The clock struck midnight as the mansion's lights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the grand staircase's polished wooden steps. Detective Harper arrived, trench coat billowing, eyes scanning the room for any signs of a struggle or misplaced objects. A chilling wind howled through the broken window, scattering papers across the floor like ghostly whispers of untold secrets. Lady Evelyn's lifeless body lay sprawled on the Persian rug, her pearl necklace broken and scattered around her. The butler, trembling, pointed towards the library where a single candle flickered, casting long shadows on the ancient bookshelves. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder, as the guests gathered, their faces pale with fear and suspicion. Detective Harper knelt beside the body, examining the bruises and the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air. A blood-stained letter opener lay discarded nearby, its ornate handle glinting ominously in the dim candlelight. The grandfather clock chimed again, its sound resonating through the mansion, marking the beginning of a long, sleepless night.