Excerpt
On the last night of her life Sara Hollis stood outside a pool hall, her reddish blonde hair waving in the wind. A slight shiver ran down her back as she surveyed the scene with raven eyes, looking for her night’s work. Well known in this part of town, Sara often propositioned a well-dressed man coming out of the pool hall.
A tall slender man approached, his cane clicking on the wooden side walk as he strolled in a slow deliberate manner. Thin, yet solidly built with hair gray at the temples, he wore a top hat, and long coat, though it was a mild night. Sara was not sure about this one. He was well dressed though, and reeked of money. Money is money, she thought. As they talked for a few moments. Sara thought there was something hauntingly familiar about him.
She took his arm and led him toward her flat on Tenth Street. As they walked round the block, the tall man suddenly pulled Sara’s arm and led her to a dark alley. Sara protested he was hurting her. The light from the street lamp revealed his face. A look of horror came over her. He pushed her hard against the wall of the building, choking her neck so she could not scream. Then she saw it, appearing out of nowhere, a long thin blade. It was at the end of his cane she noticed, just before he swept it in one motion, slitting her throat. Trying to cry out she could only make a gurgling sound. Blackness came as she collapsed onto the ground. A single red rose was placed beside her limp body.