Chapter 4

When I arranged for Eddie to stand behind Joe, he warned me Joe might become physically violent. "I suggest you bring along several other cops. I'll have Rangemen staggered around the restaurant as well. Eddie thought he could hold Joe long enough for me to get out the door but urged me to leave quickly and stay away from my apartment. That was no problem. My apartment was bare. I moved out months ago. I hurried to my potential firebomb target car one last time.

I was halfway to Lawrenceville when Grandma Mazur called. "The girls and I were listening here at Clip and Curl. You did a good job. I don't think there is enough whiskey to get your mother through this."

"Thanks, Grandma. Are you ready?"

"I'm so ready to blow this popsicle stand. I have my bags here. I'll be waiting for my ride."

"See you soon." I continued to the Quakerbridge mall, where I parked my car neither close nor far from an entry. While I waited for my ride, I sent the DNA results to all my Burg contacts, including my mother and father, showing Joe and I were half-siblings. Was it cruel to include my father? He's had over thirty years to be a father to me. His only paternal act was to walk me down the aisle to marry Dickie.

I also sent Valerie her DNA results showing she was not a product of Frank Plum. The DNA proof came from Stephan Valentino's brother in Newark. I included the information if she ever wanted to make contact with Leo Valentino.

My phone was going wild with messages. I figured half were condemning me. The other half wanted on my email list. Removing the SIM card, I snapped it into pieces and then put the deactivated phone in the glove box. Rangeman could pick it up later.

Mary Lou pulled up behind me. As I got out, I placed a new car sticker on the back window, took a tool kit from the trunk, and removed the license plate. I pulled two magnetic bumper stickers for a local fair that helped ID my car. I tossed the kit, license plate, and bumper stickers into the trunk and removed my luggage. Any arsonist looking to toast my vehicle will have trouble finding it.

The suitcase went into Mary Lou's minivan's back seat. I got in the front seat. Mary Lou was bouncing, "I can't believe Joe didn't see Lenny sitting next to him, videoing the whole thing. Eddie texted me the Chief has summoned Joe to appear immediately."

I was pretty spent from the adrenaline high and let down. I took a deep breath and responded, "If Joe is smart, he'll leave town quickly. I sent my file to the Chief yesterday. Everything is dated, signed by two witnesses, and certified. The videos, medical reports, and X-rays are on a thumb drive. Here is one copy for safekeeping." I dropped the device into her handbag. "I'm keeping the third."

Mary Lou looked gobsmacked. "How long have you been gathering information?"

"Since Lula shot me. I had questions about why my blood type didn't match my family. Mom orchestrated a coverup years ago at St. Francis when I broke my arm. She relied on her Burg contacts at the hospital to have the family information deleted from my files. With all my incidents, I never needed a major blood transfusion. Whatever I needed was always on hand."

Mary Lou knew I was Joe's half-sister after I broke down in her arms and told her everything I had learned. "What about the genealogical information? Did you send that?"

"I sent it before I deactivated my phone. Frank, Helen, and Val got copies. Stephan Michael Valentino has relatives in Newark if she is interested."

Mary Lou smiled and glanced in the rearview mirror. "That explains the smoke coming from Trenton. The Burg is on fire."

Mary Lou drove to a nearby supermarket and parked. It was a diversion in case someone was following her, looking for me. "I like this strong Stephanie. Lenny and I will see you in a few months. When you get a new phone, contact me." She reached over and hugged me. "Remember, we are BFFs," then got out, leaving me behind. Another car pulled alongside. Opening the back door, I removed my bag and put it into the nearby car's trunk, then slipped into the back seat. Grandma Mazur gave me a big hug, "You were brilliant."

"What did you tell your friends at the beauty salon?"

"I told them you, and I would become beachcombers in Hawaii. So what if I got the location wrong? I'm old, sue me," she said with a wink.

A couple of chuckles came from the front seats. The older man on the passenger's side turned and smiled, "Are you and your yiayia ready to see Greece, Girly?"

The driver chuckled as he looked at the driver. Alex Ramos looked at the driver and me, "Stefani, I believe you know my grandson, Manny. He will be our Trenton eyes and ears for a while."

"Bomber, I'm thrilled you finally have thrown off the Burg," Manny added.

"It's been too long," I conceded. "It took some pretty shocking information to get me motivated." I already knew Manny and Alex were related. Years ago, I discovered Alex Ramos, the international gun "supplier," had a fourth son who distanced himself from the family, moved to California, and married a college professor from Mexico. Manuel was one of their offspring.

Grandma and I were leaving Trenton forever. It had been a place of misery, disappointment, pain, and sorrow for us both. I could count the number of friends I made over the years on one hand and a finger. Lula fell off my list, leaving Mary Lou and Lenny, Sally the cross-dresser, and Dougie and Mooner, partners in weed and life, and finally Connie. The Merry Men were in their particular group; I would see them in a few months.