It's true, the unwise to tend toward making friends with colleagues. [The unwise and the thoroughly unreserved. Have a sense of propriety, man. Nevermind that just about every normal person develops some degree of friendship with people they see every day, sometimes more often than they have seen their families.]

We've known one another since we were children. I dare say it would be impossible for us to be 'strictly professional'.

[Dodging questions like a boss...or like a prosecuting attorney. It's like he does this for a living.]