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shift. Your presence on the streets is just as important.”
    “Thank you, Chief.”
    “What about Deputy Baker? He might not remember the policy.”
    Titch thought about it for a moment. “No, I don’t think so. I was here before he returned from his rounds. Of course, it’s possible I’d stepped away briefly. I couldn’t have been gone more than a minute or two.”
    Did Ed detect a faint reddening at Titch’s neck? “You know, you are allowed to get coffee. Use the men’s room. Stretch your legs.”
    The flush spread to Titch’s face. He stared over Ed’s shoulder. “Yes, Chief. And I will be sure to reinforce departmental policy on messages for staff with Deputy Baker. Since you’re here, did you wish to address the troops at roll call?”
    Although Ed knew Vicky McDermott would go over everything with Titch before change of shift, he decided it made sense to repeat what he’d said at second shift, to make his presence felt. “Very briefly.” He explained about the overtime he was offering to anyone willing to put in some time at the parade. “I don’t want to pull anyone from the streets. The trick-or-treating should be almost over before third shift, but having the unit parked out front with an officer or two hanging around should be good PR.”
    “I agree, Chief.”
    Ed wanted to shout Stop calling me Chief , but it was a lost cause. “As you were,” he said instead.
    He leafed through the folders and messages on Laurie’s desk to see what had come in after he’d gone home. Nothing of significance, so he left them there and headed to reception. Irv sat at the desk, reading a paperback. “Evening, Irv.”
    The man jerked upright. “Hey, Chief Solomon. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
    “Guess our shifts don’t overlap too often now. I have a question about last night. Did anyone come to your desk?”
    The man’s brow furrowed, adding more wrinkles to his already wizened face. “No, not that I can recollect. Let me check the log.” Irv grabbed a clipboard, ran his finger down the list of names, then shook his head. “Nope. All quiet on that end. A few phone calls, all routine.”
    “If someone comes in and says they have a message for me, what’s the policy?”
    Irv didn’t hesitate. “I let them fill out a form and put it on Laurie’s desk.”
    “And if it’s already written? A note in an envelope addressed to me?”
    “Same thing.”
    “And what if they say it’s urgent they speak to someone?”
    Irv tapped the clipboard. “They give me the short version, then I call one of the guys on duty out here to talk to them. Then I make sure it’s in the log.”
    “Thanks, Irv. Keep it up.” Ed turned to go.
    Irv called after him. “Wait. Was that a test? Did I do something wrong?”
    Ed smiled. “No, it wasn’t a test. More of a clarification for me. I want to be up-to-speed on how things work.”
    “Fair enough. You have any more questions, you come to me. Always happy to answer.”
    “Have a good night, Irv.” Ed went to his office to check his email, promising himself it was only to see whether Detective Rosen had responded. Mary Ellen had a valid point. He’d been trying too hard to keep on top of his former duties as well as be the perfect Chief, when all he needed to do was keep things running smoothly until Gordon got back.
    The niggling thought Mary Ellen had planted, that perhaps Gordon wasn’t planning to return, meandered through Ed’s brain. He dismissed it, just as he had avoided the topic when she’d raised it before. Maybe they could discuss it over dinner at the Black Bear.
    He scanned the list of messages, forcing himself to ignore anything that wasn’t from Colfax, Sam Fischer, or Detective Rosen. Since there was nothing from any of them, he shut off the computer. Tomorrow would be soon enough for the rest.
    Sounds from outside his office told him it was almost change of shift. McDermott and Titch would be going over anything pertinent, and he refrained