Ryan stood outside the church, struggling to accept his father Arnold’s death. Before he could gather himself, his dog Bella began barking sharply from the car, more agitated than usual. He signaled her to stay, but her distress lingered in his mind as he entered the church for the funeral.

Inside, Arnold’s closed casket was surrounded by flowers, cordoned off because he had died of an infectious disease. Ryan sat beside his mother, both of them tense and grieving. Just as the service ended, Bella suddenly bolted into the church, leapt onto the casket, and barked with urgency.

Her behavior sent a chill through Ryan. He went to her side, and when she sat in her alert stance, he knew something was terribly wrong. Ignoring the gasps around him, he opened the casket — and froze. It was empty. His mother fainted in shock, and Ryan rushed her to the hospital.

At home, he called the police. Detective Bradshaw confirmed only that the coroner had signed off on the death and released the remains. But when Ryan visited the morgue, he learned the coroner had abruptly resigned, and his father’s file was missing. Desperate, he bribed a nurse for access, but found no answers — only more questions.

Then his father’s lawyer, Mr. Stevens, called. At Arnold’s office, Ryan discovered the email inbox wiped clean and two figurines missing. Mr. Stevens revealed that the company was deep in debt and hinted Arnold might have been romantically involved with his new secretary, Miss Pearson. Ryan, stunned, followed her home that night.

When she drove away, he slipped into her house through the garage, searching quietly in the dark. In her bedroom, he found a framed photo of her kissing his father — confirming a secret relationship and hinting at a deeper mystery behind Arnold’s disappearance.