Mr. Barros was in a bad state like Alice had never seen before: blank eyed and sullen, like all the gray fog of the city fell on his shoulders at once. But then again, he had never before asked her squeal on a matter so personal as a lady-cop's feelings.

"...I'm sure she meant that all in the nicest possible way," Alice reassured, patting him on the back.

Inwardly, the waitress promised herself that next time, she would exercise maybe just a little censorship, rather than use Detective Thompson's exact words.