Run: 2026-02-17-01KHNF579574VAWXNFN8JJ1MHV

Thestorm raged outside the grand manor, its fury matching the chaos within. Rain lashed against the stained-glass windows, casting fractured light across the opulent study. A wealthy host lay motionless on the rich Persian rug, a stark contrast to the room's lavish decor. Inspector Thorne pushed through the heavy oak door, his trench coat dripping onto the polished floor. He knelt beside the body, noting the precise angle of the fatal wound. "Another one," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the storm's roar. "Same method, different victim." He scanned the room, his keen eyes missing nothing. A shattered vase near the fireplace caught his attention. "Who would do this?" he wondered aloud, his brow furrowed. "What motive could there be?" The victim's wife entered, her expression a mask of grief and shock. "I found him," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Just like that." Thorne noted the untouched brandy snifter on the desk. "No struggle," he observed, "yet the door was locked from the inside." He turned to the butler, standing rigidly in the doorway. "Where were you during the critical hour?" The butler's face paled. "I was in the wine cellar, sir. Checking the inventory." Thorne's gaze sharpened. "And the key?" The butler fumbled in his pocket, producing a small, ornate key. "I always carry it," he stammered. Thorne's eyes narrowed. "Then why was the door locked when I arrived?" The mystery deepened, the locked room confounding even the seasoned detective.