72173 words long. First published in London, Texas, 2011 enNoveltext/xmlMystery/Crime @page { margin-bottom: 5.000000pt; margin-top: 5.000000pt; } TWENTY-SIX * * * * I raced out of the office in such a hurry I forgot my coat. The brisk December wind blowing through my thin rose pink cotton sweater transformed me into a raspberry popsicle. I trotted down the sidewalk hoping to catch the officers and their presidential prisoner before they drove out of the parking lot. Mr. Chandler stepped into the back of the patrol car, his lips curled in displeasure. As I recalled from my one and only backseat ride in a squad car, the interior of the cars were as aromatic as the Hangtown Bakery, but not in a good way. “Tom!” I waved my hands to get his attention. He leaned in, spoke with the deputy then walked over to meet me. “Laurel, we have to get going. And you're obviously freezing.” His gaze dropped momentarily from my face to my chest. My nipples were happily saluting my former boyfriend, either because they were too cold to know better or because they were hoping he would heat them up.
