The mansion stood eerily silent. Detective Morgan approached the door. Rain fell on cold stone. She knocked three times hard. No answer came from inside. The door creaked slowly open. Darkness filled the grand hallway. Her flashlight cut through shadows. A chandelier hung above precariously. Crystal pieces littered the floor. She stepped over broken glass. The smell hit her hard. Death lingered in the air. Morgan followed the terrible scent. It led toward the library. Ancient books lined every wall. A fireplace held dying embers. Then she saw the body. Lord Ashworth lay completely still. Blood pooled beneath his head. A letter opener protruded grotesquely. His eyes stared at nothing. Morgan knelt beside the corpse. This was no simple accident. Someone wanted this man dead.