Norm laughed. “That sounds about right. She’s a superstar. I was surprised the mayor didn’t want her for the deputy chief’s job.”

“She did. Sam wanted nothing to do with it, said she’d quit if that was the only job she was allowed to do.”

“If that don’t beat all,” he said, laughing. “She’s a firecracker, that one.”

“She certainly is, and she’s damned good at what she does. Joe and I both felt it’d be a crying shame to move her from Homicide, even if we worry about her raised profile.”

“Does she have a detail?”

“Two agents.”

“Well, that’s something, anyway, but I agree it’s a worry.”

“Add supervising the nation’s first lady to the things they never taught me at the academy.”

Norm laughed again. “That must come with some unique challenges.”

“You’d be surprised. On the job, it honestly feels like nothing has changed, when everything has changed for her and Nick. Or I guess I should refer to him as Mr. President.”

“What would he want you to call him?”

“Nick. He’s very down-to-earth and unaffected by it all. I admire the way they’ve both handled this extraordinary situation.”

“I loved his State of the Union speech. What a refreshing approach he’s taking.”

“For sure. I don’t blame him for wanting to skip all the campaigning to be home with his kids. Time goes by in a blink, and their son, Scotty, is already fourteen. He’ll be off to college in no time.”

“Our president has got his priorities straight. He’ll never regret that.”

“No, he won’t. Well, I won’t take any more of your time, Norm. It’s been great to see you and catch up.”

“I’m always here if I can help with anything.”

Jake shook his hand at the door. “I appreciate that, my friend.” When he was back on the road to home, he called Joe.

“What’s up?” Joe asked.

“I just left Norm’s place. He says Rosa was in New Orleans the last time he talked to him a couple of years ago. I was thinking I might take a quick trip and see if I can track him down.”

“That sounds like a good plan.”

“What’s new there? Any word from Internal Affairs?”

“Just that they’re thoroughly reviewing the body cam footage from the incident and hope to have a determination in the next few days.”

“I guess it was too much to hope they’d move it along.”

“You want them to be thorough. You and I both know this was a clean shot. Let them come to that determination in the time it takes.”

“That’s so much easier to do when it’s someone else twisting in the wind.”

Joe’s bark of laughter drew a laugh from Jake, too. “I still can’t believe this is your first suspension.”

“I was the well-behaved one of our trio, and look at where that got me—a lowly captain while you guys were chief and deputy chief.”

“I’m sorry if McBride’s promotion was a bitter pill for you, Jake. Monique was adamant that she wanted a woman.”