Excuses

“Six million? I only owe him four.” Michael laughed again. “That son of a bitch is trying to scam you.”

“Michael, this is terrorism.”

“Terrorism? I’m no terrorist. I’m a business man. I bring together people that have something to sell with those who want to buy. What they do with it, has nothing to do with me. I just pick up and deliver the goods. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist. You keep your politics. All I want is a little profit.”

“Freedom fighters don’t kill innocent people,” I said.

“And who said they’re innocent? Come on John, you and I both know there is no such thing as an innocent victim. They are all guilty of something.”

“Why did you kill Arnold?”

Michael shook his head. “There’s an inspection coming up. He was afraid that the uniforms and equipment he sold me would be found missing. He wanted to confess. And I couldn’t let that happen. If by eliminating him, I could make it look like I was out of the picture, then people who were watching me would look elsewhere.”