The Crimson Silence

Within the Silent Shades

Jake sped through the city streets, the cold night air whipping against his face as his thoughts raced. He tried to block out the worst scenarios from flooding his mind, focusing instead on the road ahead. The boulevard leading to Alexandra's hotel was alive with flashing NYPD patrol lights, and Jake’s chest tightened. Something was seriously wrong.

He brought his bike to a halt in front of the hotel. A valet rushed over, clearly agitated.

“Sir, you can’t leave your bike here—”

Jake didn’t bother to explain. He tossed the keys at the valet and dashed toward the entrance, barely hearing the protest behind him. His hand slammed against the elevator button, impatience gnawing at him. The doors slid open, and Jake impatiently waited for the occupants to exit. As he hurried inside, a man stepped forward, halting the elevator door with his hand.

“Mr. Daniel!” the man called.

Jake froze, his eyes narrowing as he tried to place the familiar voice. The man in the grey blazer approached him with a knowing smile.

“Nathan.. We met at the FBI HQ,” the man introduced himself.

Recognition flickered across Jake’s face. “Right. Nathan. Detective. Hi.”

“Meeting someone?” Nathan asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

“Yes, a friend of mine is staying on the fifth floor,” Jake replied quickly.

“E15?” Nathan asked with a raised brow. Jake’s sharp nod confirmed it.

The elevator reached the fifth floor with a soft ding. As the doors slid open, Alexandra’s figure appeared. Relief flooded her features as she spotted Jake.

“Jacob… Dieu merci,” she breathed, her voice trembling slightly as she ran toward him.

“What happened?” Jake demanded, gripping her shoulders lightly, concern etched on his face.

Nathan’s voice cut in from behind. “Someone broke into her room this afternoon.”

Jake whipped around, his face tightening with alarm. “Any idea who?”

“We’re working on it,” Nathan replied. “We’ve pulled the surveillance tapes, and a team is questioning the hotel staff.”

An officer handed Nathan a notepad, and he skimmed through it quickly before summarizing. “According to this, some cash and jewelry were stolen. They tried opening the safe, but failed.”

Jake turned back to Alexandra, his voice low and urgent. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, her eyes wide but calm. “Oui, je vais bien.”

Jake pulled her aside, lowering his voice even further. “Where were you when this happened?”

“I was downtown, meeting some friends. When I came back…” Her voice trailed off, a haunted look creeping into her expression. “I found my room like this.”

The unease in her voice deepened as she glanced up at Jake. “Where the hell were you, Jacob?” Her tone was sharp with suspicion.

Jake cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. “I… had an errand to run.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t press further. The silence between them thickened as the hotel manager approached, wringing his hands nervously.

“I’m terribly sorry for what happened,” the manager said, his voice dripping with an apology. “We’ll move you to a suite immediately, as a complimentary gesture for the inconvenience.”