"Boss, we have a problem" I said following her into her office.

"Not before I get some coffee, John," she said.

"Sorry, Captain," I said. "But I'm not sure how long it can wait."

"Sounds serious," she said hanging her pocketbook on a coat rack. "What's up?"

"Do you know a deputy chief by the name of Ruck?"

"Sure," she said. "Archer Ruck in PR and media affairs. Why?"

"Bello and Green caught a homicide last night," I said and went on to tell how I saw Ruck and Drake in a heated discussion just a short while before Drake was found shot to death.

"Are you positive it was Chief Ruck you saw?" she asked when I finished.

"I wasn't sure until I checked the department's directory and saw his mug shot," I said. "It was him for sure."

"Stay," she said and punched in a number on her phone. "Arch, it's Molly McGuire at the 2-7 ," she said. "You are on speaker phone with me and my lead detective, John Collins. Can you come over here now, please?"

"Hi Molly," his voice said over the speaker. "I'm cover up this morning but I may be able to get away this afternoon."

"No, Arch," she said. "Alan Ruck was shot and killed last night on Washington and you were seen with him just minutes before that. Come directly here, please."

"Who?" the voice said. "I don't know him. You are mistaken, Molly."

"Chief Ruck, this is John Collins," I said leaning down toward the phone. "I am the one who saw you with Ruck. Would you prefer I come to headquarters?"

"You don't want Detective Collins to come get you, Arch," the chief said. "It's about a twenty minute drive so I'll expect you then. Goodbye, Arch."

He did arrive but it was closer to an hour and he did not come alone. He brought his attorney with him. I thought that was either very smart or downright stupid of him. Neither he or his lawyer liked the fact I put them in an interview room.

"You better have a damned good reason for this shoddy treatment," the lawyer said. His name was Roland Howell, a high dollar mouth-piece.

"Chief Ruck," I said ignoring the lawyer. "Tell me about your relationship with Alan Drake."

"Do not answer that," Howell snapped.

"Oh hush, Roland," the deputy chief said. "The detective saw me talking to Alan last night so he knows I know...knew Alan. I've known Alan Drake for a couple of years, Detective," the deputy chief said. "We were not close but I did know him."

"It seemed to me that you were arguing last night," I said.

"Is there a question coming, Detective?" the lawyer said.

"Yes, there is," I said. "What were your arguing about, Chief?"

"Don't answer that, Archer," the lawyer said. "He's fishing. Is my client being charged with a crime, Detective?" Before I could reply the door opened and Captain McGuire came in.

"Arch, do you want to be treated as a deputy chief of police or a common suspect?" she said taking a seat beside me at the table. "Bringing your attorney with you doesn't look good, I must say. Why do you think you need one?"

"He is entitled to..." Howell started to say.

"Shut-up, Roland," Captain McGuire said without looking at him. "So far, Archer, we have kept this informal but that can change. Do you want the other brass to know you are a person of interest in a murder case?"

"Molly, I admit I knew Alan Drake," he said beginning to sweat. "I had nothing to do with his death."

"Then cooperate with Detective Collins and let us get to the bottom of it," she said. "Hiding behind a lawyer will not look good, Arch."

"Yes, I had a meeting with Drake last night," the deputy chief said. "Yes, we argued. We parted company right outside the bar. Alan went one way and I went another."

"What time was that?" I asked knowing the answer.

"I don't know exactly," he said. "About eight-thirty I guess. I was home about nine o'clock."

"Can anyone verify that?" I asked him.

"No, I live alone."

"What was the heated discussion about, Chief?" I asked.

"There were some building permits that Alan thought I should be able to help him get approved. I explained over and over again how I had no say in any of that. Alan didn't want to take no for an answer."

"Had you helped him before, getting approval?" I asked.

"That's it! I have to stop this line of questions," Roland Howell said jumping to his feet. "No more questions so charge my client or release him."