Money

I finally found the garage door opener amidst the boxes and furniture. The moving crew had left hours ago and I was still in a sea of madness, filled with far too much stuff for one human to own, let alone move.

It had been a whole day affair. First to load up at my old apartment, drive across town, unload and show them where each larger piece of furniture might go...and I stress the might..because one never knows for sure how a room will come together. There has to be more planning then, "Just put it right there." When I felt that I had exhausted their good nature, I tipped them and gave them the last of my Pacificos' and bade them farewell. And then, once they had gone, I wished that someone with more brawn than myself had stayed to help me. Helps me what? Help me cry. Gee. My back ached and my arms felt longer than they were, from having to carry boxes and clothes up and down the stairs. I was parched, but fear stopped to take a break as a sign of weakness. Such silly things that race through ones head in a moment of fatiguing madness. Or is that tiring sadness? I decided to do it one room at a time, and since the front room was the biggest and most crowded, at that moment, I started there. The room was sunken with other smaller rooms around it, with a hallway on either side one that led to a kitchen, and the other to the Billiards room. OK, so I had yet to purchase the actual pool table, but that is what I started calling the room while the house was in escrow. I had so many plans and just so much money. But I told myself then, one room at a time. I found the boxes that were marked books and proceeded to take them out and place them on the shelves, without any proper order, But when I found the Womyns' section, I did make room for them on the far wall case, so that when my couch was strategically placed, my guests would know what an ardent feminist or radical dyke I was. Everything for a reason. 3 hours later, and darker at that, I found myself in a delightful room. My own paintings hung on the walls interspersed with more famous names.

I placed large standing porcelain vases on the floors, using glass cinder blocks as stands for them. My collection of Gargoyles I put on the wall near the Muchas and waterfall. A small metal voodoo God stood just inside the fountain. The gargoyles were there to protect the peace, and the God was there to protect the gargoyles. I set the stereo up across the room from the fireplace, nearer to the formal dining room. I put on Luciano Pavarotti CD and danced around the room a few times before collapsing into a chair. I took a deep breath and admired the room, then realizing that the next room I did should probably be the bedroom, as I didn't see too much more time on my feet as being a viable option. That room took another 3-4 hours, by that time I had become wired from sheer exhaustion. It wasn't a second wind or anything, it was just that Zombie State of mind. I hadn't noticed the time, because that would have been the last thing I had completed in that room. It was a large room with cathedral ceilings...maybe 18 ft high with exposed beams. The walls were painted a pale blue with champagne wainscoting. Brass and Porcelain accents adorned the room. The bed was an open four-poster, suitable for anything that might pique an interest. I had it up on a 2ft stand...allowing a viewable stage is necessary. There was a closet that went the length of one wall...with many sliding doors for access. I hung a few small mirrors and dream catchers on them. From the rafters, I hung some flags and chimes, a few leather straps that hung down. I cinched straps to the legs of the bed, and when putting linens on the bed, for some reason, I put the sheet with tie-downs on. Just to see how it felt. I had bought it at a shop in the city, but had never the opportunity to experience it. One can hope one will have such an experience. Its like I buy the toys that I want someone else to use on me. I went in and took a shower and then went and sat down in the sunken spa tub and let the water stream down. I didn't bother to turn on the jets, I just wanted a soaking tub...and the water ran and ran and the next thing I knew, is that the water was running over into the bathroom. Lucky for me the spa was in the middle of the room and there were drains placed around it. It could have been disastrous. Maybe my luck was changing.

I slept until 10 the next morning and felt refreshed even though it had only been 6 hours that I rested. My bones no longer ached and I bounded out of bed eager to have most of my house in place before the other furniture for the other upstairs rooms would arrive. Stuff I had purchased at various antique shops in town and up the Mendo coast.

It was about 7 pm, that Wednesday evening when I finally had finished putting everything in its place. The place looked spectacular and I was proud that I had worked so diligently for so long. Again I hadn't taken a break all day, but I didn't really feel as tired as the previous day, so I decided to go to the store and buy something special to celebrate. My wines had not arrived from the cellars and I was a bit thirsty. I showered and threw on some jeans and oversized fleece button-down jacket. I went into the garage and got into my car and couldn't remember where the garage door opener was. I looked around for the wall switch and still couldn't find anything, so I opted for a bike ride. The store wasn't that far away. I could make it. And away I went.

Tom's Bottle Shop was about a mile down the road and over and the ride there was a breeze. When I arrived, I locked my bike to a newspaper stand and went inside to peruse the libations. It was a fairly decent spirits shop with many aisles for culinary appetites as well. They had an excellent selection of single barrel bourbons and it seemed like a perfect choice at the time. The clerk was helping a couple decide on which beer they wanted to buy for a coming New Years Party. He was suggesting that they buy Heineken for $125.00 a keg and the fellow was saying he didn't want a German beer, he wanted something domestic, but the clerk wasn't listening too well, so I stepped into the conversation and offered the guy the option of getting Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. And then I turned to the clerk and said, "You do have that, don't you?" He dryly said, "Yea." The fellow asks how much and the clerk says $100.00, and then I say, "Well, its a much better beer. You will really enjoy it. Have a great New Years?" His partner smiled at me and said thanks and he too said thanks. He then asked if I knew so much about beer, maybe I could help he and his wife pick out some other spirits. He laughed and said something about me working there. The clerk was totally upset that I had ruined his big pitch for the sale, and that had never been my intent, I was only trying to help a situation that needed my expertise. I told them I would be happy to help them. I introduced myself and they in turn did the same. His name was Phil Green and she was Nancy. He told me they wanted one of everything people might drink and I suggested that instead of spending his life savings on one party, he should buy standard bar holdings. All white well, Vodka (Skyy),Gin ( Bombay or Tanqueray),Rum [Mt. Gay or Myers), Tequila (preferably Sauza or Hornitos),though I did mention that if he planned on serving margaritas, the tequila could be any swill. Why drown out good with mix. He agreed and said I was 'right on.' He asked what I was buying and I gave him a short study on single malt scotches and single barrel bourbons. Then he put some average Bourbon in the wagon and some scotch and a brandy. I told him to buy fresh lemon and limes, sugar cubes, bitters, seven up, tonic, soda water and a simple sweet-sour. They were so thoroughly pleased with everything I told them about bartending, that they invited me to their party for New Year's Eve. I told them I didn't want to be intruding and they encouraged me to come. I said OK and when they gave me their address, I was so totally flabbergasted. They lived right next door to me. They couldn't believe it either. It was fate. We exchanged numbers and I told them I had to be on my way. As I was leaving Nancy called after me and asked when it would be appropriate to come and see the place. I yelled back, later on.

Once outside I realized that I was on the bike and was glad that I hadn't purchased anything more, but the night had grown darker and I was feeling a bit tired. After unlocking my bike, I saddled it and started off at a steady pace until I rounded the corner and approached the beginning of the grade up. Just then a big blue 420 MBZ pulled around and almost hit me and then honked and before I could raise my finger, I heard Phils voice. He asked if I wanted a ride and ordinarily I might have said no...pride and all, but I was so damn tired, I accepted. He put my bike on his rack on the back of his car and held the back door open for me. When I got in, Nancy was leaning over the arm rest and saying in a coy voice, "So, we meet again, accidental stranger," and she smiled and bit her lower lip. In the dark I felt myself blush. I felt the heat rise up in my cheeks, grateful for the night to hide in. It took all of 4 minutes with Phil at the wheel. I thanked them and then asked them in for a drink. They accepted. Phil said Nancy should go along with me and after he put the booze away, he would be over. She followed me and we walked up the driveway and then into the garage. I apologized for the boxes and such and she said not o worry. She added that I had the rest of my life to organize. And I wondered then what her house looked like. We made small talk and she ooohed and ahhhed at the place. Saying she had only seen most of it while it was being built. She asked if I lived here alone and of course I hated saying yes. I told her I wanted to get changed, that she should look around and then I would give her the official tour. She said OK and headed for the bookcase. She said, "I just love books. Im an avid reader" I swallowed hard. First impressions..new neighborhood...o well better know now. I literally ran to the bedroom and changed into something nicer. My first guests after all. When I got back to the front room, she was seated near the hearth. I asked her if she was cold and she said a bit. I turned on the gas and immediately fire came to the surface. She remarked that it was beautiful. I thought I saw her blushing. "I wonder what's keeping Phil,,maybe I should go help him," I said and she said, "no, he is fine, let him be. This way you and I can get better acquainted" OK, so she was throwing me.

I thought for sure that she had seen the books and would have to have been brain dead not to get the connection. My coffee table book was The Blatant Lesbian Image. I was going to pick it up, had forgotten all about it. She saw me looking at it and said, "Don't worry. We are progressively minded adults. Phils brother is gay" and she smiled, and I knew it was genuine. How silly of me, this wasn't the Midwest after all. Phil came shortly after and I poured 3 short shots of whiskey into snifters and handed them to Nancy, then Phil. I raised my glass and said "A Votre Sante." Phil said, "Nosdrovia" and Nancy said, "Cheers" and then they shot the dark amber back into their throats. I only smelled mine and then wet my lips and tongue slowly with it, enjoying its aromatics, feeling the thickness of the syrup cover my lips, sensing that first deep heated touch upon my tongue, and then I swallowed. Both of them said "WOW," and then "Do that again." I smiled and asked them what. Nancy answered, her eyes piercingly black, staring into mine, "Show me how to drink this, the way you do," and again she bit her lower lip. It got to me again and then I held back, first remembering she was here with her husband and that remark before about she and Phil being progressive had me worrying whether or not they had something kinky in mind. Phil said, "Cary. I have never had really fine liquors, only because Im dumb where that is. I know a lot about stock options and investing and I like to drink beer. My buddies all have told me I have shit for taste, and excuse my language, but I drink what I like" "Phil, its just that. What you drink, if you like it who cares what others think. Its all about preference. I buy single barrel bourbons because I like to sip them like a cognac. They are superbly fine and aged well. I think though, if I were to do shooters of single barrel bourbons or scotches, I would be knocked on my ass nightly," and we all laughed. I told them "Look at the color of the liquor you are drinking. Examine it. Just like wines, brandies and liquors (all liquids),all have a viscous quality and like wines, certain liquors have 'legs'. So in taking the snifter and rolling it around, I am allowing some of the bouquet to waft near my nose, to smell the liquor Im drinking. Then I want to feel it on my lips, feel the heat of it on my tongue. Then I want to slowly taste it." "O. MY! You are too incredibly sensual. You should write," Nancy blurted out and then excused herself to the bathroom. I could feel my face fully flushed. That was the best compliment I had received in a long time. Phil too, said I had a great descriptive quality about me. I poured him another and he tried drinking it slow as I suggested but in the end, the bourbon went quicker into his throat than a man being shot out of a cannon. It took Nancy a while to come back. I said I would see if she was OK. I found her standing in the threshold of my bedroom, gazing up at the ceiling. "Oops, sorry, I didn't think you would mind. I was helping myself to a tour of your place" "No, I don't mind. I was just wondering what had happened to you", and she turned to face me and said, "You happened to me"

"Pardon me?" I asked and she repeated herself and then walked past me and down the stairs. I stood there for moments, trying to gauge the validity of that last scene. This womyn was blowing my mind. Until 3 minutes ago, Nancy was Phils wife. She stood about 5 ft 5," dark eyes, brown hair, small boobed, small hips, probably 110 lbs. And in 3 short minutes she became a temptress. Her brown hair was tussled curls about her head hanging down onto her shoulders. The shoulders I should have taken in my hands to draw her near...and ut oh. I had to stop. She was Phils wife. When I went down the stairs, they were standing with their arms wrapped around each other and I wondered again if I was blowing things out of proportion. "Hey Cary, was very nice of you to invite us here. We have to get going. Have a lot of things to do before Friday? Really hope to see you there," Phil said and handed me his hand. When I went to shake it, he pulled me close to him and gave me a hug. It was a great gesture, but as he hugged me I watched as Nancy's eyes moved about. Something silent inside of her was trying to get out. I extended my hand to shake hers and she shook it. I almost expected a hug from her too, wanted a hug from her, but it didn't happen. Talk about mixed messages. After they left, I went to my office and wrote poems until a quarter to three, drinking bourbon and eating brie. Cant hold the feeling...only love holds the feeling. My vacation was waning, soon it would be time to get back to work. The restaurant was in need of its chef de cuisine.

Next morning I arose in a cloudy haze of drunken metaphors. What had actually happened between Nancy and I last night? Did anything of significance happen. Was everything just my imagination blowing it all out of proportion. I reread the verse that I had written last night and was amazed at how much this meeting affected my very thought process. I decided that I would check out the cafe and see how desperate they were for my return. I still wanted a few more days off, wanting to attend Phil and Nancy's' party and not wanting to work with a hangover. Just as I was leaving my front door, I heard a door shut and witnessed Phil closing his trunk. In his arm was a garment bag and I yelled across to him to have a good day. he told me he had to go out of town on some last minute business gig, but that he would try to make it home in time to ring in the new year. I told him he had better and waved good-bye to him. His parting words to me were, "Take care of my girl while Im gone, eh?". Oh yea sure...Ha, I chuckled to myself at that and then wondered again why my mind kept racing to her statement last night in my room, that I had happened to her. I had found the garage door opener, it had been placed in my bathrooms' shower caddy...now I cant for the life of me remember placing it there, but there is where I found it when I showered in the morning. At least it was clean and still worked. Once in my car, I looked for my favorite CD, and cranked it up. I didn't see Nancy coming up behind the car because I was otherwise engaged in the usual car antics, looking in the mirror to make sure I was still beautiful and all...she startled me. "Good morning Cary! How are you?" "Uh hi...I didn't see you there, scared me," was what I said and then it sounded so lame, after all how could she ever scare anyone, not with that perfect mouth and those alluring eyes.

And then I found myself staring and I added, " Im just off down to the cafe to see how things are going. I saw Phil before he left just a few moments ago. What are you up to today?". "Yea, I heard the two of you talking. Too bad about his trip, maybe he will be back in time. As for today, I was thinking of getting into..some....I don't know,,maybe some trouble, what about you? want to get into some trouble?". She played those syllables out, each time she said trouble, I felt trouble brewing inside of me. Each time the last syllable happened, I felt myself spurt sweet wet. Again I was staring. "So? How about it Cary, you game?". I smiled and took in a deep breath and with a voice that was almost quivering, I asked, "What kind of trouble Nancy? What do you have in mind? I don't want to go to jail." Then I laughed and waited for an answer. "Wow, is it really that illegal?" "What are you talking about?" And I hoped that she was talking about what I was thinking about. "Well, I thought that you and I could go to my folks house, they are away in the Bahamas, and raid their wine cellar, since you know so much about wines," and Im watching her as she is talking and wondering wouldn't it be easier to just buy the wine of choice, but I go along with her, when she adds, "and I thought we could get a buzz and maybe smoke some of my brothers ganja, that is if you smoke?" I laughed at loud at that one. I hadn't heard the term Ganja since the late 70s' when a lot of Jamaican bud was coming into the states. "Is that laugh a yes or a no?" I laughed and smiled again and realized that at that moment I would clearly have done anything and gone anywhere with her just to be in her company. This was so weird. She was married..to a nice guy...I had rules, no married or partnered womyn..no affairs...that way no heart ache. So what was I thinking when I said, "Yea babe, lets do it, but first let me get my Pretenders CDs." "Way cool, I'll get my bathing suit and we can swim, hell, forget the suit, lets go. Your car or mine?" "We can take my car," I said. And she left to go to her house to get a few things and I raced inside and grabbed the tunes and locked the doors and went into the garage and brought the door up. There she was standing there looking as cute as could be and for a fleeting second I felt like the howling wolf of all time.

Her folks lived across town in a secluded very private gated section by the golf course. I asked her what they were into and she said Import/Exports, and I thought to myself, uh yea, quite lucrative. The home had a circular driveway. In the circle was a beautiful rose garden and gazebo. To the right of the garden was a wonderful old Victorian chair swing. Nancy jumped out of the car before I brought it to a final stop and told me to wait and then I could pull it into the garage. She disappeared behind the double doors in the entry and within 5 minutes, the doors to the multi garage opened. There was an open space next to a Jag and a Bentley. Also there were other stalls in the back where other cars were parked. I was in awe. They really had money. Once inside, I realized I was in the palace of greatness. Everywhere I looked I saw paintings of masters and works of art that made my place appear like a humble shack. The $295,000.00 I paid was a mere drop in the bucket for these high rollers. I followed Nancy into the kitchen and then down a flight of stairs that led to a fully extensive cellar. On one wall were French Bordeaux's and across from it, California's' own great Cabs, Zins and Pinot Noirs. On another wall, were row after row of white Bordeaux and California counterparts. It was very impressive. Nancy stood watching me. I was hoping that my tongue wasn't hanging out or that drool wasn't slipping from my lips.

"Cary, where did you learn so much about wine?", she asked me after we had drank our first little surprise...a 1986 Deaux Ami. The kind of wine that lingers on your palate long after the last drop has left. Its subtle jammy notes of cassis and pepper blending uniquely and somehow exploding exquisitely in ones mouth. I savored each and every drop and then turned to her and said, "It was my major in college. I thought I wanted to be an oenologist for a while and then cheffing became my mantra." "Teach me," she said as she moved a little closer to me on the couch. "Teach you what baby?", I asked in a half mocking tone. This playing with her was risky, but she had brought me here to be bad and bad was what I was being..in a good way. She stood up and quickly turned her back to me as she reached for another bottle and the pipe and she said, "Well, what can you teach me?", and then she turned back towards me smiling, biting her lip like she had done so many times before. So many times before that had driven me to the brink of sheer excitement. After we smoked some, I opened a bottle of Margaux 1955..the year of my birth. She had told me in the cellar to get the wine that would most make me happy and as I poured that first glass, I told her I was in heaven, and before I could say any more, she said, "Yea, so am I" and she leaned over and kissed me on my lips. I almost spilled that precious wet, but carefully set the bottle down on the floor away from us. The room suddenly became warm, I needed to be free of clothing. I tore my shirt from me as I returned the kiss. Feeling my lips on hers. How the pulse of me ran in staccato jerks, almost spasming. Her ardor was fevered, she grabbed at me pulling me towards her. Somewhere inside of me I thought this couldn't be her first time with a womyn, when she said to me, "Ive never been with anyone but Phil" I had to think, who was Phil? I was so caught up in what I was doing that I forgot that she was married to a guy I could be friends with. I started to pull away from her when she added, "Please don't stop Cary, Im sorry, what did I do wrong?

Please tell me" and she ran her fingers through my hair, jerking on it, letting her fingers work their way down my scalp, caressing my neck. I moved my head in a circular movement, just letting myself feel her. Smelling her scent. My pulse racing through me. I was breathing who she was and I knew in that instance that I wouldn't be able to stop and I didn't really want to stop. I stood up. She stood with me questioning me with her beautiful eyes, and I kissed her fully on her lips. My mouth moved over her face, kissing every part of her.Her nose, her cheeks, her ears, my tongue dipped inside of her ears. I heard her gasp and then a low moan escaped her. It filled me with a longing that took new volume. It roared inside of me. I picked her up in my arms and brought her to the chaise and laid her down. Her long hair fell down over her shoulders. She smiled as she caught her breath and then started to say something when I knelt down beside the chair and started to pull her shirt from her with my teeth. The fabric was elastic and only stretched as I pulled it taut. She laughed and said she would help. I protested and continued working it, pulling it down over her heaving breasts. her breathing became labored when at last my efforts paid off and she was exposed to me and my desire. I licked the space between her breasts and then rounded each with the tip of my tongue. Again she moaned and in between gasps asked me to take my slacks off. She didn't need to ask further, with one hand I undid the buttons and pushed them down over my hips. Using the chair to help me maneuver them down all the way. I was so glad that I had not put undies on this day. Not that I was anticipating any action...but sometimes I just liked the feel of the wind on my pubes. It was instant heat that bled through me.

Liquid like lava that ran down my legs when I saw that she had pulled her panties from her, fully exposing herself to me. She was this gift that somehow had found its way into my life. An offering from heaven. "Cary, take me please. Show me. Anything...anything you want from me...Im all yours..please" she pleaded. I took hold of her in my arms and gently kissed her mouth, letting our lips soften with each breath. I saw that she closed her eyes when I kissed her and I wondered what she was thinking at that moment. She tilted her head back slightly and gave me access to her long slender neck. I kissed her and ran circles with my tongue along her throat and then went deeper down into the hollow of her collarbone, sucking in the flesh as I wandered near the gates of lust. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me into her boobs. I loved the scent of her, the slight perspiration that was building under each breast. I licked each one and then sucked each nipple into my mouth, letting my tongue loll over each one until they came up taut in my mouth. I felt as her hands massaged my own nipples rather harshly and I pulled from her and moaned a no and then she softened her touch, this time tenderly kneading them until they too came up hard and eager for her mouth. I raised myself up for her to taste me, and she sucked my swollen nips into her precious mouth. It rained inside of me. I pulled from her and knelt down again and let my tongue wander the path of her sex, stopping to such in flesh every now and then creating a small hickey that disappeared with each ensuing kiss. I rubbed my face in her fur, her mons meeting my tongue with each new breath, Sound poems emanated from her and a few times she screamed my name so loudly I thought she would wake the dead. My fingers played with her ass cheeks, silently dipping into her hidden path and then returning to massage her ass.

She couldn't contain herself and started to writhe about on the chaise, obscuring her sex from me. I used my knee to hold her down and she started to protest when I quickly darted my tongue inside of her. She gasped for air and then I softly went to her sex and mounted it fully with my lips. I filled my mouth with air and let the wide flat of my tongue stroke up and down on her clit until I felt it dancing in my mouth. O yea, she was screaming my name over and over. Her own fingers were grabbing for me but not really connecting, I was so intuned with what I was doing, I wasn't allowing myself to be too available for her. this was to be my gift to her. And when I thought she was going to jerk off the settee, I pushed my tongue up deep inside of her. She cried as I pushed a finger into her, returning my tongue to her clit. She opened her legs, spreading herself for me. I laid down atop her body, turning around so that my cunt faced her. At first I wasn't sure what she would do, but then I felt as her tongue toyed with my own sex. I pushed another finger into her and then opened and closed them inside of her, twisting and pumping them. I felt bubbles all around me exploding inside of her. I heard her gasp again as it rained harder this time, unable to control my ownself. I heard her yell, "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMCCCUUUUUUMMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGG." That scream seemed to last an eternity as she poured into my mouth. It literally shot up into my mouth. She tried to get me to stop, but then I wanted just one more scream from her. Call me selfish, but..uh...and I pushed my fingers in as deep as they would go and pumped her until she rocked up into me and cried louder my name over and over, and when that last sudden jerk came, I wrapped myself around her and held her. She was whimpering and I wondered if I had hurt her. I rolled off her and again knelt beside her and started to kiss away the tears that streamed down her face. "Baby, Im sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, Nancy?" "OH Gawd. Oh Gawd...O. Cary....WOW....you didn't hurt me baby just...I just...wow....never have felt..like that oh my, never before....O You are too much, come here let me hold you...please" I was smiling inside big time. I too had orgasmed in a big way, but the most joy was in bringing her full tilt. "How about some wine now,," I asked her and she said, "well, I guess so...but the wine I just had was the best ever" and she bit her lower lip and fell into my arms. I kissed her softly. She tasted like me. I asked her, "Now what did you want me to teach you?" We drank a few bottles and then went upstairs and slept away part of the day wrapped in each others arms. A few times when we awakened, we made more sweet love and then fell back asleep again.

When we awakened, it was dark and we took a shower and then got dressed and left and drove home. That night I made a light dinner for us and we stayed at my place talking and making love. She called her answering machine and jotted down some messages and when she was through she said that Phil had called several times and was worried that he didn't know where she was...and once again, reality hit me in the face...Yea, she was married and I slept with her. I wasn't sure how that made me feel. It wasn't clear. She asked if she could use my phone to call him and then before I could answer she said, "O wait, bad idea, I will just call him from home. I'll be back," and she kissed me and slipped out the back door and through the adjoining fence to our properties. I was feeling a bit awkward, and decided when she came back that we would have to talk about it. I was then acting level headed and mature and was hoping when I saw her I would still be in that same frame. I poured myself a glass of wine and sat down and waited for her to return. But she didn't. Not that night and not any night since then. What I did find out, was that my house and the house next door had been robbed. All my jewelry and personal bank cards were all gone. The neighbors that I thought were so nice, Phil and Nancy didn't exist. The house next door belonged to a couple in their 70s who were vacationing in the Bahamas. The mansion where she and I made such exquisite love belonged to the president of a local bank, who also happened to be out of town. The neighbors remembered seeing a late model BMW there on the day of the supposed robbery. Someone had actually seen my plates and had reported them. The police filled me in with the rest.