I thought, "hang on a minute, the keys are a way to punch a hole in someone's neck pretty effectively if you're strong enough", or something like it. And then I thought the killer might have used the same weapon somehow. Didn't click that it was Pete, because I couldn't see why he would.

I think there are books out there where the heroine holds her keys as a knuckleduster (as if that's going to help when she's thin as a stick). Something jogged my memory, anyway.

But I would have failed at knowing the plan, so the fight probably would have gone on without police intervention. :( Mine is the bigger fault. Sam and Gene, though (as you have the advantage of home ground, too). *grins*

There is to be a second series, but I know what you mean.