The phone rang, startling Detective Lena Carlson from her thoughts. "We have a murder at the Grand Plaza Hotel," the voice on the other end said. Lena grabbed her coat and rushed to the scene.
In room 805, she found the lifeless body of a man, identified as James Wilson, a wealthy businessman. He had been strangled with a silk tie. The room showed no signs of forced entry or struggle.
Lena questioned the hotel staff and learned that Wilson had checked in alone two days ago. The maid, Maria, had seen him arguing with a woman in the hallway the previous evening. The woman was later identified as Wilson's estranged wife, Olivia.
Olivia was brought in for questioning. She admitted to arguing with James but denied any involvement in his death. She claimed to have left the hotel immediately after the argument.
Lena searched the room and found a crumpled receipt from a nearby bar dated the night of the murder. She visited the bar and spoke with the bartender, who confirmed that James had been there with a young woman. The woman had long red hair and a distinctive tattoo on her wrist.
Lena reviewed the hotel's security footage and spotted the red-haired woman entering the hotel with James that night. She was later seen leaving alone, shortly before the estimated time of death.
The mystery woman was soon identified as Sarah, James' secretary. Under interrogation, Sarah confessed to the murder. She had been in love with James and believed he would leave his wife for her. When James ended their affair, Sarah was heartbroken and angry. She had gone to his hotel room to confront him and, in a fit of rage, strangled him with his own tie.
With the case solved, Lena couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for the lives destroyed by love and betrayal.
