The Silent Witness

Rain lashed against the windows of the old manor as Detective Vera Grant studied the crime scene. The grand library, usually a picture of elegance, was now marred by chaos. Books lay scattered, a shattered vase glinted in the dim light, and in the center of it all was Jonathan Pierce, a wealthy philanthropist, slumped over his mahogany desk. A knife protruded from his chest.

“Time of death?” Vera asked, glancing at the medical examiner.

“Between 9 and 10 p.m.,” came the reply.

Vera turned to the three people seated on the velvet couch, their faces pale and drawn. Jonathan’s widow, Evelyn, clutched a handkerchief. His younger brother, Daniel, stared at the floor. And his business partner, Lydia Cho, sat stiffly, her jaw clenched.

“You were all in the house when Mr. Pierce was killed,” Vera began, pacing slowly. “Someone here knows what happened.”

Evelyn sniffled. “I—I was in my room. I heard a crash, but I thought it was just the storm.”

“Convenient,” Vera said, her tone flat. She turned to Daniel. “What about you?”

“I was in the kitchen, getting a drink,” Daniel said quickly. “I didn’t hear anything until the maid screamed.”

Vera’s sharp gaze shifted to Lydia. “And you?”

“I was in the study, going over paperwork,” Lydia said. “Jonathan was supposed to meet me there, but he never showed.”

“Did you argue with him recently?” Vera asked, folding her arms.

Lydia hesitated. “We had disagreements about the charity’s direction, but nothing serious. Jonathan always got the final say.”

Vera nodded, then moved to the desk. The knife was ornate, the kind you’d display rather than use. A set of bloody fingerprints marred its handle.

“Who has access to this desk?” Vera asked.

“Jonathan kept it locked,” Evelyn said. “Only he had the key.”

“Which means someone forced it open tonight,” Vera said. She noticed a faint smudge on the edge of the desk—a partial print, perhaps.

“Detective,” Officer Mills called from the doorway, holding up a laptop. “We found this hidden in a drawer. It’s encrypted.”

Vera’s interest piqued. “Take it back to the lab. Let me know what you find.”

---

An hour later, Vera stood outside, the rain easing into a drizzle as she pieced the puzzle together. Mills approached, holding a file.

“You were right, Detective. The laptop’s been wiped clean except for one document—a financial report. It shows a massive embezzlement scheme in Jonathan’s charity. The culprit? Lydia Cho.”

Vera’s jaw tightened. She re-entered the library, the tension palpable as she confronted Lydia.

“Care to explain why you’ve been funneling money out of the charity?” Vera asked, holding up the report.

Lydia’s face blanched. “I didn’t kill him!” she blurted.

“Maybe you didn’t mean to,” Vera said, stepping closer. “Maybe he confronted you, and things got out of hand.”

Lydia shook her head vehemently. “I swear, I didn’t touch him. I—”

The sound of a chair creaking interrupted her. Everyone turned to see Daniel shifting uncomfortably.

“What is it, Daniel?” Vera asked, her voice icy.

“He found out,” Daniel muttered, his hands trembling. “He was going to cut me out of the will. I couldn’t let him do that. But Lydia’s the one who started the theft!”

Evelyn gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

“So you killed him,” Vera said, her voice sharp. “Because you couldn’t stand the thought of losing the inheritance.”

Daniel’s face crumpled. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I just wanted to scare him!”

Vera shook her head, signaling Mills to cuff him.

As Daniel was led away, Evelyn collapsed into tears, and Lydia stared blankly ahead. The rain outside started again, washing away the blood but not the secrets the manor had revealed.