Chapter 2

The radio had been unusually quiet during their first hour of patrol. So far, Unit 1-Adam-12 had not been assigned even one call. Pete parked the car next to a pay phone and looked at his partner.

Jim scanned the area, then glanced over to Pete. "What did you stop for?"

"Don't you think you should call your wife?"

"What for?"

"To check on my godson. Chicken pox can be dangerous you know."

"I'm sure Jean has everything under control," Jim replied confidently.

"Well, wouldn't you feel better if you knew how he was doing?"

"You mean you would feel better..."

"Okay, fine..." Pete conceded while avoiding his partner's amused stare. "I would feel better. Humor me."

The sound of the dispatcher's voice interrupted this discussion with a call. "1-Adam-12, see the woman, unknown trouble..." Pete frowned as Jim wrote down the address.

"1-Adam-12, roger."

As it happened, they were only one block away from the house. A lady was standing on the sidewalk waving at them frantically. She ran up to the car as soon as it stopped and stooped to look into the window. "Oh hurry Officers! Hurry please! She's been calling for help for the last ten minutes! Something terrible has happened! I just know it!"

"Who's been calling?" Jim tried to clarify.

"My neighbor! She just keeps calling for help, over and over! Please hurry! Please!"

"Just keep calm, ma'am. Which house?"

"Right there - her name is Myrtle Thackery!" The overwrought woman pointed behind her. "It's been terrible! Cries for help over and over again!"

"We'll check it out, ma'am. Will you go back inside your house please?"

Jim called in a Code 6 at their location and then both officers approached the house quickly. Pete rang the bell. There was no answer for a few seconds, then a woman's voice asked, "Who is it?" through the closed door.

"Police Officers, Mrs. Thackery..."

"Just a moment..."

They heard the sound of a lock opening and an elderly woman came outside. Her long hair was arranged in a bun directly atop her head. A few unruly strands had escaped, giving it the appearance of rather messy bird's nest.

"What can I do for you Officers?" she asked sweetly.

"Is everything alright here?"

"Why yes young man..." She looked from Pete to Jim with a questioning expression. "Why do you ask?"

"Have you been calling for help, ma'am?"

"Dear me!" Mrs Thackery exclaimed and put her hands on her cheeks in embarrassment.

"What's the matter, ma'am?"

"I didn't realize it would be a problem..."

Pete and Jim exchanged a confused look.

"What would be a problem, ma'am?"

"His name."

"Whose name?" Pete was growing more puzzled by the moment.

"Why, my cat of course!"

"Your what?"

"My cat. I got him from my sister just yesterday."

"Your cat's name is 'Help'?" Jim asked in disbelief.

"I'm afraid so..."

"And... you were just calling your cat a few minutes ago?"

"Why, yes Officer. Oh! Here he is now!"

Pete and Jim looked down to see a small orange tabby sitting between them on the front step.

"Come here 'Help', here kitty..." The cat meowed happily, and leapt into her arms.

"This is 'Help', Officers." Mrs. Thackery stroked the tabby behind his ears. "My sister is moving into a new place that won't allow pets, so I told her I would take him. He's such a sweet one."

Pete couldn't resist smiling at this woman, who reminded him just a little of Mrs. O'Brien. "Do you mind a suggestion?"

"No, of course not!"

"I would change this little guy's name. Maybe something else that starts with 'H'."

"Oh, why, that would fix the problem, wouldn't it?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Thank you, young man. You've been so kind." She turned to go back in the house. Pete and Jim could hear her talking to the cat as she closed the door. "Let me see... Hank? No, I don't think that suits you. Harry? No, I used to know a 'Harry' and he had an awful temper... Henry? Why, that might be alright..."

As they turned and walked back out to the car, Jim shook his head and started to laugh. "Well, that's a new one..."

To be continued...