Disclaimer: The characters are property of Janet Evanovich and I am not making any money from this story. The story line is mine.

Sequel to: Finding Yesterday

Warning: Angst and High Drama

Bed of Lies

Chapter 2

By Elissahara30

Trenton, New Jersey

I pulled into the driveway in front of my house, a very plain two story brick affair with a tidy lawn. I turned off the engine and jumped out of my car and ran for the front door. I fumbled with the security lock before I managed to fling the door open. I shut the door and reset the lock and I took the stairs two at a time and raced into the master bedroom. I flung opened the closet door and pushed my cloths out of the way. I felt around the wall to the fake panel and pulled it off. I stopped and stared at the safe mounted into the inset. I wiped my sweaty hands against my dress and tried to control the shaking.

I carefully spun the dial until I felt each tumbler clicked under my hands. Breathing in deeply I pulled on the handle and the door released. There wasn't much on the inside of the safe, but what was there . . . yeah. I tried hard not to think about it on a daily basis. I put the items in the safe so I could pretend they didn't exist. I reached for my wooden box took it out. I moved over to the bed and sat down heavily.

Ranger had trusted me with his secrets and now there was more I had to uncover in order to protect him. Inside the box was another item, something DM had given me before we had parted ways back in France.

I stood up and grabbed my big bag and put the box in it. I moved over to my dresser and picked up a cell phone. In my jewelry box in the bottom drawer set into the back I took out the emergency battery and assembled the phone.

I turned and surveyed the room one more time and walked out. I headed toward my kitchen and opened the pantry door and pulled out another bag from the back. I opened up the bag and checked the 9 mil for ammo and my extra clip. I slip the gun back into the bag. Taking my items exited out to my back patio. I walked toward the back gate and opened up the fake brick and pulled out a set of keys. I exited the back gate and walked five houses down to an old garage and used one of my keys to open the door.

Not long after the phone rang.

"So what now?" I said as I made my way toward the old blue Nissan. I stepped around the old paint cans and rusty gasoline containers.

"What did Davers tell you?" DM asked.

"Ranger's been arrested by the NSA, that when The Christian was recruited him he was working for a project with the Secret Service." I said. "Davers said that Ranger was linked to known terrorists groups."

I waited in tense silence hoping DM had some answers, "Do you know where he's being detained?"

I closed my eyes, god he's being held prisoner again, this time by his own government. "No," I said in misery.

"What ever you do Jersey you have to keep the assets secure," DM stressed.

I opened the trunk and flipped back the rug. Instead of a wheel well there was another safe one that Al had installed just for me. I dialed in the combination and opened it up. I put my bag with the wooden box inside and locked it up. I put the rug back and threw my other bag on top, "Ranger was arrested in Miami, can you find out where he's being detained?"

"Miami?" DM asked and my stomach clenched at his dark tone. I stood up straight as I closed the lid and started for the driver's side door.

"What are you thinking?" I leaned heavily against my car and waited.

"Guantanamo Bay," he said.

Oh God, my legs give out and I slid to the floor of the garage, "No," I breathed. Images unbidden flitted through my mind. They wouldn't do that to Ranger. God, I hope that wouldn't take him there.

"Jersey, damn it you're no help if you start panicking," DM yelled over the line.

I haven't felt this helpless since Ranger had disappeared nearly four years ago. "What can I do?"

"Get out, head north Jersey. I'll meet you in Boston." I can hear DM moving on the other end of the line and I had to wonder if DM is close.

I pressed the heel of my hand against my eye, to stop the twitching. I breathed in and out through my nose, "Find out for me DM," I whispered. "Find out where they've taken him."

"Jersey . . ."

"I mean it! I need to know . . . just . . . please." The line was silent as I waited for him to say anything.

"I'll see you in Boston," and he disconnected the call.

I curled into myself as the first sob broke through. Pounding the concrete under my feet until my hands felt bruised, I wanted to scream. This can't be happening, not again, not to us. I don't know how long I stayed curled up there on the floor. But I didn't move until I felt the chill seep through my dress. Like an old arthritic woman I slowly uncurled myself and clawed at the side of the car trying to get myself up.

I picked up my phone and dialed another number, "Yeah, I'm going out of town. Remember to feed Rex," and I hung up.

I got in the Nissan, flicked the garage button and at every rusty creak it reflected what I felt inside. Overburden and warn out. I put the car in drive and turned away from my home. Again.

TBC . . .