Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde
This takes place after "It's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a new year"
A/N Thank you so much for reading along and for all your wonderful reviews. They really do keep me going. :) Thank you :)
M rating (mostly for language)
Thank you Margaret for reading ahead as my Beta. :) I much appreciate :)
And her insistence that Joe is just a man 'ho, spurred me on :)
Don't own the characters (except for Clyde), just playing :)
Chapter 13—Rolling on the floor crying
"Babe should we ask Ella to bring up dinner or would you rather go out? You've had some day."
"Clyde, what would you rather do?" I asked, not even sure if he was still in the apartment with us. It was evening and almost time to haunt Morelli.
"Out," was texted to my phone. "I haven't been out to dinner in almost 68 years."
This was going to be amusing. 'Table for two adults and one spirit.' Oh yeah, that would go over big.
"Clyde wants to go out. Can you think of somewhere really entertaining we can take him?"
"Babe." I could tell by the way Carlos said that, that he was getting annoyed with my wanting to bring Clyde with us. I figured I'd better come up with a good rationale for tonight, otherwise when I brought up building him his own room, Carlos was going to balk.
"If you'd been house-bound for almost 68 years, you'd want to go out too. And he doesn't eat or drink. He'd just be a casual observer."
"Our casual observer better not be observing us in our bedroom," Carlos said flippantly.
"I would never do that," appeared on my screen. "If I'm creating problems for you and Ranger, I'll just go over to Joe's."
"Carlos you hurt Clyde's feelings," I said, showing him the text. "Apologize."
"Clyde, I'm sorry," I said, knowing Carlos probably wouldn't. "Carlos is very protective of me and he doesn't like to share."
"I have an idea," Carlos said, ignoring my apologies. "Rocco lives in a co-op in Hamilton Township. I doubt he's there, he's probably at the Grizolli compound with the rest of the family, but I'd like Clyde to see where he lives. Clyde maybe you can go over there tomorrow and look around? We can go to Rats for dinner, it's right nearby and you'd probably like the place. It's unique."
I was glad Carlos was still including Clyde in our plans. It made me feel better.
There was another text to my phone. "I'd like to try to get into the Grizolli compound tomorrow too and I think I can help Hector use the security cameras there to our advantage. I should be able to get in and out undetected."
I showed the text to Carlos. I could tell by the way he nodded his head that he thought it was a good idea, but he had some apprehensions.
"We're not going to be able to get within five miles of the place, unless…hmmm. Maybe Hector can be some kind of a repairman. He can drive by and point the place out to you while he stops to reprogram his GPS. I can get a cable truck here tomorrow that we can use. Clyde, what do you think?"
"What's a cable truck?"
I had to laugh. Of course he wouldn't know what cable TV was. During his day there probably wasn't even color TV. And since Sweeney was a recluse he probably never had cable brought into the house.
"Cable TV is a way of watching television without interference. The guys that service it drive around in trucks with, I guess, everything they need in them to install the cable boxes." I said. It was the best explanation I could come up with.
"Cable TV uses coaxial cable to bring television signals directly into a house to a cable box which decodes them and allows you to switch channels so that you can watch the broadcasts," Carlos added. "We can probably use that same coaxial cable to record what's going on in the house and rebroadcast it back to us remotely. I'm sure Hector knows how to do that and he can probably show you what to do."
"I don't think I can generate enough energy to use tools. I think I'd serve you better if I used what I do have and sent you pictures and let you know what I was able to learn. I can go back more than once if necessary. Might be more fun than haunting Joe right now," Clyde sent to my screen. "Maybe I could make Rocco fall down the stairs and break something. Payback."
"Since we're including Hector in this plan, shouldn't we let him know?" I asked, silently chuckling about Clyde tripping Rocco.
"I can take him through it in the morning; unless the two of you would rather he come out to dinner with us tonight?"
I was all up for Hector joining us. I thought the more comfortable Clyde felt around the men, the more he'd offer to do. And Carlos did say he was a secret weapon.
"Want me to text him?" I asked. I knew if the text came from me, it would be more likely that Hector would join us. If it came from Carlos, I was afraid Hector might think he did something wrong and that he was going to get fired.
"Sure Babe."
I texted Hector and told him in a few words what was up and asked him to join us. The Cayenne was still out of commission and we wouldn't all fit comfortably in the Turbo, so we agreed to meet in the garage by the Explorer that Hector normally used.
I guessed Clyde would either follow the car or somehow join us for the ride. I'd already learned that he was able to get to wherever it was we were going.
"Hola Chica, Boss. Thank you for inviting me."
"I want you and Clyde to figure out a way to communicate," Carlos said to Hector in lieu of hello. "Clyde thinks he can help you adapt the security cameras at the Grizolli estate so that we can see what's going on. I told him you may have a better solution using the cable TV coax. You guys work it out. Unfortunately I can't give you any men. Grizolli knows most of us and we can't get anywhere near the place. But you are like a chameleon and can change your looks like other men change their clothes. I don't know how you do it, but it's a great asset in this business."
"Gracias. I either hide my tats or I don't. And Clyde and I should be enough men for the job. I know he can get in there undetected. Even if the cameras pick up his phosphorous display they won't know what it is. And as we've noticed he can control that display with his emotions."
"I promise not to get emotional," Clyde texted to me.
"Are you in the car with us Clyde?" I asked since he seemed to know what we were talking about.
"I'm right next to Hector. Your phone was easy to tap into, I'm having a hard time getting my thoughts onto his."
"Hector?" I asked, "do you have some kind of lock on your phone? Clyde wants to talk to you."
"Sí, I password protected and locked. When we get to Rocco's I'll take off the password. I tink it should work then."
"I can't get onto Ranger's phone either," Clyde told me.
"Carlos, Clyde is trying to talk to you too. Are you also doubly protected?"
"Yes. Hector set up all our phones the same way. Why can Clyde get into yours?"
"Um, I kept forgetting my password, so I asked Hector to just turn it off."
"Babe that's not a good idea. We have proprietary information stored on these phones. I'd rather you use that password."
"Then we would have never met Clyde," I said defensively.
"I can change the frequency and I tink Clyde can get through. I'll fix it in the restaurant. Chica, I'll put your password back on. Give me something you'll remember. How about 1015, you can't forget your own birthday."
"How do you know my birthday Hector?"
"It's common knowledge Babe, I'm pretty sure the core team knows it too."
We were outside of a condominium complex when Hector stopped the car. "This is where Rocco lives. 8B. He's on the top floor. He faces the Hamilton Marshes," Hector said taking out his phone to change something around.
"Ok Clyde, try now."
"It works," Hector said, "I got your text.
"Boss if you want to talk to him before we get to the restaurant, just turn your password off. I tink if I just change the frequency of the passwords Clyde can get through, but I'll need a few minutes with each phone."
Carlos took his phone out and fiddled around with something. "Ok it's off. Clyde, want to try me."
I looked over at Carlos' display and saw the text come in. It was from the 454-545 number. "Stephanie is a very beautiful woman and a wonderful person. But don't worry — I'm not trying to steal her from you. I'm dead, remember?"
"A ghost with a sense of humor," Carlos said. "And I'm keeping him to his promise."
I looked down at my iPhone and there was a new text to me from Clyde.
"I'm going to pay Rocco a visit, I'll find you at Rats in a few minutes."
"Do you know where it is?" I asked out loud.
"I know where your phone is. As long as it's with you, I'll find you. I want to look around Rocco's place while we're here. Tomorrow I want to visit the compound."
I showed Carlos my text and he nodded. I was pretty sure it would have been something he'd have done too if he was certain Rocco wasn't home.
"Ok. Stay safe," I texted back to Clyde.
Hector drove us to Rats. It was a kind of a pretty, kind of quirky French restaurant on Grounds for Sculpture, the sculpture park in Hamilton. I had never been there before, but I had heard really nice things about it. Lenny took Mary Lou there for their fifteenth anniversary not too long ago. Yeah, Mary Lou and Lenny got married right out of high school. I couldn't imagine being married that long.
Carlos ordered a bottle of wine and a couple of apertifs to have while we thought about the menu. I really wished Clyde could see the place. It was like a storybook village.
I ordered the Steak Frites and both Carlos and Hector chose the Chicken Ballantine. Everything sounded fabulous, even though the menu was not that elaborate.
"What did you order?" came as a text to my iPhone.
Clyde.
"You're here!" I texted back, not wanting to look like an idiot talking to the air, well just in case anyone was watching our table. "Did you find out anything?"
"He's a slop and he likes pornography. It looks like he hasn't been home in a few days. There were rotting bananas on his counter and his apartment stunk like a combination of bananas and dirty socks."
"Yuk."
"He has about ten thousand dollars in small bills in his underwear drawer. I didn't touch anything."
"You are grossing me out."
"Yeah and that reminds me, I have to show you something at the house before you start demolition."
"What?"
"I'll show you tomorrow after Hector and I get back from the compound. I'll text you." "Pretty place," he added with another text.
"Yeah it is."
"I just wanted to see it. I'm off to haunt Joe."
"Wait. Before you go, Hector wants to change the frequencies of the Rangeman password protection. Let's makes sure it works."
"Ok."
I handed my phone over to Hector and just spoke to the air that Clyde wanted to head out. Hector took my phone apart and did something to it with a small screwdriver.
"Ok try it now," Hector said handing it back to me but speaking to Clyde.
"It works," Clyde texted.
"Good. I'll recall all the phones at Rangeman and change everyone's frequency tomorrow before anyone heads out. This way Clyde can talk to anyone he wants to."
"I'm going Steph," Clyde texted again.
"Ok. Be safe."
"I think it's Joe that needs to worry about staying safe. I have a couple of things planned for him. Tell Hector I'll see him at eight."
Hector changed Carlos' and his own frequency while we waited for our meal to arrive. I was wondering what Clyde planned on doing to Joe. I just hoped whatever it was wouldn't put Bob in any jeopardy.
I sipped my wine and tried to enter into the conversation Hector and Carlos were having. They might as well have been speaking in Spanish for all I understood; my thoughts kept going back to Clyde. When I couldn't stand it any longer, I texted him.
"Please don't hurt him."
"Hurt who?" appeared on my screen.
"Joe. I know he's a jerk, but I would feel bad if anything happened to him."
"Don't worry. I'll send you pictures."
I didn't hear anything else from Clyde that night. But I woke up in the morning to find two pictures with my text messages. One showed all the cabinets and drawers in Joe's kitchen wide open. The other had all the clothing in the spare bedroom on the floor of the closet; the hangers they had been on were still in place on the bar. I chuckled to myself. This was exactly the kind of thing that would drive Joe mad.
I was still laughing to myself and contemplating my day when my cell phone buzzed with a call. It was from my grandmother's cell.
"I know where Lawrence Demarest is right now," my grandmother started in, referring to the Lawrence Demarest who was one of my FTAs. "His grandmother Louise just called me. He's at her house this second. If you pick me up right away we can get there while they're still having coffee and cake."
"Grandma, I told you before, he's dangerous. He stabbed one of his employees. Just give me Louise's address and I'll get him."
"If he's so dangerous why are you going by yourself? I could watch your back."
She had a point, but I wasn't buying it.
"I'll pick up Lula on the way there. I'm sorry grandma, I can't put you in danger. Mom would never forgive me if anything happened to you."
My grandmother finally gave me Louise's address and I grabbed all my stuff. I checked to see if my stun gun was charged and surprise, surprise it was. My cuffs were in my bag and my apprehension papers were in order. I was good to go.
The address she gave me was closer to Rangeman than it was the Bond's office. I'd promised Carlos that I wouldn't go off on my own, but if I wanted to catch him, the faster I got there the better.
I didn't want to bother Carlos; he and Tank were back in New Brunswick signing contracts, so I did the next best thing, I texted Clyde.
"Want to help me catch a criminal?"
"I would love to, but Hector just dropped me off at the Grizolli estate. I'll need at least an hour to fix the cameras the way Hector showed me."
An hour was too long; I'd lose Demarest.
"It's ok. We'll do it another time."
I hoped Carlos wouldn't be mad. I went down to the garage, but unfortunately the Cayenne was gone…either for repairs or Carlos took it this morning. There was another set of keys on the chain Carlos had given me. I figured they were probably for the Turbo that was still in its regular parking spot. I pressed the fob and hoped. Yep. They were for the Turbo.
I got in and fobbed myself out of Rangeman. I was at Louise Demarest's house five minutes later. I had my cuffs in my back pocket and my stun gun handy when I rang the bell. A man answered. I knew from grandma that Louise lived alone and was looking to hook up. Either she was dating much younger men or this was Lawrence. I took a chance on this being Lawrence.
"Lawrence Demarest?"
"Yeah? Who wants to know?"
"I'm Stephanie Plum. I represent Plum Bail Bonds. You missed your court date and need to come with me to reschedule."
"The hell I do," he said grabbing my stun gun from me and turning it around to tap me on the arm with it.
I realized as I fell to ground like a sack of potatoes that this wasn't a good idea.
When I came to Demarest was gone. And so was Carlos' turbo. Louise and I were each sitting on kitchen chairs, gags over our mouths. We were bound by rope to the chairs and the chairs were bound, back-to-back, to each other.
Shit.
My bag was about five feet in front of me, the contents spewed all over the floor. I guessed Demarest dumped it to find the keys to the turbo. I could see my cell phone, and if I could get to it we'd be in luck. Unfortunately I had a seventy-year old woman bound to a chair with me, so I couldn't pull my usual stunt of knocking the chair to the ground and swimming my way over.
I gave it a couple of minutes of thought before I had a plan.
"Louise, I'm going to try to get to my phone. When I stand, you'll be on my back. Don't try to fight me or we'll both fall over. Understand."
"Yes," she said in a very weak voice. I could tell she had been crying. 'I'm sorry. He's not a bad boy, he just doesn't want to go back to jail."
Unfortunately the court wasn't going to like this little stunt that he pulled and when I caught up with him, he was going to have to stay there for quite a while.
"Ok, I'm getting up now," I said standing up hunched over, Louise on my back.
I got about five steps before the rope slipped on Louise's chair and she moved sideways. I couldn't support her in that position and the both of us fell to the ground, with me on top of her.
"Louise are you ok?" I asked, panicking.
"I think so. And I think I can reach your bag."
"It's my phone that I want. If you can push it towards us I can use my foot to turn it on, I think."
She used her foot to reach for it, but the linoleum floor was slippery and the phone slipped even further out of her reach. I knew if we stayed in this position for any amount of time my weight on top of her was going to put her limbs to sleep. I desperately wanted to get to my phone, so I told her what I was going to try.
I rolled so that she was on top of me once again and I used my feet and stomach to worm my way towards the phone. I was inches in front of it, but my hands were useless as they were tied to my sides, and my feet were behind me. I had to get closer and try to use my head.
It just wasn't working. The back of the chair hit me in the back of the head whenever I tried raising my chin and if I kept this up I ran the risk of knocking myself out.
Suddenly I felt a rush of air.
"Clyde?" I called.
"There ain't no one here, you must'a knocked yourself in the head too many times. Who you calling to?" Louise said. Yesterday Clyde told me that if my phone was with me, he could get to me. It had to be Clyde.
"Chica?" Oh thank God.
"Hector, we're, in the kitchen."
"Babe," I heard. Oh no, he had to bring Carlos with him. He was going to be angry. Not only did Lawrence steal his car, but he stunned me and tied me up with his grandmother.
I heard footsteps come around to the kitchen door and then a huge belly laugh.
I looked up to see Tank, Carlos and Hector. Tank was laughing so hard he was wiping his eyes. I guessed I was being comic relief once again.