Chapter 4

Melanie PVO

Lula and I dropped Mr. Splatt off at the police station and getting my receipt we headed out. As we headed toward the Burg I phoned my parent's house and grandma answered. I asked her if mom had prepared lunch and if they had enough for Lula and me to join them.

"Sure come on over Melanie. We just got back from the hair salon. We are all dolled up. I decided to have a pink wash put on my hair today. I think the men will get excited when they see my new look." Grandma told us excitedly. I winced as I explained to her we were on our way and hung up handing my cell phone to Lula so she could put it back in my bag.

We pulled up to my parents and as usual grandma greeted us at the front door. The dining room table was already set for lunch. Mom had opened several packages of cold cuts and they were set on a platter along with containers of potato and macaroni salads, and for the sandwiches there were fresh rolls from the bakery. Yum! Grandma asked if we liked her new look. We agreed she sure looked sexy in pink hair. Mom just rolled her eyes, made the sign of the cross and laughed.

After we finished eating our lunch I dropped Lula back at the office. I decided to call and ask Ranger if I could come to Rangeman and run a background check on him and while there visit Ranger.

Taking my phone from my bag I hit speed dial #1.

"Babe." I heard Ranger's typical greeting when I call.

"May I come to Rangeman and run a file on a skip that I have?" I always tried to ask and to not just assume it was okay to use his resources when searching for my skips.

"Come on in to the office. Where are you now?"

"I am at the office right now. I just dropped off Lula and picked up my check. I will first run by the bank to make my deposit and then head your way. Thank you, Ranger."

"Babe." His way of saying good-bye.

Before heading to the bank I sat in my old beat up car, opened my file and read it one more time. John Moore had been arrested for armed robbery. He had entered Pino's Italian Restaurant just as the manager was closing the back door. He tied the employees up and locked them in the cooler. When the manager refused to open the safe he decided to just take the safe with him. Seems the police grabbed Moore coming out of Pino's with the safe in his hands. Guess he couldn't say he didn't do it now could he. He missed his court date and hasn't been seen since. He must not be from this area. Because if he was he would have known Pino's is a favorite of the police in Trenton.

I am so thankful Ranger lets me come to Rangeman and run these checks on my skips. It makes apprehending them so much easier. And I get to see Ranger, what more could I ask for?

After reviewing the file and returning it to my bag I headed out.

There wasn't much of a line at the bank's drive thru so I was able to finish my business there in 5 minutes. Heading on to Rangeman a clown ran out in front of my car. He jumped up and down and turned around mooned me then he continued to run across the street. I laughed and shook my head. Some people never learn.

"Unbelievable." I just shook my head laughing.

I pulled into the underground gated parking at Rangeman and parked in one of the 4 spots that were reserved for Ranger's personal use. As I exited my car I felt his strong arm encircle me and I took in the scent of his Bulgari Green aftershave. He pulled me in close to him and gently kissed me. It was a long and sensual kiss that I could get lost in. Thinking to myself I said, 'OMG! What am I getting myself into? Am I falling for this man? I barely know anything about him? OMG! Ranger Danger! Ranger Danger!' All the bells were going off in my head but I didn't care. I felt Ranger press me closer into him and I could feel how our kiss was affecting him. I knew all too well what it was doing to me. Ranger ended the kiss and looked deep into my eyes. His lips were showing a slight smile. He took my hand and we headed to the elevator and pressed 5 for the fifth floor. Ranger never said a word he just put his arm around my waist and held me close. I could feel his breath as he placed a kiss into my curls. As we exited the elevator on 5 we passed Hector and Bobby.

I gave them a shy hello and followed Ranger to his office. He asked to see the file I wanted to run a check on. I handed it over to him. He told me I could use the computer I did last time I was there. He asked to let him know what I found out about the skip when I was finished. I told him I would and decided to head over to the break area and grab a cup of coffee before starting on the file. I then went to 'my computer' and sat down and started running the name through the search programs. When the information popped up on the screen I just kept looking at it glad that I had come to Rangeman before going after the creep. This guy was wanted in Williamsburg, VA for assault with a deadly weapon. He was also wanted in Iowa for suspicion of murder. He had a long record with the law starting with dealing drugs, then stealing cars and just progressed over the years. I dug deeper into the suspicion of murder charges in Iowa. A woman was kidnapped, beaten, stabbed and buried alive. He thought she was dead and had tried to dispose of the body by burying her. Thank God someone became suspicious when they saw a man burying what looked like a body and phoned the police. By the time the police came to the scene they found the caller clawing at the dirt and holding a woman's head up so that she could breath. She was rushed to the hospital. She described John Moore and gave his name but the police were unable to find him.

"Wow, this guy is far more than what I want to deal with. I need to talk to Ranger." I picked up the folder knocked on Ranger's door and walked in. He looked up at me with those dark brown eyes.

My mother occasionally mentioned bedroom eyes when she would see someone who had a certain look but I could never figure out what she was talking about until I met Ranger.

Melanie thought 'Yep, bedroom eyes!' Ranger laughed.

"Oh, sorry did I say that out loud?" I was so embarrassed.

"I am afraid so Babe." Ranger smiled.

I handed him my folder and told him I think I was going to need his help with this guy. In fact I know I need his help.

Ranger read the file and looked up at me. "Babe, I don't want you to go after this guy. He is more dangerous than just robbing Pino's. If you don't mind I would like to give this to Tank and Lester to handle and let them bring him in for you." I started to protest. "Babe, don't even try, this guy is wanted for attempted murder. That leads me to believe this isn't his first time trying or actually killing someone. I know you are good at what you do but please let me help you and have the boys take this over." He came around his desk and pulled me up close to him. He whispered into my ear that I was everything to him and he could not take a chance on losing me. Then before I had a chance to say a word he kissed me.

Ranger looked at me and said: "don't be surprised Melanie, as you know I don't give my feelings away to just anyone. I am a private person, but I have no intention of losing you to anyone. The thought of anyone but me being involved with you brings my blood to a boil. Tell me you can feel the spark between us as I do."

All I could do was swallow hard and look into his eyes. They were so dark and intense I knew he was speaking the truth. "Ranger," he stopped me and asked me to call him Carlos. "Carlos, I do. I think I felt it the moment I saw you sitting in the diner all those months ago. But I was involved with Joe and you always said you didn't do relationships."

Ranger held my face in his hands and gently kissed me. "Babe in my line of work I have to be very careful because I have made many enemies who would hurt the people in my life to get to me. I have found it easier to protect the ones I love by loving them from a far. I can't do that with you. I want you Babe. I want more for us. I don't want to take a chance of losing you" and with that he kissed me again.

"Know that if you want a life with me, I will do anything and everything I have to as long as it keeps you safe. You have seen how effective the trackers I put in your purse and on your cars have been. Know that I would like to have one of the guys partner with you whenever you pick up your skips. Lula is sweet but she adds nothing towards your protection. I would like to add a couple of more requests. One, I want to train you in self-defense so that you will be more confident while you are out in the field. Second, you spend some time downstairs in the range each week so that you become comfortable shooting and carrying your gun. I won't allow you to be a victim because of my past."

I swallowed hard. This was all unexpected and life changing for me. I hate carrying my gun. So far I have killed 3 people in the line of duty as a bond enforcement agent and I have nightmares all the time about them. The self-defense training would be great. I would then be able to handle the jerks that have tried to rough me up when I have attempted to capture them. That sure would be a plus. Hmm, I would need to tell Lula and I don't think she will be too happy being left to do just filing but having one of the guys along with me wouldn't be so bad. I looked up at Carlos asking, "So I will have to practice shooting my gun and carry it with me? You know I don't like guns but I understand your concerns and my answer is yes, I will do whatever you feel best." I wanted to say "I love you and want a life with you but I held that back for now." But I was thinking 'soon' I would be able to tell him.

Thanks for reading!