The cheif’s lined, tired face was knitted into a frown. He played nervously with the pens on his desk, thinking hard. Inspector Macky wasn’t one of his trusted men- he wasn’t, in any case, one of the cheif’s men at all! He was a complete stranger, an unknown factor- but the cheif would have to take the chance. Besides, the cheif told himself, it wasn’t going to be a particularly diffucult case. Just the usual attempt at murder. All Macky would have to do would be to find the motive, and the case would be closed.

As the cheif finished his thoughts, a small, weedy man bobbed his head through the door, quickly ducked out, then appeared to change his mind and ducked in again. He continued to do this for a few minutes, and the cheif watched in a sort of detached annoyance. Finally he snapped,

“What is it, Jenkins?”
Jenkins started and slunk into the room. “U-um, well, there’s someone here to s-see you- i-it’s-”
Cheif sighed and waved his hand impatiently. “Send him in, man, send him in!”
In he came.