ROOM 2304

"Well, now, that's one weird coincidence."

The operative who had escorted Adrian into the room, Joseph, turned his gaze towards Adrian upon hearing his murmurs. "Did you say something?" Joseph inquired. His partner cast a questioning glance his way, clearly curious as to why he had brought an outsider to a crime scene.

Joseph explained, "He's a private detective. I brought him in because his case might have a connection to this one." With that, Joseph shifted his attention back to Adrian, who nodded in agreement, acknowledging Joseph's assessment.

"Who made the call to the police?" Adrian inquired, his mind working diligently to make sense of the unfolding situation.

"A woman at the reception called us," Sam, Joseph's partner, explained. "She reported that a man was forcibly taking a girl into Room 2304. We tried to get more information, but the caller abruptly hung up. We verified the number and promptly arrived at the scene."

Adrian's curiosity deepened, and he asked, "Why didn't she approach the hotel security instead of calling the police?" The case was evolving into something more intriguing than he had initially anticipated. He thought to himself, 'I always knew my senses would never lead me astray.'

"We had the same thought, but then we considered that perhaps security might be involved," Joseph explained. "This place hosts a wide array of activities, and it wouldn't be unheard of if the security staff were receiving some extra income under the table." What Joseph mentioned made sense, as many establishments faced similar issues.

"Could it be that the girl he brought with him was responsible for it? Hit and run? Then she made the call at the reception, unaware that he had already died." Sam speculated, as this scenario seemed to align most closely with the circumstances.

"It's a good idea to review the camera footage. It'll help confirm the details we've been given, and we can track the girl's movements if the information is accurate," Joseph suggested, recognizing it as a sensible step. "We should also check the lobby camera to see if we can identify who made the call from the reception at the time we received it."

Immersed in an air of mystery, Joseph contacted the hotel security, and together they proceeded to review the surveillance footage, leaving Adrian and Sam behind.

Observing Adrian lost in thought, Sam inquired, "Tell me, what was your case all about? We've already sent this man's information to our office, and we'll have a report on his identity within a few hours."

In a moment of contemplation, as Adrian perceived his own case nearing its conclusion and the prospect of a smoother investigation into his wife with the assistance of the police, he resolved to reveal the details of the affair that his wife had brought to his attention.

As the atmosphere in the room became charged with anticipation, Adrian's thoughts raced. The enigmatic circumstances surrounding the deceased man deepened the intrigue. He pondered the situation, trying to piece together the puzzle with the limited information at hand.

"What's the cause of his death? There are no signs of blood or trauma, but the foam hints at possible poisoning."

Adrian glanced at the lifeless body, its features frozen in an eerie stillness. Sam continued, "Yet, no room service was summoned, and I can't spot any puncture marks or wounds on the body." The absence of visible injuries only served to intensify the mystery.

He took a deep breath and then concluded, "Naturally, the precise cause of death will be revealed once we receive the forensic report. I've contacted the station, and they're dispatching a team to assist." The arrival of the forensic team held the promise of shedding light on the cryptic circumstances that had unraveled in Room 2304.

"Can you recall if the room was unlocked when you arrived?" Adrian inquired, his desire for every conceivable detail evident in his tone.

Sam nodded, affirming, "Yes, it was unlocked, but the door was closed. I mean, if someone were in a hurry or a panic, they probably wouldn't bother closing the door behind them, right?" He was visibly puzzled by the complexities of the case, which only seemed to grow with each passing moment.

Just as both of them fervently attempted to piece together the available information, Joseph entered the room with a disconcerting revelation. "The camera on this floor has been faulty since last night," he explained, his expression reflecting the challenges of the situation. "So, there's no way to confirm if the caller's information was accurate or not. However, the lobby camera was operational, and a woman did indeed call us at the time. She was quite the paradox, with her large sunglasses and an abundance of accessories and clothes, making it impossible to discern her body proportions. To make matters even more complex, she didn't check out before leaving, and the reception has no record of her identity." The web of mysteries surrounding the case continued to thicken.

Adrian, feeling the need to keep Katharine informed, remarked, "I should probably give Katharine a call and let her know about the situation." He began dialing her number, the phone ringing in his hand. As soon as the call connected, Katharine's voice flowed through the line, seemingly brimming with anticipation, which struck Adrian as somewhat unusual. 

"Good morning, Detective," she said, greeting him with a hint of excitement in her voice. "That was remarkably quick of you. I'm genuinely impressed. Have you already gathered the evidence?" The eager tone in her voice was almost as if she had been eagerly awaiting his call, which added another layer of intrigue to the unfolding events.

Adrian couldn't help but wonder, 'How does she know it was me on the line? I never gave her my number."' The mystery deepened as he contemplated this unforeseen development.