Chapter 20
Ed left the building followed by a crowd of news people yelling questions at him. Rice led him to an unmarked Ford Crown Victoria Police Cruiser.
"This was Schwartz's car. I don't think he'll need it today," Rice said as he held the door for Katherine.
Katherine got into the car and Ed got behind the wheel. He pulled away from the building and headed for his apartment.
"What happened back there?" Ed asked, "This morning I was just a nobody, now I'm the Police Commissioner."
Katherine slid over to him, "You definitely were not a nobody to me."
Ed parked in front of his apartment and he and Katherine climbed the stairs. The door flew open and Betty threw her arms around Ed and yelled something about hearing about his appointment on the TV. Ed pulled her from around his neck and he went into the apartment followed by a scowling Katherine.
Ann was sitting on the couch and had obviously been crying. Betty continued to talk about the events that she had witnessed on the TV and Ed grabbed her by her shoulders and sat her next to Ann.
"Ann this is Katherine Bynum, she has hired a lawyer to represent Sam and there's a chance we can get him either a reduced sentence or maybe even acquitted. We're going to try and get him out on bail. I don't think he will wind up serving any jail time.
Ann smiled at what he said. She was still sedated and she laid her head back on the couch and closed her eyes.
Ed looked at Betty. "Betty I think that you should go back to Iowa for a while and sort out what you want.
Betty started shaking her head, "Hy asked me to stay around awhile. He said that he could get me a job with his newspaper. He's a nice guy and he's real easy to talk to."
Ed looked at Katherine and he wondered what went on here last night. Katherine just smiled.
There was a knock on the door and a young policeman was at the door with a sheepish look on his face. It was obvious that he was fresh out of the Academy.
"Sir, I'm your driver. You took off without me."
Ed and Katherine busted out laughing. Ed directed the young man to a chair and went back to talk to Betty.
"So you're going to stay here and get a job on the newspaper. Do you want me to take you back to your apartment?"
Betty shook her head; "Hy said that he would pick me up when he finished writing his story. I asked him to take me back to my apartment and he said that he would."
Ed went into the kitchen and called Stu Hale. Stu was at his desk.
"What are you doing there?" Ed asked, "You're supposed to be at my office downtown."
"Were you serious about me being Deputy Commissioner?" Stu asked.
"Get down to my office," Ed laughed, "Pick up Tim Speckler and I'll meet you both in about 2 hours. Go to the motor pool and get an unmarked car for both of you. Make sure that it's fairly new because I expect you to wear it out quick."
Ed asked Betty to stay for a couple of days until they could make some arrangements for Ann. Betty's face dropped. Ed told her he would ask Hy to stay at his apartment to make sure that the 2 women were safe and she agreed to stay a couple of days with Ann.
Ed waved the driver toward the door. The driver raced for the door and almost knocked Katherine over. Ed and Katherine walked out behind the driver. The driver held the back door for Katherine and seemed upset when Ed got in and sat next to Katherine. Ed told the young driver to head for City Hall.
"I'll drop you off so that you can pick up your car," Ed told her, "I'm going to go downtown and see what I've gotten myself into."
"What time will you be home," Katherine asked, "I'll have dinner ready when ever you say."
"Home?" Ed asked.
"You don't really think that I would let you stay in that apartment with 2 women do you?" She smiled. "Besides I'll sleep better knowing that I have police protection."
Ed smiled, "It didn't help you sleep last night."
Ed got a punch in the ribs for that last remark. He dropped Katherine off and was warned that he had better get home at a decent time or he wouldn't live to see his 2nd day as Commissioner. Ed noticed that several times the driver's neck got red and he made a mental note to discuss what drivers are allowed to hear and what they are not supposed to hear.
A cell phone started ring and Ed finally found it on the floor. He picked the phone up and answered it.
"Ed, this is Rice. I just thought that you would like to know that the Mayor is singing his heart out. I'll send over a transcript of his interview in the morning. Our auditors have given us 2 more names of City Councilmen that we should talk to. Do you want to take over the investigation now?"
Ed thought a few seconds before answering, "Yes, I think that maybe I should wash my own laundry. Maybe, for the Governor's sake, you should assign a liaison from your office to keep an eye on us. I have no problem with that."
Rice agreed, "I'll send over a good man with the transcripts in the morning. Ed, watch your back. I'm sure there are some people that are satisfied with the way things are going now and will resist any changes, good or bad. Remember, trust no one and don't make any new friends and check out your old ones every day."