James said, ‘Sir; you had the same feeling about Clarissa Sherman. We talked to her and her phone records prove that she called Sineas that night at eleven o’clock. She also claimed that the call concerned the recovery of Justin Foyer’s body. Are you also forgetting, sir, that we actually visited the Murphys’ neighbour and he confirmed everything Sineas told us?’ He sighed and leaned towards the inspector. He clasped his hands on top of the desk. ‘Maybe it’s time we accept defeat, sir. Maybe…’ he shrugged, ‘…Maybe it’s time to call in the big guns upstairs.’‘Do you know that I saw Freddy Krueger in church last Sunday, James?’‘I think I saw him too,’ said James. ‘Wasn’t he the one who was on the pulpit, preaching the sermon on mercy?’‘No, James, that was Jack the Ripper. Krueger was in the praise and worship choir.’They both lau

‘So they expect you to ditch school?’‘They said it’s a life and death situation. Something about where-I-was-on-the-night-of-I-don’t-even-remember-when.’‘They want to question you too?’‘I know, right? Seriously, you expect me to remember what I did probably weeks ago?’‘And meanwhile, while they’re playing detective, the killer is moving on to the next target.’‘I can’t even believe those two, Sin. Anyone with enough sense would know that these cases are way above this Department’s paygrade.’‘And I’m sure this country wants answers.’‘Don’t forget solutions. But yet here they are, summoning innocent teenagers for interrogation.’‘They’ve probably never handled a murder case before.’‘Like seriously!’ She waved her hands in disbelief. She sighed, sharply. ‘I just w

‘But what that kid said yesterday, sir? Maybe he’s right. Maybe he has nothing to do with all of this.’‘James; listen to me, boy. One of the very important things you should know about killers is that they’ll be willing to say anything to save their skin. That’s exactly what that little runt was trying to do. You can’t pull one over Inspector Charles Hemnar, James. You just can’t. That kid lost this fight when he decided to try to make me look like a jackass.’ He got into the car and turned on the ignition. ‘We’ll nail ‘em, James. Don’t you worry. We’ll nail the bastards. Are you still at Coffee Kings? Maybe I can come pick you up.’‘No need, sir. I grew up on a farm in case you forgot. I know how to walk long distances. For me, the station is just around the corner.’‘Don’t be proud, James. Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.’He paused for a long while. He laughed, ‘No, seriously, sir. I’m already on my way to the station right now.’The inspector shrugged

She immediately looked puzzled. ‘Daddy, what are you talking about? I’m giving you the juicy stuff here!’He sighed and grabbed his hat from the table. ‘I wanted evidence, Sabrina,’ he told her cramming his hat on his balding head at the same time, ‘not gossip,’ he concluded standing up. He kissed his wife on the cheek.She continued to drown her eyes inside her coffee mug.‘Bye, dear,’ he said.She did not respond.He grabbed his jacket from his chair. ‘You want a ride to school?’ he asked Sabrina.‘Dad, seriously?’He chuckled. ‘That was a joke, baby girl. I thought you young people still knew a thing a two about those.’As soon as inspector Charles left the kitchen he headed for the exit. When he opened the door to get outside he saw something at his doorstep. It was a small, brown ordinary sized envelope. There was a small mailbox just by the side of

‘Wassup?’ she asked him turning around.‘If you don’t mind me asking, V: why do you talk…’ he browsed her up and down, ‘…and dress like that?’She grinned. ‘Talk like what?’‘Your vocabulary is a little…your English…’ he was trying to find a way to say it more politely, ‘Your English; it sounds like it’s not from around here.’‘I grew up in Breechwood. Spent more than half my life there. I’m sure you’re aware of the fact that there are more blacks than whites there. The blacks there use that kind of language. I don’t know why but those are the kinds of people I was exposed ta. People like Doreen left the neighbourhood about ten, or was it eleven years ago with their word skills still intact. And as for how I dress…’ she looked down at her feet. She wiggled her toes. ‘I always feel a lot more at peace when I sho