In the distance, the rattling of the tracks announced the arrival of the train. For years, that sound had been part of GreenTown’s routine, marking precisely eight in the morning. Its arrival brought passengers from the city and saw off merchants traveling to the capital to sell their goods. The town’s economy depended on craftsmanship and agriculture, but technological advancements threatened to transform that reality. The morning newspapers spoke of progress, urban expansion, and how, sooner or later, modernity would reach even the most remote corners.
But that morning, the headline dominating the front page wasn’t about technology or economics.
Sheriff Reynolds flipped through his newspaper while stirring sugar into his coffee. The bitter, warm aroma usually accompanied his mornings as reliably as the train’s rattle, but this time, none of his routines could erase the unease churning in his stomach. In bold, striking letters, the local newspaper’s headline screamed:
"MACABRE CRIME SHAKES GREENTOWN – AN EFFECT OF PROGRESS?"
Reynolds clenched his jaw. Since when were murders blamed on modernization?
“What nonsense!” he exclaimed, slamming the newspaper onto the table. “A crime like this shakes the town, and the first thing they say is that it’s progress’s fault?”
“I don’t blame them,” said his companion, Perkins, sitting across from him. “We’ve never seen anything like this in this town. Poor Hudsons… dying in such a grotesque way.”
Reynolds sighed, not responding immediately. The memories of the crime scene still clung to his mind like a persistent shadow.
“It looked like a nightmare,” he finally admitted. “Anyone would think a wild animal was responsible for that.”
Before Perkins could respond, the diner door swung open violently, and a furious figure stormed inside.
The mayor.
His heavy footsteps echoed against the wooden floor, and without a word, he snatched the newspaper from the sheriff’s hands, quickly scanning the headline.
“This is unacceptable!” he bellowed, his face red with anger. “I want everyone in this town interrogated! Humans, rodents, four-legged animals—I don’t care!”
The murmurs in the diner fell silent immediately.
“If necessary, I want those damn birds to sing for the first time in their lives.”
Reynolds pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the pressure of an imminent headache.
“That will be impossible, Mr. Mayor,” he responded patiently. “We know that birds have never spoken to humans. Not even to other animals, except those of their own kind.”
“Nonsense!” the mayor growled. “What privilege do they think they have? If dogs, cats, raccoons, and even fish can answer us, what makes them think they can stay silent?”
“Flight, obviously,” Perkins said disinterestedly.
The mayor scoffed, crossing his arms.
“Humans can fly too,” he said arrogantly.
The black cat raised his gaze with a bored expression and responded with a half-smirk.
“Yes, in iron cages that barely stay in the air.”
“I’m not listening to someone who can’t even open a can of tuna,” the mayor grumbled. “And since you’re here, tell me, have you discovered anything about our killer?”
The cat yawned, stretching lazily before answering.
“Nothing conclusive,” he said. “The domestic animals claim to know nothing. The Hudsons lived in the old part of town, almost abandoned. They spent their last days in one of the first houses built here… no one usually visited them.”
“And the rats?” the mayor asked skeptically.
The black cat let out a sigh, as if the question was a waste of time.
“They say they saw something…” he answered indifferently, stretching again. “But you know how they are. They always exaggerate.”
“What did they say?” the mayor insisted.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The cat tilted his head with a mocking gesture before continuing:
“They claim to have seen a figure as tall as a bear, with eyes slanted like a fox’s and a wolf’s mouth. They say it had panther claws, sharp and black as the night.”
The mayor scoffed, crossing his arms.
“Nonsense!” he spat in disdain. “What’s next? That it flew and breathed fire?”
“They didn’t mention anything about flying,” the cat said with a sly grin. “But they did say it walked without making a sound, as if the shadows carried it.”
An uncomfortable silence settled over the table. Perkins raised an eyebrow at the sheriff, while Reynolds stroked his chin with a thoughtful expression.
“A typical rat story,” the mayor finally said with a dismissive gesture. “They only exist to spread fear with ridiculous tales.”
“Yes, surely it’s a lie,” the cat nodded with an astute look. “But it’s curious, isn’t it? For a lie… it seems the rats saw it far too well.”
The mayor clenched his fists in frustration.
“Perfect!” he exclaimed. “We have nothing. And meanwhile, a killer is out there, ready to strike again whenever they please.”
Reynolds couldn’t shake the weight of those words. GreenTown had never known fear… until now.
The mayor, with nothing more to add, stormed out of the diner with the same fury he had entered with. Before leaving, an aide approached him and whispered something in his ear. Reynolds caught two words before the door closed behind him:
"His son returned."
The sheriff watched as the mayor’s silhouette disappeared down the street. He sighed, placed some coins on the table, and stood up. He still had paperwork to take care of, and with that in mind, he headed to the station.
OFFICIAL REPORT – SHERIFF REYNOLDS
Case: Hudsons'' Homicide
Date: 06/14/1952
Report Time: 2:20 PM
Author: Sheriff Daniel Reynolds
<h4>1. Notification and Deployment</h4>
10:23 AM – An emergency call was received from a mailman identified as Thomas Wilkins. The individual reported a foul odor emanating from the Hudsons’ residence, located in GreenTown’s old district. The witness stated that he knocked on the door multiple times without receiving an answer, which raised his suspicions.
10:30 AM – A police unit was dispatched to the scene to verify the situation.
10:40 AM – Officers arrived at the scene and established a security perimeter. Additional support and forensic personnel were requested.
<h4>2. Crime Scene</h4>
Location: Hudsons'' residence, main street of the old district.
Exterior Conditions:
<ul>
<li>
Front door closed with no visible signs of forced entry.
</li>
<li>
Windows shut; no signs of breakage.
</li>
<li>
No movement detected inside.
</li>
</ul>
Interior Conditions:
<ul>
<li>
The house showed signs of struggle:
<ul>
<li>
Overturned furniture.
</li>
<li>
Picture frames shattered on the floor.
</li>
<li>
Walls deeply scratched.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Strong smell of blood and decomposition throughout the house, most intense in the master bedroom.
</li>
</ul>
<h4>3. Main Findings</h4>
Body Locations:
<ul>
<li>
The bodies of William and Margaret Hudson were found in the master bedroom, lying on the floor.
</li>
<li>
Both exhibited clear signs of extreme violence.
</li>
</ul>
Condition of the Corpses:
<ul>
<li>
Both bodies displayed multiple wounds indicative of torture.
</li>
<li>
Eyes removed; empty sockets with signs of hemorrhaging.
</li>
<li>
Mouths sewn shut with thick thread, preventing an initial assessment of possible internal injuries.
</li>
<li>
Clothing torn, though no evident signs of sexual assault.
</li>
<li>
Hands clenched, possibly in a defensive attempt.
</li>
</ul>
Status of Household Pets:
<ul>
<li>
The family''s two adult Labrador dogs were missing.
</li>
<li>
No remains of the animals were found, nor any signs of forced escape.
</li>
<li>
Neighbors confirmed that the Hudsons were never apart from their dogs.
</li>
<li>
Birds in the vicinity observed the scene but remained eerily silent.
</li>
</ul>
<h4>4. Ongoing Investigation</h4>
Autopsy:
<ul>
<li>
The bodies have been transported to the morgue.
</li>
<li>
A detailed forensic report is expected within 24-48 hours.
</li>
<li>
Preliminary examinations suggest that the wounds were inflicted by a sharp object, though the depth and shape of some cuts appear unusual.
</li>
</ul>
Potential Suspects:
<ul>
<li>
No eyewitnesses.
</li>
<li>
Nearby residents reported no unusual activity on the night of the crime.
</li>
<li>
An unconfirmed source (rodents) described the presence of a large figure near the house. No evidence supporting this claim has been found.
</li>
</ul>
Investigation Lines:
<ul>
<li>
Blood samples collected from the scene will be analyzed.
</li>
<li>
Merchants frequently passing through the old district will be questioned.
</li>
<li>
The disappearance of the dogs remains unresolved and will be further investigated.
</li>
</ul>
Provisional Conclusion:
The crime exhibits unusual characteristics for GreenTown. The brutality of the attack and the disappearance of the dogs suggest a highly atypical modus operandi. The motive behind the murders remains unknown.
Given the level of violence and lack of witnesses, the possibility of an attack by a wild animal cannot be ruled out, although there have been no prior reports of large predators in the area. As a precautionary measure, surveillance will be increased around the nearby forests and less-traveled areas of the town.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant and strengthen security in rural areas, as the perpetrator has not yet been identified.
Sheriff Daniel Reynolds
GreenTown Police Department