After spending too much time in the bath reading ‘The Simple Art of Murder.’ I have learned that the skill of the detective story writer lies in writing the ending first then working out exactly why everyone did what they did. So I’d like you to prequel this short short, finding some reasons for why they did what they did:-

The shot rang out, John fell to the floor, grasping his chest as a puddle of crimson sank into the cheap motel carpet. Sherry backed away, the snubbed nosed .38 falling from her quivering fingertips.

“You saw it! He was going to kill me!” she cried.

Paulsen jumped at her, grasping the ruby choker around her pale neck, before bolting for the door.

His fingers had just closed around the handle as the lamp-stand connected with the back of his head. The Spaniard calmly reaching down to pick up the crimson jewels.

“At last my brother is avenged.” He sighed.