Mauser sank back into the plush leather seat. It was more comfortable than his own bed. His new office smelt of expensive oak furniture and fresh paint with just a hint of lilac polish. He reached forward to touch the wood panelled name plate. His name was etched in gold lettering.

"Commandant Mauser."

He mouthed it back to himself feeling the title in his head. A slow smile crept over his face. What luck, Lassard dying suddenly when he did and Harris up on charges of stealing from the Christmas fund.

Mauser's Christmas present had come early. The ultimate promotion.

He leaned forward and pressed the buzzer.

Moments later Sargent Proctor bounded in.

"Yes sir?"

"Proctor, tell Lieutenant Harris I want to see him."

For a moment a shadow fell over Proctor's face.

"Any...any particular reason sir. I mean what should I tell him."

Mauser only scowled back at him.

"Kindly tell Lieutenant Harris that Commandant Mauser would like to see him. NOW!"

Harris was sitting alone in the canteen. He didn't have a ton of friends to begin with but now that this controversy had broken out he had none at all. No one wanted to be associated with the person suspected of stealing from the Christmas party fund.

Mahoney watched from a distance as he got slowly up from the table and followed Proctor out of the canteen.

"Don't pay him no mind." Hightower told him. "He deserves everything he gets."

Callaghan nodded agreement.

"I paid into that fund every month, as did you as did everyone else. How dare he take it for his own purposes."

"If he did," Mahoney said.

Callahan sniffed. "Well of course he did. Who else if not him. That money was kept in the safe in his office."

"Yeah but is that not a little too convenient. Why would he take the money. He had to know he'd be the prime suspect."

Tackleberry shook his head.

"That being said I wouldn't like to be in his shoes right now. He'll be lucky if he's not busted down to private."

Mahoney was about to answer him but Tackleberry sucked in a breath and grimaced in pain.

"You ok there Eugene?"

"Yeah it was that Turkey last night. I don't think it was cooked right."

"Tasted ok to me are you quite sure it wasn't all the beer?" Hightower asked with a knowing smile.

Tackleberry grimaced and rubbed a hand across his gut.

"Yeah that could be it too. I'm getting too old for partying."

Nick Lassard came to join them just then.

"Don't say that." He grinned " I want you to play sax at my barbeque this summer. Besides its Christmas, you have to party."

Mahoney considered getting up from the table but decided against it. Why should he move. There was something about that Lassard guy though, he always seemed to have an opinion.

Mahoney had loved Commandant Lassard. His passing had come as a great shock. The place was just never the same without him. He was like a father figure to them all. But his nephew, try as he might Mahoney just couldn't take to the guy.

"Maybe you should go down to the infirmary," Nick was saying now. "The nurse will have something you can take."

Tackleberry got up from the table,

"Nah, I'll be alright. Walk it off, it's the only way. You comin Callahan?"

Callahan gave them all a salute as she followed Tackleberry out towards their squad car.

~o~

Mauser was enjoying himself. Harris stood before his desk holding his cap in one hand looking as nervous as a new cadet.

Mauser took his time cleaning bits of dirt from under his nails with a piece of card.

"While you are under suspicion it would not be wise or in your best interests to be around sensitive office documents and files you understand that don't you Lieutenant."

"Yes sir," Harris said.

"With that in mind I have decided a change of environment is what you need."

Mauser looked up then into the face of the man standing in front of him but Harris was giving nothing away. He stood waiting for the axe to fall.

"This academy has been looking for just the right person to oversee the squad car division."

"You're busting me down to a car?' Harris asked at last.

"No, this Isn't a demotion. You are still Lieutenant Harris, well pending the investigation of course. That should take place in a month or two. In the meantime this will be a change of pace for you, a new challenge. You will be paired up with officer Hooks and oversee the training of the new recruits out on the field. Any questions."

Harris had a million questions but any one of them would add to this mans glee at his humiliation.

"No sir," he choked out at last

"Good well if you wouldn't mind. I have a million things to do. I'm expecting decorators in at any moment. They are going to fit me out with new blinds. I don't imagine Commandant Lassard ever considered renovating this office."

Harris didn't answer. He headed towards the door.

"Please tell Proctor to come in would you Harris."

Proctor was sitting at his desk just outside. He was desperately trying to listen but couldn't hear much beyond muffled voices. He quickly stood as the door opened but only Lieutenant Harris emerged.

"He wants you." Harris told him.

"Oh right." Proctor came quickly around his desk. He passed Harris without making eye contact and closed the door after him.

Harris stood in the outer office alone. He sighed to himself. How did it ever come to this. He was tipped to be the next in line to bring this Academy into the next decade. Now he was back working the squad car division. The door opened suddenly and Proctor scooted out past him.

"I have to go find Mahoney." He muttered as he quickly passed Harris on his way out.

Mahoney was just about to head out with Jones when Procter hurried into the garage.

"Commandant Mauser wishs to see you immediately."

Proctor tried to put it by way of a command but Mahoney was having none of that from him. Proctor was a weasel. He took his time ignoring Procter's urges to speed as he ran on ahead.

"Officer Mahoney, so good to see you," Mauser purred.

"You wanted to see me sir?"

"Yes Mahoney, how long have you been partnered up with Sargent Jones?."

Mahoney's heart sank.

"We work well together sir,"

"Yes I'm sure you do. As you know Sargent we have had to make a few changes here and there to ensure the smooth running of this division. For instance Lieutenant Harris will now be overseeing the squad car division personally."

Mahoney could only frown at that, it wasn't good news by any stretch.

"As for you I think it's time you took on a new partner."

Before Mahoney could voice any objection Mauser went on.

"Sargent sometimes it takes others to spot when you are in a rut. I have often felt that both you and Sargent Jones have found yourselves in just such a situation. With that in mind I have decided that it will be in your best interests to change partner. From tomorrow onward Sargent Jones will ride with Officer Hightower and you will ride with Officer Lassard."

What could he say. You can't openly admit that you don't want to work with someone. Mahoney looked into the face of Commandant Mauser and knew that he was doing this on purpose. He was getting back at Mahoney for all those jokes he played on him earlier in his career.

Mauser grinned back at him with a knowing smile.

"We understand each other then Sergant Mahoney?"

"Yes sir."

As difficult as it was Mahoney held back. He couldn't be seen to be attacking Commandant Mauser in his new position. Such things were very much frowned upon. He'd have to accept the state of things for now. But how was he to work with Nick Lassard. He grimaced at the thought of it.