Rain pounded gravel pathways outside the ancient haunted manor where detective Crawford arrived, clutching leather satchel beneath flickering lantern glow. Inside grand foyer, marble pillars soared upward, shadows danced along crimson walls as distant thunder echoed through hollow corridors ominously. Detective Crawford’s gut twisted uneasily when butler Hawthorne revealed shards of broken glass beside lifeless figure draped across Persian rug. Candles guttered on ornate sconces, their wavering flames illuminating delicate footprints leading away toward winding staircase and shadowed second floor. A single rose petal lay beside polished mahogany desk, its crimson hue staining velvet papers like ominous herald of tragedy.