The early morning air was crisp as the sun struggled to break through a gray blanket of clouds. Molly Fletcher pulled her coat tighter around her as she stepped out of her car, the usual mix of adrenaline and grim determination coursing through her. The crime scene was already swarming with uniformed officers, their voices subdued as they moved with quiet urgency around the taped-off perimeter.

Molly adjusted her kit—a worn, black bag filled with tools of her trade—on her shoulder as she approached the lead detective. "What do we have?" she asked, her voice calm and measured.

Detective Rios glanced at her, his expression grim. "Victim's name is Jeremy Tanner, mid-30s. Found in an alley behind the old Greystone Theater. Cause of death looks like blunt force trauma, but you'll want to confirm. No witnesses so far, but it’s a mess back there."

Molly nodded, her mind already cataloging the details. She ducked under the yellow tape and followed Rios down the narrow alley. The air was damp, carrying the faint metallic tang of blood. The scene was grim—Jeremy’s body lay crumpled near a dumpster, a pool of blood darkening the ground beneath him. Molly’s trained eyes immediately began scanning the area, noting the position of the body, the scatter of trash nearby, and the faint smudge of what looked like a footprint leading away from the scene.