Mike, police procedurals, draws the short straw, so our critique group acts out his story to find flaws.

I hit the john, load my Beretta, ready to raise the stakes. Tessa, horror (writing and life!), joins me enthusiastically.

Lona is new, yet, ironically, historical. She’ll acquiesce.

Ali, noir, is a guest, so a mystery. Replaces Hector, who escaped. We’d pushed him to the brink of insanity when we cosplayed his best-selling Dyin’ Eyes.

We enter the gritty sheets of chapter one when I drop the mike.

I’d tell you what happens next … but I’m suspense.