Channel 2 photographer Bryan Frank had one of those weeks where you drive and drive and drive, and never get anywhere. As he blogs it, he was sent to cover a bear on a golf course, but when he got there the bear was gone. A couple of days later he fought the Friday traffic to Orange County to shoot a vigil for Iraq hostages at the Huntington Beach pier. He paid for parking, got out his equipment and started the long hike to the tip of the pier.

When I got near the water end of the pier, I cam across a police bike patrol officer and asked him about the vigil. He pointed out the amphitheatre area which I knew was to be the vigil location. What I didn’t know was that it was at the opposite end of the pier. Gee, and really close to my truck. I thanked the officer and chuckled along with him.

The final insult on this second assignment was the fact that it wasn’t a real vigil. The organizers were helping put together a documentary. They were only recreating the vigil that had taken place there a year ago.

Then came word of breaking news: a homicide at a nearby apartment that could make the OC trip worthwhile.

The adrenaline was quickly starting to pump and I felt good that the trip so far from the station wasn’t going to be a complete waste. I was hungry, but I’d even forgotten about lunch.

I made my way to the apartment complex where the crime was reported to have been committed. No cop cars. No ambulance. No crime scene tape. No other news van anywhere to be seen. These are signs I can recognize. I’m familiar with them and I know what they mean.

There’s no news here.

Just a death of natural causes.

Photo: CBS2.com