Chapter 6.

The Shadow of the Past.

The search for Victor Lazenby had led Iraide and Jared down a winding path of clues and dead ends. However, they finally managed to track the infamous doctor to a small nursing home on the outskirts of Renové.

The place was surrounded by a dense forest, and the atmosphere was so silent that it seemed unreal. Upon entering the building, they were greeted by a middle-aged nurse who led them down a long hallway to a room at the end.

¿Are you sure this man is the person you're looking for? she asked, with a worried expression. He's very ill and confined to a wheelchair. He can barely speak.

Iraide nodded. Yes, we think it's Victor Lazenby. We need to talk to him, even if it's just for a few moments.

Entering the room, they saw Victor, a man of about 57  emaciated and weak, confined to a wheelchair. The disease had left a cruel mark on his body, and he looked like an old man despite his relatively young age.

Victor Lazenby, Jared said softly, approaching the man. We are detectives investigating a series of crimes involving the extraction of human fat. We need your help to understand what is happening.

Victor slowly looked up, his hesitant eyes meeting Jared's. Crimes... fat... he murmured weakly. I know... I know why you are here.

¿What do you know about these crimes? Iraide asked, leaning towards him. ¿Are you involved in any way?

Victor coughed weakly before answering. Many years ago... I was part of something... something dark. Fat extraction... rejuvenation treatments. But I... I have nothing to do with it anymore.

We need to know if you have passed your acquaintance on.

I lie to others, Jared insisted. Is there someone else carrying out these crimes?

Victor closed his eyes, as if struggling to remember. There were others… doctors… all seeking eternal youth. I don’t know if… they’re still alive.

Iraide and Jared exchanged a look. The information Victor provided was scant, but it confirmed that there were more people involved. ¿Do you remember any names or places where we might find them? Iraide asked.

Victor took a deep breath before speaking. I renew… always I renew… Look in the darkest places… where no one wants to go. Maybe you’ll find someone… willing to talk.

The nurse came over and indicated it was time to let Victor rest. Iraide and Jared thanked Victor for his time and left the room with more questions than answers.

As they headed back to town, Iraide couldn’t help, but think of Victor’s words. I renew… always I renew, she murmured. We need to investigate further in the city. There's something we're missing.

Jared nodded. Yes, and we also need to search those dark places he mentioned. If there are more underground doctors, we need to find them before they continue with this monstrosity.

It seemed that what Victor had said was leading them to a rather interesting point. Go to the darkest places, but with their position as detectives they couldn't get details.

 Therefore, they would have to go undercover, perhaps looking like buyers or interested parties, because surely these doctors who were in charge of carrying out these terrible acts would not give much information, but would remain even more anonymous.

Maybe, they could even talk to the current Ripper himself without knowing it, because Victor's words were still in their mind: "I renewed... I always renewed." Something that made Jared realize that the word “Renové” sounded very similar to “renueva”...