The rain fell quite steadily. Detective Sarah Chen arrived promptly. The mansion looked eerily quiet. She knocked on the door. No one answered her call. Chen pushed the door open. The hinges creaked very loudly. Inside, darkness filled every corner. She found the light switch. The chandelier illuminated the scene. Blood stained the marble floor. A woman lay there motionless. Her evening gown was torn. Diamond earrings scattered around her. The victim was clearly dead. Chen called for backup immediately. The butler emerged from shadows. His hands were shaking badly. "I found her this morning," he whispered through trembling lips. "Nothing was touched or moved." The detective examined the body. No obvious weapon was visible. The woman's purse lay open. Her jewelry remained mostly intact. This was no simple robbery. Chen noticed muddy footprints nearby. They led toward the staircase. Someone had been here recently. The real investigation would begin.