235Previously….
Joe gently grabbed my wrists and brought them back down to my side. "I'm going to stay away, Steph. I need to find a way to get on with my life. I want to be your friend, but I can't do it right now. It's going to hurt too much for awhile, maybe a long while."
I was back to staring at the floor. "I know, Joe. When you're ready, if you're ready again sometime, you know where to find me."
He started to step towards me, and then paused, turning abruptly and moving to the door. "Bye Steph. Take care of yourself."
An hour later, after a good cry in the shower, an entire pot of coffee, and armed with a dozen assorted donuts from the Tasty Pastry, I pushed my way through the front door of Vincent Plum Bonding Company, my current place of employment. Vincent Plum is my cousin and a complete sleaze. I had to blackmail him into giving me a job by threatening to tell his wife about his inappropriate sexual relationship with a duck. A DUCK for friggin' sakes!
"How you doing, girl?" I was greeted by a Lula, a former ho' who now works at Vinnie's doing the filing (sometimes) and tagging along with me while I go after skips (when she feels like it). I met Lula when I was doing my very first apprehension of….wait for it…Joe Morelli! That's right. Joe was my first skip. A vice cop. Yep, that's me, a hot mess! Lula is a plus-size woman in a mid-size woman's wardrobe. Her fashion sense is more in tune with current than former ho', but hey, that's Lula.
"I'm okay," I said.
"Girl, you're lyin'. Your eyes are swollen and puffy and your nose is too big. Either you're hung over or you been cryin'. My money is on both." Lula looked at me closely.
"Yeah, Steph. No offense, but you look like shit," said Connie, the receptionist and ultimate Jersey Girl. Connie gave new meaning to the phrase "big hair." She had blood red nail polish and lipstick to match. She was 5 inches shorter, 10 pounds heavier, and 3 cup sizes larger than me. She's built like a brick shi…, well, you get it.
"Gee, Con. No way to take offense at that," I said. Both women were giving me hard stares and waiting for information. "Joe and I broke up. Really broke up."
Lula just shrugged. "Huh! Been there and done that before, girl. He'll be back."
"Not this time," I said. "This was different. No yelling. No screaming. No waving arms or hot Italian temper. It was the right thing to do, but it still hurts. He says he can't be my friend right now and maybe even never." I was furiously trying to blink back new tears when I realized that Connie and Lula weren't paying much attention to me now and were staring past me. A shiver ran down my neck. Shit! I turned around to see Ranger standing there quietly listening to me rant.
"Babe," he said. "Ladies." He nodded at Connie and Lula. He stepped to Connie's desk and dropped off a bunch of body receipts, and picked up a stack of files. We all watched silently while he skimmed through the files, pulling the high bond skips, and putting the rest back on the desk.
"He in?" Ranger said to Connie, motioning towards Vinnie's office door.
"No," said Connie. "I think he went to see a man about a duck."
We all grinned (or grimaced). It would have been funnier if there weren't a good chance it was true.
Ranger put his hand on the small of my back, sending shivers down my spine as I instantly broke out in goose bumps.
"Can I talk to you for a second, Babe? Privately?" Ranger said.
Geez, I really must look pathetic. He actually asked instead of just dragging me into the alley. I headed toward the front door, but Ranger grabbed my hand and pulled me towards Vinnie's office instead. He went in first, pulling me behind him, and shutting the door.
I started to head towards the small couch against the far wall.
"Babe!" Ranger raised an eyebrow at me.
"Oh my God. Duck cooties," I wailed. "I can't believe I almost sat on duck cooties."
"Close call, Babe. Need to be more aware of your surroundings," said Ranger.
I gave Ranger my best Jersey Girl eye roll, and then winced. Not a good idea after the night and morning I'd had.
"Are you okay," Ranger asked softly, "about you and Morelli, I mean."
"I will be." I gave him what I thought was a brave smile.
"Are you up for a job tomorrow night?" Ranger asked me.
"Distraction?" I said.
Ranger nodded.
"Sure, why not. Nothing like slutty clothes, big hair, and a lot of makeup to cheer a girl up."
"Proud of you, Babe." Ranger gave me a friendly hug and then he was gone.
I blinked. Geez. The only thing missing was a puff of smoke and the man would have himself a Vegas act.
Connie and Lula were waiting for me when I came out of Vinnie's office.
"So, what did Ranger want" asked Connie.
"Nothing. Just a distraction job tomorrow." I said.
"Things going to heat up between you and the man now that Morelli is out of the picture for good?" Lula looked at me.
"I don't know" I said. "I think he's more interested when Morelli and I are 'on' rather than when we're 'off.' Now that the 'off' is permanent, I'm not thinking my chances are all that good."
"Men," said Connie.
"Pricks," said Lula.
I grabbed a donut from the box I'd left on Connie's desk and shoved it in my mouth.
"Mmfuff," I said.
The next morning I woke up to the sound of steady rain against my window. Great. I had 3 skips to go after today and I didn't think I'd be staying dry. I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. When I was done, I pulled my hair into a ponytail and took a couple of swipes with my mascara across my eyelashes. I added some lip gloss and I was good to go. The big hair and Jersey-style makeup would come later tonight. Hopefully the rain will have stopped by then.
I was dressed in my standard "uniform" of jeans, T shirt, and Doc Martens. I grabbed a rain slicker from the coat rack in the entry and headed out the door. I was clumping down the stairs to the parking lot when I heard the "Bad Boys" theme song coming from my bag.
"Hey Ranger," I answered.
"Babe. What's on your agenda today?"
"I have 3 skips and then whatever else Connie might have ready by the time I get over to the office. What's up?"
"I have the file on tonight's job. We need to spend a little time going over it. How about lunch? I'll come over to your place around 2. I'll even bring the food." He said.
"You're just afraid to eat anything I might bring," I answered back.
I could picture the tips of Ranger's mouth turning up slightly. "Been working on your ESP, Babe?"
I laughed. "2 o'clock is fine. No twigs and branches for my lunch, please!"
"Later Babe."
I pushed my way out to the parking lot and made a mad dash out to my latest piece of shit car, also known as a Ford Capri, or Ford Crappy as I lovingly (not) called it. I go through cars like other people go through disposable shavers. They blow up on a regular basis. My biggest consolation is that no matter how crummy my current ride is, it won't be long for this world anyway.
I called Lula as I was heading towards the office.
"Hey girl" she answered.
"Want to ride shotgun? I have a line on 3 skips today." I told her.
"Your ass!" she replied. "I just had my hair done yesterday. I'm not going out in this rain. You're on your own"
"Okay, then. No problem. I'll see ya later." I blew out a sigh. My day was looking longer by the minute. Lula wasn't the world's greatest partner, but I was used to her chattering and false bravado. She made me feel downright professional by comparison. I laughed to myself. Lucy was going to have to ride without Ethel today.
I rolled into my parking lot several hours later, just before 2 o'clock. Ranger's Cayenne was parked right by the door. Shit! I had hoped to beat him there so that I could clean up. I, of course, could only find a space at the other end of the lot by the dumpster. Sigh. I got out of the car and slogged my way across the parking lot. I was soaked to the skin and freezing cold. I took the stairs up to my apartment and let myself in.
"Babe," Ranger said. "Looking a little scary."
"I-I-I'm n-n-not in the m-m-mood Ranger." I tried to give him my best Burg glare, but I was shaking too hard.
"Shit, Babe. You're practically blue!" Ranger was across the room in 2 strides. "You need to get out of these wet clothes."
Ranger dragged me to the bathroom and reached in to turn on the water, adjusting the temperature. "Need any help, Babe?" He gave me the 200 watt wolf grin.
"I-I-I c-c-can m-m-manage," I chattered back at him .
I came back out into the living room about 15 minutes later, wearing sweatpants and a pink hoodie, towel wrapped around my head.
"Feel better, Babe?" Ranger asked.
"Lots, thanks." Ranger handed me a cup of hot tea and motioned towards my small dining table. "Lunch is ready."
God bless Ella! She had sent homemade bread and minestrone soup. It was divine. I dug in, eyes practically rolling back in my head with pleasure.
"Mmmmmm, sooooo gooood" I moaned. I looked over at Ranger and he just shook his head.
"God Babe. You're killing me."
Ranger slid a file over to me and I opened it and started to read as I finished my soup. Andrew Parker, Age 35, wanted for multiple counts of rape.
"Vinnie bonded out this asshole?" I said.
"No, it isn't Vinnie. It's a federal case. We're after the reward money this time. Actually I'd really just like to get my hands on the bastard." Ranger looked calm, but I could see the tension around his eyes and mouth.
"We'll get him," I said. "What's the plan?"
"Lester will be behind the bar, Hal will be bouncing. Cal and Bobby will be inside as customers. Tank and I will be outside to do the takedown. It's a biker place. Ella picked up some clothes for you. They're in that bag." Ranger pointed to a duffel on my sofa. "Our man has been coming in the last couple of nights around midnight. We'll need to be ready by 11, and then you'll go in after he's had a couple of drinks. I'll be here at 10:30 to mic you up."
"Sounds good." I looked at Ranger and smiled. "Thank Ella for the lunch. Tell her I loooooved it."
Ranger chuckled. "Babe."
And then he was gone.