The body lay perfectly still. Detective Morgan arrived at dawn. Blood stained the white carpet. Nobody heard a single scream. The window was wide open. Cold wind filled the room. Morgan knelt beside the victim. A young woman, eyes closed. Her silk dress was torn. No weapon could be found. The neighbors claimed total ignorance. Something felt deeply, terribly wrong. Morgan studied the crime scene. A broken glass caught light. Red lipstick marked its rim. Two plates sat on table. Dinner for two, it seemed. The candles had burned down. Wax pooled on dark wood. She had known her killer. Morgan pulled out his notebook. This case would prove difficult. The clock read five fifteen. Dawn crept through the curtains. Murder never waits for morning.