Thank you for your continued wonderful comments. Hope you continue to enjoy the ride :o)
"What the fuck?" Damian Vickers gasped as he looked at the prostrate form of Himinez who was face down with his pants round his ankles. He toed him over and gulped heavily as he saw the copious amounts of blood which had seeped up the front of his t-shirt, across the exposed parts of his thighs and over the floor. Then he noticed the cuffs securing him to the pipe work. He looked round in confusion trying to work out what the hell had happened. Himinez was many things but stupid was not one of them.
"Luca, I've found Himinez but there's no sign of Miss Plum, she must be hiding, go find her" he said quietly to the shadow standing by the door.
Luca Ollens grunted in response and turned his 6' bulky body round and out the door he was surprisingly nimbly for a man of his girth which was a fact that he often used to his advantage.
Vickers could hear his partner going through the three bedrooms, searching, then he turned his attention back to Himinez. He crouched down to get a closer look at him, pushing up his shirt in morbid fascination. A smile started to form on his lips as he stared. Himinez was going to have one hell of a sore dick judging by the bruises that were starting to form on and around it made by a bloodied watch strap that was somehow attached to his now flaccid cock. He'd also sport a very interesting scar from where his sac had been split by some sort of blunt instrument. It was obvious that this was where the blood was from as it was now starting to dry in sticky clumps. He smiled again. He'd heard Manoso's woman had one hell of a temper and here was living proof.
Vickers reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, took a couple of photos for posterity then called to update his boss. He turned away from 'the scene of the crime' and set off after Ollens to hunt for the woman they'd been sent over to collect.
Now, where could she be?
"Come out, come out wherever you are..." he sing- songed softly as he went downstairs in search of his prey.
o0o0o0o0o
Ranger sprinted through Bobby's consulting room, quickly navigating past the shiny white desk with its quirky steel anglepoise lamp and black leather chair and straight through into the examination room. He found Bobby, covered in vomit, attempting to comfort Tank who was softly sobbing in his arms.
Ranger slowed to an almost stop as he took in his surroundings then silently walked past a shelf from which he swiped some wet ones, the smell of Tanks' despair getting stronger and more violent as he moved towards the bed. He gently cleared his throat as he reached the two men. Bobby looked up in surprise. He'd obviously been unaware of Ranger's presence, his focus being solely on his charge.
"Go clean up, Bobby, you stink." He said gently as he extended his hand, wipes at the ready and offered to take control of Tank's grieving body. Bobby nodded in relief as he slipped out of Tank's grasp.
As Bobby turned to leave the room, gently pulling Lester and Woody with him, he glanced back to see Ranger stroking Tank's bald head and whispering soft words in a language he couldn't quite hear.
o0o0o0o0o
Steph knew by the movement above her head that there were two men searching the first floor. As the information sunk into her brain boots started to race down the stairs and she knew it wouldn't be long before she was found.
Her thoughts wandered back through the day, how had it gone so wrong? Twelve hours ago Lula was still alive, Khan was just another FTA and she'd be planning what to say to seduce Ranger at the party that right now she should be primping herself for. She shivered and wrapped her arms round her torso as a tear sneaked down her cheek.
Ranger, what was he doing now, she wondered. She imagined he was probably tearing himself in half – half playing the supportive friend, half Batman the superhero. Her superhero.
When and if this was all over would they, could they get their act together? Who knew, but right now was not the time think about it, she needed to channel her superhero's inner strength.
She searched for something to use as a weapon that would hold the potential attackers off until the cavalry arrived.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Vickers took the kitchen and Ollens the hallway and lounge, both men searching quickly and efficiently.
"Are you alright?" Vickers yelled out, changing tactic "Miss Plum, we've been sent to help you by Mr Manoso, we're contract workers who were in the area. Are you ok? Please come out so we can take you to him." His voice reasoned. "Nice job on Himinez, by the way." He said chuckling for effect.
Steph knew she should stay put. Ranger had told her Hector was on his way, but perhaps in her adrenalin and fear riddled state she'd misheard him, after all, the voice seemed honest and trustworthy. Her head tried to stop her but her heart ached for comfort and security so her feet tentatively led her out of her hiding place. As she stepped out into the kitchen she grabbed a broom from just inside the door and held it out in front of her, keeping its stiff red plastic bristles between her and the man's voice.
Vickers started to make his way over to her, arms out wide to show he meant no harm, but Steph did not lower her guard and kept the head of the broom pointed right at him. She didn't see Ollens sneaking up behind her nor Hector's eyes glancing through a small window pane at the bottom of the back door.
"Don't be afraid, Sweetheart" Vickers said as he drifted carefully towards her. Ollens was tiptoeing up and was only inches away from her when the doorbell rang.
"What the fuck?" Vickers ground out, all pretence at being a nice guy vanishing before Steph's eyes.
"Get that Luca, will ya?" he nodded to the man who had nearly reached Steph. She whirled round her broom making a whooshing sound as she did so, only to see the back of a man as he disappeared round the corner and back down the hall. She turned back again but wasn't quick enough as Vickers grabbed her from behind and wrapped an arm round her neck, securing her in the crook of his elbow. The other arm snaked round her waist effectively pinning her to him. The broom clattered loudly to the floor as Vickers closed his elbow forcing her head back into his shoulder.
"Make a sound and I'll break your pretty neck." Vickers hissed into her ear. He took a deep sniff, burying his nose in her hair. "Niiice smell, Miss Plum. Another reason why Mr Manoso obviously likes to keep you for himself." He added, nudging her ear with his nose as he tightened his grip.
What's with these weirdos and the smell thing? Steph thought. It was not as if she's used perfume today. As far as she was concerned she must smell pretty horrible. She had death cooties, Lula's blood and Himinez's saliva rubbed all over. At least this new guy's breath doesn't stink, Steph thought as her grip on reality started to slide away from her. She closed her eyes and tried not to giggle as hysteria threatened to dance round the edges of her mind.
Channel Ranger's inner strength, she thought. Batman...
Steph was suddenly jerked back to reality when the simple, quiet creaking sound of the front door being opened was quickly replaced with a cacophony of chaos. Steph could hear the sounds of a fight and hoped that this was the cavalry, not another faction of the Let's Kidnap Stephanie Plum Club.
Vickers, realising what was happening, began to slide backwards towards the kitchen door, reaching behind himself with the arm that had been snaked round Steph's waist as he groped for the handle. He couldn't seem to find it so his movements got more exaggerated and his grip round Steph's neck loosened slightly. Sensing his distraction, Steph started to struggle and even managed to land a well placed kick to his shin. Vickers grunted in pain and Steph saw stars as he tightened his grip round her neck.
"You look for this, eh?" Steph heard Hector ask happily in his heavy Spanish accent as he hit Vickers smartly on the back of his head with the solid, round brass door knob that only minutes earlier had prevented Steph from escaping.
Vickers grunted, went limp then collapsed to the floor, dragging Steph with him. She let out a groan of pain as her body was twisted, pulling on all the bruises she'd gained earlier, and she landed on top of him.
Hector quickly pulled her up and righted her.
"You OK, Stephanie?" he asked quickly appraising her beaten and battered face. She gave him a watery smile and nodded as tears of relief began to slip down her cheeks and she buried herself into his strong embrace.
o0o0o0o0o
"So, Pierre, what's the plan?" Ranger asked as he sat on the black leather swivel chair he'd pulled from Bobby's outer room a few minutes earlier, his eyes firmly fixed on Tank's.
"I need to see her. I know she's gone man. She came to say goodbye and to ask me to do something really important. Well, actually two things..."
Ranger raised an eyebrow and waited for Tank to continue.
"I know you're gonna think I've lost it, but she came to make me a promise. She promised she'd find me someone to love, someday. Soon? Perhaps. Eventually? Absolutely..." He repositioned himself so that he could lean his back against the wall and sighed deeply whilst he looked up at the ceiling and struggled to regain control. He pulled one leg up to his chest and wrapped his arms round it and once again he began to study the sterile white tiles above him until he sensed his voice was strong enough to continue without trembling.
"...but I needed to do something for her. She told me I needed to save Bomber. I guess I can't help with the rescue..." his voice trailed off as he angled his head to look straight into his best friend's eyes, a silent understanding passed between them.
"...but I can help her in other ways. Ric, don't let what's just happened to my life destroy the chance of happiness that you could have with Steph. You know how much she cares about you and I know the feeling is mutual. If I could have prevented what happened today I would have, but not if it meant that I never got to love my woman. I'd never lived before I met Lula. She was my life and made me understand that I was worth loving. Someday I'll share that love with another woman – it was her parting wish that one day I find someone else and I plan to honour her by keeping my promise. Christ! I hurt right now but every bit of love we shared will make the pain more bearable. Our time was too short but I've had an incredible ride and I wouldn't swap it for the world. Don't destroy your chance happiness before you've even tried it."
Tank looked at Ranger and could see the blank face descending. "Do it for me, please. The most important thing you can do in this world is give and receive love. Lula taught me that. Don't let your chance die just because of what's happened today." He grabbed Ranger's hand and squeezed it hard between his own, hoping to persuade the man in front of him who was rapidly shutting down.
"What is your fucking problem, man?" Tank hissed in desperation. "What have you got to lose? Bomber's so much more than just a friend. She's really grown up recently and she's taking her life seriously and it shows. She deserves more than you walking off into the distance."
Ranger looked blankly back at him "you finished?" he asked before standing up and turning to leave.
"Never had you down for a coward." Tank ground out as Ranger headed out of the door, shutting it behind him click that echoed round the room.
Tank smacked his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. "Honey, I know you can hear me but by Christ that man's an idiot and I don't know what else to do, help me, please." He whispered to the silence.