Rookie

It was Hamill's first day on the job on the Hasternack Police Force. His blue uniform pressed and black shoes all polished. Haircut fresh. He kissed his teary mother and wife goodbye and drove his black Ford truck to headquarters.

Hamill would be partnered with Ducan, the more experienced cop five years older than him.

Not only is it a blue moon it's a holiday weekend, should be a busy night, Ducan said. They drove around the city. Calls started coming in. One call caught their ears.

Rooster heard crowing on 90 Wester Street. Inside the apartment.

They knocked on the door and a short round woman answered.

My name is officer Ducan and this is officer Hamill. Can we come in?

Hamill could see over the woman's shoulder, blood everywhere.

A muscular shirtless husband stepped out from the kitchen with a cleaver.

My husband, he doesn't speak much English, the woman said patting her sweaty hands on her bright flowered dress. We were having ceremony, she said.

The blood was spattered all over the kitchen.

Ma'am the call said a rooster lives here.

We were making dinner, she said.

You can't keep a live farm animal in the city apartment, it's against the department of health regulations.

He is not live.

Officer Ducan saw feathers everywhere in the bathroom and kitchen. The rooster's head lay on the kitchen cutting board. The decapitated bird body was in the sink.