It was one of those Friday evenings. I sat and looked through old cases. I was what they called a "private eye", "detective" or for somebody, a pain in the neck. I had previously been told that I was a tough guy. There were not a case unsolved, and most of them had ended up in a bloody mess. But most of the time I had my feet on the desk and my hat pulled down my eyes. Mostly to look cool, and I thought by myself I did it pretty well.
   My secretary was typewriting like always. She was new, just like my office. The old one was not "the one". But even though I didn't find my old office comfortable, my present office also had its minor errors. I didn't like the color of my walls; they were this creepy white color. I prefer the really dank colours.
   My job was my life. I never had time for myself and not a single friend. The only exception was my gun, a magnum '44. This has been my best friend in many years.
   Suddenly the phone on my desk cut through the silence. It was not every day I got a call. I reached for the phone and picked it up.
   "Detective Johnny Green here," I said with my usual murky voice.
   "Hi, it's me Sandra Jelling. I suppose you remember to keep track of our deal tonight," she said.
   "Oh, OH Yes, of course I remember," I said. Actually I couldn't remember what she was talking about.
   "Well, I just wanted to be sure that you didn't forgot our deal. Bye," she said.
   "Dang, I was close losing a customer," I thought by myself.
   "Kate, do you remember anything about a Sandra Jelling?" I asked. Kate was the name of my secretary.
   "You should meet her in the lobby at the hotel blue casket tonight at 23' o'clock," she said.
   "Right. And what should I do?" I said. I felt pretty dumb asking.
   "She said she would tell you when you came. It was something about some of her friends."
   The clock showed 22.00 and I decided to go. Normally you would think that a detective would in a fancy car. I didn't. It didn't fit into my budget, and walking was healthier.
   The clock turned 23.00 and I entered the lobby. Quite classy. A big picture with a gold frame was hung in the midst of the room. The desk was made of wood with ornaments.
   Several times before I entered the lobby I had felt in my jacket for my revolver, not because I was nervous, just to be sure. I looked around and saw an old couple and a woman in a blue dress, reading something that looked to be a crime novel. When the door closed behind me the woman in the blue dress looked up and waved her hands. I walked towards her.
   "Detective Green?" she asked.
   "Yes that's me. You must be Sandra. Would you tell me what you need me for?"
   "Well, I got this problem with my boyfriend. I actually never liked him and now I want to get rid of him."
   "You want me to make him cold? I'm not a hitman." I said in a low tone.
   "I know, but it's a long story why I want him dead. I will pay well for it, though," she said.
   Easy money is always welcome. And I was also running dry on money.
   "How much are we talking about?"
   "20.000 £. Ten now and ten later."
   "That's quite a lot of money just to shoot a single man. Is there anything behind it?" I asked.
   "He is a mobster leader, and you may run in more trouble than just him."
   "Ok, I'll do it. Where is he now?"
   "He lives in this hotel. He's name is Nick Woodson. But he is more often called "Red Eye"."
   I didn't like the sound of that name. It gave me the cripple through my spine. I knew him. He is the leader of the gang "Looney's". The name told it all.
   "Come back here tomorrow night and the job is done."
   She handed me half the money and walked out of the door. I was by myself. I walked to the reception and rang the bell. A little man with a moustache came.
   "Yes?" He said with a little tired voice.
   "Do you know where I can find a Nick Woodson?" He pulled forth a book and began searching.
   "He lives in room 74."
   "Thank you." I said and walked up stairs. The receptionist went out in the back again. I walked 4 stages up and saw the number 70 on the first door.
   "71...72...73...Finally, door 74."
   I knocked on the door. Nothing. I knocked harder. Still nothing. I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
   "Better doing this the old fashion way."
   I walked backwards and sent a kick directly under the keyhole. The door lurched up. I stepped inside and took a look around. It was messier than my office. Broken bottles, broken furniture's filled most of the room.
   I looked out of the window and could see an apartment right across the street. It looked like if Sandra walked around inside the building.
   Only one thing was interesting, the desk. It was filled with bills, letters and other stuff. After a few seconds just scamming through he's mail, I knew where he was hiding. An old abandoned storehouse, near this hotel.
   Then footsteps were coming up the stairs. I hurried to run and hide next to the door. Two men were talking.
   "Look! The boss's door is open!"
   I pulled forth my gun from my coat. Two really big men entered the room with a hurry. I waited for them to walk in the middle of the apartment so they couldn't escape. When they were where I wanted them, I aimed at the nearest and shot him back in his head. He fell over with a loud noise. The second man turned around and threw himself behind the bed. He just barely escaped my gun. I stood with my arms stretched towards him and ready to shoot. He looked up and also he was history.
   After the last shot had sounded there was silence again. I checked them for ID and found out that they worked for the Looney's. Then the next thing to do was to track Nick down at the storehouse.
   I took a cab. Now when I had taken the job I didn't think that money was the problem anymore. It took half an hour before I arrived. I paid the driver and went out. Now I just had to get this over with.
   It was empty everywhere. Except for one man leaning against a light pole. I walked against him quite hastily. I poked him and asked:" Where's Nick"?
   "I don't know who you are talking about. We got so many called Nick around here. "He said quick and turned around. I turned him around and grabbed his throat and lifted him up.
   "Where is Nick "Red Eye?" I almost yelled.
   "He in he's office!"
   I threw him down at the asphalt. He was gasping for air. I looked around for a possible way in without getting seen. I could see at the roof there was a ventilator. I climbed up the ladder and kicked the ventilator open. I crawled inside the tube. It was long and had many smaller tubes going out of this one. I crawled to the end of the tube and the only exit from there was a grating. I looked down and could see him. Nick.
   "Well, why not get this over with?" I kicked out the grating and jumped down and landed on his desk. There I stood. Face to face with him. He was heavily muscled and with short hairs on his head. I pulled my gun and pointed at his head. He was paralyzed.
   "Sorry, But it's just a job." I said with a low cold voice. I pulled the trigger and I was 10.000£ richer. He looked like he would say something, but instead he tipped of the chair and down on the floor. Now it was just to talk with Sandra and get the money.