William Monroe: The detective (Chapter 1)

It's a dark night in the 1920s, and the only light comes from the occasional street lamp that flickers overhead. William "Will" Monroe stands in the shadows, his face obscured by the brim of his hat. He takes a long drag on his cigarette, the ember glowing bright in the darkness. His other hand grips a revolver tightly, as if he's ready to use it at any moment.

Will looks nervous and jumpy, his eyes darting back and forth as if he's expecting trouble. He keeps to the shadows, trying to stay out of sight as he moves down the deserted street. In the distance, a dog barks, making him jump and causing him to grip the gun even tighter.

As he moves closer to his destination, he sees a figure emerge from the shadows up ahead. Will freezes, his hand tightening around the revolver. The figure moves closer, revealing itself to be a woman. She's wearing a coat and carrying a purse, looking like she's on her way home from a night out.

Will relaxes slightly, but he still keeps the gun trained on her. She doesn't seem to notice him, and he breathes a sigh of relief as she disappears down the street. He continues on his way, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger.

Finally, he reaches his destination - a dingy alleyway that's barely visible in the darkness. He takes a deep breath and steps forward, his hand still gripping the gun tightly. As he moves deeper into the alley, the shadows seem to close in around him, and he feels a sense of unease.

Suddenly, a figure steps out of the darkness in front of him, and Will raises the gun. The figure steps closer, revealing itself to be a man in a fedora. The two men stand facing each other, their eyes locked in a tense stare-down.

After a long moment, the man in the fedora speaks. "What brings you here, friend?" he asks, his voice low and measured.

Will hesitates for a moment before responding. "I'm looking for someone," he says, his voice tense.

The man in the fedora nods slowly. "I might be able to help you," he says, his hand reaching for something in his pocket.

Will's grip tightens on the gun, his nerves on edge. He's not sure he can trust this stranger in the shadows, but he has no other choice. He steps forward, ready for whatever comes next.