Chapter 9:
Khari remembered that he'd forgotten to turn his cell phone off when it started ringing. He glanced at Aziza and she smiled and nodded her permission. He flipped the phone open and hit the button to answer the call.
"What?" he asked. His voice was a little edgier than he'd meant it to be. He listened carefully for a few minutes before his face fell and guilt sent in.
"I'm really sorry to bug you but Steph has been attacked. She's not talking. I know this has something to do with...shit. I've got to go," Joe said abruptly.
"Should I come over?" Khari asked.
"No. Come to the hospital. Steph's spitting up blood. OH FUCK. There's blood gushing out of her mouth. They're trying to figure out...Oh fuck! St. Francis. Be there." The phone disconnected and Khari sighed heavily. He turned to Aziza.
"I have really had a nice time but I'm going to have to take you home now. Nature of the job," he said waving the phone.
"That's okay," she said smiling warmly. "I've had a really nice time too. Maybe we could do it again sometime?" Her voice was hopeful.
"Definitely," he answered kissing her lightly.
"Wha da fud iss you poblem, Doe?" Stephanie asked. Joe was pacing when Khari entered the room. Stephanie's mouth was swollen from the anesthetic.
'What happened?" he asked touching her cheek gently.
"Cazy bathard tied to tut my tug ow," Stephanie answered.
"What?" Khari asked looking from Stephanie to Joe.
"Allow me to translate," Joe said moodily, "'Crazy bastard tried to cut my tongue out.' Per il del dio, Cupcake. What part of 'try not to talk' didn't you understand? It's why she couldn't talk earlier. She wasn't in shock. Her mouth was filling up with blood. The doctor just stitched it up."
"I am tieing nut to taag," Stephanie said looking very earnest. Joe rolled his eyes at her.
"Not since I've been here and...wait...I've been here the whole freaking time!" Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him.
"I wat coffee," she said moodily.
"No!" Joe said turning to Khari.
"Ice Cream!" she attempted to yell.
"What a surprise the only two words she can still say perfectly clearly," Joe said laughing. Stephanie couldn't keep herself from breaking down and laughing too. Khari shook his head as Shiloh entered the room. Khari motioned that they should go into the hallway.
"You!" Joe called back to Stephanie, "You stay right there and no talking!"
Stephanie stuck her tongue out at him and winced. He laughed.
"Serves you right," Joe said. He walked over and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I'll see if I can get you some ice cream." Stephanie gave a choked squeal and hooked her arms around his neck pulling him close.
"Let's give them some time," Khari whispered to Shiloh. They stepped out into the hall. What was she doing here? Khari wondered. He'd meant to call her but had forgotten. Joe must have called her. He inwardly shrugged.
"What happened to her?" Shiloh asked.
"Someone tried to cut out her tongue. That's all I know. I just got here," Khari explained. Carl Costanza exited the elevator and walked over to them.
"She been released?" he asked nodding toward the room.
"Nah, Joe's in with her so we're giving them some private time. Carl, this is Shiloh Page. Carl is a homicide detective," Khari said. Carl took Shiloh's extended hand and smiled shyly at her. "He was on the scene for Ranger and Lester," Khari added meaningfully.
"I wasn't there for Ranger. I was the detective on the scene for Santos. Not pretty. I'm sorry...you...I probably shouldn't tell you that," he stumbled over his words as Shiloh smiled politely at him.
"Why not?" she asked.
"It's not something a lady should hear," he said.
"Jesus Christ!" she exploded and then started laughing, "You're not real, right? Ooooooo...wait, I get it. You're some cryogenics project. Who was president when they froze you? What do you think of 2002 with our magical electric lights and flush toilets?"
"What?" Carl said sounding confused.
"I'm sorry," Shiloh said still laughing so hard that she was having trouble breathing. "You're just priceless." Carl frowned deeply realizing that being priceless may not be what it was cracked up to be. The door to Stephanie's room opened and Joe stepped into the hallway.
"What is going on out here?" he asked noting Shiloh's trouble breathing.
"Nothing," Carl said looking testy. Khari led the group away from the door to some benches against the wall.
"What do we know?" he asked seriously.
"First off, Steph says that she's sure that knows the man who attacked her but she can't place him. If we give her time and she remembers we pretty much have this case wrapped up. Whoever jumped her thinks that Ranger told her something that she claims not to know," Joe paused and everyone watched him expectantly, "She says that Ranger never told her anything for fear that something like this would happen."
"Did the guy give any hint as to what he thought she knew?" Khari asked thoughtfully.
"I asked but she said that he was too eager to cut out her tongue. The odd thing was that he giggled when he drew blood. Why would a grown man get so giddy over blood?" Joe questioned.
"He's crazy?" Shiloh suggested. Joe turned and pointed at her.
"Best idea I've heard," he agreed laughing nervously.
"There's just one thing that I want to know," Shiloh began thoughtfully. "How did Stephanie get Vincent Plum Bail Bonds from Ranger?"
"She bought it from Vinnie," Joe said. He turned to Khari, "Didn't she?"
"I don't know, man. Shiloh handled most of Ranger's properties." And a bit more, he thought bitterly. "She said that he owned it and told her not to bother with managing."
"We were only the controlling interest," Shiloh added. Joe was already headed through to door to Stephanie's room. Carl was on his heels.
"Cupcake," Joe said gently, "How did you get Ranger to sell you the bail bond company?" There was a fire in his eyes that made Stephanie sit up.
"W-Wha do you mea? I boug ih fra Vinnie," Stephanie protested gently.
"No you didn't buy it from Vinnie," Joe argued. "Tell me." Shiloh and Khari shivered at the cold and dangerous tone of Joe's voice. Stephanie hung her head and took a deep breath before she started speaking again.