Dawn Tracy
The characters you recognize belong to Janet Evanovich. I'm just borrowing them for fun and pleasure.
Rating: R
Spoilers: HS through EOT CHAPTER SEVENI woke up and couldn't remember where I was at first. Then I smelled the scent of Ranger and rolled over on the 1000 thread count sheets and remembered. I was in Ranger's bed. Alone.
I set off for the shower and tried not to indulge in fantasies while reveling in the scent of Ranger's shower gel.
I dressed in black jeans of course, and a black v-neck sweater. I did the gel and blow dry thing with my hair and put on gold hoop earrings. Ella called up and said she could bring up breakfast in ten minutes. I agreed, but I felt kind of weird being here with out Ranger being served by Ella. I would go grocery shopping tonight.
"Good Morning Stephanie." Ella greeted me. She set the tray down on the table. "Ranger told me you would be coming. I hope this is okay. I can make you eggs or pancakes."
"This is great. Thank you" I kind of felt like a princess being served like this. Ella was like my mother only an artist about it.
"What time would you like dinner? Can I include dessert?"
"Oh you don't have to. I was going to go to the store."
"Don't be silly. I'm cooking anyway. It's my pleasure."
"Six is fine. I really appreciate it. And I love dessert." I would still go to the store. I had to have my frosted flakes. Ella's breakfast was beautiful, but sometimes I just needed sugar coated nourishment.
Paula Gumbazzi's house was a split-level. The lawn was perfectly manicured and the inside looked like an interior decorator barfed all over it. Each room had a monochrome theme and no color seemed to be left out. My favorite room was the orange room. I'm not sure what was supposed to be happening in there. It was really bright and the furniture was odd and modern. I liked it because I wanted to see people trying to carry on conversations while the walls and the furniture screamed orange at you.
Paula chose a green room for our talk. I sat on a light green leather chair and Paula sat on a hunter green linen couch. The color did nothing for her complexion. I could only imagine what I looked like in this room. Mental note, never paint a room snot nose green.
"Mary Lou said you wanted to know about George's business?"
"Yeah. I was wondering about the contract for the Morrison Center. Do you know why they didn't get it?"
"That's the old medical center? I know George was really unhappy about it. He thinks everyone at city hall is a crook. He got the papers to print those articles. You can talk to my husband Stan, but he doesn't know anything much about the business end of things. He's more a hands on man." She smiled. "I'll call George and see if I can get you in to see him. Why do you want to know?"
"I'm doing some research for work." I told her.
"Strange thing to research." She looked at me curiously.
"You research a lot of strange things in the security business."
I got an appointment with George for four forty five today. I assumed that meant I got fifteen minutes. That's okay with me. I didn't really have a lot of questions.
"Do you think that Stan would know if there was anything strange going on at a job site? Like drug deals." I asked.
"It probably depends on how big the site is and where Stan was working." Paula said. "Most of the time he is in one section of the site so he would probably see a drug dealer if they were in his area and chase them off the site, or if there is on site security call security."
"It sounds like such an exciting business you are in Stephanie." Paula sat on the edge of her seat, sipping at her tea. "Are you and Joe Morelli still together?"
"No. We broke up."
"Those Morelli men are all no good. I heard Joe was working in Point Pleasant. Terri Gillman's God Father is the Police Chief there."
I told myself it didn't matter.
"Really? I didn't know that." I tried to sound indifferent.
"I'm having a party for Stanley's fortieth birthday this Saturday." Paula told me. " I'm sure that Perry Bruzniak will make an appearance. I'll give you an invitation and you can bring your new man Ranger. Mary Lou tells me he's very hot."
Oh no, what was Mary Lou telling people? Ranger would not consent to being an arm piece at a Burg party. Don't even think about it.
"I would love an invitation, but Ranger is out of town." I didn't know quite what to say about him being my new man.
Morelli called me when I was in the parking lot of George Gumbazzi's office.
"Hello."
"Hi Stephanie. I'm trying to get in touch with Ranger. He hasn't returned my page since yesterday."
I tried to ignore the knot in my stomach. Ranger did generally return pages promptly. I could think of a hundred and one reasons why he would not call Morelli back. All pure speculation on my part.
"He's traveling. He's away." That sounded really stupid.
"You don't have any idea where he is do you?"
"Why do you want to talk to him?" I could ask questions too.
"Never mind. When you talk to him tell him to call me." He disconnected.
George Gumbazzi sat behind a desk covered in papers. He had gray hair, brown accusing eyes. He wore an expensive shirt, jeans and work boots.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Gumbazzi. I'm a friend of Mary Lou and Paula's. They told me so much about you I feel like I know you."
"What do ya want a job?"
"No. I have a job thank you. I'm doing some research on construction contracts. I understand that you did not get the contract to do the Morrison Center buildings."
George frowned, "God damn crooks at city hall. Who ever has the greasiest palms gets the contracts these days. I'm not playing that way. If it means I'm going back to home remodels, so be it."
"So you think that Bruzniak Contractors bribed their way to the contract." I tried to sound impartial.
"Sure. And Bruzniak was pissed that they couldn't control the other subcontractors."
"What do you mean?"
"The Morrison Center and the entire property are totally shut down for renovation. In the meantime there are utility companies, contractors of all types, security companies you name it that needs access around the clock. Bruzniak thought they could control all access to the properties they were remodeling. They wanted to be able to say yes or no to any company that would work on the contract. The city was not going for that of course. Bruzniak was just another contractor."
"Do you know the owners of Bruzniak Construction personally?"
"I know Perry Bruzniak. He's a fair contractor. Any big contracts they do are because they bribed their way to get them. They were just small time a couple of years ago."
I filed this information away. It seemed that enough people were talking about bribery in connection to the Bruzniak contract for there to be the possibility of truth to it. How did this relate to the murders and the letters and photos? Did Ames bribe his way to getting the contract? I wondered if Ranger knew about all of this.
I got back to Ranger's apartment had dinner and I was feeling restless. If I sat still I worried and if I walked around I couldn't find anything to do. I decided to go shopping. That would make me feel better.
I was sure Tank was less than thrilled with my destination. But he did not voice any complaints and even followed me around the mall at a respectable distance. He refused to remove his utility belt so he got some looks. Especially when I went into the lingerie department. I didn't stay there long. I just couldn't buy bras and undies with Tank watching.
I stood in the ladies wear department fondling a black cashmere sweater when Tank appeared at my side.
"We need to go."
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"We need to go." He repeated. "Now." Suddenly he was in robot mode. Gone was the amused armed companion. Something was wrong.
I followed him to the parking lot and our Explorers. "What's wrong?" I could keep repeating the same question until I got an answer.
"I've got a situation to deal with, but I don't want to leave you alone."
"What kind of situation?" Tell me before my imagination fills in the blanks.
"One of the guys had to shoot a dealer at a job site we are working."
"Which site?"
"The Morrison Center."
Everything kept leading back to the same place.
"I'm going with you. Lead the way I'll follow in my car."
He didn't like it, but he didn't look like he had much choice. I wondered if Ranger left him in charge and he wasn't always sure what to do. I probably made things more difficult for him. I would try to be helpful when we got there. Even if it meant I had to stay out of the way.
We parked illegally so we could get close and I followed Tank. The police and an ambulance had arrived. Out of habit I scanned to see if I knew any of the uniforms.
I stood back while Tank talked to the men. I recognized Lester and Bobby standing by, but not the two men who were being questioned by the police. They had that built like a refrigerator, just got out of prison look that most of the Rangeman employees had. I hoped they wouldn't be in trouble. None of the uniforms looked familiar.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I turned around. Ranger stood behind me.