Murder Along the Shore

June twenty-second began as a gorgeous summer day in New York City. The sun blazed in the sky as Robert Lavello woke up at eight o’clock. Rob turned on the television and put on The Weather Channel to check the forecast. A mostly sunny day with the temperature in the low eighties was predicted. Perfect, Rob thought, I’m hitting the beach today. The twenty-nine-year-old accountant worked for a multimillion dollar firm. Rob was an exemplary employee who rarely took a day off. However, before going to bed last night Rob decided he would call in sick if the weather proved favorable. He knew it wouldn’t matter if he got a tan either. It was Friday, so he could always tell his boss he felt better over the weekend and went outdoors. Rob figured a day at the shore would benefit him immensely. He wanted to relax and not think about anything. An interesting book and a little girl watching seemed like the perfect way to spend the day. Rob had broken up with his longtime girlfriend over a month ago. He was shocked when Susan told him it was over between them. To make it worse, the woman he loved admitted she met another man. After many angry words were exchanged, Rob realized it was for the best. He was better off without Susan because of her infidelity. Besides, Rob was still young and considered a catch by many. It was time for him to find someone new, and the beach had always been a great place for him to meet women. If luck was on his side, someone special would await him today. After having a tall glass of orange juice and a bagel for breakfast, he called his boss. Rob told him a stomach virus had kept him up all night. The understanding employer told the young man to rest and get better. Rob hung up the phone and smiled. Yeah Frank, I’ll definitely try to improve my health today. By nine-thirty Rob walked out of his Midtown apartment. He wore a Nike T-shirt, Levi’s shorts with a bathing suit underneath, and white sneakers sans socks. It was apparent to the building’s doorman that Mr. Lavello wasn’t going to work. He knew most companies had dress down Fridays, but this would be taking things to extremes. As Rob walked along Thirty-Fourth Street, a feeling of happiness overcame him. Not a cloud in the sky, he knew the beach would provide an ideal setting on the picture-perfect day. Rob traveled lightly; the only items he brought with him were a beach towel, a paperback novel, suntan lotion, and the sunglasses he wore. The young man considered bringing a radio and CD’s with him, but he didn’t feel like lugging them through the streets. It was the same reason he didn’t bring a cooler. Instead, he decided he would pick up something to eat at a deli near the beach. Heck, he mused, maybe I’ll get lucky and meet a girl with lunch and drinks for two. He smiled. Maybe she’ll even have a radio. Rob boarded a Long Island Railroad train at Penn Station, expecting to arrive at Long Beach within an hour. Robert Lavello had pleasant feelings about the day ahead. He believed it might be special, perhaps even one he would never forget.