Agent Meyers visited Stephanie before he returned to Washington. He appreciated Stephanie's assistance despite not capturing the leader. "What about the "pay for silence" to the mob issue at E. E. Martin?" Stephanie asked.
"The accounts are getting audited. Your help categorizing the "hush money" expenses put the FBI cyber forensic team on the right path. Since you started working at E. E. Martin, Evan has reworked his expenditure classifications. They have an unusual amount of product returns with no proof the items got shipped. Millions of dollars moved through E. E. Martin in the past year. So far, none of the merchandise income adds to the amount of cash flowing through the company. I think you uncovered a money laundering scheme," Meyers replied. "Thank you for everything you did to help my team. Let me know if you find the kingpin's identity."
"Sure," Stephanie replied. She walked behind Agent Meyers to the front door. Matt reached for the doorknob, and the door swung open, forcing him to take a few steps back.
Stephanie squealed, piercing Matt's eardrums. He used a finger to shake the ringing from the ear closest to Stephanie. She pushed past the FBI agent to jump into her husband's arms.
"Here's my card. Call me if you find anything," Meyers said. Carlos plucked the card from between the agent's fingers and shoved it into his pocket. He stepped aside to let Agent Meyers leave the house.
Tank and the others entered the house after Meyers drove away. Stephanie thought they looked exhausted like they hadn't slept since rescuing the children. "Babe, why do we have two men the size of Tank in our house?" Carlos asked. By the way, the men held themselves, Carlos assumed they were active in the military. He considered they enlisted in the Navy.
Stephanie unwound her legs from Carlos' waist. "Hey, Hal and Cal. I want you to meet my husband, Carlos Manoso," Stephanie said. Her face was flushed when she realized everyone was watching her kissing and rubbing against Carlos.
The men approached Carlos and shook his hand. "Are we telling people we're married?" Carlos teased.
"Only people I trust to keep it to themselves. Hal and Cal trusted my judgment yesterday. I owe them my life, and they will keep our secret. Right, guys?" Stephanie replied. Hal and Cal quickly agreed. She wanted to wait until they were alone before mentioning that Eddie Gazarra, her cousin-in-law, and Joe Morelli also knew she was married.
"Ace is waiting for you at the airport," Carlos said. "Frank called about giving you two a lift back to base."
"I'll drive," Lester offered. Hal and Cal grabbed their duffles from the hallway.
"Steph, we put the sheets and blankets in the wash. They should be dry soon," Cal said. Stephanie realized the men handled their laundry when she heard the washing machine.
"We used the spare sheets in the linen closet to make the beds," Hal added. "Thank you for letting us spend the night."
"No problem. Look me up the next time you're in Jersey, or call sometime," Stephanie said, passing them a card with her phone number. She hugged her new friends before they followed Lester to the car. They waved out the window as Lester drove away.
Once alone, Stephanie told Carlos about seeing Joseph Morelli at the docks. "Is he the same Morelli who took your virginity on the dirty bakery floor?" Carlos wondered.
"Yes. Joe asked me to dinner, but I declined. Joe knows I married you," Stephanie replied.
"Do you trust him to keep your secret?" Carlos lifted Stephanie. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her up the stairs to their bedroom.
"Yes," she breathily replied. The friction of her crotch rubbing against his erection drove her insane with need. "He asked for an introduction."
"Cubana's in Newark at eight tonight," Carlos said.
"I'll send a message later." Stephanie had better ideas for the next few hours.
After reconnecting, Stephanie and Carlos showered and prepared for the evening. Stephanie contacted Joe Juniak to get Joe Morelli to meet her at Cubana's. Carlos dressed in dark jeans and deep red. Stephanie wore a little black dress she bought during her shopping trip with Jeanne Ellen.
"Babe," Carlos moaned when Stephanie walked down the stairs in her three-inch heels. The little black dress hung two inches below her ass. Stephanie knew she looked great.
"Do you like what you see?" Stephanie teased.
"Always," he replied. Carlos wasn't impressed about meeting the man who took advantage of Stephanie, but it would help to build a rapport with the officers at the TPD. Stephanie had argued that having Morelli on their side would grease the wheels with the Burg residents when they opened the Trenton security branch.
"Did you hear anything about the Rangers program?" Stephanie asked during their drive to Newark.
"We will try out next month after we pass the written test component. They want to ensure we can handle the psychological demands of the special ops program," Carlos explained.
"Oh. When do you write the test?"
Chuckling, Carlos replied, "We wrote it after our debrief. Frank had arranged it."
"Is that what took you so long to get home?" Stephanie had expected Carlos to come home a few hours earlier.
"Yes. We should find out in a few weeks."
Stephanie entwined their fingers. "I'm happy for you, Carlos. I'll support whatever you decide," Stephanie said after a few minutes of silence. Carlos suspected Stephanie had more to share. He patiently waited for her to talk. "My contract is up at the end of October. I'm not going to extend it."
"What changed?"
"The little girl I rescued. She resembled you enough for me to want a child. That's if you want to have children. We agreed to have them someday," Stephanie replied.
"You want to start now." Carlos didn't pose it as a question. He stroked his thumb across her hand before raising it to his lips. Carlos kissed her fingers. His breath tickled her hand as he said, "I want that too."
Stephanie was due for her birth control shot. They silently agreed to start right away. She couldn't wait to have his child. It was scary and exciting simultaneously.
Joseph Morelli was flirting with the hostess when Stephanie and Carlos arrived at Cubana's, the restaurant Sophia and her husband owned. Stephanie smiled as she shook her head. It didn't surprise her that Joe tried to pick up the pretty woman. Unfortunately for Joe, the woman was gay.
Speaking in Spanish, Stephanie asked, "How are you, Ana?"
"Great. Mirabela wants you to visit," Ana replied. "We haven't seen you in months."
"I'll try to visit you and your wife next weekend," Stephanie said, speaking English while letting Joe know the woman was married and gay.
"Table for three, Ana," Carlos said, breaking the awkwardness between Ana and Joe.
Ana smiled at Joe. "Please follow me." She apologized for not telling him she was unavailable. It wasn't something Ana told strangers, especially patrons of her cousin's restaurant. Joe told her he shouldn't resort to flirting with random women.
The restaurant was decorated in red and gold. Black tablecloths covered the tables. The muted lights hanging above the tables and Cuban music reminded Stephanie of the nightclub she attended during spring break of her first year at Douglass. She went with her friends to Miami for the week. Stephanie danced until she could no longer stand. It brought to mind the last time they danced at the restaurant.
Stephanie's reaction to the restaurant amused Carlos. It wasn't their first visit. He knew what Stephanie was thinking. The last time they ate dinner at Cubana's and danced had led to a fantastic night of sexual gratification.
Stephanie teased, "The day that happens is the first day of the apocalypse."
"Funny, Plum," Joe replied. Stephanie was happy Joe didn't call her by the derogatory name of Cupcake.
Carlos placed his hand on Stephanie's lower back. The warmth permeated the thin fabric of her dress. She felt the electricity moving through her body, settling into her core. Stephanie was tempted to throw Carlos on the table and have her way with him. "When we get home, Babe," Carlos whispered.
"Mmhmm," Stephanie mumbled. Joe laughed when Stephanie's face turned red.
Ana led them to a private room. "Is this acceptable, Mr. Manoso?" Ana asked.
"Perfect," he replied.
Joe felt jealous that Stephanie had found a man she loved enough to marry. Carlos Manoso was an attractive man. With Stephanie's three-inch heels, she was the same height as her husband. Joe was a few inches taller than Manoso.
Carlos pulled the chair out for Stephanie, placing her back to the wall. He sat beside her and motioned for Joe to sit across the table. Joe felt the electricity in the air. It was undeniable that Stephanie and Carlos were meant to be. Joe wasn't a believer in soulmates. Watching how Stephanie and Carlos interacted made him wish for something more. Hooking up with random women suddenly felt wrong.
"Joseph Morelli, this is my husband, Carlos Manoso," Stephanie said once Ana left. Carlos extended his hand to shake. Joe felt the firm hand and pumped twice before releasing his fingers.
"It's a pleasure meeting you," Carlos politely said. Carlos assessed Joe before asking, "Why did you want to meet me?"
"Stephanie said you were in the military. I wondered if you wouldn't mind me watching over Stephanie while you're deployed. That's if she remains in the vicinity," Joe offered.
Carlos raised a brow. He wasn't sure he trusted Morelli. "Joe, Carlos and I are only here for another few weeks before we have to return to duty. I have an obligation with the Air Force to complete my term," Stephanie explained.
"Oh. I thought you were back to stay," Joe replied.
Stephanie touched Joe's hand. It felt warm, but didn't give him the warm fuzzies. Stephanie tapped his hand before saying, "Being in New Jersey was temporary. Carlos and I want to be your friend. You and I can't have any other relationship. Joe, we will eventually return to Trenton in a few years. I hope we can be friends. It would mean a lot to us." She didn't want to mislead him or give him false hope.
Joe talked to Carlos and Stephanie about how they met and minor details about their military careers. Neither Stephanie nor Carlos discussed his Rangers application. It wasn't anybody's business but their own. The waitress interrupted to take their drink orders. Stephanie ordered a cola. Carlos asked for water, and Joe ordered a beer.
"What's good?" Joe asked.
"Everything," Stephanie replied. "I love Cuban cuisine."
"I don't know what anything is. I don't understand or speak Spanish," Joe confessed.
The waitress returned with the drinks. "Are you ready to order?" she asked, placing them in front of the person who ordered them.
"Joe, do you mind if I order for you?" Stephanie asked. He shook his head. "Can we have a sampler plate?"
"It's a lot of food. Are you going to share?"
Stephanie glanced at Carlos, who nodded. Joe answered, "Yes."
"Great. I'll place your order. Would you like some appetizers while you wait?" the waitress asked.
"No," Joe replied. He couldn't handle eating too much spicy food.
Carlos tucked a loose curl behind Stephanie's ear. "I need a haircut," she said, closing her eyes. Joe felt like an interloper in their private moment.
"I love your curls," Carlos replied, ignoring Joe sitting across the table from him.
"You're a lucky man, Manoso," Joe said. It interrupted their moment. Stephanie blushed from embarrassment.
"Sorry, Joe. We're being incredibly rude. We don't mean to get lost in our own world."
"Don't worry about it. I'm glad to see you happy, Stephanie. Does your mother know about your marital status?" Joe suspected Helen didn't know anything about her youngest daughter.
They enjoyed their dinner. Joe enjoyed getting to know Carlos Manoso. He thought Stephanie's choice of a partner was perfect for her. Joe still wished he could have won her heart, but he would never be enough. Stephanie needed someone who could let her fly.
"You were right. Everything was delicious," Joe said. He pulled out his wallet to pay his share.
"We invited you, so it's on us," Stephanie said as Carlos dropped money on the table. "It was great catching up. Maybe we can do this again sometime."
"I'm your friend, Steph. I'll be here if or when you need me. Carlos, please consider my offer to watch over Stephanie when you can't. I won't poach or try to take her away from you. It's obvious she's in love with you. When you open a security branch in Trenton, let me know. It'll help smooth everything over with the residents," Joe offered.
They exited the restaurant together. As Carlos passed Ana, he said, "Give Officer Morelli the family discount when he returns."
Joe raised a brow. Stephanie shrugged. She couldn't explain why Carlos considered Joe as family. "You didn't have to do that," Joe said.
"I'm counting on you to protect our secret and keep Helen from finding Stephanie," Carlos replied. Joe promised to remain silent. Stephanie hugged Joe before he got into his car. Carlos trusted his wife and watched Joe's hands to ensure they didn't roam to her ass. Joe was respectful of the boundaries. Stephanie was married and unavailable. Joe could probably beat Manoso in a boxing match but feared Manoso could beat him with mixed martial arts.
Stephanie whispered, "I may look all woman in this little scrap of fabric and three-inch heels, but I could kick your ass without a second thought. Don't disappoint me, Morelli. I will find out and will make you pay." Stephanie kissed Joe's cheek and returned to her husband.
Joe gulped when Stephanie threatened him. He quickly realized Stephanie was more dangerous than her husband. She was not the girl he remembered. Stephanie wasn't pretending to be Wonder Woman; she was her favourite superhero.
The following day, Stephanie returned to work. She knew the writing was on the wall when Evan Martin held a general staff meeting. "I sold E. E. Martin to Baldicott Inc." Evan's announcement surprised everyone.
Stephanie watched as Agent Meyers arrested Evan Martin in front of everyone. Another agent removed Martin from the room, leaving Agent Meyers at the front. "Why did Mr. Martin have to sell?" Sheryl Parkinson asked.
"Elmer Martin got arrested in Colombia yesterday for smuggling children," Agent Meyers announced. Sheryl placed a hand on her chest when she gasped. Meyers watched the reactions from the women listening to the news. He expected Stephanie not to react, but she did despite knowing it. The managers for the accounting, shipping and purchasing departments appeared angry. Three agents approached the women and arrested them. They would be questioned extensively to determine whether they knew Elmer or Evan's activities.
Once the commotion in the room quieted, Agent Meyers continued, "Evan had a choice to sell to Baldicott or close the doors. My team hoped the business would close. Lucky for everyone in this room, you still have a job."
"Until the owner shows you the door," a woman standing near Stephanie mumbled. Stephanie didn't care. She would only stay at the company for another two weeks before returning to the Air Force base in Texas.
A week after the company sold, the HR manager for Baldicott approached Stephanie. Instead of meeting with Stephanie privately, the woman said, "Pack up your belongings, Ms. Plum. Your position is going to an employee with higher seniority. I hope you understand. Remember, losing the job isn't your fault."
Stephanie didn't care. She didn't bother making friends in the company. Her employment at E. E. Martin was temporary, a role she played to gather intel for the FBI. The job termination gave her a week to spend with her husband.
Holding her head high and smiling bright enough to light dark skies, Stephanie walked out of E. E. Martin, leaving her ID and useless fob with the receptionist.