Commissioner Fields

Emmett Fields looked at his outfit in the long dressing mirror. He had to admit from outward appearance he looked the epitome of the part that he was about to play. His suit of dark blue had been expertly pressed, his cotton shirt was crisp white and starched accordingly whilst his black leather boots were polished to a high shine. He certainly looked like the Commissioner of Washington's finest police.

Taking one last look at his appearance, Fields bent down to the dresser and picked up a thick manila envelope that contained his directives, signed by the Governor of Washington, Mr George Atherton. His orders were to report to the police station at 8.30am sharp where he would begin his command as the director and chief. He thumbed the torn edge of the envelope pondering the appointment. When he first received the correspondence he refused the job. Since returning to his home town from Baltimore he resigned himself to a life away from the force, but the Governor had been so persistent that eventually he did the gracious thing and accepted the post.

Climbing down the stairs from his room to the entrance hall he retrieved his top hat and coat from the coat stand and stepped out into the chilly morning air.

Fields arrived at the police headquarter right on time and stood outside the building taking in the magnitude of it. The building was one of the grandest places he had ever seen. The white marble structure was decorated with statues of great criminalists from throughout history- or an artist's impression of these saluted heroes. Taking in a deep breath he crossed the threshold into what would be his home for at least the next few years. The newly appointed commissioner walked into the grand lobby and after asking the receptionist where he could find the Chief Inspector, he climbed the two flights of stairs that took him to the specialist crime and operations offices.

The office was a hub of noise. Constables and secretaries were dotted all about the large room, holding conversations amongst themselves and interviewing would be witnesses and suspects. Along the far side of the room were tiny windowed cubicles, each one housed an Inspector and his clerk. At the end of the large office was a booth much larger than the rest, inside sat a man dressed in an extremely fine and most likely expensive morning suit, smoking a cigar. This was most likely the Governor. The Governor spotted his new appointment and hailed him across the room. As Fields walked through the throng, those closest to him surveyed him with equal interest and judgement. They knew who he was for certain.

"Ah Fields found the place alright?" Governor Atherton asked, his voice a booming echo in the heavy populated room.

"Yes thank you Governor." Fields replied nervously.

The rotund man smiled and laughed warmly at the younger Fields and gestured for him to enter the smaller office.

"Forget the title Field's, call me George."

Inside the room were three other men, one was dressed as finely as the Governor but was more around Field's age, the middle one a young constable, whereas the last one had about ten years on him and was clearly an Inspector of some kind. He wore a suit of brown wool that had been heavily darned at one cuff and looked like it had not been pressed in a few days. A former Inspector himself, Field understood and presumed this man had come off a long and arduous night shift and most likely been asked to be there to greet him this morning.

"May I introduce my eldest, John, your first in command Inspector Lewis and your personal clerk Constable Thompson"

Fields offered his good mornings. The young John greeted him just as warmly as his father had done, Thompson nodded his head respectfully, whereas Lewis grunted his reply.

"Well Mr Fields, I hope you are as excited as I am about your appointment?" John asked eagerly.

"I just hope I do the job to the best of your satisfaction Mr Atherton."

"Have you taken some time to acquaint yourself with the City Mr Fields?" Lewis asked accusingly.

"Comissioner Fields was born here Inspector. He knows this City better than you do I'd wager." John retaliated.

"I maybe a little rusty Inspector, but I'm sure it'll all come back to me soon enough."

"Good show. Well now that you're settled in, I'll leave you to it."

The Governor slapped Fields on the back with a podgy hand and headed for the door, before he reached it he turned around,

"Fields before I forget I'm hosting a get together tonight. I want you to come as my guest."

"Thank you sir." He replied shakily.

Fields couldn't think of anything worse than an evening spent with Washington's upper crust, but knew he could not do anything to upset his influential employer.

"Very good. Tomorrow night then." The Governor replied with another joyous boom before he promptly left.