The Year of Redemption

Chapter 2: Drunk Last Night

"State utilities inspector Jim Marshal." Dean flashed a Minnesota state badge. "I need access to your electricity grid within a 30 mile radius."

The secretary behind the desk looked confused. "They didn't say an inspector would be coming today...."

Dean pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. "That's ok, I can call your manager right now. I'm sure he doesn't have anything better to do than settle a dispute with the state because his secretary refused to give an inspector the proper access." Dean flipped the phone open and started punching in a number.

The secretary stood up. "Oh," she stuttered, "no need for that, sir. Right this way." Dean put his phone away and followed the secretary through a door and down a corridor to a dimly lit back room. There were several panels of switches, dials, and glowing red and green buttons. As they entered, an operator – who had been reclined in his chair, with his feet propped up on one of the panels – immediately put his legs down and sat up in his chair.

"Ron, this is Inspector Marshal. He's here to take a look at our electricity grid. Please give him your full cooperation," the secretary said before leaving the room.

Dean stuck out his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"What can I do for you, sir?" the operator said, shaking Dean's hand politely.

"I'd like to see the electricity grid within a 30 mile radius."

"Looking for anything in particular?" The operator started clicking a few buttons on a computer, cueing up a map with a host of flashing dots on one of the main screens above the control panels.

"Just a routine inspection," Dean replied.

"So when's the state sending someone out to work on our commercial utilities grid issue?"

Dean was in no mood to hear about someone else's problems. "You'll hear from them soon," he responded shortly.

"Alright. 'Cause, you know, a lot of the bars out here are complaining. They're so freaked out, they're threatening to switch companies or, get this, to even go solar." He blew out air through his mouth, incredulous. "We don't know what's going on."

This piqued Dean's interest a bit. "The bars?"

"Yeah, they're the only ones having problems so far."

"Could you run the issue by me again so I can make sure I have an accurate report for my superior?" Dean requested.

"It's weird," the operator replied, "one second, the bar's got electricity with amperes to spare, then the next – bam. Nothing. They're the only building in the area affected. And as soon as everyone clears out of the bar, what do you know, the lights come back on. Just like that. No fanfare, no permanent damage. It doesn't even register on the grid that the electricity was ever cut off."

"And how many bars has this happened to so far?"

"Just three. All in the last few days too. It's got people paranoid. And it's bad for business. The crazies are already staking out the next bar to get haunted and blackout." He shrugged, "I'm just tired of the harassing calls from people complaining and asking questions."

"Could you show me which bars have been affected?"

The operator went to a computer and typed a few commands. Three points lit up on the map of the city on the main screen.

"Get me a printout of the map. I'll be sure to mention it when I get back to HQ," Dean said.

The operator hit another command, then went through a back door and returned with a paper, which he handed to Dean. "Anything else I can do you for?"