Too Many Cooks by Joanne Pence

in them.
    â€œIt’s tough, hanging around with a woman like that.” Yosh took a mouthful of burrito and washed it down with Diet Coke. “I mean, you know the guys here gossip worse than old women. Heck, what else do we have to talk about? They tell me she used to show up on the society page regularly, and always with a new guy. I guess she must have a lot of charm.”
    The last thing Paavo needed was to hear this. “I guess,” he muttered.
    â€œShe probably knows how to make you feel real important, like you’re the only guy in the world for her, wouldn’t you say?”
    She sure did yesterday…and last night. His mouth felt a little dry. “Could be.”
    â€œYeah. One time in my life I went out with a gal like that. Money, looks, good sex—class all the way.” Yosh gave a long sigh. “Then, after a couple months, she stopped returning my calls. I learned she was engaged to a brain surgeon. The least shecould have done was pick a guy with an interesting job. Jeez, he probably comes home and talks about stuff that looks like albino earthworms. Who could eat dinner after that? Oh, well, serves her right, that’s what I say. My Nancy is worth a dozen of her. Hell, she’s worth a million of her. Nancy’s good, down-to-earth.”
    â€œIs she?” Paavo didn’t want to hear any more. Yosh’s words expressed thoughts Paavo wouldn’t let himself dwell on, yet they were always there, dark and malignant, waiting for the opportunity to force their way into the light.
    â€œDamn right,” Yosh said. “These other women, they start interfering in your work. Make you see skeletons in every closet, see danger where none is. They even make you run around like some blue knight, trying to protect them instead of the people who really need you—the ones you’re paid to protect.”
    A sick feeling hit Paavo’s stomach. Had Angie’s dark hints about Wielund’s death caused him to see trouble where none existed? All he could do in answer to Yosh was nod.
    â€œYou’re a good guy, Paavo,” Yosh said unexpectedly. “I like you.”
    Paavo glanced at Yosh. Now what? he wondered.
    â€œI mean, I can see now why all these guys around here try to tell you what to do. They like you too, and they worry about you.”
    â€œSure they do.”
    â€œIt’s a fact. They don’t want to see your head turned by someone who might not be in it for the long term. You know what I mean?” Not missing a beat, Yosh continued. “You’re a big tough guy. The jerks we arrest,they shake in their boots around you. But I got to tell you, you’re like a babe in the woods around women.”
    Paavo folded his arms, his body stiff and withdrawn. If this pop psychoanalysis continued much longer, the guy was going to get a fat lip.
    Yosh looked long at his partner. “You know what, Paav? I think you ought to meet Nancy.”
    Yosh reached over as if to slap him on the back, but then, as his gaze caught Paavo’s frigid eyes, he withdrew his hand and did nothing more than smile.
    â€œLook,” Yosh continued. “I know I open my mouth too much sometimes and say a lot more than I should, but it’s because I care about you, partner. I don’t want to see you eating your heart out. None of us do. How about tomorrow night?”
    â€œWhat about tomorrow night?”
    â€œDidn’t you know? It’s Hollins’s twentieth anniversary with the force. He tried to keep it quiet, but I found out anyway. Everyone’s coming by the house. Nancy’s cooking. You don’t have to stay. Don’t even have to eat dinner. But, maybe just a minute to give congrats to the chief. What do you say?”
    Paavo respected Hollins. If it were a gathering for anyone else, he wouldn’t hesitate to refuse. But Hollins was different. “All right.”
    â€œTerrific! Oh, by the way, Rebecca can