Janet Lopez was picking up coffee and donuts when Chief Hamilton called to say they had a suspect homicide up at the hanging tree.
‘A what?’
‘You heard it right, Janet. You seen that contortionist act down at Bubba’s?’
‘Uh yeah.’
‘Fella folds himself into a packing box, writes an address and sticks the stamp on with his foot.’
‘Kinda creepy actually.’
‘Well you won’t be seeing it again anyhow. He’s the victim. You get me the Blueberry Frosted?’
‘Still warm.’
Didn’t seem like there was a need for the siren. Instead Janet punched the CD player a couple times. When it began playing ‘Heartbreaker’, she remembered the date. ‘Oh Mariah, if only you knew!’
The chief was standing to attention outside the station, his hat on so straight he might’ve used a spirit level, the new crease in hi
