# The Body in the Library The grandfather clock struck midnight in the empty manor hall. Detective Sarah Chen arrived at the scene within the hour. Lord Ashford lay sprawled across the Persian rug, quite dead. His sterling silver letter opener protruded from between his ribs. No signs of forced entry were discovered anywhere in the house. The study door had been locked from the inside, naturally. His widow claimed she was asleep upstairs all evening. The butler reported hearing nothing unusual during the late night. Yet someone in this house had wanted him permanently gone. Detective Chen removed her notebook and began her careful investigation.