Wagner's gaze drifted involuntarily out the window, toward the City Hall building across the street.
"So."
Leo spread his hands.
"Since it's not your fault, and it's not my fault, why are we making things difficult for each other here?"
"Why don't we toss this hot potato to the person who's actually responsible?"
Wagner put down his bottle of water.
"You mean..."
"Procedure."
Leo uttered the word.
"Isn't procedure the essence of any bureaucratic system?"
"Since the City Council demands that every budget item undergo strict approval, and since they claim to be responsible to the taxpayers."
"Then let's give them the chance to approve something."
Leo stood up, walked to the door, and beckoned to someone outside.
Ethan Hawke walked in with ten young interns.
Each of them was holding a laptop.
"Steve, I've loaned these people to you from the Mayor's Office."
"They've all been professionally trained in writing administrative documents."
