"I can't stand that guy," Provenza huffed under his breath.

"Not a fan?" Taylor asked casually, looking over to follow Provenza's line of sight.

"Ha... that's an understatement."

"From where I was standing, the squad seemed quite entertained."

"Yeah, well you were standing on the other side of the room. That guy is even more annoying than I remember."

"Aw, Jack is okay."

"Humph, says who?"

"Well, I know the Captain is not thrilled, but Lt. Flynn seems amused."

"Flynn remembers the guy who pretended to be a big shot lawyer and used to pay for all their drinks. Flynn got straightened out. Jack just moved on to different ways to waste his money... and the Captain's."

"You've gotten quite protective of her, I've noticed. Even calling her by her first name. I didn't expect to see that in a million years."

"Don't read anything into it. She's a good officer, and now that she's not working against us anymore, it's easier all the way around."

"You didn't think so last year."

"Yeah... well last year is last year, it's all water under the bridge."

"That's water under the bridge, but you still have this attitude about Jack that hasn't changed much."

"That's because he hasn't changed much," Provenza snapped.

"Easy, easy..." Taylor put up his hand to calm Provenza. "The guy hasn't haunted the halls of the Department for how long? Just let it go."

"I'll let it go when he's gone. Taylor... don't you remember what it was like years ago?"

"You mean..."

"Yes, I mean that."

"Cap't Raydor seems to have moved on."

"I'm not so sure. Besides, it wasn't her case, it was mine and Jack blew it."

"He always thought of himself as a better lawyer than he was, that's true, but it's a little harsh to hold him responsible for a case that went sideways."

"Harsh? He didn't take it seriously. He practically gave away information to the defense team, making it impossible to get a conviction. Don't you remember? The Captain was nearly suspended because she was married to the guy and no one could be sure how much she was taking home. All of this because he was so damned caught up in his gambling, he didn't make the connection between the bookie and the suspect. That's a mistaken even a first year law student wouldn't make."

"Not his finest hour, that's for sure."

"Finest hour? If her superiors hadn't done a rush job to cover her and get the Bar to suspend him back then, she wouldn't be in charge here today. And the guy was completely unrepentant, like he was the victim of a power move rather than the cause of it."

Taylor sighed, "Yeah... he certainly didn't seem to understand the problems he created."

"Oh, he understood. He didn't want to take responsibility, that's what was going on. And from what I see, he hasn't changed a bit. Now he's blown back into town, answering her phone in the middle of the night... What else can we expect?"

"How do you know he was with her through the night?" Taylor couldn't keep the innuendo from his question.

"I wasn't with her, if that's what you're suggesting. I was calling her from the crime scene. I don't know that he was with her either, just that he was awake enough at 3 AM to sound like he owned the place."

"I'm not suggesting anything. I just didn't know he had moved back in."

"Well, I'm not sure that he has, but maybe he has. I just hope for her sake that he's on the sofa or something close to the door that we both know he'll be using as soon as he gets what he wants."

"He's on the Court Appointment List. He managed that."

"God help us," Provenza declared, rubbing his face in frustration, then turned to Taylor, "you make sure he never has a case involving this division, do you hear me? We don't need good old Jackson Raydor ruining something we've put work into. Cite conflict of interest or something. Just make sure I don't have to deal with him on a professional level. Make sure none of us have to endure that."

"You sure you want that? Maybe the Captain will think keeping him close will be to her advantage."

"Advantage how?"

"Oh, I don't know, but I have the sense she wouldn't be opposed to a little pay-back."

"Jack Raydor pay someone back? That'll be the day."

"Miracles do happen, you know."

"The only miracle the Captain needs is for Jack to disappear and never return. That's miracle enough for me."