I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear you over the chatter in here.
Did you say you want to take that chair?
My friend is joining me but. . .sure, ok. It is crowded with the morning coffee rush, and the window seat does make it easier to pass the time.
Would you like me to lean your cane against the wall?

It’s nice to meet you.

Me? I’m Alibi Morning Sun.

I agree, it’s unusual, but no, it’s not a family name.

My mother was Italian—she’d settled on Vito. Then the timing of my birth cleared my father of a murder rap, and when I was born he declared, “Oh, my beautiful Alibi.” As for Morning Sun, I’m not sure where that comes from. I haven’t found any relatives with that surname.
I think my father used it as an alias, easier to do before everything was discoverable online.

Oh no, don’t be nervous. I definitely don’t take after him. I’m on the other side of the law. I’m a homicide detective.

Excuse me, I’ve got a message.

Alibi,
I’m en route, almost there.
Emma

One moment. I need to respond.

Emma, 
I’m sitting with a very nice grandma. 
She’s keeping your chair warm.
Alibi

What’s that? Her name’s Emma. No, she’s not a police officer. She’s an ethics investigator. She works for the state to help root out corruption. Though she does sometimes come across suspicious deaths in her investigations. Yes, we’ve done a few cases together. Is she my girlfriend?

Well. . .Well, I. . . I. . .

Oh look, there she is, headed toward us, up the block.
Emma’s the one with the dark auburn hair.
Yes, she is pretty. I agree.

You’re right, she stopped. She’s checking her phone.
She’s typing.

Alibi, 
I’ve arrived, but the cafe looks jammed.
Please come outside. 
What I have to tell you,I can’t say in a crowd.
It’s about the young man who drowned in Folsom Lake.
It wasn’t a suicide, and I’m certain the killer isn’t done yet.

I’m so sorry, I’ve got to run.

It looks like Emma and I have some work to do.

Thanks for keeping me company. It was lovely chatting with you.

Under A Broken Sky, An Emma Lawson Mystery #2
Genre: Thriller
Release: July 2022
Purchase Link

In this Sacramento-set thriller perfect for fans of Meg Gardiner, Emma Lawson uncovers greed and deception for a living, but this time is different. If only she knew this killer can hear her.

He can see her.

One year into her prized role as the youngest ethics investigator in California’s history, Emma suspects corruption in the state’s billion dollar expansion to train travel. That unwittingly puts her on a killer’s trail – a killer who will do anything to reach his illicit million dollar payday, including personally eliminating Emma Lawson as a threat.

Detective Alibi Morning Sun sees connections where no one else does. For him, a drowning at a lake, a fire in a storage facility and a murder by the river carry a thread soaked in blood.

As Emma follows the money and Alibi traces bullets and bodies, the killer counts down to his grand finale. With each mounting danger, it quickly becomes apparent that the corruption Emma has been digging for is real— and it’s deadly.

Three days. Two days. Now only one. . .

About the author
Kris Calvin writes thrilling and suspenseful mystery/crime fiction stories for adults, in which no harm comes to children. A multi-award-winning author, Kris was educated in forensics psychology and economics. A single mother of three, Kris and her kids are faithful San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors sports fans, but their favorite place is the public library. Their family is made complete by black cat Nigel, orange tabby brothers Eddy and Ellis, and mini-Bernese Mountain Dog puppy Fox.

All comments are welcomed.