The rain pelted the cobblestone street as Detective Reyes approached the Victorian mansion, its windows dark and secrets lurking behind heavy velvet curtains. A lone streetlamp flickered weakly, casting elongated shadows across the meticulously maintained garden where something sinister had disturbed the otherwise pristine morning landscape. The front door stood slightly ajar, its ornate brass handle glinting with an unnatural sheen that suggested something was terribly wrong inside. Blood-red droplets led a treacherous path from the entryway across the marble floor, creating a macabre trail toward the dimly lit library beyond. Reyes drew her weapon slowly, her breath creating small clouds in the unexpectedly chilled air of the seemingly abandoned but decidedly menacing residence. Each careful step revealed more of the grotesque scene: an overturned chair, scattered papers, and a silhouette that suggested a body lay motionless nearby.