Run: 2026-02-17-01KHNEZ1K0Q1TG8W2VCW2J9QCH

The storm raged outside the old manor, its windows rattling violently. Rain lashed against the glass, obscuring the moonlight completely. Inside, the air hung thick with tension and dread. Detective Aris Thorne pushed open the heavy oak door, his breath visible in the chill. He stepped into the grand foyer, his footsteps echoing loudly. A single, flickering gas lamp cast long, dancing shadows. The silence was profound, broken only by the storm's fury. He approached the closed study door, his hand trembling slightly. He pushed it open, revealing the scene of horror. The body lay sprawled on the blood-soaked rug. A knife protruded from the chest, its blade gleaming wetly. The victim's eyes stared sightlessly at the ceiling. Thorne knelt, examining the wound, his mind racing. He noted the locked study door, the only exit. A small, ornate box sat on the desk, slightly ajar. Inside, a single, dried rose petal rested on velvet. Thorne's gaze shifted to the window, high and barred. The storm had blown the curtains wide. He saw no footprints in the mud outside. The victim's wife stood in the doorway, her face pale. "I found him," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. Thorne nodded grimly, his focus returning to the locked room. The mystery deepened with every passing second.