The silver moon cast a somber light on the stately mansion, where a lavish party had already ended. An ornate candelabra flickered, casting shadows onto a sprawling living room. Guests had departed, leaving only faint echoes of laughter and music. Hidden among the plush velvet sofas, a figure lay still, a painted mask half-dislodged from its lifeless face. In front, an ornate letter opener dripped blood, its handle slick from recent usage. A jagged wound at the victim's chest meticulously bordered by a gory pool. Red trailed from the chair's armrest to the floor, painting a disturbing pathway. The wealthy host, Dominic Vale, had been an uninvited guest's target, wealth and power fueling dark envy. Detectives Taylor and White entered, their grim expressions unreadable, eager to unravel a tale of greed and deceit.