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[@Eviledd1984][@Dark Cloud]

	Hiro's car pulled to a stop next to some beat-up old van that was in serious need of a tune-up, the bright headlights fading off into the dark as he killed the ignition and leaned back in his seat heaving a weary sigh.  Try as he may ignore it, the images of the dead woman were forever recorded in his memory.  Every minute detail he could recall in crystal clarity, every savage knife wound, every cut, and laceration.  It reminded him of a murder he investigated a few years ago, the same method, except it was a male victim.

	Nathan Gallagher was his name.  Age 39.  Some big-shot Corpo working for the Nova Corporation.  Found stabbed to death in his penthouse apartment fifty-eight times.  No witnesses.  Blood everywhere.

	Why this killer would target a Corpo first then some whore next however was beyond the detective's reasoning.  There had to be some connection, he pondered, his brow furrowing as he stared directly out his windshield towards the dingy dive bar known as [i]Bada Bing[/i].  A nondescript location only marked by the flickering, occasionally sparking, pink and red neon sign hanging over the entrance.  Yet another dwarfed by the [url=https://images3.alphacoders.com/200/thumb-1920-200849.jpg]dominating presence[/url] of several skyscrapers looming over it, the most prominent being the diamond-shaped headquarters of the Nova Corporation.  Its very height was like a middle finger raised towards God, Nishida thought, its glowing orange neon lining every corner contrasted by the black polished glass that encompassed its surfaces.

	Hiro gazed at it for a moment or so, not in awe but a sense of bitter distaste.

	[b]"Detective Nishida?"[/b], the voice of Emma rang in his cochlear implant, slightly jarring him from being adrift in his wild ponderings.

	[color=ec008c][b]"Go ahead, Thorley."[/b][/color]  He replied, almost in a hoarse whisper, punctuating his sentence with another bothersome exhale.

	[b]"We got the report back from the coroner's office.  Victim was identified as Jenna Hayworth, age 27.  Stabbed sixty-seven times. 
 All her major organs ruptured.  Turns out she wasn't a prostitute but a client.  One of the girls identified her.  I think her name was [i]Sweetie[/i] or something.  You know how those whores never use their real name."[/b]

	[b][color=ec008c]"Yeah."[/color][/b]  Nishida returned, nodding by habit.  [b][color=ec008c]"So what do you think this means, Em? 
 Wrong place, wrong time?"[/color][/b]

	[b]"Most likely, Hiro."[/b]  Said Detective Thorley flatly.  [b]"Listen.  I know you think this murder is somehow connected to Gallagher's.  But that was years ago."[/b]

	Hiro grimaced in reply, [color=ec008c][b]"Doesn't make a difference, Emma.  Same method used.  Same knife pattern.  Either we're dealing with a serial killer or something else.  I'm gonna talk to this [i]Sweetie[/i] later."[/b][/color]

	[b]"Right, just don't get carried away."[/b]  Thorley sternly advised him.  [b]"Where are you anyway?"[/b]

	[color=ec008c][b]"At the Bada-Bing."[/b][/color]  Said Nishida.

	Emma chuckled through the transponder in his ear, [b]"Drinking away your troubles again, Mr. Samurai?  Doesn't that go against your warrior code?"[/b]

	[color=ec008c][b]"Fuck off, Thorley."[/b][/color]  Nishida snickered in return.  [color=ec008c][b]"Why don't you stop by?  We can have a few."[/b][/color]

	[b]"Sorry, can't."[/b]  Said Thorley.  [b]"Staying in tonight with my girlfriend.  Maybe some other time, okay?"[/b]

	[color=ec008c][b]"Right."[/b][/color]  Hiro responded a tad disappointed.  [b][color=ec008c]"I forgot you were into the ladies.  Oh well.  Can't blame me for trying, right?"[/color][/b]

	[b]"Whatever you say, Nishida.  Just don't get too drunk you can't come into work tomorrow."[/b]

	[color=ec008c][b]"No promises.  Later."[/b][/color]

	And with that, Hiro hung up, taking a moment to collect himself before getting out of his car and slamming the door shut.  Turning his collar up to the cold mist, he slowly trudged across the street through the puddles and heavy traffic, then shoved his way through the throngs of people inside until he was at the bar, plopping down on a barstool beside [url=https://artignition.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Livia-Prima-Cyberpunk-Girl-Drawing.jpg]a much younger woman with a wild-looking haircut[/url].  [color=ec008c][b]"I'll take a scotch on the rocks."[/b][/color]  He hollered to the bartender over the booming music and the rancorous chatter of the bar patrons.

	While he waited for his drink, his eyes trailed over to the woman at his left.  Judging by her look, Hiro could discern she was here for a reason other than to get blackout drunk like the rest of these idiots.  Immediately, yet subtly, he set his scanner in motion, only for...

[code]///NO FACIAL RECOGNITION DATA AVAILABLE///[/code]

	[color=ec008c][b]"Interesting..."[/b][/color]  Hiro pondered to himself, his eyebrow raising slightly.  [color=ec008c][b]"A ghost in the system..."[/b][/color]