was out on Homer Ramos.
"What we think but can't prove is that you're right—Homer Ramos isn't dead. Ranger suspected it right from the beginning, and you reinforced the theory when you told him you saw Ulysses in the doorway of the shore house. Ulysses never left Brazil. We think some other poor schnook got toasted in that building, and Homer's squirreled away someplace, waiting to get moved out of the country."
"And you think he's at the shore now."
"It seemed logical, but I don't know anymore. We have no reason to go in and search. Ranger went in but couldn't find anything."
"What about the gym bag? That was filled with Stolle's money, right?"
"We think when word got back to Hannibal that his little brother was about to start a crime wave, he ordered Homer to stop all activity outside the family business and have no further contact with Stolle. Then Hannibal asked Ranger to transport Stolle's money and tell Stolle he was no longer protected by the Ramos name. Problem is, when Stolle opened the suitcase it was filled with newsprint."
"Didn't Ranger check on the contents before he accepted it?"
"The suitcase was locked when it was turned over to Ranger. That was the way Hannibal Ramos had arranged it."
"He set Ranger up?"
"Yeah, but probably only for the fire and execution. I guess he figured Homer had gone too far this time, and promising to be a good boy and stop selling drugs wasn't going to get the contract removed. So Hannibal arranged to have Homer look dead. Ranger makes a good scapegoat because he doesn't belong to anyone. No reason for any retaliation if Ranger's the killer."
"So who has the money? Hannibal?"
"Hannibal set Ranger up to take the fall for the murder, but it's hard to believe he intended to cheat Stolle. He wanted Stolle pacified, not pissed off." Morelli helped himself to another piece of pizza. "I think it sounds like a stunt Homer would pull. He probably switched bags in the car on the way to the office."
Oh boy. "I don't suppose you know what kind of car he was driving?"
"Silver Porsche. Cynthia Lotte's car."
I guess that could explain Cynthia's death.
"What was that face you just made?" Morelli asked.
"It was a guilt grimace. I sort of helped Cynthia steal that car back from Homer."
I told Morelli about Cynthia walking in on Lula and me, and how Cynthia wanted her car back, and how that entailed getting the dead guy out of it. When I was done Morelli just sat there, looking dazed.
"You know, when you're a cop you get to a point where you think you've heard it all," he finally said. "You think there's nothing left that could surprise you. And then you come along, and it's a whole new ball game."
I selected another piece of pizza and thought the conversation was probably going to deteriorate now.
"Probably I don't have to point out that you destroyed a crime scene," Morelli said.
Yep. I was right. It was definitely deteriorating.
"And probably I don't have to point out that you withheld evidence in a homicide investigation."
I nodded affirmative.
"Jesus Christ on a crutch, what the hell were you thinking?" he yelled.
Everyone turned and looked at us.
"It wasn't like I could stop her," I said. "So it seemed like the expedient thing to do was to help her."
"You could have left. You could have walked away. You didn't have to help! I thought you just picked him up off the cement floor. I didn't know you dragged him out of a car, for crissake!"
People were staring again.
"They're going to find your prints all over that car," Morelli said.
"Lula and I wore gloves." Lucy and Ethel get clever.
"It used to be I didn't want to get married because I didn't want you sitting home worrying about me. Now I don't want to get married because I don't know if I can handle the stress of being married to you."
"This would never have happened if you or Ranger had confided in me. First I get asked to help in the investigation, and then I get shoved aside. This is all your fault."
Morelli narrowed his eyes.
"Well, maybe not all your fault."
"I have to get back to work," Morelli said, calling for the check. "Promise me you'll go home and stay there. Promise me you'll go home and lock your door and not leave until this gets settled. Alexander is scheduled to fly back to Greece tomorrow. We think that means Homer is leaving tonight, and we