My phone rang. "Yo."
"Babe."
"Batman." I could practically hear him smile through the phone. "What can I help you with?"
"I can think of a few things you can help me with." Gulp. "But I have a something work related I need you for. You're going to need a passport"
...
As I didn't currently have a legal passport, flying into Changi Airport in Singapore I was a bit nervous. I trusted Rangers many talents but breaking laws in a country where gum was illegal made me squirm, and not in the way Boston creams do. I was also worried how bad a skip that Ranger needed to go overseas for would have to be. And it wasn't just him; we had Tank, Lester and Hector along for back up.
"Ranger, why do you need me if you have three hulking masses with us? Just drag your skip in." He looked a bit shifty.
"Babe, you can't think I could drag someone back to America on a plane without someone questioning the handcuffs. It's not a skip I need you for." Whaaaat? That made no sense. All I was good for was distraction.
"If you don't mind me asking, why am I currently travelling to an Asian country with you then?
Oh my god not that smile. "Kipnapping you Babe." Hardy ha, like I wouldn't willingly let him put me in handcuffs and tie me up. He gave me a look when my eyes started glazing over thinking about it. "Babe, I'm not a TastyCake. But I'm thinking of taking Rangeman international, I think Singapore is a good place to start as it's very central. Some of my clients have….international interests they would like me to keep up on."
"So what do I have to do with that?"
He sighed. "I have had it made aware that schmoozing needs to be done. I am meeting a friend of a client. An important friend. I need someone who is good at talking, someone in the professional leagues and Lula was already booked."
"Ouch! So I'm arm candy? That's it?" He blushed. RANGER BLUSHED. Something was wrong.
"Umm well, yeah. Most of these people have high class wives. I need you to pump them for information while I chat with the husbands. They're old money on holiday, you know? We need to look like we are there for fun."
I quirked an eyebrow, "Fun could mean many things." This got me a naughty grin.
"It could," he reached into his pocket, leaning into my seat as he did. Once he straightened up I was treated to the full 1000 watt smile. "Please don't kill me, but they will take you more seriously if they think you aren't just my latest fling." He was trying to pull his face into something semi-serious and failing. "Stephanie Plum, will you pretend to me my wife?"
"…Ummm. I guess? Wait! How long for?"
"Babe, it's Singapore not Vegas, you're safe." Yeah right….
...
Tank, Ranger and Hector got the bags while I wondered how they would have smuggled their no doubt large cache or weapons. God knows where Ranger would hide his guns in an airport, surely he wasn't wearing anything in here? Hmmm him not wearing anything. I hadn't asked about the hotel situation, would we be in the same room? In the same bed? Not that I hadn't been there before, but I had recently decided Morelli was a done thing. Sure, I loved being with him because he was comfortale but I loved bounty hunting. If he couldn't deal with that it wasn't going to work. So with my new found permanent freedom I was a bit worried. Morelli was like a chastity belt, if Ranger thought I was with him I was sort of safe. I knew Tank knew it was over, Lula mentioned it to him, but he was letting me play it out with Ranger how I wanted.
"Earth to Golidlocks!" Lester had returned from fetching the customs forms. "Anything to declare? Like your undying love for my body?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"Gees Lester, look out, they won't let you through with those guns," I said punching him in the arm.
"Goldi I am glad you're along this week, Tank and I were bummed you weren't part of the original plan. Of course thanks to the reasoning skills of yours truly you get to see the sights!"
"Does Singapore have a Disneyland?" I was too excited for my own good.
"What? No! Very sophisticated place, you're weird Plum. If you're lucky we'll take you to see the laser and water show at the Merlion" Merlion? That sounded interesting…
Just then Hector walked up carrying my giant suitcase and my smaller carry bag, Tank and Ranger carried two reasonably sized bags each and backpacks. Hmmm surely they wouldn't be all weapons. I thanked Hector for grabbing my bags and insisted I take them. Ranger nodded, and we all followed him down the nothing to declare channel. I was tense as hell waiting to pass through the passport check, but Ranger lead to the side of the queue where some people were passing through quickly.
"Work visas, digital to help you clear customs faster," he explained. Bloody mind reader.
I was actually starting to get excited for this. Here I was, 24 hours notice and in another country with Ranger and some of the Merry Men. And it sounded like I didn't have to do much! Just girl talk with some wives, this would be a cakewalk. I was practically skipping out of the airport, in the best mood until I walked out the airport doors.
"Babe. You ok?" I didn't want to tell him. He could see my dismayed face but he would laugh if I told him and it would so much worse in front of the guys. I smiled at him.
"Yeah great!" I turned to Tank. "Tank, is this the um….usual weather in Singapore?" Tank looked confused.
"Yeah. Warm, late thunderstorms, why?"
"Cause I'm so damp!" Tanks eye twitched as he glanced at Ranger who turned me around and said deadpan,
"Babe, I hadn't realise Morelli had been leaving you high and dry." I blushed right up to the roots of my hair, which was reacting to the humid climate of Singapore by poofing up. Great, jet lag and a constant climate of sauna is just what I needed. Add the way Rangers hand felt on my arm and I was pretty much just a puddle, I was so glad I hadn't told him about Morelli.