The Copper Frame Read Free Page B

whole town knows you’re the best cop on the force. And certainly the best fitted for chief. Who else has a degree in criminology?”
    â€œNobody. But Art Marks has fourteen years’ seniority over me as a lieutenant and seventeen over me in total time on the force.”
    The mayor made a dismissing gesture. “Art Marks would probably be Bennock’s choice, if Bennock does make a deal with Larry Cutter, because Art is unimaginative enough to do as he’s told. But everyone in town knows Art hasn’t the capability to be chief. He might possibly be accepted if I appointed him now, but the town would explode if the new council kicked you out as acting chief once you’re actually serving in the job and replaced you with Art.” He looked thoughtfully off into space before adding, “In a way I sort of hope they do.”
    Saxon gave him a quizzical look.
    â€œThat’s just the politician in me,” Foley said with a grin. “They won’t, because it would be political suicide. They’ll give you the permanent appointment whether they want to or not, because city councilmen who flout the public will get voted out of office.”
    Rising to his feet, the mayor said, “Stand and raise your right hand, Lieutenant. I’m about to swear you in as acting chief of police for the City of Iroquois.”

chapter 3
    Saxon called a general meeting of the police department at 4 P.M . to announce his appointment as acting chief. The announcement was greeted not merely with approval, but with an obvious measure of relief, which led the new chief to suspect that the men had been discussing possible successors to his father with some concern. It was rather gratifying to know that they had been afraid he might not get the appointment. He had been aware that he was well liked in the department, but he hadn’t suspected the force was so solidly behind him.
    If Lieutenant Art Marks felt any disappointment at being passed over, he didn’t show it. His congratulations were just as hearty as anyone else’s.
    As the meeting broke up, Sam Lennox came over and said, “Can I see you a minute, Chief?”
    â€œSure,” Saxon said, leading the way out of the squad room and into the office that had been his father’s.
    Inside he discovered that he couldn’t yet bring himself to sit in the chief’s big chair. Closing the door, he sat in one of the guest chairs and waved Lennox to another.
    â€œWhat’s on your mind, Sam?”
    The older man nervously shifted his feet. “I was just wondering what I’m supposed to do around here, now that your dad’s gone.”
    Saxon regarded him curiously. “What do you mean? You’re still a member of the force.”
    â€œWell, you know how it was with your dad. I was supposed to be his driver, but most of the day I just sat around in the squad room. Even when he went somewhere, he really didn’t need me. He could have driven himself for all he used the car. You know why he assigned me as his driver?”
    â€œI suppose he figured you’d earned a soft job after all your years of service.”
    Lennox’s red-veined face moved back and forth in a negative. “He wanted his eye on me all the time I was on duty. He knew that some time, somewhere, I’d slip and take a drink otherwise. And after one I never stop. He would have had to board me if he caught me drunk on duty, because he played by the book. But he didn’t want to have to. He wanted me to make it to my pension. That’s the kind of guy he was.”
    â€œI see,” Saxon said. “And now you’re afraid I’ll stick you on a beat, and you’ll get drunk and be boarded.”
    â€œAre you going to stick me on a beat?”
    When you inherit a job, you sometimes inherit with it responsibilities that you hadn’t counted on, Saxon realized. If it had been important to his father to see that Sam Lennox