Thank you to all who have read, favourited and/or reviewed the story! And the characters belong to Janet Evanovich. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 7. Making a visit or two or three

After a shower and a poptart she drove her car to the police station. She asked if Eddie Gazarra was in.

A couple of minutes later they sat down at a table in an interrogation room.

"Hi Eddie," Stephanie said. "Are all the recording devices off?"

"Yes, the equipment in here hasn't been working for a long time. We have to bring in a separate recording device if we want to interrogate someone. What's going on?"

And so Stephanie told her cousin's husband, Eddie, all about Morelli and his stalking. She mentioned the attempted burglary in the middle of the night, stressed that she couldn't prove anything, but that he had broken into her apartment at least once before, and attempted to at least once.

"These are serious accusations, Steph," Eddie said. "And honestly, I believe you. His behaviour has been more and more erratic lately. It seems he's drinking a lot as well. Maybe using other things besides alcohol. That said, I don't think you have enough evidence to get anywhere."

"I don't want it to go to court," Steph said. "I just want to be left alone. Can I get a restraining order?"

"The only way to get restraining orders are in the court, Steph. And you need to be able to prove stalking, harassment or assault. Do you have any witnesses?"

"Not really," Steph said in a defeated voice. "I mean, I've told him again and again that I don't want anything to do with him, but there are seldom witnesses. And I can't prove that he broke into my apartment. He said that the door was unlocked. I know it wasn't, but I can't prove it. And this last time there were so many fingerprints on the door that it will be hard to find his, and maybe he wore gloves Plus he would probably claim that the fingerprints were old ones."

She sighed.

"My mother has heard me tell him at least a couple of times that I don't want to see him, but the odds that she would testify against him and support me…"

It was Eddie's turn to sigh.

"I recommend that you keep a logbook and write down every time you meet or something happens. Maybe take a photo if possible. I can testify that you've told me that Joe Morelli doesn't respect your wish to leave you alone."

He looked determined.

"I'll help you, Steph. That said, Joe has the commissioner's ear, and I believe it will be tough for you to get a restraining order. And some studies show that restraining orders are not all that effective. Many of them are violated, and some even claim that the restraining order may escalate or enrage the perpetrator. Keep me on speed dial, and use your friends at Rangeman."

"Thanks Eddie. I suppose I should be more up to date on the legalese, but I've never been in this situation before, I mean my other stalkers have been because of the bounty hunting. And I do have witnesses for at least one incident. Joe obviously was at Pino's yesterday, and intercepted a delivery to my address. When he found Les and Bobby at my place he accused me of sleeping with both of them, and then trashed the food before he went away. I just don't think that them testifying would help. Joe and other persons have thoroughly tried to discredit Rangeman and the people working there, and they have succeeded in at least the Burg. Backed up by my mother, I don't think the court would take their word against 'Detective Morelli'."

"Sadly, I do think you're right. At least Morelli left for an undercover assignment this morning. I'll let you know when he's back. And hopefully I can even give you a warning beforehand."

"Thanks, Eddie. You're a good friend. Say hi to Shirley."

"Will do. Take care."

x

After Stephanie had left the police station she drove over to Mary Lou. Her best friend was overjoyed to see her. They talked over coffee and cake. Steph told Mary Lou that she had quit at Vinnie's, and her reasons. And then she continued with Morelli and his stalking. She tried to call it something else at first, but Mary Lou called her on it.

"Steph, he's stalking you. You can't call his behaviour anything else. And I one hundred percent agree with Eddie, you need to document him. Maybe even record him on your phone if he talks to you. That way you should at least be able to prove that you have continuously told him to leave you alone."

She took a sip of her coffee.

"How are you holding up, Steph? Morelli has been a pain in your ass for several months, your mum is getting even bitchier, and now Edna and her funeral…"

"Honestly, I'm in a bit of a daze with Grandma Mazur. At the same time I'm grateful that she didn't have to be in the hospital for a long time. Now she had a nice evening out with her friends, and I'm so happy we could give her the funeral she planned herself."

Steph had talked to Mary Lou on the phone after the meeting at the solicitor's, so Mary Lou knew all about Helen and her rants about Stephanie trying to threaten her.

"As Edna would have said -it was a pip of a funeral," Mary Lou said. "And I definitely heard your mum taking credit for it…"

"So did I. She gave some credit to Val, but none to me. And I'm not looking forward to the will reading."

"I'll at least tell the Burg about who planned the funeral, and since you chose the most gossip-happy funeral parlour I'm convinced they will back us and not Helen Plum."

Steph couldn't help but laugh at Mary Lou's very accurate description of the funeral parlour.

"I have your back, Steph, against your mum, the Burg and Joseph Morelli."

x

Steph gave her a teary hug, and then left for home. On her way there she changed her mind and drove to Haywood. After using her key fob to get into the garage she parked at her usual spot near the elevator. She could see something new when she got out of her car. A sign sat on the wall in front of the parking spot. On it she could read: "Bomber's permanent parking spot". She started to laugh, and then cried a couple of tears. She quickly checked her makeup in the rear view mirror, but she didn't need to repair anything. Waterproof mascara was a great invention!

Using the fob again she took the elevator to the fifth floor. When she stepped out of the elevator there were a wall of chests clad in black t-shirts in front of her.

"Bomber, finally!" Cal said, and gave her a tight hug. She was then passed between every Rangeman at Haywood. Even Hal and Zero, who had monitor duty, was relieved for a couple of minutes to be able to say hello. Most of them gave their condolences, and Steph was a bit teary when she was finally back on her own feet.

"OK, clowns. Back to work with you, and let me give Little girl a hug!"

She laughed when the remaining Rangemen parted like the Red Sea, and she could see Tank standing outside his office. She immediately went over and gave him a hug.

"Hi there, Big guy."

"How are you holding up, Little girl?" he asked and steered her into his office.

"Mostly OK. Have you heard anything from Ranger?"

"No, but in these missions that's not unusual. We adhere to the policy no news is good news."

Steph gave him a wan smile.

Tank gave her a serious look.

"I mean it, Little girl. Ranger is the best there is. This mission was more of a clean up, tedious, but not especially dangerous."

He changed topics.

"So, when are you coming to Rangeman to work? As you can see we miss you. And Connie's been unusually close mouthed about your work and skips when Rangeman has picked up our files."

"Have you been there?" Steph asked incredulously.

"Not a chance," Tank said. "I don't want to be in that toxic environment."

He did not elaborate, and Steph wondered if he meant Vinnie's unhealthy habits or the fact that he might run into Lula.

He continued. "Besides, right now I have a lot of things on my plate, what with Ranger in the wind and Les in Boston. I sure could need some help in the office." He gave her a look full of meaning.

"I'll think about it, Tank. Right now I'm having a sort of personal revision. Job and life wise."

Tank was silent for a while, but when she didn't elaborate he left it.

"Why don't we go out in the lunchroom and see if there's anything left for us?" he said. "Otherwise I'm sure that Ella will make you something special."

In the lunchroom they ate some sandwiches and talked with some other Rangemen. Ella and Louis said hello, and Ella gave Steph a heartfelt hug.

"I've missed you so much," she said. "And I am very sorry about your grandma. How are you coping?"

They chatted for a while, and Steph had to promise to come back soon before she left Haywood. Just as Stephanie got into her car to drive away her cell phone rang. The caller ID said it was Helen. Stephanie debated whether she should answer or not, but finally took the call.

"Hi, mum."

"Stephanie, this is your mother."

"Yes, mum."

"We're having lasagna tonight at six o'clock."

"I'm sorry, mum, I have other plans."

"What plans? I heard that Joseph is on an assignment out of town."

"I don't care where Joe is. I'm not seeing him, and I have no plans to ever date him again. And my plans are just that - mine. Bye."

Stephanie pressed to close the call. She hadn't even started her car to drive away before it rang again. She turned off the sound and ignored it. On her way home she decided that she needed a break. At home she quickly packed a bag with clothes and stuff for two days. She locked up the apartment and left for the coast.