Ch 21-Skips
Hal drove and Lula rode shotgun. I sat in the backseat. I wasn't thinking about the FTA, I was thinking about the meeting with Morelli. It was going to be hard to see him. I wondered if he would bring a woman and I wondered how I would feel about that. I no longer had any feelings of love or desire for him. If I had any feelings towards him they were made up of hate, disgust and betrayal. I hoped I would be able to control myself and not hit him but at the same time I hoped I did get that opportunity. I was still smiling to myself when we pulled up at Bill's Tavern.
We all took off our belts and I tucked the cuffs in my sock. It was annoying and slightly painful to put them there, but no one could see them. I moved my boobs around to look better in my push-up bra.
"I'm going to go in and get a beer while you ladies work." Hal explained as he got out of the truck.
"I thought you didn't drink on the job." I gave him a puzzled look
"This isn't my job, this is hanging out with friends." he smiled
It was about dinner time and the sun was still out. When we walked into the bar it took time for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. We all sat at the bar together where Hal and I ordered beers, and Lula ordered a screaming orgasm. I used the mirror behind the bar to scan around looking for Isaacs. I saw there were three women sitting together in one booth with lots of bottles and glasses on their table. They were talking and waving around their hands. Probably complaining about kids, husbands or family. There was a man alone at the end of the bar and I wondered what his story was. I needed to focus. I checked out the other side of the bar by the pool table when I finally spotted Tom Isaacs. He was standing in front of the jukebox or whatever the heck they now called the machine that plays MP3's. He clicked some buttons and then turned around and walked towards one of the tables. He grabbed his pool stick and started shooting the balls around. The waitress brought him a drink and he checked out her ass as she walked away. I could see a very quick an easy way to handle this. The next song that started playing was "Loving Touching Squeezing" by Journey. I love this song and I was about to ruin it for this skip.
I took off my engagement ring and handed it to Hal. "Guard this with your life." I told him.
"But..." he started and then shut his mouth and closed his hand around the ring.
"Stay with Hal." I told Lula
"We got this, your back up is right here." she nodded as she took a sip of her orgasm. I took my beer and wandered over towards the pool table walking very slow with lots of hip.
I went over to the machine to check out the music. I looked up at the mirror on the wall above and saw he had noticed me already. I had my hand settled on the top of the machine and started moving my hips to the music. I started rolling my shoulders and pulled my hand away from the machine. I considered singing along with the words but I knew my voice wouldn't be something I could use to attract a guy. I took a big drink from my beer finishing it off before turning around to find a garbage can. Isaacs was staring directly at me and he had a huge smile on his face. I sauntered over to the trash can and bent over slightly as I tossed the bottle in. I held my breath as it his the side but somehow managed to fall into the can. When I turned around he was right behind me.
"Looks like you need a new one beautiful." he gave me a wink.
"Sounds good to me." I smiled as I took a step towards him.
He turned to find the waitress and whistled for her to come over. "We'll take two more." he smiled at her.
"I am no good at this game" I lied as I walked over and rubbed the table.
"I can teach you." he smiled as he walked over to me. He put an arm on either side of me. I glanced in the mirror and saw Hal start to get up and then sit down again when he realized Isaacs was gathering the balls together to rack them up for our game. I was trying to ignore the smell of his cologne or I might gag.
He racked them up and moved them to one end and then motioned for me to come to the other as he started to set down the cue ball. The waitress came back with our beers and I immediately took a big drink from mine before setting it on the side of the table. He took his and drank more than half of it before setting it down. I smiled. Good, get drunk than this will be so much easier I thouht to myself. "Come here, I'll let you use my stick." he smiled back at me. I resisted rolling my eyes and put on a big smile.
"Okay." I told him as I walked over to him and took the stick he was holding out for me. He immediately stood behind me and grabbed the back of the stick. He leaned against me as he helped me push the stick to hit the cue ball. I had to choke back some vomit as I smelled his alcohol laced breath against the side of my face. I glanced at Hal and he appeared to have steam coming out of his ears. I shot him a glare and he stayed in his seat. Lula wasn't sitting next to him anymore.
The cue ball hit the others and spread them around but nothing went in. "No balls for you. I'll be stripes." he told me
"Now I get to watch a real expert play." I leaned against the side of the table.
"This is my lucky night. Call me Tom and tell me your name sweet thing." he said as he walked around the table.
"Stephanie." I answered
"That's sexy." he smiled before taking his shot.
He got two balls in before he missed and handed the stick back to me. "So I should aim for the ones with no stripe on them?" I asked him as I batted my eyes.
"Yes, that's right sweetie. I knew you were a smart one." his smile looked creepy. I walked around the table to shoot and I got my ball in. I made a giddy noise like I imagined a cheerleader would make. I walked around the table and picked up the chalk. "What's this for?" I asked him
He strode over to me and grabbed the chalk. He placed it on the top of the stick and moved it like he thought it was sexy. I tried nto to laugh and licked my lips. He took a step closer to me and leaned in close and I pulled away. "Sorry, I have to go to the bathroom." I told him as I handed him the stick.
"Hurry back." he called after me.
I found the bathroom and made it into a stall. I did some heavy breathing and called Lula "Where are you?"
"I was getting bored watching you dance. I went down the street to get some food. I found a really amazing ice cream place." she told me as she was obviously eating some of it now.
"HEY! I love ice cream." I yelled at her.
"I would have asked you to come but you were busy." I could still hear her eating.
"I'm busy trying to catch our FTA, while you are out eating our ice cream." I glared at the phone.
"I'll be back there as soon as possible. Don't worry I am sure Hal will take care of you." she told me and then disconnected.
I growled into the phone and then got the cuffs from my sock and moved them into my pocket. I needed them more accessible so I could take down this creepy loser. I fluffed my hair, adjusted my bra and headed back to Isaacs. He had ordered two more beers and was ready to continue our game. I grabbed my beer and finished it. He came over and took my bottle handing me a new one. He held his out "To sexy ladies." he raised his eyebrow and we clinked them together and I took another swig.
I was beginning to feel a little tipsy and knew if I didn't take him down soon I wouldn't get him at all. I just had to focus and pay attention to what I was doing. He walked to the trash and threw away our empties and I smiled when he walked back. He came to me and have me a big hug. Right away I looked over his shoulder to Hal who was getting up. I shook my head and he sat back down. He was obviously getting fed up with me, and I was pretty sure he hadn't even touched his beer. Isaacs pulled away and handed me the stick. I extended it to try to put some space between us. "I got one in while you were gone. It's your shot now." he winked
I walked around the table looking at different shots I could take until I found one I liked. I leaned over showing him some cleavage. I made a big deal of trying to set up the shot at different angles before I finally stood up. I looked up at him slowly. "Can you come and help me?" I gave him my sexiest look.
He came around the table and got right behind me. I bent over and started to line up the shot. He reached out and held the stick with me and moved it to a better spot. He was holding my hands to help me aim the stick and he started whispering in my ear about the proper way to hold it. We hit the shot together and it went in. He was still leaning on me but had released the back hand. I felt is hand on my ass. I managed to move my hand to my pocket and grab the cuffs. Before he realized it I had cuffed one of his wrists. He dropped his stick on to the table and looked down at his wrist.
"Yes! Damn I love this." He smiled as he quickly put the other cuff around my wrist and smiled. "I always wanted a woman who was down to party with the freaky stuff."
I looked over at Hal and he was starting to get up but I glared at him again and he quickly sat back down. Mr. Isaacs, my name is Stephanie Plum and I work for..."
"Call me Tom baby! " he raised his eyebrows as he wrapped his arm around me. I pushed him away. "I love it when a woman fights." he pushed his body against me. I was wrestling with him trying to get the key into mine and he was hugging me and kept trying to kiss me.
"Don't do that to her." Lula commanded as she suddenly appeared and was quickly approaching the table.
Tom pulled me to the other side of the table and soon we were all running around the table like an old cartoon. "I only like them hot and skinny." he told her
"Are you calling me fat?" she screamed as she charged at him. He turned and ran the other way pulling me along with him. She would go one way and then Isaacs would pull us the other. I glanced over at Hal and he was laughing.
Finally Lula pulled out some pepper spray and sprayed it towards Issacs. He pulled us away from it and then back towards it. Lula followed and walked into her own spray. She was sputtering and gasping for air. She dropped to her knees and was coughing up all kinds of slime and snot. "Wait till I get up you little pecker." she warned him.
"I have a big pecker and your friend is about to find out." He pulled me into a hug again and then lifted me up and set me on the table. He pushed against me again and looked around me for something to hit him with. I kept turning my head away from his mouth and then finally spotted my beer bottle. I grabbed it and I smashed it right over his head. He was stunned for a minute and I was worried he was going to pass out. Then a huge smile spread across his face. "I love the rough stuff."
I turned back to look at Hal and then suddenly Isaacs cracked a beer bottle over my head. "Does that make you horny? Do you like it when I'm rough?" he was against me again and slurring his words in my ear.
I looked over his shoulder and saw Hal in the mirror. He slowly walked over to the pool table, picked up the eight ball and proceed to throw it my way. I felt it pass right by the side of my head. It hit Isaacs in the forehead and he fell back pulling me down with him. I saw boots beside me and Hal grabbed my hand and quickly unlocked the cuffs. He pulled me onto my feet as Lula came running over and sat directly on top of Issacs.
"You bastard, I am not fat. You would be lucky to have a fine woman like me." she told him as he struggled to get up. She looked up at me with a smile. "Cuff him." she smiled as I reach over and cuffed his other hand.
"Damn this pain is so intense. I think I may be in love." he mumbled from the ground.
Hal helped pick him up and we walked him out as he kept mumbling about the rough stuff. "He is going to kill me." Hank shook his head "He is really going to kill me.
"We have him in cuffs, you will be fine." Lula told him as she climbed into the back beside him.
Hal closed the door. and then opened my door for me. "I am talking about Ranger not the dumb FTA." he said quietly.
"It will be fine." I patted his chest as I climbed into the SUV.
He started the car and we drove to the police station with Lula talking to Issacs about all that he was missing out on. When we got to the station, Hal helped us pull Issacs out of the car. He was sleeping and I was feeling very unsteady. Carl and Big Dog came out together. "That's it? Just glass in your hair." Big dog said.
"Sorry to disappoint." I shrugged and then fell into him.
"Ahhh you never dissappoint." he laughed
"Is she?" Carl asked
"Yes she is." Big Dog laughed as he set me back onto my feet.
"And you smell like a brewery." Carl laughed
The guys took Issacs in and we could still hear the laughing as we pulled away. and we headed back to Rangeman. "It will be just fine." I told Hal as my words slurred.
"Shit, you are drunk?" he asked me
"She's a lightweight." Lula nodded
"I'm just feeling a little happy." I winked at him
"What the hell? You were fine when we left the bar." he breathed out a sigh
"She ran out of adrenaline. I read once that adrenaline covers up a lot of things. Now that it's gone, the beer is taking effect." she informed him as we pulled into the garage.
"You know we could have handled that without you?" I told Hal
"I know." he rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry I kept pushing you away with my evil death glare." I made a scary face at him.
"Stop that." he told me as he smiled
"Are you afraid now?" I teased
"I am only afraid of one thing and that's your future husband." he told me
"He's so sweet." I smiled
"To you." Hal quickly added
"Are we in a hurry?" I asked him as he pulled up to the garage.
"No, I drove the speed limit." he sighed as the gate opened.
"Hurry up, I got a hot date tonight. I need time to go home and wash this crap out of my eyes." Lula told him as he turned into a spot.
"Sounds like fun." I smiled
"You know it will be, as long as he pays for dinner." she nodded as she got out of the car.
"You already had ice cream." I reminded her as I opened my door.
"That was just an appetizer." she shut the door behind her. "I hope you'll live to see me again." she told Hal and she waved to us before jumping into her Firebird.
I started to get up and then fell back into my seat. Hal walked around the SUV and held out his hand so he could pull me up. He shut the door and then stood there for a minute rubbing his face with both of his hands.
"What's wrong?" I asked him as I patted him on the chest.
"Ranger is going to kill me." he sighed
"No, it will be just fine. Don't worry." I assured him as I gave him a smile. I leaned in and gave him a hug and petted his shoulder. "You are a good friend."
"Here, don't forget this." he said as he handed me back my ring. "I can't bring you back here without that ring."
"Thank you for keeping it safe." I took back my ring and slid it on my finger. "It really is beautiful isn't it?" I wiggled my hand around "So shiny." I smiled as I twisted it back and forth under the light.
"The boss knows how to pick a diamond." he agreed
"You saved my life tonight." I smiled and gave him another hug.
He hugged me back tightly "I'm glad I could help. It was nice knowing you. Please tell him I helped you when you are at my funeral" he said as he pulled away and looked down at the ground.
"You will be fine." I reached up and slapped his cheek a little. "Don't worry so much."
Suddenly the elevator doors opened and Ranger came rushing out. "What happened?" he asked as he soon stood right in front of me.
"Ranger!" I smiled and jumped into his arms.
He took one whiff of me and turned to Hal "Why is she drunk?"
"Uhmm well." Hal began
"I'm not drunk. I am happy. I had to have some beers with the skip. But guess what? We got our man." I smiled and pulled back onto my own feet "Everything is fine." I stumbled a little and he caught me in his arms.
"Then why did I see Hal on the camera rubbing his face? He only does that when bad things happen. Then I saw him give you back your ring. I also saw you hug him several times." Ranger glanced at Hal and raised one eyebrow. He looked back to me and steadied me in his arms. "Why do you have glass in your hair?" again he looked to Hal
I grabbed his face and turned it towards me. "Hal stayed away when I wanted him too and when I needed him he jumped in. I am not drunk, I am happy. I had to drink with the skip because I needed to seduce him." I nodded
"The ring?" He asked
"I gave it to Hal for safekeeping. It's hard to flirt while I have a ring on my finger. The guy was insane, no matter what I did he loved it. I handcuffed him and he cuffed me with the other one. Lula chased us around the table, and pepper sprayed herself." I laughed
"The glass?" he asked me
"That's the best part." I smiled. "He sat me up on the table because he was trying to get it on with me."
"Sat you up on the table?" he asked
"Yeah and I got a beer bottle from behind me and smashed it over his head. He loved it, it turned him on." I laughed some more as Ranger looked at me stone faced. "Then he took his bottle and smashed it over my head. I have to admit that did hurt. I may have a bump in the morning. Hal saved me because I fell. Then Lula sat on him and I cuffed him." I smiled and nodded my head.
In a flash he pulled away from me and he closed the distance between him and Hal. He had his hands wrapped in Hal's t-shirt gathered by his neck. I stepped over and put my hand on his arms. "Ranger, Hal saved me. He took care of it in two seconds. It was so cool. You should have seen it. He threw the eight ball and it went whizzing past my head and hit Isaacs right in the forehead." I laughed again.
"Whizzing past your head?" he breathed looking at me while still holding Hal's shirt.
"Yes and if he jumped in sooner I would have been pissed. I gave him the death glare. You should be thanking him." I smiled
I stumbled again and Ranger let go of Hal so he could steady me. "Hey I just noticed, you didn't call me Babe." I pouted.
Ranger looked at Hal over my shoulder "Thank you." he told him between gritted teeth. Hal nodded and walked away.
"You can't just flip out on your men every time I get into trouble." I warned as I reached out and played with the back of his hair.
"Babe, they should be more careful with you. They should care less about your wrath and more about your welfare." he told me
"Ranger" I rolled my eyes "Hey they fear my wrath?" I scrunched down my eyebrows and made a scary face. "Do you fear my wrath?"
"Sometimes." He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed my forehead
"I'm safe." I leaned in and kissed him
"I know." he agreed "But next time I am going with you to make sure you are safe."
"Come with me right now." I pulled him closer to me.
"Let's get upstairs for now." he told me as he pulled me towards the elevator.
"You know I can do my own skips? Just because we are getting married doesn't mean my job will change." I told him
"You're right Babe, but right now you aren't safe." he stared straight ahead.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked him as he helped me walk
"No I'm not mad. I just want to get you upstairs." he explained
"Oh! You want me bad this time?" I smiled
"Yeah Babe, I want you real bad. I want you badly to get in the shower." he said as he pulled me into the elevator and pushed seven.
"First I need to get this glass out of my hair." I told him as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
"Let me take you to the shower so I can help you." he winked as he pulled me out of the elevator.
"Is this the Batcave?" I asked him "You are supposed to be sharing more with me ya know?"
"No Babe." he said as he closed the door behind us "I will show you the Batcave after we are married."
"Time to get clean." I laughed as I made a run for the shower. I tripped when I caught my foot in the rug and fell to my knees.
"Are you okay?" Ranger asked as he was quickly at my side.
I looked up at him slowly "That's going to leave a mark." he gave out a big laugh and helped me to my feet as he guided me to the shower.
He woke me up at seven-thirty in the morning. "Come on Babe, let's get to the office to pick up your skips. I bet we can get them all done before lunch." he smiled as he kissed my forehead.
"Grrr. My head hurts." I whined
"Yes you have a lump and here got you a present." he handed me fries and a diet coke.
I sat up and grabbed them "I love you." I smiled
"Yeah I know." he rolled his eyes. "How are your knees?"
"They're pretty sore." I answered and then looked up at him. "Did we do crazy sex things while I was drunk?"
"No, you passed out right after the shower." he smiled "Come on now let's get going."
"Fine!" I said as I shoved some fries in my mouth and followed them down with some Diet Coke. I jumped out of the bed and went straight for the shower.
By eight-thirty we were both dressed, had breakfast and were ready to start the day. We went to the garage and hopped into one of the fleet cars. We headed to the Bonds office. I was wearing my belt and Ranger was wearing a matching belt with the bonus of a gun. "My head still hurts." I complained as he drove.
"You'll be fine and today will be a piece of cake." he assure me.
"Can I get some cake?" I smiled at him
"We'll see." He teased
We walked in together and Connie smiled. "I still love seeing you two together. I was always team Batman."
"I'm glad to hear that." he told her with a smile that had her fanning herself with folders.
"What have you got for us today?" I asked sitting down on the couch.
"Us? You are going together?" He nodded as Connie spoke. "This should be some quick and easy apprehensions. Lula called in sick so this will work out perfectly." she finished as she handed over three files.
"Must have been some date." I laughed
"What have we got?" Ranger asked as he peered over my shoulder.
"Okay first we have a prostitute who propositioned a cop. Rosemarie Russo. Then a prankster named Thomas Sanford and last Veronica Dinatale for public intoxication." I read the files.
"Sounds good. Do you know any of them?" he asked me.
"We went to school with Veronica, she was always a little out there." Connie spoke as she spun her finger next to her head and we all laughed.
"Alright Babe, you're in charge lead the way. I'm just along for the ride." he put is hand on the back of my neck and steered me towards the door.
"Happy hunting." Connie called after us.
"You drive, it's your show and I am your backup." he told me as we made our way to the SUV.
"Okay, let's go for Rosemarie Russo first. She is the closest. She lives near Steinert High School." I explained as we drove.
We pulled up to the Russo house. It was a typical boring one story house matching the other houses on the street. "This doesn't look like a prostitute's house." I told him. We got out together and headed for the door. "Typically Lula takes the back." I explained.
"I will cover your back from right here." he said sticking to my side.
I knocked on the door and Rosemarie answered quickly."Can I help you?" she asked. She was short with blonde hair and pretty brown eyes. She had on too much make-up and bright red lipstick. She looked like your typical Burg wife"Are you Rosemarie Russo?" I asked.
"Yes, how can I help you?" she smiled as she looked at Ranger.
"My name is Stephanie Plum and I represent Vincent Plum Bail Bonds and you missed your court date. I need to take you in to reschedule and get you a new date." I smiled back at her.
She looked back and forth from me to Ranger. Suddenly she kicked me hard in the shin and I went down on the porch clutching my leg. She quickly pulled Ranger inside her house. I jumped up and tried to open the door but it was locked. I limped around the house and checked for open windows or doors. The shades were pulled on every window and everything was locked up tight. I went back to the front door and started pounding on it. Suddenly it opened and Ranger came out pulling Russo behind him. She had cuffs on holding her hands behind her back.
"What the hell?" I asked looking at Ranger's face. He was covered in red lipstick stained kiss marks all over.
"He wanted it. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close against him while I kissed him." she smiled as he pulled her to the truck.
"I pulled you in so I could cuff your hands." Ranger was shaking his head and I started laughing.
The whole ride to the station Russo was telling me how much Ranger wanted her and how sexy he was. I looked over at Ranger from the corner of my eye and saw he was smiling. He actually thought this was funny. Russo kept going on and on and then she spoke to Ranger and started telling him what she would do to him if he would let her go. I slammed on the breaks and she smashed into the back of my seat. I turned to look at her. "Listen to me. You need to shut up or I will duct tape your mouth."
"Sensitive. You worried he might choose me?" she asked
"No, he already chose me. I am marrying him. The only thing I am worried about is that you won't shut up and I am going to have to explain to the police that your two front teeth fell out from a fall rather than my fist." I glared at her
"You can't do that." she said as I turned back around and blared the music as loud as I could until we reached the station.
"Where to next?" Ranger asked as we sat in the truck after dropping off Russo.
"Thomas Sanford." I told him as I handed him more wipes and tissues to get the lipstick off of his face. "I think you liked that." I laughed
"Babe" he rolled his eyes.
I drove towards Yardville, a small town on the outskirts of Hamilton. This was a nice area with primarily two story homes. We pulled up near Sunnybrae Elementary school. I was a few houses down from the Sanford house, and I grabbed his file. "Okay, he is a college freshman at Rider University. He is currently on a one year suspension after pulling a prank on one of his Professors."
"What was the prank?" Ranger asked
"He put a mousetrap in the professor's desk drawer. When the professor put his hand in the trap snapped, leaving the tip of his finger behind." I shook my head and pulled back my lips "Yuk"
"Yeah that didn't work out too well. How do you want to do this?" He asked me as we got out of the SUV.
"We'll do it your way same as last time, hopefully he won't pull you in for kisses." I raised an eyebrow.
I knocked on the door and a kind looking woman answered. She was tall with black hair and smiling eyes. "How can I help you today?" she asked.
"We are looking for Thomas Sanford, he missed his court date and we need to take him in so he can get rescheduled. My name is Stephanie Plum and I work for the Vincent Plum Bond agency." I reached out my hand and she shook it.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't aware Tommy had missed his court date. I will go get him." she barely finished when we heard gun shots.
Ranger pushed me into the lawn and covered my body with his. The shots were going off all around us. Suddenly Ranger pulled away and stood up. He picked something up form the grass. "Firecrackers" he shook his head.
When he looked up to the window on the second floor Ranger was immediately hit with a water balloon in the face. He dropped his head and shook off the water when a second one came down and smacked him in the head again. Suddenly he took off and pushed past Mrs. Sanford to get through the door. Another water balloon came down and landed right next to me. I looked up and saw a young man with a huge smile on his face. Then he quickly disappeared from the window.
I got up to my feet and wiped off the grass from the back of my jeans. Ranger was on the porch dragging the kid handcuffed. Ranger's hair and shirt were still wet. Tommy's mom waved good bye. "Try to make it back in time for dinner." she told him as she closed the door.
The whole ride to the station Tommy sat in the back smiling and Ranger sat up front glaring. I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut. After dropping Sanford off we sat in the SUV. "Well, I can see how all of these weird things happen to you during these apprehensions. It's not you, it's because they are low risk bonds. So these people are minor offenses and mostly crazy. So here you are getting kissed and getting hit by water balloons. I'd rather that than you being stabbed and shot." he smiled
"Not today. Today it's all for you." I laughed "Let's go to Shorty's and grab some lunch." I told him as he drove this time.
"I could use some salad." he smiled
"Are you nervous about tonight?" I asked him as we sat in a booth eating. I was having pizza and he was eating a chicken Cesar salad.
"Not nervous for me." he smirked.
"Don't kill him." I cautioned
"Babe" he gave me a smile
"Would it hurt you if I told you I have a list of questions I want to ask him?" I asked in between bites of pizza.
"Nope. It's your meeting. I am just alone for the ride." he took a drink from his water bottle.
"You keep saying that." I shook my head
"I keep saying it to myself too." he admitted
"I'm worried about you." I told him as I reached out and grabbed his hand.
"I am only worried about three things." he sighed "Learning nothing to help us find her, you getting hurt physically or emotionally and ... " He trailed off
"and?" I squeezed his hand
"You forgiving him." he said quietly
I pulled my hand away. I looked down and let out an exasperated sigh. I shook my head in disappointment as I gathered my thoughts. I wanted to scream at him, I couldn't believe that would even enter his mind. Didn't I say yes? Didn't I choose him even when I knew nothing about Morelli being an ass? How could he even think I would forgive Morelli? I looked up and he reached his hand out for mine. I shook my head but said nothing. I wanted to glare at him, but I was more hurt than angry. I just looked at him and slightly tilted my head. Just looking into his eyes slowly shaking my head. Then a tear slid out of the corner of my eye. He reached out again and I sat back in the booth. I wiped away the tear, took a deep breath and got control of myself.
I jumped up and took four steps before I froze. I looked back and forth with tears in my eyes and let out a long deep breath. I turned around and went back and sat across from him. I put my hand on the table and he reached for it. I let him grab mine and then pulled my other hand out and held his hand in both of mine. "I'm not running, but I am hurt." I whispered.
"I can't not worry about it." he spoke quietly.
"I know I have gone back to him over and over. I know I went back fight after fight." I was still fighting tears as I whispered to him. "All of this was before. Before I knew you could or would give me a commitment. Before you loved me. Before he tried to help her kill me. Before I promised to be your wife."
Now it seemed to be his turn for silence. He just stared at me. He squeezed my hand and I rubbed the top of his. "Have some faith in me." I begged him
"You're wrong." he spoke softly
"What?" I started to pull my hands away when he reached out using both hands to grab both of mine.
"You taking him back over and over didn't happen before I loved you, "he paused and took a breath. "because I loved you from the beginning."
That was it for me, I just melted in the bench. He pulled my hands to his lips and kissed each hand one at a time. I smiled at him and he released my hands before he went back to eating his salad. I sat there and watched him for a minute. "I love you." I smiled
"Babe" he winked at me
"So are you going to tell me who are we bringing?" I asked sucking down my chocolate milk shake.
"Myself, Tank and one surprise guest." he raised an eyebrow
"Will I like the surprise guest?" I gave him a questioning look.
"Of course, this is your three people." he nodded
"Who do you think Morelli will bring?" I asked as we finished up our lunch.
"From what I know so far, his brother Anthony is the only sure thing."
We were back in the truck headed for Trenton to get our last skip of the day. Ranger held my hand as he drove. I wanted to talk about his worries again, but I there was nothing more to say. The only way I could stop him from worrying is to show him he has nothing to worry about. I tried to get my mind back to the business of the day. I was trying to remember Veronica Dinatale from High school. She was two years older than me, and left no impression. I couldn't even picture her face in my head. I looked through the file again. "She has short brown hair and green eyes. She is about 5 feet tall and was arrested for public intoxication. Connie remembers she was bit crazy in High School and I don't remember her at all." I told him as we pulled up two houses down from Veronica's address.
"Okay, no water and no kisses." I warned him as he gave me a sideways glance. He took a breath before getting out of the truck.
I knocked on the door and no one answered. We walked around the house and there was nothing. All of the shades were down and the doors locked. "Want me to open the door and let us in?" he asked me
"Not yet." I told him as I knocked on the front door again. Suddenly it was yanked open and there was Veronica sanding in front of me. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot. "What do you..." she stopped and looked both of us up and down.
"It's the end!" she screamed and ran past us both. She went out in the yard and ran in circles. "The end is here! The end is here!" she screamed.
Ranger and I looked at each other. I jumped off of the porch first and chased after Veronica until I tackled her. I pulled her up to her feet and held her hands behind her back. Ranger walked over to cuff her, and she yanked her hands from mine. "It's the grim reaper!" she yelled as she kneed Ranger between the legs. He gave out a groan and dropped down to his knees.
I grabbed for her again and pushed her down resting a knee in her back. "Don't let him take me!" she screamed with her face against the lawn.
"It's okay." I assured her as I tried not to laugh at Ranger who was holding himself and laying on his side. I cuffed her and put her in the backseat of the SUV. I walked back to Ranger and held out my hand to help him up.
"ugh" he groaned "Thanks for saving me Wonder Woman." he forced a smile as he climbed to his feet.
"If I didn't know better I would think you were doing this all on purpose to make me feel good about myself." I smiled as he ambled behind me.
"Believe me, I am not doing this on purpose." He took a deep breath as he climbed into the SUV.
When we were back at the bonds office turning in our receipts Ranger was on the couch and I was getting the check from Connie. "In all of these years, I have never seen Ranger sit on that couch." she remarked.
"He hasn't had a good day. Kisses from a prostitute, getting hit by water balloons. Then he took a knee to the balls from someone who mistook him for the grim reaper." I explained.
"You broke Batman." Connie laughed.
"He wanted to come." I smiled
He stood up as we were about to leave he said "After coming along with you, I can definitely see how you say it's not your fault. Because after all of that crap today, it's not my fault." We both laughed.