Chapter 11- THE DANCE

The next morning as I pulled into the garage on Haywood, I had an uneasy feeling when I noticed Zero waiting for me. I got out and walked over-maybe he wasn't there for me; maybe it was just a coincidence. When I got I closer I noticed his pained expression,

"What's up?" I asked as I pushed the button for the elevator adding "going up"? I guess he was since he got in.

Zero was one of the Merrymen that I still had a hard time carrying on anything but a one sided conversation with. Generally when I ask a question he would reply but today it was like pulling teeth.

Once in the elevator Zero turned to face me. "I need a favor Stephanie "

"Okay let's hear it." I can't imagine what he needed from me. He was obviously nervous so maybe it was something personal

"I need help with a FTA," he told me.

"No problem, give me the file I'll do the research for you this morning." That was too easy, I was getting nervous.

"Thanks, but I already know where to get him."

That's what I was afraid of, other than research the only thing I can help the guys with is a distraction. "Zero I just did a job last night, I'm sure you heard how bad it went."

"Bad? The guys couldn't stop talking about it, sounded great"

"Great," I repeated" We started a bar fight."

"Yeah" Zero had a smile as big as any kids on Christmas morning.

"Boys" I said as I let out a breath and shook my head in disbelief. "What's the take down?" Zero returned immediately to the standard issue blank face as the elevator opened onto the 5th floor, but we stayed in the car.

"It's at Domiono's"

"Oh Hell No!" I screamed at him "I may dress up like a trashy slut to get the assholes out of bars but I draw the line at stripping."

"Listen Steph," Zero was trying to calm me down. "You wouldn't have to strip. My guy will be there this afternoon. Domino's doesn't turn into a tit… I mean topless bar until after six."

I knew this. I picked up a couple of FTA's there during the afternoon shift. The girls would be in various slut outfits but none were ever topless that early. I gave him an eye roll. My god I can't believe I'm considering this. Joe will kill me, my mother will need to go into rehab if she ever finds out, and Grandma will want to go with me all ran through my head but what came out of my mouth was "Let me see the file." I held out my hand and Zero solemnly gave over the file. As soon as I opened it and started to read I felt like I needed a shower, but I also knew I would do this job.

"How in the hell did he make bond?" I asked. This asshat beat up his girlfriend to the point she was unconscious and than left her at his office. Lucky for her the cleaning staff found her pretty quickly. The guy left her for dead. Yikes! Good for her though-she pressed charges. A lot of women are too scared.

"He's a respected lawyer and works with your ex," Zero told me.

"Well that right there should tell anyone he's not respectable." I muttered "I don't know anything about stripping."

"Ranger has that covered," he said as we stepped out of the elevator. Oddly enough all the guys piled out of the control room and money was exchanging hands.

"So," I asked looking right at Ranger. "How do you have this covered?"

"I'm bringing in an instructor for you Babe, the job is going down at 16:00 today, and she will teach you everything you need to know."

"Today? Crap! I don't have clothes for this, what about my consultation today?"

I'll take it for you, getting this guy is more important."

I couldn't argue with that. "How did you know I was going to do this?"

"I wasn't sure," Ranger confirmed while handing a $20 to Lester. He noticed my eyes and explained "The guys bet that once Zero told you where the job was you would put him to the ground and do bodily harm. I think you might need more gym time Babe. I'm disappointed," he told me. "But I'm proud of you too; you're acting like a professional."

Within the hour I was down in the gym dressed in some skimpy glitter outfit learning how to slink up and down a pole, then moving on to how to perform a lap dance. I was getting the moves down when Carla, my instructor told me" You're getting good at this, let's break for lunch." She was speaking my language, so I toweled off and we moved into the kitchen, I had forgotten what I was wearing until we appeared in the kitchen filled with Rangemen guys,

We were greeted with a Holy Shit a Sweet Jesus Mi Amora A damn Beautiful from Lester and several straight Damns and a Hola Steph from Hector.

Carla whispered, "Don't think about it you were fine five minutes ago. These are you friends right, go in there just like it's any other day."

"You're right." I told her and marched on in to get lunch. The guys were frozen in place as I stood in front of Lester. "Can I get by please?"

Lester looked me up and down and when his face came back to mine I saw the smile and smacked him on the arm, hard enough to snap him back.

"Sorry Steph lost my head there for a minute," he told me and stepped away.

I grabbed a sandwich and Carla did the same. She looked around the room while we took our seats at a nearby table." It would great to get a few of the guys and use them as props. Just to see how you do with a live test run."

This got a chorus of volunteers from the guys. I lowered my head and hid behind my hands. "I guess your right." I looked up at the eager faces staring at me. There was Lester and Bobby, I trusted both of them with my life so many times. They are part of my team. Hector was always a safe choice, but Junior and Woody were also looking on. I knew they were both good guys. I liked them well enough having worked a few stakeouts with them. There was also Raul and Sam, but I didn't know them as well. They worked in another area and I didn't see them often. That left Luis, Ella's husband who was fixing the sink, that was just a creepy thought, no way was I doing a lap dance for Luis.

"OK" I agreed "But I don't need all of you guys."

"No" Carla agreed "three or four of you will do nicely."

"Right" Bobby spoke up "Losers doesn't need to apply" he added pointing aimlessly around the room. "So who's in?"

"First if anyone won't be able to handle this like a grown-up and know it's just an act go ahead and leave now." I said while giving each guy my best 'Burg glare'. No one left but I didn't think anyone would. "Fine" I continued "Second if anyone does anything inappropriate and you all know what I mean I will make you eat you nuts."

Raul and Sam laughed. Junior and Woody knew me well enough to know I would do it and turned a light shade of blue. Lester and Bobby knew me the best and gave me a smile that said they understood

"OK" I said "I'm most comfortable with Lester and Bobby. Hector is a safe choice too." The groans went out between the others. Hector told me "Sorry Steph but I have to get back out to the streets."

This brought happiness and joy back into the room "Fine then it's between Junior and Woody either will be fine, you decide". I stood to empty my trash and Sam stopped me. "What about Raul and me, what's wrong with us?"

"I don't know you and you laughed at rule #2" I told him.

"Well what about Luis?" We all looked over at the sink and he said "its ok darling Ella would kill me."

"I don't care flip a coin, arm wrestle, do rock paper scissors. Junior or Woody will be the third. "

They looked thrilled at the competition and I thought maybe it would be better to just have them both, so I caved "Fine both of you can come, just remember best behavior guys".

Ranger had turned of the cameras in the gym earlier so we had no eyes on us. I called to let Tank know I was using the four guys and they wouldn't be back from lunch. He was ok with it, just told me not to ruin them he needed them later and hung up.

We all went back to the gym, Carla started up the music and the guys pulled chairs onto the floor. I started with Bobby. It was weird but Bobby being Bobby made everything easy and I started to get into the groove. I moved off Bobby and over to Lester. I started to grind my way down to his lap just inches from touching him letting my fingers trail down his chest I was grinding away when I felt Lester's reaction. I stopped and glared my eyes at him. "Sorry Beautiful, it's a natural reaction I couldn't stop it. I was trying , I was thinking about cars, that didn't work. Hell I was even thinking of your crazy grandma, but not even that worked. I even thought about Morelli kicking the crap out of me, I can't help it Steph you are certainly worth it."

Ok that was actually kind of nice I gave him a kiss on the check and moved off of him and looked at Woody "Are you able to control yourself?"

"Yes ma'am your crazy grandma is working for me." I'm not sure I want them thinking about Grandma Mazur but if it's working I'm not going to complain. I moved over to Woody and started the dance over. Grandma was doing the trick for Woody and I moved on to my last dance with Junior when Ranger and Tank walked in

"Holy Shit Stephanie" Tank hollered out "This is what you needed the guys for?"

I wheeled around shocked, surprised and embarrassed that they walked in.

"I need live test subjects." I explained

"Well Babe how did it go?"

I turned and looked and the guys "Well?"

They all smiled at me it was Bobby that spoke "She's ready," he told everyone.

"Great" Ranger said "Grab something to put on we have an op briefing in 15." And he was gone. Tank stayed frozen in place. Still stunned I guess.

"What?" I asked him.

"I told you I needed them in working order for later."

"And they are fine."

"I'm not fine Steph and you didn't even dance for me."

"Jealous?"

Tank just smiled at me "Come on I have a button up shirt in my locker you can use for the meeting." And we walked out together leaving everyone else behind. Carla was done for the day and paid very nicely for her instructions. Everyone else joined Tank, Ranger, and me in the conference room. Zero was point man and took the lead.

"Randall Morstien will be at Domino's at 16:00, taking in the businessman special. Steph the plan is for you to offer him a private dance. Move him into a room. Junior, Woody Ranger, Tank and I will be there for the take down. Bobby and Lester will be on the floor watching you."

"Any questions?" Ranger asked. No one spoke. "Go get geared up." Everyone was leaving when Ranger stopped me with his very own question. "Babe, can you do this?"

"I'm a pro." I told him.

We got to Domino's. Zero had set everything up with the manager earlier in the day and he was waiting for us.

You can use room three for the take out," he mis-spoke. "There is an exit door to the alley you can use in the back of the room." Turning to me he asked, "You must be Mrs Morelli, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, thanks for the help today."

"Carla tells me you are a natural. If you are thinking about a career change?"

Well that made me blush. "Thanks but this is a one time thing" I told him as Carla appeared at the stage.

"I see you are still dressed come on up." Carla bent down to give me a hand up on the stage where I had a complete view of the room. I was to pole dance until Morstien showed up and sat down. All the other girls knew he was off limits and to stay away. Carla never left my side and I found we could talk to each other up there. She carried on the conversation asking me about the guys today. I told her all about them and was really starting to get over my 'stage fright'.

Maybe it was my overload of sexual hormones. Joe and I hadn't had much time together since we gotten back. That first week we both spent a lot of extra hours catching up on our case loads and the Fiorito case was coming up. Sure enough Sal Jr has come back to town and he brought with him some big time hot shot Chicago lawyer.

The DA was getting nervous and driving Joe crazy. All of our free time, we spent on the reception. Carla had told me it was ok for me to take the outfit home, it was hers not the clubs, if I wanted to borrow it.

I thought Joe might like a private lap dance by his very own glittered up dancer. As I was hanging on the pole Morstien walked in and sat down. I finished out the move and moved over to him "Care for a private dance?"

He looked me over and said, "Sure Sugar". I grabbed his hand and moved him into room three. The takedown went like clockwork. Junior and Zero had him on the ground and cuffed. Tank moved me out of the way and handed me his shirt from earlier.

"Thanks. If I'm done here I'm on my way home. I'll bring your shirt back."

"No rush you look good in it."

And with that I was on my way home to surprise Joe with my talents.

Joe was already home when I got there, so I stripped off Tank's shirt and rushed inside "Joe" I hollered out.

"In the living room."

I rounded the corner and came face to face with Joe's thirteen year old nephew Robbie.

Robbie was just starring at me in my gold barely there bikini and glittery body. "Oh shit" I screamed and dashed down to the basement to hide. I was never coming out again.

"Stay there," I heard Joe tell Robbie and then, "Steph wait up."

I stopped at the end of the stairs Joe was at the top. "Damn" he said. "Damn Cupcake." Joe sailed down the steps and grabbed me up kissing me while walking me back up against the wall. We both got caught up in the heat of the moment. Joe had his tongue in my mouth and we were doing a dance of our own. The glitter from my body was being transferred to Joe as he rubbed up against me. His hands came to my hair just as we broke the kiss.

With the oxygen returning I remember why we were in the basement.

"What is your nephew doing here?"

"He needed to talk to me. Apparently he has girl trouble and can't talk to his dad about it."
"Well that's a good thing. No offense Joe but your sister married a jerk."

Robbie was the oldest son of Joe's oldest sister Kathy. I really liked Kathy, she always made me feel welcome and accepted but her husband Kevin was an ass. He make Kathy wait on him hand and foot even after she has worked a long hard day herself. Kathy is a teacher at the high school- English I think. She deals with all those kids all day long. Then she comes home with papers to grade and stuff but has to have a wonderful Burg dinner on the table at six and if Kathy is lucky he will be there on time. I have been at Morelli dinners with them and the way he speaks to her makes my skin crawl.

Joe acknowledges, "Yeah he is I guess that's why Robbie is upstairs, what is all this about?" He asked waving his finger up and down my body his eyes following and growing deeper in chocolate color. "I like it a lot why don't you wait upstairs for me?"

"Actually I need a shower this glitter is starting to get to me; we can re-visit the outfit another time." I told him grabbing my robe from the dryer. Joe and I went up stairs together, him to the living room and me to the shower.

I got out of the shower and dressed. I was moving into the bedroom when the phone rang, it was Lula

"Hey girl I need your help"

What's going on Lula?"

"I'm in the park and I found Ryan Green. Vinnie has been going bat shit crazy over finding him. Well I found him but I need your help , no way I can do this alone. "

"Okay," I tell her. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Do you have the file?"

"Yeah/ I got so tired of listening to Vinnie whine I took it. I wasn't planning on doing anything with it but here he is."

"Let me finish getting dressed and I'll be there."

"Didn't know you and Officer Hottie were getting it on."

"We weren't. Never mind I'll be there in a bit." And I hung up.

I pulled my hair back into a pony tail, laced up my boots and found my cuffs, spray and stun gun and went downstairs.

"Joe I'm going to help Lula," I yelled while trying to find my purse. I turned around and smacked right into Joe holding my bag. "Thanks. How's it going in there?"

"My sister is married to a real ass. I'm going to have to talk with her. Some of the stuff he told Robbie about girls is wrong. If that creep treats my sister like that I will punch him."

I leaned in to kiss him. "You are a good brother; a good man and a good uncle, now go in there and set him straight. When I get back we can re-visit that little outfit from earlier and you can show me the right way to treat a woman." I gave him another kiss, grabbed my bag from him, patted his ass and left.

I got to the park ten minutes later than I had planned and spotted Lula right away.

It was hard to miss her in her bright orange spandex halter top and black spandex mini skirt. If she was to bend over one way or another we were going to see more of Lula than we wanted.

I walked over and she pointed out our guy and passed me his file. Ryan Green held up an ATM and broke into it taking just under $5000.00. He was charged with doing this seven other times making his total 40,000 dollars. With this take down Lula & I would split $4000.00. He was known to be armed and he didn't look like he would be happy to see us. I stood up and took inventory. I had my gun on my hip, my cuffs in the back pocket, pepper spray left front and stun gun in the right. I looked at Lula "Ready to roll?"

"Ready," she replied.

I took the right and Lula the left.

"Hi there I'm Stephanie and that's my friend Lula. We're bond enforcement agents for Vincent Plum." I said grabbing hold of his hand. "We would like for you to take a ride with us to get rebonded."

I finished my spiel. He must have been on something he looked confused but as I took his other hand to cuff him he swung around and knocked me to the ground. Lula jumped at him but he turned and knocked her off balance as I was trying to get up he came at me again. He grabbed a nearby trash can and threw it at me. Trash went everywhere, including all over me. Okay, now I was mad. I had been trash free for a year.

Lula slowly got to her feet while Green was looking for something else to use as a weapon. He was focused on me while I was brushing off trash and cursing a blue streak. Lula used this to her advantage, running into him from behind and knocking him to the ground. He hit his head on a tree root that was sticking out of the ground, and knocked himself out. Lula wasted no time slapping the cuffs back on him. I gave him a jolt with the stun gun for 'trashing' me, and then we hauled him into Lula's firebird for transport. She got behind the wheel and peeled off towards the cop shop.

I was cleaning myself off feeling glad that it was mostly paper trash, only a few ketchup packets were on me when I heard from behind "Well the newest Mrs. Morelli." I wheeled around to see who it was "And I haven't been able to give my best wishes. Of course since it was your husband that arrested Michael and from what I understand your information that got Viper found maybe best wishes aren't what I want to give."

Okay it was Sal Jr. and he was giving me the creeps.

"Sorry for the trouble your family is having" I told him "But I was just on my way home." And yes my stun gun is charged

"Well don't let me keep you Sweetie. You run right home to your cop, I'll see you around." And he moved out of my way.

I got back to my car and was surprised to see I was shaking. As threats go that wasn't very threatening but the way he said it and the way he looked at me? I have had enough crazies stalk me to know the type. Sal Jr. was definitely a scary dude and he was out looking for revenge.

I drove home and walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer. I poked my head into the living room and noticed Robbie was gone and so was Joe, I hollered out "Joe?"

"Be right up" he answered from the basement. I heard him and Bob bound up the stairs. Joe keeps a boxing bag and some weights down there. We both use the bag him for punching, me mostly for kickboxing. It's a fun way to get in shape and learn some skills. Joe was unwrapping his hands as he came up the stairs

"What happened to you?"

"Ran into Sal Jr. at the park."

"And he put ketchup all over you?" Joe inquired.

"No the FTA did that, then Lula cuffed him and I stunned him."

"You mean you stunned him then Lula cuffed him." Joe corrected always looking out for me.

"Yeah, sure. Sal Jr. is nuts."

"What did he do?"

"Nothing really? Just wished us his best and then made sure I knew you arrested Michael and I was the one that found Viper and gave Ranger the information."

"Did he touch you? Threaten you or do anything?"

"No but it's in his eyes and his voice. He was doing it without doing it you know." I took another pull of my beer and turned to go upstairs to take another shower. I looked at Joe and noticed the thin gleam of sweat so I asked "Want to join me in the shower?" Just like that Joe's eyes went from black and blank to sexy chocolate brown.

In the shower Joe lathered me up starting with my hair pulling his fingers though it to the ends and massages my scalp from front to back piling it up on top in a soapy bun. He reached in and laid kisses around my neck. He grabbed my body gel that smells like strawberries and cream. Starting at my shoulders, he massaged the stress of the day away. Joe then sucked on my ear lobe and moved his hand down my left arm to intertwine our fingers. He repeated this move with my right arm and we ended up with both hands intertwined. Joe pushed me up against the shower wall with a mind melting kiss. His tongue licked my lips asking for entrance. I parted them and welcomed him into my mouth. I felt Joe's growing erection with every dip his tongue made. He broke the kiss and pulled me back under the water. He poured more body gel onto his hands and stroked my hips while moving me to the wall again. His hands traveled to my breasts cupping each one and rolling my nipple between his fingers.

"You like that Cupcake?"

I was beyond the ability to speak. I just looked in his eyes and let out a low and soft moan.

"I'll take that as a yes". He moved his hands down to my stomach, passing back over my hips and down my right leg. Joe was kneeling down in the shower running his hands up and down my thighs with his head at just the right level.

I managed to let out "please." Joe tilted his head and kissed my lips sucking them letting my juices tease his lips and his tongue sneaked between my folds. He flicked that spot and I exploded screaming his name as I did.

Joe looked up into my eyes and said "I Love the way you do that." He reached behind himself to grab the shower gel and continued down my legs and back up until his fingers reached the promised land once again. With two fingers inside Joe stood up and pulled me back into the water and as we rinsed off Joe brought me to ecstasy once more. We quickly got finished with the shower and wrapped towels around us.

We didn't waste any time getting into the bedroom. I pushed Joe down on the bed and climbed onto him to return the favors I was given earlier. With Joe begging for control and losing fast I saddled myself on top of him. Joe grabbing hold of my hips and thrust himself inside of me.