It took a few days to connect the dots. Carmen was an informant who sold scraps of intel that came her way. Mostly it was low-level drug stuff and names of the Jamaican gang members. The parent posse based in Philly is called Striker. Unfortunately, we never learned what Carmen wanted to tell Morelli.
Striker had HYDRA written all over them. I sighed after researching their background. "How are they getting the drugs here?" I asked Morelli.
"We don't know how they're bringing in shit. They can't sell it fast enough. We've had twelve deaths from a heroin overdose. The stuff is abundant, and the dealers aren't bothering to cut it to the standard street concoction," Morelli replied.
"Do you think Carmen had intel on Striker?" Manny asked.
"I don't think so," I replied. Morelli added that he suspected Carmen had information on Ramirez. "One of us should visit Jimmy Alpha."
"You'll have better luck," Morelli told me. "Manny and I will keep watch." I sighed in relief. I hoped I could get through the impromptu meeting without encountering Ramirez. "You should wear something sexy."
Manny laughed and agreed. "Fine!" I snapped. "But I have to go home to change." I grumbled as I left Morelli's apartment. Manny followed close behind to keep an eye on me.
"I have to pick up a few things," Manny said, "I'll meet you at your apartment."
When I entered my apartment, something felt off. Clanging on my fire escape had me running toward my bedroom. I looked out my window and found Lula, one of the prostitutes from Stark Street, tied to the railing. Without considering the crime scene, I opened my window to pull her inside. Streaks of blood appeared as I pulled her into the living room. I grabbed the cordless phone of my landline to call the police.
The ambulance was too late. I felt Lula's life slip away as I held her. "Ms. Plum, you need to release the body," the paramedic said. I reluctantly removed my arms from Lula. He shook his head after searching for a pulse. "Bill, call the coroner. She didn't make it."
"Who did this?" Eddie Gazarra asked as he approached me.
"I don't know," I replied. My spidey sense indicated it was Benito Ramirez, but I didn't have proof.
"Looks like the same injuries from another prostitute from a few months ago," Carl Costanza said. "The woman claimed Ramirez cut her with a bottle. She disappeared before she could testify in court."
I went into the shower to wash away Lula's blood. Someone opened the bathroom door, then quickly left. I peeked from behind the shower curtain and found clothes on the vanity. Once the water ran cold, I turned off the taps and dried myself.
The men were sitting in my living room, waiting for me to appear. I looked around and noticed the blood was gone. "Did you guys clean my apartment?"
"We did. You have a few new messages on your machine," Ranger replied. I nodded and listened to Benito Ramirez telling a woman how to respond. Goosebumps erupted over my skin as the woman claimed to enjoy Ramirez torturing her. The second message was Lula pleading with Ramirez to show her mercy.
"Have you received my present, Stephanie?" Ramirez asked. "You can look forward to an even worse fate." He hung up. I ran to the bathroom to vomit. Ramirez had cut Lula everywhere. The police found a broken bottle covered in blood on the ground beneath my window. Seeing her injuries made me sick. Hearing him afflict them on an innocent woman made me puke.
"Fucking great," I groaned. The serum-enhanced boxer sent me a message.
"Are you okay?" Ranger asked.
"I will be. Thank you for the clothes and for cleaning my apartment," I replied.
"No price, Babe." I left the men in my living room as I went to brush my teeth. Not wanting to stay in my apartment, I entered my bedroom to pack a bag. I could stay with Manny until it was safe to return home. We had to find Ramirez. Letting him live to harm another woman was not something I could tolerate. "Where are you going?" Ranger asked.
"To visit Jimmy Alpha. I need to know how he is involved in Ramirez's assaults," I replied. Manny stopped me from leaving without him. He reminded me that I needed a partner. "I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, but Steve wanted us to watch out for you," Ranger replied. I rolled my eyes and let the men follow me. Morelli gave me a microphone to record our conversation. I had it tucked beneath my right breast. Hopefully, he wouldn't hear my heart race.
The guys hid in the shadows to watch as I approached Jimmy Alpha's office. Manny remained in the reception office, keeping the pretty secretary occupied while I spoke to Jimmy. "Do you know about Lula?" I asked. He nodded. "Ramirez almost killed her. He made her beg for mercy, then he threatened me."
"Lula was Benito's favourite hooker. He enjoyed spending time with him. Benito confessed it was rough. Someone probably hurt Lula after he spent time with her. It's obviously someone who wants Benito banned from his upcoming boxing match against Clark," Alpha said. "I believe him."
Alpha dismissed all my arguments. "What the hell are you going to do about him?" I demanded.
"Benito goes a little crazy with women. He has something about people disrespecting him. But I know Benito would never hang a woman on a fire escape or leave you that message, linking him to the crime. Benito is no genius, but I know he isn't that dumb," Alpha insisted.
"I never called him dumb, Jimmy. Benito is a sick man who has done terrible things."
"Do me a favour and stay away from Stark Street. The cops would be around to investigate the alleged assault on Lula. I'll have to live with whatever they discover. While waiting, I should concentrate on getting Benito ready to fight Tommy Clark in three weeks. The fight had sold out weeks ago. Benito's fans deserve to watch the fight. Whenever Benito sees you, he goes crazy."
Alpha's office was fairly cool, but he had dark stains under his armpits. I couldn't blame him. I'd be sweating, too, if I were him. Alpha was watching his prized fighter self-destruct. It was a shame Jimmy didn't have the guts to face up. "Sorry, Jimmy. I have a job to do, and it involves being on Stark Street," I said, then left.
Manny watched my back as we left Alpha's office. "Did everything go okay?" Manny asked.
"That was fucking depressing," I replied.
"Come on, Wifey. Let's go home," Manny said. He tugged on my hand. We got into the car and drove to Hamilton Township, where Manny owned a house. "The others are spending the night too."
"Thanks for telling me, Hubby. Though I assumed that was the case when I caught Ranger's car following us," I retorted. Manny chuckled.
"You're not even checking the mirrors. How do you know?" Manny asked.
"I feel the tingle in my neck caused by Ranger, and I can hear his engine," I replied.
"How the hell can you hear the engine?" Manny asked.
"Ranger gave me a ride in that Mercedes to the warehouse," I replied. "Once I ride in a car, I memorize the purr of the motor."
Manny parked inside the garage of a modest two-story home. It blended in with the other homes in the area. I smiled when I entered the house. The others followed us through the door. Manny showed me to my room, then we met the gang in the living room.
My phone vibrated from a Google alert. "Babe?" Ranger asked as I opened the Chrome browser.
"I need to see the news," I replied, pointing at my phone. Ranger grabbed my device to see what triggered my sudden need to watch the news. Manny turned on the TV to the channel broadcasting the events. "The Winter Soldier went after Captain America and the Black Widow." I was afraid Steve would die.
The news anchor showed footage of a Helicarrier on fire. I knew Steve was on it with the Winter Soldier. "What are they doing?" Lester asked. The men had gathered around us on the couch to watch the video. Ranger pulled me onto his lap to make more room for the other men.
"Besides fighting?" I asked, not expecting an answer. "SHIELD and STRIKE created Project Insight. It appears Captain America, Falcon, and the Black Widow are trying to prevent Project Insight from engaging."
"What's Project Insight?" Lester asked.
I read off my phone screen. "Three Helicarriers got launched after the Battle of New York. Project Insight was the direct response to the battle. The three carriers got launched from the Lemurian Star. Once in the air, they don't need to come down. Project Insight got initiated to eliminate humans who posed a possible threat to SHIELD or HYDRA. They designed it to promote the new world order. Arnim Zola's algorithm used every variable in a person's life, such as bank records, voting patterns and Standardized testing scores. Over seven hundred thousand individuals got targeted. Alexander Pierce estimated twenty million people would die."
"Who's on the list?" Bobby asked.
"Everyone in this room, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Captain America, Falcon, Uncle Frank and countless others, including a twelve-year-old girl," I replied.
"It looks like Cap went down with the carrier," Lester said, pointing to the video.
"No!" I gasped. I refused to believe he was dead. Manny pulled me off Ranger's lap and into his arms. He held me as I cried.
"Babe," Ranger quietly said as he kneeled beside me. "Captain America survived. He crashed a plane into the Arctic. If the Captain could survive getting frozen in ice for nearly seventy years, he would survive this too."
Ranger made sense, but it was hard to believe. "We aren't designed to live in survival mode. Our bodies need safety. Our souls need rest," I argued. "I want to believe you, Ranger."
"But you need to see it for yourself," he replied.
"Yes."
"I have a friend I could call," Ranger said.
"You do? Who?"
"Sam Wilson," Ranger replied. He connected the call to his old Army buddy. I listened to the conversation. Ranger wasn't aware I could hear Sam's responses. Manny felt me relax in his arms.
I thanked Ranger for calling Sam, then asked Manny for a ride to the airport. Unfortunately, there were no available flights for a few days, forcing us to drive. Visiting Steve Rogers was at the top of my list. Manny accompanied me to Washington, which surprised me. He didn't think I should be alone while the Winter Soldier was on the loose.
"I'm fine, Manny. Bucky won't hurt me," I reasoned.
"How do you know?" Manny asked.
"Bucky visited my apartment a few days ago," I replied. "He's trying to fight the programming. I know it."
"Every soldier should have a field partner," Manny said. I couldn't argue with him. Steve and Natasha were partners in SHIELD. "What are we doing after this trip?"
"Capturing Morelli, then searching for Hawkeye. He's on a mission and doesn't know SHIELD collapsed," I replied. Manny promised to travel with me. "I may need the others too."
I smiled when I arrived at the Washington hospital. Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man soundtrack softly filtered from Steve's room. Steve had mentioned the music Sam recommended the day they met. It seemed fitting to hear it in his room. Sam smiled at me. "I'm Sam Wilson," he said, extending his hand.
"Stephanie Plum," I replied. Sam grinned, then left me to spend time with Steve.
"Hey, Doll," Steve greeted, smiling.
"Hi, Captain. How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Better now that you're here."
I spent a few days in Washington until Steve got released from the hospital. His recovery was relatively fast. The doctors seemed surprised, but I had to shake my head. Steve Rogers was a Super Soldier. The serum increased his healing capacity. His extra day in the hospital was completely unnecessary.
"Do you need help finding Bucky?" I asked when I drove him home.
"I think Sam and I have it handled," Steve replied. He extended his hand when I climbed from the car at his apartment building. Steve wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me tightly against his body when we entered his apartment. "You and I need to have an important conversation."
My heart raced as I contemplated what Steve wanted to discuss. Getting rejected by him again would break my heart. Was he going to love me, then leave me again? "Steph, it's not bad. I promise," Steve whispered.
"Really?" I asked, feeling slightly insecure.
"You're it for me, Steph. While laid up in the hospital, I had time to think about my stance on relationships. Sam knows we're good for each other," Steve whispered. "He convinced me we should give ourselves a chance to see where our relationship goes." His lips brushed against mine. My heart raced for another reason.
Steve lifted me into his arms and carried me to his bed. "I kissed Manoso, Sherman, Brown, Santos and Ramos when Santos claimed he was a better kisser," I confessed. "Manny won in that contest. I had to kiss Manny for a job."
"And I kissed Natasha to escape unnoticed. Did kissing other men mean anything to you?" Steve asked.
"No. Natasha?" I wondered.
"Nope. It was like kissing a sister if I had one," he replied. "Your lips are mine forever." His mouth pressed against mine. I felt his tongue lick my bottom lip, and I opened my mouth for him to deepen our kiss. Steve deepened the kiss, setting my hormones on fire. Sometime before he placed me on the bed, our clothes disappeared.
I remembered saying yes to something Steve asked, but I was too focused on how he played my body to pay attention to what he wanted. We made love for hours. I thought we would break the bed when the frame groaned beneath us. How could Steve have that stamina after spending days in a hospital?