San Pedro, California
Mulrooney stepped onto the dilapidated porch of the flophouse on Magnolia just as Officer Bullock came running out the door and puked into his handkerchief. Johnston, Bullock"s partner, was right behind him.
Mulrooney quickly chomped down two Rolaids then washed the residue from his mouth with a swish of strong black coffee. Since his humiliating bashing by the press, his stomach had been at war with his bowels. He had hoped the coffee would combat the effects of his insomnia, but he knew the caffeine wasn"t really necessary. If the putrid stench coming from inside the house couldn"t awaken him, nothing short of ice in his jock strap would.
Mulrooney winced as Bullock heaved up the remains of his breakfast over the decayed wooden railing. The patrolman then wiped h
