SKINFLINT

Somewhere in an office building in New York. Managing director Carl Miller came to a copying machine and did a for him awful discovery. His beloved copying machine stood there soulless. The plug was still in it but no single light was burning.

“Mary, who was the last one to touch it?”, Carl asked his secretary Mary Stone.

“That was Yannis Cooper”, she said.

“I know enough. Just get on with your work”, he said.

She did that and Carl went into his office. He grabbed his private telephone and dialed the number of the 27^e precinct.

“A murder has been committed in my office building and I demand that you come to investigate the case. Address: 266 Amsterdam Avenue”, he said gruff.

“I will send them”, said lieutenant Anita Van Buren.

Her two best detectives, Lennie Briscoe and Ed Green looked at her questionable.

“You must investigate a murder case on 266 Amsterdam Avenue”, she said.

“Then we shall do it then”, said Lennie.

At the crime scene the police searched the fenced spot for finger prints and tracks. Lennie and Ed found the victim quite soon.

“Ed, it isn’t April 1, is it?”, asked Lennie.

“No, it is July 12. Why?”, asked his partner.

“There is no corps to see at all”, answered Lennie.

“No corps to see? No corps to see? And what about my copying machine then? Someone in this company has murdered him”, Carl said angry when he saw the detectives standing.

“And who are you?”, asked Ed.

“I am managing director Carl Miller. What are you doing here?”, Carl asked on his turn.

“I am detective Briscoe and this is my partner Green. We come to investigate the murder where for you have let us come here”, said Lennie.

“Come then into my office for a moment”, Carl said who had became a bit calmer.

“I only have a small business with 7 staff members. The last one who has worked with my copying machine and who has killed him is the youngest worker Yannis Cooper. Just arrest him on the spot”, said Carl.

“May we first hear the story of Mr Cooper too?”, asked Ed.

Carl hinted that it could and let Yannis come.

“Mr Miller, we want to see Mr Cooper alone for a moment”, said Ed.

The managing director left the room.

“What can I do?”, asked Yannis.

“At this moment you are being charged with murder of his copying machine. Can you tell us what has happened?”, asked Lennie.

“Well, I had to make 5 copies of a letter. Just after the last copy came out the equipment didn’t do anything anymore. Mr Miller knew that the equipment was about to die and now he was. For him all the machines live but that copying machine was his favorite. But it was as old as can be. At that thing Moses had copied the tables of stone”, said Yannis.

“So Miller is very fond of his equipment?”, asked Ed.

“Yes, but he refuses to invest in new equipment. The computers are even older than the stone age”, answered Yannis.

The detectives found it a nice remark.

“I don’t to come along down town, do I??”, Yannis asked worried.

“No. We know enough for now”, said Lennie.

“This was my last day anyway because tomorrow I start my own computer business. But then with new equipment”, said Yannis.

The men got up and went each their own way.

At the 27^th precinct Ed and Lennie gave report about the strange murder.

“So that bloke charges a colleague for murder at his worn-out copying machine? You don’t think that he can come up with this by the district attorney do you?”, asked Anita.

“Miller thinks he can. The so called culprit is Yannis Cooper who wanted to leave a nice impression on his last working day”, said Ed.

“Let both gentlemen come here and I call the DA”, said Anita.

So said, so done.

Carl was heavily insulted because he had to come to the precinct but Yannis didn’t mind.

“I demand that Cooper gets life at once for killing my copying machine!”, he said angry to district attorney Jack McCoy.

“How long have you been working with that copying machine?”, asked Jack.

“For about 25 years. It was the first equipment that stood there to work”, answered Carl.

“That thing stands there for a quarter of a century and then you find it strange if a co-worker first works with I and then it dies?”, Lennie asked amazed.

“Yes, is that so strange?”, snapped Carl.

Jack and Lennie looked at each other but didn’t give an answer.

“Mr Cooper is not guilty at what you call murder but you are. If you had noticed that your copying machine showed defects you better could buy a new one”, said Jack.

“Well, in my eyes that Cooper is guilty and I am glad that he is away. But with the next murder I will think better than to warn you!”, Carl said angry.

He left angry the interrogation room.

“Mr Cooper, what us concerned this case is closed because Mr Miller himself is guilty at his murder”, said Jack.

“Thanks”, said Yannis.

He gave the gentlemen a hand and left.

“If you need me once again make sure that there is a real corps and no broken down copying machine”, Jack said with laughing eyes.

“That shall happen”, said Lennie.