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workplace," he added with a smile. I winced.
    "You hope." Dixie rose from the backseat like a lunatic in a bad horror flick. "Bwahhaha!" she said.
    "Very funny," I snapped. "You two wouldn't find it so humorous if you were the ones holding back a bloody scalp so the M.E.
     could photograph the rather prominent dent in some poor guy's skull," I said. "Not exactly my idea of a Kodak moment," I told
     them.
    "And you really saw the dude all laid out and cut open?" Frankie asked.
    I shook my head. "Just the head," I replied. "Well, what there was left of his head, that is. But it was more than enough
     for me and my Italian sub--which, by the way, I will never ever be able to eat again for as long as I live, thank you very
     much."
    "I guess we can probably cross Childers off our list of possible perps," Frankie said. "If he works at the M.E.'s office,
     he had to pass a thorough background screening, plus a polygraph examination."
    I stared at Frankie. "How do you know all this stuff?" I asked.
    " I do my homework," he said.
    Personally, I didn't want to think about homework, but there was still the issue of e-mailing my topic to the good professor
     before midnight. Plus I needed to start organizing my notes on the story and figure out our next move.
    I grabbed Frankie's laptop--a wireless with all the bells and whistles--and started it up, sending an e-mail to Stokes and
     one to my boss, Stan, to let him know that I might be on to something we could run with in the Gazette. Double duty and all that.
    "Is there any way you can get a list of all the students in your class?" I asked. "So we have someplace to start?"
    "It's a done deal," Dixie said, and I turned to stare at her.
    "How so?"
    "Professor Billings has us sign in when we enter the lecture hall," Dixie explained. "She's a stickler for attendance. She's
     got extra rosters stuck below the top ones to cover the entire term. I just slipped back into the classroom after lunch and
     pilfered one. Nothing to it."
    I'd forgotten how conniving and underhanded Dixie could be. As a general rule, these dubious talents were locked, loaded,
     and aimed straight in my direction. Being in the backfield rather than the receiving end of her skullduggery was a totally
     unfamiliar--and surreal--experience to say the least. I hadn't decided yet if I liked it.
    "Okay, so we take the list, split it up, and see what we can come up with by Googling the names. Who knows? We might luck
     out and get a break," I said. "Someone who jumps out at us as a prime suspect."
    "What time should we meet to head back to the campus?" Frankie asked. "We have to make sure we're back on the scene before
     dark."
    I looked over at him. "What do you mean, 'on the scene'? My night class isn't till Thursday night," I reminded him.
    "Yes, but our next crime is scheduled to go down this evening," he said. "And if we happen to catch the perpetrator in the
     act, just think of the story that would make--not to mention the grade," he added.
    I eyeballed Frankie. Where had he learned the art of manipulation?
    Oh, yeah. From me.
    "It wouldn't hurt your chances of cinching a spot in the next academy either," I reminded him.
    He shrugged. "Everybody wins," he said.
    "So, just what is the crime of the day?" I asked, not really wanting to know but figuring I'd better ask.
    "A heaping helping of hit-and-run, with a vehicular manslaughter chaser," Dixie recited.
    "You're kidding," I said.
    "Think we need some extra help?" Dixie asked.
    "I think we need freakin' Robo Cop."
    We dropped Dixie off at the Daggett digs in Des Moines and headed for Grandville. Once I left Frankie at Uncle Frank's and
     Aunt Reggie's--yes, he still lives at home, but I'm in no position to criticize--I stopped off at the Gazette to touch base with Stan.
    Stan Rodgers could almost be a twin to that guy who used to be on NYPD Blue. No, not the cute one; the roly-poly bald one with thinning hair and a gruff attitude. Stan is fond of wearing those goofy