Ch. 3
When I arrived at the station, the cops were looking at me like I was the walking dead. I ignored the sympathetic stares of everyone, and quickly made my way to a back interrogation room where Joe had told me a uniform had been left for me. I thought the cops should have more faith in Joe. I did. I had no doubts that I'd be back home with Joe and Bob in no time. I reached the interrogation room, closed the door and changed into the uniform. Just as I was finishing, there was a knock on the door and Joe came in. We said goodbye one last time, and as I turned to leave Joe reached out and grabbed my hand.
"When you drive to Ranger's go in circles a couple times, and check your mirror for tails."
"I know all that, you don't have to worry."
"Can't help myself. But I know you'll do great." One last bone-melting smile, and he was gone.
I left the station through the back door. A cop car stood ready and waiting for me, keys already inside. I hopped in, took a couple minutes to indulge some fantasies of Stephanie Plum…woman on the right side of the law, then turned the engine over and headed to Ranger's.
As an employee of Rangeman, I have access to Ranger's parking garage, but decided it would look better if a cop car didn't just roll in on its own. I had watched for a tail the entire drive over, and hadn't noticed anything, but I didn't want to be careless all the same. I stopped to announce myself, but of course the person guarding the gate recognized me immediately. After a couple minutes of making it look good, the gate was raised and I proceeded into the underground garage.
I took the elevator to the fifth floor to find Ranger and let him know I was here, although I was sure he already knew. This building has cameras everywhere, not to mention the gate guy looked helpful enough to announce my arrival. Sure enough, when the elevator doors opened, Ranger was standing there waiting for me. I jumped slightly.
"Sorry," I mumbled. "Wasn't expecting a welcoming committee."
Ranger grinned. "Why don't you come to my office and we can talk for a minute."
Great! More talking. I didn't want to talk. I wanted to turn around and run back home. I stole a quick glance at the buttons on the elevator panel. "Too late Steph. The cop car's already been driven back to the station. You're stuck here now. Morelli has good reason for wanting you here, and you're going to have to make the best of it."
I blew out a big breath and stalked off the elevator past Ranger. He followed me into his office and closed the door. "How are you holding up?"
"Me? I'm fine. My husband thinks I have a lunatic stalking me, waiting for a chance to grab me in retaliation for said husband doing his job. Joe, of course, feels very guilty about this and that guilt has caused him to request I be locked away until the lunatic can be caught when I, of course, would much rather be at home with my husband." My voice, dripping with sarcasm, had also reached a decibel level that had dogs across the city cowering.
Ranger regarded me warily for a moment, not sure if the next thing he said would bring on full Armageddon. "You're not locked up here, Babe. You have full access to the inside of the building. You just can't leave it."
Tears involuntarily pooled in my eyes. "Great, Ranger. Forgive me if that distinction does nothing to make me feel better. I hate being restricted at all. You know that."
"Yet you agreed," Ranger stated calmly.
"Yes, because when I finally decided to grow up and marry Joe, his wants and needs became of ultimate importance to me. More important to me than my own. And he needs me to be here so he can focus on catching Leslie without having to worry about me. So, I'll do whatever he needs. But what I need is any information you have regarding this mess."
Ranger nodded his head slightly, his silent way of acknowledging what I said, even if he didn't completely understand it. "Well Babe, I don't have much. This is Morelli's ballgame."
"What is it with you guys and that analogy?" I muttered.
"What was that Babe?"
"Nothing, never mind. Please continue," I said, flashing Ranger my best phony smile. One side of Ranger's mouth tipped up in amusement. A common reaction to me.
"Here's what I know right now. Anyone who has done their homework will be aware of your employment with me. Due to the nature of my business, it's natural to assume that I would be the perfect person to offer you a safehouse. Therefore, once you've been missing a couple days, I'll go to the bonds office and make a lot of noise to Connie and Lula about you not coming into work and leaving me high and dry."
"Will they know I'm here?"
Ranger shook his head. "Steph, it's not that we don't trust them, it's just that the less people who know the better. Not even your family can know where you are. The chance of inadvertent leaks increases tenfold for every person that knows something."
"But they'll worry, especially with my penchant for getting into trouble." I was feeling overwrought at the idea of just disappearing without a trace and worrying my friends and family. I wondered how Joe would handle it, what he would tell them. My eyes were burning again with the tears I had fought back a few minutes ago. Ranger started shifting uneasily. Tears made Ranger uncomfortable.
"Didn't Morelli talk about this with you yesterday?" Ranger asked, his tone short.
"I didn't really give him a chance. I was so caught up with my own feelings; I guess I didn't even think about anything--or anyone--else. This was all so sudden."
"I understand Babe. I'll give you an hour to get settled and pull yourself together, then I expect you at your desk getting some work done. It'll do you some good to keep your mind occupied."
"Yes, Boss," I said, resisting the urge to give him a military salute…or an Italian hand gesture.
Ranger shook his head and left the room. I followed him out a minute later, and went to the "apartment" I would be using. I changed out of the police uniform, got dressed in black clothes that had been left in the room for me, splashed some water on my face and went down to my desk. I got right to work and stayed busy, avoiding everyone else, not in the mood for conversation or company.
For the next couple days, I repeated this pattern. As Joe suggested, I worked all day until my eyes couldn't stare at a computer screen one second longer; then I'd go to my room where I'd think about Joe and wonder how he was doing, if he was alright, and if he had made any progress on finding Carlos Leslie. Ranger hadn't heard from Joe, so I assumed Leslie hadn't made contact yet. Ranger was sure that if Leslie called, Joe would find some way to get in touch with him to give him the news. I just hoped it would be sooner rather than later.