“Sir,” Mark Denton said, “with all due respect, Commissioner Curtis is deciding whether to fire nineteen of us.”

“I’m aware of that,” Storrow said, “but I don’t think he will. It would be the height of imprudence. The city, believe it or not, is for you, gentlemen. They’re just very clearly not for a strike. If you allow me to handle this, you may well get everything you require. The ultimate decision rests with the commissioner, but he is a reasonable man.”

Danny shook his head. “I’ve yet to see evidence of it, sir.”

Storrow gave that a smile so distant it was almost shy. “Be that as it may, the city and the mayor and governor and every fair-minded man will, I promise you, see the light and the logic just as clearly as I’ve seen it today. As soon as I am capable of compiling and releasing my report, you’ll have justice. I ask patience, gentlemen. I ask prudence.”

“You’ll have it, sir,” Mark Denton said.

Storrow walked around to the back of the table and began shuffling up the papers. “But you’ll have to give up your association with the American Federation of Labor.”

So there it was. Danny wanted to throw the table through the window. Throw everyone in the room after it. “And put ourselves upon whose mercy this time, sir?”

“I don’t follow.”

Danny stood. “Mr. Storrow, we all respect you. But we’ve accepted half-measures before, and they’ve all come to naught. We work at the pay scale of 1903 because the men before us took the carrot on the stick for twelve years before demanding their rights in 1915. We accepted the city’s oath that while it could not compensate us fairly during the war, it would make amends afterward. And yet? We are still being paid the 1903 wage. And yet? We never got fittingly compensated after the war. And our precincts are still cesspools and our men are still overworked. Commissioner Curtis tells the press he is forming ‘committees,’ never mentioning that those ‘committees’ are stocked with his own men and those men have prejudicial opinions. We have put our faith in this city before, Mr. Storrow, countless times, and been jilted. And now you want us to forswear the one organization that has given us real hope and real bargaining power?”

Storrow placed both hands on the table and stared across at Danny. “Yes, Officer, I do. You can use the AFL as a bargaining chip. I’ll tell you that fact baldly right here and now. It’s the smart move, so don’t give it up just yet. But, son, I assure you, you will have to give it up. And if you choose to strike, I will be the strongest advocate in this city for breaking you and making certain you never wear a badge again.” He leaned forward. “I believe in your cause, Officer. I will fight for you. But don’t back me or this commission into a corner, because you will not survive the response.”