Tannehill's rate of ascension in the CCPD was commendable. His ability to keep his mouth buttoned about internal police affairs and to solve crimes attributed to actual perpetrators were skills the department could proudly display. Now they had an officer the public could place their trust in - someone who wouldn't scapegoat the poor of the city in order to beef up a case clearance rate and someone who wouldn't rat out the other officers who'd scapegoat the poor of the city in order to beef up a case clearance rate. Murmurs echoed throughout precinct hallways that he'd make detective, or even skip to detective sergeant, before his fifth anniversary. In a system rife with patronage that kept even well-connected individuals from significant promotions for a decade, this was an impressive accomplishment.
This, however, did not prevent the occasional tedious check-in from his superiors on his progress, as occurred one day in 1917:
"Tannehill, have you been talking to army recruiters?"
"I had to interview one in relation to the soldier who knifed that socialite to death a couple of weeks back. So, yes sir."
"Did you talk to him about joining the military?"
"During a lull in the conversation, I asked him about the situation in Europe and what our government's current position is, specifically since we've just instituted a draft. But, no sir, I did not express a desire to join the military."
[Some gnawing on a cigar and grunting.] "Good."
"If I may be so bold as to indulge my curiosity, sir, why are you asking?"
[More gnawing on a cigar and continued grunting.] "It's department policy that until our government takes an official position, we remain neutral in our outlook toward the conflict in Europe. We're a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population and we need to respect the views of all of our citizens without the appearance of bias."
Strange, Tannehill thought, considering that murder of two German-Americans in the previous month - for the slimmest of reasons related to the war that affronted everyone's personal views in Capital City - was effectively closed. As was the investigation into the arsonist who'd torched one-quarter of Chinatown the previous December. Stranger still that the department heads of the CCPD had contributed funds for arms to support the Easter Rebellion in Ireland the year before - an act most people would consider overtly political and singular in its respective view.
"I understand, sir. I have no interest in forwarding the perception of bias within the department or futhering a misguided opinion that we don't protect and serve all people of the city."
"Good. We know the Germans have committed some atrocities, but those are no less heinous than the acts taken on behalf of the British. It would be wrong to choose sides without weighing all the facts."
"Yes, sir. The Irish neighborhood I grew up in always prided itself on being a pillar of the surrounding community and contributing to the city's welfare as a whole."
[Final grunting.] "I think we understand each other, Tannehill, and, more importantly, what's best for the department."
"Yes, sir. I believe we do."
---
"Funny, I had a similar conversation with my employer. Except without the ham-handed attempt at propaganda." Spinoza stabbed at his scrambled eggs and salted them a bit more before shoveling in another fork full.
Tannehill hill looked dolefully up from his egg sandwich. "Is there something wrong with wanting to represent all people of the city in an equitable and compassionate fashion?"
"That reminds me. How's the investigation into the Chinatown arsonist going? Is the department any closer to determining it was an accident due to multiple malfunctioning fireworks that exploded simultaneously throughout the quarter as part of a tragic Chinese New Year mishap?" Small bits of scrambled egg plastered the table between them as Spinoza spoke.
"Chinese New Year is in February."
"Ohhhh. Well then, obviously CCPD wouldn't miss a historical detail like that when filing away an investigation. It's probably just the Chinese celebrating our New Year a few weeks early. Or maybe Santa's sleigh malfunctioned during a test run."
Tannehill sighed and let the rebuttal pass without further comment. "My desire to join the army or not may be a moot point now since Washington's instituted a draft."
"You're a public servant vital to the city's interest in law and order. That probably knocks you down lower in the draft order."
"That only means that we're in Class II of the draft."
"And you don't think the brass of your department is going to take care of their Golden Boy?"
"The department may be understaffed and perpetually starved for good publicity, but I'm not that important. If I go under, I'm sure they'll be able to make an equal case for any distinguished member of our canine unit in a pinch. Anyway, you said that you had a similar conversation?"
"I'm not going."
"That's not much of a conversation. Why?"
"Russia isn't exactly a friend to the Jewish people. British policy doesn't align well with our interests either."
"My employers made a case along similar lines, even if the reasoning was a bit more veiled than your take."
"I'm assuming not for the same reasons as mine."
"Your assumption is likely correct."
"So," Spinoza for all of his intellectual ability, had the vicious habit of talking with his mouth full, "what happens if you're drafted?"
Tannehill shrugged, "I go and pray I don't get stuck in a trench. What about you?"
"If you can't fight city hall, then you certainly can't fight the city hall of city halls. I don't think Washington's going to give a damn about my views, and I don't know that I have the fortitude to register as a conscientious objector."
"Look at us, a couple of coffee house ideologues caught up in patriotic fervor. How can we not be future war heroes?"
Spinoza finished his last bite of scrambled egg in agreement and signaled for the check.
[Author's Note: This week's edition was 994 words for a running total of 13149 words in the story. I actually had to throw out the first half of my work this week after doing research on American sentiment for WWI. No department run by staunch Irish nationalists would support entering a war on the side of Britain without strong justification or influence. I did learn quite a bit about American points of view leading up to WWI. Much of the populace was actually against the war for a variety of - generally thoughtful - causes. It was simply the political will of Woodrow Wilson that eventually aligned the country's interests to support the war.]
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