PROLOGUE

"Oh, Sergeant Maddox – a word, if you have a moment?" Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent had been about to enter her office when she spotted her newest protégé coming toward her in the corridor. Detective Sergeant Lizzie Maddox gave a single, no-nonsense nod of her head. Not likely she could simply decline the offer. Her eyes met Innocent's squarely as she tried to read her boss's mood. The pleasant tone was standard-issue, and meant almost nothing. What are the eyes saying? But Innocent was fully capable of not giving anything away, and Lizzie, clueless, could only follow her into the office. Innocent gestured toward a chair and smiled. Both the gesture and the smile were good signs.

"So, how's it going these days, Lizzie?"

First name. Another good sign. Lizzie, sitting, returned the smile. "Well, frankly, it's a bit quiet. I think DI Wiley is afraid to use me very much – afraid he'll leave a mark or scuff me up and then catch hell – oh, sorry, Ma'am – and then he'll hear about it from DI Hathaway when he gets back."

Innocent sat back. "So – you're missing him, the dour inspector?"

Lizzie thought before answering. Detective Inspector James Hathaway – her "guv'nor" – had left for a rare holiday a week ago. Their partnership hadn't gotten off to a good start, but after Innocent had enticed a retired DI – one Robbie Lewis – back onto the force in the capacity of Hathaway's mentor, things turned around. She had found it hard to believe that the warm, friendly, and insightful Lewis had ever had anything to do with Hathaway, who had seemed like an arrogant cold fish from Day One. But as soon as the two were together, she witnessed a remarkable change in the younger man. He wasn't arrogant, he was insecure in his promotion! And not at all a cold fish; he had instead a dry wit she found most amusing. With Lewis around, the trust grew rapidly between Hathaway and herself.

Innocent was waiting for her answer, her patience draining visibly by the moment.

"I do miss him, Ma'am," Lizzie said, brightly. "A couple of weeks ago, I wouldn't have believed I would ever say this. But I think he and I have really clicked as a team. I never felt that with any of the other DIs I've worked with."

The senior officer looked interested. "Why not, do you think?"

Lizzie scowled. She didn't want to give voice to the first thought that sprang to mind. Jean Innocent, sensing her discomfort and the reason behind it, did that for her.

"Because they treat you differently, don't they?" Stated softly, but firmly, conclusively. Innocent noted the sergeant's dark eyes diverted sideways, avoiding contact. "Lizzie . . . sexism, racism – they're very real problems we need to deal with. Obviously, it's difficult to pinpoint that aura, those vague looks . . . I know how it feels, you know. But if there are particular individuals, or if there's a specific instance where you can identify a . . . a need for enlightenment – an educational opportunity, shall we say? Please don't hesitate to let me know about it."

Innocent paused, gathering her thoughts, and Maddox, innately aware that it was not her turn to speak, waited silently.

"You and I are women in what has always been a man's realm. We can never be an integral part of it – never." Jean took in Lizzie's dismayed look, and soldiered on. "Unless, unless—" she emphasized – "we take them down, one by one, win them over one at a time 'til they can see that we can be just as tough, just as smart, just as ruthless as they can. Once we get one to believe, we can get a second. And a third. And so on, and so on. You see what I mean? You can't let it distract you that there are men you won't be able to reach who will remain Neanderthals. There will always be Neanderthals. As long as you can convert the ones you work with every day, you're making progress."

Maddox glowed with the confidence she now felt. And she had to add, "DI Hathaway and DI Lewis don't need convincing, I think. I mean, I need to show them that I – Lizzie Maddox – can do the job. But they don't discount my work just because I'm a woman of color."

Innocent beamed. "No, those two wouldn't. You know they have your back." She straightened, indicating physically that this discussion had reached a conclusion. "If you and Hathaway create the team I believe you are capable of forming, this entire station will take a huge step toward enlightenment."

Lizzie grinned. "Don't expect us to bring all the Neanderthals aboard, Ma'am. There are some that will never change, no matter what."

"I know. But you've already made great strides here." Innocent didn't say aloud her next thought, I'm proud of you, but Maddox sensed it, nonetheless.

"I'll try my best not to let you down, Ma'am," she said, getting up to leave.

But Innocent had one other item on her agenda. "Erm, Lizzie . . ." She shifted a bit uncomfortably, and Maddox paused, halfway out of her chair. "About DI Hathaway . . . do you know where it is he's gone on holiday?"

Maddox stood up now, confident in her answer. "He told me that I really had no reason to know. He said he was reconnecting with friends both old and ancient and that they had nothing to do with Oxfordshire police work." She smiled ruefully. "That's our James Hathaway, i'n'it?"