If Jane felt bad for plowing into Miss Clarke (which she did, albeit only slightly), she didn't show it. In fact, Jane found it fortuitous that she had. Considering how nice Miss Clarke was to look at and what Joel had said about Olinger's patrolmen and a few of the shadier, less intelligent members of the fuzz lately, it gave the sergeant an opportunity to verify her partner's hunches and to make the acquaintance of one of Austin's prettiest local notables.
"Joel...you know my partner, Joel Kulseth?" It was an unnecessary question; Jane knew Miss Clarke had spoken to, and therefore knew, Joel. Repetitive questions were a cop's habit; made it easier to catch someone in a lie and while she didn't think Miss Clarke had any reason to stretch the truth, better to be safe than sorry.
"My height, police badge, wears silly sunglasses? Yeah, he mentioned you," Jane said, finally standing after she had gotten her papers in order. She drew up to her full 6 feet, effectively dwarfing the counselor.
"Said something about a few eager beavers in blue sticking their noses in your drawers? That true?"