Chapter 17: Morelli (Friday, October 7th)

Since I discovered the deception that was RM Securities a couple of weeks ago, I have been working hard to find out as much about the company as possible. It helps that I'm new to Atlanta and have just purchased a townhouse. It makes my service inquiry legitimate, though I would never sign a contract with them. I haven't spoken with Manoso or Steph on the phone, but I did e-mail the paperwork I received from them to Manoso. If he's coming to meet with the Commissioner, it would be best to know as much as possible. That is why I wasn't surprised when I received the order to meet with Police Commissioner Johnson this morning at 11.

Katrina and I were getting out of the courthouse at 10:30 after testifying in the case that brought RM Security to my radar. The victim, Anne Marie Duncan, was raped by her ex-boyfriend. They had broken up a few months ago and bumped into each other at a club the night before. According to everyone we spoke to, the break up was amicable and was instigated by the ex, Jeremy Mitchell. Anne Marie hadn't dated anyone seriously since they parted. She said she went out on a few dates, primarily first dates, with one or two second or third dates sprinkled in, but she wasn't ready to commit to another long-term relationship yet. Anne Marie and Jeremy danced and drank together when they saw each other. Since she was a little intoxicated and it was late, Jeremy offered to walk her home. She accepted, feeling comfortable with him. When they arrived at her apartment, he asked to use the bathroom. It was then that he forced himself on her. She didn't want anything to do with him beyond a possible friendship and tried to stop him. Anne Marie managed to exit her apartment and ran into the waiting elevator, hoping to escape, but he slipped in before the door closed. Fortunately for Anne Marie, Jeremy ripped her clothes off her and didn't use a condom. Then, he bragged about his conquest to a buddy via text message. It was relatively cut and dry, but Jeremy was pleading not guilty. Katrina and I just finished testifying.

"I swear, no matter how long I've worked these cases, I still can't fathom how men think that just because they slept with a woman in the past, she's willing to sleep with them forever. I lost track of how many similar cases to Anne Marie's that I've investigated over the years."

"I think it's society, how the man was brought up, and the woman, to some extent."

"What do you mean, Joe?"

I pause, wondering how much I should tell my partner about my questionable past. I mean, I'm not that man. I've changed a lot these last couple of months. I have finally seen how I was becoming more and more like my father, someone I never wanted to be. It does help that I also started to see a therapist. Having an objective person evaluate my choices has been eye-opening.

"I told you a little about my past relationship with Stephanie, right?"

"Yes, you were on and off again, that you weren't very supportive of her."

"Well, there's more." I glance at my watch, seeing that we have twenty minutes to drive to the commissioner's office, more than enough time to share my story. "My father was an alcoholic. He used to hit my mother, and he would force himself on her. In essence, he would rape my mother. However, in my neighborhood, girls were taught that their role in life was to keep a clean home, produce and raise children, and keep their husbands satisfied. Divorce is not accepted, but cheating, especially by a man, is perfectly acceptable. As I got older, around ten, my father started to beat me, but he would yell at my siblings and me well before then.

"He told my brother Anthony and I that the way to prove ourselves to be men was to control our woman. Anthony, who's four years older than me, was already watching porn and reading Playboy at twelve. I would sneak into his room and sometimes watch with him. I was eight. I was curious about what I saw on the TV, especially the female body. So, one day, I saw Stephanie walking past my house alone. She was always trusting. She didn't look at us "Morelli boys" like the other neighborhood girls. I invited her into my father's garage and molested her. I put my fingers inside her, not understanding that what I was doing was wrong.

"My father saw the incident and, for the first time I could remember, was proud of me. He told me I was a man and that I was his son. Then, when I was fourteen, my father died after he crashed his car into a tree while drunk. I had sex for the first time on my thirteenth birthday with a young hooker, courtesy of my father. I continued to be sexually active throughout high school. I dated one girl while screwing as many others as I could. I was popular, the quarterback of the football team, and I had the looks. After my father died, the stigma against my family disappeared. Then, on the eve of basic training, I had sex…no, I raped Stephanie.

"She was closing up the local bakery, and my mother sent me to get cannoli. I was the only one in the shop with Stephanie, and she looked so cute with flour on her face. I knew she had a secret crush on me; many girls did. I also knew that she was a little bit of a rebel. My girlfriend had broken up with me two weeks earlier, pissed that I was joining the Navy. I wanted one last hurrah, so to speak, and decided to kiss Stephanie. When she let me kiss her without stopping me, I took it further. I heard her protests, but I also listened to her moans of pleasure, so I just continued to take from her. I finished, then left her on the bakery floor before leaving money on the counter for the cannoli, more than what they were worth.

"When I got home, the party was in full swing, and I got drunk. The stupid ass in me decided to write poems in several public places about my encounter with Stephanie. She paid me back by breaking my leg a couple of years later with her father's Buick. Then, we somehow got involved in this toxic relationship. You see, I was never punished for any of my wrong-doings. I was considered the alpha male, the king of the city. The fact that I slept with so many girls became a legend. The other guys in town wanted to be me, Joseph Morelli, stud. Stephanie and the other girls were all labeled sluts and whores, willing to spread their legs for anyone. God, I can't believe I bought into that bullshit. So, it's easy for men to take it because we are often told it is our job. I mean, look at almost every teen movie; the plain Jane girl who is infatuated with the handsome jock, which is often experienced, does her best to be what he wants her to be. Then, in the end, they are a couple. It perpetuates the notion that boys can be promiscuous, and if the girl wants them, then they will change to get the guy."

I glance at Katrina, who is driving, expecting to see a look of disgust on her face. Instead, I see tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Joe."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry that you went through that abuse. I'm sorry that you thought that the only way to make your father proud was to be promiscuous. I'm sorry you weren't raised with a healthy view of relationships."

"Don't be. My upbringing is what brought me here. I don't think that I would be a cop, nor would I be here. I feel worse for the girls that I slept with. It wasn't until about a month ago after I decided to move here, that I ever considered that I raped Stephanie. I'm lucky she never pressed charges against me. I don't think she even realized what I did to her until recently, either. I think I damaged her more by my actions than I did myself. During that conversation, Stephanie informed me that I got her pregnant. She was sixteen. I know that if she didn't miscarry, we would have married. Our parents would have made sure that we married. I don't think either of us would have been happy, and I'm afraid I would have turned into my father. However, my actions and our upbringing have made it difficult for Stephanie to form a positive relationship with men, including me. I don't take all the blame; she had other horrible relationships, but I know that I play a huge role."

"How's that?"

"Since I wrote those poems, she never had the opportunity to date in high school. After talking to one of my former colleagues, who is Steph's age, I found out that the only guys who would pursue her were looking to get in her pants, thinking she was willing to get laid. Many of the girls stayed away from her because, hey, she was the town slut. She was punished for the summer, unable to go to the shore or hang out. When my mother found out, she only asked if I wore a condom, that I had to make sure not to get a girl pregnant. It was okay to sow my oats, but I needed to do so responsibly. It was only after I moved back home that my mother started to push for abstinence until marriage; I mean, what would the neighbors think if I got my girlfriend pregnant out of wedlock?"

"Shit, Joe, you lived in one fucked up city."

"That's for sure. Thank you for not judging me too harshly."

"I've been working this unit too long not to understand that there are many different types of victims out there. I have your back as long as you learn from your past."

I smile at Katrina, realizing this relationship is the first non-sexual one I've ever had with a woman. In TPD, Robin and I were always flirting, passing innuendos of a sexual nature. It's nice to talk to a woman as a friend.

"If you don't want to wait for me, I'll grab a cab back to the house."

"No, I'll wait. I'll grab us some lunch at the deli. Your usual?"

"Yes. Thanks. Let me give you the money here since it's my turn to pay." I give Katrina two twenties, which should cover everything, and head into the tower. I adjust my jacket, making sure that everything is neat. I take the elevator to the top floor and walk to the receptionist.

"Detective Morelli, here to meet with the Commissioner."

"Ah, yes, Detective, he's expecting you. He's just finishing up another meeting. Have a seat, please. Can I get you coffee or water?"

"No, Ma'am, I'm fine. Thank you."

I have a seat, thinking about how I will answer the Commissioner's questions. There is a small part of me, the part that is still in competition with Manoso, that wants to tell him all the bad. Still, deep down, I know that the bad isn't true. It's merely a figment of my imagination. I made Manoso out to be the enemy because he had power over Stephanie. He was the first man to ever encroach on my status. Before him, I had no competition. The women would swarm to me. But once he and his men arrived, they had choices, and I wasn't always the winner. Fuck! I guess no good deed goes unpunished.

"Detective, the Commissioner is ready for you."

"Thank you."

I rise, walking to the office. I open the door to a large, well-appointed office. There are pictures of a few prominent Atlanta Commissioners from the past on the wall, along with a beautiful photo of the Atlanta skyline. His desk is large and made of wood, cherry wood, to be exact. There are matching bookcases and a few tasteful filing cabinets. The chairs in the office look comfortable, along with the couch in the corner. There is also a small round table that can hold six people around it.

"Detective Morelli, I'm glad I finally have the pleasure of meeting you. I've heard many positive things about you. Your Captain says that you are easily picking up the nuances of Special Victims and are gentle with the victims. I'm pleased that you decided to transfer to our fair city."

"Thank you, Sir. I enjoy being able to help a victim who's still breathing. While there was a lot of satisfaction with putting a murderer behind bars, I always knew I was too late. At least now, I know that by putting the bad guy away, I'm preventing someone else from being hurt."

"That's a healthy attitude to have. Please, have a seat." He says, pointing to the two chairs in front of his desk. I take a moment to study the man. He's about my height, with sandy brown hair that is starting to thin on top. He has hazel eyes that are all cop. He weighs about twenty pounds more than me but is still in excellent physical condition. I'd put his age at around fifty or fifty-five. He has the typical Southern accent that I still can't get used to.

"Detective, I called you today because I know you have had some personal experiences working with Ranger Manoso. I have a meeting with the illusive man tomorrow, and I hope to straighten out the mess that appears to be RM Securities. I am inclined to believe what he is telling me, but since I can't find any information on him, I'd like the inside scoop, so to speak."

I sigh before starting. "As a member of the Trenton Police Department, I have often interacted with Ranger and his company, Rangeman. But, honestly, I interacted more with Ranger on a personal level than a professional one. You see, my ex-girlfriend is very friendly with Ranger and has been for the entire time we were dating. It caused some bad feelings between all of us. When I look at him objectively, the way I see him professionally, he is a man who is honorable and hard-working and follows a strict moral code that is not necessarily black or white. I can tell you that he was an Army Ranger and did run Special Ops for the government. He might still be doing those missions. He has an aura of authority, and the men who work for him fear and respect him. On a personal level, we never really met eye to eye."

"Does that ex-girlfriend of yours have anything to do with it?"

"She has everything to do with it. I won't bore you with the details except to inform you that she is Ranger's fiancé."

"Got it. Do you think Mr. Manoso is truthful about not owning RM Securities?"

"Yes. In Miami, the placard for his office says "R. Carlos Manoso," not Ranger Manoso. He goes by Ranger on the street, but professionally, he uses his given name. Before I left for Trenton, I bumped into his second-in-command, who told me they sold the branch here about a year ago. There would be no reason for Tank to lie."

"Did Rangeman work with TPD?"

"Yes. Rangeman never hindered an investigation; in fact, they sometimes assisted us. They did a great job bringing in FTAs and helped keep the peace within the gangs."

I watch as the Commissioner nods his head. "Thank you for your insight, Detective. It will help me to be more prepared for my meeting with Ranger tomorrow. If the need should arise, would you be willing to act as a liaison between Mr. Manoso and APD?"

Great. Just what I need to work with Manoso. "Of course, Sir."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Detective Morelli. I hope to continue to hear how you are improving APD."

"Same here, Sir."

I shook his hand, understanding that I was dismissed. I return to the waiting area, ready to meet Katrina for lunch.