“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!”

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