It was dark and hard to see his face, but I know he was upset. “Umm, did Berg find anything at the shop or in my car?” I asked hoping to change the subject.
“He didn’t find anything but took your coffee creamer.”
“What? Why?” I’m convinced Berg had gone over the edge with this case.”
Clark replied, “It was white powder.”
“My goodness gracious, the man is an idiot,” I complained.
“Idiot or not,” Clark said, “Let’s hope he went home by the time we get to the station.”
“Station? Why are we going to the station,” Georgie asked a bit too loudly.
“Because someone threatened you with a gun and locked you in a storage shed. You were victims of a crime.” He insisted as he started the car. “Besides, I’m driving to the station. When we get there, you’ll have two choices. You can go in or walk home.” He floored it, and as we sped out of the parking lot, Georgie was mumbling in the backseat.
#######
A young lady in civilian clothes I had never seen before sat behind the front desk inside the station. She must be new to town. I thought I knew everyone. Her nameplate read, Antonia Reed.
“Good evening, Ms. Reed. I need to report a crime. My name is Annie Ryan,” I tried to smile but had an odd feeling this was going to be more trouble than it was worth.
“Please call me Toni. I’m sorry you were involved in an unsavory situation. Do you need medical assistance?” She was jotting notes down on the form attached to a clipboard.
I shook my head, “No; my friend Georgie Roberts and I were threatened by an unknown person with a gun and locked in a shed at Inga Kelleher’s house.”
“Uh huh, well you need to speak to an officer. Follow me. The gentleman can wait here.” She walked down the hall to the same room I was in the day I was nearly arrested.
“You’re not going to lock us in are you?” I stammered. I knew this would end badly.
“Of course not, I’ll leave the door open until the officer arrives.” She smiled at us.
I sighed and dropped into a chair. Georgie sat next to me. “I hope Berg went home. He’ll find a reason to arrest us. Oh no, speak of the devil,” she whispered.
Detective Heidelberg walked into the room with his thumbs resting on his belt. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” He glanced at the form and asked us what happened.
I began to explain how we saw lights on at Inga’s, and Georgie said we should row over. He scowled at me when I said we saw three people dressed in black through the window.
Georgie jumped into the conversation. She explained we were trying to find a way in and when we were discussing who might be able to climb in the window, someone with a gun showed up and locked us in the shed.
He stood there and stared at us. He leaned across the table and said, “Let me get this straight. You went to Inga Kelleher’s house, peeked between the drapes, and were discussing how to break into the house. Then someone from inside locked you in a shed?”
We both nodded in agreement.
“Maybe they wanted to keep you on ice until they called us.” He slammed his palm flat on the table. It echoed through the room, and both Georgie and I jumped.
“I’m going to arrest you both for trespassing.” He smiled and pulled a pair of handcuffs off his belt.
I stood and yelled, “You can’t do that. I wasn’t trespassing.”
His voice raised louder than I thought was humanly possible. “I can and I will, Annie Ryan. You are under arrest.” He grinned at me, and I swear I’ve seen the same grin on a madman in a horror movie.
The door flew open, and Chief Elroy walked in the room. “What in the world is going on in here? I can hear you clear down in the garage.”
“I’m arresting these two for trespassing, window peeping, and attempted breaking and entering at Inga Kelleher’s property.” He smiled a smug smile at the chief.
Georgie was pale, and I know my face was red. I felt the anger surging.
“Okay, okay,” Chief Elroy said, “Explain what happened.”
I looked at him and said, “Before we explain anything Clifford, will you please tell Detective Heidelberg here that if he arrests me or Georgie, I’ll sue him, the station, you, and whoever else I can for false arrest.”
“Is that right little lady, and just what makes you think you can do that?” Berg sputtered.
Chief Elroy was smiling. I think he enjoyed watching me put his head detective in his place.
“Clifford,” I said. “I’m finished speaking with Berg. Can you explain the law and let him know I can’t be arrested for walking around or looking in windows on my property.” I crossed my arms and said, “Berg, I’m the owner of what you refer to as the Kelleher property.”
Georgie burst out laughing, and it must have been contagious because Clifford joined her.
Detective Berg turned shades of red I didn’t know existed and blubbered, “Oh yeah, I forgot.”
The chief told Berg to take a break and sat with
