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Chapter 14
Ranger and Tank returned to Rangeman. They had been on a bit of a fact-finding journey and the feeling on the street was excited.
It sounded almost like something big was going to explode in the next few days. Low level dealers were taking orders.
Middle level was ramping up their delivery systems and checking for bugs and informants. Nothing seemed to be out of place, yet.
Tank's his hand slid off the phone sitting on his hip. He wanted to talk to her but if he did, Lula might suspect that he knew of her difficulties at the present time.
He hoped that she would come out clean but he knew that if Morelli was involved, it would be unlikely. He was too good a cop to let something like this slide.
Tank could not see her handling a prison setting very well. Lula was an upbeat person but being locked up against her will would make that never-say-die attitude dim to possibly a nonexistent level. Both her parents had been sent to prison along with her sister at one point in time, and Lula had always vowed she would not be following in their footsteps.
At the same time, Tank was worrying about Stephanie too. They were best of friends and the thought of Lula being locked up would make her very sad too, replaying over and over in her mind where she could have guided her in another direction if she had known.
He checked the camera in the main office and watched her as she worked on the computer. Her shifts were over yet here she was working.
Tank did not see any files open on her desk. It appeared that she was on a search on her own time. It almost looked like... hmm.
Tank phoned Hector.
He cut to the chase. (Italics means spoken in Spanish)Bring up Stephanie's computer and check what she is working on right now.
Tank's phone buzzed. Hector was back on the line.
"Estephonia is looking up drug busts during the past year in parts of the eastern seaboard and their resulting jail terms. She has cross referenced the DEA opening a new office in New York. Now, she is checking plane, train and bus schedules for times arriving in Trenton during the next three days."
Tank hung up. He just knew that she was getting her nose into what was happening. The only problem was that she was their best person for searching for that needle in the haystack and the fact that she had already delved into it meant that they would have to be extra vigilant to keep her safely in the building.
Tank checked his schedule and noted that Vince had now taken over from Manny. He phoned down to the main lobby.
"Front desk", came the deep baritone voice of Vince.
Tank spoke.
"Did Manny brief you on the need to guarantee that Stephanie not leave the building under any circumstances?"
Vince replied.
"He left a note and underlined it three times for emphasis."
Tank hung up. So far, so good.
Tank checked his watch. It was 2000 hours. She had not taken a break for any food or drink.
He stood up and walked out the door, heading for her cubicle.
"Little Girl, it is way past your shift. I assume that you will be staying on seven tonight. Should I release the apartment on four?"
Stephanie stopped her typing.
"I totally forgot, Tank. I'm sorry. I was working on a special project and totally forgot the time. If it is OK, can I finish it?"
She blushed and surreptitiously tried to cover up the paperwork she had been printing off.
She looked at Tank but didn't meet his eyes.
"Would it be OK if I decorated my cubicle a bit? Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and everyone is an honorary Irishman on St. Pattie's Day, even you Tank."
She looked away as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. She seemed to get the point that he had never been nor was ever planning on joining the Honorary Irishman's Club.
She blushed and looked down.
He spoke.
"Don't work too long. You are on shift at 0730 tomorrow, and that's because you have not attended one of my morning meetings in quite awhile. Little Girl, since by all indications you are going to be gracing our presence for awhile, you need to catch up on the new procedures we are introducing."
He realized afterward that she had not answered his question. Well, it was too late to worry about it tonight. Tomorrow would be another day.
Tank headed for his apartment. He had been on duty for almost 16 hours. His feet hurt and he was worried about Lula.
He decided to give her cell one more try.
She answered on the second ring, almost hesitant. He could hear the tremor in her voice.
"Lula Belle, you answered."
Lula tried to keep her voice calm.
"Hey Tankie. I'm just sitting here watching some stupid tear jerker of a movie."
Tank knew she was trying to cover up her crying.
He thought. "I just got off shift and I haven't had anything to eat. What say I bring over something to eat (please don't say slaw) and we can watch that movie together?"
Lula could be heard turning off the television. "Sure, Tankie Bear. How 'bout Pino's?"
Tank smiled. He already had his keys in his hand as he spoke.
"I'll just pick it up and be right over."
He hung up and dashed for the stairs.
~~~o0o~~~
Ranger, on the other hand, was sitting up on seven, eating alone. Stephanie had politely declined eating supper saying that she was still very full from lunch and wanted to get some more searches done.
He sat at his desk in his office and checked the cameras in the main control room. She was furiously typing, then printing, then sitting with her feet on her chair and reading with her yellow highlighter gripped in her right hand, highlighting words here and there. Her brow was creased in concentration.
Ranger had come up and had a quick shower, then, unable to contain his curiosity, he had checked for her clothes in the boxes. They were still neatly standing in a corner, but he smiled anyway.
She had not moved, at least not yet. Rex was still on the kitchen counter and it was obvious that Ella had visited before she had taken off for the evening. He had fresh fruit and vegetables in his bowl and it looked like homemade hamster nuggets too.
He could see Rex laying half in his soup can, almost passed out from all the healthy food now in his diet.
Ranger had made himself an egg white omelet with spinach and peppers and sat at the kitchen counter.
He was re-living the conversation he had with one of his contacts on the street.
~~~o0o~~~
Flashback
Molly had been a street-walker for a number of years. She liked the excitement but was careful of who she dealt with. She had her regulars and she had her corner. Fortunately, she had a somewhat understanding pimp who didn't beat her for talking to someone.
Tank had stayed back as Ranger approached her. He was checking and watching for trouble. The sight of Tank on their street sent the curious scurrying away.
Ranger had brought Molly a coffee. She loved coffee, and he had started to bring her flavors from different countries from the Starbucks down the street. She was not welcome in there and the only time she could have one was if Ranger or someone else brought her one.
Molly smiled as he held out the distinctive cup. She could smell the aroma as he walked toward her. She took the cup and gave an appreciative sniff as she removed the lid.
"You brought me this one three weeks ago, Ranger. You are slipping."
Molly smiled as she took a sip and her eyes closed in satisfaction.
Ranger could not help it but smile too. Molly was such a character. He had discussed maybe changing professions, but she was adamant. Not many people knew she had a Master's in Sociology. She had been raised in a well-to-do family setting and her financial future was secure if she went back but she wanted her life on her own terms.
Ranger had come to the conclusion that she was indeed using the knowledge she gained in university and studying people. He had read her thesis. It was titled "Knowing the Person Walking Beside You".
Molly took another sip.
"Something's coming down, I can feel it on the street. There is almost excitement in the air. The druggies are lining up their money for something good coming down the pipe."
Ranger schooled his face. "Anything concrete that we can work with, or just the feel of the street?"
Molly carefully put her cup down on the edge of the planter then proceeded to remove a shoe giving him a piece of paper.
"It's a name. She is pretending to walk down here but she never takes any clients. She walks around trying to be like us, but she isn't, if you know what I mean."
Ranger nodded his thanks. He shook her hand and she very quickly placed what he had palmed her into a pocket.
He turned without another word and walked away. He had told her to be careful many times but she was adamant that that was what she wanted to do in life and was happy, at least for now.
They climbed back into the Hummer and drove away, watching as the corner began to revert back to its normal traffic.
Ranger opened the tiny sheet of paper. Molly had beautiful printing. She could have been anything she wanted but had chosen the oldest profession to practise her trade.
There was a name. It read: June Driedger.
End Flashback.
~~~o0o~~~
Joe too had been busy. He had checked with his informants and the word on the street was excited.
Nobody was willing to give names or dates, but it sounded close, very close.
Joe climbed back into his car with Gabriel sitting in the passenger seat. He related what was going on.
Gabriel was the excitable type and was not partnering well with Joe. Joe got excited because of his Italian heritage, but this guy had to calm down or he would be useless when it came time to ramp up and close down the operation.
His nervous habits were starting to become tiresome. He twirled a finger in his hair, he clicked a pen throughout any meeting, and he popped his gum when he chewed.
They headed back to the station for the evening meeting.
~~~o0o~~~
Stephanie finished decorating her cubicle. She had used everything that Lula had brought and it was now gaily decorated in green.
Stephanie had contacted Ella by voice mail wondering if she had had time to make anything special for the day. Stephanie was unsure if Ranger would allow it in the break room, but she would try to get it passed tomorrow in the meeting.
Stephanie felt a tiny spark of life returning. She was starting to feel better about herself.
She looked at the elevator then walked over to it and pressed the button. The elevator opened and she stepped in, pressing her key fob taking her to seven.
She walked in the apartment door, took off her shoes and laid her keys in the dish. For awhile at least, she was home.