Alibi

Title: Alibi
Category: Books » Janet Evanovich

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Alibi

Chapter 1

I was having a lazy Sunday. I'd done the cleaning this morning and put on several loads of washing. It was cold and wintery and a duvet day seemed like a great idea. My flat was sparkly, Rex's cage was clean, so I could relax guilt free.

I popped on Princess Bride to watch, microwaved some popcorn and snuggled down on the sofa. The movie was nearly over when my phone beeped. A txt from Ranger.

"Flamingo." It said. My heart started to beat rapidly, oh shit, oh shit. I hoped Ranger was ok. "10-4" I txt back.

It all started about 3 months ago. Ranger and I were on a stakeout together and as usual he was holding his silence and I was filling it. I had told him all about Joe and I finishing forever (for which I had received a glance full of doubt). I had told him all about Valerie's trip to the sexy gynaecologist, which was received with a glance which suggested he was already trying to burn that story from his brain. Now I was telling him a story about one of my skips who had been stupid enough to get a "sex alibi" from someone who later transpired to be gay.

"I mean," I said, rolling my eyes, "who would be dumb enough to get such a bad alibi?"

Ranger shifted his eyes to me, "you'd be surprised. Desperate people do stupid things."

"Well," I shrugged, "if ever you get desperate just txt me Flamingo or something and I'll alibi you."

Ranger's eyes warmed up and a slight smile tugged his lips, "flamingo?"

I grinned, "not something you're going to txt me by accident."

He was out and out smiling now. "True. But I think the cop might have an issue with you Alibiing me."

I sighed, "I've told you, Joe and I are just friends now. We're done. He's already dating a nurse. He says it's a logistical nightmare; their shifts never match."

He didn't touch that, he just looked at me in all seriousness. "You'd lie to the police for me?"

I slugged him in the shoulder, "I'd do anything for you, you know that."

Our eyes met and we were having a moment. Ranger parted his lips to reply and then his eyes shifted and sharpened. "There's our man," he was out of the car before I had even unbuckled my seat belt. The man was magic.

We hadn't talked about it again, but here I was, with a txt that read Flamingo. Oh shit. I hoped he was ok.

He didn't leave me waiting long. Less than 10 minutes had passed before Tank, Ranger, Manny and Hal walked in.

Ranger didn't mince his words, "You're sure?"

I rolled my eyes, "when for?"

"From 3pm today for me, from 5pm for Tank, Hal and Manny."

I nodded, "no problem. I've had a cleaning day. I've been in all day."

"Morelli called." Ranger said softly, "He asked my whereabouts. I said I was here. He'll be swinging by soon to check."

I nodded again. "No problem. We'll say we were hanging out here from 3 Ranger." I chewed my lip, thinking. "I'll imply we're dating," I finally said, "Joe always loses his cool if he thinks I'm involved with you so he'll probably get too worked up to look too loosely at your alibi." Ranger was smiling.