Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum 13)

“So I'm back at RangeMan,” I said.

“I'm going to try to put a positive spin on this,” Morelli said. “At least I know you're safe.”

“This morning I'm doing bounty hunter stuff,” I said. “I'm going to get Grandma to help me.”

“So much for safe.”

Connie was last on the list. “If I can get Coglin to the courthouse, can you get him rebonded right away?” I asked her. I can catch people, but I can't write bond. Only Connie and Vinnie can do that.

“As long as the judge will grant bond. Lula is here. She can answer the phones. How are you going to get Coglin to the courthouse? I thought he was beaver-bombing everyone.”

“It turns out he can't leave his house because he's waiting for the cable company.”

“Those fuckers,” Connie said.

“Yeah, well I'm going to have Grandma house sit for him.”

I took the elevator to the garage and powered up the Cayenne. As I rolled out, I kept my eyes open. I was pretty sure Dave and his partner would surface at some point in the day. Without the help of a transmitter, they were going to have to make a pickup choice based on my history as they knew it. They knew I'd spent nights at RangeMan, but I was thinking between the broken nose, the stapled nuts, and the amputated pinkie finger, Dave wasn't moving so fast this morning. I probably had time to get Grandma and drop her off at Coglin's house before the bad guys were on the hunt.

I drove three blocks, adjusted my rearview mirror, and saw the black SUV two cars back. I called Ranger.

“Who s with me today?” I asked him.

“Hang on. I have to talk to control.” A couple minutes later, he returned. “It's Binkie. He's new. And he's riding solo. I'm short today. Don't give him a hard time. And if you go back to your apartment, don't get undressed in your foyer or living room. I've installed monitored security cameras.”

“Roger and out.”

Truth is, I didn't want to give Binkie a hard time. I was grateful to have someone watching my back. I circled my parents' block before parking. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, so I pulled into the driveway behind my dad's Buick.

Grandma was watching morning television when I walked in. “Look at you,” she said. “You look like Ranger. And look at the shirt with RangeMan written on it. Ain't that a pip.”

“I have to take someone downtown to get rebonded, and he needs someone to house sit. He's expecting the cable company.”

“Those fuckers,” Grandma said. “Excuse the language. Just let me get my purse.”

I went to the kitchen to tell my mom.

“It'll be good for her to get out and do something,” my mother said. “She's been feeling down because Elmer got shipped off to an assisted-living complex in Lakewood.”

Grandma was wearing her favorite lavender-and-white running suit. Her hair had faded to orange, and she had her big black patent leather purse in the crook of her arm. I wasn't going to ask what she had in the purse.

“I'm all ready,” she said, getting her coat out of the hall closet. “Where are we going?”

“North Trenton. Hopefully this won't take long.”

Binkie stuck close to me all the way to Coglin's. When I parked in front of Coglins house, Binkie parked half a block away. I got out and waved to him, and he waved back.

Grandma followed me up the sidewalk and waited while I rang the doorbell.

Coglin stuck his head out. “I'm still waiting,” he said.

“I brought you a house sitter,” I told him. “This is my Grandma Mazur. She's going to stay here while you go with me to get bonded out again. She'll wait for the cable company.”

“I guess that would be okay,” Coglin said. He looked Grandma over. “Are you up to the cable company?”

“Bring 'em on,” Grandma said.

“Don't let them leave without fixing my cable.”