THREE

Connie greeted me with a casual 'hi', when I entered Bail Bonds Office, and then continued with painting her nails. Vinnie's office door was shut, but I non-mistakenly got an impression he wasn't there.

'Oh, love the color', I smiled, watching Connie apply another coat of bright red nail polish.

'Uh-huh,' she's answered nonchalantly, then turned her gaze to the bag in my arms. 'Doughnuts? I could eat some as soon as I'm done with my nails.'

'Sure, I'm in for a treat myself,' I replied. 'Lula somewhere around?'

'Isn't she with you? She called in the morning to tell me she's going to ride shotgun with you today,' Connie said puzzled. 'Haven't you seen her?'

'Strange,' I frowned. 'I haven't made any arrangements to meet with her.'

'Very strange,' she agreed. 'Maybe we should try calling her.'

'I'm on it,' I said putting the bad on Connie's table and scrambled through my handbag for a cell phone. I dialed Lula's number, only to hear an automated message that the phone is switched off or out of reach. 'It's quite unlike Lula. She never switches her phone off,' I said, when after a few tries the call did no go through.

I took one doughnut from the bag and sank my teeth in. Sugar, I need sugar to make me think clear.

'When she called you, did she sound anything unusual?' I struggled with mouth full.

'Nah, she was her usual,' Connie replied joining me on the couch with a doughnut held carefully in her freshly painted fingers. 'Maybe you could go to her place and check if she's where?' she suggested.

I nodded agreement. 'Right, I was just thinking myself of going to her apartment. I don't like this stuff of her not answering her phone, and telling you she's going to meet me. First Ranger warning me to back off on Osso, now Lula…'

'Oh, you've seen Ranger?'

'Yeah, we've met earlier today on his way out of town. And he really was very intense on this Osso thing. Maybe you could look him up a bit for me, huh?'

Connie raised her brow at me, 'Didn't you just say you're not going after that guy?'

'Um, not really. I sort of might have promised not to go after Osso alone to Ranger. But I really do need that money. Unless you could give me some other file, which would be worth some real money, could you?'

Connie shrugged. 'Sorry Steph, but it's been pretty quiet recently, and Osso's the best at the moment. All the rest are like other files you have on you – no big bonus there.'

I grinned. 'That's it then. I will hold on to the file then.'

Office phone rang, and Connie rushed to answer it. Mean while I've got ready to leave.

'I'll keep you posted,' I said to her and dashed out.

FOUR

The doors to Lula's apartment were slightly open, and as her apartment wasn't in the safest district, I've found this disturbing.

'Lula? Lula, are you there?' I called out and hesitantly knocked on the doors. No answer followed, so I carefully let myself in.

The apartment was a mess – clothes were scattered all over the place, pieces of furniture were broken or clearly moved of their usual places, as if someone had been looking for something in Lula's apartment.

What a heck has happened here?

"Lula! Are you there? Girl, answer me!' I tried calling one more time inspecting the rummaged place for Lula's whereabouts, but she did not answer my call.

I peeked into kitchen next only to find Lula lying on the cold kitchen tiles stretched in an unnatural position in a bright red pool of what seemed to be her own blood seeping from a cut on her head, and with one of her arms bent in a manner it should not be able to.

'Jesus!' I cried out and rushed to her. With a wave of sheer panic rising inside, I struggled to keep my mind working while checking for any signs of life in my friend.

Yes, the heart is beating! I sighted in small relief upon discovering her pulse.

'Lula!' I tried shaking her gently into life with no results. Too scared to move her, what with her head wound and that broken arm of hers, I finally managed to think of calling 911 for help. And while the help was on the way, I just sat there on the kitchen floor with the unconscious Lula at my side.

I'm not a good drinker myself, quite the contrary, but right now, right here I've wished I'd have something on me to wash this terror down.

'Stephanie, there is nothing you can do now. Do go home,' said Eddie Gazzara bringing me out of my stupor.

I looked up at him. 'I don't want to leave her here all alone. What if she wakes up?'

'Steph, you're a mess, I don't think you could be of any use to anyone right now. Lula's is out of surgery, but I doubt she'll wake any time soon. Go home and get some rest. You friend here,' he indicated to the side, where Tank sat looking rather uncomfortably sitting on a plastic chair of a hospital's waiting room, 'could take you home.'

'But…' I started protesting meekly.

'Don't, Steph, or I'll call you mom for backup,' he cut me short and I gave up. I just did not want to deal with my mom at the moment, and Eddie knew that all too well. Damn.

'Ok, I'll go. But I want to know when she awakens. And I want to know who did this to her. D'ya hear me Eddie?'

Gazzara nodded. 'I've always let you on police work, when you needed this, so rest assured, I'm not cutting you of this time. I know she's a friend of yours. But now it's time for you to go home and get some rest. I do not want to go to your mom's later and explain why I let her daughter exhaust herself to the state of walking dead.'

He took me by my hand and firmly yet gently pushed me up on my feet.