began making a list: private services at the cathedral, burial at the national cemetery, invitations limited to a small group of government officials and the immediate family.
Aware of Phyllis's loose reputation, he'd married her anyway, because it allowed him access to Proctor Straley's sphere of considerable influence. At the time Straley had almost swooned with delight to see his tramp daughter finally so well wed. The great sex she gave Terrell until the marriage soured had been an enjoyable bonus.
Phyllis would be alive today, if she hadn't been so damn nosey. He paused and looked at his list. A letter of condolence to Proctor Straley from the President was in order. He made a note to call the White House in the morning.
Chapter 5
Kerney sat in an office chair and watched the smile on William Demora's face fade as he settled behind his large executive desk and tidied an already neatly stacked set or documents. Last night, without giving a reason, the city manager had called Kerney at home and asked for an early morning meeting. And it was very early indeed; workers at city hall weren't due to show up for another hour.
The city offices were housed in an old school building a block from the plaza.
In spite of extensive renovations the wide hallways, far wider than a modern office building would allow for, made it feel like a place for junior high students, not city bureaucrats. Kerney could remember the days when noisy, boisterous kids spilled out of the school to spend lunch hour on the plaza.
"Aside from carrying out the mayor's goals," Demora said, weighing his words carefully, "my job, as I see it, is to act as a buffer between my department heads and members of the city council. In other words, to keep politics from interfering with our daily operations. But I can't always shield my people from controversy. Especially if I find myself caught unaware."
"What's come up?" Kerney asked, maintaining a neutral tone.
Demora ran a hand over his closely cropped salt-and-pepper beard.
"The issue of your appointment of Captain Otero as deputy chief has raised some concern among several council members."
It wasn't the issue Kerney expected, but he held back his surprise and stayed silent.
"I thought we had an understanding that you'd run key appointments through my office first," Demora said.
"No," Kerney said evenly, "The understanding was that I would have full authority on all personnel matters and would keep you advised in a timely fashion."
"So why am I placed in the position of learning about Otero's promotion secondhand through the grapevine?"
Kerney checked his watch.
"Otero's promotion orders were cut less than twelve hours ago, after city hall closed for the day. You would have gotten a call from me in about an hour. But to answer your question more specifically, the reason you heard about it through the grapevine is because I have inherited a department filled with people who are accustomed to undercutting the chain of command whenever it suits their purpose to do so. Who are the unhappy council members?"
"You needn't concern yourself with them," Demora replied.
"I'll deal with that problem. But surely you understand that the police officers' union is a political action group. You can't expect them not to use their influence to raise issues, especially with several strong union supporters on the council."
"Was the issue raised by the union?"
"Yes. They feel that Otero's appointment is a step backward."
Kerney chose his words carefully.
"Although the contract gives the union no voice in management issues, I'd be happy to meet with them here in your office to address their concerns."
"I don't think we should open that door to the union," Demora said quickly.
"But I… The mayor does expect you to concentrate on building employee morale. Your decision to promote Otero seems to be having the opposite effect."
"It's my highest priority," Kerney said.
"Every police department needs good morale to do
Aware of Phyllis's loose reputation, he'd married her anyway, because it allowed him access to Proctor Straley's sphere of considerable influence. At the time Straley had almost swooned with delight to see his tramp daughter finally so well wed. The great sex she gave Terrell until the marriage soured had been an enjoyable bonus.
Phyllis would be alive today, if she hadn't been so damn nosey. He paused and looked at his list. A letter of condolence to Proctor Straley from the President was in order. He made a note to call the White House in the morning.
Chapter 5
Kerney sat in an office chair and watched the smile on William Demora's face fade as he settled behind his large executive desk and tidied an already neatly stacked set or documents. Last night, without giving a reason, the city manager had called Kerney at home and asked for an early morning meeting. And it was very early indeed; workers at city hall weren't due to show up for another hour.
The city offices were housed in an old school building a block from the plaza.
In spite of extensive renovations the wide hallways, far wider than a modern office building would allow for, made it feel like a place for junior high students, not city bureaucrats. Kerney could remember the days when noisy, boisterous kids spilled out of the school to spend lunch hour on the plaza.
"Aside from carrying out the mayor's goals," Demora said, weighing his words carefully, "my job, as I see it, is to act as a buffer between my department heads and members of the city council. In other words, to keep politics from interfering with our daily operations. But I can't always shield my people from controversy. Especially if I find myself caught unaware."
"What's come up?" Kerney asked, maintaining a neutral tone.
Demora ran a hand over his closely cropped salt-and-pepper beard.
"The issue of your appointment of Captain Otero as deputy chief has raised some concern among several council members."
It wasn't the issue Kerney expected, but he held back his surprise and stayed silent.
"I thought we had an understanding that you'd run key appointments through my office first," Demora said.
"No," Kerney said evenly, "The understanding was that I would have full authority on all personnel matters and would keep you advised in a timely fashion."
"So why am I placed in the position of learning about Otero's promotion secondhand through the grapevine?"
Kerney checked his watch.
"Otero's promotion orders were cut less than twelve hours ago, after city hall closed for the day. You would have gotten a call from me in about an hour. But to answer your question more specifically, the reason you heard about it through the grapevine is because I have inherited a department filled with people who are accustomed to undercutting the chain of command whenever it suits their purpose to do so. Who are the unhappy council members?"
"You needn't concern yourself with them," Demora replied.
"I'll deal with that problem. But surely you understand that the police officers' union is a political action group. You can't expect them not to use their influence to raise issues, especially with several strong union supporters on the council."
"Was the issue raised by the union?"
"Yes. They feel that Otero's appointment is a step backward."
Kerney chose his words carefully.
"Although the contract gives the union no voice in management issues, I'd be happy to meet with them here in your office to address their concerns."
"I don't think we should open that door to the union," Demora said quickly.
"But I… The mayor does expect you to concentrate on building employee morale. Your decision to promote Otero seems to be having the opposite effect."
"It's my highest priority," Kerney said.
"Every police department needs good morale to do
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