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Dreadhorse Chapter 17
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Detective Lena Marlowe adjusted her earpiece, surveying the maze-like corridor of the Grand Marquis Hotel. The identical doors, each adorned with polished brass numbers, stretched endlessly in both directions. Every room was a potential hideout, and time was slipping away. Her squad, a tightly-knit unit of five, mirrored her frustration as they moved methodically, eyes darting behind each door.
“Room 312,” Lena whispered into her mic, having received a tip earlier. “Stay sharp.”
Her team nodded, spreading out to flank the suspected apartment. The quiet was oppressive, broken only by the distant hum of air conditioning and the occasional drip of a leaky faucet. As they approached room 312, Lena signaled to her partner, Officer Daniels, to initiate the breach.
Suddenly, the squad’s communication systems sputtered. Screens flickered and went black, earpieces crackled with static, and the usually reliable digital maps disappeared. Panic flared in Lena’s chest. Without communication, coordinating the team’s movements would become chaotic.
“System glitch! I can’t hear you!” Daniels shouted over the emerging silence.
Lena clenched her fists, trying to regain control. “Stay focused. We proceed on visual cues.”
They reached the target door, Detective Marlowe took a deep breath and pounded it three times, announcing their presence. Silent for a heartbeat, then the door swung open violently. Inside, Kel stood bewildered, the TV screen still flickering at full volume, her eyes wild with fear.
“Freeze! Police!” Lena commanded, her voice steady despite the internal turmoil caused by the glitch.
Before Kel could react, the squad surged forward, cuffs clicking in unison. But as they moved, the technology glitch escalated. The hotel’s surveillance cameras blinked out, plunging the corridor into semi-darkness illuminated only by the flickering TV screens of surrounding rooms. The lack of visual feeds meant that Lena couldn’t verify her team’s positions, heightening the risk of miscommunication.
Kel struggled against Officer Ramirez, her eyes darting nervously between the detective and the squad. “You don’t understand! They’re controlling the TVs! They know what you’re thinking!”
Lena hesitated, momentarily distracted by Kel’s frantic plea. That’s when the glitch reached its peak—a loud, grinding noise echoed through the squad’s devices, followed by complete silence. The earpieces fell dead, and handheld radios were unresponsive.
“Backup? We need backup now!” Daniels yelled, realizing the severity of the situation.
Without communication, Lena had to rely on her instincts. She noticed Kel’s hesitation, sensing something was off. “Stand down,” Lena ordered, her authoritative tone cutting through the confusion.
Kel froze, then slowly lowered her hands. “Please, you have to believe me. There’s something manipulating the electronics in this hotel. It’s not just me.”
The squad relaxed slightly, uncertainty clouding their expressions. Lena glanced around, her mind racing to make sense of the technology failure. “What do you mean, manipulating electronics?”
Before Kel could respond, the screens in the hallway flared back to life, the TV’s volume dropping to normal levels. The communication systems hummed back on as if nothing had happened. Lena exhaled slowly, regaining her composure.
“We need to secure the area and investigate her claims,” Lena decided, signaling her team to lower their weapons. “Let’s take her to the station for questioning.”
As they escorted Kel out of room 312, Lena couldn’t shake the feeling that the technology glitch was more than a mere malfunction. It was a sign that whatever they were dealing with was far more sophisticated and dangerous than they had anticipated.
Back in the squad car, Lena reviewed the events. “We need to look into the hotel’s systems. If someone can manipulate the electronics here, they can control anything.”
Daniels nodded. “Agreed. This is bigger than a simple arrest.”
As they drove away, the Grand Marquis Hotel loomed behind them, its corridors holding secrets that were only beginning to unravel. Lena knew that the glitch was just the beginning, and the real challenge was yet to come.