Nora smiled. "Of course, I remember you. Cheerleader, right?"
Chrissy nodded. "Yep. Then motherhood too early. I'm going to school now to get my R.N. My mom looks after Jason."
"Dr. Sam sure left in a hurry," Nora probed gently.
"It's something big, but I don't know what," the aide replied. "My brother's an EMT with the cops, and he got called out just after six a.m. Enjoy your breakfast, now."
Sam Seligmann's mind, however, was on the telephone call he had just received from his wife. "Come quick," Rina had said. The cops are all over Ansley Court, Sam. Heidi's pressing charges, and Jeff is raising bloody hell." He reached home in record time to find the street cordoned off. "I'm Dr. Seligmann," he said, holding his ID out for the emergency worker to see. "I live here. Number 200." He was waved through, and parking in his drive, he got out and ran across the street.
"Hey, Dr. Sam," the cop in front of the house said.
"What's happened," Sam Seligmann asked.
"Looks like Mr. Buckley beat up the girlfriend early this morning, although he claims he hardly touched her. She's over at the Johnsons' now. Pretty kid. What she sees in him I don't know, anyway he's barricaded himself in the house. They're trying to talk him out now. You don't know if he has any weapons, do you?"
"No," Sam said. "He's not the type. Who's in charge here?"
"Lieutenant Barker," the cop said. "He's the bald-headed guy over there with the pissed-off look."
"Thanks," Sam replied, and walked over to where the police lieutenant stood. "Lieutenant? I'm Dr. Sam Seligmann, Mr. Buckley's neighbor. Is there some way in which I can help?"
"Can you talk that asshole inside outside, Doc?" Lieutenant Barker asked irritably. "Damn, this is no big frigging deal. The guy beat up his girlfriend. She's pressing charges. I have to arrest him, and now he's adding resisting arrest, and God knows what else, to the charges."
"I have his cell number," Dr. Sam said, trying not to laugh.
"Think he's got it on?" the cop asked.
"He always has it on," Dr. Sam said dryly. "He's an important man in his business." He pulled his own cell from his pocket and punched in the number.
"He's a jerk, as far as I'm concerned," Lieutenant Barker said.
"Jeff? It's Dr. Sam. Will you please come out? No one is going to hurt you, and you're just adding charges to the ones Heidi is filing against you." He listened. "Hang on a minute, and I'll tell him." Turning to the police lieutenant, Dr. Sam said, "He says he's not coming out until he speaks with his lawyer."
"And when the hell is that going to be?" the cop demanded. "You tell him to get his ass out here now. He can call his lawyer from the station."
"Jeff, listen, you can call Kramer from the station. The whole neighborhood is in an uproar, and the local news trucks are already beginning to arrive on the scene. You've taken a simple matter and turned it into a spectacle worthy of P. T. Barnum. For God's sakes, think of your reputation, and that of your firm."
"Ask him if he wants his front door broken down," the cop said.
"Jeff, listen to me. How about if Lieutenant Barker and I come in with a couple patrolmen, okay? I'll go with you to the station house." He listened, and nodded. "Alright, Jeff. Just the lieutenant, two cops, and me. I'll tell him." He ended the call.
"Thanks, Doc," the lieutenant said.
"He says he wants time to get dressed once you're inside," Dr. Sam said.
"No problem. I hope you're not a good friend of this guy. He's a real piece of work, if you don't mind my saying so. Wife in the nursing home unconscious, and he's bringing the girlfriend out from the city to sleep in her bed. A real sweetheart, this guy."
"You won't get any argument from the others here on the court," Dr. Sam said. "It's Nora we all love. Jeff? A real putz."
"Funny how the wife was found like that, isn't it?" the cop noted.
"I'm Nora's doctor, Lieutenant. When she was found, there was absolutely no sign of any injury, internally or externally. She was in a locked house and there was no sign that anyone other than Nora Buckley had been or was in the place."
"What do you think the girl sees in him?" the cop continued, curious, and obviously anxious for a little inside information.
"Money. Power. A stepping-stone for her career," Dr. Sam replied. "Listen, when we get inside, can I talk to Jeff?" His cell rang, playing the theme from the "Peanuts" Christmas special. "Dr. Sam. Okay." He turned to the cop, who was grinning.
"I like 'Peanuts" too," the police lieutenant said.
"Jeff says come in now," Dr. Sam replied. "You didn't answer my question. Can I talk to him?"
They walked to the front door, and it swung open. Jeff Buckley was in pajamas and his robe. He said nothing.
"My men will escort you upstairs to dress, Mr. Buckley. When you come back down, I'm going to read you your rights. Okay?"
Jeff nodded. He was pale, and looked a little flushed to the doctor.
Sam Seligmann reached out and took the man's wrist. "A little fast. Calm down, Jeff. You're only upsetting yourself."
"I left a message on Kramer's voice mail. Why hasn't he gotten back to me?" Jeff said to no one in particular.
"Because he isn't up yet maybe?" the doctor replied. "Get dressed, Jeff. You'll feel better when you do."
"What the hell are my partners going to say about this? That damned little bitch has made one hell of a mess for me," Jeff whined.
"Mr. Buckley, please go upstairs now. Or would you prefer to go to the station in your pajamas? I don't give a damn personally, but either way in ten minutes you're out of here, sir. But I think you would prefer to be seen at your best," the lieutenant noted.
Jeff turned and, escorted by the two patrolmen, went upstairs.
The other two men walked into the living room and sat down.
"You can talk to him when he's dressed, and before we take him out of here," Lieutenant Barker said.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, and then Jeff came back into the room with the two patrolmen. He was dressed in a dark pinstriped suit with a white shirt, and a dark patterned tie. A cashmere coat was over his shoulders. He was every inch the prominent businessman.
"He's ready to go, sir," one of the uniforms said.
The lieutenant stood up, and came over to stand in front of Jeff. "Jeffrey Buckley, I arrest you for the assault and battery, with intent to do harm, of Heidi Millar. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been outlined to you?"
"She's make a big thing of this," Jeff said. "If I could just speak to her."
"Sir, do you understand your rights?" the lieutenant persisted. "Please answer yes or no."
"Yes, yes, I understand. Do you think I'm an idiot like the lowlifes you obviously consort with daily? I want to speak with my attorney!" Jeff was beginning to recover from his initial shock.
"I am going to give Dr. Sam a moment to speak with you, Mr. Buckley, and then we are going to leave your house, and you will be driven to the police station."
He stepped from the room to give the two men some privacy.
"You're making a fucking big deal out of nothing. So I slapped the bitch. She had it coming, damnit!" Jeff said angrily. Then he turned to the doctor.
"I came to tell you that your wife woke up this morning. She's fine. I plan on releasing her from Shorecrest tomorrow, and she can come home."
"She's not coming here," Jeff said nastily. "The house is going on the market in another month."
"The house is hers until then, you bastard," the doctor snapped. "And it's my understanding that she never signed the settlement, Jeff. Until she does, you're stuck. Damnit, Nora has recovered from whatever felled her, and instead of being relieved, you're pissed. What the hell is the matter with you? What did that nice woman ever do to you to make you so vindictive against her?"
"She's alive," Jeff responded angrily. "Why couldn't she have died?"