“Idle threat,” Diesel said. “Sort of.”
I stuffed myself into my jacket and hung my bag on my shoulder. “Have fun tomorrow night,” I told Charlene. “Keep in touch.”
Diesel followed me out and walked me to my car.
“What's happening with Annie?” I asked him.
“Can't find her. Can't find Bernie. And now I can't find Lou Delvina. He has a house in Cranberry, but the only one in the house is his wife. There's a two-car garage with just one car in it. I have someone checking on other properties. He's not at his social club. He's not at his place of business.”
“It's only nine o'clock. He could be lots of places.”
“True. I have Flash watching his house.”
My phone buzzed.
“Thank the Lord I got you,” Lula said. “You're not gonna believe this one, and don't hang up because this is my one phone call.”
Stephanie Plum 12.5 - Plum Lovin
Chapter 11
“Where are you?” I asked Lula.
“I'm in jail. Where the heck do you think I am with one phone call? Anyways, I need someone to bond me out of here.”
“I'll have to get Connie. Vinnie left for his Valentine's cruise with Lucille.” I looked at my watch. “It's nine o'clock Sunday night. Connie's going to have to get a judge out of his jammies to set bond. What are the charges?”
“Destruction of personal property and tying a idiot's dick in a knot. And Tank's here, too.”
Tank was second in command at Ranger's security company. He was Ranger's best friend, and he watched Ranger's back. He was a big guy who didn't talk much but carried a real big stick. From time to time Lula managed to snag him and have her way, and the next morning Tank would look like the living dead. To my knowledge this was the first time she'd gotten him arrested.
“Tank and me were at this bar,” Lula said. "And some drunk-ass moron started on Tank. How Tank had no neck.
And how Tank looked like Shrek, except Tank wasn't green. And I was getting real annoyed because okay, all that's true, but I didn't like this guy's attitude, you see what I'm saying? And then he started calling me Shrek's fat 'ho… and that's when I hit him. And things sort of went in the toilet after that."
Diesel was smiling when I disconnected. “Ranger's gonna be pissed. He works hard to keep a clean, low profile.”
“You know Ranger?”
“From a distance.”
I called Connie and told her about Lula and Tank.
“Can you get them out?” I asked Connie.
“Probably. I'll have to make some phone calls. I'll get back to you.”
Diesel and I got into my Escape. I turned the heat on high, and Diesel cracked his window.
“How do you know Ranger?” I asked him.
Diesel shrugged. “I hear things. I assume Connie is buying a judge?”
“This is a small community. We try to be civilized to each other. Connie will call in a favor.”
Diesel was looking relaxed next to me, but I knew his priority was to find Annie, and it had to be on his mind.
“I know you're worried about Annie,” I said. “Am I keeping you from whatever it is that you do?”