In the southwest corner of the Gonia district, a middle-class residential area, Oden Case had mortgaged his entire fortune to open a grocery store on Garden Street.
The rain, the size of franc coins, pattered on the ground. Oden watched from his window as the downpour broke the long spell of dry weather, bringing a much-needed coolness to the air.
At a little past seven in the evening, he lit the gas lamp in his grocery, tallying up a few scattered sales. Oden calculated his accounts and found that he had made a small profit for the month. The purchasing power of the neighbors around Garden Street was significantly stronger than near the port.
"Chime." The door to the grocery store opened. Focused on his accounts, Oden didn't look up but offered a friendly greeting, "Good evening. Everything on the shelves is newly stocked. Just bring your selection here to pay when ready." The merchandise in Oden's store was daily necessities, not typically the target of thieves.
The person who entered didn't respond, simply wandering around the store. Oden glanced curiously at the figure in a crimson cloak, not very tall.
"Miss, what are you looking for? If it's soap or something similar, it's on that shelf there."
The woman remained silent, glancing at her watch before coming to a halt. Oden figured she was just seeking shelter from the rain. The umbrellas were on the shelf by the door; she probably planned to wait out the downpour before leaving.
Oden continued planning next month's stock orders when footsteps approached the counter. He looked up with a smile.
"Miss, what can I get for you? The rain's coming down quite heavy. May I recommend an umbrella? It's just by the entrance on the shelf."
The woman didn't say anything, and Oden suddenly realized that despite the heavy rain outside, she wasn't wet at all. A chill ran down his spine. Could this be an encounter with something unclean? He would have to visit the church tomorrow.
"It's time," the woman said, her voice devoid of emotion.
"What do you mean, are you ready to leave?" Oden felt it might be best to close up shop early tonight; something about the evening made him uneasy.
"Yes, sir. Could I borrow something from you?"
"If it's an umbrella, just take one from the shelf. If you forgot your money, you can bring it tomorrow."
"That's fine, I'll consider it your agreement. Thank you for your contribution to our Lord's cause."
Oden thought she might just be a preacher and not someone odd. Then, out of nowhere, the woman produced a massive scythe, its blade emanating a chilling frost. With a slight wave, a crescent wave of light passed through Oden.
On August 5th, after yesterday's rain, the weather had cooled significantly. Elyon arrived at the hospital, the same one he had been rushed to at the end of July. The same doctor greeted him and examined the wound after unwrapping the bandage.
"You're healing quite fast. I thought you'd need ten days before we could remove the stitches, but we can remove them today."
Elyon responded, "Once they're out, could you wrap up my arm again and keep it in the sling?"
Perplexed, the doctor inquired further, and Elyon explained, "I've been so busy that they discharged me as soon as I woke up. This way, I can get some rest that I didn't manage to take before."
The doctor seemed to understand and removed the stitches. The fresh skin was pink and tender, strikingly different from the surrounding sun-darkened skin. He casually bandaged Elyon's arm again, and the left arm continued to hang from his neck.
Elyon returned to the precinct at ten in the morning, justified in his late arrival. A crowd had gathered outside.
"Pardon me, what's happened here?" Elyon asked a bystander.
"Garden Street's shopkeeper, Oden, has been killed. We're here to pay our respects. Ah, such a good man. They say his body was discovered this morning, and a hand was missing. How cruel the killer must be."
"Why aren't you going in?"
"The guard is stopping us, saying only close relatives are allowed. Oden's only son is on his way here."
Elyon's head throbbed with pain. The fourth case. Back in his office, Rita was unusually absent today. Emma and Bell were already busy.
"You've been slacking off for two hours today, you salary thief," Emma accused him with a scowl.
Elyon pointed to his arm, "I went to change the dressing. This arm was injured on duty after all. So, another victim last night?"
Bell stood, relinquishing his seat to Elyon, and took up a position at the side. Elyon's desk had been commandeered by Emma.
"Mr. Elyon, the latest victim is named Oden Case. The crime scene is at Garden Street in the southwest corner. He was a grocery store owner found dead in his store this morning, no signs of struggle. Only a piece of paper was left at the scene with the letter 'O,' and the victim's right arm was cut off and taken. The body is waiting in the back for family to sign off."
Elyon organized the information in his head. "Enro—that's what we have so far. What does that mean?" He pondered. "Each victim is missing a part of their body. Is 'k' trying to assemble a person? Is this some bizarre ritual?"
"I don't understand the thoughts of these lunatics. I'm reporting back to the Special Actions Division this afternoon. It feels like the case has outgrown my abilities."
Emma was no fool, Elyon thought. But this case had probably surpassed the woman's capacity long ago—not that he'd admit it, as he doubted he'd win in a fight against her.
Elyon recalled detective novels from Earth, where clues like letters and partial remains usually led to a fake death. One victim might be assembled from parts of others. But on this planet with established forensics, varying heights and builds made such a ruse nearly impossible.
With his head throbbing, Elyon pinned the fourth victim's information onto the map of Gonia district.
"East side, west side, north side, and now southwest?" Elyon muttered to himself, staring at the map.
A sharp pain coursed through his leg as Emma, giddy with excitement, slapped him.
"What was that for?"
"I've figured it out!" Emma exclaimed, drawing lines on the map to connect the victims' locations, forming a star missing one point.
"If there's a fifth victim, it'll definitely be in the southeast. Am I smart or what?"
Elyon clapped without expression. "Fantastic discovery, but next time, just hit yourself if you're excited. And give me five pence."
"Why should I pay you five pence?"
"A map of Gonia district this size sells for five pence. And if your guess is correct, what's in the southeast corner of Gonia district?"
"Gonia Bay. So what?"
"Tell me, Miss Emma, can one commit murder on Gonia Bay?"
"Why not? Maybe they killed someone and dumped the body there."
"And the clue 'k' left, a piece of paper with the victim's initial? How will it survive?"
"Perhaps they prepared a boat and placed both the person and the paper in it."