The clock struck midnight; thunder rumbled ominously in the distance. A lone cat screeched, darting across the rain-soaked cobblestone street. Detective Harris tugged his coat tighter against the chilling wind. Yellow crime scene tape fluttered under the flickering streetlamp's weak glow. The shadowy manor loomed, half-hidden by swirling, dense autumn fog. Officer Martinez stood vigilant, her breath visible in the frigid air. An anonymous note had led them to this secluded location. Inside, they found the body sprawled across the ornate carpet. A shattered vase lay nearby, fragments glistening like sinister diamonds. Detective Harris knelt, examining the gruesome scene with practiced precision.