The old mansion loomed ominously against the stormy sky, its windows dark and uninviting on this fateful October night. Detective Sarah Morgan stepped out of her car, her trench coat billowing in the wind as she approached. A uniform greeted her at the door, his face grim as he gestured towards the body in the foyer. The victim, a middle-aged man in expensive attire, lay sprawled on the marble floor in a pool of blood. Sarah crouched beside him, her trained eyes scanning for clues as her mind raced with possible murder scenarios. The grandfather clock in the corner struck midnight, its chimes echoing through the vast, silent halls of the mansion. As Sarah stood, she noticed a crumpled note clutched in the victim's hand, hinting at hidden secrets and motives.