Chapter 1

SPOV

I was sat again on my own on the couch watching TV, with a bottle of beer in my hand. It was 9pm and this was becoming my routine now. I'd nibbled on tasty cakes and ice cream most of the evening, and to be honest my stomach was beginning to protest at all the crap I was consuming, I'd even changed into loose joggers because the waist band on my jeans was digging in uncomfortably. I felt sad, was that the right word? No I felt miserable, fed up with myself. I mean, don't get me wrong, there wasn't anything going wrong in my life, for once, but nothing was going right either. My job as a bounty hunter was plodding along, I still managed to get the skips Connie gave me, all right maybe not on the first, or second attempt, but I still managed to drag their sorry asses into the police station. I had a laugh with Lula, but even with her around I felt off. I was avoiding dinner at my parents, only going maybe once a week, I couldn't face her constant barrage of criticism, her constantly shoving the job ads under my nose, and after last week when she invited some poor schmuck for dinner, I'd had it with her trying to set me up with a man. This last one was older than me, bald on his head but hairy all over his arms, he looked to be at least 300lbs, don't get me wrong, I know looks aren't everything, but he slobbered and stuffed his face with anything edible on the table, and conversation? Well forget that, he worked at the market on the fish stall so all he talked about was the fish he gutted and sold. The problem was I didn't have a man in my life, my relationship with Joe, yes the detective Joe Morelli, had continued with our on and off relationship, to the point where I really didn't see why we continued. He wanted a stay at home wife, meals on the table and kids underfoot. If I thought my life lacked something now I'd go mad being stuck in that house of his, on my own. So we'd sat down and really talked, and you know what? He really pissed me off when he admitted that I was a habit, a kickback from all the times he'd done me wrong. Like molesting me at six and just about raping me when I was sixteen, it was like he was saying he only loved me because he felt he owned me. So in the end we agreed to go our separate ways, even though I could tell he wasn't keen on the idea, I still bumped into him, but he was beginning to get possessive again, suggesting watching a game at his house, and we know that was his way of saying, let's have sex. Was it the demise of that relationship that had me feeling like this? No, I had to admit I felt so stupid and, well I suppose immature, because the other man in my life seemed to be putting distance between us. The other man was Ricardo Carlos Manoso, the man I thought of as my best friend and the man I thought I was really in love with. Maybe now Joe and I were over he'd decided that he wasn't going to up the feelings between us, he didn't want to get involved or lead me on. Don't get me wrong, I still worked at Rangeman a couple of mornings a week, but he hadn't really spoken to me, not like he used to do and he was spending a lot more time out of the office, but I missed how he would look at me and he hadn't touched me in forever, I missed the feel of my hands in his hair, his lips on mine and his body pressed against me. He'd always told me he didn't do relationships, no ring but a condom would be handy, no marriage or kids to tow around. It wasn't that I wanted marriage or kids, that really was the furthest thing in my life plan, but I couldn't be someone he occasionally slept with, not without breaking my heart. But my heart truly shattered last week when I was staking out a skip. I was sat in my car in the dark area of the car park of a bar just outside of Trenton when I noticed his Porsche come in and park toward the front. He was just as I remembered him, dressed in an Armani suit, CEO Ranger, black with a black shirt and silver tie, his hair loose onto his shoulders. He got out of the car and then went round to the passenger side and helped out a woman. Not just any woman, she was dressed in what looked like expensive clothes, her long dark hair laying perfectly down her back. She was the same height as Ranger in Louis Vuitton shoes, with perfect makeup on her beautiful face, a cleavage that showed large breasts and a figure to die for. As he helped her to her feet he pushed her against the car, a leg between her thighs and kissed her with passion, she swooned into his embrace, I knew exactly how a kiss from Ranger could do that to you, and my heart broke into pieces. Ranger had always said that if my bed was empty he would be there, but he wasn't, he was with her. So now I felt empty and so lonely. They'd disappeared inside and when a tear threatened to fall I had left that car park and gone home, and now the pain was back. I got up from the couch, turned off the TV and lights and made my way to bed, I hadn't slept well recently, there were dreams of events that had happened to me in the past and always as Ranger was about to rescue me, he'd turned away in to the arms of that woman.

The next morning I was awake early, I just couldn't sleep, I was also nervous as hell because today was one of my morning sessions at Rangeman. I was dressed in plain black cargos and a long sleeved T-shirt; I couldn't work up the courage to have the Rangeman logo on me, and I certainly was not going to wear the underwear that was part of the uniform. I was early for once; I just hoped that every one was still in the morning meeting. As I parked in the underground garage I was starting to feel really nauseous, I sat breathing deeply, then started my mantra to myself, you can do this Stephanie, and you can get through this. I put on a smile and waved at the camera, entering the lift to go up to five. As the doors opened I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, quietness enveloped me, so I quickly moved toward my cubbie and settled down to work. There were five searches to do, mundane, but every one of them was important, so I focused my attention to what I was doing. If I heard the sound of footsteps as the Merry Men came and went I didn't notice. But when a hand touched my arm I jumped in surprise to see Lester crouched down in front of me.

"Hey Beautiful, you're jumpy this morning"

"Sorry, I was lost in this search"

"You okay, you look a little pale?

"Yeah I'm fine, maybe just a cold coming on"

I felt that Ranger was on the floor and heard him shout out to Lester.

"Boss wants me, catch you later Beautiful"

I turned to watch him go into Rangers office; it was so quiet that I could hear something of what they were saying.

"Santos can you cover for me tonight?"

"Sure Ranger, you meeting up with that hot chic again?"

"Close the door"

I was back to feeling queasy, so I printed the results of my last search and made a beeline for the exit, all right I used the stairs, I wasn't going to wait around for the lift to arrive. It was way past lunchtime and as I pulled out of the garage I realized I hadn't eaten anything since getting up, so I pulled into a McDonalds drive thru. I ate half my food; I wasn't as hungry as I thought I'd be. I felt numb; I couldn't cope with the fact that Ranger had a girlfriend, how stupid of me to think he could ever be attracted to me. I stuffed the remaining food back in the bag and made my way to the bonds office, they'd always finish it off. I actually managed to park in front of the office and put the bag onto Connie's desk as a way of greeting them and then making a coffee I sat on the old leather couch.

"Any files for me Connie?"

"Only one, Mooner, he got caught selling some weed by a new uniform. The rest of the police haven't half given him some stick for that"

"No Lula?"

"Nah, she was in earlier but remembered you were at Rangeman today so she took off"

"Oh well, give me that file and I'll pick him up, though it may be tomorrow"

"You okay Steph, you sound a bit off?"

"I'm fine, just got a cold starting"

"Take care, see you tomorrow"

I didn't feel like doing anything, maybe a nap would buck me up, so I drove to my apartment and settled on the bed. After an hour I gave up, I couldn't sleep, all I kept thinking about was what I'd heard at Rangeman today. I still didn't feel overly hungry but decided to mooch dinner at my patents, I mean how bad could it be? As I'd arrived literally on the strike of six I went straight into the dining room to sit down.

"Stephanie, I wasn't expecting you. You should have called to let me know"

"Well it was last minute"

"Really Stephanie, when are you going to sort out your life, Joseph would take you back if you spoke with him"
"Not happening Mum, I've already explained we're over, finished, never having a relationship"

"Don't be silly, you're not getting any younger, I can always talk to Mrs Sandbech, her son just got home"

"Ellen will you leave her be, that lad just got back from a stint in prison, not someone who should be introduced to Stephanie"

"Well if she can't organize herself, I'll do it for her"

That was the last straw, I was still reaming from her organizing my marriage to Dickie, and look how that turned out. In fact when I thought about it I just didn't have any luck with men at all. Grandma brought me out of my thoughts.

"Steph, you gonna give me a ride to the funeral home, I said I'd meet Mavis there?"

"Sure, why not"

"Don't you let your Grandmother near the coffin, I hold you responsible"

"Oh shut it Ellen"

With bags of left overs on the back seat we drove the short distance to Stivas, I was sat quietly waiting for Grandma to get out, but she was sat there giving me a strange look.

"Baby Girl what's bothering you?"

My eyes teared up, god why was I so emotional.

"I don't know where I'm heading, I feel lost"

"Oh Steph, you're young and pretty, you've got your whole life ahead of you"

"Not how I feel Grandma, I'm in a rut and I hate it, I can't seem to move forward"

"What happened with Joseph?"

"Well I thought we'd had a good talk and agreed that we weren't going anywhere and weren't likely to, but I'm not sure he's on the same page as me"

"So what about that hot bounty hunter, he always had the hots for you?"

"He's moved on Grandma"

"So what do you want to do?"

"Maybe a fresh start somewhere, I know I can't keep doing the bounty hunting, it's been quiet recently, but if Rangers not going to be around I'm real worried I'll get hurt"

"So go for it"

"Yeah right, no money, no skills, no friends out of Trenton,"

"You'd leave Trenton and start fresh?"

"I would if I could, but I can't see a way out, Grandma look at me, I'm 32 years old, no luck with men, I live in a run down apartment that's only fit for college students, and with no reliable income; my life sucks"

When she didn't reply I turned and faced her, the look on her face was of determination, and a little smile crept from the corner of her mouth.

"I might be able to help you out there, give me the morning to put out some feelers, then I tell you what, I'll meet you at your apartment tomorrow after bingo, say 3?"

"Okay"

Grandma was on her best behavior at the viewing, I think she was trying hard for me; I left her with Mavis after we'd all eaten some cookies, and headed home. The apartment felt empty when I stepped in, I rifled through the fridge for fresh carrots and then tried to entice Rex to come out, no luck, and I was really beginning to worry. I had an awful feeling in my gut about him, so I decided to take his soup can out and empty it into the sink. Rex slid out with all his bedding and the food he'd stored there, but he didn't move, I lifted up his cold and limp body, oh god even Rex had deserted me. I found an old shoebox and carefully put him in it, along with some bedding and fresh carrots and with a large spoon went out to the side of the building where there was some soil. I dug a hole and buried the box all the time asking him to forgive me, I hadn't noticed he was ill, but I already missed him so much. By the time I returned to my apartment my face was covered in dirt where I'd tried to wipe my tears away. I sank down on the floor in the hall and sobbed, for Rex and probably for me as well.

RPOV

At last I could get caught up with some work at Rangeman today, I'm sure Tank was fed up with covering for me, I'd been asked, well coerced by the General, who I was assigned to when I was still under government contract, to work with the FBI on a serial killer case. The fact that the victims had been brutally murdered and that these had happened in such a short period of time had every one worried. Since I was based in New Jersey and that was where these murders took place the General seemed to think I would have the best skills for the job. I'd made sure Santos was my back up, but I was saddled with working closely to a female FBI agent. It wasn't that she wasn't beautiful to look at, that was about all she had going for her, she was curt and closed off and a tad superior for my liking. And to be honest I was missing my times with my Babe, talking, bantering and working together. She lit up my day with her quirky mannerisms and go get them attitude, but most of all I missed the feel of her skin under my hands, her body pressed against mine and the smell and feel of her wild curls. It was my own fault that I missed her because I'd made the decision to separate her from me while I had to work this case, I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to her and it was my fault. Who ever the killer was, they were brutal, almost to the point of torturing their victims. No I couldn't let anyone associate her with me. I knew that her and Morelli were at an off stage, hell rumor had it that she'd totally finished it with him, maybe that's why I wasn't in the best of moods, because I'd made the decision when the time was right to develop the relationship we had, from friend, work colleague and lover to something more. I knew she was working in her cubbie, and like a stalker I'd watched her come up from the garage and start her work, she looked pale and if I had to put a name to it, I'd say she looked sad. I sighed as I realized what I needed to get done, then noticed Santos in the corridor.

"Santos"

He came ambling in, a grin on his face.

"Santos can you cover for me tonight?"

"Sure Ranger, you meeting up with that hot chic again?"

"Close the door"

He turned and closed the door, then sat in the chair opposite me.

"Santos she isn't hot, she's a pain in the ass, and yes I have to meet up with her in a bar close to where the fifth victim was found, Agent Harding reckons she may have a lead there"

"Fair enough, but I think you're really messing with Beautiful"

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"Well you've obviously dumped her, thank god she's had a few good weeks with her job and not needed any help. Since Morelli's out of the picture, maybe you'll take the "Hands off" order off the table, there's plenty of men here who would jump at the chance to take her out"

I was livid and fucking annoyed at him.

"Santos I explained to the core team that until this case is closed there had to be a distance between us, I can't let her get involved in this, or hurt. So back off"

"Well between you and me she's miserable, looks ill, and you're losing her"

"I'd rather she be alive than dead. So back to my original order, you need to cover me tonight, be my backup outside this bar I have to go to"

I looked back at my computer, effectively dismissing him, I sighed in relief as he left the room closing the door. A look at my monitor showed that Steph had left the building, earlier than usual, maybe she'd just finished what work there was for her to do. The afternoon went quickly, I must admit I'd cleared my in box and sent everything across to Tank. I decided that Santos and I would leave tonight after this meeting with the agent and revisit some of the sites where the bodies had been found on our way to a morning meeting with the General in Washington. By eight I was stood by my black SUV in the car park of a wharf side bar in Atlantic City waiting for Agent Harding to arrive. She was already ten minutes late; my phone pinged with an incoming text. Santos? "Where is she?" I replied, "No idea, all quiet?" "Yes" Santos was out there somewhere in the shadows keeping an eye out and being my backup. At last Agent Harding's car pulled in next to mine and she got out slamming the door.

"Sorry I'm late, something came up that I needed to deal with"

"Related to this case?"

"No, you ready to go in?"

Her whole demeanor changed as she walked up to me and linked her arm through mine pulling me toward the rear entrance of the bar. It was dark and dingy inside, not somewhere that the tourists would find enjoyable. The locals consisted mainly of workers from the boats. We found two stools at the bar and immediately the barman was in front of us.

"I'll have a rum and coke please, no ice, darling what about you?"

"Beer, house brand will be fine"

Her tone grated against me and I nearly flinched when she moved closer to me and wrapped her arm round my waist under my jacket, I had to place an arm across her shoulder to keep my balance on the chair, I smiled down at her. Shit is this what a distraction felt like to Steph? Did she feel revulsion down her spine as she played up to the creeps and low lifes?

"I'm going to sweet talk the barman about the victim, she was found about 100 feet up stream from here by one of the regulars who works on a fishing trawler"

Well this would be interesting to watch. As the barman came back she lent forward, pushing her breasts out, and tried to use a conspiring voice.

"I hear a body was found near here?"

"Yeah, you heard right"

"Was it one of your regulars who found it?"

"Yeah, it was"

"That can't have been pleasant?"

"No it wasn't"

"He in here?"
"Who?"

"The one who found it?"
"No"

Then he walked off to the other end of the bar.

Christ, she was terrible, how the hell had she ever passed through the tests to get to be a field officer? There was no way we were going to get any information here.

"Drink up, this place isn't going to give up any secrets"

"Well it was worth a shot, you got somewhere to be tonight?"

She hadn't let go of my waist and was now smiling suggestively at me.

"Yes, meeting to attend. I'll catch up with you when we have something"

I took her arm and led her to her car, waiting until she'd driven out, then got into the SUV and flashed the lights for Santos to return. He got in and buckled up.

"Let's hit the next town, Wilmington, maybe we'll pick up something there"

"No joy in there then?"

"No, she really doesn't have a clue on how to blend in or get information from people"
"Not like a blue eyed brunette we know then?"

"No, Steph has more skills in her little finger than that woman"

The conversation ended as we hit the road, I always preferred to concentrate on everything around me, Steph called it my zone, but if she were in the car with me she became my zone. The bars in Wilmington were extra quiet, it wasn't that the barmen were ignoring our questions, they just hadn't heard of any thing with regard to the body that was found here. We found a motel to sleep over in, and agreed to meet at 0500 to continue our journey up to Washington. After a quick shower I laid on my back and thought of Steph, I missed working with her, she had instincts that I'd never come across before and she had a way with people, she reached out to them and hell, a lot of her skips had become friends with her. I remembered Sweet as he'd raced through the streets in that dam school bus into gangland, just to save Steph, and Alex Ramos was so enchanted with her he proposed to her.

SPOV

In the morning I felt horrible, and looked horrible, my hair was a mess, I had shadows under my eyes and I looked pale. I was beginning to hope Grandma might have a plan for me. I couldn't go out feeling like this, so I spent my time cleaning, hoovering and changing sheets and then steeled myself into dismantling Rex's habitat. By the time Grandma came I looked semi reasonable, and at least the apartment smelt and looked clean. With coffee and biscuits in front of us we sat on the couch, Grandma had a big grin on her face.

"What have you done Grandma?"

"I've sorted out a place that you can go, it can be just for a change of scenery or long term if it works out"

"Go on, explain"

"Well, a dear old friend of mine, actually her husband was good friends with your Grandfather, is living with her son in law. Such a sad story, her daughter was killed in a hit and run years ago, and well, the two of them just got on so well they bought a bar and made a go of it. They own the whole building now, bar, restaurant and apartments above where they live, so she agreed that being there would an ideal place for you to find yourself"

"Where are we talking about?"

"New York city, not so far away you couldn't visit if you wanted, to but far enough away that you'd be away from here"

"So what would staying with them entail?"

"You'd help out behind the bar and then help Elsie with the books and ordering, you know, kind of like an administration post"

I sat and thought about that, did I want to go? Maybe, it would give me a chance to re invent myself.

"Okay"

"That's it?"

"Yeah, it's worth having a go at it, I'll make new friends and learn some new skills, what have I got to loose?"

"Well then, you take the weekend to decide how you want to do this, because I suggest you don't let your mother know"

"All right, how about we meet for coffee on Monday at that café next to your hairdressers, about eleven?"

"Done, I'll let Elsie know that you're interested"

After Grandma left I actually felt better, lighter, and was actually looking forward to a change, I hadn't eaten much today but I wasn't hungry, that didn't really worry me because I needed to loose all the weight I'd gained recently from eating all that comfort food. I went to bed early and thought through what I would need to do. Nearing ten my phone started to ring, but I switched it off, there was no one I really wanted to talk to. At 10.30 there was a hammering at the door, I tried to ignore it but who ever it was wouldn't go away. I pulled on my ratty robe and trudged to the door, looking through the peephole to see who was there.

"Cupcake open the door, I know you're there"

I opened the door but left the chain in place, no way was I letting him in.

"What are you playing at, let me in"

"No Joe, I was in bed, what do you want?"

"I'm not talking out here in the hallway"

"Well you're not coming in"

"Cupcake, dammit, it's not working"

"What?"

"I need to talk to you, will you please let me in"

"No, we can talk tomorrow"

He ran his hands through his hair walked across the hall and back again.

"All right meet me at Pinos at noon"

"'Kay

I closed the door and waited until I heard the lift open then close, then ran over to the window and peaked through the drapes to see him get into his shit police car and pull out. I let out a breath; I really didn't want to have a showdown with him, because I'm sure that's what would happen. I went back to bed to a fitful nights sleep.

RPOV

Although it was morning it was still dark as Santos and I drove through the streets of Wilmington, no cars on the road, and for once no conversation from him.

"We should have time for a quick stop at Baltimore, different time of day so maybe different people there"

"Worth a shot, what time's the meeting?"

"Noon, I don't know what the agenda for it is, the General didn't say"

"Well we've got zilch, so maybe there might be up dates from other agents, you know who else is included?"

"No, only Agent Harding"

Baltimore riverside was cold and barren; I'm surprised the body was found as quickly as it was.

"Who called in the body?"

"No idea Ranger, I think it went to the local PD then the FBI picked it up as a similar case a few days later, that's the problem though, by the time the FBI gets there it's cold, nothing to find"

"I suppose the PD aren't quick enough or haven't the resources to do a proper investigation either"

"Yeah, especially if they have the mentality of those in Trenton"

"Some are all right"

"I suppose some are, but I figure Beautiful has solved more of Morellis cases than he has"

I laughed at that, she never got involved with that as her intention, but inevitably she always did.

"I don't think Morelli would agree with that"

"Come on, think of all his cases she's solved"

"Okay then, Morelli charged with murder, she found the real killer"

"And bust up the drug smuggling"

"Uncle Mo's drug dealers, Uncle Sunny as the one who killed all those women"

"She uncovered Dickies partners and the arms being stolen from the army"

We spent the next hour reminiscing some of the high profile cases she'd tackled and solved, she'd even helped me to solve a few and put herself into the sights of killers, Scrogg, Cone, Orin, all of them we solved together with a lot of input from her.
"I miss her"

That hadn't meant to come out as it did and I could see Santos smirk as he sat beside me. Dam him; he'd led me right into that by getting us started on thinking about her. That was it; I wasn't talking anymore. The drive to Washington was uneventful, the traffic became more chaotic as we neared the capital, I was glad we were meeting at the General s office where there was parking and accommodation for us. At precisely noon we were knocking on his door. I was surprised at the number of people attending this meeting, but then again I'd never received any information, I just assumed the General wanted a meeting with Santos and me. We all took our seats and began with our own introductions. There were three FBI field agents, two women, including Agent Harding, a senior analyst and a profiler from Quantico and another covert ops man, but not a ranger or anyone I'd seen before. We also had the obligatory politician, who supposedly represented the people of New Jersey.

"All right now you know who is who, let's get this show on the road. The team here represents a variety of people with a variety of skills, we've had five victims washed up, that in itself isn't unusual but the nature of their deaths is and we need to stop who ever is doing this, Mr. Jenson your analysis suggests total randomness of victims and places and Mr. Holden you can't seem to be able to pin down a profile, so what the hell do we have?"

We spent the next four hours going over the evidence that had been found, basically going round in circles. As there didn't seem to be a pattern to anything other than the absolute brutality, short time between death and being dumped in the river, and the cleanliness of the bodies, we couldn't predict whom or when it might happen next. The best we could do was to allocate teams to specific areas and hope the analyst could find the patterns. Santos and I were teamed up with the covert ops guy, Jackson Blake, and once we were allocated our task we retreated to a separate room to plan our next move.

"I'm sure I've worked with you before, Santos isn't it?"

"Err, yeah, but which mission was that?"

"I was the surveillance man, got all the photos of the men you were after and the places you needed to go"

Santos still looked confused; I sure as hell hadn't worked with him.

"Which mission man, I've done so many, they blend together sometimes?"

"It was down in Mexico, a group was trafficking children"

"Jimenes?"

"Yeah that's the one, we got him in the end"

I saw the tension in Santos and decided to move this conversation on to the job at hand; I must remember to ask Santos what that was all about.

"Gentlemen, we need to plan forward and co ordinate how we work together to get the most effective data and evidence, Santos?"

"Well. We've been asked to concentrate in New York, there have been two bodies found there and usually the first site is significant for the killer"

"Blake?"

"Agreed, I can base myself there and use my cover story to trawl the areas and some of the bars and wharf areas"

"That was easily agreed on, Santos can you find us a small apartment near the first site and make sure it has a garage and is secure. Blake I'll get Santos to get the location to you then we can meet. Everything you find goes on the common server so everyone in the group has access, questions?"

Each man shook his head as I looked at them, so I returned to the room with the General.

"You stopping here Ranger?"

"Yeah, I wasn't sure how long this meeting would take and it can be a tiring drive back to Trenton"

"Not like you Ranger, you usually can't wait to get back home"

"I know, but this case has got me re thinking priorities"

"Have dinner with me, for old times Ranger then you can fill me in. I'll expect you at eight in my quarters, and don't bring Santos"

Fortunately Santos had other ideas on how to amuse himself in the capital, in fact when I got back to our rooms he'd been and gone. I showered and changed into more comfortable and suitable clothes then as I had time to spare decided to catch up with Tank.

"Ranger, how's it going?"

"Going, just, you ever work with a guy called Jackson Blake?"

"Not that I remember, why?"

"Santos and I are teamed up with him, I get the feeling Santos isn't impressed with him"

"You know Santos, he can be a real pain on a mission"

"Yeah well, anything to report?"

"Nope, all quiet here"

"Nothing at all?"

"If you mean Little Girl, she's been real quiet"

"I'll be back around lunch time, then Santos and I are going to be based in New York for a while"

"Roger"

As expected the General didn't invite me for dinner for nothing, but we'd worked together for too long for him to get me to talk, but give him his due, he did try.

"So, Ranger you still sure about not re signing your contract?"

"Oh believe me I'm sure"

"Then explain it to me because your handler sure as hell couldn't"

"You've got younger and probably fitter men coming through, I'm getting too old for that shit"

"I doubt any of them could out maneuver or track as good as you"

"Maybe, but I've been lucky, I don't want to push my luck"

"I agree, you've had some serious injuries but nothing debilitating, so what other reason, you could move over to being a handler?"

"My business is doing really well, growing, I need to be there managing it"
"You've got Tank"

"I also have a daughter that I want to get to know better"

"Humph, you're making excuses"

"No, there are people that rely on me"

"Like that Bounty Hunter?"

"Well she's one of the ones who does rely on me"

"I bet she does, and I bet you rely on her as well"

"I wouldn't say that"

"Maybe you wouldn't say it, but others would. So are you staying based in Trenton?"

"Not sure, depends on what happens, I may move back to Miami, my daughter is there and other family"

As long as Steph didn't get back permanently with Morelli, I'd be there for her, more if she let me, but I don't think I could live near her if she married him, it wouldn't be fair to her or me. I felt the loss of her being close, why did this dam job have to come up now? Fortunately the conversation veered toward old memories we shared and people we'd both worked with, that reminded me.

"General what do you know about Blake?"

"Not much really, his handler keeps a tight rein on him, by all accounts he's good at his job, but I don't think he's called up as much as you have been, why?"

"I don't know him, so unfortunately for him he'll need to prove his worth to me first"

"Fair enough, wouldn't expect anything less of you"

On that note I left the General with his brandy and cigar and retired to my room, Santos didn't seem to be back from his night out, as long as he was ready to leave here at 7am I wasn't worried.