# The Body in the Library The rain fell heavily on the cobblestone streets of Victorian London, casting dark shadows everywhere. Inspector Ashford arrived at the grand mansion just as the church bells struck midnight. Lady Pemberton's body lay motionless across the mahogany desk in the dusty old library. Her silk evening gown was stained with blood; a pearl-handled revolver rested near her hand. The butler stood nervously in the doorway, wringing his hands and avoiding the inspector's piercing gaze. "Who discovered the body, and when exactly did you find the poor woman?" Ashford demanded. The servant's voice trembled as he explained that he heard the gunshot around eleven o'clock. Three other people were in the mansion that night, all of them with secrets to hide. The inspector surveyed the room carefully, noting a broken window and muddy footprints on the floor. This case would prove far more complicated than anyone had initially anticipated or wanted to believe.