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departments aren’t the Los Angeles Police Department,” he said.  “They don’t have the pride or tradition of being the best police department in the country. And with the way things are going today, I’m thankful to have a job.”
    “Oh, don’t get me wrong,” she said.  “I’m proud to be an L.A. cop, but other agencies don’t get beat up by the press every other day like we do. I just want you to know it’s not the same department you left.”
    They held their conversation as their food arrived.
    Mac reached for the ketchup.  “The Rampart Scandal and the May Day incident were certainly a black eye for the department, but we’re still the best police department in the country.  And I don’t care if my views are popular, or not.  One of the things I learned while I was gone was I had to be true to myself and my beliefs.”  He took a bite of his burger.  “So tell me about our Captain.  What’s his name?  Kincaid?”
    Jade’s heart lurched.  Why would Mac be asking about the Captain?  Did he know something?  “What do you mean?” she asked.
    He wiped his mouth with his napkin.  “With all my time in the department, I’ve never heard of him,” Mac said easily.  “Is he a hard-ass or what?”
    Jade sighed and tried to force herself to keep her face neutral.  If Mac only knew.
    “What?  Is he tough?”
    Jade thought about how she should answer.  Certainly not with the truth.  “I haven’t had much contact with him.  I’ve heard from some of the other guys he did most of his early career in the south end of town.  Then he made sergeant and went to Metro Division.  Couple of years later he was in charge of SWAT.”
    “So why the look?”
    “What look,” she asked.
    “You got a funny look on your face when I asked about the captain.”
    She shrugged.  “I didn’t know I did.  Maybe I hiccupped or something.”  His eyes told her he knew she was lying, but that was her story and she was sticking to it.  Purposely looking at her watch, she said, “We’d better get back out there.”
    The radio traffic was fairly slow, with traffic collisions being the majority of calls assigned.
    The windshield wipers slapped a steady rhythm while sluicing water off the glass.  Jade drove the car slowly down a major boulevard.
    “How do you like being a training officer?” Mac asked.
    Jade smiled.  “I like it a lot.  It’s best when I get a good probationer and I don’t have to tell them what to do every second.  Like you, you’re easy.”
    Mac snapped his fingers and gave her a big grin.  “Darn.  I was hoping that particular secret wouldn’t get out so soon.  You aren’t going to write my name on the wall in the ladies locker room, are you?”
    A warmth rose in Jade’s cheeks as her mind immediately returned to her memories of the night Donnie was conceived.  Thank goodness he couldn’t read her thoughts.
    “Since you’re blushing, does it mean you’ve already written my name in the ladies room?” he asked, his eyes wide and teasing.
    “Of course not,” she replied, “and you know that isn’t what I meant.”
    Mac twisted in his seat to take a second look at something outside a convenience store.  Jade looked too.  Seeing a teenage group just hanging out, he turned his attention back to her.
    “So how did you manage to keep from getting hitched in the last five years?” he asked.
    Jade snorted.  “Who’s got time?  Between work and D-,” she cut herself off.  Donnie was none of his business.  “I don’t have the time or desire to date.”
    A light on the computer indicated they had a message.  Mac pushed a button and information appeared on the screen.
    “We’re being called to the Watch Commander’s office.  They have a rape victim requesting to speak to a female officer, and you’re the only female in the division available.”
    Jade turned the car toward the station while Mac typed back to the station that they were on their way.
    With