Chapter 16

4 Days Later

Tank POV

"It doesn't make any sense, there's just too many unknowns." Lester grumbled.

"Let's start over. Rundown what we know so far there has to be something we missed." I suggested. Chief Juniak hired Rangeman to investigate the recent attack on the TPD since he was worried that it may have been an inside job. We've been going through evidence for the last 3 days but have yet to find anything substantial.

Cal began the brief "We've ruled out all of Ranger enemies, the rest of the core team's enemies, and even Hector's there's nothing that could link this attack to Rangeman. We've cleared 12 uniforms, 7 detectives, 15 office staff and Juniak himself. Of the people injured two stand out as potential causes including a Detective Joseph Morelli and Uniform Benny Gaspick."

Hector took over from there. "While there is nothing on record that indicates that there is a connection, both of them have spent a considerable amount of time on Stark Street according to their daily reports. This is relevant because the men driving the cars were determined to be members of the Slayer gang that is known for occupying that territory. However the members of the second car were members of the Stingers gang who occupy the other side of the street which indicates that there is a higher power that is actually in charge as those two gangs are not known for getting along."

Ranger, who had been silently listening in the back slipping in with Bobby somewhere during Cal's rundown, broke off the wall and walked up to join me at the front of the room. "Hector, take Junior and Rodriguez, you're going undercover. As for the cops, have Stephanie take a look. The TPD is heavily integrated in the Chambersburg area where she is from it's possible she may see or know something in the history that we don't. Lester, I want a patrol car outside the TPD at all times until this case is solved."

"HUA" The chorus of men recited back to our leader.

"Hey Bossman. I take it Stephanie's been discharged?" Lester asked. A single nod was Ranger's only response if Lester wanted more details he'd have to ask for specifics. "How is she feeling? What did the Doc say about her injuries?"

"Still under concussion protocol due the severity of the blow she took, the cuts and bruises are healing normally, and the ENT has not made an official treatment plan due to the swelling in her inner ears but she can hear at 30% in her left and 60% in the right and it has improved. She has been coping with the hearing loss by writing things down and using her phone to speak for her but there is still a chance she won't regain any more of her hearing back and additional mechanisms will need to be implemented. She's upstairs napping right now. Bobby, Myself, or Ella will be on call for her until she is cleared to come back to work."

The men seemed dejected after Ranger's update so after a brief moment of silence I dismissed the men to get back to their assignments.

Stephanie POV

I spent just over 3 days in the hospital once I woke up after the incident. Dr. Herschel has been extremely helpful answering all of my questions but I've spent most of the time sleeping. Carlos stayed the entire time. He even had Ella bring a change of clothes for both of us and homemade food to replace as Carlos put it "bland and boring" hospital food. My dad stopped by everyday to check on my progress and play scrabble with me before leaving to get back before the pot roast was done. My grandma got one of her bingo friends to drive her on the second afternoon to give me all the burg gossip. Thankfully Carlos recognized how the news from the rumor mill was exhausting me and successfully distracted her by offering Lester drive her home.

My hearing was slowly coming back over the course of the three days and my right ear was more than half back to normal by the time I was discharged. Dr. Herschel scheduled an appointment with me for next week to reevaluate and make an official diagnosis once the swelling has subsided. I haven't told any of my wonderful caretakers in Carlos, Bobby, or Ella that I am slowly gaining the ability to hear the majority of the conversations we've had the past few days but I suspect Carlos is on to me.

This afternoon Lester and Cal were coming up to review what they had collected to see if I could help them crack the case. Carlos had explained that the men had narrowed it down to a few potential reasons behind the attack but were having a hard time narrowing it down. I heard the doorbell and Ella answer the door. Lester and Cal walked in pulling in chairs from the dining room to sit next to the bed. Lester handed me a large stack of files and then dove into what they had gathered. About halfway through Carlos joined us sitting on the bed and pulling me into his back as they continued.

When Les got to Joe and Gaspick I stopped him midway through his findings.

"Lester, that is the lead you should be following.'

"Why is that beautiful?" Lester, Cal, and Carlos looked at me with curious faces but said nothing else so I continued.

"You say that Joe and Gaspick don't have a connection but by all accounts look like they should. Well lucky for you I happen to have Burg knowledge. Joe is a few years older than Benny but his sister is the same age and she dated him for several years. When they were in their senior year of high school Caroline decided she wanted to go to college. Benny was against this so they broke up. Caroline like me got a way from the Burg and now lives in Maryland as an accountant with her husband and 2 kids. Benny though didn't go to college and has continued to follow Joe around since he returned from the Navy and joined TPD. Joe is a womanizer and known for his on again off again relationship with one mob princess Terry Gilman."

I looked around at the men's faces as I revealed the backstory and watched as they recognized why this was the best lead they had. Lester was silent before he started shuffling through his papers. "Beautiful, does Samuel Grizolli mean anything to you?"

"Yes he is a cousin of Terri Grizolli and both of them share an uncle in Vito Grizzoli. Why?"

"I think you're right then because one of the men shot dead during the incident was Samuel. He had been arrested by Joe and was at the precinct awaiting arraignment at the time of the shootings." Cal jumped in.

"Les take Cal and get this information to Hector. It's possible that the bombing was a coverup to get Samuel out of the family business. Now the questions that remain are why and who is leading this charge." Carlos asked from the doorway where he had been standing.

Les and Cal picked up their papers and hurried off to complete their assignments but not before giving they each gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and thanked me for the help. Carlos was still standing behind them and I could see the jealousy when he started making a fist but as soon as they were out the door he was by my side scooping me up into his arm and then settling us onto the couch.

"Babe. You never cease to amaze me" Carlos said before he leaned in to kiss me. We stayed that way until both of us needed to breathe. Before I could pull him back in he swept me up once again and carried me to the bedroom.