January 3, 1995.

A naked woman’s body has been discovered on Erath. She had been stabbed multiple times in the stomach and later positioned against a tree in a prayer position. She was wearing a 'crown' made of rose thorns with deer antlers placed on her head. The crime scene itself was surrounded by devil's nests and had been burned.

The body will later be identified as Dora Lange, a prostitute.

Marty walks over to Rust and says, "Tell me what you see."

"Ligature marks on her wrists ankles and knees. Multiple shallow stab wounds to the abdomen. Hemorrhaging around throat. Lividity at the shoulders, thighs and torso. She'd been on her back a while; before he moved her." Rust answers.

You've been assigned to investigate the murder, along with detectives Martin 'Marty' Hart and Rustin 'Rust' Cohle. The pair had been working together for 3 months now, but you'd be a new addition to their team.

Marty looks vaguely horrified, while Cohle’s face simply tenses and his eyes sharpen.

"...It’s fantasy enactment. Ritual. Fetishization iconography. This is his vision. Her body is a paraphilic lovemap. [...] An attachment of physical lust to fantasy and practices forbidden by society." Rust continues.

Marty looks at him skeptically, "You get that from one of your books?" he asks Rust.

"I did." Rust answers plainly. "Her knees are abraded. Rug burns on her back. Cold sores, gumline recession, bad teeth -- there’s decent odds she was a prost’. He might not have known her, but… this idea goes way back with him."

Marty watches him, "You got a chapter in one of those books on jumping to conclusions? You attach an assumption to a piece of evidence, you start to bend the narrative to support it. Prejudice yourself."

Rust's demeanor remains stoic, "Wait and see on the ID." is all he says to Marty. Marty simply responds with an "Alright." as he continues to watch Rust.