Do you really have time to sit here and read correspondence? After all, the city has hardly been in top shape since you disappeared for two months. Things are hardly better since your return.

I can understand your reticence at bringing these dismal facts to my attention, but I would prefer to receive news – even bad news – from my agents in the field rather than from the efficient and ruthless local press. Please forward reports in a more timely manner henceforth.

The local police chief informs me that a copy cat murderer is operating north of the river in the Hillside district. The reports are most distrubing and paint the picture of a violent, psychopathic individual – probably several individuals, given the swift and brutal nature of the home invasions and the subsequent violent deaths. All murders were carried out with knives or possibly a punching dagger, given the unusual punctures on some victims necks. On the bright side, the horrific nature of the murder scenes has pushed news of the ‘Dockside Strangler’ to the second page.

In Southside, there are reports of equipment – perfectly mundane tools of trade, to be sure - spontaneously animating and attacking their masters. There have been several deaths attributed to these animated appliances already. Most of the attacks appear clustered around your very location. And at the risk of presumption, perhaps this bears your attention?

Need I remind you that there has been a surge of undead sightings dockside? Rival groups of undead, no less, that appear to be fighting some sort of a turf war. When they are not busy victimizing the brave and loyal members of the local militia, that is. Some of the zombies appear more canny and more resilient than the typical undead ought to be. Perhaps you could look into this matter for me?

Strange monsters have been victimizing the populace almost daily in the downtown core. The newspapers indicate twelve deaths in the area this week. And it’s only Wednesday. The militia is being slowly worn down by these constant otherworldly raids, raids that they are ill-equipped and ill-prepared to deal with. The newspapers go on to report horrendous abonimations appearing from sewers, a flesh-eating fog that flays its victims, plus…let’s see…a sketch of my agents hosting a barbecue beach party along the river? Do you really have time for these frivolities while people are dying?

You do realize that a streak of gruesome murders occurred dockside within a week of your departure? And has continued unabated for nearly two months? The victims were all strangled and left dead in the streets. The local militia Captain informs me of a similar occurrence shortly before your departure, but that a ‘strange band of fellows – whom I first mistook for ruffians but were operating under official writ – pledged that they had dealt with the serial murderer.”  The first deaths were not reported for some weeks, as it appears the murderer was canny and preyed upon transients and shiftless riffraff. Need I remind you that the killer remains at large?