated her next move, one of the figures in the circle turned towards her. Maria froze, her heart racing as she waited for the person to make a move.

But then, to her surprise, the figure simply raised a hand in greeting. "Hello there," they called out, their voice surprisingly friendly.

———————————-

Maria stood in the dimly lit alleyway, her hand hovering over the hilt of her gun as she watched the figure in the black robe approach her. She couldn't make out their face, but she could feel the intensity of their gaze on her.

"Who are you? You know it's not good to do pranks while a crime scene's nearby, don't you?" Maria asked, her voice steady despite the unease she felt.

The figure remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a low, gravelly voice. "I have information that could be of use to you, Detective."

Maria frowned. She didn't trust the weirdo one bit, but she couldn't deny that any information about the recent string of murders plaguing the city would be helpful. "What kind of information?"

The figure stepped closer, and Maria tensed, ready to draw her weapon if necessary. "I know who's behind the murders," they said. "And I can lead you to them."

Maria hesitated. It seemed too good to be true. But she knew that she couldn't solve the case on her own, and she was running out of leads. "All right," she said finally. "Lead the way."

The figure turned and began to walk down the alley, and Maria followed, her hand never leaving her gun. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap, but she couldn't let the opportunity pass her by. She had to catch the killer before they struck again.

As they walked deeper into the alley, the figure in the black robe began to speak again. "You should know that the person responsible for these murders is not human," they said. "They are a creature of the night, and they are very dangerous."

Maria frowned. "What do you mean, not human?"

The figure stopped and turned to face her, their hood still obscuring their face. "I mean exactly what I said," they said. "The killer is a vampire."