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Title: The Case of the Botnet Triangle (Childrens' Mystery). Format is per instructions.

The Suspects: 1. Annie Applegate, the Librarian. 2. Bob McPherson, the Mailman. 3. Cory Greenwald, the Guitar player. 4. Dan Arbuckle, the Plumber. 5. Charlie, the Assistant Plumber.

It was a hot and extremely humid, lazy sort of summer day in Salemberg, North Carolina. Annie Applegate could almost see the droplets of water as she breathed through the thick heavy air. Even the effort of breathing was exhausting Annie in the high heat of August.

Annie worked part-time as a librarian in Fayetteville, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Even if she made a stop at the Piggly Wiggly, she could be home before 3:00 p.m. She was glad she had been able to access the web through a public library computer that morning. Things were set in motion as she dreamed of better days ahead. Cory would get her email and all would be well.

Today the traffic was different, it had come to a complete halt. Annie leaned out the window, peering around the line of cars in front of her. Able to catch a glimpse of police cars far ahead, Annie settled into the well-worn groove of her bucket seat and waited, wishing her car radio worked. She watched the thermostat needle of her 1985, Chevy Impala glide into the "red zone." Irritated, she flicked the ignition key to "off," watching for steam to begin seeping from around the edges of the faded green hood.

In Los Angeles, Dan Arbuckle was weaving his blue and gold plumbing van through the congested 10 freeway. Even at 9:00 a.m. the gravy colored smog was heavy. Dan was eager to reach the Santa Monica shoreline where the air would be somewhat clear and fresh from the ocean breeze. His assistant, Charlie, could handle the three remaining jobs for the day and Dan would be at the beach by 10:00 a.m. The piercing sound of sirens suddenly sliced through the dull whooshing of cars passing cars on the freeway.

Startled out of his beach-dreaming reverie Dan was both irritated and puzzled by the police car's flashing lights signaling him to stop. Dan nudged his vehicle across three lanes to the right shoulder of the freeway where he came to a halt. Fear gripped its ugly claws into Dan's belly as he watched through his rear view mirror. Three additional patrol cars sidled in behind the first. A fifth patrol car appeared out of nowhere, blocking the front of his van. Dan quickly sent an S.O.S. warning to Charlie on his phone email.

Cory Greenwald

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