where: red ridge pd precinct, 6:32 pm. to: @triallsâ
   sheâd seen him at robertoâs first. standing out of a paperâs front page, the same old vaguely pouty, pissed-at-the-universe, cat-died-this-morning kind of look. unmistakable â even if it had taken her more than a double take for her to process the news. two months sheâd been in red ridge already, and her acquaintances with the police department had limited themselves to her fleeing whatever crime scene with hurried steps and implausible sunglasses. this surely was out of character: her marching into the precinct not for want of a lead, or a clue, or any sort of push in the right direction, but a need to see that could envy st. thomasâ. the receptionist, of course, was reluctant to let her in to the captainâs office: not that she could blame her (she wouldnât even let herself in, all things considered), but then again little miss sugarplum here could not understand the bond that tied her to red ridgeâs very own captain of police â something alike the one binding roadrunners to coyotes, and all that.Â
   âcome on, shirley â iâm sure you must be tired of all this testosterone âround here. how âbout a little gal solidarity, uh? how âbout you let me in?â. such a splendid way of filling an empty wednesday: harassing the poor old woman whose name most likely was not shirley, stealing candy that most likely shouldâve been reserved for children â and then, the second marr himself was spotted sliding out of a hallway â beaming up like sunrise itself had blessed the halls of the police precinct. âbarney!â the loud, enthusiastic call came: nevermind the name she should not have been using, this was a reunion worthy of an exception, was it not? in a much too theatrical fashion, mitch slapped the palm of her hand against the receptionâs counter, pulling back just enough to better take in the scene. ââ i cannot fucking believe my eyesâ.















