High Five

'We were looking for my cat,' Mary Lou said. 'It's been lost, and we thought we saw it run through your yard.'

Morelli grinned at Mary Lou. 'Nice to see you, Mary Lou. It's been a while.'

'The kids keep me busy,' Mary Lou said. 'Soccer and preschool and Kenny keeps getting these ear infections —'

'How's Lenny doing?'

'He's great. He's thinking about hiring someone else. His father's going to retire, you know.'

Lenny had graduated from high school and had gone directly into the family business, Stankovik and Sons, Plumbing and Heating. He made a good living at it, but he frequently smelled like stagnant water and metal piping.

'I need to talk to Stephanie,' Morelli said.

Mary Lou started backing up. 'Hey, don't let me get in the way. I was just leaving. I've got my car parked around the corner.'

Morelli opened his back door. 'You,' he said, releasing my jacket. 'Go in the house. I'll be right back. I'm going to walk Mary Lou to her car.'

'Not necessary,' Mary Lou said, looking nervous, like she was going to run like hell at any moment. 'I can find my own way.'

'It's dark back here,' Morelli said to Mary Lou. 'And you've just been contaminated by Calamity Jane. You're not getting out of my sight until you're safely locked in your car.'

I did as I was told. I scurried into the house while Morelli walked Mary Lou to her car. And as soon as they cleared his yard I scrolled back through his caller ID. I scribbled the numbers on a pad by the phone, ripped the page off, and stuffed it into my pocket. The last number to come in had an identification block on it. No number available. If I'd known the number hadn't registered I might not have been so fast to jump to Morelli's command.

The ice cream was still sitting on the counter. And it was melting. Probably I should eat it, so it didn't get totally melted and have to get thrown away.

I was savoring the last spoonful when Morelli returned. He closed and locked the door behind him and pulled the shades.

I raised my eyebrows.

'Nothing personal,' Morelli said, 'but you've got bad people following you around. I don't want someone sniping at you through my kitchen window.'

'You think it's that serious?'

'Honey, your car was bombed.'

I was starting to get used to it. 'How did you spot Mary Lou and me?'

'Rule number one, when you've got your nose pressed to someone's window . . . don't talk. Rule number two, when doing surveillance don't use a car with vanity plates that have your best friend's name on them. Rule three, never underestimate nosy neighbors. Mrs. Rupp called and wanted to know why you were standing in the alley, looking into her windows, and she was wondering if she should call the police. I explained it was most likely my windows you were looking in and reminded her that I was the police, so she needn't bother with another phone call.'

'Well, it's all your fault because you won't tell me anything,' I said.

'If I told you what was going on, you'd tell Mary Lou, and she'd tell Lenny, and Lenny would tell the guys down at the plumbing supply house, and the next day it'd be in the newspaper.'

'Mary Lou doesn't tell Lenny anything,' I said.

'What the hell was she wearing? She looked like the friendly neighborhood dominatrix. The only things missing were a whip and a pimp.'

'She was making a fashion statement.'

Morelli looked down at my utility belt.

'What kind of a statement is this?'

'Fear.'

He gave his head a disbelieving shake. 'You know what my biggest fear is? I worry that someday you might be the mother of my children.'

I wasn't sure if I should be pleased or annoyed, so I changed the subject. 'I deserve to know about this investigation,' I said. 'I'm sitting right in the middle of it.' He was just implacably staring at me, so I hit him with the heavy stuff. 'And I know about your late-night meetings with Terry. And not only that, but I am not going away. And I will continue to harass and follow you until I figure this out.' So there.

'I'd tie you up and wrap you in a rug and drive you to the landfill,' Morelli said, 'but Mary Lou would probably finger me.'

'Okay, so how about sex? Maybe we can make a deal?'

Morelli grinned. 'You've got my attention.'

'Start talking.'

'Not so fast. I want to know what I'm going to get for this information.'

'What do you want?'