And here comes the shit. Into a pay phone, McNulty's telling Daniels, "I didn't do a damn thing, Lieutenant. You got a beef, it's with the judge." He tells him about the memo, adding that Daniels can ask Kima if he doesn't believe McNulty. Suddenly, he sees something, and tenses, telling Daniels he has to go. He hangs up and presses himself against the wall as a cab pulls around the corner, Stringer in the back seat. McNulty waits for the cab to pass, and then gets in his own car and watches as Stringer leaves the cab and gets in the Camry.

Detail office. Lester is packing things up with Kima when Daniels sharply calls for the latter and tells her that Burrell just called, super-pissed; they can stop packing, because they're back up on the wire. Kima barely smiles and goes off to tell everyone the good news, but Daniels quietly calls her back: "McNulty or the judge? Or both?" "This time, the judge," says Kima seriously, going on her way. Hee, "this time." Not last time; probably not next time.

Stringer drives up the suburban street in the Camry; once his car's passed, McNulty sits up in his and starts the engine, getting ready to follow.

Detail office. Herc is getting Carver to quiz him for the sergeant's exam. Carver says he thought Herc wasn't going to study, but Herc has a smart answer for that all ready: "This job is common sense." Carver rubs his hands together and starts: "According to Q1--" "Hold up," says Herc immdiately. "You have to know them by the numbers?" A very promising start. "It helps," says Carver pointedly. "Makes it sound more professional that way." Herc starts to look concerned. Carver returns to his question: "According to Q1, the general order covering sexual harassment, in the event a female officer in your squad complains that her side partner has sexually harassed her, you should: (a) notify the commanding officer; (b) notify the shift lieutenant; or (c) notify the ranking female officer." "I go with (d)," says Herc confidently. Carver waits patiently for the hilarious quip that is sure to follow -- and he doesn't have to wait long: "Bitch-slap the side partner for dipping into my private stock, then take missy home and fuck her 'til she smiles." Carver looks actually pained by this idiocy. I predict that Herc will rank somewhere outside the 99th percentile.

McNulty keeps a discreet distance following Stringer's Camry. Presently, he takes a left turn that makes McNulty frown in surprise, and soon we see why: Stringer's pulled onto the campus of Baltimore City Community College. What I would not give if it had turned out Stringer was taking a course in something super-random, like Sign-Language Interpreting or something.