The smell of lilacs hung in the air in perfect harmony with the ornate surroundings. Embellished in thick maroon carpeting, reproductions of fine art, and gold moldings that framed the ceiling, the hotel hallway embodied old-school excess.

As Detective Mike Thomas walked down the hall, he wondered what secrets such a place held. For as long as he could remember, the Regent was the hotel to see and be seen by the city’s most wealthy and powerful. More than that, it was the central hub of the elite, where kings were made and pleasures without limits were savored away from the public eye.

When he was growing up, Mike had heard urban myths about the place. As if once you stepped through its doors anything was on the menu. From shady backroom deals to Romanesque orgies of every variety, the Regent had sparked his suburban prepubescent fantasies.

After twenty years in business, however, the hotel had seen better days. Still trying to hang onto its elite pretentions, it became a hangout for wannabe credit card millionaires. Generally, harmless working class stiffs who enjoyed the idea of being exclusive. So, it came as a surprise when Mike heard of a lavish party at the Regent that ended in death.

“You ever been to this place?” Max looked over at Mike with an annoyed shrug, knowing the answer before he asked the question.

Mike smirked as he walked toward the two burly uniformed cops standing on either side of the open doorway leading into the penthouse. “Not cool enough.”

The first uniformed officer, who Mike recognized as Sergeant Tuttle, nodded as his partner stood by quietly. “Detectives.”

“Sergeant.” Mike smiled thinly as he looked past the two officers inside the large front room of the penthouse suite.

Sitting on a dark leather couch, wide eyed and silent, were two young women in their twenties. The two were huddled together, each blanketed in a thin bed sheet that showed the outline of their naked bodies. There was another uniformed cop he didn’t recognize standing in back of them.

As Mike glanced over at the two women, they turned slightly and looked at him through frightened wide eyes. “No clothes for the damsels?” Mike nodded back toward Sergeant Tuttle questioningly.

The sergeant shrugged. “None that we found. We did a cursory search. But didn’t want to go any further until you guys showed up. The sheets seemed the next best thing until we could figure something else out.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Mike nodded as he scanned the rest of the room.

In a love seat opposite, sat a much older man in his sixties. Wrapped in a hotel robe, he glared at the two young women in front of him with a scowl on his face. The ladies avoided his glance.

When Mike looked over at the man, he stared over at him petulantly. “You there. I told the big dumb one next to you that I’m Councilman Roberts.”

Mike nodded and raised his hand. “I recognize you, sir. I’ll be with you in a moment.” He looked at the legislator and smiled pleasantly. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience.”

Councilman Roberts frowned and started to voice another protest. “Well, see here! I...”

Mike raised his hand again and spoke casually. “I know, I know. It sucks being involved in the murder of a young girl like this. Her being laid out in the bedroom next door and all. We’ll do our best to keep everything as efficient as possible.” He smiled and nodded. “We’ll be with you as soon as we can. You understand, don’t you, sir?”

Councilman Roberts was about to speak when Mike turned away from him. The councilman glanced over at Mike infuriated and started to move to his feet.

“The detective will be with you shortly.” Councilman Roberts looked up to see the officer standing in back of the couch glancing down at him indifferently. “Keep your seat, please.”

Councilman Roberts frowned slightly then blinked as the officer continued to glance down at him aloofly. After a moment, the legislator nodded slightly and sat back in the loveseat and folded his arms annoyed.

Seeing Councilman Roberts’ reaction from the corner of his eye, Mike shook his head slightly and glanced at Sergeant Tuttle. “I heard this was supposed to be a party. Where are all the guests?”

The sergeant nodded. “That’s what we were told, too. Supposed to be about thirty jokers up here partying hard. But, when we got here, all we found was the dead girl and the old guy with the two cuties.”

Mike glanced at Sergeant Tuttle questioningly. “And the fact that he’s a councilman who’s good friends with our commissioner?”

The sergeant shrugged as his partner looked on nervously. “I’ve got one week left before retirement. If I can do one thing right in this department before I leave, it may as well be helping to put that perverted rat bastard away for a while.”

Mike smirked. “Well, there’s a first time for everything, Serg.” He shook his head and smiled sarcastically as the sergeant looked at him semi-annoyed. “Just messing with you, Tuttle. I doubt our good councilman there is innocent in all this... or a lot of other things.” He turned toward Max with a sly grin. “You have anything to say, Mr. Congeniality?”

The grizzled detective shrugged. “As long as we go by the book. Screw it. I’ve been looking at early retirement anyway.”

Mike nodded and glanced at Sergeant Tuttle. “So how’d this goat rope start?”

“Dispatch received an anonymous tip from a female partygoer who said she discovered the body.” The sergeant motioned to his partner. “Me and the kid were in the area.”