When the local cops arrived, they quickly called in more support. Detectives Isolde Potter, the tiny but senior officer, and Ambrose Mahoney arrived on the scene to find the more tender cops retching in the tranquil garden. Bees hummed their way through the flowers as any other day.

Isolde nabbed the one up-right officer. “Catch us up. No body? Why call us?”

Officer Virgi Rosenfeld replied, eyes bugging, “There’s blood in the house. So much blood.”