Restoration [Shawn Mendes] AU

Chapter 11

Maurice and Joanne looked out the front windows, watching as more and more people showed up on their quiet street with news vans, cameras, videographers and reporters with microphones in hand as they filmed the house, the street, their cars, even some walking out to the beach and disrupting the neighbors, all in pursuit of getting shots of their house from the back and the semi-private beach that always was a place to relax. Now they felt like prisoners trapped in their own home, not to mention they were mortified by how all of this was effecting their next door neighbors and the neighborhood in general. This was quickly getting out of hand and Maurice did not want to go out to speak to any of the reporters, knowing that if he did, it would only feed the beast and they would be even more relentless in trying to get a different angle on the story or extra footage or more in-depth interviews. This had to get nipped in the bud as far as he was concerned. He was not going to let his family get sucked into this vortex of sensationalism and gonzo journalism. With that thought in mind he took his phone out of his pocket and scrolled to find the non-emergency number of the Chatham Police Department.

The phone rang and a kind female voice answered, "Chatham Police Department, how may I help you?" she asked.

"Yes, my name is Maurice Devereaux of 54 Holway Street and we have been in contact since my son-in-law and grandson went missing yesterday while out on our boat. I would like to speak to Chief Rawlins if I may."

"Yes sir, hold one minute please," she directed, after which the phone buzzed twice before he heard the voice of Chief Rawlins.

"Yes, hello Mr. Devereaux. How may I help you?" he inquired.

"Hello Chief...yes, thank you for taking my call. The reason I'm calling is to ask if there is some way your department could help control the situation with the media over here. The press showed up about 30 minutes ago and they are all over the street, the beach, trampling over the entire neighborhood. We are not going to speak to them at this point, because it will only perpetuate the madness, but they're disrupting the coming and going of every neighbor that lives on this street. So if there is anything your department can do to help get this under control, my family and I would appreciate that immensely."

Chief Rawlins listened to Maurice's request and informed him that he could send a duty officer over in a cruiser as one became available, dependent upon how many officers were on duty per shift and how many other calls came in to be dealt with per shift. They could also run police tape along Holway, which is a short street with a cul-de-sac at the end. That would aid in keeping so many people from taking over the lawns and parking spots of nearby neighbors. The press had a right to pursue a story, but in the meantime, he could enforce some authority so they couldn't be so aggressive with all the people living in that neighborhood.

"That would be fine. As I said, any assistance from your department would be greatly appreciated," Maurice replied.

"Think nothing of it Mr. Devereaux. That's why we're here, to protect and serve...even against overly aggressive news outlets. But I must warn you, even though we can provide assistance on the street and throughout the neighborhood as well as on the beach, since it isn't a public beach, that won't stop them from coming by your house on the ocean-facing side using boats or jet skis, or using zoom lenses on their cameras if they choose to do so. I'm afraid there's not much my department can do about that," Chief Rawlins informed Maurice.