"So Cap, why am I here? The deal was once a month. I seem to remember sitting right here last Sunday morning too", Detective Joe Conine asked Captain Frank Sancrelli. Det. Conine was undercover for the LAPD. He had been for a few months. He had finally began to make a name for himself in the crime family he was targeting. It was important that he never be seen with any cops, so once a month, he met for a check in with Captain Sancrelli. They met on Sunday mornings, at the Captain's home outside the city.
"Calm down Conine, this won't take long.", Sancrelli said, "I have some interesting news for you though, you're

getting a wife... and a partner".
"What?!", Joe said, obviously upset.
"Chill out Joe. There's nothing you can do about it. They are my orders."
"Why, I'm just getting to where I need to be"
"I know, that's why we're acting now."
"I don't get it", Joe said
"Look, you... Joey Conesso...", Sancrelli said, referring to Joe's undercover name, "are a fairly successful fence, a good earner. That's not going to catch Pagnetti's attention though. We need a way to get you closer"
"And how is a partner going to get me any closer?"
"Jeez, you sure aren't as bright as people say you are. Think about Pagnetti's MO. He has a thing about hitting on the wives of the guys that work for him. Makes him feel powerful or something."
"So he hits on my wife and then tells me all the bad things he did? Sounds a little optimistic."
"Try, falls in love with your wife and tells her all the bad things he did."
"Sucks for me", Joe said. It was unclear if he was referring to the partner or the upcoming adultery.
"Maybe, but wait until you see who you are married to, come here", Sancrelli said, motioning Joe to come look
at the file on his computer screen.
"This is your bride to be... Dr. Maria Sanchez, LAPD. She's pretty hot huh?"
"Yeah, not bad. What do you mean Doctor?"
"She's got a doctorate in psychology. She works with IAD as a profiler, shrink type. She is a police officer though Joe."
"Why are we sending in a shrink instead of a field agent. I can't trust a shrink to cover my ass, and I can't spend the whole time watching out for her."
"I'm sure she can handle herself. And we do want a shrink. We need someone who can play on Pagnetti,
really work him.", the Captain said as Joe sat back down. Slumping into his chair.
"Yeah, you want to work him, so you hired some hot chick to get in his pants. That's what this is all about Captain, so don't give me any of this Doctor crap. You want me to baby-sit some headshrinker hussie, fine. I'll try to see that he doesn't blow her head off after she blows him. But don't make it out to be anything more than it is", Joe said defiantly. He immediately noticed Sancrelli was uncomfortably silent.
Joe heard someone outside the room. His heart sank.
"Joe, meet Dr. Maria Sanchez", Sancrelli said sternly.
"Oh sh!t.", Joe said under his breath as he felt his face get beat red.
Dr. Sanchez just stared at Joe for a moment with a 'I just caught you, but I'm going to be nice anyway, beause I'm the bigger person' kind of look on her face.
"Look, I ...", Joe started.
"Please Detective, there's no need to apologize", Maria said.
Joe thought that was a little arrogant, she didn't let him finish, what if he wasn't going to apologize?
"Joe, I understand your reservations about bringing someone new in on the case. You've done a terrific job of

infiltrating Pagnetti's organization. It's taken a lot of hard work on your part. I would hope though, that your reluctance comes from your tension built up from the case, and not the fact that you are not comfortable working for a woman.", Dr. Sanchez said.
Joe wondered for a moment if her voice and tone had any other setting than 'patronizing', then the actual weight of what she said sunk in.
"Working FOR a woman?!", Joe shouted, "I'm not working FOR you, you're working FOR me! This is my case, I'm not just going to turn it over to some paper pushing shrink just cause Pagnetti likes to stick his guys'
wives! Tell her Cap!", Joe said, desperately looking for back up from Sancrelli.
"Actually Joe, she does out rank you, Dr. Sanchez is actually a lieutenant.", Sancrelli said.
"A lieutenant?! How the hell is she a lieutenant? She's only like what? 29?", Joe said, still enraged.
Maria was impressed, Joe was obviously used to sizing people up.... she was exactly 29 years old.
"Joe, I want you to calm down", Maria said firmly, but clinically. "My advance in rank was based on skill, not time served. Now Joe, I need you to answer me honestly. Are you going to be able to work under me on this case, or
are we going to have a problem?", she asked, very calmly.
"This is Bullsh*t!", Joe said. It was the only sentence he could manage in his current state of frustration.
Maria looked over to Captain Sancrelli, "Francis, this won't do. I want you to assign someone else to the case. Call me when you've found my new partner", Maria told Sancrelli. Joe was shocked at the way she was bossing him around. She didn't outrank him, why was he going for this?
"Yes Dr. Sanchez, I'll send you a list of potential officers tomorrow morning", Sancrelli said from his desk.
"What the f*ck?!", Joe screamed, "Is she a lieutenant or is the f@ckin' commissioner?"
"Conine, watch your language, there is a lady present!", Sancrelli shouted. Maria smiled at his defense of her honor.
"Thank you Francis. Send the list by e-mail. I'll want it by nine.", she told him, before looking over to Joe, "It was nice to meet you Joe. I hope you'll be able to overcome your misogynist tendencies at some point. I'd be glad to clear some time for a session with you if you'd like", she said, in her most patronizing tone.
"I can't believe this", Joe said, still a little bit shaky on forming solid sentences.
Maria smiled at Joe and walked out.
Even in his anger, Joe noticed the way her jeans fit so nicely.

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