Walking through the rundown streets where hardly any life could be seen, Jack felt that something had happened.
"Stella, I think it's better if we interview a house quickly and leave… I have a bad feeling."
"Yes, i can feel it. This area of the city looks dangerous, we should be fast."
Knock Knock (Stella knocks at the first door she saw)
"Who's there?"
A calm, quiet voice echoed from inside the house.
"Hello ma'am, we are criminal detectives and we came here to ask you if you could answer a few questions please?"
Suddenly, the door quietly opens revealing a seemingly harmless hunchbacked old lady.
"Oh, I see a beautiful young lady and a handsome young man have come here. It's been a while since I had visitors. Yes, yes, please come in."
Entering the dusty house, but with some care in its organization, Jack and Stella felt a little relieved from the pressure that those streets were under.
"Sit down, sit down, and make yourselves comfortable."
Said the old lady warmly.
"Thank you very much ma'am."
Answered Jack slightly smiling.
"Now wait a minute i will bring some tea so we can talk better ok?"
"Ok, ok."
Both replied.
The old lady leaves the room and then Stella looks at Jack.
"Jack, do you think she knows anything about it?"
"Hmmm, I have no idea Stella, that's because most of the people we interviewed couldn't give a proper answer to our questions. I don't know how this lady can help."
After a few minutes of silent waiting, the old lady came back with three cups of tea.
"So what did you gentlemen come to ask me?"
"Eh eh, well we've been working on a mass murder for several months now and we've always missed some important things. It's as if the clues are being hidden by some kind of witchcraft, ma'am. I know it sounds absurd and crazy, but unlike the other detectives, this was the only thing we were able to deduce. Do you have any idea what might have killed the people who died here in this area, or who could have committed such an act?"
"This area is known for being quite calm and mysterious, many people say and assume that we are witches, don't you think that is being a little hasty and discriminating against the poverty we are suffering gentleman?"
Said the old lady with a suspicious and threatening air.
"We would never do that ma'am."
Stella said, interrupting Jack from starting to speak.
"We've been interviewing the homes of people living near the sites of the massive victims since this morning. We came here because it was the only place left and our last hope. We don't wish harm on anyone; we just want to help so that no one else gets hurt."
After seeing Stella almost crying, the old lady calmed down, took a deep breath and began to speak.
"I'm so sorry, but many people in this area have bad intentions. I and some peaceful people have to live with suspicion about everything that might happen. Living in this place isn't easy, my dears."
"No, I apologize for seeming offensive, madam, I never had such an intention."
Jack replied, uncomfortable with what had happened.
"Well, I didn't witness the last murder that occurred around here, but I'm absolutely certain that a few days ago I heard some men talking about some project they were developing. They said the goal of the project was to implant a kind of life inside someone else's body, something like changing their memory. Terrified by the situation, I fled the scene stealthily and never saw those men again."
"OH?! That is crazy! Do you know where their developing that project by any means madam?"
Said Jack with a serious look.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I seem to remember someone talking about the underground part of one of the carriage factories located north of the city. It's a factory rarely visited due to a lack of parts and complaints from former customers."
"Thank you very much madam! That's all we need, god bless you!"
"You're welcome, boy, have a great night and be careful when you go out on these streets, you never know what might happen."
"Stella, let's go!"
"Right! Have a good night madam bye."
Leaving the old lady's house, Jack and Stella ran through the streets until...
"Please help me... money... food... anything."
Said a beggar leaning against a lamppost.
"Sorry sir but we have nothing at the moment and we are in a hurry."
Jack replied.
Glup... (rain starts dropping)