SHORTS FROM THE SHELF features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, administrator of SHANNON MUIR’S THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. The story line featured currently is “Scales of Justice,” which will run over the next two days. This is Part One.

“Would you look at that? The scale needle’s stuck at one hundred and eighty pounds.”

“Well, the victim sure doesn’t weigh that much. The victim’s petite and lightweight. She’d never come close to that.”

The detective leaned closer to be sure her partner read the scale correctly.

“Nothing wrong with your eyes. That’s sure what it says.”

“Maybe it’s just broken.”

“I didn’t doubt it’s broken. But did it just malfunction or did it break during the murder? We should have it looked into.”

The other detective shrugged.

“Sure, but seems like a waste of time to me.”

The detective that noted the scale made the call and had it undergo the procedure to have it looked at as evidence. Maybe it was just a fluke, but a crime scene involved looking at all the details and check even the slightest thing out of place. She didn’ want any errors jeapordizing her record of success.