He approached the bed cautiously, reaching out to gently pull back the covers. What lay beneath was a mockery of what I believed was my wife. It was a mannequin, dressed in one of her nightgowns, its lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. I stumbled back, my breath catching in my throat.

“But… how?” I stammered, reeling from the shock. My mind raced, desperately trying to make sense of the situation. Just this morning, she had kissed me goodbye, complaining of a headache. We had laughed about our dinner plans, and she promised to be home early.

The officer’s face softened with understanding, but his eyes held an unyielding seriousness. “Sir, we need to discuss this downstairs. There are questions that need answers, and you might be in danger.”