"This case just doesn't want to end," I complained. "Carlos, they never found Serena's backpack. I have to call Grandma to see if she knows anything about it."
"I'll give you some privacy," Carlos said. He kissed me before leaving my office. Carlos closed the door and pressed the button on his fob to lock it.
I took several deep breaths and dialled Grandma's number. "Hello, baby granddaughter," she happily greeted.
"Grandma, I have a question. Have you ever met a woman named Serena Sanchez?" I asked, getting to the point.
"A few days after Morelli got arrested for killing Ziggy," Grandma replied. "She stayed in Mabel's shed in the back, and I brought her food when your mother wasn't looking. The woman left during the daytime hours and returned at night. She was gone the day before you killed the boxer. Did something happen to her?"
"Someone murdered Serena, Grandma. Ramirez attacked her, and someone shoved her body into a steel drum to dispose of her," I replied.
"I didn't hear that. Did Serena's man, James, contact you?" Grandma asked.
"No. I contacted James. He gave me everything she sent him. Grandma, I know the case is going to trial. You must not tell Mom about this conversation. She can't know that there is potential evidence proving Morelli was guilty of everything I uncovered during the investigation," I replied. The sound of a train clacking down the tracks caught my attention. "Grandma, where are you?"
"On a train to Miami. I'm enjoying the countryside. Your father will pick me up when I arrive. I plan to stay with Valerie to help with the great-grandchildren," Grandma announced.
"What about Mom?"
"She can rot with those Morelli women," she sharply said. "Do you have time for a story? It's a pip."
"Sure," I said, laughing. "Change the names so you don't frighten the other passengers."
"I'm alone in this one," Grandma said. She changed our call to video to show me around the railcar. Grandma was indeed alone. She told me everything she learned through the Burg grapevine. "It started when Lucille found two packets containing white powder in Gino's room. He had tucked them between the mattresses to conceal them from Lucille if she cleaned his room. That day, she was donating everything to the thrift store. Lucille called her father, who went to the house to test one packet for drugs. He tested the smallest amount on his tongue and spat it out immediately before rinsing his mouth. Harry got a friend to compare it to the composition in Gino's autopsy report. It matched. The sample he gave his friend contained enough to kill ten teenage males. When Vinnie came home from work and found his father-in-law in the house, he asked what happened. Harry explained the drugs Gino overdosed on were the same ones the DEA accused Morelli and Gilman of trafficking. Vinnie wanted to make Vito Grizolli pay for Terry's crimes, but Harry thought justice was served because Terry died at Morelli's hands. It was time for payback."
I gasped. Grandma shushed me so she could continue her story. "They waited for Juniak to leave the precinct. Vinnie was there, waiting to post bail for a client. He asked the sergeant to take him to collect his client, but the sergeant couldn't leave his station. The sergeant sent Gaspick instead. Harry and Vito joined Vinnie as they went to the holding cells. Gaspick stepped inside the holding area to let the three men inside. I don't know everything that happened, but I heard Harry and Vinnie found three unused syringes in Gino's bedroom. Harry melted the heroin-fentanyl powder and pulled the liquid into them; each contained the same amount of drugs. He wore gloves to prevent leaving his fingerprints."
"Grandma," I interrupted, "you're getting off track."
"Okay. Vito, Harry and Vinnie are in the area with the holding cells. Harry gives the others the syringes containing the drugs. One syringe alone had enough narcotics to kill Morelli. The guys sharing Morelli's cell held him as Vinnie, Harry, and Vito injected the drugs into Morelli's left arm, right arm and carotid in the neck. Morelli was dead before he hit the ground."
"Did the criminals talk?" I asked.
"One of the guys in that holding cell was one of Vito's henchmen. Another was someone who owed Harry a favour, and the other two lost friends to Morelli's drug combination," Grandma said. "None of them will say a word. They were already facing a life sentence in prison for murder. The police transferred them to the prison the next day."
"Didn't they catch everything on camera?" I asked. The holding cells had cameras to monitor the criminals until they were bonded or moved to another facility until they faced the judge and a jury of their peers.
"They weren't working. The cameras are outdated. All they recorded was static," Grandma replied. It sounded like someone scrambled the cameras, like what Carlos and I do on the elevator whenever we get carried away. "Without those men's statements, nobody can prove Vinnie, Harry, and Vito killed Morelli. Helen blames you for everything."
"Don't I know it? And Angie Morelli is suing me for planting evidence and defamation of character," I said.
"Your mother encouraged Angie to sue you. She said your husband was wealthy and will pay to keep you from going to prison," Grandma replied. "They're looking for money and ruining your reputation. Staying with your mother felt like I was approving her actions. I'll need your husband's help moving my money to a different bank."
"I can help you when you get here, or you can ask Rosalyn," I said. "Grandma, why are you really coming to Miami?"
Sighing, Grandma replied, "I found Serena's bag in Mabel's shed. I'm bringing it to Miami since I don't trust anyone to deliver it."
"What's inside the bag?" I asked.
"I never looked. There might be things inside that you need to prove Serena took the videos and photographs. I'm not leaving my fingerprints on anything," Grandma replied.
"Where is the train now?"
"We just left the stop near Jacksonville. I have another nine hours before I get to Miami," Grandma said. The train ride from Trenton, NJ, to Miami, FL, was between twenty-nine to thirty hours, depending on the number of stops and potential delays. It would have been quicker for one of the Rangeman to drive her here. I was about to ask Grandma why she didn't ask one of our friends to drive her when she said, "Steph, if I asked one of those men to drive me, your mother would have charged them with kidnapping. Someone would notice me in their car and tell her. I told Helen that Mabel and I were going to Atlantic City for a week. Mabel took me to the train station out of town. She's visiting her granddaughter in Atlantic City to make it believable. Your mother won't start asking questions until I don't come home."
"Would you like me to send money to your account?"
"I'm fine, Steph. I have more money than your mother realizes your grandfather left me. You don't need to take care of me," she replied.
"Does Al know you're going to live with them?"
"Not yet," Grandma answered with a giggle. "You know he won't say no to Valerie. She invited me to live in their home. I can help her unpack while Al is at work and the girls are in school. It's easier getting those things done when the children aren't underfoot."
"I'll contact Agent Weaver about the bag when you're closer to Miami. We can meet you at the train station."
"I can ask your father to swing by Rangeman," Grandma offered. "You and Agent Weaver can review the contents together."
"Grandma, don't leave the bag out of your sight. We can't have anyone tampering with the evidence," I warned.
"I won't jeopardize anything needed to clear your name," Grandma replied. "I have to use the ladies' room."
"I'll see you tonight," I said. I disconnected the call. Grandma sent me a text containing a photo. I had to laugh at her ingenuity. She wore the backpack backwards. "Don't lose your balance," I texted.
She replied, "I'm more agile than you know."
Smiling, I set my mobile device aside and returned to work. I had client meetings to organize and renew permits. Keeping track of the licenses and other medical records consumed too much of my day. We needed another person to take over that part of my job. It was no wonder Tank gladly moved those to my job description. I would rather handle the permit renewals than work on the scheduling.
An idea formed in my mind as I considered my tasks. Al, with Valerie's approval - not that he needed it, but he refused to do anything behind her back - accepted the loan from Carlos and me. They renovated their new house the second the bank approved the mortgage loan. Rangeman purchased their old one to use as a safe house. Valerie almost refused to sign the paperwork until Al explained that Rangeman was looking for a place in that neighbourhood to use for emergencies. It wasn't often that a house in a safe community became available.
I picked up my phone to call Valerie. "Hi, Steph," she greeted after the first ring. "I'm going crazy here."
"With the house or the kids?" I questioned. "Is everything okay with Lisa and Kayla?"
"Lisa's at school with Angie and Mary Alice. Kayla has another strep infection. She's refusing to take the medication. I tried every trick in the book, and she isn't cooperating," Valerie whined.
"Tell her she can see the puppies tonight," I suggested.
"It won't work," Valerie said.
"Humour me."
"Okay," she replied. She set the phone on the table and said, "Kayla, it's time for your medicine."
"No," Kayla cried.
"It will make you feel better," Valerie cajoled.
"No."
I heard Valerie sigh in defeat before she asked, "Would you like to see Rex and Fin tonight?"
"Puppies?" Kayla asked excitedly.
"Yes, but you need to take this medicine, or Auntie Steph won't let us visit tonight," Valerie replied.
"Okay," Kayla said. I imagined her eyes rolling as she agreed to take the medicine.
"Go play," Valerie said. She returned to our conversation. "You realize Kayla will want to visit every night until the medicine is gone."
"That's fine, Val," I replied. "I'm actually calling you about a job proposal."
"Steph, I'm seven months pregnant with my son. I can't afford to work and pay for childcare. You and Carlos helped us enough," Valerie said.
"Aren't you going to hear what I'm offering?" I asked.
"Fine!" Valerie sighed. "Lay it on me."
"Rangeman will provide you with a laptop and access to the company employee roster for each branch. I need you to monitor the weapons and bond enforcement permits to ensure everyone's licenses are current and valid. With the Trenton expansion, checking the employees' records takes up too much of my time. If someone needs to renew their weapon permit, you have to schedule their test and issue the renewal application. There's a calendar linked to the spreadsheet, and the notifications are sent two weeks before the expiration date. Is this something you can do?" I asked, crossing my fingers that she could take this off my desk.
"How many hours a day?"
"Two to four hours. You can work on it between Kayla's naps and your cleaning schedule. I know you dust daily, which isn't necessary. If you get too overwhelmed with chores, Ella offered to help. She'll prepare casseroles in advance, so you only need to reheat them. But there's a catch," I said.
"What do you need me to do?" Valerie asked.
"You need to follow the Rangeman diet, exercise and gun training regimen. Obviously, they will only ask you to do yoga until after you give birth," I replied.
"That's barely a hardship. I do yoga stretches with the girls and Al. The doctor said it helped with birthing the girls. Can I think about it until we visit tonight?"
"Sure, Valerie. You really will be helping me and this will give you some spending money while Al repays the loan," I said. "Plus, with you and Al working at Rangeman, it increases your housing stipend." It was the cherry on top of the cake for Valerie.
"Hell. Oops," Valerie giggled. "Have a contract ready. I'm on board. You can outline my responsibilities."
I grinned and ended the call. Carlos, who was listening at the doorway, smiled and entered my office. He closed and locked the door. "Why do you look so happy?" he asked.
"Valerie finally agreed to work for Rangeman," I replied.
"What made her cave?" Carlos asked, looking amused.
"The housing stipend we offer the employees for living offsite, and I told her the money she earned would be her spending money since Al pays for everything else," I explained. "Plus, Valerie and Albert are having their boy."
"She told you? I thought she was keeping it a secret," Carlos said.
"Valerie probably doesn't realize she told me. She was frustrated with Kayla refusing to take her medication," I replied.
"Have Valerie bring the antibiotics tonight. Kayla always takes it for me," Carlos smugly said.
"Knowing her, she will. Are we asking Albert to draft the contract?" I asked.
"We have other lawyers for that purpose," Carlos replied. "Albert can review the contract, but I don't want him writing it. I assume we're presenting it tonight."
"Your assumption is correct. I told Valerie she could work from home on a secured Rangeman laptop. We should upgrade their internet and connect them to the VPN," I said.
Carlos nodded and made notes on his phone. "Have you mentioned salary?" Carlos asked.
"No. We should offer Valerie a comparable wage for a part-time office manager with the option to become full-time when the children are in school full days," I replied.
"Vacation and sick days?" Carlos questioned.
"We should offer the same vacation days as Albert. It makes sense that they would want their schedules aligned unless Valerie needs a day or two to herself. Since she's working from home until the children are older, does she need sick days?"
"Babe, you and I never take sick days, but Valerie's children are younger. There might be times when Kayla and their baby are sick, and Valerie needs to focus on them," Carlos said. "We had Rosalyn, Abuela Rosa and Mama available to help. Valerie only has Rosalyn and you."
"Carlos, Rosalyn will help Valerie. Plus, Grandma will be living with her soon and can help with the children if they get sick," I said. Carlos raised a brow. Right! I forgot to tell him.
"Why is Edna coming here?"
"Do you remember those videos from James?" I asked, waiting for Carlos to nod. "Anyway, Serena was living in Mabel Markowitz's shed in the backyard. Grandma fed Serena and ensured she had whatever she needed. Since the news station announced the pending case and the people found in the barrels, Grandma retrieved the backpack she saw Serena carry. Eddie must have told Grandma what they found in the barrel. Grandma will be here tonight. Dad's picking her up."
"Training and weapons?" Carlos asked, returning to our conversation about Valerie working for Rangeman.
"Valerie understands both are necessary to work at Rangeman. She does yoga with Al and the girls. Dad taught her to fire a gun. Ram wouldn't have to start from scratch. I don't know if Al took her to the range," I replied. "Obviously, she's too far along in her pregnancy for the entrance physical."
"We can give her six months after giving birth," Carlos suggested.
"I'll help with the gym training," I offered. Carlos nodded and added a note. "When Valerie needs more work, we can have her manage the office supplies to remove that from Tank's desk."