"Okay, I can try to avoid drug dens," I promised. I was glad that Jake had inserted that "try" for me, without me having to sneak it into my sentence. I could certainly, always try to avoid drug dens -- and a whole lot of other dens of inequity -- but I wouldn't always succeed.

"And I promise to try to pick my battles." That was a little harder, especially considering the fact that I thought this battle was pretty well picked. It had started off as something totally reasonable and turned into something that needed to be done. Maybe I might have slipped out earlier, but I felt that what I heard and could give to the cops -- and any readers -- was worthwhile.

"But in the meanwhile, let's get some coffee? And talk about stuff."