The police
knocked on my door last night.
I was pleased
they weren’t looking for me.
The doorbell rang and I got up
and looked through the peephole.
I told my wife, It’s the cops.
I opened the door and they
identified themselves. Hello, we’re
Chicago Police. They wore uniforms,
badges, guns, and bulletproof vests.
They had radios and batons and other
gadgets. Yes, I can tell, I said.
How can I help you?
They told me how. They asked
me what I knew about
the neighbor who lives below.
I told them what I knew,
which was nothing and a little more.
They asked me about
the neighbors next door.
I told them what I knew,
which was nothing and a little more.
They asked me about
the neighbors upstairs.
I told them what I knew,
which was nothing and a little more.
They thanked me for
my time and left. I watched
them out the window as they
walked away from the building.
I forgot to ask them, Hey, guys,
this building is controlled access—
how’d you get in here?
My wife said she thought
they may have had a passkey.
Maybe all the cops have
a passkey to all the buildings,
she said. Makes it easier.