The Last Call

Detective Ryan Carter hated late-night calls. They usually meant two things—bad coffee and worse news. Tonight was no different.

The body was found in Room 406 of the Grandview Hotel, sprawled across the plush carpet, a single bullet wound in the chest. Male, mid-forties, expensive suit. No ID, no phone, just a pocket watch stopped at exactly 11:32 PM.

Ryan crouched beside the victim, exhaling through his nose. “This wasn’t a robbery. Everything’s still here.”

His partner, Detective Lisa Moreno, leaned against the desk, flipping through a leather-bound notebook they found near the body. “Looks like he was expecting someone. There are meeting notes—some initials, a time. But no names.”

Ryan stood, scanning the pristine room. No signs of forced entry. No struggle. Whoever pulled the trigger, the victim had let them in.

A uniformed officer poked his head in. “Detective Carter, we found a witness.”

Ryan and Lisa exchanged a glance before following him to the hallway, where a woman stood, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked rattled but composed—red lipstick perfectly in place, dark curls framing sharp brown eyes.

“You found the body?” Ryan asked, pulling out his notepad.

She nodded. “I’m Olivia Reed. I work at the front desk. I heard a noise—like a pop—around 11:30. At first, I thought it was a car backfiring, but then I noticed the guest register. Mr. Sanders in 406 had a visitor, but no one had checked out.”

Lisa frowned. “So you went to check?”

Olivia nodded again. “The door was ajar. I knocked. No answer. Then I saw… him.” She shuddered slightly. “I called 911 immediately.”

Ryan studied her carefully. “You recognized the victim?”

She hesitated. “Not personally. But he’s been here before. Always meeting someone.”

“Someone?” Lisa pressed.

“A woman.” Olivia bit her lip. “She always checked in under different names, never stayed long. Tonight, I didn’t see her, but I know she was here.”

Ryan narrowed his eyes. “You sure?”

Olivia nodded. “She always wore the same perfume. Jasmine and something spicy. The room still smelled like it when I walked in.”

Ryan turned to Lisa. “Get the security footage.”

Lisa nodded and disappeared down the hall.

Ryan refocused on Olivia. “Did you ever hear their conversations?”

She hesitated. “No. But I got the feeling they weren’t just meetings. More like… negotiations.”

Lisa returned moments later, holding up her phone. “Got something.” She turned the screen toward them—a grainy image of a woman stepping off the elevator just before 11:30. Tall, dark coat, face hidden beneath a hat.

Olivia inhaled sharply. “That’s her.”

Ryan nodded, already pulling out his phone. “Let’s find out who she is.”

As he dialed, he glanced back at the stopped pocket watch in the victim’s hand. 11:32 PM. The last moment of his life.

And the beginning of their hunt.