A Fresh Start
Chapter 8
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Stephanie was enjoying her achievements at college. Having successfully completed her MBA and a degree in psychology, plus the electives she had chosen, made her feel quite proud of herself. Amy, her therapist, said it was important to celebrate each milestone and success. Feeling good about your accomplishments is important to acknowledge.
One of the highlights was working with Hector in the cadetship program which really appealed to her. It was something she found intensely interesting, searching into people's lives, not your friendly neighbourly people, but people with something to hide and getting her teeth into something. Hector likened her tenacity to the temperament of a pit bull with a soup bone when she was on the case. "You got moxie." It made her smile. Agent Horsham was impressed with her determination and lateral thinking. He could see her potential and agreed with Hector. Together they were a dynamic team.
Then things went pear-shaped.
It was Helen Plum's fiftieth birthday. Stephanie decided to call her mother and wish her a happy birthday making sure not to reveal her phone number, cancelling caller ID. Helen invited Stephanie over to celebrate, with the lure and promise of her favourite cake, pineapple upside-down cake. "I bet you haven't had one of those for ages." Regardless, Stephanie was suspicious, even after all this time.
Stephanie agreed to come, just for an afternoon coffee and some cake. She sighed, wondering if this was a wise idea. Somehow it felt like entrapment, especially using the pineapple upside-down cake in that manner. It was, however, a significant birthday. Before leaving, she told Hector of her intentions. "Be safe," he reminded her.
When Stephanie arrived at the house where she grew up in Chambersburg, she noticed another car parked at the kerb. Curious, but still wary, she wondered if Valerie was also visiting. As it turned out, Helen had invited Joseph Morelli over as well.
Stephanie was beyond angry. This was the last time. She had half a mind to turn around and leave immediately.
"What the hell, Mother?! What's this asshole doing here?"
"Stephanie! Language! I brought you up better than that!" she chastised while trying to placate Stephanie to be reasonable.
"Seriously? Is that what you call it? You did? Gee, I don't remember. You were always cutting me down, if I recall and propping Valerie up. Maybe Joe and Valerie should have been a better match for your plans. Oh. Yes. Oops. I forgot. Joseph is not a lawyer. But, on the bright side, he has a lot in common with Dickie. Look how well that went! You would have had me marry that philandering creep in an instant. Phew! Lucky me. Dodged a bullet there."
"Joseph brought me some chocolates for my birthday," Helen preened, completely ignoring Stephanie's snide and truthful retorts.
"I don't give a damn! I can't believe you have this monster here."
Stephanie handed her the wrapped beautiful flowering azalea, which she knew her mother loved. It was a colour that complemented those in the garden already. "How thoughtful, dear." Stephanie noted the saccharine voice.
"Now. Let's be adults about this. Water under the bridge. Put it behind you. Time to move on. In fact, you need to stop all this study nonsense and settle down. What man is going to want a woman who is smarter than he is? It's not like you're good at this college stuff, going by your last semester results. A good Burg housewife is a worthy aspiration."
The snide and sarcastic remarks were not lost on Stephanie, but she showed no reaction to any of her mother's invective. She was suspicious and her spidey sense was tingling.
Stephanie rolled her eyes, really wanting to stick two fingers in her mouth for the gag effect. In no way was she going to clarify her mother's mistaken notion about her impressive college results. The less she knew about Stephanie the better. Need to know basis – she did not need to know. She had obviously discovered her less than flash first semester results. Daddy put a stop to that information being made available to her with a court order. Access denied.
"Look, just one cup of coffee and you can go. I promise." Helen's tone changed, feeling sorry for herself. Stephanie did not fall for that one bit. It was all self-inflicted. "I don't get many visitors these days and it was so nice that you came after all." Helen's condescending and patronising tone set the alarm bells ringing, the red flags waving madly and her spidey sense was off the scale. Stephanie pressed her panic button discreetly, while outwardly she appeared calmer, yet ever watchful, still glaring at Morelli. He hadn't said much, but she was sure that was about to change.
Helen gave a sickening smile. Trying for saccharine didn't really work. Sarcasm was more her forte.
"Here is a nice slice of your favourite cake, which I made especially for you, even though it's not your birthday." Stephanie watched and waited. If they don't eat the cake, nor will she. However, Helen served two more slices, a large one for the asshole and one for herself. He started straight in and smiled. Stephanie still didn't like it. Surreptitiously she sniffed the cake. Hm. Oh well. It must be alright. They were both smiling, watching her intently. Without thinking, she grabbed the glacé cherry and ate it. The gleam in Helen's eye was evident. Morelli winked at Helen who wore a smug grin like she won the cake bake competition. Stephanie sipped her coffee after stirring in two teaspoons of sugar.
The front door opened and Edna walked in. She took in the whole scene and glared at her daughter.
"I came to wish you Happy Birthday. But I can see that you're up to something, I can tell. What's this seggfej doing here?" (shithead in Hungarian) Edna was instantly suspicious, pressing her panic button immediately. Frank had issued one to her and to Stephanie. Frank and Hector would be notified instantly. She was not taking any chances. Helen had that conniving look that betrayed her deceit. Edna knew her daughter well. Presently, Helen looked more like the cat that got the canary.
"How nice of you Mother. Come and have some cake and coffee. I made it especially for Stephanie." Edna noticed the special emphasis on her granddaughter's name and was immediately distrustful of Helen's intentions.
"Alrighty, then. Just for a little while. I'll just hang up my coat."
Edna feigned agreement but that was far from the truth. While she was in the hall, she quickly dialled emergency for the police, requesting immediate assistance and an ambulance. Her granddaughter's life was in danger.
As she came into the dining room, she kissed Stephanie asking how she was. "M-kay." That was all she got. Inside Edna was very concerned, hoping that Frank and the police would be here soon, but she put on a brave front. She went into the kitchen to get a couple of glasses of water, one for Stephanie. She refused the cake and the coffee, even though they were all indulging in it. Stephanie was looking a bit vague. Edna's heart stuttered. What has Helen done?
"Oh dear. Stephanie? Are you alright?" Helen asked pseudo-concerned, giving Joseph a strange yet knowing look.
Stephanie started to sway, making a rather delayed response while slurring, "Just a bit tired, … sorta feel a bit icky, …"
Edna rushed upstairs to get a wash cloth for Stephanie noticing that she had broken out in a sweat.
"Oh dear. Joseph, help me get her upstairs," Helen ordered, not the least bit alarmed.
"I have a wash cloth for her," Edna started to say as the bathroom door slammed her in the face. The lock was engaged but she couldn't unlock it from the inside. She could hear moaning and complaints from Stephanie. Edna was trying not to panic but she was frightened for the welfare of her baby granddaughter. She pressed the panic button again then called Frank.
She said a desperate prayer for urgency. In the distance she heard the sirens, hoping they were coming to this house. She opened the bathroom window and called out just as Frank and Hector arrived. Joe Juniak was just arriving behind the Buick. While Hector parked the car, Frank was already racing out before the car had even stopped.
Fear.
Panic.
Dread.
Trepidation.
Focus.
Control.
Breathe.
He tamped down those useless emotions quickly, his Ranger brain engaged through the red haze to focus on his mission: Save Stephanie. He knew she would only press that panic button if she was in danger. Edna pressing hers, twice, sent a sharp pain directly to his heart.
"Upstairs! They've got her in the bedroom and locked me in! Hurry!" Edna called frantically from above.
Pounding feet hit the stairs three at a time as Frank and Joe Juniak raced in. They crashed the door of the bedroom open. Hector followed quickly, leaving the front door open for the emergency responders as the sirens came closer. He dashed upstairs to rescue Edna.
"What the hell?! You fucking bastard! Helen! You insane bloody bitch!" Frank roared as he almost fell into the room. Helen screeched hysterically. With that short sharp high pitch, Stephanie was momentarily alert enough to kick out, and hard, reflexively kicking Morelli in his precious boys with her heel before she collapsed. It was a brief moment of fight or flight, and since flight was impossible, she instinctively resorted to fight with the very last reserve of her energy.
"What have you done?!" Frank yelled furiously. He was absolutely aghast at the scene on the bed with Morelli and Helen, but especially a very helpless Stephanie, obviously incapacitated. Helen was restraining Stephanie! He apologised as he took some photos quickly before removing his jacket to cover Stephanie for some dignity. Evidence was critical. Joe Juniak kept Helen back from attacking Frank. When he snapped a photo of her in her wild state she froze, but only for a moment. Joe Juniak was ready for her to launch another attack.
Stephanie was naked from the waist down while Morelli was writhing on the floor, vomiting, obviously in agony, his pants down by his ankles his erect penis quickly deflating.
In the meantime, Hector broke the lock on the bathroom door with one of his knives. Edna raced into the bedroom, took stock of the appalling situation before rounding furiously on her daughter, slapping her so hard across the face, that she fell to the ground. "How could you?! That stronzo? You drugged her and allowed him to rape my Stephanie?! Again?!"
"What the fuck are you doing here in my house, Spud? Spud Morelli. What sort of an asshole nickname is that? Spud. You probably thought they meant Stud. Fucking bastard!"
Spud? Frank said that name with such utter contempt. Helen was confused.
Frank picked Morelli up by the shirt front and punched him hard in the kidneys, in the guts and in the jaw before throwing him down to the floor in disgust, writhing even more in his own vomit. Stephanie had already hit him where it hurts most. Frank set his furious glare on Helen, causing her to shudder in fear, "Maledetta stronzo!" he snarled at her, shaking his head in disgust. (fucking bitch)
The police came to the door, "Up here!" yelled Frank. "Get the paramedics here STAT!"
Joe Juniak had used zip ties to restrain Helen while Frank did the same to Morelli. Juniak was seriously looking for something to gag Helen.
Seeing Joe with blood, vomit and writhing in pain, the paramedics went to him first but Frank growled and directed them to Stephanie after they gave Hector a wary glance. "He's with me."
"Not that fucking asshole! He was trying to rape my daughter while she is clearly sedated! He's the aggressor, and, this bitch," pointing to Helen, "… she orchestrated it all!"
It was getting very crowded in the bedroom. The police officers moved aside.
In the meantime, Edna had quickly redressed Stephanie for some modesty and dignity. Through tearful eyes, she indicated to Frank the bruises that were already appearing on her arms, wrists and thighs. It was obvious that Helen had held her down, her finger nails having dug into Stephanie's flawless skin. Another quick set of photos. All the photos Frank had taken as evidence to show the police would be enough to prove what happened here. It was sure to enrage them. They all moved aside as the paramedics secured an unconscious Stephanie onto the stretcher, carefully carrying her down the stairs.
Hector gently moved Edna out of the way onto the landing, and hugged her closely, while she was sobbing her heart out. The police moved into the bedroom.
They all knew Joseph Morelli. Frank wasn't taking any chances of boys looking after the boys. Joe Juniak glared, putting them on notice. Thankfully, it was Eddie and Big Dog, Robin and Carl who were first on the scene. They were shocked and angry. They understood. All this time, Helen was still screaming like a banshee.
Oh, what will the neighbours say? Pfft. The neighbours could see and hear it all, attracted by the drama with all the sirens and flashing lights. They were having a field day. There was shocked silence as Stephanie was stretchered onto the gurney, an IV in her arm and an oxygen mask with the canula in her nostrils, before being placed into the waiting ambulance. Seeing Stephanie in such poor condition really stunned them with some wondering why she was unconscious. Those who cared enough were concerned.
The screeching from within the house caught their attention, but with all the outside noise, words were not discernible. All the same, they knew it was Helen losing her shit upstairs. Their imaginations were going berserk. So many possibilities and speculations raced through the spectators.
Helen was screeching at Morelli. "You had one job to do! Just one job! You were supposed to get it in quickly and impregnate her. Then she would have had to marry you! And I would finally have a Morelli grandchild!"
Edna leaped back into the bedroom, turned to her daughter and slapped her hard again. "You filthy, despicable bitch! Still pining for Anthony Morelli? After all these years? I disown you, Helen. You are not my daughter. A curse on you. What you did was unforgiveable."
That's all it took to suddenly silence Helen, while Edna chanted in her Gypsy dialect, glaring and gesticulating at Helen who gasped and paled with the parts which she did understand.
The growing crowd outside watched in ghastly, morbid awe as a very dishevelled pair were escorted out of the house. Morelli and Helen were dragged to different police vehicles in handcuffs, neither looking too good, Morelli least of all. Thankfully the area had been cordoned off with crime scene tape to keep the gawkers at bay.
Frank gave his statement to the police, keeping the photographic evidence on his person. He had shared a copy with his nephew, Eddie Gazarra. Discreetly, he had already blacked out his daughter's exposed nakedness from Eddie. Edna and Hector were also interviewed for their statements. Edna became distraught and needed to sit down, clinging to Hector for strength. Frank went with Stephanie in the ambulance to the hospital. Edna arrived later with Hector.
Joe Juniak took command, as Chief of Police, after he had given his statement to the officers. He advised that Morelli and Helen should be charged without bail, as they were both flight risks. He was utterly appalled that Helen Plum would go this far. This was premeditated, a crime against her own daughter, conspiring with a police officer, to drug and rape Stephanie. He was disgusted. He had on his cop face. He was going to make sure that his Goddaughter was protected in every way.
Supervising the collection of evidence, the other officers took samples of all the food and beverages which may have been consumed, including what remained of the cherry stalk on Stephanie's plate and even the sugar bowl. All her cutlery and crockery were bagged separately, including her slice of the cake. Juniak insisted on that, since he noticed that Helen and Morelli had indulged in the cake. Edna had not. Robin was efficient in taking photographs of all the items. The rest of the crockery and cutlery from the dining table was bagged as evidence as well. They also checked the kitchen. How they had acquired the date rape drug was not hard to figure out? They bagged the kitchen trash can for further evidence. This scenario smacked of entrapment and conspiracy. GBH or Rohypnol? He wondered, or a cocktail of both, knowing Helen. He knew very well about her history and treatment of Stephanie.
As the officers came out of the house, carrying the many large brown evidence bags, the spectators all gasped as a hush settled over them once again. Nothing was said to the eager and curious neighbours. All sorts of conspiracy theories and speculations were buzzing around. Phones were taking photos and videos. Selfies even? Unbelievable! Robin was disgusted with these people. She took a video scan of the crowd.
However, when a reporter broke the hush, loudly asking, "What did Stephanie Plum do now?" with such a snarky, contemptuous tone, everyone gasped, but still leaned forward hungrily and expectantly.
A furious Carl Costanza got in his face and said, "Wrong question, idiot. You should be asking what the hell did Helen Plum do now, and that jerk Morelli. Stephanie is the innocent victim. Now go home. All of you! Move along. There's nothing else to see," he commanded to the busybodies and vultures. The junior officers did well to disperse the disappointed crowd.
With Frank's keys, Carl locked up the house. He was shocked with what he had seen. As Joe Juniak reminded them, this was not a public spectacle, and, for Stephanie's sake and dignity, what there was left of it, they were reminded of their oath to protect the innocent. They would meet with the Chief as soon as they got back to the TPD.
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