21st Precinct - The Shotgun

Captain Frank Kennelly was working his night tour, 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM. The earlier part of the tour had been exceedingly quiet due in part to a heavy downpour of rain, which began early in the afternoon and continued until nearly 11:00 PM. A good rain keeps the troublemakers off the street. By midnight, the sky had turned clear, although the streets of the city were still wet and glistening. Kennelly was in his office taking care of some accumulated paperwork and awaiting the appearance of patrolman Daniel Ritchie, who had requested some time off for the purpose of attending to personal business in Florida in connection with his father's estate. Meanwhile, Sergeant Watters was at call box 11, talking to Lieutenant Garman. Waters says "I went up there on 1st Avenue to take a look at that condition. There's about a foot of water on the street at that spot, Lieutenant. Looks like the catch basin and the sewer is stopped up there". Just then a woman walks up to Waters at the call box and says "Excuse me, officer". Waters says "Just a second, lady". Garman asks "What did you say, Sergeant?" Waters says "A woman just walked up and was speaking to me, Lieutenant. Anyway, all the water from the rain has just hung up there, Lieutenant. I think it'd be a good idea to notify the borough president's office and have them send a crew up to clean out that catch basin". Waters finishes his call and says to the woman "Yes, ma'am. What is it?" She says "I wanted to tell you I just shot my husband". Waters says "Yeah, where at?" She says "In that house there next to the corner. I live in there". Waters asks "Where is he?" She says "Upstairs in the flat". Waters says "Alright, Let's go have a look". She says "I couldn't help it. I really couldn't". Waters gets Patrolman Tyler, who was in the petrol car while Waters was at the call box, to come with him. Waters says to Tyler "We've got a shooting, come on". Tyler says "Yes, sergeant". Waters asks the woman "What did you shoot him with?" She says "A gun". Waters says "I know it must have been a gun. What kind of gun?" She says "A shotgun, I think you call it".