February 22

Layoffs: Though not well-publicized, several members of the Hotel staff have recently been encouraged to seek employment elsewhere. No official reasons were offered and some might even have been offered a nice severance package before they were dismissed. All seems pretty normal on the surface - hotels change staff all the time.

Cover up?: Nothing out of the ordinary about people leaving the hotel, until you hear that all those removed were on duty the night that Mr. Everson was apparently killed and frozen - or frozen and then killed.
Frozen in his sleep?: A rumor is starting to circulate concerning the death of Mr. Everson. Originally the thought was that the man was killed (somehow) and then frozen before being positioned back in the hotel bed - possibly to send some kind of message to others. However, additional evidence has come to light that he may not have been dead before he was frozen.

February 18

Mob Goes to War: News on the street is that overnight, multiple gangs have had visits from the highest level of organized crime in the city, The Mob. Be careful, these guys are serious and extremely angry. What are they looking for? Word coming from the visited gangs is that they were searching for something that was taken from them, allegedly, has a great value to them. Whoever is responsible is no doubt going to face a fate worse than death.

Weird Connection: Just days after the death of a highly-placed business man, the mob starts searching the streets for something that was taken from them.
Sealed Investigation: As the deaths start to pile up from the mob's search of the underworld for their missing briefcase, the investigation into the frozen death of Mr. Everson has started to lock up the loose ends. Press aren't being told what's going on and the police department are keeping their leads close to their chest.
Pressure from Above & Below: The police department starts to feel the pressure from the city officials that one of their own (Mr. Everson) was killed in such a bizarre fashion and they want the case closed as soon as possible. They also don't want the connection made (or even rumored) that the death of Mr. Everson has anything to do with the crime spree currently affecting the city - but it's hard to miss the possible connection and timing. Did Mr. Everson take something he shouldn't and get...ICED for his betrayal?

Murder at the Mercer: Details are starting to filter out through the news sources that a body was found in one of the suites at the Mercer hotel. The police have reported that the body was one Mr. Jonathan Everson, a highly successful businessman and real estate developer within the downtown area of Prospect. Mr. Everson's body was discovered by cleaning staff of the motel the morning after Valentine's Day. Specific details surrounding the account of his death have been restricted by the police department pending further investigation.

The Start: This is the official start of the plot. Investigations should be sent to Dawson.
The Mercer: A an elite (res 5) motel in the heart of downtown (Broadway and Fourth Ave). 25 floors tall, the Mercer's top five floors are private suites that span multiple rooms.
Jonathan Everson: A wealthy (res 5) businessman with connections (city council) and influence (bushiness) throughout the city and the state. Married with two children, Mr. Everson would have achieved his 50th birtday and 25th anniversary this coming year.