"Maalech." He shook the hand, pondering for a moment before he added "Formerly a weaver. Now I suppose madman and occasional philosopher." It felt strange, this meeting, but as always since he started down this road he was not sure whether he could discern the type of reality that he was currently a part of.

Whether it was shared knowledge or actual events. But... if he had to hazard a guess, this would be important. It was too odd to be just another passing of the days.

"You are a doctor then, it seems you are even more strange to see wandering these streets at night than I am." But perhaps doctors had vices too.

Men of stature always ventured to places like this, walked the streets and then retreated again. Visitors.

Was he a visitor himself? It had felt like that at first, but now after a couple of days it... felt less like visiting.

More like coming home to a past you had ignored for too long.

"Not so much a doctor these days. The few patients I get pay in trade." He shrugged again--so goes it. "I heard the commotion and came down, but she was already dead. It wasn't even worth it to cut lose the rope, and when someone sent for the officers I thought it better that they see it in situ."

"For all the good that it will do. If they truly care about what people think I suspect they will find someone suitably odd, hang them publicly and hope that smooths the waters." There was an odd look on his face, one of almost tired resignation. "It is not the truth they seek, but the upholding of order."

There was silence for a moment, and then he asked "Payment in trade is still payment, I assume that there are reasons for a doctor to live here... but regardless, people should be grateful for it." Was there a hint of a smile there? "I am an old man, perhaps I will have need of your services one of these days..."

"Highly doubtful," said Silvio cheerfully, before he sobered a notch. "But I would advise you to stay off the streets after dark until this is resolved. It shouldn't take very long. Whoever's doing it does not seem a careful type."

"Do you know whether the other victims also were young girls?" Maalech frowned a little before continuing "I very much doubt theft was the reason for this, someone seeking to steal from her would most likely have left with the purse instead of spending precious time at the scene of the crime rummaging through it and then leaving it there. He most likely wished for it to be found, in an attempt to convince people that this was simply a robbery gone wrong." There was a simple satisfaction in considering things like this, he would like to deny that the dead girl's face haunted him, but it was a memory he found hard to shake.

Guilt. Such a detestable emotion.

"I will take your advice, if nothing else because the streets are colder than I remember. Or perhaps I am simply older."

"The first two were men. Of course the first one was the one that the police are not qualifying as being done by the same person. He had his--" Suddenly uncomfortable-looking, Silvio cleared his throat and ran his thumbnail around the base of his neck in demonstration. "The same area, and the same motive: his pockets were turned out." He gave Maalech a sober look. "But he kept on a gold link bracelet."

"Both would suffice to silence them I suppose." Maalech rubbed his chin again, looking back the way they came. "Of course it might simply be to disguise some other manner of death as well, a badly lacerated throat can hide many things..." he mused quietly, then turned his eyes on the doctor. For a little he regarded the man, most likely a bit longer than had been polite.

"You know about the fifth man, and believe that he is a part of this, regardless of what rumors say. That must means you have been watching these streets since this started. Tell me doctor, what made you connect this first death with the others then? Surely not just the area and motive... I find it hard to think that people have not been killed here quite often for similar things. Something must have caught your attention as odd, other than the bracelet."

"Whoever did this has been dumping bodies where they'll be found by the next person who comes along," Silvio pointed out. "As a display, or as a warning, or because they wish to be caught, I don't know."

"Or because they wish to cause this. Unrest. Perhaps a mob. An uprising. A mob is a rather handy a tool, perhaps whoever did this already have a target for the rage that is building, someone that might be untouchable by other means. But convince enough desperate people that their lives and that of their friends are threatened by some vague inexplicable evil, and they will be a powerful force. People who have very little are always so afraid of losing the small things that remains, but they do not have enough to lure them into complacency and cowardice." Maalech looked around again, adding "They are not spectacular enough kills to be a display I think, and a few too many of them to be a warning. As for wishing to be caught... why the silent kills then? A dagger in the back would be a simpler means if it is a madman seeking to be punished."

Silvio gave Maalech a sharp look. "Can I say that you're displaying too much interest in this matter for me to be entirely comfortable, sir? Although I admit, you do make a point."