Beatrix

"We don't really know, sir," the detective mumbled. Murphy I think his name was.

I pulled the collar of my overcoat up around my neck. The snow had started to come down. None of that light fluffy stuff, but the big heavy crap that stick together. The wife would be happy; it would be a white Christmas after all.

"What do you mean you don't know? She had an ID on her, didn't she?"

"Yes, sir. But here's the thing, all we got was a name. One Beatrix Lauffallette."

The detective, Murphy, yeah, it had to be Murphy, fumbled with his gloves. He tried to hurry, but all it did was slow him down. I tried to be patient, but I found my foot tapping the road. Light was fading fast so all I had was the headlights of the squad car we were camped in front of. The snow was picking up. I had to squint, but looking into the headlights really showed it.

Murphy finally produced the driver's license from his pocket. I turned it toward the lights to made it out. The red and blues from the overheads made it tough, but it was something you got used to.

"Lauffallette? Jesus, was she French or German?"

I don't know, sir. Maybe she's from Alsace or Loraine?"

"What?"

"Alsace and Loraine. It's between Germany and France."

"Between them? They share a boarder."

I think that is what they were fighting over. You know, in the war."

"What does it matter? What does any of this matter?"

"I guess it doesn't."

"You're damn right, so stay on point. I'd like to make it home sometime this week."

"Yes, sir. I am sorry, sir."

I slapped the driver's license with the back of my hand. "Right there. Here's her address."

"We checked the apartment out. It seems it is an old address. The landlord didn't have a forwarding one either. We also asked around the neighborhood. A lot of folks said they remembered seeing her around. One identified her as Betty, but nobody could say anything more."

"God, any calls yet? Any missing persons?

"No, sir. Not yet."

"So we got nothing. No job, no friends, no family, no nothing?"

No, sir."

"Anything on how she died?"

"We aren't sure. They found the car here at the stop sign. She was the only one in the vehicle."

"Heart attack?"

"Maybe. The coroner isn't sure yet. The car was in park."

"Wonderful. Just wonderful. Well I guess we'll just clean up here and wait at the station for a while and see if anyone claims her. If not, then I guess we just head home."

"Head home?"

"Yeah, got a problem with that?"

"It just doesn't seem right just leaving her at the coroner with it being Christmas and all. Her family should know."

"Are you saying you want to take her home with you detective?"

"Well, no, but..."

"Then she'll just have to wait until Monday. Come on, let's get out of here."