A warm, sunny day in the tranquil town of Oakridge. Birds singing, children laughing. The perfect setting for a murder. Detective Alex Blake arrives at the scene, a quaint cottage nestled in the woods. Neighbors watch from afar, whispering. Blake enters the house, stepping over shards of broken glass. The living room is in disarray. A chilling silence fills the air. The victim, George Mayfield, lies motionless on the floor. Blood pools around him, his lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling. A single gunshot wound to the head, execution-style. Blake kneels beside the body, examining it closely. Inspecting the crime scene, Blake notices a single footprint in the blood. Too small for Mayfield. A woman's shoe? A broken vase on the floor, flowers scattered. A struggle? Blake retrieves a cigarette butt from the ashtray. Unusual brand. A shadow descends upon Blake as he stands. The coroner, Dr. Emily Thompson. "Cause of death, gunshot wound." Blake nods, surveying the room again. He spots a torn piece of paper beneath the couch. A cryptic message? The neighbors, the widow, the unusual brand of cigarettes. Too many questions, not enough answers. "Alright, let's get to work." (216 words / 9 sentences)