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Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the plot and Annie. Even the title is borrowed from Van Morrison.

Italics - Spanish

Some bad words, some violence, and fade into black sex-scenes, nothing too graphic.

Chapter 7. An ordinary Monday, part I

The next day Annie felt a bit silly when she went to work. She usually walked, a brisk walk of about 30 minutes, but today she had called for a cab. The cab driver was an elderly man, who didn't talk after she had gotten in the car. She thanked him when she paid, and rang on the doorbell. The papyri she was studying was in a private home, in a big study. The owner, Ms. Anderson, was a rich elderly gentlewoman, quite eccentric, who lived in the big house with her cook, a butler and five cats. Only the butler was allowed in the study.

"Good morning, Ms. Morrison," the butler said.

"Good morning, Murillo."

Ms. Anderson was still sleeping, she usually slept late. Annie was let into the study, the butler asked if she wanted him to fetch the same papyri she had worked on the last time.

"Yes, thank you, Murillo. I hope I will be able to finish with at least one of the fragments today."

"Very good, Ms. Morrison."

Annie worked for five hours, only taking a quick cup of coffee at another table in the study. At one o'clock she decided to have lunch outside. The weather was quite warm for April, and she had enjoyed being outside in the park with Tank yesterday.

"Murillo. I´m going out for lunch, and will be back in about an hour, if that doesn't interfere with your plans."

"Very good, Ms. Morrison. That will fit in with my plans for the day."

Annie went to a nearby deli and bought a sandwich, and then went to the nearest park, quite a bit bigger than the one near her apartment. She was soon back in the study and continued her work.

x x x

Tank woke early and did a workout in his gym. It wasn't as well equipped as the one at Haywood, but worked just fine for days he didn't have to go over there. After a shower he ate a hearty breakfast, and then called police officer Gazarra´s number.

It went to voicemail, and he left a message. While he waited for Gazarra to call back Tank did some laundry and cleaned out the litter boxes.

While Tank folded the laundry his phone rang. No number was displayed.

"Hello."

"Hello, Tank. This is Gazarra."

"I'm at home."

"I was just wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me?"

Tank understood what Gazarra hinted at – he wasn't sure someone wasn't listening in.

"I´d like that. Why don't we meet at Haywood at twelve. Ella´s a great cook."

"See you there."

Both hung up, and Tank took a moment to consider what to do next. He then called Ranger.

"Yo."

"Yo. I´m meeting Gazarra for lunch at Haywood. He hinted at being overheard. Or at least not being sure of not being overheard."

"Make sure he leaves his cell phone outside, and check him for bugs before you enter the safe conference room."

"Yes, dad, I'll make sure to follow the usual procedure."

"Sorry. I´m a bit short on sleep. Stella´s got colic, and Steph´s still quite upset. Mostly at herself. I've called her psychologist for an extra session."

"It´s alright man. Go take care of your wife and daughter. I´ll give you a briefing when I've met Gazarra."

Tank checked the cats and then called in to Ella, and asked her to put lunch for two in the conference room.

"It´s more than fine with your usual fare, I just don't want to have to fight the others for our food."

"I'll see to it. No worries."

"Thank you, Ella."

Tank checked the time. He felt restless. It was still some time to lunch, but he could always fill it with paperwork. He decided to go to Haywood, although it was only half past ten.

When he arrived at Haywood he decided to talk to Hector. He found him in the electronics room.

"Have you heard anything from your contacts?"

"Not from my contacts, but there are rumors going around the hookers on Stark Street. About a cop who´s very into curly haired women."

"I can´t believe this cluster fuck. Can you check if there's anyone willing to talk to a cop not involved in it?"

"I can check, but I don't believe I'll find someone."

"Then ask if they can leave information without talking directly to the police."

"Maybe you could ask Lula to help you?"

"I don't want to be anywhere near that backstabbing, lying, greedy…" Tank took a deep breath.

"Let's just say I don't want to talk to her."

"I see."

"I´m meeting Gazarra at 1200 in the conference room. Could you come around and check him for bugs?"

"I'll be there."

Tank left the electronics room and went by the medical suite.

"Brown. It seems to be a bigger issue with Morelli than we originally thought. Hector said there´s rumors on Stark Street that there´s a cop with an unhealthy obsession with curly haired women."

"Shit. Do we have anything more than rumors?"

"Not from Stark. And Hector didn't think any of the hookers would be willing to talk to the police. I´m meeting Gazarra in the conference room for lunch at 1200. He hinted over the phone that he wasn't sure if he had a secure phone. Hector will check both the phone and Gazarra himself."

"You want me there?"

"I don't think I need your help right now, but I´ll brief you afterwards. Oh, and I talked to Ranger and Steph yesterday. There's much more than they told us. I´ll tell you after I get the OK from them."

"Fuck! I knew there was more to it. Is Bomber OK?"

"I believe she´s getting there. Since Ranger got his act together they are solid, and he supports her 110%."

"Oh, one other thing," Bobby said. "How was your date?"

"None of your business."

"Will you at least tell me if Annie is free for an offer from a hot medic?"

"Keep your grubby paws away from her."

"It seems like you're doing alright then."

Tank didn´t condescend that with an answer. He checked the time and went towards the conference room.

x x x

When he arrived in the lobby it was five minutes to twelve, and Hector just came down the stairs after him. Today´s receptionist was Zero.

"When Gazarra arrives just beep him in. We're having a meeting in the conference room."

"Sure. Someone´s just parked a car outside, and I think it's him."

Gazarra was inside just a minute later. Tank took a look at him. He seemed to have lost some pounds the last months, and his muscles seemed more defined. Or maybe it was just how he looked out of uniform.

"Tank, Hector."

"Gazarra. Zero has a small locker for your cellphone. Standard procedure. Oh, and if you have a private one it goes in the locker as well."

"Certainly."

Gazarra took out two cellphones and laid them on the counter in front of Zero. No-one said anything out loud, but all looked at Hector, who just nodded.

"The conference room is over here," Tank continued.

They walked in that direction, but before they were at the door Hector came over with a handheld apparatus that he checked over Gazarra with.

"Clean as far as I can tell. And I don't think they would use something so high-tech this would miss it."

"OK, thanks. Report if you find anything with his phones."

Tank opened the door to the conference room. Inside were fresh sandwiches, a heater with soup, water bottles and a thermos of coffee and some fruit.

"Help yourself."

"Thanks."

When they both had food they started talking.

"First, I´ve tried to listen at the TPD, but apart from some jokes concerning Morelli being taken down twice by a woman who looks like she weighs about 120 pounds, no one's speaking. And Johnson from Internal Affairs seems to be sniffing around, but as usual they don't talk to anyone."

"Well, I´ve tried to listen around as well. And there are quite a few things bothering me. The biggest one is of course that Morelli is out, not even having to pay bail. And there´re rumors on Stark Street about a cop with an unhealthy interest in curly haired women. White women with curly brown hair."

"Shit."

"And as Annie said; it's been more than a year since Steph moved, what says that Annie is the first curly haired brunette he´s fixated on. You better check if there´re any police reports. And if there´re any reports on DUI, or drug deals, concerning Morelli. Be careful who you talk to, and I'm sure you're aware that a cell phone can be used to overhear conversations in the vicinity of the phone, even if it is off."

Gazarra sighed, loudly.

"If they have managed to silence even half of what you're insinuating this is someone high up."

"Oh, and have you heard any gossip about Morelli being found handcuffed to his own bed about one and a half year ago? Naked."

"Not even a whisper. The Burg would have spread that one like a wildfire."

"I wonder how he got away? Who helped him and didn´t tell anyone?"

"I suppose his family would keep silent. Well, at least his mother. His brother would've taken the chance to be seen as the better Morelli, and spread it. I honestly don't think that he has a key to Joe´s house either."

They ate in silence for a while, thinking.

"So, I´ll try to delicately poke around at the TPD, and also check in with the Burg gossip," Gazarra said. "A pity I can't talk to Helen Plum, she´s always the one who knows everything there is to know about everyone from the Burg."

"It wouldn't go amiss if you tried to get some gossip on her, Frank and Valerie and her family. There's something rotten about it all."

"What I´ve seen and heard is that Helen´s drinking problem is quite obvious nowadays. She´s been drinking for years, but after Steph left Trenton Helen hasn't been able to keep up the façade. I think Shirley mentioned that Valerie doesn't leave her kids there unless Frank specifically promises to be at home with them. And those visits are the times you can find Frank at home. He's driving the cab more shifts, and also spends more time at the club."

"I´ll try to see if the rumors about the cop and the curly haired brunettes can be verified. Oh, have you heard anything about the restriction order?"

"The restriction order´s in place. Morelli isn't allowed anywhere near Annie Morrison, or her home."

Gazarra stood.

"Thank´s for lunch. It was so good I'd be willing to come over again in, say three days?"

"Lunch Thursday 1200 sounds good."

Tank shook Gazarra´s hand.

"Thank you for coming over. I know Steph appreciates your work on this as well."

"I'd gladly do it for family, but this seems to be a bit bigger than that."

They went out into the reception, where Hector stood by the desk.

"I happened to have more updated software for your private phone. Of course I couldn't tinker with your work phone, but there wasn't anything physically altered. I´d bet my money on it being done anyway."

Gazarra looked a bit confused, so Tank repeated the facts in English.

"I see. Thank you, Hector."

Zero fetched the cell phones from a small locker. Gazarra could see that the locker was sound proofed.

"Thanks again for lunch, Tank. See you around."

"Bye, Gazarra."