leg onto the window ledge.
The window faced front. Please God, don't let Habib and Mitchell drive by when I jump out of the window. I let myself out slowly, back to the street so I could hang by my hands, my toes digging against the brick. When I was fully extended I dropped, landing first on my feet and then falling on my ass. I lay there for a minute, stunned, flat on the sidewalk, rain splattering on my face.
I sucked in some air and got to my feet and started running. I crossed the street and ran through an alley and crossed another street. I had no idea where I was going. I was just putting space between me and the brick building.
14
I STOPPED TO catch my breath, bending at the waist, eyes narrowed against the pain in my lungs. My jeans were torn at the knees, and my knees were scraped from the glass. Both hands were cut. I'd lost my jacket in my rush to escape. It had been wrapped around my hand, and I'd left it behind. I was wearing a T-shirt and a flannel shirt, and I was soaked to the skin. My teeth were chattering from cold and fear. I pressed myself against the side of a building and listened to the rain-muffled sound of cars not far off, on Broad.
I didn't want to go to Broad. I'd feel too exposed. This wasn't a part of town I knew very well. I didn't have too many choices. But I was going to have to go into one of these buildings and get help. There was a gas station- convenience store on the other side of the street. I didn't feel comfortable with that. Too visible. I was next to a building that looked like offices. I slipped in through the front door to a small vestibule. A single elevator sat to the left. A metal fire door leading to stairs was located next to the elevator. The chart on the wall listed the businesses in the building. Five floors of businesses. Didn't recognize any of the tenants. I took the stairs to the first floor and picked a door at random. It opened to a room full of metal shelves, and the shelves were loaded with computers and printers and assorted hardware. A frizzy-haired guy in a T-shirt was working at a table just inside the door. He looked up when I poked my head in.
'What do you do here?' I asked.
'We repair computers.'
'I was wondering if I could use your phone to make a local call. My bike slid out from under me in the rain, and I need to call for a ride.' Probably the fact that there were men looking to mutilate me was more information than he desired.
He looked me over. 'You sure you want to stay with that story?'
'Yeah. I'm sure.' When in doubt… always lie.
He motioned to the phone at the end of the table. 'Help yourself.'
I couldn't call my parents. There was no way to explain this to them. And I didn't want to call Joe, because I didn't want him to know how stupid I'd been. I wasn't going to call Ranger, because he'd lock me up, although the idea was gaining in appeal. That left Lula.
'Thanks,' I said to the guy, replacing the phone after I'd given Lula the address. 'Appreciate it.'
He looked sort of horrified at my appearance, so I backed out of the office and went downstairs to wait.
Five minutes later, Lula pulled up in the Firebird. When I got in, she locked the doors and took the gun out of her purse and laid it on the console between us.
'Good call,' I said.
'Where are we going?'
I couldn't go home. Habib and Mitchell would eventually look for me there. I could stay with my parents or Joe, but not until I got cleaned up. I was sure Lula would let me stay with her, too, but her apartment was tiny and I didn't want WWIII to start because we were stepping on each other's toes. 'Take me to Dougie's house,' I said.
'I don't know how you got all those cuts, but you must have got brain damage, too.'
I explained it all to Lula. 'No one will think to look for me at Dougie's,' I said. 'Besides, he's got clothes from when he was the Dealer. And he's probably got a car I can use.'
'You should page Ranger or Joe,' Lula said. 'Better one of them than Dougie. They'll keep you safe.'
'Can't do that. I have to trade Ranger for Carol tonight.'
'Say what?'
'I'm turning Ranger over to Joyce tonight.' I punched Joe's office number into Lula's car phone. 'I have a huge favor to ask,' I said to Morelli.
'Another one?'
'I'm worried someone might break into my apartment, and I can't get home right now. I was wondering if you could get Rex and take him with you.'
There was a heavy silence. 'How urgent is this?'
'Urgent.'
'I hate this,' Morelli said.
'And while you're there, maybe you could check the cookie jar and see if my gun is there. And, um, maybe you could also snag my shoulder bag.'
'What's going on?'
'Arturo Stolle thinks he can get Ranger to cooperate with him by holding me hostage.'
'Are you okay?'
'Peachy fine. It's just that I left the apartment in a hurry.'
'I don't suppose you'd want me to pick you up someplace.'
'No. Just Rex. I'm with Lula.'
'That fills me with confidence.'
'I'll try to get over later tonight.'
'Try real hard.'
Lula came to a stop in front of Dougie's house. The two front windows were boarded over. The shades were drawn in the upstairs windows, but light peeked out from behind. Lula gave me her Glock. 'Take this with you. It has a full clip. And call me if you need anything.'
'I'll be fine,' I said.
'Sure. I know that. I'm gonna wait here until you get in the house and give me the sign to go.'
I ran the short distance to Dougie's front door. I'm not sure why. I couldn't have gotten much wetter. I knocked on the door, but no one answered. I imagined Dougie hiding somewhere, afraid a Trekkie had come back to see him.
'Hey, Dougie!' I yelled. 'It's Stephanie. Open the door!'
That got results. A shade moved aside and Dougie peeked out. Then the front door was opened.
'Anyone here with you?' I asked.
'Just the Mooner.'
I shoved the Glock into the waistband of my jeans and turned and waved to Lula.
'Close and lock the door,' I said, stepping into the room.
Dougie was way ahead of me. Not only had he already locked the door, but he was pushing a refrigerator in front of it.
'Do you think that's necessary?' I asked.
'I guess it's overkill,' he said. 'It's actually been quiet today. It's just that I'm still freaked out from the riot.'
'Looks like they broke your windows.'
'Only one. The fire department broke the other one when they threw the couch out onto the sidewalk.'
I looked at the couch. Half of it was charred. Mooner sat on the uncharred half.
'Hey, dude, you came at the right time,' he said. 'We just heated up some crab puffs. We're watching an
'Yeah,' Dougie said. 'We got lots of crab puffs left. We have to eat them before they expire on Friday.'
