Previously:
The doctor continued, "If all goes well, she should be able to go home in about a week."
Ranger still didn't respond.
She was alive.
Chapter Nine
Joe parked his large truck around the corner of Abruzzi's house and walked leisurely down the sidewalk. The street was completely dark except for the flickering light coming from one of the streetlights.
A single light was on in Abruzzi's house. The colorful flicker of a television could be seen through the window. Joe walked soundlessly up to the window and took a quick glance around. There was no sign of Abruzzi. There was half a bowl of popcorn sitting on a side table and an empty beer bottle.
Joe made his way to the front door and tested the knob. Unlocked. He opened the door silently and crept into the room, not making a noise. He pulled his gun out of its holster and checked the barrel, making sure the canister was full. Then he leveled the gun in front of him and crept slowly through the room and down the adjacent hallway. There was a faint light shining under a nearby doorway. He walked up to the door and listened. There was the sound of a toilet flushing and then the sink being turned on.
Joe stood flat against the wall next to the door and cocked his gun, aiming it at the door. After a minute, the sink faucet was turned off and the door opened.
"Abruzzi," Joe called quietly.
A man walked out of the bathroom and took an assessing look at Joe. "Oh, it's you."
Joe grinned at put the gun back in its holster. "Did I scare you?"
"Not one bit."
"Liar."
Joe followed Abruzzi down the hallway and into the kitchen. "How did you find me here?" Abruzzi asked him.
"I talked to Charles Lankin."
Abruzzi laughed. "And what did he say? Did he show off his lovely scar?"
Joe laughed back, "Not quite. He warned me against coming to see you. Said that I should be cautious."
Abruzzi grinned, "I guess you didn't tell him the truth?"
"Why would I?"
"No reason. Want a beer?" Joe nodded. Abruzzi opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles and gave one to Joe. "So why are you here?"
Joe sighed and settled himself in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. "Steph's parents decided to turn off her life support today." Abruzzi looked surprised. "Don't worry," Joe said. "I went in and gave her a shot of the real antidote to the poison so that she wouldn't actually die. Nobody saw me do it."
Abruzzi nodded. "It wouldn't be nice for her to die too soon."
"But we have a problem," Joe said. "Mañoso has somehow found a way to connect me to you. He's suspicious."
Abruzzi cursed. "How did he figure that out? We did our best to keep this quiet."
Joe shook his head. "I don't know." They were both silent for a minute. "Well," Joe said, putting down his now-empty bottle of beer. "I've got to get going." He grinned at Abruzzi. "You should have seen the look on their faces when she didn't die after they turned off the machines. It was priceless."
Abruzzi laughed. "Wish I could've been there."
A.N. Okay, so what do you guys think of the new Morelli? Hehe, I wanted to try something different for once. I know this chapter is really short, but I wanted to get it out. I'll try to make the next one longer. (It's when Steph wakes up.)
Review please!
