The crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean lapped against the sandy shores of Crescent City, a small, sleepy coastal city in Northern California. But on this particular morning, the rhythmic ebb and flow was shattered by a grisly discovery – a body washed up on the beach, the victim's identity a mystery.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting a golden hue over the beach, a small crowd had gathered around the scene, their murmurs filling the air. Detective Harper arrived, her keen eyes scanning the area as she approached the body.

"Morning, folks," she greeted the onlookers with a nod. "Now, let's see what we've got here."

Kneeling down beside the washed-up body, she carefully examined the surroundings. The sand was still imprinted with the marks of a struggle, and a few feet away, a lone seagull squawked indignantly.

"Well, well," Harper muttered to herself. "Looks like our victim put up quite a fight."