Overload by Arthur Hailey Page B

episode occurred at midafternoon wben London
    received a message at the communications center, calling him to an
    address a mile or so away.
    The house, they saw on arrival, was large and modern; it bad a landscaped
    garden and a long curved driveway in which a shiny Mercedes was parked.
    The ubiquitous orange and white GSP & L vehicles were assembled on the
    road outside,
    The same young serviceman who had been at the gas station-garage complex
    this morning approached London's car as it pulled up. "Problems," he
    announced. "Need some help."
    "What kind of problems?"
    One of the Property Protection staffers, who had joined them, said, "The
    woman inside is threatening to turn a dog loose on us. It's a big German
    Shepherd. She says her husband's a doctor, a big wheel in the community,
    and they'll sue the company if we cause them any trouble."
    "What brought you here?"
    The serviceman answered. "One of the meter readers-a sharp college
    kid-reported a suspicious wire. He was right, I took a look behind the
    electric meter, and the pot strap's been dropped, with two wires bridging
    it. I traced the wires to a switch in the garage-there was no one around
    and the garage door was open. That's when the woman showed up with the
    dog."
    Nim looked puzzled. London ordered, "Explain to Mr. Goldman."
    "At the back of some ty
    . pes of meter there's a 'potential strap,' " the
    serviceman said. "If it's disconnected-'dropped'-it breaks
    a circuit so
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the meter stops registering. But put a switch across, in place of the pot
    strap, and the meter can be turned on and off whenever you want."
    "And that's been done here?"
    "Sure has."
    Nim cautioned, "You're absolutelv certain?"
    "I'll swear to it."
    The Property Protection man added, "I saw it, too. There isn't any
    doubt." He consulted a notebook. "The customer's name is Edgecombe."
    "Okay," London said, "to bell with the dog! Call for a photog, and let's
    try to get evidence."
    They waited while the serviceman used a radio transmitter in his truck,
    then Harry London led the small procession up the driveway, As the),
    neared the house, a tall, handsome woman, probablv in her f~rties,
    emerged through the front door. She was wearing blue linen slacks and a
    matching silk shirt; long, dark brown hair was tied back with a scarf.
    Beside her was a German Shepherd, growling and straining on a leash which
    the woman held.
    She announced coldly, "I warned you men that if you continue trespassing
    I'll release this dog and you can take the consequences. Now get off this
    property!"
    "Madam," London said firmly, "I caution you to hing on to that dog or tie
    it up. I'm a security offic~r for Golden'State Power & Light"-he produced
    a badge-"and this is Mr. Goldman, a vice president of the compan.v."
    "Vice presidents don't impress me," the woman snapped. "My husband knows
    the president of your company well, and the chairman."
    "In that case," Nim told her, "I'm sure he'll appreciate that even"one
    here today is simply doing his job. You are Mrs. Edgecombe?"
    She answered haughtily, "Yes."
    "Our Service Department has reported you have an illegal installition
    across your electric meter."
    "If there is, we knoxv nothing about it. Mv husband's an important
    orthopedic surgeon, and be's operating today or I'd call him to deal with
    your impertinence now."
    For all the bravado, Nim thought, there was a hint of nervousness in the
    woman's eyes and voice. London caught it, too "Mrs. Edgecombe," he said,
    11 we want to take photographs of the electric meter and some wires
    behind it; thev lead to a switch in your garage. We'd appreciate it if
    you'd give us permission."
    "And if I won't?"
    "Then we'll seek a court order. But I should point out in that case
    everything will become a matter of public record."
    The woman hesitated and Nim wondered if she realized Harrv London was
    largely bluffing. By the tirne a court order was obtained the evi-

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dence could have been destroyed. But the