I nodded. “It's a terrible thing to say, but I'm glad he's dead. Any word on Shempsky?”
“Nobody's seen him or his car. He didn't go home.”
“I think he's flipped out. And he has the flu. He looked really bad.”
“You'd look bad too if you were wanted for multiple murders. We're leaving a uniform here tonight to make sure no one comes in through your window, but it's going to be cold in your bedroom. Probably you want to stay someplace else. My vote's for my house.”
“I'd feel safe at your house,” I said. “Thanks.”
The gurney with the body clattered over the hall floor and rolled out my door. My stomach lurched, and I reached for Morelli. He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me. “You'll feel better tomorrow,” he said. “You just need some sleep.”
“Before I forget. You left a message on my machine that you needed to talk to me.”
“We brought Harvey Tipp in for questioning, and he squealed like a pig. I wanted to warn you about Shempsky.”
I WOKE UP to the sun streaming in through Morelli's bedroom window, but no Morelli next to me. I had a dim recollection of falling asleep on the ride to his house. And falling asleep again, next to Morelli. I had no recollection of any kind of sexual encounter. I was wearing a T-?shirt and underpants. Since the underpants were on me and not on the floor that probably told me something.
I got out of bed and padded barefoot into the bathroom. There was a damp bath towel hanging on the hook on the door. A set of clean towels had been set out for me, neatly stacked on the tub. A note was taped to the mirror over the sink. “Had to leave for work early,” the note said. “Make yourself at home.” He also confirmed what I'd suspected—that I'd zonked out the minute my head hit the pillow. And since Morelli appreciated response to his lovemaking, he'd passed on last night's opportunity to collect on his debt.
I took a shower and got dressed and went to the kitchen in search of breakfast. Morelli didn't stock Pop-?Tarts, so I settled on a peanut butter sandwich. I was halfway through the sandwich when I remembered the chauffeuring job. I'd never gotten around to reading the notecard, and I had no idea when I was supposed to get the sheik. I shuffled through the mess in my shoulder bag and found the card. It said Tank would drop the limo off at nine. I was to pick the sheik up at ten and drive him to Newark Airport. It was almost eight, so I finished my sandwich, stuffed yesterday's clothes into the tote, and called Mary Lou to bum a ride.
“Boy, you really get around,” Mary Lou said. “When I dropped you off you were with Ranger. You must have had a busy night.”
“You don't know the half of it.” I explained to her about the kiss, and Ramirez, and Shempsky, and finally about Morelli.
“I can't imagine being too tired to do it with Morelli,” Mary Lou said. “Of course, I've never been attacked by a homicidal rapist, held at gunpoint by a screwy banker, and had a guy killed outside my bedroom window.”
Mrs. Bestler was waiting by the elevator when I walked into the lobby. “Going up?” she asked. “Second floor. . . belts, handbags, body bags.”
“I'm taking the stairs,” I told her. “I need the exercise.”
I opened my apartment door and surprised a young cop who was feeding Rex Cheerios.
“He looked hungry,” the cop said. “I hope you don't mind.”
“Not at all. Feel free to join him for breakfast. Just poke around in the fridge until you find something you like.”
The cop smiled. “Thanks. There's a guy here fixing your window. Morelli arranged it. I'm supposed to leave as soon as he's done.”
“Sounds good.”
I went into the bedroom and collected my chauffeur uniform of black suit and stockings and heels. I changed in the bathroom, added some lipstick and a swipe of mascara, and sprayed my hair. When I came out, the window man was gone, and my window looked sparkly clean. The cop was gone, too.
I grabbed my shoulder bag, said good-?bye to Rex, and hustled down to the parking lot.
Tank was waiting for me when I swung through the back door at nine o'clock sharp. He had a map and directions.
“Should take you about a half hour from here,” Tank said.
“Does he know I'm driving him?”
Tank's face creased in a wide grin. “We thought it would be a nice surprise.”
I took the keys to the Town Car and slid in behind the wheel.
“You're carrying, right?” Tank asked.
“Right.”