Murder Takes the Top Prize — David Schwinger

Frank Hammer died walking home from his weekly bridge game-shot three times, then relieved of his valuables. When a down-on-his-luck alcoholic is caught using Hammer's credit cards it seems like an open-and-shut case for New York's overtasked homicide department.

Not everyone, however, believes the murder was a mugging gone wrong. Hammer, the CEO of Connix Corporation, had many enemies. In an attempt to shake up Connix he brought Brian Donner into the company, snubbing three senior executives in favor of his new protege. With Hammer's death, Donner's on the way out.

Hammer's personal life was as turbulent as his business dealings. He'd ended a marriage of thirty years and married a voluptuous young waitress half his age.

Brian Donner's wife hires Amy Bell to investigate, believing at least one of Connix's senior executives took steps to secure their future and her husband's expulsion from the company.

Amy's willing to consider the possibility-everyone seems to have a motive. If Hammer's death was a random murder, it was only because someone else didn't get there first-and Amy's certain it was anything but random. "