Since I only had a few hours to do the shopping and cooking, I decided Jennifer would be the way to go. So, I jumped in my car and headed over to her apartment.
I knocked on her door and waited for a moment. Jennifer answered the door – not a smart girl.
She was in her early twenties. Long straight brown hair, which looked like it hadn't been washed in days. Her eyes were shadowed.
"I'm Stephanie. Vincent Plum sent me to reschedule your court hearing. There really isn't much involved. All you have to do is go down to the station and tell them when suits you."
Jennifer started dancing on the spot. There was someone behind me. I was about to turn around when I was thrown across the hall. My head slammed against the wall and I had to blink back the pain for a moment.
"Who are you?"
This had to be her boyfriend. He looked like a couch potato with an attitude.
"This is Steph. Remember I was telling you about her? We met at the Mall a few days ago," the girl lied through her teeth.
I just smiled and nodded.
Her boyfriend offered a confused look. It was obvious he didn't remember the conversation. "Uh, well what she doing here?"
"I was going to get Pino's for a late lunch."
"What's wrong with your car?" he asked as he grabbed her shirt and pulled her towards him.
"It's broken down. Remember?"
He nodded.
"We'll be back in about ten minutes," she called over her shoulder as she led the way down the stairs.
"Which one is your car?" she asked once we were outside.
I pointed to my car and she basically jumped in.
"So, to the station?" I asked her.
"Oh, can we go to Pino's first, please? Then I'll go and reschedule. I promise."
I almost bought it. The girl was good.
"I'll tell you what, we'll take it away. What do you want?"
She smiled at me. "Seafood, no anchovies."
I rang Pino's and a few minutes later, we were standing at the counter waiting for our pizza. Another few minutes later, with pizza in hand, we headed back to the car.
"I'm guessing you're rescheduling to get away from your boyfriend?"
"Yeah."
"Why wait? Why didn't you go down to the station yourself?"
She picked an anchovy off her slice. "I didn't know what to do. How was I meant to know?"
We finished the pizza in silence, then we headed over to the station. It isn't often you get a skip who actually wants to go to prison.
Morelli arrived home at six-thirty. He threw his keys and gun belt onto the kitchen bench, and then stared at me.
I had a dish of cabbages, potatoes and greens on the table. I was just like a proper housewife – less the apron. The disturbing part was that I enjoyed the look of admiration that flittered across his face.
"Did you really make this?" he asked as he helped himself to a couple of cabbages.
I nodded. "They aren't going to be as good as Mom's. But I tried."
"You really made this?"
Now, why was that so hard to believe?
Joe must have seen that I was not impressed with the twenty questions. "It's just that you don't cook. It's kind of strange to have something like this happen."
Joe took a bite and seemed surprised. I just hoped it was good surprised, not bad surprised.
"I'm afraid that you've only got ice-cream for dessert."
"Only ice-cream?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. I just smiled at him. "I was planning on ordering Chinese for dinner tonight. Guess we'll be having it tomorrow night?"
"No can do," I said. "We're going to dinner at my parents' place."
Dinner at my parents' place had been an absolute disaster. Joe and I had a disagreement during dessert, which turned into a screaming match on the way back to his place. I had just finished a couple of rounds with Joe and was making my way into the bathroom when my phone rang.
"What?" I snapped.
"Yo, Babe."
"Ranger?" I asked, glancing at Joe who was fortunately asleep. "What's up?"
"I need your help again. Meet me in Shorty's car park in half an hour."
Ranger was on the phone pacing when I arrived. He was furious. I had only seen him this angry once before. Angry Ranger scared the hell out of me.
"No, I don't want to hear it. I put her in your care and you can't even keep an eye on a thirteen-yer-old girl." He paused while he listened to the guy on the other end.
"Fuck, Greg. Anything could have happened to her. Do you have any idea how upset her mother was? I had to fly across the country to fix up another one of your screw-ups. I'll be sending someone to relieve you in the next few days." Ranger hung up.
If he was this angry with Greg, I hated to think how angry he was when I tried to work for him. I was hopeless. Yet, he kept hiring me. I think that was because of the attraction. Together, we're just one ball of unresolved sexual tension.
Ranger was taking the kidnapping pretty hard. He loved his girl. I had never seen a photo of her – Ranger isn't exactly the kind of guy to carry photos in his wallet – but I was sure she would be beautiful.
Not too long ago, my grandmother was abducted. Of course, she didn't take it seriously. But I was scared out of my wits. The thought of what could have happened to her still brought tears to my eyes.
Ranger turned around to me. His face was hard – for a moment. Then he saw the tears running down my face. "Babe." He gently wiped tears from my face.
I wanted to cry harder. I refused to. I would just have to curl up with Morelli.
"How is she?"
"She's okay. She's with her mother. I still have Greg on surveillance." His voice hardened when he spoke of Greg.
"You're replacing him."
"That's why you're here. I want you in Miami to relieve him."
"No offence, but why don't you get Tank or Bobby?"
"I've asked Jeanne Ellen to take over. Only problem is she's bringing in an FTA. So, I want you there until she arrives."
"But why not get Tank or Bobby?"
"Tank wandering around with Alejandra?"
"It would look a little out of place."
Ranger nodded.
"So, when do I go?"
"Your flight leaves eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Everything you need to know is in here," he said as he handed me the folder.
I paused and thought for a while.
"You can't tell Morelli. I want this quiet."
I nodded. "I'll do my best, Ranger. I promise."
I took a step towards him, cupped his face and kissed him quickly on the lips. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me to him. I don't know what I was thinking. I think I was hoping I could move faster than he could.
I guess Ranger needed some support for a change. If I had something he needed, then he could take it. The kissed deepened… Ranger's kisses were different to Morelli's.
Morelli! The thought caused me to push Ranger away.
"I guess you'd better start packing."