SMACK!!

The lipstick on the mirror seemed to leave no doubt.

It read, “Smack (the kiss)”

Initially, the cop thought it was about heroin. Yes, the police had to be called, even though there was no insurance to cover the loss. A few questions, a few notes on a little pad (caricature!), and he left. No doubt nothing would happen, other than a short note in the Fresno Bee police blotter section. After that first impression wore off, John, the piano player, and songwriter realized it was Kay, the love of his life, who had left this message for him. Her departure wasn’t a surprise, but the message on the mirror was. John’s guitarist roommate, Ray, didn’t think about that. He found Kay annoying but understood why she’d leave John. Most of Ray’s musical instruments and recording equipment were gone, but the stuff at the club was safe, or was it? Sobering up, John and Ray began talking about how the bartenders at the club kept giving the band free drinks after the gig that night. Now it made sense. Whoever was behind the burglary had gotten the owner to feed the musicians drinks to delay them from coming home. Eventually, when Kay called John, it became evident that the mirror “love note” and the break-in were not related. Kay was, however, gone for good. A goodbye kiss in lipstick on a mirror.