Shadows in the Alley

Rain slicked the pavement in the narrow alley behind Winston Street, the neon glow of the city’s lights reflecting off the puddles. Detective Lana Rivers stood over the lifeless body of Victor Crane, a prominent real estate mogul. His face was frozen in terror, his expensive suit soaked in rain and blood.

“Another high-profile murder,” Lana muttered, pulling her trench coat tighter against the cold.

Behind her, Officer Jake Morales approached, holding a steaming cup of coffee. “We’ve got witnesses who heard a commotion around 11 PM. No one saw anything, though.”

Lana sighed, crouching next to the body. “Convenient. The killer knows how to vanish.” She pointed to the faint scuff marks leading to the shadows. “Looks like someone dragged him here after the attack.”

Jake nodded, his face pale. “The coroner says he was stabbed, but the odd part? No defensive wounds. He didn’t fight back.”

“Maybe he knew his attacker,” Lana replied, her mind racing through possibilities. “Or maybe he was too scared to resist.”

A faint creak caught Lana’s attention. She spun around, her hand instinctively hovering near her holstered weapon.

From the darkness, a woman stepped into view. Her makeup was smeared, her black dress clinging to her rain-drenched form.

“Who’s there?” Jake barked, stepping forward.

The woman raised her hands. “I… I didn’t kill him. But I saw what happened.”

Lana’s eyes narrowed. “Start talking. What’s your name?”

“Maria,” the woman whispered, trembling. “I’m… I was Victor’s assistant.”

Lana exchanged a glance with Jake. “And why are you here, Maria?”

Maria hesitated, her gaze darting to Victor’s body. “He told me to meet him. Said he needed to talk about something urgent.”

“What time?” Lana pressed.

“A little after ten,” Maria stammered. “But when I got here, he was arguing with someone. A man.”

Lana’s pulse quickened. “Did you see his face?”

“No,” Maria said, shaking her head. “He wore a hoodie. But I remember his voice. He kept saying, ‘You took everything from me.’ Then he…” Maria choked on her words, tears streaming down her face.

Lana softened her tone. “Then he stabbed Victor?”

Maria nodded. “I ran. I didn’t know what to do.”

Jake frowned. “You didn’t think to call the police?”

“I was scared!” Maria snapped. “Victor… he wasn’t the man everyone thought he was. He had enemies. Lots of them.”

Lana straightened. “Enemies like who?”

Maria hesitated. “I don’t know his name, but Victor mentioned a rival, someone who lost a big deal to him recently. He said the guy wouldn’t let it go.”

“Interesting,” Lana murmured. “Where can we find you if we need more information?”

Maria scribbled her number on a damp napkin, then disappeared into the night.

Jake shook his head. “You think she’s telling the truth?”

Lana stared at Victor’s body. “Maybe. Or maybe she’s part of this mess. Either way, we’re not done.”

As the rain continued to fall, Lana turned back to the alley, the city’s shadows hiding more secrets than she cared to imagine.