Stephanie's POV

It was Saturday, and I had begged off of more surveillance and pointless lessons with Ranger by claiming that I was going to spend the day with family. In reality, I was spending the day pounding the pavement up and down Stark Street trying to find someone else who might have been coerced by Morelli. I'd given Les a heads up and promised him that I would keep in touch throughout the day so he didn't worry about me too much. Then I drove to my parents' house and traded my pretty little Miata for Big Blue, my grandma's baby blue Buick Roadster. I didn't want to take any chances on if Ranger tracking me and I didn't want my Miata to be a target on the street.

Stark Street was no walk in the park, and I spent the day looking over my shoulder and keeping my head on a swivel. This was a mostly lawless area where the addicts and junkies ran free and working girls were on every corner. Gangs meted out their own brand of vigilante justice on Stark.

After hours of dead ends and being stonewalled, I finally got my break.

"What you doin down here on Stark, white girl?" I heard behind me.

I turned around to see a very colorful woman looking at me. She was dressed in head-to-toe neon spandex and I was afraid the seams would burst open at any moment. She had curves on her curves and her long hair was styled into braids in all the colors of an Easter egg.

"I'm just looking for someone who might have some info on what happened to Patty. You know anything?" I asked.

"Who askin'? You a cop?" she shot back with a hard look.

"No, I'm not a cop," I answered quickly. "I'm a...private investigator of sorts. I heard there's a dirty cop and I'm trying to get some info to help bring him to justice."

"You can't be here askin' them questions!" she quickly exclaimed. "And I can't be seen talkin' to ya."

"So you know something?" I pressed. "You can trust me."

"I'm sure that's what someone in bed with the cop would say, too," she huffed. "Now get out of here before you get me dead."

"If you know something...I can help," I pled. "I'll be at the diner on Main tonight at 7:00."

"You buyin' dinner?" she asked.

"If you show up, I'll buy dinner," I promised.

"Good. Now go!"

I walked quickly back to my car and motored back toward the Burg to reclaim the Miata. All I can do now is hope that she shows up.

I passed the rest of the afternoon and early evening at home, doing laundry and paying bills. You know, all the fun parts of being an adult. I missed Cal like crazy and couldn't wait until I was in his arms again. There was so much going on with Ranger's constant hovering and flirting, learning the ropes at my new job, and this situation with Joe. I just needed my safe place, my calm in the storm. His return can't come fast enough.

I pulled up to the diner at 6:45 and was surprised to see Lula already seated in a booth in the back. She made eye contact with me briefly when I walked in and then looked out the windows, likely trying to ensure that I had come alone and that no one was watching. I walked quickly to her booth and sat across from her.

"I already ate on account of not wanting to be seen talkin' to ya, but you still buying my dinner," she said as soon as my butt hit the seat.

"Of course," I agreed. "I'm kind of surprised to see you here."

"I figured the best way for me to not get dead is to help you catch the dirty cop," she said matter-of-factly.

"That would definitely help with the not-getting-dead plan," I responded. "How can you help me catch him?"

"Officer Asshole has bribed me lots of times over the last six months. What if I could wear a bug or somethin' and record him the next time?"

"That could work. Maybe we could wire the room or something. How does it normally work? Does he get the room or do you?"

"Him get the room? That ain't happenin'. He'd have to open his wallet. Nuh-uh, I have to get the room and be ready when he walks in the door," she answered.

"Okay, good. So you could get the room ahead of time and we could come in and set up hidden cameras and mics," I suggested.

"That's not gonna work. He sees everything. That's how my girl Patty got hurt; he saw Carl goin' in and outta her room and he beat her up. I'm not gonna be next," she argued.

"Good point. Can we give you the equipment and talk you through setting it up on the phone when you check in?" I asked.

Lula pulled on a couple of her dreads and clucked her tongue. "Yeah, yeah. That could work," she finally answered after a long moment. "Is it hard to set up?"

"No, I'll make sure that it's easy to use. Do you want me and a friend nearby in case things go badly?"

"So like I could give you a sign and you could come in if there a problem? Yeah, I think that would be good. You'd have to not be seen, though," she said.

"Of course. Any idea how long until he'll come calling again?"

"Prolly another couple of days. That long enough for you to do your thing?" Lula asked.

"Yeah, that's perfect. I'll get with my friend and get everything in order for you. We'll get the evidence we need to put Joe behind bars and you'll be safe," I assured her.

"Good. Now...you gonna buy me a piece of pie for the road?"

"Of course," I agreed with a laugh.