Lightning flashed as Detective Myles parked near the grand mansion. The rain thrummed rhythmically on the roof of his old car. Stepping out, he adjusted his coat, facing the ominous building. The door creaked open before he touched the ornate knocker. Inside, the hallway stretched darkly ahead, lit by flickering candles. A scream pierced the silence, chilling Myles to his very core. He ran towards the source, his footsteps echoing in the void. In the library, a woman lay motionless, surrounded by books. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, life extinguished prematurely. A heavy candlestick lay beside her, handle smeared with dark blood. Myles knelt, checking for signs of life, though hope faded. The room smelled of old paper, fear, and unseen secrets.