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SHORT STORY—THE FROGTOWN FLASHER BY AUTHOR SUE FINEMAN Grandpa’s booming voice woke Caitlin Harrigan before the alarm went off. “Damn dog is doing her business in my yard again.” Cait pulled the pillow over her head, but it didn’t muffle the sound of the slamming door. One of these days, Grandpa and the neighbor, Zola Santino, would come to blows over that sweet-natured basset hound. Please don’t let it be today. <> Three hours later, Caitlin had nearly finished her presentation. The clients smiled at her new ad campaign, and she could almost smell the interior of the new car she’d buy with her bonus. The department assistant quietly stepped into the conference room and handed Cait’s boss, Evan Greene, a note. “I’ll finish the presentation, Miss Harrigan. You have a situation that needs immediate attention.” “Excuse me,” she said calmly, although she didn’t feel calm. Far from it. What could be so important he’d send her out in the middle of her presentation? Hands shaking, Caitlin stepped out the door. The assistant said, “Sorry to interrupt, Cait, but a policeman is here about your grandfather. He’s waiting in your office.” Heart pounding, she rushed into her office and saw a man looking out the window. “Is my grandfather all right?” The man turned toward her, a man she once knew quite well. “Henry’s in jail,” he said. Rico Capelli. He didn’t wear a uniform like before, but he was still a cop. So much time had passed, she didn’t know whether to rush into his arms or smack him for running out on her without saying goodbye. She did neither. She and Rico were once lovers. Although he hadn’t officially asked her, they had an understanding that someday they’d get married. Then they had a little spat about something, and he disappeared from her life. His aunt, Zola Santino, the neighbor Grandpa loved to hate, told her Rico was going to marry someone else. Cait cried for weeks. Now she couldn’t even remember what they fought about. Not that it mattered now. He’d obviously moved on. Rico got himself a wife, and Cait decided if she couldn’t have the man she wanted, she wouldn’t have any man. Seeing Rico again brought a lump to her throat, but he didn’t come to rekindle a dead romance. He came about Grandpa. “Why is Grandpa in jail?” “He flashed my aunt.” “Flashed? As in…” He waved his hand as he talked. “As in letting it all hang out. He put a paper bag filled with dog poop on her doorstep and rang the bell. She opened the door and caught him with his zipper down.” A little laugh burst from her mouth. “You’ve got to be kidding. The paper bag I can understand, because Grandpa has been complaining about Zola’s dog doing her business on our lawn, but he wouldn’t deliberately—“ “He’s not under arrest. The argument got a little heated, so I took him in for his own protection. I just wanted to let you know where to find him.” She felt like screaming. “You interrupted an important presentation and you just wanted to let 21