Chapter Seven
Joe sat at his table with Stephanie. Every since her apartment was trashed she seemed different. "What's up, Cupcake?"
"Nothing."
"Hey, it's me. The man you ran over with your Dad's car—you can tell me."
"That's just it...everyone I love gets hurt."
"Do I look hurt?" He paused watching her face. "The only thing that could hurt me is losing you," he added reaching for her hand. "Come on, Cupcake let's go to bed. I've got an early morning meeting."
"What's new."
"Yeah, it's a bitch, but I love it."
Stephanie smiled. She knew Joe loved her, but he also loved his job, and she was tired of having a three way relationship. The fact was, she wanted Joe Morelli to herself, even if it was only for a short time.
At precisely 3:33 Joe's smoke detectors went off. The house was full of smoke, and he could see a fire raging downstairs. He jerked Stephanie out of a deep sleep. Going to the window, he flung it open and pushed her against the sill.
"Steph," he yelled, "listen to me, hold on to the trellis and carefully climb down.
His instructions were augmented by Tank outside in the yard. "You can do it—just one hand and foot at a time. Come on, I'm right here...it's not far."
Between the two men, they managed to get a dazed Stephanie to the ground. Joe quickly climbed down after her and was greeted by Bob.
"I heard him and broke a window," Tank explained.
"Thanks." Joe turned back and watched the inferno that was swiftly consuming his down stairs.
"Molotov cocktails," Tank said looking at Morelli, "through the front windows, two maybe more...no wick, probably a professional job."
"The perps?" asked Joe, rapidly assuming cop mode.
"Small silver SUV...no tag."
"Silver Ford Escape?"
"Could be."
Tank's eyes drifted to Stephanie, and he quickly hid a smile. Joe's eyes followed.
"Uh, Cupcake, close your robe."
Stephanie looked down and saw that in her haste she had picked up one of Joe's boxers. It read the Italian Stallion and underneath had a picture of a large penis.
"Interesting combination," remarked Tank looking from the shorts to Steph's lacey push up bra.
Pulling her to him, Joe reached out and closed the robe.
It took the fire department 30 minutes to respond and another 15 minutes to set up the hoses. By that time, the house was burnt to a crisp.
Morelli told the attending police officers about the Molotov cocktails and the silver Escape.
"I'll fill out the report, but as you know we'll have to wait for the Fire Marshall to investigate. We'll probably have his information in a couple of days."
"I can't believe they burned down my fucking house," Joe mumbled draping his arm around Stephanie. "Cupcake, I don't know where we're going to stay."
"You're staying at RangeMan," Tank announced.
"Won't Ranger be there?" Steph asked.
"Ranger is currently occupied elsewhere."
"But...?" she continued looking at Tank.
"Ranger told me to move you and Morelli into RangeMan, and that's what I'm going to do—end of discussion. You can work everything else out with Ella." Tank paused and looked hesitantly at the dog.
"It's okay…he can stay with Marianne Mikulski," Joe offered. "She has a dog, and the two of them play together."
...
By the time they arrived at RangeMan, it was well into the morning. Ella had all Ranger's personal belongings in storage and had added a few new additions to the apartment. A large tray of snacks sat in the kitchen along with a note from Ella. Call me, Intercom #6, if you need anything, Ella. The Bvlgari Green Tea Shower Gel was gone. In its place was an expensive collection of various shower gels and soaps in small sample sizes. Vases of fresh flowers were scattered around the rooms. Ranger's apartment looked more like an upscale hotel room than his home, and Stephanie realized that a hotel room was exactly what it had always been. A place for Ranger to use when he needed it, as long as he needed it. It was never his home. She doubted if Ranger really had a home—a place of his own with someone he loved, and she hoped that someday he would find one.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sigh from Morelli. She walked over and hugged him. "I'm sorry your house burned down."
"Me too, but at least the important things are safe."
"Us?"
"Yeah, us." She watched his eyes turn dark and felt his arms wrap around her.
"You're not going to work?" she whispered.
"No…not today."
