Sunday the Rabbi Stayed Home

Chapter Twenty-Eight

… No ma’am, you notify the electric company. But I can tell you there’s no need to call them either. They know about it. The power is out in all that part of town. The storm knocked out the substation.”

Sergeant Hanks turned to Patrolman Smith, who had unbuttoned his tunic and was relaxing with a cup of coffee. “Boy, what a night! Must be a hundred people calling the electric company and then calling us when they can’t get them.”

Smith smiled sympathetically, but the sergeant was back at the phone again. “Barnard’s Crossing Police Department, Sergeant Hanks speaking… Yes, Mr. Begg… Oh yes, that’s one of the houses the cruising car checks regular… No sir, nothing was called in… You say it was lit up?… That’s funny—all power in that part of town is out. You don’t have lights, do you?… Oh, before… No, sir, I was not talking to my girl and not to my wife either… Well, I’m sorry about that, but people been calling in almost constantly for the last hour or so about the lights… Yes sir. I’ll have the cruising car check….”

He wheeled around in his swivel chair. “Son of a bitch!”

“Begg? No two opinions on him,” said the patrolman. “Did I ever tell you about the time he—”

“I better call the cruising car,” the sergeant interrupted. “It would be just like him to keep tabs on the time. Hear me. Bob?… Hanks… When did you pass Tarlow’s Point?… Uh-huh… Well, take a run down there, will you? Old man Begg claims he saw a light there… No, just before the transformer blew… Okay.”