Chapter 12: Morelli (Mon., Sept. 26th)

I love Atlanta. Leaving Trenton seven weeks ago was the best decision I ever made. I miss my family and friends, don't get me wrong, but I feel more accessible here. I don't have the pressure to be perfect. I don't have to watch my back every minute of every day. I don't have to look over my shoulder to see if some old busybody is waiting to tell the whole city what I did or didn't do. I don't feel pressured to be better than my father because I know I am. Since I've been in Atlanta, I haven't gotten drunk once. I have gone out for drinks with my partner, Katrina, and the other detectives in our division, Jimmy, Kyle, Doug, and Cassidy, but it's only been for a few beers.

Aside from Katrina, no one knows my history or personal story. They know that I was a detective for Vice and Homicide in TPD and have done some undercover work for the FBI, but that's it. They don't know about my train-wreck relationship with Stephanie Plum, my infatuation with Terry Gilman, or my reputation as a lady's man in Trenton. I haven't been with a woman yet here in Atlanta. I've decided that I'm done with playing games. The next time I go out on a date with someone, I want it to be with the possibility of having a long-term committed relationship. One that could potentially lead to marriage and a family. I refuse to have sex on date one. I think I'm going with the rule that I've heard women talk about no sex until at least the third date. I'm not getting any younger, and I would like to have kids before I'm forty, which is only four years away.

When we get the call, we sit around our squad's office, reviewing paperwork from a case we closed yesterday.

"Morelli, Dunham, I have a reported rape in "The Belmont" building. The victim reports that she was raped in the elevator by an unknown man. The uniforms are there, holding the scene and requesting our presence." The Chief informs us.

"Okay, we're on the road," Katrina says. I grab my sports jacket and cell phone, following Katrina to our vehicle. They are a little more formal here in Atlanta, so I must wear a coat on a call. Katrina said that if I wore a sports jacket, I looked less gangster. I decided to take her word.

Once in the car, Katrina started to give me some background. She always tells me where we are going en route, allowing me to learn more about Atlanta.

"The Belmont is an expensive building to live in. The tenants are mostly upper-level white-collar workers, some singles interspersed among families. There are no studio apartments; in fact, there are no one-bedroom apartments. The smallest apartment is a two-bedroom. They are secured by RM Securities, and let me tell you, they are a good security company to have as a customer, but they don't work with APD at all. I will call in for a warrant for the security footage now. They won't let us go anywhere in the building without an escort or give us any information or security footage without proper documentation. Let me tell you, they have been responsible for more than one bad guy getting away, just in our division alone. I heard that the police commissioner is trying to get an appointment with the owner, Ranger Manoso, to sort through the red tape to get some type of deal to cooperate. However, whenever he calls, they tell him that this Ranger is unavailable."

"Wait, did you say Ranger?"

"Yes, why?"

"And you said his last name is Manoso?"

Katrina nods. "Well, there is a Rangeman Security in Trenton. The owner is Ranger Manoso. I, unfortunately, know him better than I'd like to. His company is great. He has a branch in Miami and Boston, but Tank told me they sold the Atlanta branch. His men have always worked well with TPD."

"What do you mean they sold the Atlanta branch? I know they used to be called Rangeman, but from what the head here told me, Ranger sold the other three branches because he wanted to travel. He left Nick Ziegelman in charge here."

"I think Ziegelman is conning you. I can call Ranger if you want me to."

"How do you have Ranger's number? We were told to call his office to speak to him. No one has that man's number outside his business."

I sigh, "Remember I told you about my ex-girlfriend, Stephanie? The other man in our love triangle, who she lives with now in Miami, is Ranger. I have his number because we often worked together to try and keep Stephanie safe when she was in danger."

I see Katrina look shocked. She glances at where we are and then at the clock. "You have about ten minutes until we are on site. You have time to call him."

I pick up my cell phone, hitting speed dial two. The phone rings once, twice, three times, and then he picks up.

"What do you want, Morelli?"

"Nice to talk to you too, Manoso," I reply. "How's Steph, Julie, Tommy, and Champ?"

"They're all doing fine, but if you wanted to know about them, you would've called Steph. What do you want."

"Ranger, I'm going to put you on speakerphone. I'm in the car with my partner. We have some interesting information about a security firm here in Atlanta that I think you want to hear."

"Fine, but you have two minutes until I hang up. I'm busy."

I switched the phone to speakerphone and nodded to Katrina to say hi. "Mr. Manoso, my name is Detective Katrina Donham with the APD. I'm happy to finally get a chance to talk to you."

"Nice to meet you, Detective," he responds in his charming businessman voice. Ugh. So it's just me he hates, not cops in general.

"Mr. Manoso, eighteen months ago, APD was informed that Rangeman Security was being changed to RM Securities, managed by Nick Ziegelman and owned by Ranger Manoso. You, Mr. Manoso, sold the other branches, leaving Ziegelman in charge so you could travel. Since the sale, RM Securities has refused to cooperate with police investigations. We need warrants, and all our i's dotted and t's crossed before they work with us. It is frankly frustrating. Our Police Commissioner has been trying to get an appointment with you for over a year. But now, Detective Morelli tells me you don't own this branch."

"That's true, Detective. I sold the Atlanta branch eighteen months ago. It was becoming too much to have to travel to three other offices. I started spending most of my time in Trenton, as opposed to Miami, as I had originally planned. My other partners didn't enjoy traveling to your fair city, so we decided to sell. I no longer have an interest in Atlanta. However, I'm not happy that Ziegelman is letting people think I still own the company." I hear a door opening in the background and then the voice I wasn't expecting to hear. "When did you get back, Carlos? I thought you were still meeting with clients. I'm glad you're here, though. Les is going with me to the mall. I must get a dress for our engagement party that your mother is throwing us on Saturday. Julie's coming with us. Maggie said she'll keep Tommy with her. Is that okay?"

"Are Rocco and BT going with you as well?"

"Just Rocco. BT will stay here in case you need him for Tommy. He figured since Lester is with us, we'd be fine."

"That's good. Now, come here, Babe." We hear his chair squeak, the unmistakable sound of a kiss, and a moan that can only belong to Stephanie. "Babe, say hi to Morelli."

I can imagine the Burg glare that Steph is giving Ranger before I hear her sweet voice. "Hi, Joe. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, Cu…Stephanie. Everything is good. I was just informing Manoso of some issues with his former branch. My partner is here as well."

"Hi, Stephanie. I'm Katrina, Joe's partner."

"Hi, Katrina. It's nice to talk to you finally. Joe told me all about you and your family."

"He's told me a lot about you as well. Did I hear right that you're engaged?"

"Yes, Carlos and I got engaged over Labor Day weekend."

"Congratulations. I wish you both lots of luck. Joe, we're at the building," Katrina informs me.

"Congrats. Manoso, since they say that you're still the owner, you may be able to bring them up on charges. Let me know how you want to proceed."

"Thanks, Morelli. I'll look into something from my end and get back to you. But please let the commissioner know that I am not the owner of RM Securities. You know that Rangeman always worked with the TPD. You've seen us work with MDPD and the FBI on multiple occasions. I don't want my name being sullied."

"I understand. I'll do what I can on my end. Bye, Manoso, Steph."

"Bye, Morelli, Detective Donham."

"Bye, Joe, Katrina."

With Stephanie's goodbye, the call was ended. "Joe, are you okay? You look a little off."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a little surprised that Steph and Manoso are engaged already. I must've asked Stephanie at least five or six times. She always turned me down, telling me she didn't want to get married, have kids, or be a mother. But now, she's with Manoso in Miami, helping raise his daughter, Julie, and another kid they are fostering, Tommy. She is turned into a mother and wife in two months. It just hurts a little."

"Joe, I understand, but from what you told me, you hated her job. You hated that Stephanie was friends with Ranger and his men. You told me you wanted her to be a stay-at-home mother and housewife. That is not what she wanted. Is she working?"

"Yes, she's working for him."

"Okay, so Ranger accepts that she wants to work and gives her a position in his company. He probably is doing that because he knows she can do the work, and by working for him, he can keep her safe. Who is Lester?"

"Manoso's cousin and co-owner of Rangeman."

"So, Stephanie obviously has accepted that she needs to travel with a partner. Julie, I take it is his daughter?"

"Yes. Julie is Manoso's daughter, who he gave up rights to, by the way."

"But now that she needs Ranger, he's taking responsibility. You can't judge Ranger for doing what he felt was the right thing to do. I'm also guessing that those other two men, Rocco and BT, are Julie's bodyguards."

"That's probably the case."

"So, Stephanie, who you told me, is fiercely independent, doesn't follow instructions, willingly goes shopping with two bodyguards. Joe, I understand your pain. I understand your pain. I get it. I do. But everything I've heard from you and witnessed during that phone call tells me that Stephanie loves Ranger deeply. So deeply that she's willing to compromise to keep her fiancé happy. I guess that he is also compromising as well. From what you told me about Manoso, I'm sure he's not happy that she's going out at all, but knowing she is with two people he trusts, he's letting her do what she needs to do. You need to move on, Joe."

"You're right. I just wish Steph would have told me about her engagement herself."

"But she didn't. I'm sure she has her reasons. Maybe Steph didn't want to hurt you. How often have you spoken to her since you've been here?"

"Once."

"There you go, Joe. Now, you need to leave this behind. We have a woman who needs our help."

I put my game face on, forgetting about Stephanie for now. I decided that now, I will do what I can to help Manoso because aside from our differences, he is a good man and an excellent person to have your side. As we entered the building, I saw the men in black, and from their demeanor, I already knew that they were not Manoso's men. He would never hire men like this. These men are not up to par. The one standing before me has a beer gut. He also doesn't have the carriage of a former military man.

"Stop right there. My name is Connor. I'm in charge of this building. Who are you, and why are you here."

I glance at Katrina. We both have our badges hanging around our necks. Connor is just an ass. "I'm Detective Morelli, and this is Detective Donham. We are with APD's sex crimes unit. We're here to investigate the complaint from Anne Marie Duncan."

"Wait here while someone comes down to escort you to her apartment. You are not allowed to walk around without an escort."

I go to respond, but Katrina shakes her head slightly. Instead, I changed course and decided to engage Connor in a conversation about their services. "What company do you work for? I just purchased a home. I'm looking for a good company to secure my house."

"RM Securities. Ranger Manoso is the owner."

"Oh, I've heard of him. My cousin in Miami raves about their service. She said that he set up her system personally. Is there a way I can meet with him?"

"I doubt it. Ranger doesn't come to Atlanta much. We bring in the most money. He doesn't need to babysit us like he does the other branches."

"Oh, okay. If you have a card, I'll take it."

Conner hands me a business card. Ranger is listed as the owner/operator, and Ziegelman is listed as the VP of the Atlanta branch. I have written proof that the company is misrepresenting itself and using Ranger's name. I think I will call them for a consultation. The more evidence I can get, the better for Manoso. He may have stolen my Cupcake from me, but I won't allow someone to ruin his name. My Cupcake deserves the best he can give her.