Cut and Thrust

51

When Stone got back from lunch, there was a note from Dino to be on the steps of City Hall at four o’clock. He buzzed Joan.

“Yes, my lord and master?”

“Find out how big a donation I can legally make to the mayoral campaign of Commissioner Tom Donnelly.”

“Stone, were you drinking at lunch?”

“No, why?”

“The commissioner is not a candidate for mayor, to my knowledge.”

“Your knowledge is out of date. He’s announcing at four o’clock. Then the present mayor will appoint Dino police commissioner.”

“Wow! I’ll get right on it.”

Stone hung up. A minute later Joan buzzed him.

“Yes?”

“Four thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars,” she said.

“Are you sure that’s all?”

“That’s all.”

“Okay, cut a check to Tom Donnelly for Mayor, put it in an envelope, and give it to me.”

“Certainly.”

Ed Eagle knocked on the inside door to Stone’s office.

“Come in, Ed. Do you and Susannah want to go down to City Hall with me and watch Dino get sworn in as commissioner at four?”

“I’d love to,” Ed said, “but Susannah is shopping, and I don’t think I’d better disturb her.”

“We’ll have to leave shortly,” Stone said. “Traffic’s bad this time of day.” He asked Joan to have Fred bring around the car.

They made it to City Hall just in time; a crowd had already gathered on the steps. Stone and Ed got out of the car, and Fred moved off in search of parking.

Dino saw them and waved them around the crowd to where he stood with Viv. “You’re in my party,” he said. “Stand here.”

Somebody tested the sound system, then the mayor stepped forward. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to introduce Police Commissioner Tom Donnelly!” He stepped back and yielded the small podium, and the commissioner stepped forward.

“Good afternoon, everybody. I’m here to announce that I have just handed my resignation as police commissioner to the mayor, effective immediately, and that he has accepted it, I hope with regret.” There was a chorus of nos, mixed with applause. “That said, I am here to announce my candidacy for mayor in the upcoming Democratic primary!” Much applause and cheering. The commissioner went on for another two minutes, listing some of the things he wanted to do. “And now, I believe the mayor has another announcement.” He surrendered the podium.

“Actually,” the mayor said, “I have two announcements. First, I think it would be a grave error to leave the position of police commissioner open, even for a day, and so I am very pleased to announce my appointment of Chief of Detectives Dino Bacchetti to the office of commissioner, effective immediately.” Much applause, then the mayor continued. “Dino has served the NYPD at every level during a career that took him from patrolman, to detective, to lieutenant, to captain, and then to chief of detectives, in which office he has served brilliantly. And incidentally, Dino will be the youngest police commissioner of New York since Theodore Roosevelt, more than a hundred and twenty-five years ago! Dino, step up here and get sworn in.”

Somebody produced a Bible, and Viv stepped forward to hold it.

“And holding the Bible,” the mayor said, “is retired detective Vivian Bacchetti!”

Suddenly, there was a disturbance at the rear of the crowd. Stone, standing high on the steps, could see Fred Flicker’s back as he fought someone else. He ran around the crowd, grabbing for his honorary badge, and approached a little knot of people. Fred was being pulled off a man who lay on his back on the steps, and a uniformed cop was relieving the man of a pistol. Two detectives, one of whom Stone knew, dragged Fred backward on his heels while one took Fred’s gun from him.

Stone flashed his badge. “Hold on there, gentlemen,” he said. “That man is with me, and he is licensed to carry that weapon. Show them your license, Fred.”

Fred did so, and his gun was returned to him and holstered.

“What the hell is going on?” Stone asked one of the detectives.

“I’m not sure,” the man said, “but I saw guns, and I got in there.”

“Mr. Barrington,” Fred said, “I saw that man draw a weapon and aim it, I think, at the mayor. I was the only person close to him, so I tackled him.”

“Well done, Fred. You gentlemen, take him aside and get his ID and his statement. I’ll be up there.” He pointed to where Dino and the others stood, staring down at him, then he ran around the crowd and took up his former position behind Viv.

“May we continue now, Mr. Barrington?” the mayor asked.

“Yes, of course, sir. Someone was just trying to shoot you, but he was thwarted.”

“Just as soon as I get Dino sworn in, I want to hear about that,” the mayor said, and Stone nodded. The mayor returned to his work and took the oath from Dino — then he turned back to the crowd. “I have one more announcement to make,” he said. “I am very pleased to offer my wholehearted, unconditional endorsement of Tom Donnelly as the next mayor of New York City!”

Afterward, as Stone was explaining to the mayor, Tom Donnelly, and Dino what had happened, he saw Fred leave the two detectives and approach. He waved the little man over. “Mayor,” he said, “I’d like to introduce you to the gentleman who just saved your life. This is Frederick Flicker, formerly of the Royal Marines.”

The mayor pumped Fred’s hand, who looked embarrassed.

Fred shook the offered hands, then said, “I’d better get the car.” And he did.

When they were driving uptown, Stone said, “Fred, I’m glad we got you that carry license.”

“So am I, sir,” Fred replied. “I considered shooting the man but thought better of it.”

“I’m so glad you did, Fred,” Stone said.