...to find the hall trashed and vacated.

"Uhuh" says the copper in charge.

His fellows work their way swiftly up and down the aisles, shining flashlights between the rows of seats.

To Merlin, the unidentifiable pieces of refuse look alarmingly like body parts until closer examination proves otherwise.

"You could have come quicker, you know" says Merlin. "This place was getting totally out of hand a few hours ago. Maybe somebody even got killed and they've taken the body or bodies away".

"Uhuh" again. "Well, nuthin' for us to do here, boys, let's go".

Aint it the truth, thinks Merlin sourly. They're never there when you need 'em, they're always late, and they have nothing to do or say that will help the situation when they finally do show up.