Some sort of silent communication happened between Ranger and Tank, and Tank got up and left without saying a word.
Ranger threw his keys on the kitchen counter. Removed his gun and left it alongside his keys. Morelli did the same. At first glance this looked like they were safe at home, relaxed and unarmed, but I knew they both carried ankle guns. And Ranger always had a knife.
No one said anything. They were both wearing cop faces. Wary, emotionally inaccessible. Not hard to tell they were both in a vile mood.
'How did the search go?' I asked.
'We didn't get him. It looks like he went out a back window,' Morelli said.
I repeated the conversation I'd had with Scrog. No one said anything else. Morelli put a bowl of water on the floor for Bob, got a beer out of the refrigerator, and slouched in front of the television with it. Ranger went to the computer. I stayed in the kitchen and shoved butterscotch Krimpets into my face.
I couldn't imagine what was going to happen next. I had one bed and one couch. The numbers didn't add up. Even if the sleeping arrangements were resolved, I couldn't live with both of them under my roof.
'This is uncomfortable,' I said. 'I'm going to bed. And I'm locking my door.'
Both men looked over at me. We all knew a locked door was meaningless. Morelli and Ranger went where they wanted to go. I blew out a sigh and closed the bedroom door behind me.
I got a tote bag out of the closet, stuffed clothes and cosmetics into it, quietly opened my bedroom window, and climbed out onto the fire escape. I tossed the tote bag and my shoulder bag to the ground, lowered the ladder, and jumped the remaining couple feet. I turned and bumped into Morelli and Ranger, standing hands on hips, not amused.
'How did you know?' I asked.
'Tank called,' Ranger said. 'He's watching the lot.'
'I'm divorcing both of you,' I said. 'I'm moving in with my parents. You can stay here,' I said to Ranger. 'Remember to give Rex fresh water and food in the morning.' I turned to Morelli. 'You and Bob should go home. You'll be more comfortable there.'
Silence.
I gathered my tote bag and shoulder bag up from the ground.
'One of us should stop her,' Ranger said to Morelli, his eyes fixed on me.
'Not going to be me,' Morelli said. 'Have you ever tried to stop her from doing something she wanted to do?'
'Haven't had much success at it,' Ranger said.
Morelli rocked back on his heels. 'One thing I've learned about Stephanie over the years, she's not good at taking orders.'
'Has authority issues,' Ranger said.
'And if you piss her off, she'll get even. She ran over me with her father's Buick once and broke my leg.'
That got a small smile out of Ranger.
'Nice to see you boys bonding,' I said.
I hiked the tote up onto my shoulder and left them still standing hands on hips. I crossed the lot to the Mini and got in. I cranked the engine over and drove out of the lot. I looked in my rearview mirror. Tank was following. Fine by me. I was actually very scared. I was scared for me, and I was scared for little Julie.
It was a little after nine when I got to my parents' house. I parked in the driveway and looked around for Tank. I didn't see him, but I knew he was there. He'd probably work shifts with Hal or Ranger doing surveillance on me. My mother and grandmother were at the door waiting for me. How they always knew I was in the neighborhood was a mystery. Some female homing device that announced the approach of a daughter.
'I'm letting a friend use my apartment,' I told them. 'I was wondering if I could stay here for a couple days.'
'Of course you can stay here,' my mother said. 'But what about Joseph? I thought you two were… you know, almost married.'
I dropped the tote bag in the little hall foyer. 'He has a full case load and is really busy. He's spending a lot of hours on the Manoso murder and kidnapping.'
'The phone's been ringing off the hook,' my mother said. 'Everyone calling about the viewing. They said you fainted.'
'They had way too many people in the funeral home. It was hot, and it smelled like funeral flowers, and I hadn't eaten any dinner. I'm fine now. And Joe was there to catch me.'