Vance’s Case Notes #2: Cross & Vance

A Clean Getaway

The Daily Word #48 — July 12, 2026 — pollution (136)

Every witness looked ahead. Detective Vance looked down. Photo by Sylwester Krawczyk on Unsplash

A city official lay murdered in a narrow alley during a severe pollution alert. Witnesses described the fleeing figure identically: black coat, black filtration mask.

“Worthless,” the sergeant grunted. “Half the city looks like that today.”

Every witness remembered the mask. Nobody remembered the man beneath it. Everyone assumed the pollution had simply hidden the killer.

Detective Vance ignored the faces. He looked down. Days of toxic smog had coated the cobblestones in a thick layer of oily soot — staining the footwear of every constable, paramedic, and witness.

While every boot carried soot, only one pair of polished leather shoes remained perfectly clean beneath the streetlights.

Vance stepped toward a witness in a black coat.

“Your shoes.”

The witness instinctively glanced at his own shoes. The constables looked down too. Two officers moved before he did.

Written for Frequency Daily Prompt — Day 48. The daily word was pollution.

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