Hey, y'all! I know, I know, I have several other stories, BUT! BUT, I thought you might enjoy this anyway. Am way ahead, and more or less know where it's going so everything should be kosher, so here you go!

Lots of old slang, so for any of you curious peeps out there, translation-esque stuff is at the bottom.

Read on!

On the busy streets of Boston, a lone female figure deftly wound through the crowds of twenty-somethings out for a night on the town. In their fashionable fur coats and snappy clothes, the throngs of festive young people smoked with abandon, calling out to each other and waving down cabs to take them to their destinations. The woman, however, ignored the loud exultations around her as she silently wandered down a slightly less busy side street. She pulled her fedora lower over her brow and stuck her hands in the pockets of her high waisted pants, feeling the pull of her suspenders on her shoulders. She whistled a jaunty tune as she crossed the street and walked through the door of a hole-in-the-wall diner.

She tipped her hat at the man behind the counter and walked into a phone booth on the far wall. She rung in a number and tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for an answer, growling, "It's me, Frost."

She hung up and, a few seconds later, the backside of the phone booth swung open. She slipped through the hidden door quickly, walked down the few steps into the hidden room and turned in time to see her friend launch himself at her. "The hell is wrong with you tonight? You're acting like some Bull is going to waltz in and slap some bracelets on you."

"Jane…Jane." Frost set his hands on Jane's shoulders and stared at her seriously. "Don't you know?"

"Know what? Quit chewing gum and level with me!"

Frost's smile lit up his face and he rocked excitedly in place. "Korsak finally found a seller! They're supposed to be coming by before open to talk about supplying us!"

Jane's eyes widened and she grabbed Frost's elbow. "You're joking."

"Serious as a fire extinguisher on a first date, I swear it on my mama's grave."

"Your mama is still alive, Frost. I just spoke to her a week ago."

Frost chuckled as he swept his arm out and led Jane toward the back of the speakeasy where several men were wiping down the bar and taking chairs off tables. "So, where is the old man?"

"Out back, waiting for them to arrive. We should probably be there, too; better to give a show to any bootleggers. Especially these types; he says they're serious. Irish mafia." Frost tugged Jane through the hidden exit behind the kitchen and down some steep steps to the alley out back. They found Korsak pacing anxiously around some dirty puddles with a contemplative frown on his face and his cap stuffed in his back pocket.

"Hey, old man."

"Janie?" Korsak whirled on his heel and his hangdog expression morphed into one of surprise and happiness as he gathered Jane into a massive hug. "How are you doing? Thought you swore never to come back?"

"Yeah, well…" Jane shrugged blithely as she kicked a pebble at her feet. "Not like I can leave you; you're the only pop I've got, right?" Korsak's blue eyes misted with tears as he smiled and squeezed Jane's shoulders again.

At the end of the alley, lights from a car appeared and stopped to let its occupants exit the vehicle. The headlights blinded Jane to the identity of the four people approaching them; the quiet idling of the car likewise muffled their steps as they walked across the cobblestones. Jane subtly edged in front of Frost and narrowed her eyes at the people. She watched Korsak from the corner of her eye as he stepped out in front of them and held out his hand toward the person in front, whose features gradually became recognizable as male. The other three stopped just far enough away for Jane to not be able to distinguish any features, to her annoyance, and she kept a wary eye on them as she watched Korsak's back.

"Mister Doyle, it's a pleasure. I'm Vince Korsak."

"Call me Paddy, Vince. And these two are…" Paddy gestured at Jane and Frost with a lifted eyebrow.

Korsak tugged Jane forward by her arm and she lifted her chin boldly. "Jane and Frost, two of my employees."

"Are they reliable?"

"We know better than to beat our gums to any passing Jane, if that's what you're asking," Jane interjected. She caught Paddy's eyes and stared at him until a wry smile quirked one side of his mouth; her hackles lifted as he chuckled and gestured at the three at his back.

"My associates. You'll be dealing with them if our business continues. Susie Chang." A petite woman with Asian features stepped forward and adjusted her glasses perched on her nose. Her other hand was stuffed in the pocket of her jacket as she shuffled in place.

"Kent Drake." A tall man with a well trimmed beard and dark eyes flashing beneath his newsboy cap ducked his head at them as he casually pulled a kerchief from within a pocket inside his coat, briefly showing a small pistol tucked into a shoulder holster.

"Maura Isles." The affection in his voice was subtle, but Paddy's face betrayed nothing as the last person stepped forward.

Smaller and nonthreatening looking, with hair the color of spun gold gathered in an elegant twist at the back of her head, she stepped up next to Paddy and smiled. Her hazel eyes glinted in the twilight as she extended her hand to Korsak and a dimple popped in her cheek. "A pleasure, I'm sure."

Paddy jerked his head at the other two, who walked through the back door past Jane and Frost. "If we're to do business, I'll need insurance my goods won't be 'misplaced.'" Jane's face contorted with righteous anger; she took a step toward Paddy and found her movement arrested as Frost grabbed her arm. Before her, Maura's hand darted toward the pocket of her coat and Paddy held out his arm. "Now, there's no need for this to devolve into violence so soon. I assure you, Jane, my intentions are purely to ascertain the viability of this business venture."

His smooth tones grated on Jane but she grudgingly stepped back as Frost pulled insistently on her arm again and Korsak shot her a sharp look. Korsak gestured at the back door as he smiled faintly. "Why don't we go in? I can give you a tour, show you the way in and out."

"Of course."

Korsak led them into the kitchen. Paddy spared a glance at the cooks working there as they walked into the barroom and found Susie skulking behind the bar as Kent interrogated a hapless barmaid. Korsak walked Paddy toward the stairs that led to the hidden entrance as Jane strode over to save the panicked looking barmaid. "Victoria has work to do, thanks. No time to beat her gums with a harp."

She smirked cruelly at Kent as she steered the woman toward the kitchen and turned just in time to avoid running into Maura, who was standing silently behind her with an inscrutable expression on her face. "You don't help your case at all," she stated bluntly.

Jane sighed and stuck a hand in her pocket. She played with the strap of her suspenders with her other hand as she let her head fall back to study the tin ceiling. "Listen up, lady, we've got an hour until the first Joe comes down those stairs, and I haven't even got the liquor on the shelf yet. So excuse me if I'm short with you."

She brushed past Maura and bent down behind the bar for the liquor stashed beneath a loose floorboard. As she set the bottles on the bar top, she heard footsteps stop next to her. She ignored them, knowing if it was someone who worked there they would talk to her. They cleared their voice and Jane continued ignoring them, deliberately taking her time rooting around for the short bottles of homemade liquor that were brought in occasionally.

"I don't appreciate being ignored."

"And I don't appreciate being harassed by mafia, so I guess we're both out of luck, aren't we?" Jane leaned against the bar and crossed her arms as she stared at Maura, whose eyes were narrowed in irritation.

She took a step into Jane's personal space, visibly frustrated by the few inches of height Jane had on her that forced her to look up into her face. "Are your ears not functioning properly, you-"

"Aw, is the poor little Bunny getting mad?" Jane mocked Maura with a smirk twisting her lips. Maura's eyes darkened as she snarled and stepped up toe to toe with Jane and wrapped her fingers around her collar. Jane's fingers dug into her biceps as she forced herself to remain immobile and only smirked wider down at Maura, who looked ready to shove her into the bottles on the bar top.

She leaned in until they were almost nose to nose and husked, "Did that get you good and riled, Bunny?" Maura's fist trembled against her shirt as she pushed Jane hard into the bar, and Jane bit back a wince as the edge of the bar top bit into the small of her back.

"Maura." Maura reluctantly disengaged at Paddy's sharp tone and stepped away, although she kept her eyes steadily on Jane's as she backed away. "We're going now. Get the other two and go to the car."

"Of course." Maura took a couple more steps back and jerked her head away when Kent called for her. She stepped just before turning away and caught Jane's eyes again. "It was…just Jake to meet you, Jane."

"Wish I could say the same, Maura. Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Jane lazily picked up a bottle and saluted at Maura, whose features had gone pink with suppressed fury, and pointedly turned away from her to start stocking the shelf behind the bar. Once Maura's footsteps faded, she let out a shaky breath and let the knot between her shoulders ease, feeling a headache begin to tap behind her eyes.

Her gaze swept across the room and paused on Korsak and Paddy, bent over a table and some papers scattered across it. Paddy's grey eyes were watching her with something lighting them from within that made Jane tense up again, and she made herself turn her back on the man. A few minutes later, someone rapped their knuckles on the bar and she turned to find Paddy leaning against it with a faint smile tipping his lips up.

"What's your poison?"

"What's your best whiskey?"

"Got some top shelf left from the last shipment before our rum runner got pinched."

Paddy nodded and Jane poured him two fingers in a glass. He swirled the alcohol around slowly and took a small sip, humming appreciatively. "Better than most."

"Best we've gotten since this whole business started," Jane said.

"That so?"

"Yeah, usually we can only find panther piss that isn't fit to clean a cut with, let alone drink." She shrugged and set the bottle back on the shelf behind her. "But, hey, those high hats want to ruin themselves. Who am I to tell them no, I get paid regardless."

Paddy snorted into his glass and tipped the remnants into his mouth with a happy smack of his lips. "That's a rather pragmatic way to look at it."

"I'd rather that than be idealistic."

Paddy stared into the empty glass for a moment and set it solidly on the bar top, then dragged his palm across the varnish. "You know, I like you, Jane. You're quite the bearcat, I'll give you that, and that's rare to find in a skirt. You don't take crap from anyone, even me, and that's rarer." His eyes flicked up to Jane's, flat grey and impossible to read. "Careful that spunk doesn't get you into trouble someday though. It'd be a shame to see that smile mirrored on your neck on account of loose tempers."

"Is that a threat?"

"A warning. I don't make a habit of threatening people I'm working with unless they need it, and you don't yet." Paddy straightened up and set his hat on his head. He tipped the bill at Jane. "Keep your eyes open, Bearcat, and your claws sharp. Have a good night."

He left without another word, leaving Jane staring in befuddlement until the tails of his coat had disappeared. She startled when Korsak slapped her on the shoulder and rocked on her feet from the force of it. "What, old man?"

"We got it, Janie!"

"Got?" Jane blinked incomprehensibly, then grinned broadly and launched herself across the bar. "Really?! That's just…that's just great!"

"Yep, Paddy said he would supply us for a thirty percent cut, and he said he can get us top shelf liquor, too."

"Which will bring in more swanky customers-"

"And more money."

They smiled widely at each other until Frost appeared from the kitchen with sweat beading on his brow. "So, is anyone else nervous about dealing with Maura Isles for the foreseeable future? Because she just raked up one side of me and down the other, and I didn't even do anything!"

"We're what!"

"I can't believe you thought this was a good – no, you know what, this totally makes sense! You told Paddy we would work with that – that – that woman-"

"Oooh, good comeback, Jane."

"Pipe down, Frost," Jane barked irately. "I'm trying to be mad at the old man, who thought it was a good idea to agree to let her in here with us."

She glared at Korsak, who just sighed and rubbed his face tiredly. "Jane. It was either I agree to Maura being the courier, or we would have to find another supplier."

Jane crossed her arms petulantly but didn't say anything else. Her jaw flexed as she ground her teeth and ignored the quiet murmur of the crowd in the bar. She pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers and shook her head. "Fine. Whatever. I can deal with it, but I swear, the first time she tries anything-"

"You'll what, Jane? Give her the bum's rush?"

"If that's what it comes to, yes!"

"She's the underboss to Paddy Doyle, who leads one of the most notorious mobs in Boston. If you lay a hand on her, it had better be to walk her out the door, and not anything else. Do you understand me?"

Jane stubbornly kept quiet, staring at the wall between Korsak and Frost, and stiffened when Korsak set his hand on her arm. "Jane, I'm just trying to keep us afloat. You know that, right? If I could…"

She softened slightly at his tone, sucked in a deep breath, and let the tension seep out of her on a sigh. "I know, old man." She looked at Frost apologetically. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"Hey, it's fine. Family sticks together, right? Even if one of them is being a Dumb Dora." He smiled at Jane's over-exaggerated expression of betrayal and pulled her into a hug. "Just don't go getting yourself killed by any pretty girls packing heaters, yeah?"

"Yeah." She sunk into his warm hug and patted him on the back. "Suppose I should get back behind the bar; that boy doesn't know Jack about mixing drinks."

"Maybe if you'd let him do it more, he'd learn!" Korsak yelled at her back, rolling his eyes fondly when she just waved and walked through the door.

Frost nudged him and pulled him closer to the back door, away from the ears of the cooks in the kitchen with them. "Do you think it'll last?"

"I do, yes. What's the matter?"

"I just…the Doyle's have a reputation." Frost's expression darkened. "They really have a stellar past in customer service."

"We don't have many options, Frost. I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to, but if I shut the bar down…"

"You know we could all get other, legal jobs, right?"

"The others? Sure, they could all get other jobs, but you and Jane?" Korsak snorted. "Can you even picture Jane behind a desk as a stenographer or typist? Or maybe working behind the counter in some store like C.F. Hovey Company?" They both shook their heads in amusement. "Not many people are willing to hire on colored folk for a fair wage, either."

"I could make it," Frost insisted. "I did for years before you found me."

"I know that, and I also remember the bag of bones you were. Shining shoes, sweeping trash, working the factory line? If putting our welfare in the hands of the Doyle Family keeps you two safe and provided for, I'll do it every time." Korsak squeezed Frost's shoulder and sent him back out front with a gentle push.

He walked out a few minutes later to find the bar jammed with men waiting for their drinks. Jane and Victoria were busy pouring drinks and taking money off the bar top, working effortlessly together as their attention split between the drinks they were pouring and the orders being told to them. On the floor, Frost and another man were making the rounds to the half dozen tables crammed against one wall, taking drink and food orders in scratchy shorthand from the men and few women scattered through the crowd. The small room seemed filled to burst with just a few dozen people closely pressed together between the bar and the tables, and a small area near the stairs was mostly empty but for a piano nestled into a corner and a few stringed instruments leaned against the wall behind it.

He nodded to himself and retreated back into the kitchen, helping the cooks with the orders and losing himself in the familiar motions until he heard the murmur in the other room suddenly die off. He wiped his hands off and stuck his head through the door to find nearly every head turned toward the piano. A giddy, disbelieving smile swept across his face as he took a step through the door just as the first low tones of the piano reached his ears. Above the heads of the patrons, he could just see Jane's curly hair bent low over the piano. She swayed lightly to the melody she was coaxing from the keys, eyes shut as her fingers seemed to dance across the ivory teeth and her feet filled out the sound on the pedals.

The nameless tune gradually morphed into something recognizable and Frost stepped up beside her, singing the familiar words in his pleasant voice and drawing appreciative applause from the men in the bar. Jane seamlessly started another piece after the first and Frost launched into a faster paced, jazzier song that drew pairs of dancers onto the tiny floor. The couples whirled energetically, dizzyingly displaying their familiarity with the movements and rhythm of the song as the music drew to a crescendo. As the final chords died on the air and Frost wiped at his brow with his kerchief, a great round of applause went up from the bar-goers. Korsak walked across to Jane and pulled her to her feet, presenting her proudly to another raucous round of applause. She blushed and glanced down and away, staying in place only by Korsak's supportive hand on her wrist and Frost's manic beaming grin.

As the people settled once again in their chairs, Frost clapped his hand on Jane's shoulder and shoved her. "I thought you'd given up tickling those ivories for good, Jane!"

"It just…felt right, I guess." Jane shrugged shyly and looked up at Korsak through her eyelashes. "I'd better get back behind the bar, old man."

"You did good, Janie." The proud grin Korsak shot at Jane brought tears to her eyes that she brusquely brushed away and laughed off. She swept back behind the bar and started filling drinks immediately, fending off playful and insistent clamors for her attention with the ease of a professional.

As she sent a tumbler of vodka across the bar and swiped the money off the counter, her eye was caught by the glint of light off metal. The ring was slim and simple with a blue stone set into the casing; a few diamonds were set into the ring on either side of the blue stone and drew the eye but didn't overwhelm it, and she casually studied the hand the ring decorated. Long, tapered fingers dotted with small scars drew her eyes to a slim wrist and to the cuff of a well tailored jacket.

"I didn't realize you played, Jane."

Jane's good mood evaporated immediately and her polite smile sank into an irritated frown. "Maura Isles. I thought you had gone back to your warren with your associates." The reference to Jane's new nickname for her made Maura's eyes narrow, but she otherwise didn't react to the dig.

"I decided to bring the shipment early rather than wait for Monday night." She studied her nails and glanced askance at Jane. "The customer service seems to be lacking. As a patron, I would have assumed my drink would have been delivered by now."

Jane's scowl deepened as she gestured at the bottles behind her. "You haven't ordered anything yet. Pick your poison."

Maura tapped her lips thoughtfully as she studied the bottles. "Do you have any red wine?"

"A few bottles under the bar; it's not exactly popular with our usual customers." Jane gestured at the gently swaying men lining the bar on either side of Maura.

"I'll take a Dubonnet Cocktail, then. If you think you're up to it?"

Jane scoffed as she pulled an unopened bottle of red out from beneath the bar and blindly reached for a tall, fat bottle of gin. She mixed them together and offered the glass to Maura, who kept steady eye contact as she swirled the liquor and took a small sip. Her eyebrows lifted and she hummed before taking another sip. "Better than most I've had."

Jane's lips quirked into a smirk. She leaned on the bar after making sure no one immediately needed her attention. "Only better than most? That's genuine Vermouth bought off a dealer who had a few dozen bottles left in his cellar and the best gin we could get our hands on."

Maura peered through the glass and took another sip. "I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree, then."

As she drank, she watched Jane fidget for a moment before pulling a shot glass out and pouring some unidentifiable clear liquid into it. She threw it back and winced, then poured another shot in a clean glass and set it in front of Maura. "On the house, for the new…business, you're bringing us." She skittered further down the bar to deal with a loud group of men who were overwhelming Victoria.

Maura watched her easily fend off their crude innuendoes and fill drinks without batting an eyelash with piqued interest, studying her fluid motions and the easy going, if somewhat vague smile that played about her lips. She finished her drink and surveyed the shot sitting before her for a long moment; the clear liquor gave her a distorted view of the scarred counter and seemed somehow more than a simple drink, but she put the thought to rest and took the shot with a faint grimace as she set the glass solidly on the bar. She turned in her seat and people watched until the speakeasy slowly began emptying and Jane came out from behind the bar to usher the stragglers out a few at a time.

Frost and the other waiter were wiping down tables and putting chairs up as Victoria pulled a broom out; the wordless synchrony was fascinating to observe as they effortlessly worked around each other, Victoria trailing behind the two men and sweeping as chairs went up while Korsak put the bottles behind the bar beneath the floorboard. Jane came back down the stairs with a crate in her arms and hefted it atop the bar. The contents rattled loudly in the welcome quiet and Maur felt the vibrations at the end she still occupied.

"Last of the last shipment," Jane said. She started pulling bottles and jars out for Korsak to take, removing corks and twist tops so he could check the contents before stocking them under the bar.

Maura got up to investigate, peering into the crate to find it full of bottles of bootleg liquor and glasses of all sizes. She pulled a tall, wide bottle out, squinting at the brown liquid within skeptically.

"Ah, you might not like that." Jane took the bottle by the neck and set it on the bar.

"It looks like whiskey."

"It is. It's from a guy who makes some of the most potent Brown you'll ever have, if you don't mind sacrificing your liver. That rotgut tastes like gasoline…pretty sure it's made with it, actually." Jane snorted and caught Korsak's eye as he scoffed at a bottle he was holding. "Remember that smarty that came in a few weeks ago?"

"Janie, I don't remember what I had for breakfast this morning," he deadpanned.

Jane quirked a smile that creased the corners of her eyes. "Tall, red dress under some fur coat. Blue eyes, brown hair in some fancy braided bun. Bit of a flour lover?"

Korsak snapped his fingers at the same time Frost's head popped up and he chortled merrily. "That skirt was making doe eyes at you all night! She spilled her drink on the bar when you smiled at her!" He fluttered his eyelashes mockingly and Jane chucked a washcloth at him, smirking as it smacked his chest and he clutched it playfully.

"She was bent, Frost, she couldn't even see me! Anyway, she walks in not long after we open and drapes herself across the bar, nearly flashing her bubs at me," Jane dramatically threw her upper body across the bar and propped her head on her fists, fluttering her eyelashes at Frost mockingly. "Ordered some whiskey and took that first shot like it was water. I think she regretted it once her eyes started watering though. Her eyes were streaming and I just – handed her a tissue before her liner ran."

"And then she wouldn't leave you alone," Frost added helpfully.

"Yes, Frost, we've covered that."

"No, I've mentioned it, you've been brushing it off!"

Maura's eyebrow lifted curiously as Jane flushed a little. "Brushing what off, exactly."

"Nothing."

"This fiery little girl, after a few shots, waltzes behind the bar and throws her arms around Jane's neck and says, 'you're so pretty, I just wanna kiss you,' and proceeds to lay one helluva smooch right on her lips!" Frost's expression was positively gleeful as he affected a tipsy falsetto and puckered his lips.

Maura huffed out a laugh as her eyes slid over to Jane. She froze at the dangerous look in her eyes, surprised at the heat that lit her eyes from within. "She was drunk, Frost, and you're off your nuts if you think anything else." She all but growled the words and the quiet sounds in the bar completely stopped at her tone.

Everyone's eyes went to her, studying the dark flush in her cheeks and the shadows in her eyes, and the room seemed to take a collective breath and hold it. Maura's eyes flicked from Jane to the others, wondering what was going on, when Jane grunted and stalked out from behind the bar, ignoring Frost's apologies and Korsak's pleas to come back. They all winced when something clattered to the ground in the kitchen and the door leading to the alley slammed pointedly.

Korsak glared at Frost, who held up his hands placatingly. "Hey, I was just yanking her chain. It was just a bit of fun."

"You know how she-"

"I didn't mean anything by it!"

"It doesn't matter!" Korsak sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. He started putting the bottles under the bar and motion slowly resumed in the bar. The subtle glances at Korsak's bent back and tension lingering on the air made the hair on Maura's neck lift as she stood and pulled at the sleeves of her jacket.

"I believe we should discuss particulars before I leave tonight, Vince."

"Of course. Frost, will you lock up?"

"Yeah. Listen, old man, I didn't-"

"Don't tell that to me, talk to Jane," he said sternly.

Frost ducked his head remorsefully and nodded. "I will. I'll go see her tomorrow, after morning services."

"Make sure you do."

After wishing everyone a good night, Korsak led Maura outside and pulled her to a stop in the alley in front of her car. "Vince," Maura started briskly, "I understand that Paddy discussed with you the terms of our arrangement?"

"Yes; you supply the liquor, we repay you with thirty percent of the profits."

"I'll level with you, then. I believe you to be an honest man, but you understand that we can't be left holding the bag if the deal is reneged upon."

Korsak's expression spoke of his surprise and he waved his hands frantically. "I wouldn't ever-"

"I believe you, but Paddy is…wary. Put simply, he's been burned before, so in recent transactions, he's posted some…muscle in places that he's dealt with, just in case." Maura lowered her voice and leaned in. "I don't want you to be alarmed if a few unsavory looking characters show up and plant themselves in the corner of the room for the night in the near future."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I feel that he's making a mistake. Not with the others, not all of them, but there are some who are honest businesspeople who don't deserve the intimidation." A dark look flashed across Maura's face as she pulled back; the hand brushing over the fabric concealing her weapon clued Korsak into her thoughts.

"Others…" They lapsed into silence that was broken by the rush of traffic, heavy on a Friday evening, and the occasional burst of laughter from the near street.

"The first cases will arrive Monday, right?"

"Yes. We've already given your order to the correct suppliers, we'll have the bottles by Sunday night and I'll deliver them Monday evening."

"You…"

"I will be your normal courier. Unless something happens, you can expect to see me every week to drop off the cases. I will do everything I can to let you know ahead of time when I will be by. And if you need something else delivered, you know the proper channels to go through to contact myself or Paddy."

Korsak nodded and rubbed his jaw, eyes staring past Maura contemplatively. She let him think for a moment and shuffled backwards towards her car. "If there's nothing else?"

"Oh, I'm just – one thing." Korsak's lips pursed and a crease appeared between his eyes. "I know things between you and Jane aren't exactly copacetic."

"They don't have to be; I am only-"

"I know, it's just – she's a tough girl, my Janie. She's had to be. All I'm saying is…don't let your first impression of you be your only one. I know she's got a smart mouth on her, and a temper like a Roman Candle, but past that…she's special. Just give her a little time to warm up to you." He shrugged and smiled briefly before tipping his head at Maura. "Have a good night, Miss Isles. Drive safely."

"I will, Vince."

As she walked to her car, Korsak's voice caught her attention again. "I really like your breezer, she's beautiful."

"She's the best money can buy; she's got me through a lot." Maura waved at Korsak as she slid behind the wheel and started the car, backing out of the alley and swinging into the street with a confident shift, aware of Korsak's eyes on her as she disappeared from sight.

Slang synonyms:

Bull - cop

Bracelets - handcuffs

Chewing gum - ambigous talk, being vague

fire extinguisher - chaperone

Beating one's gums - making idle chatter

Jane - referencing any female

Beating one gum's with a harp - talking with an Irishman

Bunny - term applied to a lost or confused woman; usually derogatory

Rum Runner - person who moved illegal alcohol via ship

Panther piss - one of dozens of slang terms for illegal alcohol

High hat - snob

Bearcat - woman with spunk

Skirt - one of many terms for a female

Bum's rush - forcefully ejecting a person from an establishment

Dumb Dora - absolute idiot, especially to women

Packing heaters - carrying a weapon

Brown - one of dozens of terms for whiskey

Smarty - cute woman

Flour lover - woman who uses too much makeup

Bent - one of dozens of terms for a drunk person

Bubs - breasts

Off your nuts - crazy

Copacetic - excelent