Ranger's Bargain Chapter 9
As Steph goes to get out of her car, Amy says quickly getting out of the car, "Stop. Let me check it out, first. I'll give you the go ahead sign if it's safe."
Grrr. She didn't even give me time to argue. Looking around from her vantage point in the car she sees Joe Morelli standing by a tree near the Merry Go Round. I wonder why Joe is here.
Amy signals Steph that it's ok to get out. Steph gets out and walks over to Joe with Amy following along behind. "Hey Joe, what are you doing here?"
"I heard you were meeting somebody here and wanted to see for myself who it was."
"Well, Joe I think you scared them away, cause I don't see anybody near the Merry Go Round except for you."
"I found this on the Merry Go Round when I got here, Cupcake. I think it's for you." Joe hands Steph an envelope with her name on it.
Steph opens the envelope and pulls out the note. Reading aloud Steph says, "I was hoping to meet you, alone, but saw the cop and didn't want to start rumors. Call me. Here's my number."
"He gave you his number, Steph?"
"Yeah."
"So who is it?"
"I don't know. I guess I'll have to call him to figure it out."
"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Steph."
"Why? What could possibly happen? We're just going to be talking over the phone."
"Joe's right, Steph. Why don't you give us the phone number and let us figure out who it is and then you can call him, ok?"
"Fine, but you have to promise to call and let me know who it is as soon as you find out, ok?"
"Ok."
"Let's head back to your apartment, Steph, and then I can get the phone number and take it back to headquarters."
"Let's go, then."
"Amy, can you answer one question for me?"
"What's the big deal about me calling him? I mean he clearly already knows where I live. What more could he learn from a phone call?"
"It's not really about what he can learn. It's more about who has control in the conversation. For instance, if you know who he is you don't have to constantly wonder whom you're talking with. In fact, you could call him by name and maybe even get him off balance a little bit. This gives you the edge making it easier for you to find out the information you want, like why he wants to meet with you."
"Oh, ok. Here, let me write down the number for you." Steph quickly scribbles the number on a piece of paper, handing it to Amy, "Here you go. Hurry and run it through. I want to know who this person is."
"Amy, come check this out. You're not going to believe whose phone number it is." Bobby tells her.
"What? Whose phone number is it?"
"Look."
Amy looks at the screen and sees the name associated with the phone number. "Oh my god."
"Yea, surprising isn't it?"
"It sure is. So who gets to tell Ranger this new development? It's not going to be me. I promised Steph I'd let her know who it was right away."
"I think Hal should be the one to do it. He's already in trouble for the Stun Gun Incident."
"Sounds good to me, but I'd better get going and let Steph know the news."