 Why does Joe call Citizen Temple-Tracy Chief?
A gun is an interesting weapon; it can be hired, of course, and naturally doesn't care who hires it. Something much the same can be said of the gunman, too.... The evening was dark, it was unlikely that the other even saw the circle of steel that was the mouth of the shotgun barrel, now resting on the car's window ledge. Reston-Farrell, the one Joe had already met, was tall and drawn of face and with a chainsmoker's nervousness. Joe Prantera's irritation over this whole complicated mess was growing. Joe snapped: "Everything you guys say sounds crazy. What I wanta know is what's all this about me giving it ta somebody?
 Joe wants Temple-Tracy to know Joe regards him as superior.
 Temple-Tracy is the Chief of Police.  Temple-Tracy is the head of the Fire Department.  Temple-Tracy is the head of the Time Travel Bureau.  Joe wants Temple-Tracy to know Joe regards him as superior.