Detective Singh hung up the phone and spun around in his chair to face the squad room. “There’s been another one,” he announced.

“Another what?” asked Gill.

Singh stuck out his left leg and began tapping it to and fro in time to his singing. “You put your left foot in! You put your left foot out!”

Captain Robert’s head popped around the door of her office. “Do I need to send you to sensitivity training again?” she asked.

Singh’s caramel skin blushed amber. “No, ma’am.”

“Meeting. My office. In five,” she ordered before disappearing.

“Where did they find it?” asked Gill.

“Up the Sunshine Coast. Rose Island.”

“How many is that now?”

“Six.”

“All lefts?”

“All lefts,” said Singh.

Gill thought for a moment. “Didn’t the last one show up in June too?”

“Yup.”

“Making any progress?” asked Gert from across the room.

Singh shrugged.

“How long has it been now?” she teased. “Five years a mystery?”

“Something like that. About one a year washes up on shore,” said Singh. “Sometimes more.”

“Any theories?” asked Gill.

“UFOs!” shouted Gert.

“I’m leaning towards inept serial podiatrist,” said Singh.

The detectives laughed. Captain Robert’s interrupted. “I’m waiting.”

Singh jumped up and went into her office. Taking a seat on the uncomfortable wobbly chair facing her sleek metallic desk.

“I’ve been notified about the latest find,” she said. “Getting any closer to a solution?”

“None of the feet so far have matched up with anyone on DNA analysis. Nobody has come forward about losing a foot.”

“Are you being facetious?”

“No, ma’am.”

She tapped her fingers on the desk. Looking out her window thoughtfully. “What’s the timeline been?”

“The feet have usually shown up in the summer or early fall. This one is reportedly very well preserved. Hasn’t been in the water long.”

“Floating south from a northerly origin?”

“That’s the current theory.”

“I want you to get out there,” said Roberts. “Head up to Fino River. It’s the northernmost city on Rose Island. Talk to the coroner. See what you else can find out.”

“Maybe the coroner can help figure out how long the foot was in the water this time. Calculate back using wind and tides to see where it might have come from.”

“I like it. Make it happen.”

“Helijet?” asked Singh.

Roberts snorted. “Take a car from the pool. The ferry and island highway are more than fast enough. It’s taken years to figure this out. What’s a few more hours.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Singh. He returned to his desk, and called the Island Ferries, making a reservation for the next sailing.

“Are you left working alone?” asked Gill.

“Do you feel left down?” asked Gert.

Gill added, “Have you been left to your own dev—”

Singh stood up and saluted the squad room. “Peace out.”

He stood in the heavily fenced lot, looking over the unmarked cars. Of course, all the V8 Chargers had already been taken. He was left taking a white Impala. With only a V6 engine. And no rear-drive. Not that it really mattered. It was doubtful he would be making any high speed pursuits on this road trip.

On the ferry, he sat in the Quiet Lounge. Sipping chai and filling up on nuts, pastries, and cheese. He skipped the fresh fruit and vegetables. He got enough of that at home. His eyelids grew heavy, and he put down the newspaper he had been leafing through. Looking out the window, he saw a young woman standing at the rail.

Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun. The wind had teased out long tendrils that flew back over her shoulders. When she turned around, her cheeks were bright pink from the wind chill. Her make-up was bold. Emphasizing her brown eyes and red lips although the red did clash with her cheeks. She was wearing a flowy purple skirt that ended just above her knees. Otherwise she was mostly covered up in a puffy black jacket with a sapphire blue plaid scarf flying around her neck.

Singh admired her long, muscular legs when the wind blew her skirt up to her thighs. He wished he could see the rest of her. He suspected she had a very trim body. Too bad this trip couldn’t wait until the summer when the female scenery was less hidden by clothing. He idly wondered where she was off to. Sighing, he returned to his newspaper and snacks.

Natalie turned from the ferry rail and walked across the deck towards the heavy entrance door. She glanced towards the windows. Noticing a handsome Indian man inside. His black hair was slicked back from his face. Framing his high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. He seemed to be watching her, so she walked more quickly towards the door. Struggling against the wind to heave it open.

As her bus pulled into Fino River, it stopped at a red light. A white sedan sat in the next lane, also waiting for the light to change. Natalie noticed that the driver was the handsome man from the ferry. She wondered why there were heavy bars between the front and back seats of his car.

At the bus depot, Natalie slung her bag over her shoulder and walked outside. Blinking furiously against the bright sunlight. In her rush to get ready, she had forgotten her sunglasses. But you didn’t delay after a last minute summons from Madame Pizarski. Somebody had cancelled their audition, and Natalie was first on the waiting list. Come hell or high water, there was no way she was missing her opportunity to audition for the Pizarski Academy of Ballroom Dance.

She strolled down the main street towards the…[End of Excerpt]