“Only if he gets kicked upstairs,” she said. “Otherwise, they’ll give me a squad in Staten Island or someplace way out in Queens. But if Brian does get kicked upstairs I’ll have a shot, mostly because there’s not much competition at the precinct.”
“They’ll transfer you either way; they’re not going to put a woman in charge of a squad of guys she’s been working with. Never happen.”
“We’ll see,” Mitzi said.
“Good luck to you,” Stone said, raising his glass.
Dino came through the door and shot Stone a questioning glance.
“You mind if Dino joins us?” Stone asked Mitzi.
“You think I didn’t expect to have dinner with Dino, too?” she asked.
Stone waved him over.
Dino sat down and ordered a Scotch. “You two still drinking that Kentucky swill?” he asked by way of a greeting.
“I don’t trust any booze that has to take a boat here,” Mitzi said. “Also, my daddy once told me he’d disinherit me if I drank un-American.”
Dino looked at Stone, then at Mitzi. “What’s the matter with him?” he asked her.
“He’s worried about the bust,” she replied.
“What have you got to be worried about?” he asked Stone. “Let the cops take care of it.”
“By ‘the cops’ you mean Brian Doyle?”
“Oh,” Dino said. “I get your point.”
Mitzi looked at both of them askance. “What is it with you guys? Brian’s not so bad.”
“We’ve known him longer than you have,” Dino said. “He’s the kind of guy who’ll take credit for your work.”
“It isn’t enough for Brian to take the credit,” Stone explained. “For him to feel good about himself, he has to make everybody else look bad.”
“Oh, really!” Mitzi laughed. “Why don’t you two get him in here, then put ’em on the table and we’ll measure.”
Dino looked at Stone and shrugged.
“Mitzi,” Stone said, “has Brian ever complimented you on your work?”
“Many times,” she replied.
“Has he ever said anything good about you to your captain?”
“Well,” she said, “I assume he passed it up the line; he said he would.”
“Have you ever read your file after a performance review?” Dino asked.
“Yes, I have.”
“Has he ever given you a positive review that didn’t make it sound like he was responsible for your success?”
Mitzi thought that over.
“Let me guess what he had to say,” Dino said. “He said something like, ‘This officer has responded well to the training and advice of her commander.’ ”
Mitzi’s brow furrowed, a strange sight. “I think I see what you mean,” she said softly.