"That bitch! Did you get a load of her?" Andy grumbled as he looked longingly at the coffee then turned to grab a green tea bag from the display on the counter.

"Well, I know she's been one in the past, but I didn't think the Captain was that bad today, all things considered. Look at me, I'm defending her," Provenza threw his hands up in disbelief. "I'll take a large coffee," he said to the clerk at the counter, as he shook his head.

"Not her, Rios. Did you get a load of what she said to the Captain about Rusty? And that's after treating you and me like we're her lackeys or something."

"Which part? I'm amazed the Captain puts up with her."

"That bit about only babysitting witnesses when they're cute blond boys."

"Oh... that..."

"I swear, I was ready to tear her in two. First she doesn't tell us we're dealing with a potential murderer, then she gets pissed that we don't do her babysitting for her, and then she tries to make it our fault. And when that's not enough, she has to hurl an insult about Rusty into the mix, like it's the same deal."

"Look Flynn, don't get worked up about it. Squeeze your ear or something. Meditate, if you need to. We didn't get in trouble, okay? That's all that matters."

"You were prepared for that too?"

"Was I. Look, we've been caught in some bad situations from time to time, and perhaps we didn't always use the best judgement. But I thought for certain the Captain was going to have our heads on a platter."

"Yeah, me too. Especially after Rios left and the Captain kept us there. I was ready for it."

"I'd say you were," Provenza took a gulp of his coffee, eyeing his partner over the rim.

"What?" Flynn sounded defensive.

"You've got to get a handle on your temper, or you're going to pass out again. You nearly took that Captain's head off and all she was doing was asking what happened without Rios there to cloud the picture."

"I just thought I better lay it all out there so there was no question."

"You didn't lay it out there, you shoved in down her throat. Even she was wondering what the matter was. Listen Flynn, take the damn pills and get a hold of yourself."

"I'm not taking the pills. Look... I start one, and then a second, and soon I'm a walking pharmacy that's being eaten alive from the inside. Once you get on that road you can't get off."

"So? What's wrong with that?"

"I don't want to go there, okay?" Flynn's temper was starting to increase again.

"It would be okay if you weren't being such an ass to everyone. Last night you were attacking that Lloyd fellow, and today you're attacking everyone else. This isn't right."

"Look, I'm handing it, okay? Besides, Lloyd is an idiot. How anyone in their right mind could think he was a good witness is beyond me. The guy's a flake. The defense is going to tear him to shreds on the witness stand."

"Yeah, well that's Rios' problem, not ours."

"Maybe, but notice how her problems have become our problems anyhow. The Captain didn't give this one to Homicide, so we have to solve the damned thing."

"It could be worse," Provenza said, as he held open the door for them to leave the coffee shop.

"How you figure that?" Flynn answered, heading towards the driver's side.

Provenza sighed and accepted the inevitable. Flynn was driving, case closed. "The Captain could have given this to Homicide, which would make the two of us witnesses. Instead she kept it, allowing us to do our job."

"Our job... that's all I want to do. Why'd we even agree to do this favour for Rios anyway?"

"A moment of insanity, my friend. I can't come us with any other reason."

Flynn grumbled again, "Yeah, well usually when you volunteer me for something it's because you want to get in the good books with whatever woman is involved."

"Normally I would," Provenza grumbled, "but I assure you that is not the case this time around. Besides Sanchez is the fool falling all over himself to help her, not me."

"Yeah, I noticed. Why didn't she ask him?"

"Damned if I know. Does she even know he exists?"

"If she does, she barely knows. It's embarrassing watching him," Flynn sighed.

"Yeah, well next time Rios asked us for anything, I'll be sure to say Sanchez will do it."

"You do that. I still can't believe we've been dragged into this mess."

"Let's just get back to the office and see what they've found. Hey, you gonna eat that muffin or just let it sit in the bag."

"It's not for me."

"What do you mean it's not for you? Muffins are your enemy now, too?" Provenza was incredulous, and more interested than he should be in the lemon muffin in the small paper bag next to Flynn's tea.

"Just drop it, old man."

It took Provenza a moment, and then he nodded in understanding. "Ah... a peace offering. Well, and least this one knows you exist."