The East End and West End at night are like two completely different worlds.
There are only one street lamp far apart here, and many of them are broken. No one has repaired them until now. Therefore, many places are dark, with low and dilapidated buildings, irregular roads and dark alleys everywhere. It also makes this place more complicated. After the Whitechapel serial murders, the police deployed more manpower for night patrols.
Zhang Heng had already seen two waves of serious-looking patrol officers along the way, holding batons and whistles hanging around their necks. However, compared to the entire area, these manpower was still a bit stretched, and more importantly, even the police were difficult to maintain. Such intense patrolling.
In fact, when the second murder case occurred, the police had already begun to increase manpower. However, they have not been able to solve the case so far. Instead, many low-level patrol officers complained. Their salary was not high, but they did not do a lot of work. Before While on patrol, you can secretly go to the tavern to have a drink and relax, but no one dares to fish in this kind of atmosphere now.
Zhang Heng was still wearing the old coat he bought when he first came here, and Irene gave him the scarf he wore when he was disguised as a gypsy busker, plus the makeup skills he had mastered during this time. , anyone who sees him will feel that he is a resident here.
Zhang Heng first went around the place where the latest murder occurred. The area is now the focus of police patrols, and people have deliberately avoided it after that incident. Now there are almost no people here. Zhang Heng stood behind the fence. During the day When he was there, he tried to identify the soil here using the method Holmes taught him, but it didn't make much sense because the infrastructure in the entire East District was in a very bad condition. There were puddles and mud everywhere, even if the murderer's shoes were stained with mud. It can't be used as a clue.
Zhang Heng came here at night mainly to see the light here and whether there were lights on in nearby residences.
In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, he did not stay too long and quickly walked out from behind the apartment. As a result, he saw a girl in her early twenties on the roadside.
She was wearing an old coat and was holding a wine bottle in her hand. When she saw Zhang Heng, she took the initiative to open her collar and chatted up, "Hey, do you want to be happy?"
"Here?" Zhang Heng raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.
"It's exciting, isn't it? I won't let you down." The smile on the girl's face was a little forced, but she still tried her best to squeeze her small chest.
"Since you know what happened recently, you should stay home honestly." Zhang Heng said.
"I need money to pay rent and buy food. Even this half bottle of wine was just borrowed by me." The girl said, her English didn't sound standard and she had a heavy accent, "No matter what No matter what happens in the world, we always have to work, right?”
"Then you should at least stay in a crowded place, or stay with your companions, where it will be safer."
"This business is not as simple as you think. The prostitutes also have territorial divisions. I'm just a foreigner who just came here not long ago. They won't accept me," the girl said. "I can only do it when they don't want me." Try your luck at this place, by the way, how are you thinking? I am much cheaper than them, but the service is a hundred times better than theirs, and you can also experience the exotic style from me."
"You shouldn't have come here anyway." Zhang Heng said lightly, "Do you know what kind of men would come here at a time like this?"
"I heard that a murderer would never commit a crime twice in the same place." Having said that, the girl's body was trembling slightly from the beginning. Obviously she was not as bold as she seemed.
"That's true, but have you ever thought that even if the real master doesn't come, there are others who will come. Behind every famous serial killer, there are many imitators. Your existence is just for them. It provides an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the idol." Zhang Heng said as he took a half step towards the girl.
The girl couldn't help but shudder and subconsciously took a small step back.
Zhang Heng took out the half bottle of wine from her hand, looked at the label on the bottle, and asked, "Is this the kind of wine you usually drink?"
"That's right." The girl replied while secretly looking around to see if any patrol officers were passing by.
Zhang Heng opened the bottle cap, smelled it, and asked, "How much money do you usually make in a night?"
"Huh?" the girl thought for a while and said, "Three or four pennies, maybe. If you're lucky, if someone is generous, you might be able to earn more, or you might be able to meet several customers in one night."
Zhang Heng tossed the half-pound gold coin to the girl, "Then just follow me tonight."
The latter's eyes flashed with joy when she saw the gold coins. Those who lived in the East District were not rich people. She had never seen such a generous customer. But then she probably recalled what Zhang Heng said before, a heart It sank again.
Her one night's service is not so valuable, no, it should be said that she has nothing so valuable, except for her own life.
"Don't think too much, I just have a few questions to ask you." Zhang Heng said, "You haven't had dinner yet? Then find a place to have dinner first."
…………
The girl hesitated for less than half a second and followed Zhang Heng obediently.
As she said herself, she may not know how dangerous it is to do so, but in order to fill her stomach, she has to do even the most dangerous things. This is probably the tragedy of people like them.
In fact, Zhang Heng also saw many other prostitutes along the way, posing in pubs and alleys to attract customers, including some elderly aunts in their fifties and sixties. Logically speaking, after Jack the Ripper appeared, They were supposed to stop business and rest for a while until the police caught the murderer, but the reality was that they didn't have a day off.
The only thing scarier than serial killers is life itself.
"Once you get into this industry, it's like being stuck in a quagmire. You can't get out, you can only watch yourself sinking."
This was what an elderly colleague told her when she first entered the industry. The latter died of typhoid fever three months ago. He was alone in the small house where he lived. He was not discovered by the rent collector until two days after his death. She didn't want her old age to be like this.
However, the reality is more cruel than this. She is very stupid and has never been able to speak like others. When she was young, she could not make much money. When she gets old and loses her beauty, her life will be even more unsatisfactory.
Thinking of this, her mood couldn't help but become darker, and at this moment the man beside her said again, "What should I call you better?"
