The mansion stood in darkness. Rain pelted the old windows. Detective Harris approached the door. Her badge felt unusually heavy. Something terrible had happened here. A butler answered her knock. His face showed visible distress. "She's in the library, ma'am." Blood stained his white gloves. Harris noticed but said nothing. The library smelled like copper. Countess Morrison lay quite still. A knife pierced her chest. Her eyes stared at nothing. Pearls scattered across the floor. "Who discovered the body first?" Harris pulled out her notebook. The butler cleared his throat. "I did, around midnight, ma'am." His hands trembled quite visibly. Three suspects waited in chairs. Each one avoided eye contact. The widow's nephew looked pale. Her business partner seemed nervous. The young maid wept softly. Harris studied the crime scene. The window was slightly open. Muddy footprints marked the carpet. Someone had struggled here violently. The truth would emerge eventually.