Chapter Nineteen

I finished up with the searches that I had started. My cell phone rang and Anna was asking to join me for dinner. She knew that Ric was working late. I told her no problem, that Ella was making dinner for two anyway. We agreed to meet at seven at the apartment.

I ran down the stairs to the garage. I wanted to go see Lula before dinner. It was now nearly 4:30, but she should still be at the office. I grinned when I saw her Firebird outside Vinnie's office.

I walked into the office to find Lula and Connie in a heated debate.

"Yo, what's up?" I asked. Both sets of eyes came to rest on my face.

"Yo, yourself white girl. Where's Batman?" Lula loved to think of Ranger as Batman.

"Working," I replied. Seems he didn't come to the office today.

"Yeah, well me and Connie were just debating the Morelli case. Bet Batman is pretty pleased right now. Morelli is in some deep shit."

I put my hands on my hips. "Ranger is not gloating if that's what you're implying. Joe isn't guilty of anything more than bad taste."

"Don't know about that," Lula continued. "First that Terry chick and now that cop from Richmond. That man may have a fine ass, but he aren't got nothing in the brain department. Damn, he even let you get away girlfriend, not that it didn't work out pretty damn good for you." Lula was on a roll. She was gyrating and gesturing during the whole speech.

"Lula," I tried to interrupt, "I have to ask you something."

"Shoot," she replied, taking a deep breath.

"What did you mean about Terry and Joe not being what they seemed. It's important Lula, I have to know."

Lula looked at me for a long moment before answering. "It ain't what you're thinking, Steph."

"Oh," I added, "and what am I thinking?"

Connie watched us both under thick false eyelashes. "Tell her, Lula. She deserves to know."

"What?" I demanded, stomping my foot for emphasis.

"All right, chill out. I'm goin' tell you, but don't say you heard it from me." She sat down on the couch that covered the wall across from Connie's desk. I leaned against the desk and crossed my arms. "Anytime now."

"All right. Damn, this isn't easy," Lula began. "Word is on Stark that Morelli's been playing two sides of the fence. Seems that the reason that he's still alive is that he was working for Grizzolli as well as the cops. Don't know for sure what his deal was, but word is he was in deep. Word isJoe might be dirty."

I felt the blood drain from my face. It was a good thing that I was leaning against something. Joe was dirty. No friggin' way, I thought. "What's the word about Terry?"

"Seems that our little Miss Gilman wasn't playing so nice with Joe anymore. Word is that she wanted him out of the picture. Seems that once you were out of the picture, she figured Morelli would jump to her bed, but it didn't happen that way. Word is that they worked together, but they haven't played together in quite a while."

I didn't know what to make of this news. What Lula was saying didn't seem to fit. I knew that I would have to face Joe and try to get some answers, but I really wasn't looking forward to that. I said my goodbyes to the girls and stumbled to my truck. I was almost inside when I saw another black truck pull up beside me, Ranger's truck.

I waited by my door. "I didn't think I'd see you so soon," I offered.

He smiled at me. "I was looking for you, Babe. Heard that you're having dinner with Anna. Is it girl talk or can I come?"

"What happened to working late?" I returned the smile.

"Worked out so I don't have to." He kissed the top of my head.

"Ric, I need to talk to you about something before dinner." I started to climb into the truck.

"I'll follow you and then we can talk."

We parked in the garage and I followed Ranger up to the apartment. We settled in for the evening. Ranger let Ella know that there would be three for dinner tonight. We had both changed and we getting comfortable on the couch before Ranger spoke.

"So, Babe, what's the deep thoughts this time?"

I told him the story of Lula 'word on the street', watching his face for any sign that he had already heard it. He was wearing that mask that didn't let anything through.

"Ric, do you think that Morelli is dirty?" I think I was holding my breath waiting of his answer.

"No, Babe, Morelli is a good cop. Someone is trying to frame him. This has the marking of a Grizzolli setup. The only question is why. It's no secret that Terry had a thing for Joe. He admitted that they had been together. No reason to believe that they wouldn't hook up again after you left."

I watched Ranger as he spoke. His features weren't giving anything away. I had a ton of questions about how much Ranger actually knew about Terry and Joe, but having tried to get that information from him before, I knew he wouldn't divulge everything.

"We're not going there, Babe. That's the past," he offered, as if reading my mind.

The phone rang announcing that Anna was on her way up for dinner. When he got off the elevator, she seemed a bit surprised to find Ranger in residence.

"I didn't know you'd be home, Ric. I can have dinner with Stephanie another night," she explained as she headed back to the elevator.

"Stop," Ric ordered. "Why?" That's all he seemed to need to say.

Anna turned back around. "Joe Morelli is on his way over."