I got a lot of work done today both on the wife’s computer system in town and on my own stuff. Did I say that I had taken in seven grand yesterday? “I meant eleven!”
Business around here really does seem to be taking off. And… For this… I feel truly blessed.
At around 4:30 PM, a gentleman rang my doorbell. He started to say he was working for the State of New Jersey and needed me to fill out a form that would have been included with my electric bill. But that was as far as he got.
Why? “Because a Newton Police Officer walked up behind him and slapped a set of handcuffs on his sorry ass!”
Another officer was walking a second individual from behind the house where the guy had been attempting to break in. The officer’s were pretty cool about the whole thing, one cop explaining to me that they’d been alerted to the fact that these scamming burglars were in the neighborhood and figured it was time to catch them in the act.
I’m not sure what drew the police to our house. But I’m glad they arrived when they did.
As we talked, more police vehicles arrived to take my new acquaintance and his partner in crime away. I walked around to the back of the house with one officer to check out the damage done to the door at the back of the house, which opened out onto our patio. It was a standard door, Julia and I both feeling when we had the house built, that it would be more secure and efficient than a sliding glass door. “Today that feeling paid off.”
There was hardly any damage done to the door or it’s locks, other than a few scrapes here and there. After checking things out with the officer we went around the rest of the house and found a third guy trying to sneak away from the guest house, him putting up his hands as soon as he saw he was spotted by the officer. The forth guy coming from the direction of our garage… Well… He wasn’t so lucky… Running straight into the welcoming arms of a female officer stealthily checking the perimeter as he attempted to run away; him having come around the far corner of the building.
More officers arrived and carted the two morons apprehended by the guest house and garage off to join their friends out front. Upon further inspection with the assistance of Newton PD’s finest it was determined that no successful entry was made.
I was thanking the officers for arriving when they did when I heard a familiar sound. It was Julia driving the Ram into the driveway.
“Oh Fuck me,” I said. “She’s going to flip!”
I was pleasantly surprised though. Julia calmly got out of the truck and walked over to the officer and myself. She stood looking around for a minute and then asked the officer, “What’s up?”
So… He explained about the scam to break into people’s homes and how they had arrived just as they got to our house. She listened, asked a few questions about property damage, and then whether or not we would be required to go to court.
The officer and I both explained that the property damage was minor. Then the officer said, “More than likely we won’t need you since we caught them in the commission of a crime. Other houses they tried to hit have them on video in some instances. But… If we really need you we will let you know.”
She then said, “Thanks for coming when you did. I hate to think about what could have happened if you hadn’t showed up when you did.”
The officer laughed and said, “Are you kidding? I’m glad we showed up when we did as it has saved us a lot of paperwork.”
When Julia looked at him questioningly he placed his hand on my shoulder before saying, “With this guy’s reputation being what it is… If we hadn’t turned up when we did… Well… They probably would have foolishly forced your husband’s hand, resulting in us having to scrape them off your property with shovels.”
I laughed and said in my best impersonation of innocence, “I don’t know what you mean officer. I’m a perfectly friendly law abiding citizen.”
The officer laughed and shook hands with me saying, “And a few of your old pals from the Vernon Township Police Department would mostly agree with that statement. Don’t worry. They also made it clear that you never did anything that wasn’t warranted given the circumstances. There are many officers who have a lot of respect for you Brian. No worries.”
And with that… Off the Newton PD went.
It was nearly 6:30 PM when Julia and myself found ourselves standing next to the Dodge in the middle of our driveway. Julia then pulled me into a hug and asked, “Are you ok?”
I nodded and said, “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had someone try to talk their way into a residence I’ve lived in. It’s all good. I promise you, I’m ok. I’m just sorry you had to come home to such a crazy scene. I’m sure after a day of back to back counseling sessions you needed to come home to this like a hole in the head.”
She giggled and kissed me again before saying, “Lock the front door and get in the truck. We’re going to friendly’s.”
Briana and Xavier took care of our table. It was quiet there for a Friday night. Julia Quietly asked for a booth that would give us a bit of privacy in the back, away from the other customers. So… We were given a corner spot well off the beaten path.
Julia then insisted on sitting next to me, which was cool. I was feeling tired all of a sudden and being close to her did help me wind down without the irritable feeling I otherwise might have felt.
I think I did doze off at one point before the food arrived. But, I was sitting on the inside of the bench leaning one shoulder against the wall. I guess my head came to rest there too.
But… When Briana arrived with dinner and began placing things on the table as she spoke with Julia my eyes opened again.
The food and coffee certainly did wake me up, too. They do make a mean chicken salad there!
“Slow down with the coffee Babe, ok?” I heard softly in my ear at one point. “You will want to sleep tonight.”
I nodded and Julia gently gave my leg a squeeze. A little while later, around 8:00 PM, we were pulling into our driveway. “Home sweet home.”
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Julia asked me. I nodded and she then said, “Let’s take a bath together.”
So… I oblige my lady’s request. “Someone really must be looking out for you,” she said at one point. “Yeah,” I said. “That does seem to be the case.”
“I’m glad you didn’t have to deal with those guys yourself,” Julia said. “At least we don’t have to scrub the blood off the porch and replace the carpeting, repaint walls, etc.”
She was watching my face as she spoke and I could hear the hint of a laugh in her voice. “Honey?” I said. “Shut up?” At that point we both started laughing and couldn’t stop for several minutes.
When we got out of the tub Julia went into her study to take care of a few little details left over from her day’s work, while I came in here to write. And… If that breathing I hear in my left ear is any indication… I do believe it’s time for bed. “Her timing is just so perfect!”