Everyone's A Suspect

New York City is a place where one can expect the unexpected. When the city shows its ugliness it is not a pretty sight, and when New York turns violent it is often brutal. It was a late March night in the Big Apple. Many New Yorkers were enjoying the unusually mild weather. During the day, the temperature reached seventy-two degrees. It was still in the mid-sixties at a quarter past eight. Peter Goldstein was working late in his midtown office. A partner in a prestigious securities firm, he made an astonishing living with an annual income over two million dollars. That amount did not include bonuses and other perks. Peter was in his early fifties, but his boyish features made him look much younger. Divorced with two grown children, he kept in close contact with his son and daughter. His ex-wife was no longer a part of his life. The couple had an ugly divorce eight years ago. Peter saw Janice only once or twice a year and as far as he was concerned it was too often. Peter Goldstein walked into his luxurious office after using the men’s room. When he entered the room, Peter became surprised by the figure sitting in his chair. Scowling, he approached the familiar party. “What are you doing here?” Goldstein asked in a harsh tone. “I think you know why I’m here, Peter. We have a lot to talk about.” The other person spoke in a relaxed, confident voice. “We’ve talked about our problem. The issue is settled. Now if you’ll excuse me, I still have some work to do.” “Don’t ignore me, Peter. You know what I want.” Goldstein quickly responded, “You already know my answer. So, just get the hell out of here.” Peter Goldstein’s eyes popped when his uninvited guest pulled out a gun. Before he had a chance to speak, two shots were fired into his chest. He fell to the floor immediately and was dead within thirty seconds. The killer looked at the body, and walked out of the office. The perpetrator did not rush while exiting the area. There was nobody else around who could have seen the killer leave. A silencer was used so no shots would have been heard. The murderer got off the elevator and walked out of the deserted building, putting away the gloves that were worn. The security guard who watched the place had vacated his post, too busy kissing and fondling his girlfriend in an empty office. The killer knew about the guard’s secret. While walking along the Manhattan streets, the killer smiled at several people who passed by. The murder went off as planned, everything would work out now. The killer arrived home twenty minutes later, unaware the getaway had been seen. The witness had plans to make the murder of Peter Goldstein into a blessing for himself. Peter Goldstein didn’t expect to get killed tonight. He was totally unprepared and paid the ultimate price. New York is a cruel place for people who make mistakes.