Chapter 9
Ranger and Stephanie approached April and Julie. They watched the dolphins in the distance. "Those are the dolphins that got me to shore," Stephanie said, grabbing April's hand. The three dolphins raised their bodies from the ocean, displaying their pink bellies. Stephanie heard their call and waved. They nodded before diving back into the depths.
"April said Louise and Barry found you here," Julie stated.
"Mmhmm," Stephanie replied, nodding. "Closer to the water."
"Do you think we can visit next year?" April asked.
"Absolutely. I want to come back to thank the dolphins for saving my life," Stephanie replied. "You have to come with us, April." She laughed and hugged Stephanie.
"Is it time to pack?" Julie wondered.
"Everything is ready to go for the morning. I left your favourite outfit on your bed," Stephanie replied. "Are you packed, April?"
She laughed and answered, "Your husband made arrangements to have my stuff shipped to Trenton. I have my travel bag ready, and it's in Julie's room." Stephanie wasn't surprised. Carlos was thoughtful.
"Ah, the purple suitcase with large yellow sunflowers," Stephanie said, snapping her fingers.
April laughed. "Yup. Purple is my favourite colour and they only had the luggage with sunflowers available."
Ranger checked his watch. "It should arrive at Rangeman in thirty minutes," he added.
In Trenton, Eddie Gazarra and his friends entered Rangeman to submit applications. He knew they had a strict physical training program and got Robin, Big Dog and Carl to join the gym. They exercised for several hours each day to get into top physical shape.
"Do you think we could get Shirley to come?" Robin asked. Shirley gained more weight since Stephanie disappeared.
"Maybe. I'll let you ask. Shirley will bite my head off," Eddie wisely replied. She laughed and punched his arm. "Hey, that hurt. It's going to leave a bruise."
"Yup. No more powder puff punches from this badass chick," Robin joked before dropping Eddie to the mats.
"Good one, Robin. You've improved a lot. Tomorrow, practice with Big Dog. Stephanie said that the end goal is to spar with Ranger."
"I miss her," Carl stated. "Work was more interesting when she was alive."
"Carl, I believe she's still alive. Maybe she had amnesia or got hurt bad enough to require a few years to heal. Shirley said the psychic told her that Stephanie was alive but lost," Robin added.
"Do you believe in that crap?" Eddie asked.
"Not really, but it's nice to hope she's still alive," Robin said, shrugging.
"I agree. I don't believe Stephanie died either. Shirley was angry when Helen arranged her funeral. She thinks it will bite Helen in the ass, and she'd look like a fool," Eddie added.
Robin, Carl and Big Dog laughed. "Someone needs to record her face when Stephanie comes home," Big Dog said.
Frank stood behind the punching bag, listening to their conversation. He smiled before he called Hector at Rangeman. "Hola," Hector answered.
"I know pumpkin's alive. Can you help me record a video?" Frank asked, speaking Spanish.
"Yes, I can help."
"I'm bringing Helen to Rangeman tomorrow at 1600. Will you let us in so she can see the surprise?" Frank wanted to humiliate his wife once and for all. Karma, Helen, Frank thought.
Hector laughed. "Anything for you," Hector replied and hung up. He planned to get the men's reaction when Stephanie entered the conference room with Ranger. Hector would release the footage to the Burg residents. He collected their email addresses and saved them into the mail chimp program to send everyone the video simultaneously.
Morelli could feel a shift in the cosmos or atmosphere, whatever one would call it. The palpable energy rippled through the air. Something big was on the horizon. He got antsier as the day progressed. His phone buzzed against his hip. "Morelli," he answered without checking the number.
"Hey, Joe. Little Joey's sick. He has an ear infection and strep throat. The doctor sent his prescription to the pharmacy down the road. Can you grab the medication and bring it home? I'd go myself, but he won't stop screaming," Carol requested. Joey was crying in the background as Bob howled.
"Sure. What meds?" Joe asked, rubbing his fingers through his hair. Hearing the noise when he got home would give him a migraine. He popped a couple of tums as he listened to his wife's instructions.
"Over-the-counter ear drops, children's Tylenol, children's Advil and penicillin," she replied. Joe knew they were less expensive this way.
"Is there anything else you need?" He learned early on that if he didn't double-check, she'd scream and send him back to get the other items she forgot to mention.
"Oh, yes. Grab some children's Benadryl," Carol answered. "He might be allergic like me."
Joe rolled his eyes. Carol's request was going to cost them. TPD's benefits got reduced, and only half of the penicillin expense would only get covered. "Sure, honey. I'll grab them." He ended the call and strolled back to his car. It was pointless to get anything done today. Carol would call his mother if he didn't bring the items home within thirty minutes.
He felt a headache forming as he entered the pharmacy. If Joey were allergic to penicillin, he'd have to get another one, costing him more of his hard-earned money. "Why did I want kids and a wife? They're too expensive," he mumbled as he mentally added up the cost of the medications he added to the basket.
"Joseph?" Helen called from behind him. "Is everything okay?"
"Hi, Helen. Everything is fine, except Joey got sick. I'm grabbing the items Carol asked me to bring home," he replied. He didn't feel like talking to Helen, but his mother would get angry if he was rude. Joe knew that everyone would hear about Joey within five minutes. His headache increased tenfold when Helen left the store.
He emptied the basket on the counter and asked for Joseph Morelli Jr's prescription. The pharmacy assistant flirted and rambled how to administer the medication. She leaned forward until he could see her bare breasts. His cock stirred as he stared at the perfectly pink, firm nipples. "Here's my number, sugar. Call me when you need to scratch an itch," she purred. He quickly programmed her number into his phone before handing back the note. "Right, you don't want your ball and chain to know," she whispered and winked.
Joe felt better when he left the pharmacy. If the kid screamed all evening, he was going to call Tabitha. His cock twitched at the thought. He was proud of himself for not cheating on Carol. "Screwing Terry last week didn't count because he was working," he thought. They pretended to be intimate to catch Tomas Jones, who murdered the women he caught having sex with married men. Joe and Terry had to make their intimacy look realistic. He used a condom to prevent spreading diseases back to his wife.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered the call before starting his car. "Morelli."
"Joseph Anthony Morelli, you get that medicine home to your wife immediately. Don't dilly dally at the pharmacy," Angie Morelli yelled.
He looked around before responding, "There was a line up at the prescription window." Joe didn't notice Helen watching him from insider her car.
"Do not lie to me. You were gawking at that loose woman's breasts," Angie said before hanging up.
"How did she know?" Joe mumbled. He started his car and noticed Helen Plum's car back out of the parking spot beside him. "Shit!" Joe screamed as he looked through the pharmacy window. Tabitha was visible through the glass.
Carol heard the Burg gossip before Joe got home. She was disappointed but didn't expect marriage to make him a committed man. Her friend at Spank's Hotel said she heard Joe and Terry Gilman having sex last week. Carol made him use protection when they got intimate. Joe got home when little Joey fell asleep. The slamming door woke up the sleeping child, causing him to scream.
"You woke the baby, Joe," Carol snapped.
"Oh, sorry. I can't stay. Here's the medication," Joe said, passing her the bag. "I got called to work a murder at the docks."
"Okay. When will you get home?" she asked. Carol had a strong feeling that Joe lied about work. Living in the Burg, she had to abide by the Burg rules. She must not talk about his affairs to the other women. It was imperative to maintain the illusion of a happy home. Carol knew Joe didn't love her. She loved him and knew it wasn't enough.
"Whenever I can wrap up the preliminary investigation and get eyewitness testimony. You know the routine, Carol," he replied. "I may not get home until morning." He didn't have to go back to work. Joe wanted to touch those breasts he saw earlier.
Angie told Carol that the Morelli men had a lot of testosterone. As long as Joe came home to her every night, she should let him have his fun. "Insist on wearing protection," Angie had warned. It was the worst advice ever.
Pasting on a smile that she didn't feel, Carol said, "Come home when you can. I love you, Joe."
"Love you too," Joe woodenly reciprocated. His words lacked emotion. Joe was going through the motions. Carol waited for Joe to leave before she cried.
Joe called Tabitha and agreed to meet at her houseboat. He traded his car for the police-issued piece of crap he drove on the job. Anybody watching would assume Joe was on the job. Joe was amused that he didn't lie to Carol about going to the docks.
Tank, Bobby and Lester were excited that Stephanie was alive and coming home tomorrow. They missed their sunshine. "Bomber looked fit," Bobby said while discussing the call from earlier.
"Beautiful's cheekbones looked less pronounced," Lester added.
"She had surgery on her face. Maybe the plastic surgeon didn't have a choice," Bobby explained. "Bomber is still gorgeous."
"Little Girl looks the same, but with more fire in her eyes," Tank said. "She's coming back a stronger version of the woman who left."
"I have to update her medical records. She mentioned a metal rod in her leg. Most likely, it's titanium and won't set off the airport detectors," Bobby stated.
"Beautiful was joking, Bobby," Lester groaned. Bobby smirked and laughed. "Asshole," Lester said, punching Bobby in the arm.
"Too easy," Bobby laughed.
Tank's desk phone rang. He answered with his typical, "Yo."
"Uh, Tank. I have a delivery here for April Brighton. We don't have anyone by that name in the building," Hal stated.
"Miss Brighton is arriving tomorrow at 1400 hours. Send her items to 4F," Tank replied.
"Yes, sir," Hal said and hung up.
Hal scratched his head. He knew Ranger was coming home tomorrow. "Why would he bring home a new woman?" Hal asked himself.
"Excuse me, sir. Where am I delivering these crates?" the delivery man asked, interrupting Hal's mumbling.
"Stack them beside the elevator doors. I'll grab some guys to move them to the correct floor," Hal replied.
"Yes, sir," the man stated. He was happy to dump and run. It didn't take long for his helpers to stack the eight crates.
Hal used the phone to get Manny, Cal, Vince and Junior to help move the boxes to Miss Brighton's apartment. "Do you know who she is?" Cal asked.
"No. I called Tank, and he only gave me her apartment number. We'll meet her tomorrow," Hal replied. They loaded the crates onto the elevator and carried them to the apartment. Hal knocked on the door,
Ella opened the door to let them inside the apartment. "Perfect timing, men. Open the crates. I'll handle everything else," Ella said, dismissing them.
Hal noticed a photograph of a family of attractive blonds in the crate he opened. Its frame looked to be at least ten years old. The mother and daughter resembled one another, as did the father and son. Father and daughter had tanned skin and grey eyes. Mother and son had green eyes and were pale with freckles. When Ella had her back turned, Hal took a picture using his phone to take a closer look at the family.
He was finished work for the day. Hal entered his apartment before opening the picture on his phone. He enlarged the photo to see the daughter. She looked to be sixteen. The family stood in front of a sailboat called Wave Baby, smiling at the photographer. His heart pounded fast in his chest as he looked at the young blond.
In Honolulu, Stephanie was talking to April as they ate dinner in their suite. "Then I said, 'Let me see the gun for just a second.'"
"Did he give it to you?" April asked, laughing.
"Yes. Hal gave it to me, so I pressed it against his arm, and he went down," Stephanie finished, laughing. "He's not a bad guy, but he is a bit dumb."
"Poor Hal. When I meet him, I'll have to kiss him better," April replied. "I'm sure he's not dumb. Naive, yes, but not dumb."
"We have to introduce them, Stephanie," Julie squealed.
Ranger cringed from the pitch of Julie's voice. "Hal still gets teased by the men," Ranger added.
"Awe, poor Hal," April repeated. "Steph, your Merry Men are bullies."
Julie yawned. "I'm going to sleep for a few hours. When do we leave, dad?" she asked.
"We have to get to the airport at 0100 hours," Ranger reminded her.
"Ya, okay. Wake me up at whatever hundred hours," Julie said before leaving Ranger, Stephanie and April in the living room.
Stephanie laughed. "I have to agree with her," Stephanie said.
April shrugged as she picked at the frayed edge of her jean shorts. "My dad was in the Navy. He always used military time. It made it easier when I completed my coop portion of Nursing school," April stated.
"Hal was in the navy," Stephanie singsonged. Ranger rolled his eyes. "What? I think Hal and April would look cute together."
"Babe," Ranger groaned. April couldn't stop laughing at Stephanie and Ranger's banter.
A few hours later, Ranger announced it was time to leave. April and Stephanie crawled into Julie's bed, laid on either side of her and said, "Julie, time to wake up." Stephanie touched Julie's nose while April stroked her hair.
"I'm awake. Get off me," Julie mumbled as she swatted their hands away. Stephanie and April waited until Julie climbed out of bed. "I need to change."
"We'll be in the living room. Your dad grabbed your bag already. We can shove your dirty clothes into the front pocket," Stephanie stated. Julie nodded.
Ranger drove to the airport in the rental car. He got all of their seats upgraded to first-class when they couldn't seat April and Stephanie near him and Julie. Ranger and Stephanie held hands as the plane taxied down the runway. "I've never flown before," April said.
"Are you scared?" Julie asked. "It's okay if you are, you know. Everyone gets scared on their first flight."
"I'm excited, not scared. I've lived in Hawaii all of my life," April said as she stared out the window. "I always wanted to travel."
"Spread your wings and fly, April," Stephanie advised. "But don't jump off the garage. You'll break your arm." Stephanie wondered who would pick them up from the airport.
"I secured my car in long term parking," Ranger whispered.