There I was, doing my normal 9 to 5 job, when it happened. The police busted into our office building. They came straight to our floor and asked who Paul Neilson was. Paul Neilson was my good buddy of 7 years. Today Paul was out because he was “sick.” He told me that he was going to a concert. The police started to ask around if anyone knew him personally. 

Lisa was first. She said, “I don’t talk to Paul that much. He is a very strange man. I know not much

about him personally other than he has a wife, two kids, and a dog, that’s about it.” 

Next the police wanted to talk to Shawn.

 “Paul is very strange. He didn’t seem like a guy who would be doing bad things. Paul is very nice but pretty shy.” 

The police went on and it seemed like no one really knew Paul as well as I did. The police wanted to ask me some questions. It went like this:

 “So, how long have you known Paul?”

“7 years actually,” I replied. 

 The cops asked me another. “How is your relationship with him?”

“Good, sometimes he gets lonely and I’m there to support him.” 

The cop nodded and asked his final question. “Did you know that Paul was planning on burning down City Hall?” 

It took me a second to comprehend what he had asked. Paul wanted to burn down City Hall? Why would he want to do that? What does Paul have against the city? Let alone burn it down?

“I- why would I know that?” I couldn’t find the right words. 

“Do you know where he is right now?” 

“He- He was faking sick today to go to a concert…” 

He obviously wasn’t going to a concert. I looked out the window and saw smoke. He must’ve already done it. He already set fire to City hall. 

Lisa turned on the TV to show City Hall burning. Paul did not randomly just do this. There had to be a motive for it. But what was it?