Hi Everyone, I just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews 

CHAPTER 11

I had been in similar situations before, where cops would argue over who had jurisdiction over a crime scene. It could take hours .

Lula and I sat back and sipped diet sodas and watched the rent-a-cops battle it out.

The only thing they did agree on was that none of us were allowed to leave.

Steve didnÕt seem to mind. His eyes had glazed over when I had taken off my other stocking and bound his ankles.

Good I hated wearing those things. But they did come in handy.

Eventually I was allowed to call the real cops to come and collect my skip.

Whenever my name goes out over the police scanner, you can be sure that more than the fair share of cops will turn up. IÕm convinced itÕs just to see who won the weekly plum disaster pool.

Today it was Eddie and Carl, Big dog, the new guy Johnson and Morelli.

yep

Morelli.

Only thing was that he walked straight passed me and went to referee the security guard smackdown.

Chicken.

Big Dog scrapped Steve off the floor and replaced my makeshift cuffs with cop standard issue.

ÔI believe these belong to you Miss PlumÕ Johnson, the new guy said blushing bashfully as he handed me my stockings

ÔNo explosions?Õ Eddie asked while checking out the mall for any signs of damage

ÔnopeÕ I said not caring if I sounded smug as I drank my diet coke.

ÔArgh, comÕon Plum youÕre killing me ItÕs been months since the last one.Õ Eddie whined

Ôthe kittyÕs hugeÕ Carl added, having just returned with a pretzel.

ÔDo you think you could organise something for next Wednesday? I just found out one of the kids needs braces. Do have any idea how expensive those things areÕ

I wasnÕt entirely sure that he was kidding.

I sat and talked with the boys while Lula went and retrieved our things from the change rooms. So much for not leaving the area. But the rent-a-cops looked to busy trying to strangle each other to care what we did.

Lula came back with our things and a large peperoni pizza.

ÔAll this arguing is making my hungry.Õ

Eddie, Carl, Bid Dog, Johnson Lula and I shared the pizza. Poor Steve didnÕt get any pizza as both his hands were cuffed behind his back and attached to a trash can.

We watched Joe try to keep the two groups of security guards from killing each other.

Who knew that the mall was so territorial.

Eventually a guy in a suit from building management turned up and told us all we could leave. He even let Lula and I keep our new outfits. Which was a good thing as Lula had gotten grease down the front of hers.

He said to consider them a sign of his gratification for not blowing anything up.

Huh!

I would have been outraged, but hell, I still got a free dress.

Big dog and the new guy escorted Mr Elton out to the squad car, Lula vanished due to her extreme allergy to cops, and Eddie and Carl actually went shopping, for a present for Shirley is what they said. 10 bucks says theyÕre up in the electronics store watching the big screen.

And that left Morelli.

I surreptitiously checked myself out in a nearby store window, Damn if I didnÕt still look good!

Morelli ambled over, cop face on.

ÔLookin good cupcakeÕ

ÔThanksÕ

ÔWanna get a CoffeeÕ

ÔThatÕd be nice, ThanksÕ See that wasnÕt so awkward now was it.

We went to a little coffee shop on the second floor, away from the foodcourt so it was quiet. I ordered a vanilla latte, Joe had Coffee. Black. Such a cop.

ÔSo how are you?Õ he asked I could tell he was really trying.

ÔIÕve been good. You?Õ

ÔWorks been keeping me busy.Õ

ÔI noticed you havenÕt been around the station much.Õ

ÔStill checking up on me cupcake?Õ A little hurt crept through the tough cop exterior

ÔJoeÕ I reached out across the table, he snatched his hand back.

ÔJoeÕ I tried again Ô IÕm sorry I hurt you, I really am, but you know that we werenÕt working. WeÕve talked about this. WeÕre not right for each other.Õ

ÔWe felt pretty rightÕ he said with one of those chuckle/snort comboÕs that guys do when they make innuendos.

ÔYeah, but I am who I am and IÕm not going to changeÕ

I saw him about to say something ÔOr give up my jobÕ I added quickly.

ÔI know all this.Õ Joe punctuated the statement with a big slurp of coffee.

ÔI also thought you were the woman that I was going to spend the rest of my life with. You were everything I was looking forÕ

ÔNo Joe I was only half the woman. You need someone whoÕs going to be happy living in the BurgÕ

ÔI want someone strong, like you.Õ

Ôyou need someone, who can cookÕ

ÔI want someone feisty and independent like youÕ

ÔYou need someone caring and nurturing.Õ

ÔI want someone with who is clever and smart like youÕ

ÔYou need someone who is willing to be a cops wife, and have babies and go to church on Sunday andÉÕ he didnÕt let me finish

ÔAre you saying that youÕre none of those things?Õ

ÔNo, what I am saying is that I may be the woman you want. But IÔm not the woman you need.Õ