CHAPTER THREE
Judge
Able was up early as usual the next morning and received a call from the chief
at seven am.
“Hi
chief,” the retiring chief said, “When can you start?”
“First, we address you as ‘chief’ until you’re
out of here. Agreed?”
“Anything
you say, detective,” the chief laughed.
The
judge laughed at the use of her old homicide rank. “That was kind of nice chief, detective it
is.”
“You
have room for me somewhere?” she asked.
“I’m
emptying my office out today and tomorrow.
How about starting on this coming Monday?”
“Thanks for your congratulations call, chief,
I’ll be in touch,” she said sarcastically.
“Congratulations,
Beth,” he said and then disconnected.
The
phone rang again as soon as she hung up.
“Good
morning, Father Sanchez,” she said putting him on speaker.
He
told her very sternly, “I’ve heard from the diocese, judge.”
“Sorry
father, occasionally you have to use a two by four to grab someone’s
attention.”
“Yes,
well that could be said of the diocese,” he responded.
“We
are to meet,” the father said, “Sooner rather than later.”
“Great,”
she said, “Join me for lunch at Casper’s, at noon.”
“See
you then,” the priest agreed.
The
phone rang again and she was surprised to hear Councilman Morales on the phone.
“Councilman,
it’s a pleasure to hear from you. Thank
you for lunch yesterday,” she teased.
“Congratulations
chief, I’m calling about the drive by shootings,” he said.
“Councilman
I know its short notice but are you busy for lunch today?”
“Nothing
I can’t move around,” he said.
“Would
you like to join Father Sanchez and me for lunch at Casper’s at noon?” she
asked.
“Love
to, see you then,” he said and disconnected.
She
called Casper’s and made reservations for five at noon.
Beth
dialed another number and said, “Good morning, Stella.”
“Beth
how nice to hear from you.”
“Stella,
you mentioned that several of the mothers with children at Alta Vista Grammar
School are very upset about the drive by shooting.”
“Oh
yes, we’ve all been talking on the phone,” she said.
“Stella,
can you get away for lunch today and bring one of the other mothers with you?”
“Lunch?”
Stella asked.
“I’m
having lunch with Father Sanchez and Councilman Morales today and I would like
two of the mothers to join us to discuss your fears,” she said.
“Lunch
with a priest and a councilman?” Stella asked.
“Yes,
at noon, and I can pick you up on the way.”
“My
neighbor is home and Elaina can babysit for both of us,” Stella said.
“I’ll
pick you up at a little after eleven,” Beth said.
“I
will do it, Beth,” she said, “For the children.”
The
judge wore a deep rose pants suit with very little makeup but the color
flattered her complexion and her slender figure still caught the occasional
second glance.
She
picked the ladies up shortly after eleven and they both looked marvelous but
were very nervous.
“Judge Able this is my neighbor Ann
Montejo. She has a little boy and a
little girl at the school.”
“Good
morning, Mrs. Montejo,” she said in Spanish, “Just call me Beth, please. Do you have pictures of your children with
you?” she asked them.
They
both glanced at their purses and shook their heads yes.
“You
look wonderful,” she told them.
They
smiled shyly and got into the car with Beth, “Now, don’t worry about the priest
and councilman. They’re just men,” she said.
Beth
asked Mrs. Montejo about her babies and they chatted all the way downtown. The ladies were both impressed with Casper’s
where they were seated immediately. The
boys won’t be here until noon so we can chat for a bit and look at the menu she
told them.
Stella
read most of the menu fairly accurately to Ann and Beth said, “Before the men
get here I have a little announcement to make,” Beth paused, “I have been
offered the job as Chief of Police of Alta Vista and I have decided to accept.”
“Chief
of Police,” they marveled, “A lady Chief of police.”
Stella
caught herself and said, “Congratulations, Beth, Jose would be so happy about
this. We should celebrate,” she said.
“We
will,” Beth smiled and ordered a half bottle of champagne for her and the
ladies.
Stella
made a toast and the ladies sipped the small amount of champagne in their
glasses and Beth didn’t pour more. She wanted her wits about her for the lunch
discussion. They were all chatting comfortable when Beth saw Councilman Morales
enter the restaurant.
The
waiter led him to the table and he was charming, “I didn’t know that I was
having lunch with three beautiful women,” he said to them and bowed over each
lady’s hand and took a seat. They
continued to chat in Spanish and the councilman took out a card with his office
number and handed one to each lady. “It
is always a pleasure to meet constituents,” he said, “even when the subject of
our discussion is a solemn one.”
Father
Sanchez looked surprised as he reached the table and wasn’t quite as smooth as
the councilman but acquitted himself quite well as his natural manners helped
him through the introductions.
“I
would like to propose a toast,” Robert Morales said and the waiter sprang to
attention and filled their glasses with the remainder of the champagne. “To our new chief of police, Judge Beth
Able,” and he raised his glass to her and everyone else followed suit.
“Well,”
the priest asked, “am I the last to know of this good news?”
There
was laughter at his joke and the waiter came to take their order.
Unnoticed
by the group at the table someone overheard the toast and pulled out a phone
and began to take pictures of the new chief and transmit them to the Evening
Standard.
The
judge thanked everyone for their good wishes and said, “I had a very good
reason for inviting the ladies to lunch today,” she said. “This is not to be a discussion about diocese
politics, or city politics, or police department politics. The reason we are here is to discuss the
safety of our children.
The
ladies nodded vigorously and the Judge went on, “They both have children in the
effected school and contacted me about their fears.”
The
priest asked about the ages of the children and the ladies took their pictures
and showed them to the priest and councilman.
They were all looking at school pictures when the waiter brought their
lunch. The ladies put the pictures away and
Father Sanchez said a short blessing before they began eating and chatting
together comfortably over the food.
As
they finish lunch and coffee was served the judge said, “I think it would be
beneficial to schedule an informal meeting including the parents, myself,
Councilman Morales, and Father Sanchez,” she said. “Father could we use the church hall?”
He
felt railroaded but he said yes, he could arrange for the hall be
available. After all she was Chief of
Police now.
“How
about right after school one day next week?” she asked.
“Everyone
agreed on Thursday,” and the little party broke up much closer to each other
then they had been which would make problem solving much easier. The ladies were put in charge of calling
their fellow parents and putting signs up in the neighborhood. The judge signed the check and drove the ladies
home thanking them and telling them how well they had done.
©
August 2013 by Karen MacEanruig
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