The polished white marble of the Dallas foyer glistened under the grand crystal chandelier, but the air inside the home felt icy cold. Brandon stood motionless at the top of the staircase, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the dark mahogany handrail.

At the bottom of the grand stairs lay his sixty-eight-year-old mother, Margaret, completely still. Her pale gray cardigan was crumpled around her shoulders, and her silver hair was fanned out across the marble floor.

Brandon: Mom! Oh God, Mom!

Brandon took the steps three at a time, his polished dress shoes slapping heavily against the hard wood. He dropped to his knees beside her, his breath catching in his chest as he reached out with trembling fingers.

Brandon: Mom, can you hear me? Please, open your eyes!

Standing just a few feet away was seven-year-old Lily. Her small hands clutched the edge of her pink sweater, her chest heaving as tears streamed down her red cheeks.

Lily: Daddy... Grandma isn't moving!

Brandon: Lily, sweetie, stay back. What happened? Did she trip?

Near the top landing of the stairs stood Vanessa, Brandon's second wife of less than a year. She was wearing a dazzling red silk gown for the evening's charity gala, her heavy gold earrings shimmering under the lights. Her hand rested gently against her throat, but her dark eyes were cold and calculating.

Vanessa: Brandon, darling, it was terrible! She lost her footing. I tried to grab her dress, but she was going too fast!

Lily pointed a small, shaking finger straight up at Vanessa.

Lily: She's lying, Daddy! She didn't try to save her!

Brandon: Lily, what are you saying?

Lily: She pushed Grandma! I saw her hands! She pushed her right down the stairs!

Vanessa: You little brat! How dare you lie like that!

Brandon: Don't you yell at my daughter, Vanessa!

Vanessa: Brandon, she's making it up because she hates me! You know she never wanted us to get married!

Lily: I saw it, Daddy! Grandma had the blue folder, and she pushed her!

Brandon looked down at his mother's limp form. Inches from her right hand lay a dark blue leather folder, its papers scattered across the floor, stained with fresh drops of blood.