Chapter 2

It wasn't long before I made it to the office in Big Blue. Connie was at her desk and Lula was squatted by the lower filing cabinets actually doing her job which surprised me. In the office Lula was known for neglecting her duties. I threw my coat on a peg attached to the wall and greeted the two.

"Hey, hun!" Lula said, hauling herself up from the floor. Lula was an overweight, black ex-hooker who now worked as a filing clerk. We worked for my duck-loving cousin, Vinnie, who owned this bond business. Today Lula's outfit consisted of light blue spandex shorts and a fuzzy yellow sweater. Her heels were the same color as the top and had straps going up to her mid-calf.

Connie waved from behind her desk. Connie had connections in this field of work. What I mean by connections is that her family is tied with the mob.

I swaggered over to our fake leather couch on the wall opposite Connie's desk and flopped down.

"Long night?" Connie asked with a knowing smile. I felt my cheeks burn, I knew this would happen.

Lula came over and flopped down on the other spot on the couch. The force made me lift a bit on my side.

"Geez, again? You're really getting' it on lately! Go, girl!" Lula shrieked excitedly. "But, if I were living with Morelli, I wouldn't even let him outta the bed."

I grimaced at the mental image of Lula in bed with Morelli. I didn't want to picture that again any time soon. Just then Vinnie's office door burst open.

"Stephanie!" he bellowed. Vinnie had a gray suit and red tie with his hair slicked back like a greased up monkey. "Why are you sitting here when you should be out getting my money back! You're stuck on a 9 year old! Why'd I even hire you..." he vented, putting his head in my hand and looking worried. I guess I had been working on the candy store burglar for a bit too long. He hadn't hired me voluntarily, I blackmailed him into it. Everyone has an evil side and I was desperate at the time.

"He's not nine," I corrected, "He's seventeen! And very, very tricky!" Nine was my niece Angie's age. She and Mary Alice were my sister, Valerie's kids. Angie was over serious while Mary Alice was a horse.

"Damn skippy he is!" Lula backed me up, she had been with me the last time I tried apprehending Cory Gribb. He had actually gotten his hair dyed, a tattoo and a whole different wardrobe after the first time I tried bringing his ass back into the system. One confusing kid, let me tell you. Worse than Mary Alice in her horse phase.

"Does it look like I care if he's tricky? Just get his ass back in jail! NOW!" Vinnie yelled, storming back into his office and locking the door.

"Humph," Lula sighed, putting her hands on her hips.

I sighed, too. "Any new F.T.A.'s, Connie?" I asked, turning back in her direction.

"Nope, not yet. Seems people have been following the law lately, well, for the most part." Connie reported.

I heard my phone ringing in my bag. I reached over to the coach and flipped it open.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Stephanie!" Valerie squealed into the phone, it sounded like she had been crying.

"I'm not babysitting while you and Kloughn go out," I told her right off the bat. Her kids are good for a few hours, but the whole night? No, thank you!

"Steph, I need you to come over to mom and dad's house. This is important!" she shouted crying hysterically over the phone. I agreed then hung up.

"Leaving so soon?" Connie asked looking up from her computer. I nodded and reached for my bag.

"Can I come?" Lula asked like an excited puppy as I grabbed my coat.

"No," I told her firmly.

"But-"

"Not this time, Lula," I gave a quick wave goodbye then stepped out into the October air. It seemed uncommonly cold this fall and I hated it. I jumped into Big Blue and took off for the Burg and my parents' house. If this was another stupid Valerie problem, I would at least get a free supper out of it.

When I reached my parent's house I saw Val, mom and Grandma Mazur at the door. All three had red eyes and were blowing their noses. I wondered where the kids were.

As soon as my foot hit the curb the women rushed over to my confused form. "What is it?" I asked the weepers.

"Stephanie, why not come inside and sit down first? I made some chocolate cake," my mother stated. She knew I couldn't refuse the cake.

By the time I was seated with a slice of cake I was worried through and through about what they were crying about. The kids? Me? Morelli? What the hell was it?

"Ok, what is it?" I asked with a stern face, I needed the answers now before I worried myself into a coma.

"Stephie, Anna and Phil are dead!" Val wailed. I sat there shocked, Anna had been my close friend in college. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding, god-mother of her child, Lia. She can't be dead.

"No," I replied silently, staring down at my chocolate cake.

"They were found this morning on their yacht, murdered. I am so sorry, darling," my mother said, hugging me tightly. I waited for the tears to flow out of my eyes, only they were being stubborn and stayed, blinding my vision.

"What about Lia?" I whispered, still transfixed on the cake.

"I don't know. They didn't find her," my mother told me. I was slightly relieved- at least she hadn't died, too. Grandma Mazur was oddly silent the whole time which was truly surprising. At last she spoke up.

"I'd like to get my hands on that blood thirsty murderer!" she proclaimed, wringing her hands together. "I'll show them who's boss!"

Me too, I thought, me too.

Just then my phone rang. It was Morelli.

A/N: this is a really badly written chapter, I know. REVIEW, go ahead, tell me how bad this is! haha

atush: thanks for your review and support! This chapter probably isn't up to standards. Hopefully the next one will be.