Rain lashed against the study window, mimicking the frantic beat of Detective Inspector Riley's heart. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows upon the opulent Persian rug where the body lay sprawled. The victim, a man of obvious wealth and even more obvious demise, stared blankly at the ornate ceiling, a single ruby tie pin the only splash of color against his ashen skin. The air hung heavy with the scent of old books, aged brandy, and the metallic tang of fresh blood, a gruesome cocktail that sent a shiver down Riley's spine.