"Ask Rose about that." Scarpetta is quite amused.

Nic's mind locks, as if she should know who Rose is but can't make a connection.

"My secretary," Scarpetta explains, sipping her coffee.

An awkward silence follows, and Nic asks, "What happened to the other two?"

Scarpetta is confused.

"The other two women in your medical class."

"One dropped out. I think the other got married and never practiced medicine."

"I wonder what they're feeling now. Probably regret."

"They probably wonder about me, too," Scarpetta replies. "They probably think I feel regret."

Nic's lips part in disbelief. "You?"

"Everything comes with sacrifices. And it's human nature to have a hard time accepting anyone who's different. Usually, you don't figure that out until you get what you asked for in life and are shocked that in some instances your reward is hatred instead of applause."

"I don't see myself as different or hated. Maybe picked on a lot, but not back home," Nic quickly replies. "Just because I'm with a small department instead of LAPD doesn't mean I'm stupid." Her spirit rises, her voice heating up. "I'm not some mudbug swamp-rat redneck…" "Mudbug. "Scarpetta frowns. "I don't believe I know what that is."

"A crawfish."

"Did someone in the class call you a crawfish?"

Nic can't help but lighten up. "Oh, hell. None of them have ever even eaten a crawfish. They probably think it's a fish that crawls along the bottom of the ocean or something."

"I see."

"I know what you mean, though. Sort of," Nic says. "In Zachary, only two street cops are women. I'm the only female investigator, and it's not that the chief dislikes women or anything like that. In fact, the mayor's a woman. But most times when I'm in the break room, getting coffee or eating or whatever, I'm the only woman in there. Truth is, I rarely think about it. But I have thought about it a lot here at the Academy. I realize I try too hard to prove I'm really not a hick, and then I annoy everyone. Well, I know you need to go. You probably have to pack, and I don't want you to miss your plane."