I wouldn't even care if I made money if Ranger could be mine, but he's not and never will be. He and the rest belong to JE.
Cupcakes should still beware. Sorry this chapter took longer to get together than I expected. Joe was uncooperative (big surprise) and he tends to be a little rude and crude in this.
Back In The ER Again
by
SueB
Chapter 14
"You have a plan?"
Tank -- always wanting details.
"Thought I'd knock."
"Then?"
"Then we'll see."
"Not much of a plan."
"It'll have to do." It was all I had.
We were parked out of sight, having made several runs past the house and cautiously checking out the rear of the property on foot. Morelli's POS cop car was parked at the curb along with another vehicle I didn't recognize. Everything was quiet. Although it was broad daylight, blinds were drawn -- the house shut up tight. Like the occupants had gone to Florida for the winter or to bed for the night.
It was the 'bed' part that bothered me. If he had taken her. Forced her. I would kill him. Consequences be damned.
I had to make a move soon but, something didn't feel right. Something in addition to the fact that my Babe was locked inside Morelli's house against her will.
"Either of you know who belongs to the other car?" I asked.
Both men shook their heads.
"Santos, call Hal. Get him to run the plate."
While Lester requested info on the car, I punched up Cal on my cell.
"Boss?" he answered.
"Status on the dog?" I inquired.
"Preliminary exam confirmed a stab wound. Vet has him in surgery. Said it didn't look too serious. Definitely repairable. Bob should be fine."
Cal sounded relieved. I wondered if he'd ever had a dog.
"Tell the vet to send me the bill," I instructed before disconnecting. I'd see the doctor was well compensated. Steph loved that dog. She was probably more worried about him than herself.
I snapped the phone closed. Thinking. Lester was still on the line with Hal. Listening intently. Brow furrowed.
"We're looking at the wrong man," I said to Tank.
"How you figure?" he asked, clearly unbelieving.
"You ever known Morelli to use a knife? Even carry one?"
Considering carefully, Tank admitted, "No."
"Knife caused the dog's wound."
"Doesn't mean he didn't do it."
"No," I allowed, "but it makes it less likely. Opens the door for other possibilities."
"But if the cop didn't snatch Steph, who......"
Lester interrupted our conversation -- a troubled look on his face.
"Vehicle was reported stolen earlier today," he informed us. He took a breath.
"And?" I prompted.
"And Morelli doesn't look good for snatching Bomber."
"Then who?" Tank demanded. "You got another candidate?"
Lester nodded, glanced at me. "Bernie Duran."
I stiffened as I recognized the name of Steph's stalker -- the man whose bullet I had intercepted when he'd tried to kill the cop.
"Not possible," Tank stated flatly. "He's in jail."
"Not any more," Lester said. "They were transporting him to County. Duran escaped. Trenton PD is trying to keep it under wraps but Eddie called Haywood." Santos inclined his head toward me. "He thought you ought to know."
Eddie Gazarra was married to Steph's cousin 'Shirley the Whiner'. He might be a Trenton cop but Steph was family. Blood came first. I was glad he had his priorities straight.
"What about Morelli?" I asked. "Department just hang him out to dry?"
Lester went on. "According to Eddie, Morelli was working. When his shift was done the duty sergeant had a couple uniforms escort him home -- help check out the house. Said he was on his own after that. Not enough manpower to post a sentinel. Budget cuts. Must have figured a vice cop could take care of himself."
"Guess we'll find out," I said.
"You have a plan?"
We were back to that.
******
Earlier.......
So maybe downing the six pack on an empty stomach after the uniforms left hadn't been my brightest idea. Could be the booze clouded my judgment when I heard her voice at the door. Made me think he'd done it again. Sent her back. Like always.
Leaving me with sloppy seconds.
Maybe I didn't want her back. Maybe I'd let the ghetto thug keep her this time.
"Gee, Cupcake, what a surprise," I said as I banged the door open and turned away, heading into the room. She could follow if she wanted.
I threw a jab over my shoulder, "Manoso tired of you already? Wouldn't think he'd even be able to get it up what with takin' a bullet in the back and all, let alone have time to get bored. Oh, but I forgot, he's Batman. Guess Batman can do damn near anything."
Behind me her voice sounded strained when she said, "Joe."
Well, no wonder. Way I saw it, if I didn't take her back, her choice was to move in with her mother. Yeah, there was one big happy family.
I spun around to face her, yelling, "What do you expect me to say, Cupca....."
"Shut up, Joe," she said. "You have company."
Bernie Duran moved into my line of sight -- an evil grin on his face, a wicked knife at Steph's throat.
Shit.
Manoso was going to have a field day with this one. I could just hear him. 'Need to be more aware of your surroundings, Morelli.'
Now that I was paying attention, Steph actually seemed more pissed than scared. I saw her notice the collection of empties on the coffee table. Terrific.
"Joe, can I call you Joe?" Duran asked all smiles.
"Do I have a choice?"
He laughed. "Good to see ya. Especially since we were so rudely interrupted the last time."
"Yeah, what a shame that was," I muttered.
Duran was a well-built guy -- not as tall as I was but a little heavier. For a stalker, he wasn't bad to look at except his face was sightly off-kilter like someone had smacked him in the head a few too many times during his formative years. Probably that explained the maniacal gleam in his eyes.
"You see," he continued, all business as he pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants. "I hate leaving things undone and you're not dead yet."
"Whoa! Whoa! Whhoooa!" I countered raising my hands. "You're lookin' at the wrong man."
Doubt flickered across his face. His eyes narrowed. Whadaya mean the wrong man?" he asked.
I shook my head. "She didn't tell you did she?"
His gaze jumped back and forth between Steph and me.
"Tell me what?" he demanded. "Damn it! Tell me what?"
"Joe," Steph warned. "Don't."
"What? Don't tell him I'm not the one he needs to kill. Don't tell him it's Manoso, the mighty Batman, who really stands in his way."
"He saved your life," she reminded me.
"That mean I have to let this fucker shoot me? Don't think so, Cupcake. Not going to happen. Hell, Manoso doesn't even expect it."
"No," she said softly. "He wouldn't."
Duran had been listening to our conversation with growing confusion.
"Hold on," he broke in waving the gun like a flag. "You mean to tell me Manoso's back in the picture?"
I had no problem throwing the Man in Black under the bus if it was going to buy me some time.
"Who do you think spoiled your plans before?" I said. "Ask her where she's been the last three weeks while you rotted in jail."
"Stephanie," Duran whined, looking to her for confirmation. "I was only planning on killing one person. Now look what you've done."
Steph stood in stony silence and based on the look she was giving me, old Bernie didn't have to worry about his kill count. I was going to die by 'burg Death Glare.
That being the case, I wasn't goin' down alone. "You give it some time," I told Duran. "Manoso will show up at the door."
"You think so?" he asked eagerly.
"I guarantee it," I promised.
"Good," he replied with satisfaction, "then I can handle both of you at once."
Such efficiency. Steph took a shaky breath.
It wasn't forty minutes later when we heard a pounding on the door. By that time, Duran had cuffed me to a chair with my own hardware.
My heart lurched when I heard Steph sadly whisper, "Ranger."
I hoped to hell Manoso had a plan.
TBC