Upstate New York

Frank Plum

"Joe, we are doing okay here but of course we would rather be home in the Burg. Frank is just being so stubborn about heading home but we have to be back before the twins arrive Did Frank tell you Valarie and Albert bought Joseph's house, that they just closed on the house on Slater- Angie Morelli really gave them a great deal on it. But I guess she had a lot on her plate, what with moving to Italy with Bella and selling both Joseph's place and her own house. Seems she and Bella are happy in Italy. Her cousin introduced Angie to a nice widower and she seems happier than I ever remember her, in spite of not being able to see Joseph. Did you hear that Mooch Morelli bought Angie's house…"

"Hellen, give me the phone. Joe didn't call to catch up on the Burg gossip." Frank knew Helen had always had a crush on Joe Juniak but this was a little too much. "the Mayor and I have a lot to discuss."

Juniak was laughing as Frank put the phone to his ear. "Don't be so hard on the old gal," Juniak laughed. "I need something to make me smile."

Frank grumbled, "So things are still bad in Trenton? I was hoping we could come home soon. Valarie is about to burst with this set of twins, babies #5 and #6." He was really going to have to sit down with his daughter and discuss birth control.

"Well as far as pregnancies go, Valarie isn't even close to the most surprising. Terry Gilman returned to town to testify and she had a baby in arms. Apparently, she was already four months gone when Vito shoved her in the Panic Room. I finally understood what made him sacrifice himself.

"Morelli." It was a statement. Morelli had a child with Terry, Vito Gizzoli's niece. It explained how he was willing to leave without looking back. Asshole. Pumpkin was better off without him.

"Giving credit where credit is due, Terry testified against Kenny Martin- and them being cousins, that couldn't have been easy, and he went down for Murder One for both Vito and Sal, the bodyguard."

"How long had he been out? Last I heard he went down for armed robbery a few years ago."

"Yeah, they think it was in the joint that the Russians recruited him. And even with a deal on the table, he said not one word about them."

"Finally getting smart."

"Yeah, he is gonna be locked up for the rest of his life plus twenty years. The judge was pissed when he wouldn't play ball." Joe sighed. "The news here is just a lot more chaos- break-ins and hacking lock outs. If it wasn't for RangeMan I am sure the local and state government would be completely shut down. And Frankie Plover getting his head bashed in while in lock up means putting Ray Geara away may not be possible."

"Which is probably why Plover got beaten. He would have rolled over on Ray." Frank offered.

"True, and in the midst of all the chaos in Trenton, the story was barely a blip on the radar. So with the Plover idiot getting beaten almost to death and the other guy taking a plea, I was able to free up the safe house Ranger had Andy Manley, Simon and Snacker Diggory stashed in. On more little piece of normal in Trenton, Simon Diggory in our graveyards."

"Was the snake with him in the safe house?"

"Yeah. RangeMan was offering Hazard pay to the guys there." Juniak paused. "Morelli seems delighted with his son- I got to see him briefly at the courthouse before WitSec loaded them up in the SUV. Hard to believe he left right after proposing to Stephanie. Had his mother tell her goodbye. I always hoped he would be better than the rest of his family…"

"He was… it's just the bar was so low to begin with. So Joe, what is the landscape now that Martin is gone and Morelli and Terry have left town permanently. Is it safe to bring my family home?"

"I just don't know if you are on the radar as Stephanie's family." Joe hated to tell his friend. "These Russians have been vicious, and we just don't know what or who they are looking for. Only that they haven't found it."

"Well, then I think it's time for me to go see my daughter. If for no other reason than to break the Morelli news before the rest of the world shares it with her in vicious delight."

"There is some good news you can share with Stephanie when you speak to her. Both Eddie Gazarra and Carl Costanza are being promoted to detective. Carl will be in Major Crimes and Eddie will take Morelli's spot in Homicide."

"Well good for them." Frank was happy for both men.

"They have been rock solid since all this shit started coming down. No gossip, just hard work all the time. I am impressed with both of them."

"Stephanie will be happy for them, thanks for letting me know."

"It won't be official for another few weeks, but I know I can trust you with the news, Frank."

"And if I am reading between the lines correctly, you do not want me to tell my loving wife."

Juniak laughed and wished Franks Godspeed on his trip.

It was time for Frank to head to Virginia.