The Mayor has been watching these two officers closely for a long time. He knows their particular dispositions well. If there had been a pre-game interview conducted before this meeting, Reeves Olinger would have predicted that O'Brien would be unimpressed and disagreeable and Archer unhesitating and dutiful. Because he expected this, he is not particularly ruffled by O'Brien's anger. He understands that this is not ideal. There is usually quite a bit of ceremony to these things. He thinks bagpipes might be involved at some point. The cops love their traditions. So he came into this meeting expecting to swear Archer Avery in as Chief of Police, because he can at least do that.
When Archer stands, so does the Mayor. He nods in response to Archer's question, digging into his pocket to produce a crumpled and folded piece of paper. There is a small typed paragraph at the top of the page, and the rest is covered in hand-written scribbles and notes. The Mayor smooths it out, adjusts his glasses on his nose, and then begins.
"Archer Avery," Olinger says, "you have been chosen by virtue of your background, your training and your discipline to serve as Police Chief to the City of Austin. Your duties now go far beyond simply preventing crimes at the existing safe houses and in the city as a whole. As Chief you are responsible for the planning, organization, and overall administration of your department as directed by the Mayor and Council. It is your job to ensure that the department remains on task at all times and that it continues to operate in a safe and professional manner. You must establish direction, maintain order, and motivate others. You will be responsible not only for the management of your department, but for the safety of thousands within this city. Without you and your department, Austin will fall to violence and mayhem. The job of the Police Chief is intense, its demands are extreme, and it will require your full attention every hour of every day. Your duty will be great, but the honor in accepting it is even greater still."
The Mayor looks up from his page of scattered notes, meeting Archer's stoic gaze and then lifting his right hand. "Please repeat after me," he instructs.