Scandalous Behavior

37

Dr. Don Beverly Calhoun was having lunch with his wife when the doorman called up. “Dr. Calhoun?”

“Yes?”

“There are two gentlemen at the front desk who have identified themselves as police officers. Shall I send them up?”

“What do they want?”

“They wouldn’t tell me, sir, but they showed me badges and IDs.”

Calhoun signed. “All right, send them up.” He threw down his napkin.

“Now what?” Cheree asked.

“Now there are policemen at the door.”

“I’ve seen enough policemen this week to last me a lifetime,” she said.

Dr. Don answered the door and two men showed him badges that were different from each other and insisted he read their IDs.

“All right,” Calhoun said, “you’re policemen. Now what?”

“May we come in, sir? We’d like to ask you some questions.”

“Oh, all right.” He took them into the living room and seated them facing away from the view. They didn’t deserve it. “What can I do for you?”

“First, I should say that I am Lieutenant Shaw, from the Connecticut State Police, and this is Lieutenant Roberts, from the New York State Police. For your convenience, we are conducting this interview together, rather than separately.”

“I derived that from your IDs.”

The officer showed him two photographs. “Are these two men your employees?”

“They are employed by a corporate entity of which I am an officer.”

“They were arrested, one in Connecticut, one in New York State, and they were both carrying firearms unlicensed in either state.”

“I heard about that. I wish to apologize.”

“I’m afraid, sir, that apologies do not erase felony arrests. Were they armed on your instructions?”

Calhoun blinked rapidly. “I do not recall giving them such instructions.”

“We understand that you and these two men were recently arrested in the United Kingdom on the same charge. Is this correct?”

“That was over a real estate dispute, nothing important.”

“Sir, please answer the question.”

“Should I have my attorney present?”

“You are not under arrest, sir, but that’s entirely up to you.”

“How does the business in London relate to the business in Connecticut and New York?”

“It seems to indicate a pattern of behavior, sir.”

“I think it would be best if I decline to answer other questions and refer you to my attorney.”

“As you wish, sir.”

Calhoun wrote down the name and phone number and handed it to them.

“One other question, sir: Do you possess a firearm at this residence?”

“You can ask my attorney that.”

“Thank you, sir.” The two men rose and headed for the door, then one of them turned back. “I almost forgot,” he said, handing Calhoun a blue envelope. “You’ve been served.”

Calhoun was left staring at the envelope as the door closed behind him.

“Served what?” Cheree asked.

Calhoun ripped open the envelope. “Notices to appear in court in both Litchfield, Connecticut, and Katonah, New York.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow. Katonah in the morning, Litchfield in the afternoon.”

“Oh, good,” she said acidly. “We’ll have a nice day in the country.”

Calhoun called his attorney and reported his conversation with the two policemen.

“And you said they were your employees?”

“I said I was an officer of the company that employs them. Will you be at this hearing?”

“I’m licensed in both New York and Connecticut. I’ll go with you. And I’ll bring a couple of blank checks on the firm for bail money.”

“Bail money?”

“It’s what you pay to get out of jail, like in Monopoly.”

“Jail?”

“Dr. Calhoun, if you sent two armed men on some sort of mission, without the requisite firearms licenses, it is very likely that both they and you will be charged.”

“Oh, dear Jesus,” Calhoun breathed.

“Speak to him, it might help.”