The phone rang, jolting Detective Liam Thompson from his thoughts. "We've got a dead body at the Grand Palace Hotel," the dispatcher said. "Room 305."
Liam arrived at the scene, where Officer Jane Perkins was waiting. The victim, identified as wealthy businessman Robert Hartley, lay face down on the plush carpet, a knife protruding from his back.
"The door was locked from the inside," Jane said. "No signs of forced entry."
Liam examined the room, noting the opened safe and scattered documents. "Looks like a robbery gone wrong," he mused.
The hotel manager provided the guest list: Robert's wife, Evelyn, and his business partner, Marcus Delaney. Both had alibis - Evelyn was at the spa, and Marcus was in a conference call.
Liam interviewed the staff and learned that a maid had seen a hooded figure leaving the room around the time of the murder. The figure had a distinctive limp.
Suddenly, it clicked. Liam confronted Marcus, who walked with a limp. "You faked the conference call and snuck into Robert's room. You knew about the safe and the documents."
Marcus confessed, revealing that Robert had discovered his embezzlement scheme. He had planned to expose Marcus, so Marcus silenced him.
As Marcus was led away in handcuffs, Liam couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. Another case closed, but at what cost?
