FIRST DEGREE
Monica awoke with a start, to a loud incessant banging on the front door. Chandler remained sound asleep. The banging continued. Feeling drunk with sleep, Monica dragged herself out of bed, pulled on her nightrobe and stumbled down the stairs. When she opened the front door, her heart dropped. Two police officers at her door at 2 o'clock in the morning, this surely was bad news. The anxiety she felt mirrored the day she found out about Emma's accident.
"Is someone hurt?" she asked breathlessly.
"No, no, nothing like that. Is your husband home?"
"Yes…" Monica replied cautiously.
"I'm very sorry, but we'll need to take him into custody. Would you ask him to come downstairs please?"
Bewildered, Monica whispered, "I don't understand, it's 2 am, this is all so sudden, why do you need to take him into custody?"
"You will be served with papers tomorrow morning, which will fully inform you on his arrest. Would you fetch your husband please?"
"No, he's sleeping, I'm not going to fetch him until you serve me those papers!" Monica placed one arm over the entrance of her home, barring entry.
"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to step aside."
"No! This is my home, I have a right to-" Officer Keaton pulled out a piece of paper, holding it up in front of Monica's face.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but this is an arrest warrant issued by the district court judge. Now, I understand that you're confused and upset, but if you don't fetch your husband, we have the right enter your house to arrest him. We're asking you to fetch him because we don't want to invade the privacy of your home if we don't have to. As I've said, tomorrow morning you will be served with papers, so you'll know exactly what's going on. However, it is imperative that we take him into custody now."
Frightened and bewildered, Monica backed away from the police officers, and stumbled up the stairs. Monica shook Chandler's shoulder gently. "Honey, wake up…" she whispered. Chandler moaned in his sleep and turned over to his side. Monica shook Chandler more vigorously. He woke up with a start, sitting bolt upright when he saw Monica's anxiety-stricken face.
"What is it?" he demanded anxiously.
"Chan, the police are here to arrest you," Monica replied, her face pale with worry.
"W-w-what?" Chandler stuttered.
"Honey, I don't have time to explain, they're waiting outside the door right now; they asked me to fetch you. I promise I'll visit you first thing tomorrow morning, I'm getting us a lawyer, you're gonna be ok, I'm gonna take care of you, you're not alone in this. But you need to get up now, you have to go, they're standing outside waiting." The nervous words tumbled out of Monica's mouth at the speed of light. Monica took Chandler's hand and gently hauled him out of bed. She passed him a warm jacket and a pair of shoes, and led him downstairs by the hand. Chandler stumbled towards the police officers, utterly bewildered and confused.
Officer Keaton stepped forward, "Chandler Muriel Bing, you are under arrest for attempted murder in the first degree. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you at the State's expense." Officer Keaton turned Chandler around, and cuffed his hands behind his back.
Monica threw her arms around Chandler, speaking hastily, "I'll see you tomorrow morning, we're gonna figure this out. Remember, I love you."
"I love you too Mon," Chandler whispered.
Keaton led Chandler out of the house, and it felt like déjà vu. This was Chandler's second arrest, but the first was merely 24 hours of evidence-collecting. Tonight, was a whole other ballgame; actual charges had been laid against him. As Keaton guided Chandler into the police car, Chandler thanked his lucky stars he was married to a fighter. Monica was going to have to kick-ass to save him from this one.