Grant Harrison couldn't believe that he hadn't remembered about the textbooks, the schoolbooks. He realized
that, for now at least, there was nothing he could do, nothing he could say, to cover up. There was only one thing
he could do to hold onto at least a portion of his dignity. He turned, still not saying anything, and walked away.
"You'll notice," Joe said, "that Grant has not responded except by walking away. And we all know
that if he could have said anything to prove that he is still the mayor, he would have said it. So from
now on," he concluded, "we can refer to him as former Mayor Grant Harrison."
And then, almost everyone burst into song, an old song:
"Happy days are here again..."
There was, however, one person there who definitely did not feel like singing.
Chip Rayburn. He knew that now that Grant was no longer the mayor, he, Chip, was no
longer the deputy mayor. He, like Grant, was now unemployed.
####
An hour later, Joe called Josie into his office, closed the door, and pulled down the shades. He looked
at her, standing their in her Cadet uniform.
"Josie."
"Yes, sir?"
"You've been doing very well as a Cadet. You've done everything I've asked you to do," Joe said,
"and I've been very impressed with the way you've handled your punishment."
"Thank you."
"And, to be a bit pedantic, I'm sure you've learned your lesson. "
"Yes, Joe, I have," Josie said.
"As of now, you are no longer a Cadet. I'm reinstating you as a Detective."
Joe handed Josie her shield. Josie threw her arms around Joe's neck.
"And you can use the recreational computer again."
"I promise that I'll only use it to play games from now on. I can't believe I almost destroyed Commissioner..."
Josie stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong?" Joe asked.
"I just thought of something. Grant was the one who appointed Commissioner Walters, so what happens to
him now that Grant is no longer the mayor?"
"Nothing," Joe said. "Remember, Grant was still the mayor legally when he appointed Commissioner Walters. So according
to the law, he will remain Commissioner until a new mayor takes office."
####
Joe and Paulina lay in their bed that night, talking quietly.
"You did a great service for Bay City today," Paulina said. "We don't have to worry about Grant any more."
But Joe wasn't too sure about that. He may no longer have been the mayor, but, when all was said and done, Grant was still Grant.