The sound of a gunshot echoed through the darkness. What moments before had been a room filled with chatting and laughter was now a room filled with silence and fear. What had happened? Why were the lights shut off? Who had been shot? The owner walked over to the emergency lights and flicked them on. Everything appeared normal except for the shock on everyone's face.

His head housekeeper let out a blood curdling scream. He ran to her to see what was wrong. She just pointed to their guests of honor who had come to the hotel to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. The husband was face down with a single gunshot to the head. Blood poured down his face like a geyser. The wife had a scarf tied around her throat. Her mouth was blue and her eyes were wide open. It looked like she was trying to gasp for air but the scarf was so tight around her neck it wasn't possible.

"Oh my God!" He wiped his brow which was now dripping with sweat.

"Doctor! Is there a doctor here?" He yelled.

A man stood up. "I'm a doctor."

"Please, you have to help them."

The doctor walked to the front of the room and checked on the couple. He felt their pulses and listened for their heartbeats. There weren't any. They were dead.

"I'm so sorry. But they're dead."

"NOOOOOO!" Their daughter cried.

"They…They can't be! You must be mistaken!" Their son protested.

The doctor shook his head. "I'm so sorry but it's true." He turned to the owner. "You need to call the police."

The owner nodded his head. "Yes, of course." He ran to the front desk and dialed 911. He told the dispatcher what had happened and she assured him that the police and ambulance were on their way. He hung up and went back into the banquet room.

A few minutes later the sound of double sirens were heard. He ran to the front door to let them in. Two men and two women came rushing in. One of the paramedics felt for a pulse but like the doctor felt nothing.

One of the police officer's took out a notepad.

"What can you tell us?" He clicked his pen ready to write down whatever he was told.

"I uh…I don't know. We are-were all here celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Then the lights went off. A few seconds later there was a gunshot. A few moments after that I went over to the emergency lights and turned them on. That's when my head housekeeper let out a scream. I ran back over and she pointed them out. I yelled for a doctor and he said that he was one." He pointed to the doctor.

The officer turned to the doctor. "Can you tell me what you did next?"

"Yes Sir. I checked their pulses and listened for their heartbeats. But there weren't any signs of life."

"I concur with the doctor." The paramedic said.

"That may be but we have to wait for the coroner to make the call." The other police officer informed them.

"Yes. Yes, of course." Her partner said. He turned to the guests.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, as I'm sure you have summarized by now these two people have been murdered. The husband was shot with a single gunshot to the head and the wife was strangled to death. We would appreciate your cooperation in finding out what happened. And just so you are all aware everyone here is a suspect."

A gasp went through the room.

"That is ridiculous! I certainly didn't have anything to do with this!" One of the guests protested.

"Yeah, me neither!" Another yelled.

One by one other guests declared their innocence.

The officer held his hand up.

"Everyone please! This is now a murder investigation. We need to find out what happened."

"Yes, we would really appreciate it if you all would cooperate with us." the other officer said.

There were some grumblings but everyone stayed seated. A few muffled conversations and crying filled the air. No one could believe what had happened. They were such a beloved couple and now they were dead.

Who had killed them?

Why had they killed them?

Would the killer strike again?

TWENTY FOUR HOURS EARLIER

"Let's go, everyone! We're leaving in five minutes!" Tony yelled up the steps.

"Dad! I'm not ready yet!" Sam called.

"Yeah, I can't find my magazine!" Jonathan yelled.

"And I can't find my makeup bag!" Angela hollered.

"Oh please do. You wouldn't want to scare anyone!" Mona yelled.

Tony rolled his eyes and mumbled a few Italian swear words. If they didn't get going they would run into traffic and be late for the festivities. He checked his watch. If they weren't all down and in the car within the next three minutes he was going to go up and carry each of them one by one over his shoulder and strap them in the car.

One minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

Three minutes….

"HEY! Whatever you have or don't have with you or not with you I don't care! Let's hit it! Let's move it! Let's do it!"

Sam and Jonathan came down the stairs, their suitcases clutched in their hands.

"GEEZ Dad! Don't have a cow!"

"Yeah Tony we're only going to Manhattan. It's not that far."

"Yeah. Yeah. Just get in the car."

Sam and Jonathan rolled their eyes at each other but did as they were told. They left the living room and went into the kitchen and out the back door. They put their luggage in the trunk and got into the back seat.

"Yo Angela! Mona!"

Mona came down the steps carrying her suitcase.

"Keep your pants on Bub! Or hey take them off. I won't complain!"

"MOTHER!"

"Oh please, like you would mind if he did!" Mona wiggled her eyebrows.

"All right. That's enough!" Tony pointed to the kitchen door. "MARCH!"

"Aye Aye Sir!" Mona saluted him and marched out of the room.

Angela chuckled. "I'm glad the car ride is only a little over an hour."

"Tell me about it! Okay let's blow this pop stand!" Tony picked up her suitcase and his and followed her out of the living room, through the kitchen, and out the back door…