The heavy rain fell hard against the cold window pane while loud thunder rolled across the very dark night sky. She lay motionless on the plush velvet carpet, her wide eyes staring blankly at the ornate ceiling above her head. A sharp silver dagger pierced her chest, deeply staining the white fabric of her red evening gown with dark blood. Detective Miller sighed heavily as he stepped carefully over the threshold and into the warm, silent, and still sitting room. He adjusted his small glasses and knelt down beside the body to look for any clues left by the killer. The old grandfather clock chimed once, echoing through the dark hallways like a ghostly sound from another distant world entirely.