bloodyrosemccoy | Pretty Much All The Spoilers, If You Care

A Conversation The Cops Must Have Had Ten Minutes After The Closing Shot Of Bereavement

"… anyway, sir, the fire marshal says there's absolutely no way of knowing how this fire that burned down the house with everyone inside got started."

"Did he check for point of origin?"

"Nah. He just said there ought to be a law about those flammable pajamas."

"Too bad they didn't call in time."

"Dispatch said they did call, but the girl wouldn't give the name or address. She just kept screaming 'OH GOD HE'S CRAZY PUT DOWN THE OH GOD OW OW ARGH' and then she hung up."

"What's with the teenagers these days? No respect for authority. Still and all, it's a damn shame. Child-sized body bags are always a tragic sight. And a whole family … Hey, that little bag isn't closed all the way."

"Well, we couldn't get the zipper over the meat-cleaver embedded in the girl's skull."

"Mmm. Terrible accident. Well, who's for breakfast? I could go for a waffle down at the Charcoal Diner, maybe a chat with that waitress whatsername … Melissa? Megan?"

"Sir, she disappeared last week. Remember? Last seen in the parking lot, just before the old van with SUTTER'S MEATS clearly emblazoned on the side pulled out?"

"Oh, right. Sutter's Meats … why does that sound familiar?"

"The Martin Bristol case? The Sutter's Meats van was seen pulling away down the street five years ago when that boy was abducted."

"Oh, yeah, no wonder it was ringing a bell. Any leads on that case?"

"Absolutely none, sir. Incidentally, the whole family was at home during the fire here, but it seems the family car was parked in front of the Sutter's Meats slaughterhouse. Along with a motorcycle belonging to Billy from up the road. His dad said he never came home yesterday."

"Sutter's … Sutter's … is that the place the EPA lady was harping about investigating? Something about how its incinerators are still on despite its having been shut down for years?"

"I think so, sir."

"God, if it's not one thing, it's another … Dodge her if she calls again, willya."

"No problem, sir. She was reported missing two weeks ago."

"Ah, well. Lucky break there."

"Indeed, sir."

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen the elder Mr. Sutter for … oh, about ten years, now. Think he's still around?"

"His son reported him dead, sir, but no death certificate was ever filed."

"Boy, those bureaucrats with their certificates, eh? Well, I think we're mostly done here. What say we head over to the Charcoal Diner anyway? Surely they've got at least one waitress left who knows how to make a decent pot of coffee."

"Sounds good, sir."

"Anything urgent on the agenda after that?"

"I can't think of anything pressing, sir."

"Damn, I love this job. Let's flick on the siren. Sometimes I feel like the only time I ever get to use it is when I'm heading for some waffles! But hey, that's life in a small town for ya."

"I like the blueberry ones best, sir."

FIN