Free Overload by Arthur Hailey Page A

identifiable
    by their distinctive orange and white coloring and the familiar GSP & L
    logo. Already the thirty meter readers had been driven to dispersal
    points. They were mostly young men, among them some college students
    working during the summer, and each was in possession of a batch of cards
    showing addresses where meters and related equipment were to be
    inspected. The cards were from a special computer printout last night.
    Normally the meter readers' job was simply to read numbers and report
    them; today they would ignore the numbers and search only for signs of
    power theft.
    Harrv London, emerging from the communications van, met Nim as he
    arrived. London appeared perky and cheerful. He wore a shortsleeved,
    military-style shirt and smartly creased tan slacks; his shoes were
    brightly shined. Nim removed his own suit coat and tossed it back into
    his Fiat. The sun had begun to bake the parking lot, sending beat waves
    upward.
    "We're getting results already," London said. "Five clear fraud cases in
    the first hour. Now our service guys are checking out three more."
    Nim asked, "The first five-are they business or residential?"
    "Four residential, one business, and that's a lulu. The guy's been
    stealing us blind, gas and electric both. Do ),on want to see?"
    " sure. "
    London called into the communications van, "I'll be in my car, with Mr.
    Goldman. We're going to incident number four."
    As they drove away, lie told Nim, "I've already got two feelings. One,
    what we'll be seeing today is the tip of an iceberg. Two, ill some cases
    D
    we re tip against professionals, maO c an organized ring." "Why do you
    think so?"
    42
     

"Let me answer that after you've seen what I'm going to show you."
    "Okay." Nim settled back, inspecting Brookside as they moved through
    it.
    It was an affluent suburb, typical of many which mushroomed in the
    late 195os and early sixties. Before then it was farmland; now the
    farms were gone, replac~d by housing developments and businesses
    serving them. There was-at least, outwardly-no poverty in Brookside.
    Even small tract houses, in regimented rows, appeared well cared for,
    their handkerchief lawns manicured, painhvork fresh. Bevond this
    modest housing were several square miles of larger homes, including
    palatill mansions with three-car garages and separate service
    driveways. The community's stores, some in attractive tree-lined
    malls, display~d quality merchandise which reflected the area's
    prosperity. To Nim it seemed an unlikely locale for thefts of power.
    As if reading his mind, Harry London offered, "Things ain't always
    what they seem." He turned the car away from the shopping area toward
    a gas station and garage complex which included a tunnel-tvpe car
    wash. London stopped at the gas station office and got out. Nim fol-
    lowed.
    A GSP & L service truck was also parked. "We've called for one of our
    photographers," London said. "Meanwhile the service guy is guarding
    the evidence."
    A man in gray coveralls walked towards them, wiping his hinds on a
    rag. He bad a spindly body, a fox-like face, and appeared worried.
    "Listen," he said, "like I told you already, I don't know nothing
    about no
    "Yes, sir; so you did." London turned to Nim. "This is Mr. Jackson.
    He gave us permission to enter his premises to inspect the meters."
    "Now I'm not so sure I should've," Jackson grumbled. "Anyways I'm just
    the lessee here. It's another outfit owns the building."
    "But you own the business," London said. "And the gas and electric
    accounts are in your name. Right?"
    "The way things are, the bank owns the goddam business."
    "But the bank didn't interfere with your gas and electric meters."
    "I'm tellin' the truth." The garageman's hands clutched the rag more
    tightly. "I dunno who done it."
    "Yes, sir. Do you mind if we go in?"
    The garageman scowled but didn't stop them.
    London preceded Nim into the gas station office, then to a small room
    beyond, clearly used for storage. On the