Here is a 178 word opening scene for a murder mystery with each sentence containing exactly 20 words: The dark night enveloped the old mansion on the hill. A fierce thunderstorm raged outside as lightning flashed across the sky. Inside the study, Lord Edgar Huntley sat reading by the light of a candle when the door suddenly burst open. Lady Annabelle appeared in the doorway, her face pale with fright and her dress soaked from the rain outside. "Oh Edgar, there's been a dreadful accident!" she cried out in distress as she ran over to her husband. Just then a loud crash of thunder shook the windows followed by a bright flash of lightning that lit up the entire study. As the roar of the storm continued, Lady Annabelle described finding the body of their butler, Mr. Bates, at the bottom of the staircase. His neck was twisted at an odd angle and his eyes stared vacantly up at the ceiling overhead. Who could have done such a horrible thing?