All familiar characters belong to Janet. The mistakes are solely mine.
"Olive and I are at Mary Lou's," my wife informed me via phone.
"That's what your dot on my map says."
My monitor is unfortunately bringing the Burg into my day. I'd prefer Edna, Valerie, and Mary Lou, to always come here to see Stephanie and Olivia and the four-leggeds, but I would never demand it.
"I know the plan was for me and our baby to just check on Sal's grandmother and drop off the chicken and cornbread casserole Ella made for her," she continued, "but Mary Lou called right before we were leaving ..."
"Steph, you're free to visit your best friend anytime you'd like to, with or without Olivia. My wanting to know where you are is security-related, not a form of controlling your movements or your life."
"I know that. I'm doing my share of letting you worry less by letting you know when there's been a change in plans so you don't ever have to feel like I've disappeared on you again. The guys still talk about how you reacted the time Con kidnapped me and you couldn't find me."
"This plan-change is one I've been expecting," I told her, my mind blocking out the cold-blooded rage and absolute emptiness I experienced opening that cabinet door and believing my world had ended because I'd been too late in saving her. "Mary Lou has been anxious to see Olivia walking to her all on her own."
"She has."
She paused and my instincts had me checking the number of weapons I currently have on my body.
"Stephanie ..." I warned to get her talking before I start moving.
"Don't freak out," she told me.
"Quickly give me a reason not to," I countered.
"Olive and I are completely fine ..."
"But?"
"Mary Lou won't let us leave until you come and get us."
"And why is that?" I asked, not anticipating Mary Lou turning captor on her best friend.
Plenty of people have made comments on wanting to steal or keep Olive, but this doesn't have a teasing feel to it.
"Mare noticed that the same make, model, and color, truck that matches Morelli's has passed by here three times over the last ten minutes ..."
"Which means one of Mary Lou's neighbors noticed you were visiting her without me and made contact with Morelli. And asshole that he is, he chose to cross a line by hoping to catch you coming out of the Stankovic home alone."
"Or maybe he's just being a dick and is sticking to psychologically messing with me, not intending to stop at all."
"I don't give a fuck what he's hoping or thinking ... or in this case not thinking. I don't want you or Olivia exposed to it or him."
"Mary Lou appears to have a different concern than yours. I told her that I'll be fine getting to my car, but she's worried I'll splatter Morelli all across her driveway and then 'poor Lenny' will have to spend the weekend hosing Joe off it. She seems to be under the impression that you'll keep a cooler head than I will if the Burg's man-baby throws a temper tantrum. Or could be she's terrified you'll kill her if something happens to Olive or I at her house. So will you come 'rescue us' before Mare gives herself an ulcer?"
"It'll be an honor. Stay inside and I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Ranger, I ..."
"I know, Babe. We're both aware that you can eviscerate Morelli with just a look. And I trust you to protect our daughter from anyone or anything that could harm her, but neither of us want Olive near him. Hunker in and don't leave Mary Lou's home until I get there. He's not going to terrorize my women and get away with it."
"He's not really bothering me, but I admit ... I was a little scared that my mother would call you and say that I was with Joe, and then try to convince you that there's more than hate and disgust between him and I."
"Stephanie, I know you're mine. There is no question in my mind that I'm the only man you love, would marry, and could have such a beautiful baby with, but Morelli may decide to question your commitment, or just piss you off for kicks, and scare Olivia in the process. Stay inside and wait for me."
"I'll always wait for you."
I let myself enjoy those words for the two seconds it took to get Tank on the line.
"We have a problem," I told him.
"Steph ..."
"She and Olivia are alright, but I have to go pick them up. I'll need you to drive her car back here from the Stankovic's home."
"She run into trouble?"
"Yes. And I'll decide on the way if I'm only going to run him off or if I should do the world a favor and run him over and scrape him into a sewer grate."
