“Kohn?”
Maybe I was still at home in bed in Lincoln Park. The whole day had a surreal quality to it, so perhaps my alarm would ring at any second.
“You look like you want to question the mayor’s order and, in turn, mine.”
Not question, more figure out how I’d been elected. Why not Chris Becker as supervisory deputy or Ian as deputy director? Ian worked with everyone anyway; I had no idea why this wasn’t his baby.
“Your job puts you in the mayor’s wife’s crosshairs,” my boss explained. “She knows the names of all the directors of PR for all the different branches of law enforcement in the city,” Kage went on, reading my mind again. “That’s the list that is under her purview.”
“But I’m in public affairs, not public relations.”
More scowling. “And is there some great distinction there?”
Yes. No. Maybe. I was being punished for something, but honestly, I couldn’t think of what I’d done lately. This, again, was the reason I needed an assistant so I could delegate this kind of crap.
“This is very simple,” Kage explained. “You’ll coordinate the event with the help of her liaison.”
“And who is that?”
“I have no idea,” he said, clearly not caring. “But whoever they are, they’ll be with the mayor’s wife when you meet with her.”
Super.
“It will be your event.”
Mine.
“Because the USMS is up.”
“Right,” I agreed as he did the thing he did where he summed up whatever he’d told you and prepared to walk away and leave you with your heinous assignment.
“Don’t cock it up.”
“Of course not,” I said quickly.
“It’s for charity,” Kage reminded me. “And yes, it will take some time away from your normal duties, but it will in no way impact your day-to-day routine.”
I understood that as well, but I would still be stuck wasting time that could have been far better spent working cases, dealing with any and all public-affairs blowups that affected the marshals’ office in Chicago, and training some of the new guys. Instead of doing what I was supposed to, I would be the one coordinating an evening of dance with the Chicago Ballet Company. Cel was going to laugh his ass off when he heard.
I made a noise I wasn’t proud of. It came out of the back of my throat before I could even think about stifling the sound, and the effect on my boss was instantaneous.
“Again,” Kage growled, done being civil, “the mayor’s wife, and therefore, the mayor, asked for you personally.”
“Because my title haspublic affairsattached to it.”
“Correct.”
Maybe he’d promoted me because he wanted to see me twist in the wind. I’d been in other uncomfortable situations over the past few years since I’d been promoted. I hadn’t considered that the man was a sadist and had purposely screwed with me.
“Also, you’ll be dining with her tonight, at Bluebeard’s Wife, at eight, along with the people she wants you to interface with.”
I glanced at him becauseinterface withwas not something he would say.
His scowl spoke volumes. He was not enjoying this any more than I was. “But before that, you need to get over to the First, talk to the commander there, and coordinate CPD support for the event, since they’ll be our main backup at the Shedd Aquarium.”
I didn’t even want to ask.
“Yeah,” he answered without me saying a word. “The night of dance is being held at the aquarium so that both the charity and the venue receive funds.”