Morning Coffee and Questions

Penny Scoop adjusted her beige trench coat as she walked through the cobblestone streets of Paris. The morning air was crisp, and the Eiffel Tower gleamed in the distance like a silver needle against the pale sky.

"Another beautiful day in the City of Light," she murmured, her piercing blue eyes scanning the elegant buildings lining the boulevard.

Her phone buzzed. Detective Inspector Marcel Dubois was calling.

"Penny, we have a situation at the old Beaumont mansion on Rue de Rivoli. The owners reported strange noises last night, and now they're refusing to go back inside."

She smiled. Old mansions were her specialty. "I'll be right there, Marcel."

As she hailed a taxi, Penny felt a slight dizziness wash over her. She gripped the lamppost for support, blinking hard. The feeling passed quickly.

"Just need more coffee," she told herself, stepping into the cab.

The Cobblestone Fall

The taxi pulled up to the Beaumont mansion, and Penny stepped out onto the sidewalk. The old building loomed before her with its weathered stone facade and iron balconies.

"Bonjour, Detective Scoop!" Marcel Dubois waved from the mansion's front steps. He was a tall man in his thirties with dark hair and brown eyes, wearing a navy police uniform.

"Marcel, what exactly did the owners hear?" Penny asked, walking toward him.

"Footsteps in the attic, doors slamming shut on their own." Marcel shrugged. "They packed up and left this morning."

Penny reached for her notebook, but suddenly the world began spinning. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cobblestones.

"Penny!" Marcel rushed to her side. "Are you alright?"

She blinked hard, trying to focus. A woman with short auburn hair hurried over from across the street. She wore a simple green dress and carried a small leather bag.

"I'm Dr. Claire Moreau," the woman said, kneeling beside Penny. "I saw what happened. Let me check your pulse."

As the doctor examined her, Penny noticed a black car parked at the corner. Two men in dark suits sat inside, watching them intently.