I was sitting outside of the office with my head against the steering wheel. I was trying to get the strength up to go inside. This was my first day back to work since the whole Slayer mess. I needed to go inside. Inside there would be files on FTA's. I needed to work. I need money especially now that I was back in my own apartment; however, inside there would also be Connie and Lula. They would give me the third degree about Joe.
Yesterday was a nightmare. My phone would not stop ringing. Everyone I knew was calling me to tell me a piece of gossip or to try and get a piece of gossip about Joe.
From what I could put together Joe had shot and killed a detective named Fred Shaffer. Fred Shaffer works or should I say worked vice in another precinct. Fred was under investigation by internal affairs. From what Eddie told me Joe is claiming self defense. It doesn't look like charges will be filed, but Eddie said Joe has been suspended without pay and Joe could be fired.
The worst part of all this is that I have not heard from Joe, like I should be surprised. Everybody was calling to find out what Joe had to say. When word got out that I hadn't talked to Joe I started getting calls from people asking me if Joe had broken up with me because I was living with Ranger now.
I try to point out to these people that they were calling me at my apartment not Ranger's, but they didn't seem to get it. Even my mom and Grandma Mazur would not believe that Joe had not broken up with me because of Ranger.
And where were these men that were the talk of the town. No where to be found. I left messages for both at every number I could think of and nothing.
I sighed and got out of the car. As I reached the door I could see Connie and Lula looking at me through the glass. They looked like they were ready to jump me as soon as I walked into the office. I squared my shoulders and walked in.
"Hey guys, how is it going?" I asked as I came through the door and head for the files on Connie's desk.
"Don't hey guys us, spill," Lula said.
"Yeah, we want to know everything. What's the Bat Cave like?" Connie practically shouted at me.
"I don't know. I haven't been to the Bat Cave."
"I thought Joe left you because you were living with Ranger." Lula said.
"Joe did not leave me. I'm not living with Ranger." I was trying very hard not to scream.
"Them where were you when the Slayers were after you?" Lula asked.
"At Ranger's RangeMan apartment" I replied.
"He has the Bat Cave at the office building? Connie asked.
"No. He has an apartment he uses there, but it's not the Bat Cave."
"Damn! I was all excited about you finding the Bat Cave," Lula said. "What a let down."
"So you're not living with Ranger?" Connie asked.
"Right"
Lula came up and sniffed me. "She maybe telling the truth. She doesn't smell like Ranger.'
"Then why did Joe leave you?" Connie asked.
"Joe didn't leave me. He was on assignment."
"No he wasn't" Lula said.
"What do you mean he wasn't?"
"According to my sources he was on vacation when this whole thing went down."
I pick up Connie's phone and dial.
"Eddie, is it true?" I practically yelled into the phone.
"What are you talking about Steph?" Eddie said trying to sound dumb.
"You know. Was he on vacation?"
"Steph, you aren't listening to gossip are you?" I think Eddie was trying to lighten me up. Not working.
"No, I'm talking to you. Is it true?" I said with an edge to my voice.
"Yes, it's true." Eddie said softly
"Thanks for keeping me informed" I yelled then slammed the phone down.
I stood there for a minute thinking. What the hell was going on? It was bad enough that Joe was in trouble at work, but I thought this was all in the line of duty. I had expected Joe to call me and tell me he was fine, that the department had over reached and he was reinstated, but I'm not so sure now that will happen. I should have known something was up when Joe left me a note. He usually just left.
"Stephanie!" Lula was yelling at me. Maybe I had been thinking for more than a minute.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm not sure." I looked at Connie. She looked like she was biting her tongue not to say something. "What?" I said to Connie.
"Nothing, I just... never mind forget it."
"There's no forgetting anything! Tell me! Now!" I yelled.
"Ok, but remember you asked me to tell you." I nodded. "Well I heard from my Uncle that Morelli got rid of Shaffer to take over his territory."
"That's ridiculous! Joe would never do a thing like that."
"Well I'm just telling you what I've heard. Shaffer was under investigation for his involvement in gun running. He is dead. Morelli killed him and now Morelli has been spotted talking with Shaffer's contacts."
"I don't want to here anymore I'm sure Joe will explain everything when I see him." He had better if he knows what is good for him. "I came in here to see if you have any work for me. Do you?" I was getting snippy.
"Alright, I've got two new FTA's. One is just up your alley but the other is more of a Ranger skip."
"How much more?"
"Here take a look."
I took the files. First file: Justin Beasley, first timer, grand theft auto of his mother car, still living with his mother, no violence, she probably got mad because he was out with his girlfriend to late. Not a Ranger case. Second file: Marco Levine, definitely not a first timer, domestic violence, possession, carrying concealed uh-oh, resisting arrest with violence, maybe I should leave this to Ranger? How can I do that when no one knows where he is? Besides this is my job. Marco Levine can't be worst than the Slayers, right.
"I'll take them both." I said as I took the file with me out the door.
"You can always call Tank." Connie said to my back as I went out the door.
I climb into my car and opened up Justin Beasley's file again. He lived two blocks from my parents' house. This should be easy. I need to stop think that. Every time I think that something stupid happens and I look incompetent. I'm tried of looking incompetent. A knock on the passenger side window startled me.
I turned the key in the ignition and power down the window. "Shit! Lula you scared me."
"Where do you think you're going with out me," Lula said. "You know you need be to protect your white ass!"
I unlocked the door and she got in. "Where to first?" She asked.
I handed her the files and started the engine. "I thought we could go pick up Beasley and then I've got to go to my mother's house for lunch."
"After we pick Beasley up and take him to the station, were going to go by plenty of great places to have lunch."
"Yeah, but I've put off my mother for to long already."
"You can drop me off any where after we get Beasley. I don't mind."
"You're going with me."
"Why"
"Moral support" Moral support, Lula? My life was a mess.
I pulled up two doors down from Beasley's house. There was nothing list for employment so I assumed he would be home. Lula and I got out and walked towards the house.
"What do think .45, stun gun or pepper spray?" Lula asked as she rummaged through her purse.
"I think we knock, talk and cuff."
"That easy?" Why did she have to say easy?
"I didn't say any thing about this going to be easy. You take the back"
Lula started around the house and stop. She was just standing there staring at a 'Beware of Dog' sign.
"How about we both take the front." I suggested.
"Good idea. I've got your back." Sure she did I remember what happened the last time we were face with attaching dogs.
We each took a side of the door. I knock. I heard movement on the other side of the door. The door swung open.
"Dude" Mooner said as he step out the door onto the porch with a cloud of smoke. "Did I forget again?"
"No, but your friend Justin did."
"Justin?" He said and looked confused.
"Yeah, the guy that lives here." He looked like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.
"J-boy" Mooner called into the house.
Justin walked to the door in a haze of his own. "Dude"
"Justin Beasley?"
"Yeah"
"I'm Stephanie Plum. I work for you bond agency. You forgot to appear for you hearing. I need you to come with me to reschedule."
"What?" Justin said looking totally out of it.
"Don't worry J-boy. Stephanie will take care of you," Mooner said, "Hey, could I get a ride home?"
"Do we look like a taxi service?" Luna said puffing up.
"Yes, we'll give you a ride Mooner. Justin, why don't you lock up and come with us."
Just then the door to the other side of the duplex opened up and a fifty something lady walked out and pointed at me.
"I now who you are," she said. "You're that bounty hunter that caused poor Joe Morelli to loose his job."
"I had nothing to do with it."
"Yes you did. I heard all about it from poor Mrs. Morelli her self. How could you do this to such a nice family?"
"I didn't do anything," I said again to the lady and then turn to Lula and said, "Let's get out of here."
Justin locked up and we all head for the Buick.
"Cool car, dude"
"Yeah, thanks. Get in."
I put the car in gear and sped out of the neighborhood. When we got to the station I said to Justin, "If you have any pharmaceuticals on you, you might want to give them to Mooner for safe keeping."
Justin leaned over and handed Mooner something.
I walked Justin into the station. As we walked down the hall I could feel the hostility. I sat Justin on a bench and gave my paper work to guy behind the desk. I never get such fast service. It was like the guy was afraid to be seen doing his job with me present.
I said good-bye to Justin and left as quickly as possible. I climb into the Buick.
"That was quick," Lula said.
"Yeah. Wasn't it." I replied.
We drop Mooner off and head for my parents house. I pulled up to the curb and saw Mom and Grandma Mazur standing on the front steps.
I must have zoned out because I heard Lula say, "Are we going in or what?"
Lula and I got out of the car and headed to the house. I saw my mother take a look at Lula and me and shake her head as she walked back into the house.
"Well if it isn't Stephanie's colorful negro friend." Grandma Mazur said to Lula
"Well if it isn't Stephanie's bony white Grandma." Lula replied back. Oh this was going to me fun.
"Stephanie what is this I heard about you getting dumped by the cop because you were shacking up with the Cuban?" Grandma Mazur said as we walked into the house.
"Yeah, did you hear that Ranger kicked her out too?" Lula said to my grandmother.
"I did not get dump by Joe or kick out by Ranger." I said as we all entered the kitchen.
"Well that's not what I heard. Why is this happening to me? My daughter gets dump by men, two at a time." My mother said and made the sign of the cross.
"Mom, I did not get dump. Joe had to work out of town."
"From what I hear he's not working any where because of you," Grandma Mazur said.
"Because of me? Why does every one think this is my fault?"
"Because, you made Joe feel so bad when you left him for the Cuban. That he decided to go to the dark side."
"Joe did not go to the dark side. Are we going to eat or what?" I was almost ready to lose it.
There was little conversation while we all stuffed our mouths. I wish I could talk to Joe. I know all this gossip is not true, but I would feel better once I talked to him.
"Stephanie, do you want dessert or not." My mother was saying to me. I must be losing it if I zoned out on dessert.
"Yes of course I want dessert." I was almost yelling again.
"So are you going to try and get the ex-cop back now that he's on the dark side?" My Grandma asked me.
"Would you stop saying that? Joe is not on the dark side." I said through the cake in my mouth.
"What do you call it when a cop kills another cop so he can take over his illegal activities?" My mother said from the sink.
"I heard Morelli wanted to be able to compete with Ranger's money so he went bad." This was from Lula.
"This is ridiculous. We've got to get back to work." I said as I got up from the table. "Thanks for lunch. I'll talk to you guys later."
I practically ran to the car. I dropped Lula off at the office. I did not even go in to get my check. I headed for home. It was two in the afternoon and I was exhausted. I've been the center of gossip before but I always knew the true story. It was tiring not knowing. It's a good thing I had Joe's neighbor taking care of Bob. I don't think I have the energy to pick up pooh.
My cell phone chirp as I entered my apartment.
"Lo"
"Yo, babe"
"Ranger, I'm so glad you called. Do you know about Joe?"
"Yeah, I just stop in at Vinnie's and Connie filled me in."
"Oh" I was hoping Ranger would have information closer to the source. "You haven't heard anything except what Connie told you?"
"No"
"Damn"
"Sorry, babe I just called to let you know I was back in town and to tell you to call me when you are ready to take down Marco Levine. He's a mean guy. You don't want to try to get him with just Lula for backup."
"Ok, thanks"
"Later" Ranger said and hung up.
I walked into the kitchen. The light on my answer machine was blinking. Should I listen to my messages or not? Damn! I didn't want to hear any more about me messing up Joe's life, but what if Joe left me a message. I better listen.
The third message was from Joe.
"Hey, Cupcake. Just wanted to check in. If you aren't staying at the house, what are you doing about Bob? I've got to go. I'll see you in a few days."
What the hell kind of message was that? No don't worry, No I didn't kill anybody, No I didn't get kicked off the force, No I love you.
Damn! Mondays suck.
