LITMIR.BIZ

       Scene of the Crime

      AGENT Mike McNally’s dark sedan skidded up to the front door of the ACME organization under a stormy night sky. The single blue light rotating on the hood contrasted eerily with the distant flashes of lightning. McNally got out of his car, brushed the ashes from his overcoat and took a last drag on his cheap cigar.

      This was his third homicide case this month, all with the same last name—Change. In fact, the investigation of Change fatalities had become his life’s work. A clear pattern to the deaths had emerged over the years. Change would be introduced to an organization with varying degrees of reception. From all appearances Change would begin to integrate into the organization and then, without warning, Change would be found dead, quite often with no apparent injury. The evidence was always scant and a sole perpetrator had never been identified.

      This time McNally was determined to catch the killer. He extinguished his cigar, took his notebook from his pocket and slowly walked toward the door.

      McNally slipped under the yellow Do Not Cross police tape and walked into the conference room. The room buzzed with activity. A photographer was taking pictures of the deceased from different angles, and people in groups of two and three were giving their opinions on what had happened. At the far end of the room, Change’s body was slumped over the conference table. Just out of reach of his right hand was an overturned glass. The table was still wet from the spill.

      A man unknown to McNally came up to him and handed him a folded note. “The medical examiner asked me to give this to you,” he said.

      McNally unfolded the note and read:

      McNally cleared the room, closed the door and began his investigation of the crime scene. When he emerged an hour later, a woman was waiting for him outside the door.

      “My name is Anna,” she said. “I’ll be your assistant. I’ve been told to take care of whatever you need.”

      McNally knew who the primary suspects were. He had done this many times before. The usual suspects were always the same. He opened his notebook and looked at the list he’d prepared: