Yes, yes, yes. I keep forgetting to add that these characters belong to Janet Evanovich.
Chapter 11
Ranger worked in his office with his door open. He was waiting for the special ring on Stephanie's phone to advise her that Lula was on the line.
He heard the distinctive tone that signalled that Lula was calling. He could hear Stephanie move her chair and stand up. She was walking to the washroom to speak in private.
He waited impatiently for her footsteps to return. He wondered who she would ask: Tank or himself. He had already briefed Tank on what might happen, hopefully.
Stephanie returned to her desk. She sat there pondering her move. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she made a decision.
He crossed his fingers hoping she would choose him. He looked down. He had not done that in so many years. What a childish gesture, but right now he needed all the help he could get.
Stephanie stood up and walked toward Tank's office. Ranger's fingers uncrossed. She had chosen to ask Tank. She had chosen who she thought would give her permission. He could feel his heart thud in disappointment.
She stopped. Tank's phone was ringing and he had picked it up.
Stephanie pondered her next move. Should she wait, or should she ask Ranger. Lula was waiting for an answer.
She turned slightly and advanced to his door hesitantly.
He was working at his desk and looked up at her timid knock.
"Hey, Babe, you need to see me?" came out of his mouth. Damn, it sounded like she was bothering him, even to his ears.
Stephanie stepped into the office.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Ranger but Lula called me, and wanted to know if she could bring some lunch with her to share with me, since I haven't been to the office. She says she needs to talk to me about something. Would it be OK if she came? You said that I could see my family in a conference room, and I was wondering if that included a friend?"
Ranger pondered.
"Sure Babe, check which one is available and we can cut the feeds while you are there. It might be good for you to have a visit with someone. You've been working pretty hard and need a break. Let Vince know; he's on building scheduling this week."
Stephanie murmured a quiet thanks and backed out.
Ranger could see her pull her phone out of her pocket. She was walking to Vince's desk as she spoke.
She at least was willing to see someone. Go Lula!
Her phone buzzed again. Junior was on the desk downstairs and buzzed Stephanie that Lula was there.
Ranger brought up the camera from the lobby. Lula had her arms full of bags of food from Cluck in a Bucket, Pino's and Tasty Bakery. It was a massive amount of food for two people.
He watched as the elevator arrived and Lula stepped in. He changed cameras and watched as Lula stepped off on five. Stephanie was waiting for her and they walked into Conference Room A. It was a much smaller room used to see potential clients. It had a slightly less austere feel and the chairs were rolling types with extra cushioning. The walls were a softer brown and the rug had more of a luxurious feel. There were pictures on the walls and a coffee maker by the door. Stephanie had made a good choice choosing this room.
Ranger phoned the monitoring station.
Lenny, a new hire, answered. "Cut all the feeds from Conference Room A until I say to put it back on."
Lenny's voice spoke. "Sir, yes sir."
Ranger hung up.
~~~o0o~~~
Lula put her bags on the table and turned to Stephanie. Her arms opened and she gave her a hug hello.
Stephanie had never come from a huggy family, but as she was embraced by Lula it felt good.
Lula spoke.
"Missed talking to you, Skinny Girl, and I do mean skinny. You done lost a lot of weight here. While I think of myself as big and beautiful, maybe I could shed a few pounds myself."
Stephanie murmured. "I wouldn't recommend my method, Lula."
They set about taking the food out of the bags and laying them on the table.
They both sat down. The repast in front of them was almost overwhelming. There were meatball subs from Pino's, a large bucket of chicken from Cluck in a Bucket with slaw and fries in carry-out containers, and donuts of almost every color from Tasty Bakery.
Stephanie's stomach growled in anticipation.
Lula waited for her to choose first. Pino's won and Stephanie pulled a meatball sub closer to her. Lula opened up the chicken bucket and grabbed a drummie.
There was only the rustling of paper and at least one smacking of lips for the first few minutes.
Lula had moved on to the slaw and fries. She motioned pouring some on Stephanie's plate but she held up her hand in surrender. Her stomach had shrunk and she was having trouble finishing the first half of the sub.
Finally admitting defeat, she put the remaining piece down on the paper and licked her fingers from the marinara sauce that had oozed out.
Lula was still working her way through the bucket.
Stephanie looked at the donuts sitting in the opened box. Her eyes settled on the green sprinkled one. She had forgotten about St. Patrick's Day which was tomorrow. She looked a bit sad as she thought that last year she had decorated her cubicle and had enlisted Ella's help with green liquids for the guys. She had hoped that maybe this year she could have snuck green desserts onto the floor. She had heard there was such a thing called minty nanaimo squares.
Lula watched her as she stared at the donut.
She put her chicken wing down reluctantly and wiped her fingers on a napkin. Pulling her bag to her she reached in and pulled out a small plastic bag from The Dollar Tree.
"I remembered how you said how much fun you had decorating last year so I thought I would bring you some stuff in case you had run out. She handed the bag to Stephanie and once again picked up her piece of chicken, biting into it. Stephanie did not see Lula watch carefully as she opened the bag.
Inside were streamers and shamrocks, little leprechauns and a flat green top hat on a string. She had included green silly string in a spray can.
Stephanie looked at Lula but she had quickly given her attention to another piece of chicken.
A small smile peeked out.
Stephanie carefully put all the material back in her bag. She would be busy tomorrow, or maybe even later tonight.
They sat back, waiting for their meal to settle.
Stephanie played with the hem of her shirt.
"You said that something was bothering you, Lula. What's wrong?"
Lula put the bony carcass of the chicken breast on her plate. She cleared her throat as if it was hard to speak.
"I told you that I got a side job and the pay was good. As you know, Vinnie cries every time he has to hand over money and I was looking to supplement myself so I could add to my wardrobe or look at a new car.
A friend called me with a favor one afternoon and I had nothing to do so I said yes. He told me that his regular delivery boy was sick and he needed a parts delivery to a business done before business closed that day.
It was easy, I did it and forgot about it till I got another call. Same thing, the delivery boy was busy and he needed another part delivered. I was feeling like one of those in-town couriers. Everyone was polite and I like to drive.
He paid me in cash since he said the HR girl didn't like casual on her payroll.
It was easy stuff at the beginning, and then it started to get a bit more and more. I didn't think that it was wrong, but I'mma starting to think that there is something fishy going on."
Lula stopped. She looked at a donut as if for strength but her fingers never moved toward the box.
"The last two deliveries I was starting to suspect that there might be drugs in there. I think I am being used as a mule, Stephanie. I get the instructions over my phone, pick up a package and deliver it to somewhere. Nobody signs anything and I get cash later, a lot of cash.
I don't know what to do, Steph. He was a friend and I thought I was giving him a hand, but I think he has pulled me into something I want nothing to do with. I thought of leaving town until it blows over and he forgets about me, but I have been reading about people being killed if they talk, or try to leave."
Stephanie sat in stunned silence. This was bad; really, really bad. If Lula got caught she could go to jail for a long time. Possession for the purpose of trafficking. If it came across state lines, the FBI would be involved.
Morelli didn't talk about his work much but he had participated in lots of undercover assignments trying to stop the sale of drugs and he had admitted that lots of mules had been caught and were paying the price in jails and prisons all over the world.
Food was forgotten as they both pondered their next words.
Stephanie spoke first.
"Lula, I know you don't want to hear this but you have to tell someone. If you get caught..." and she couldn't go on.
Lula grunted.
"That's why I'm talking to you. I need a plan here."
Stephanie was wracking her brain. The obvious choice would be Joe, but she wasn't sure she wanted to talk to him. She thought of Ranger, but then she thought of Tank. He would be heartbroken when he heard.
She looked at her friend.
"You need to talk to Joe. I'm sorry Lula, but if you work with the police now, maybe they can help you later. If you wait and it goes down, you could be looking at 20 years!"
Tears sprang to Lula's eyes. She had heard stories of the problems that mules had. She had heard stories about them being sentenced in foreign countries, never to be seen again. She hated that she had ever answered the phone.
They sat silently each in their own thoughts.
Stephanie shuddered. What she was about to suggest rankled against all that she held dear.
She looked at Lula and Lula knew what she was about to say.
"I gotta think about it. Maybe I can just take off and hide somewhere until it calms down. I have some family out west who I have not seen for years."
Stephanie was shaking her head. If she headed out of state, and they found out about her, she would not be dealing just with the local police but state police throughout the country.
"Trust me Lula, I've been learning recently that in the long run running away hasn't helped me at all."
Stephanie pulled out her phone and placed it on the table. Her posture had changed from insecure and downtrodden to alive and alert. She could feel the difference in herself as she spoke.
"I love you, Lula, but if you do not call Joe right now, I will."
Lula looked at her. Stephanie had morphed almost in front of her eyes.
She slowly pulled her phone out of her ample cleavage and placed it on the table, hoping that it would somehow go away. Stephanie watched her and she shuddered, then picked up the phone.
She dialed the number and waited.
Stephanie could hear the ringing of the phone then the connection.
"Morelli".