“No, but I think you should call it in to Morelli. Let him send someone over to retrieve it.”
I filled Diesel in on Delvina.
“Good work,” Diesel said. “You learned a lot.”
“And what about Annie? Do you think it's possible that Delvina has Annie?”
“I think it's possible that Delvina tossed Annie's house and wants the necklace. I don't see how Delvina could get to Annie.”
“Coincidence? Maybe she stepped out for air, and he happened to be driving down the street.”
“That's a big coincidence.”
“I haven't got anything else.”
“Me either,” Diesel said. “Let's talk to Mr. Delvina.”
“Oh no. You can talk to Delvina. You're Iron Man. And you don't live here. I'm just wimpy Stephanie from the Burg. If Delvina shoots holes in me, all my vital fluids will leak out, and I'll end up looking like Stanley Cramp.”
“Wouldn't want any fluids to leak out of you that weren't supposed to,” Diesel said. “I'll track Delvina, and you check on Annie's couples. We're coming up on Valentine's Day. Don't want any snafus.”
Stephanie Plum 12.5 - Plum Lovin
Chapter 10
My phone rang while I sat in my car watching Diesel drive away.
“Hey cupcake,” Morelli said. “Just checking in. Anything I need to know?”
“Speak of the devil. I was just going to call you. I have some information to share. Vinnie bonded out a woman named Annie Hart. She supposedly robbed a pawnshop and shot the owner in the foot.”
“I remember that,” Morelli said. “The pawnshop owner is a little weasel named Stanley Cramp.”
“Yeah. Turns out Cramp faked the robbery and shot himself in the foot. The gun and the necklace are in a crawl space under the back room. I can give you more details later, but you should get someone over there before Cramp decides to get rid of the evidence.”
“I'll call it in. Hows everything else?”
“It's really slow at the bonds office. Only one big outstanding… and that was Annie Hart. Bob is good. He's visiting with my parents today. Diesel's in town.”
“Diesel?”
“Yeah, you remember Diesel, right?”
“Ranger's half-brother.”
“He's not Ranger's half-brother.”
“He might as well be. They both run in the fast lane with their lights off.”
“You used to do that.”
“No. I was an asshole. I never actually thought I was Rat-man.”
“I see your point.”
“I'm locked away in a sleazoid motel, doing my cop thing. Do I need to come home?”
“Nope. I've got it all under control.”