One thing has stuck with me about the waning moments of my awkward telephone conversation with an Officer of the Arlington Police yesterday.

I envision a desperate, nearing-middle-aged man, in the contented middle of his otherwise contributing career as a keeper of the peace in a sleepy town on the edge of Suburbia. One afternoon, he takes a disturbing phone call from a desperate young man looking for the �City of Arlington� representative who had called him the previous day. �I made a mistake,� the overly contrite young man insists, �in hanging up on the guy before hearing what he had to say.� �I would like to be cooperative in this matter, and get this nasty mess over with as painlessly as possible.�

The officer scans the files for a Jake/Jacob Reeder, and a Charity, or any other member of a Scott family, who this seemingly depraved young man can only offer �live in Arlington, out by the Golf Course.� He finds Nothing.

�Who is Charity� is she your girlfriend,� the Officer begins to probe. His honed cop instincts are screaming at him, and he sees a chance to be a Hero, to stave off another savage attack, to save a desperate Young Woman, who, having been brutalized before, is seeking refuge at her Parent�s domicile to escape an abusive relationship.

�Uhh, well�� I began to try to explain the story, then realize I can only bury myself by revealing too much. This cop�s instincts are serving him well, and he has all too well detected the truth, the only problem is, I had nothing to do with any brutal attack, or the Psychological Hell that was brought down on this sweet young lady as a result � in fact, I strongly felt I was merely a victim of her Mental Instability, and my own Neurosis mixed dangerously with hers.

�Look, I just made a mistake, and was looking to rectify it,� I said, obviously referring to my panicky hang-up the previous day, and after more probing questions from the officer, followed by my dodgy responses.

�What kind of mistake,� the Officer felt he was on to something, his voice suddenly caught an almost excited tinge, �did you do something criminal, did you do something you feel sorry for?�

This was getting dangerous. Officer Hero was looking to make the Big Score. I had to get out.

After another dodge and some pleasant exchange the phone call mercifully ended