Detective Lila Evans pulled up to the crime scene, her heart pounding with anticipation. The old Victorian mansion loomed before her, its Gothic architecture casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. Yellow police tape cordoned off the entrance, fluttering in the chilly night breeze. Lila ducked under the tape, her mind already whirring with questions. The uniformed officer at the door nodded her through with a solemn expression. Lila stepped into the grand foyer, taking in the opulent decor marred by the disturbing sight ahead. The body of a man lay sprawled on the oak floor, a gaping wound on his forehead. Blood pooled around him, staining the expensive rug crimson. Lila crouched down to examine the scene, her eyes tracing the spatter patterns and looking for clues. Behind her, the officer Shifted uncomfortably, clearly shaken by the gruesome scene. Lila's mind raced as she tried to piece together the sequence of events. She noted the broken vase on the floor nearby and the signs of a struggle; an overturned chair, scattered papers. The victim's hands were clenched in rigor mortis, one gripping a torn fragment of cloth. Lila carefully bagged it as evidence, her thoughts already spinning theories. Who could have done this, and why? She had a feeling this seemingly open-and-shut case would be far more complex than it appeared.