So was my examination of Miss Flannery a total bust? It seemed like it to the layman, but not a handsome super genius like me. In fact, it was the first clue on how I could spring Mina from being unjustly accused.

Now, I had to head to the scene of the crime. The chief accompanied me. Not really to help, but to make snarky jabs at me. When we reached the film set, the director's office was closed off. Rightfully so, we did not want to get a worse blood and gore rating in this fiction. Cozy mysteries is the genre I worked in, and I wanted to keep it that way. (Also I tended to faint at the sight of blood, but it didn't fit my hard boiled narration…oh crap. I just mentioned it.)

However, after observing the video where poor Artie Decor got chased by a knife wielding, pink pants suit wearing brunette, I wanted to see something in the doorway.

"Did you really make me drive up here so you could inspect a doorway?" Chief O'Law said, laughing as I took a tape measure to the door.

"Pre-school education, my not-so-lovely Rita," I answered, running the yellow measuring tape up to the top of it. "There was something I saw in the security footage that made me wonder about something…"

The quite blunt chief was silent. No doubt wondering why I didn't care about the actual crime scene.

"It's a pretty small doorway," I said, writing down the measurements. "And the murderess was quite tall and leggy!"

O'Law scratched her slightly scruffy mom-bob. "Come to think of it, I didn't realize if the killer was wearing heels. That might have had something to do with why she ducked to fit in the doorway."

I rubbed my goatee with a smirk on my face. "You're right, Ms. Law. Now tell me this. Is my protege Miss Hawkins that lanky? Even in heels! Mina may be many things, but trying out to be an NBA player is the last thing she'd do. Well, that and drink a decaf latte without a hundred different needlessly sugary flavors."

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"I can't believe I'm saying this," my ex-flame said. "But you have a point. That narrows things down a bit."

"Or raises the bar!" I added. "Now we have to find ourselves a tall Mina impersonator in that crowd!"

The chief gave me a deep, husky chuckle. "I can't believe this either. You're actually giving me something to do that isn't pointless, arbitrary and involves bad karaoke of Hee Bee Gee Bees songs, Raven."

I whipped out my pipe, filled with bubbles and took a puff. "That's because I'm not Raven. The name is Lockwood. Lockwood Soles. Famous detective and hardboiled narrator!"

***

While the chief did that job, I decided to pay a visit to someone. Another dame in need of me. Why I'm talking about my kind-hearted protege who was currently behind bars.

Yes, I would tell Mina the lead we just found thanks to my brilliant perception (or dumb luck, depending on how much you like me.)

When I entered the private cellblock, I found Mina curled up in a fetal position. Had prison life really been that bad to her? After all, I heard horror stories about hardened inmates shiv'ing each other in the prison showers and letting their tainted ruby blood spill down into the prison sewers.

"I joke about many things, Mina," I said, holding my hand to my heart in a literal heartfelt gesture. "But not about your safety and wellbeing. Please tell me you are not suffering!"

There were tears in Mina's eyes when she looked at me. "It's been…a few hours without my E-Phone."

I nearly dropped to the ground like one of those old-timey japanamation cartoons. "My lawyer protege did many noble things, but she was also a classic millennial…"

"You realize," I said, gritting my teeth. "You've only been in prison for a few hours…Mina."

Her big brown eyes shimmered and her mouth trembled. "And I feel every second I'm not on Boobtube watching the latest Ninja Kitty 128 playthrough…"

That Mina Hawkins, truly worrying about the most important things. Well, it was a bonus stage in Legally Brunette. Maybe she didn't take it as seriously.

"But seriously," Mina said at last. "Please tell me you found evidence to help me. I can't go to prison…"

"You already in prison…" I said.

"Doyee…" she said, her eyes looking slightly crossed.

"But I did find evidence. It's a long-shot," I said to her. "But somewhere in that crowd of Mina wannabes was a cold hard killer waiting to frame you for a horrendous deed."

Mina smiled and clasped her hands together. "I knew you'd come through for me, Raven. You're the best."

I flicked a finger pistol in her direction. "Only you can call me, Raven, kiddo. Now get some rest…a bonus trial is still a trial! Remember that!"

That angel brunette attorney I called my protege smiled. I think she was gonna make it…even without her phone.

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