Aurora, Illinois

What's An Alibi?

Missy's table at lunch was aflutter with speculation about York.

Madison said, "Who do you think York'll date next?" Madison was in theater and loved drama.

Liana looked up in deep thought and then announced, "I think it'll be Missy." 

Missy replied, "Yeah right. I'd never give him a chance."

Madison looked shocked, "Why not? He's hot."

Missy couldn't believe how shallow her friends were some of the time. She wondered if she was too. "I heard he doesn't have an alibi for Adelina's murder."

Liana was confused. "What's an alibi?"

Missy came back, "Seriously, don't you watch one of the thousand crime shows on TV? It's like the place you say you were when a murder happened. York says he was home but his parents were both out so he could just be saying he was home to look innocent."

Madison laughed, "I'd let him smack me. I bet he's full of passion. Not like I'd want to be murdered but I'd want his hands on me."

Liana and Missy answered at once, "Madison!"

Missy took a moment. Then: "All I know is, police or not, I'm going to figure out who killed Adelina."

Liana couldn't believe her ears: "Am I the only one not trying to get herself killed?"

Missy asked, "So what if I died, wouldn't you try to get justice? That's what I would want. Why wouldn't Adelina?"

Madison popped a grape into her mouth. "My brother says police and jails and courts are all stupid. People can't help doing what they do. It's all chemical reactions in their brain. Criminals come out of jail and they still commit crimes. We'd be better off building things like security systems and safes that make it harder to commit a crime."

"And do you believe that?"

"Yes and no. I mean it's interesting. I just can't picture a world without police."