The next morning, Joe telephoned Naomi.

"Good morning, Naomi," Joe said. "Listen, I know this is your day off, and I want you to enjoy it, but I need a favor."

"Of course, Joe, anything you need."

"Actually, I need your mother's help with something."

"I'll go get her."

"Thanks."

Joe spoke with Naomi's mother for a few minutes.

"I'll see that you get what you need," she said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Levine. I really appreciate this."

####

About an hour and a half later, Joe went to Grant's office at City Hall.

"I suppose you are here to turn in your shield," Grant said smugly.

"No, Grant."

"No, Your Honor."

"No, Grant," Joe repeated. "I'm not here to turn in my shield. You wanted me to do that in public, remember?
And," he added, "you also wanted a public apology."

"True, I did want that," said Grant.

"Well, I figure that the best way to handle that would be to hold a joint press conference."

"For once," Grant said, "I have to agree with you. Shall we say, two o'clock this afternoon in front of the police station?"

"That's fine with me," Joe said.

"But," Grant said, "until then, I prohibit you from coming within fifty feet of the police station, from any direction."

####

Two o'clock arrived. A crowd had gathered in front of the 23rd Precinct. Among them were Josie, Toni, Adams,
and many other of the officers under Joe's command. Joe and Grant stood in front of the police station. Joe was
holding a brown leather briefcase.

"We would like to thank all of you for coming," Grant said. "In just a few minutes, Captain Joseph Carlino will become
ex-captain Joseph Carlino." He turned to Joe. "We'll begin with your retraction and apology."

Joe looked at Grant and said, "Well, Grant, I hate to disappoint you, but there will be no retraction and no apology."

The crowd grew very quiet, listening.

"Now," Joe went on, "I'm no computer expert, but I can still prove that you had that website tampered with, and that
you are no longer the mayor."

"That's impossible. Now, I'm not confessing to anything, but if you're not a computer expert, how can you prove it?" Grant demanded.

"Quite easily," Joe replied, opening the briefcase and taking out a book.

"What is that?" Grant asked.

"It's a book," Joe said.

"I can see that. What I don't see is its relevance here."

"Oh, it's very relevant," Joe said. "Here, read the title, out loud, please."

Grant read, "Our Bay City- History and Government."

"It's a sixth grade Social Studies textbook, Grant." Joe took the book and opened it to a book-marked page,
and read, "The mayor shall hold office for a period of four years. He or she may seek re-election no more than twice."

There was a murmur from the crowd.

"And since five years have passed since you took office," Joe said, "and you have not run for re-election, that means that
you are not the mayor of Bay City, and have not been for the past year."

Grant, for once, was speechless.