Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum 13)

Lula and I walked back to the Cayenne and stopped to look at the cable running across the

road. It was thick with electrician's tape, and in places had been wrapped in foam and then

over wrapped with the tape."

“So what's going on with you and Tank?” I asked Lula. “Is it serious?”

“Yeah, but only for about twelve minutes at a time.”

“Twelve minutes is good.”

"We've been working up to it. And then, if you add all the twelve minutes together, you get

a whole hour. You want an hour with Morelli, you just get him watching one of them Lethal

Weapon movies."

I wasn't sure I wanted an hour. My egg timer was set on twenty-two minutes. Eighteen, if

Morelli was on his game. An hour sounded like a lot of work. And if it was divided up into

five twelve-minute sessions, I suspected I'd need mechanical devices. Although there was no

doubt in my mind Morelli could manage it.

I drove Lula back to the office and dropped her at her car.

“Looks like Joyce is parked across the street,” Lula said. "And she's got Smullen's girlfriend

with her."

I waved at them. “Hi,” I said.

“Fuck you,” Joyce yelled.

“She's in a mood,” Lula said. Most likely because it was a lot harder to pick up my trail

now that I wasn't broadcasting.

“Have fun tonight,” I said to Lula. “See you tomorrow.”

I drove to my apartment with Joyce tagging along. No threat there. I wasn't going to lead

her to anything. It was late afternoon, and I was going to have a peaceful evening at home. I'd

call Ranger and tell him I was home with Rex and that everything was right with my world.

Then I'd shove something frozen into the microwave, crack open a beer, and watch television.

And Joyce could sit in my lot until her ass fell asleep. The $ million was out there somewhere,

but I didn't care anymore. Joyce's problem, not mine. I was off the hook. I wasn't wanted for

murder. Hooray.

I parked, ran upstairs, and waltzed into my apartment. Nice and quiet. Not as luxurious as

Ranger's apartment, but it was mine, and it felt like home. I gave Rex fresh water and dropped