My phone practically blows up from the number of calls. "How many voice messages can the average phone store?" I wonder.
"It depends on the provider," Lester replies. "Why?"
"I think mine reached its capacity," I whine.
Ranger quirks a brow. We're sitting in Ranger's Rangeman apartment on the ninth floor. I'm lying on the sofa with my head on Ranger's lap. Lester and the other men sit on the floor, their backs leaning against the couch.
Reluctantly, I play the messages in my voicemail. Ranger presses a button to play them over the phone's speakers. One message after another is a plea to drop the charges against Joseph Morelli. "It's ruining his life," Angelita Morelli claims. Angelita is Anthony Morelli's wife. She's pregnant with their third child. Anthony is Joe's older brother by two years. Their sister's name is Cathy, and she's the middle child.
"Why me?" Mom asks before she compares me to a woman in the Burg. The woman, Carol Sutton, isn't aware her husband is sleeping with Joyce Barnhardt on the side. Maybe she knows but chooses to ignore it like all other Burg wives. I quickly deleted the message. Then, I remove the subsequent thirty disparaging messages from Mommy Dearest.
"It seems everyone wants me to drop the assault charges. Joe Morelli should pay for his crime. I didn't deserve him hitting me after sharing the difficult news," I say, wiping the tears off my face. Ranger helps me sit up. Lester and Bobby move to give me some room.
I play the final message from my phone. "Stephanie Michelle Plum!" Mom screeches. "You call the Police Chief immediately and drop the charges. How dare you spread lies about your inability to conceive? I want you to marry Joseph and give him children."
"Not possible," I mumble.
"What is she talking about?" Bobby asks. Ranger gently tugs me to his side. I rest my head on his shoulder, being mindful of the bruises along my jaw.
"Babe?" Ranger asks when I remain silent for too long. I nod, permitting him to share with the others.
"I'm sorry, Steph. It's one thing to decide not to have children and devastating when that choice is taken away," Bobby says.
"I thought you heard the interview with Juniak," I whisper.
"No," Bobby replies. "I only paid attention when your father asked me to submit my statement." Ranger kept my secret as I knew he would. He's a trustworthy man.
We exchange stories of our childhood. I giggle when Ranger mentions his broken arm after performing a stunt. "This isn't the first time I broke my left arm," I explain. "When I was nine, I jumped off the garage roof, attempting to fly. I'm surprised I didn't kill myself. Mom was furious. She was more concerned about the neighbours' reaction than taking me to the hospital. I'm lucky Dad arrived within a few minutes. He took me to the hospital. Grandma Edna arrived to ensure I was okay."
"Celia mentioned your arm had broken in the past and wondered how you broke it," Ranger states. "She was concerned Morelli caused it."
"Nope. It was my stupidity in trying to prove to Saint Valerie that I could fly like Peter Pan. That's when I broke my arm," I laugh.
"Peter Pan? Why him and not Wonder Woman?" Lester teases.
"I was a tomboy. Wearing dresses, entering beauty pageants, and dancing ballet never appealed to me, much to Mom's dismay. She enrolled me in cooking classes. By the way, I don't cook. I thought I should put that out there," I reply. "Dad introduced me to Wonder Woman after that incident. She's my hero."
I pull the pillow to my chest and make a motion to stand. The guys quickly jump to my aid. It's sweet and annoying. I can do this without assistance. "Babe, let them help," Ranger says. I give him my best Burg glare. "Please," he adds, instantly making me cave. I can't resist when people say please.
"Are you still opening a Rangeman branch in Trenton?" I ask when I return from the washroom.
"No. We're planning to try Boston next," Ranger replies, pulling me onto his lap. I groan until my ribs stop aching from the position change.
"But you said Trenton has earning potential," I argue.
"We're putting a satellite office in the area to monitor my parents' house and capture skips. I'm settling here until you heal from the injuries caused by the cop," Ranger says.
"What about your next deployment?"
"General Plum said it can wait. I want you to meet someone. He's Hispanic and only speaks Spanish," Ranger says.
"Um. I don't speak Spanish," I needlessly remind him.
Ranger's phone chimes. He smiles before nodding at Lester. I patiently wait for Lester to introduce the visitor. "Estephania?" Hector asks, approaching me.
"Let me up!" I demand. Ranger appears confused as I embrace Hector. "I missed you," I whisper.
"Babe?" Ranger asks. "How do you know Hector?"
"He's my friend from Trenton. The one who had photographic evidence of my ex-fiancé with my nemesis," I explain.
"Hector only speaks Spanish," Ranger insists. I burst out laughing, having to hold my ribs from the pain.
"Why did you say that, Hector?" I ask.
"I never corrected Ranger when he assumed I didn't understand or speak English," Hector replies. I love his thick accent.
"Your secret is safe with us," Ranger says, grinning. "We can have you listen to the men's conversations and report anything relevant back to us."
"Like you did for me when I suspected Dickie of cheating," I reply. "Why are you in Miami? I thought you moved to Atlanta?"
"Ranger opened a security branch in Miami. Atlanta was their first one," Hector explains. "We're opening one in Trenton soon."
"Change of plans, Hector. We'll open a satellite office, which I need you and Silvio to set up. Rangeman's next branch will open in Boston," Ranger says.
Hector raises a brow, wondering why Ranger changed his mind about Trenton. "Joseph Morelli," I answer. "Let me use the washroom, and I'll explain everything."
The men quietly talk, rearranging their plans for Trenton, New Jersey. Crinkling paper and the gentle thump of a laptop on a hard surface echo from the dining room.
I finish my business and carefully wash my hands, mindful of keeping the plaster across my left palm dry. The bathroom contains my hygiene and care products. I wonder who unpacked my bags.
"Oh. Hi," I greet the matronly woman. "I'm Stephanie." I see Hector sitting behind the woman with my phone and a new device at the table.
"Hello, dear. I'm Ella. Carlos is my nephew," Ella says. I like her immediately. She reminds me of my Grandma Plum. "Luis and I raised Lester after my sister passed away." There's more to the story which she isn't willing to share.
"Does that mean Ranger and Lester are related?" I wonder.
Ranger wraps his arms around me. "Ella, Sofia and Maria, Ranger's mom, are sisters. Sofia was my mom. She passed away during childbirth. My father raised me for the first few years," Lester answers. I sense the tragedy in Lester's childhood.
"I'm sorry, Lester," I reply. I wonder if that's why Lester jokes about everything. His childhood is devastating. I can relate to a parent not wanting to raise their child.
"Dad passed away in his sleep when I was three. I don't remember him. He asphyxiated on his vomit," Lester says, shrugging his right shoulder. "I've only known Ella and Luis."
Ella hugs Lester. "I brought some food. Stephanie, dear, I hope you don't mind that I unpacked your bags," Ella says.
"Thank you," I reply. Ella grabs a bag from the food cart handle.
"This should help," she says. I raise my brows as I open the bag. Inside is a glove-like rubber, which is big enough to cover my cast. At the end, where it would rest an inch below my elbow, is a thick Velcro strap. "It should make showering easier."
I wipe a tear off my cheek. "Thank you," I whisper. Ella hugs me. I sob as she pats my back. Warm arms gently remove me from Ella's arms.
"Babe," Ranger whispers. I raise my head to look into his eyes. "Why did the glove make you cry?"
"Nobody has ever done that for me before," I confess. "Grandma Edna helped me bathe when I broke my arm the first time. Mom refused to help or make it easier."
Ella clicked her tongue. She gently patted my shoulder before leaving the apartment. Ranger brushes the hair from my face. He removes a handkerchief from his pocket to gently dry my face and wipe the snot off my nose, making me giggle. "I could do that myself," I say, my voice hitching from the tears.
"Let me take care of you," he counters. I nod. It's nice to have someone taking care of me for a change. Ranger guides me to the table, where Tank and Bobby unload the food from the cart. They uncover the dishes. My stomach grumbles in appreciation. Everything smells amazing. I can hardly wait to dig in.
JOE MORELLI'S POV
I'm sitting in a cell in the Trenton Police Department. How did I get arrested? Nobody knows I hit Stephanie when she delivered the devastating news. I knew she wasn't taking birth control. We use condoms, though I poked holes in them for several months. Stephanie refused to discuss children, but now I know why. She can't conceive. I wasted two years of my life dating her.
Any woman in the Burg would love the honour to become my wife. Instead, I had to chase after Stephanie because it's what Helen and Mom wanted. Helen wants a Morelli grandchild, and Mom hopes for a blue-eyed grandson.
I honestly tried to tame the beast created by the abuse of my past. It wasn't until I tossed Stephanie's purse and jacket from my apartment that I realized my mistake. She was gone when I went outside to find her. I should have checked instead of using the bathroom to wash away her blood. It was too late. Someone found her. Stephanie charged me with assault. It's what I deserve for hurting her.
Resting my head in my hands, I cry for the woman I love. She's never going to forgive me. Hopefully, I can get off with a slap on the wrist. I want to become a detective. How is that going to happen with this arrest? My only chance at redemption is for Stephanie to drop the charges and let me live peacefully. "Please, God," I beg, "let Stephanie drop the assault charges."
A man in the next cell scoffs, "She left with Manoso."
I'm seeing red. How dare Stephanie, my girlfriend, go off with that thug and criminal. The man chuckles. "What's so funny?" I snap.
"Do you honestly think Stephanie's still your girlfriend?" the man asks. I take in the gang tattoos on his neck and hands. He's one of the Comstock Slayers.
"Of course," I say, though I'm not sure it's true. Tossing Stephanie out like the trash was my way of breaking up with her. I still love Stephanie. Maybe she's lying about her inability to conceive. It's something I should have thought about before raising a fist.
"You have a few visitors," Eddie Gazarra, Stephanie's cousin by marriage, announces.
I slip my hands through the opening for Eddie to cuff me. It's embarrassing to have my former partner escort me from the cell. Eddie pulls me through the door while Carl Costanza locks it. The men gently shove my shoulders, willing me to pick up my pace.
Carl opens the door to the interrogation room. I sigh in relief when I see Mom, Helen Plum and my lawyer, Gino Carrera, sitting inside. "Joey," Mom cries. She jumps to her feet to hug me. "Helen and I were talking. We hired Gino to represent you. He's going to have the charges dropped. Helen is prepared to state Stephanie's clumsiness. It should get the judge to dismiss your case."
I doubt it would work that way, yet I can't help feeling hopeful. "What is the chance of leniency with the judge?" I ask.
"It's Justice Eric Vogelsang," Gino replies. I have zero chance of Vogelsang dismissing the case. He hates the Morelli men.
"Helen, does Stephanie have a medical condition preventing her from conceiving?" I ask.
"Of course not," Helen claims. "I'm her mother, and I would know."
"What about the scars on her abdomen?" I wonder.
Helen scoffs, "Stephanie had an emergency appendectomy. I don't know why she concocted the other lie. She has a monthly cycle. If she couldn't conceive, those would stop."
There's still hope for marrying Stephanie and having a family. I need to apologize to my girlfriend. Hopefully, she will give me another chance at our future. First, she needs to drop the assault charges.
"Thanks for coming," I say, "may I have time alone with my lawyer?"
"I'll sign the deposition," Helen offers. I could use her help, but the expression on my lawyer's face indicates it won't work. Mom and Helen kiss my cheek before leaving me alone with Gino.
"Would Helen's statement help?" I ask.
"No. Your best chance is to plead guilty. The district attorney is offering one year in prison if you plead out. Otherwise, he's going for the five-year sentencing option since it isn't your first assault accusation," Gino replies.
"I thought the first offence was dropped," I inquire.
"It's still on your record," Gino answers. "You're only on the police force because your uncle Sunny pulled some favours."
Groaning, I drop my chin to my chest. I thought it was something of the sort. There's no way I can get out of this mess. My options are practically negligible. "Could we convince Stephanie to drop the charges?" I hopefully ask.
"Not a chance," Gino honestly replies. "Stephanie filed a restraining order and received written permission to leave the State. The DA has enough evidence for a conviction without her testimony."
I slowly raise my head to look at Gino. "I'll take the plea deal. It's not ideal, but I can still work as a private investigator or a bounty hunter after serving my term," I reply. It's what Morty Beyers did after his time in prison. He works for Vinnie as a BEA.
Gino checks his watch, "It's time for your arraignment."