<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">This reads like an adventure mystery novel. <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Very good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  
</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I don’t know what the document was that <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Veronica stomped on.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">There were a few terms that I was notfamiliar
with.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Martia sub for December<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">(another chapter)<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Breaking News<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">1457 words<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I arrived five minutes late to the February Town
Board meeting to avoid small talk, but I don’t know why I worried. Most folk in
town, especially Robbie and Mr. K, were giving me the cold shoulder. I slipped
into an empty folding chair in the back row and prepared to take notes. The
clerk and the mayor droned on about budget increases required for flood
control, road repairs, drainage, bridges…my mind wandered.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">What would it cost me to stay in Doe Lake? I
could push ahead and do my job despite the town’s silent treatment, as long as
Mr. Kowalski didn’t fire me that was. His unspoken repudiation left me with an
uneasy sense of security. Although taciturn, Mr. K had accepted and printed
each story I’d written since publication of my fateful editorial. In an effort
to earn back Mr. K’s trust, I was using extra care wording my reports. I
remained neutral if not positive. If necessary, I erred on the side of
ambiguity. With chagrin, I asked myself, was I being cautious, compromising, or
giving up?</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I tuned in temporarily to the boring board
meeting. The mayor was announcing his intention to present a special plaque to
Mr. and Mrs. Smythe for their upcoming 75</span>^{<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">th</span>}<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> anniversary
celebration. Perfect. A special feature on the well-respected senior citizens
was just the right story to get me back into Mr. K’s good graces. I made a note
to phone the couple in the morning and set up an interview.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The town’s ancient treasurer adjusted his
papers, his glasses, his tie, and his chair before speaking. Soon, I was back
to calculating my options. Worst case, I would be tarred and feathered, strung
up by my thumbs, run out of town on rails, ostracized and exiled. If I rocked
the boat again, I would be forced to crawl on nails back to Colorado and hunt
for a new job. Like a bone, I chewed on my predicament.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">When the wall clock indicated 6:55, I slipped
out before the meeting adjourned. While bundling up for the outdoors, I ducked
into the police dispatcher’s office to take a cursory look at the daily
blotter. The usual drunk, Mr. Dobey, had been escorted home at 1620. Teenagers
partying on the beach had been urged on at 1840. On a typical night in the
sleepy town, not much else would happen before dawn.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Have a good evening,” I zipped my puffy down
coat and turned to exit. No surprise, the matronly dispatcher avoided meeting
my eyes.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The night was colder than forecasted. The metal
hook at the end of its rope on the empty flag pole clanged in the wind. As I
scurried across the parking lot, a van careened to a stop in front of me.
Blinded like a deer in the headlights, I froze.  A familiar voice sliced
the icy air.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Do you know the address police were called out
to?”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Called out to? What’s up?” A glance over my
shoulder confirmed that the town’s police cruisers were off site.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">A passenger exited the van and ran inside,
triggering the overhead light. Illuminated, I recognized the face behind the
voice behind the wheel, Al Murphy, Grand Rapids’ television News reporter.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“There’s been a shooting, maybe some kind of
domestic dispute,” Murphy said. “The call came over the radio about 40 minutes
ago.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Forty minutes ago?” That meant the dispatcher
hadn’t logged the call even though it must have come in while I was still in
the town board meeting, maybe even before the report about partygoers on the
beach. My stomach sank, the dispatcher’s deliberate deception revealed.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Before long, the passenger emerged from the Town
Hall calling, “let’s go.” The news van screeched off as quickly as it had
arrived. At a sprint, I retraced my steps and confronted the croan.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“What the hell is going on? Why didn’t you tell
me about the emergency call out when I was here?” I banged the counter with a
fist, a clumsy impersonation of a character from a Perry Mason courtroom.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“You didn’t ask,” the woman replied without
further detail.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Give me the address,” I raised my voice. “You
can’t stop me from doing my job.” I had her full attention now.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Oh yes I can, if you don’t report the truth.”
The dispatcher flashed me a warning look and slammed the blotter closed. I
snapped it back open to the page I had reviewed minutes earlier, noting a new
note had been added.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">1835 – 9-1-1 call from neighbors - possible
shooting, domestic disturbance at 114 Franklin Place.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I flung the log book across the counter and flew
out of the office. Fortunately, the address was on my way home. Unfortunately,
someone was having a worse night than me.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Turning the corner, my enlarged pupils were
assaulted by television spotlights and police search lights flooding the front
of a house. Like on a movie screen, the chief of police huddled on the porch
with Officer Braun, several firefighters, and EMTs. An ambulance pulled away
without lights or siren. Not a good sign, I thought.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I heard the chief instruct Robbie, “Make some
kind of comment to the Grand Rapids TV crew to get them out of here.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I intercepted Robbie as he descended the steps.
“Please, talk to me first. I am the town’s local reporter, after all. You may
not like it, but I have a job to do, just like you.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Officer Braun swiped a palm over his mustache to
avoid speaking.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Enough is enough.” I stamped my boot on the
snow-covered sidewalk. The effect was muffled. “I get it, small town pride and
all that. Trust me to write a fair story.“</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Robbie looked at the chief who nodded in
agreement. I was steered by an elbow down the driveway. Out of ear shot, Robbie
turned his back to the TV crew and softly spoke</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“OK, then. It’s delicate. We’ve got two bodies,
probably a murder-suicide. It will take an autopsy to know for sure. We aren’t
ready to release the names of the victims, but just so you know, it’s a
long-time, well-respected elderly couple with a slew of children and
grandchildren – the Smythe family will be devastated.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I slapped a gloved hand over my mouth and gagged
on my saliva.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“It’s rare, but it might have been a mercy
killing,” Robbie continued. “Mr. Smythe had Parkinson’s. The couple was
planning to celebrate their 75</span>^{<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">th</span>}<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> wedding
anniversary this weekend.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I clenched my eyes to block the news. Behind
tears floated the image of a hand-written anniversary announcement ripped in
half under Veronica’s heel. Had the Smythes’ tragic ending <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I don’t remember this. <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">been foretold?</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Whispering, Robbie penetrated the fog of my
memory. “We’ll need time to notify the family. Can you keep the news under wrap
until Thursday? And ask Mr. K not to put the story on the front page,” he
added.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“High school sports always take the front page,
you know.” I repeated Mr. K’s maxim in reassurance. Catching Robbie’s weary
eyes, I said, “Thanks for trusting me.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Okay, truce?” Robbie held my hand longer than
expected for a professional handshake. “See you soon,” he said.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Advancing to the TV crew, Robbie said, “OK,
we’ve got two fatalities, ID unknown, cause of death unknown. There’s no risk
to the community. It’s most likely a domestic affair. No arrests are expected.
We’ll know more when the medical examiner completes his investigation. For the
sake of the family, please cut the lights. We’ll keep you informed as the
investigation proceeds.”</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The news van backed out of the driveway and I
strutted home. I was tempted to grab my crotch to check if I’d grown balls. I
had confronted the dispatcher. I’d stood up to Robbie at the crime scene. I’d demanded
due attention before my male colleague. I was anxious to compose my first
breaking news story.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The next morning, Mr. K discovered my lengthy
report front and center on his desk. He lifted a pencil but never lowered it
while he read the formal obituaries. He thumbed through several photographs of
the Smythes I’d pulled from the archives.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“There’s more?” Under the photos, Mr. K
discovered a feature story I’d drafted honoring the couple. Mr. Smythe’s
numerous contributions to the community were detailed. Mrs. Smythe’s lifelong
love of family, volunteer service, and crochet were given equal weight. I hoped
the Smythe family as well as the Lake Doe Historical Society would be proud to
save and share the published legacy.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Squaring the pages, Mr. Kowalski threw me a
broad smile from across his desk. “Way to go, kid,” he said.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I caught the smile like the Hail Mary pass I’d
been praying for. I’d done Coach K proud.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

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