# The Last Symphony Rain hammered the conservatory windows while Detective Sarah Chen stood over the body of renowned conductor Victor Ashford, still clutching his baton tightly. Blood pooled beneath the piano, mixing with scattered sheet music that now bore crimson stains instead of musical notes alone. The orchestra members huddled together near the stage entrance, their elegant concert attire contrasting sharply with the horror etched upon faces. "Nobody leaves this building until I get answers," Sarah announced firmly, her voice cutting through the shocked silence like a knife. First violinist Margaret Winters stepped forward nervously, her hands trembling as she struggled to speak through tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "He was alive fifteen minutes ago, yelling at us during rehearsal as usual, demanding perfection for tomorrow night's prestigious performance," she whispered. Sarah's partner, Detective James Rodriguez, examined the conductor's podium carefully, noting the overturned music stand and suspicious wine glass nearby. The stage lights flickered ominously overhead, casting dancing shadows across the crime scene while thunder rolled menacingly through the darkening evening sky. Someone in this room had silenced Victor Ashford's demanding voice forever, and Sarah intended to discover exactly who and why tonight.