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“Your knowledge is out of date.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.