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nodded. She was getting used to the woman’s questioning voice.
    â€œDon’t you think it makes women police officers’ jobs harder than they should be? I’m talking to you as an old girl.
    You must agree that we need to hang together and help each other? That’s why I’m filling you in. You’ll need to recognize and avoid landmines.”
    Rhona grinned. “Sounds good—I’m all ears.”
    â€œFirst, you’ll want to know about the boss? Frank is forty-three, and divorced. He’s a university science grad and gung ho about technology—wants us to be Canada’s most up-to-date police force. Don’t tell him you have a hunch or a feeling about anything. It’s all science and high tech with him.”
    Zee Zee sipped her drink. “Now you’ll want to hear the interesting stuff that isn’t in the records? It explains his fixations. His wife, a high-powered financial analyst, left him four years ago. No kids, so it should have been okay, but it wasn’t. Bet you can’t guess why?”
    Rhona, who had gobbled her salad and still felt hungry, shook her head.
    Zee Zee spooned up several mouthfuls of soup and munched a bite of sandwich. “No guesses?”
    â€œNo—tell me.”
    â€œHis wife left without warning, at least that’s what Frank says. Didn’t she prop a note on the kitchen counter informing him she’d moved to Calgary? That would have been shocking, but okay, except she crated his dog, Bailey, and took him with her. Frank loved that dog. Did his wife know that and figure he wouldn’t risk looking silly going to court to get the dog back? Probably, and it broke his heart. Hadn’t he taken him to classes for obedience, retrieving and who knows what else, and entered him in field trial competitions? The dog’s a retriever, and they do that.” She smiled. “Believe me, being Ethiopian, I know zippo about dogs. But didn’t Frank bore the hell out of us by giving every detail of his trials, tribulations and triumphs as he trained Bailey?”
    â€œI sympathize. I have a cat, Opie. She’s an overweight, neurotic pain in the butt, but I’d sure miss her. “
    â€œHe kept Bailey’s photo on his desk for ages.”
    â€œSo I shouldn’t talk about dogs?”
    â€œOr about older guys who live with young girls.”
    â€œHow young?”
    â€œNot jail bait—he is a police officer. Twenty-somethings.
    Blondes with start-up jobs and...”
    â€œHow do you know this?”
    â€œIsn’t my mother’s best friend his cleaning lady? If you think cleaning women don’t know what’s going on, think again. Wouldn’t we be smart to use them as undercover officers? Anyway, she says a young woman moves in and establishes herself as if she figures she’s there for the long haul. She puts her health foods and vitamins in the kitchen, leaves her birth control pills in the bathroom and her yoga mat in the bedroom. Then, six months later, isn’t she gone? Soon a new one, a clone of her predecessor, moves in.”
    â€œWeird.”
    â€œIsn’t it? Who knows why he lives that way? Is he a misogynist? I suspect he is. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have any use for women police officers, although he’s careful about what he says.”
    â€œTerrific. How do you cope?”
    â€œMostly, ignore his innuendos. Early on, didn’t I let it be known that I’m prepared to file a grievance if I have cause? Does he want a black woman grieving? I don’t think so. But, to be fair, results count for Frank. He would never permit his personal feelings to jeopardize a case’s outcome.” She shook her head. “Never.” She pointed at Rhona’s tray then at her own pie. “He’s nuts about keeping fit and eating right. Whatever he’s doing agrees with him. Isn’t he a handsome guy, with that mop of brown