Chapter 7

Zeke stared at the ceiling as he laid in bed. He had fallen back asleep after he entered the apartment. Four hours. Four hours without a dream. A rarity. One he thanked his mother for. At least for today. He laid there with his thoughts about what she had told him.

So she was my age now when she had gotten pregnant. A party. Drunk, and at a party. Zeke thought. There goes my dream that it was a boyfriend. She doesn't even remember.

He had been disappointed. He had hoped that she would have remembered. Life hadn't been fair or kind to him. If she had remembered it would have been too easy. Nothing worth having in life had ever come easy. Why he had imagined it would have been that easy for her to have remembered his father; he didn't know? A dream of the family with a father was lost now. Gone. He knew it was better to let that dream go. The disappointment would fade away like smoke from a fire that smoldered. He accepted it, because he knew it would be better for him than whilst away trying to catch something that elusive.

He may not have the nuclear family that he longed for. He did have a mother who accepted him. Zeke was sure of this. Her touch had been soft, caring, and she soothed some of the wounds he had about feeling abandoned. This was the hardest part he didn't understand. A big heart is what his mother had. Zeke had seen it in her eyes. So the letter she had written, made some sense. He had been a mistake, a stupid mistake while growing up. He knew he couldn't have handled a child at the age he was now. However, she had parents she had lived with. Why couldn't his mother had gone to them? He wanted to understand it all, needed to understand it all. Because he wanted to stay around for awhile, to get to know his mother.

Zeke had more reasons now for not letting the Butlers get to his mother. She had been worth finding. Telling her about the folder had been hard. That had been a mistake that he deeply regretted that had happened. The Butlers along with their flock would be headed this way.

He couldn't speak about what his life had been like anymore today. It had been ingrained inside him not to speak about it. Outsiders of the flock were not to know. He was already fighting the fear and guilt of what little he had said. Even if it hadn't been all that much. He knew his mother would need the information. There was one major problem, giving out information would implicate him as well for the murders that had already happened. It wasn't like he could sit down over dinner and tell her he was a serial killer. That one had beaten him into becoming one. Things would have to be told slowly Zeke reasoned; it was the best way. The way he would be able to cope with what his life had been like. He hoped after all of that, his mother would still want him.


Ranger sat with Stephanie at the dining room table in his apartment. His right elbow rested on the table, and his head rested on his right hand as he propped himself up. He watched as she worked her way through another pint of Ben & Jerry's. His eyes glanced over to the two pint cartons that lay empty on the table. His freezer held several more of these little containers. Lester had gone after them. Several of his men knew exactly what Stephanie ate. So did he, for that matter.

"You hadn't been able to find anything on him at all?" Stephanie asked.

"Nothing, Babe. I showed you the file." Ranger told her. "Nothing with Butler. Chet is running a search on the private investigator he hired in Texas. We need to find out what all that PI put in the folder, since he can't remember everything."

The spoon along with the third empty ice cream pint was pushed away by Stephanie. Ranger was happy to see that. The last time Stephanie had kept the spoon in her mouth and headed for the freezer for another.

"Zeke said they would kill me, and don't go home." Stephanie said.

Ranger growled protectively. "Not around me they won't. I think he's right, Babe. He knows them better than we do."

Stephanie looked at him and smiled. Ranger loved seeing that smile on her face. He reached over with his free hand that had been resting on the table and caressed her cheek.

"Do I tell Peterson my caller has been identified?" Stephanie asked.

"No. We want to keep the trace on the phone." Ranger said. Ranger also didn't want the authorities involved - where Zeke was concerned. He was minor who had been abused, and the authorities would only want to take him away for questioning, and Ranger felt the timing on this was not right. Zeke had very little trust in people, and Ranger wanted to make sure that boy could trust him as well as Stephanie before the need to involve the authorities in his life.

He watched as Stephanie let out a relieved sigh.

"There is no reason to worry, Babe. No one is going to find out about him being your son until you, and he are ready for it. Do you want to stay here? Or am I staying at your place with you?" Ranger asked her.

"Here." Stephanie said. "My place is too accessible. I also need to talk to Mary Lou."

Ranger grinned. "I think that would be wise. After all, she helped keep your little secret."

Ranger stood and offered his hand to her. Stephanie took it, and he pulled her into a hug.

"My secret is not so little anymore." Stephanie joked.

Ranger kissed the top of her head. "Almost grown. Right now, he is safe, downstairs, in the apartment across from Tank's."


On the way to her apartment, Stephanie called Mary Lou. She waited for Mary Lou to call her back when she was alone, and they wouldn't be interrupted. Stephanie and Ranger made into her bedroom when the call came. It was the only one she was answering on her cell phone.

"What is so important?" Mary Lou asked.

Stephanie sat down on the edge of her bed. "Are you absolutely sure no one else is around and can hear you?"

"Yes. Lenny had a vacation day. I got him to take the kids to McDonald's. I'm alone in the house. What is it?"

"He showed up." Stephanie said.

"He? He who?" Mary Lou asked.

"Sixteen years old. He has long, black wavy hair. He has my eyes."

That was far as Stephanie got. Mary Lou screamed on the other end. Stephanie watched Ranger go into her closet and started removing clothes which he placed inside a basket. Her dirty laundry Ranger placed inside a garbage bag he had retrieved from the kitchen.

"Omi-God! Oh God, Stephanie. Has anyone seen him other than you?" Mary Lou asked.

"Connie has, but he had his hair covering his face. Ranger and his men, he's staying in Ranger's building. Mary Lou he looks so much like me." Stephanie said as she flopped back on the bed.

"Omi-God! Omi-God!" Mary Lou said in a panic. "We are in so much trouble. Have you told your parents yet?"

Stephanie groaned. "No. I haven't told my parents. Are you kidding me?"

"Stephanie, you have to tell them something. When someone finally notices him. Oh God. I am so glad I don't live at home anymore." Mary Lou said.

"No grounding till I'm thirty. That was always the threat." Stephanie laughed when she heard the chuckle from Ranger as he emptied some of the drawers in her dresser.

"Like that ever stopped you." Mary Lou laughed. "Serious time now. Spill it, what all do you know about him?"

Stephanie felt a lot better. Mary Lou had been a great listener; she always had been. She confessed to Mary Lou that Zeke had been her hang up caller, what he looked like, that he could sing and play the guitar. Telling her about him being hurt was the hardest because she didn't know how bad it had been. She was in tears over the phone again. Ranger was beside her on the bed wiping her eyes as she confessed to her best friend.

"Oh Steph." Mary Lou said choked up as well. "Oh shit, I have to go. Lenny is home with the kids. Call me sweetie. We'll figure something out."

Mary Lou hung up. Stephanie shut the cell phone off and went into Ranger's arms as he pulled her close to him. Between Ranger and her best friend, Stephanie knew she was in good hands. Mary Lou had never abandoned her even when things had gotten bad. She knew the meaning of true friendship, and she knew the man, who held her, would never abandon her either. It was something she felt, deep down, inside her.


Zeke finally got up. For one, he was tired of staring at the ceiling. And another, he had thought everything out about not knowing who is father would ever be. Sure it was a disappointing. But, the way his mother was made up for it. He wouldn't have to worry about not being accepted by a father, not measuring up to what the man wanted him to be. He had already been beaten enough by one man, that in all honesty, he was alright with it. No expectations. That alone helped. Jeff had tried to turn him into a sick twisted cannibalistic killer. So having no expectations put on him at all was rather a relief.

His stomach growled. He hadn't eaten lunch. Zeke realized he slept through that. He decided it was time to show his face again. At least were food was concerned. Once he opened the door to his apartment that led into the hall he stopped and couldn't go any further. His exit had been blocked.

Zeke looked down at the baskets. He narrowed his eyes. One, was the number he had left in the hall for his clothes to be washed in. He now had three in front of his door. Sitting on the top of them was a pair of new trainers, and note curled in one of the shoes. He reached out and uncurled the note and read it.

Zeke,

Two days worth of clothes? This won't do at all. All my boys have clothes. Enough for two weeks. I want to see a healthy size load of clothes on the next laundry day young man. My boys know this. Now you do too.

I normally am shopping for men. I had so much fun getting all of this for you. So don't go breaking an old woman's heart, trying to give it back, because it won't fit anyone else around here other than you. Black is the usual flare around here, but I added some colors for you. You don't work here, so I had fun.

Love,

Mamá Ella

Zeke reread the note. He had planned on getting more clothes after he had settled into a place here. He looked back down at the three baskets. Tags already removed; they were washed and ready to wear, an amount of clothes that he hadn't owned in quite awhile. The bare essentials had been taken when he left. A sense of being nurtured overwhelmed him. This was something he hadn't expected, not so quickly, it felt great, but at the same time, it scared him, not having known it. He pulled the baskets inside the apartment.

He found his old clothes in the basket at the bottom. Zeke found little notes pinned to his old clothes advising him to toss anything with holes in them. Which was pretty much most of what he had. His band t-shirts he wasn't about to get rid of. All of his old socks and boxers that had holes, he tossed quickly, along with the old tennis shoes he had on. Seeing as he had two weeks worth of those now, other than the shoes. He never had silk clothes before and the soft feel of them was quite nice. He took his new horde of clothes and put them up. At the bottom of each basket, there was a little treat, they were in zip lock bags. Homemade cookies from what he could tell, oatmeal, chocolate chip, and sugar. He so wondered if the guys got treats in the bottom of their baskets when they unloaded their clothes.

Zeke changed clothes. The feel of everything being new was quite enjoyable. Everything fit rather nicely too. The jeans were black, the t-shirt he put on had Pink Panther in lighter shades of grey to white with a derby hat on, his shades were pink, and the capital P was as well that hung around his neck from a chain. The shirt was pretty cool. He went to go eat.


Ranger and Stephanie made it back to his apartment. He had called Ella on the way. Half the clothes they brought needed to be washed. Ella met them in the hallway on the seventh floor.

"I have the receipts for what was purchased today." Ella told him.

"How much did you end up spending?" Ranger asked as he ran the key fob over the access panel by his door so it would open. He was carrying Rex's cage in one arm while Stephanie had her cookie jar and one bag of dirty laundry.

"Over two grand." Ella said with gleefulness as she opened the door for them.

Ranger gave her a look as he passed her.

I bet she had fun while she was shopping too. She probably put him in designer clothes. I wouldn't put it past her. Ranger thought as he walked inside his apartment.

His apartment décor was done by Ella. He lived well because of this woman right here. She had an exquisite taste and when it came to shopping; he trusted her judgment. His furnished apartment fit him rather well; it was masculine while not being overbearing. Furnished in contemporary pieces that were comfortable with clean lines all done in earth tones. He dropped his keys in the silver tray that sat on the sideboard in the entrance hall. He would look at his mail that was there later as he made his way into the kitchen to deposit Rex's cage into his new surroundings.

Ranger loved the open-floor-plan of the living room and the dining room with his small state-of-the-art kitchen. He sat Rex next on the black granite counter next to the stainless steel icebox.

"Hand them over." Ranger told Ella.

She handed him the receipts.

"The bag of clothes Stephanie has is her dirty laundry." He told Ella as he started tallying the receipts from different stores.

"You mean you kept it under three grand," Ranger said.

From his rough calculations, Stephanie's son would be walking around dressed well for a teenager. He would have no problems fitting in with any social elitist teens in the city.

Ella smiled. "It was close to it. I put him in designer clothes. I already had half the purchases made by the time Marcus called me and told me he was Stephanie's son. I'll go ahead and take these and get them washed."

Ranger heard the sputter from Stephanie, and he looked up. Ella already had the bag of laundry in her hands and was heading back out of the apartment.

"You spent that much on clothes for my son?" She asked Ranger.

"Babe," Ranger said. He went to Stephanie and cupped her face in his hands.

"He only had a backpack. When he came in; he had two, maybe three days worth of clothes tops. His basic needs have to be met. I decided on all of this when he arrived. Before I even knew he was your son."

"But that much on clothes?" Stephanie asked.

"That was all Ella. I give her the card, and she goes. I trust her judgment. Like I trust yours. I bet he'll look good in those clothes. Ella was rather happy about it." He put his forehead to hers. "Next shopping spree for Zeke is all your's, Babe."


Stephanie didn't fret over it too much, after all. Ranger would do what he wanted. It was only clothes, not like it was the amount of money; she had cost him on cars. Ranger had checked in with the control room and found out that Zeke had finally come out of the apartment. Stephanie knew he had missed lunch, that had worried her, at least he was eating dinner. They headed down to five to go eat as well, opting not to stay in the apartment tonight.

When they walked in, the first thing, Stephanie noticed was Zeke was indeed in new clothes. He didn't look like the street grunge teen anymore that he had been dressed like earlier. Not that he looked bad then, Stephanie reasoned. His jeans had holes and his tennis shoes were well worn, more so than what her clothes were. He looked better. Stephanie could see the designer jeans and shoes. Ella put him in RockStar biker jeans, that fit him well. Stephanie had to admit - Ella had good taste. It was the t-shirt; he wore that had Stephanie smirking. It held a little bit of pink in it, something she would have never dreamed seeing inside the RangeMan building.

She turned and looked at Ranger, who paid for the shirt. Ranger was shaking his head. "She knows I don't like pink." He whispered softly.

Stephanie smiled and moved closer so she was right in front of him almost touching him. "Maybe I'll have to change your mind about that color." She whispered.

Pink lingerie might do the trick. Stephanie thought.

She felt Ranger put his arm around her as he pulled her flush to his body.

"As long as my men and I aren't wearing it. I have to maintain my image here." Ranger said as he kissed her.

As far as Stephanie was concerned, she felt pretty certain all of Ranger's crew could be placed in pink camouflage, and people still wouldn't cross them. But she wasn't about to tell him that.

"The pink panther is cool. I can hardly see how that would destroy your image." Stephanie said as she kissed him near his ear.

She heard the slight growl Ranger gave in her ear. "At least the t-shirt is mainly black."


Zeke sat down at one of the tables. The dinner he didn't mind seeing at all tonight. It was Pasta Primavera, garden salad, garlic bread, and roasted chicken breasts. His mouth watered from the smell of it. He was in food heaven from the first bite.

He had noticed his mother, and Ranger walk in and now both were embraced and didn't seem to be worried about anyone around them at all. One thing he could tell was his mother seemed very happy with the man holding her. Since this man appeared to be different and had a small bit of his trust, he guessed he could try to get to know him since his mother liked him so much.

His mother and Ranger joined him at the table he was at. Zeke glanced at both of them not quite sure what to talk about at all. After the first bite of food his mother moaned. The food was good, better than what he had ever eaten. It was like his mother was totally lost in the food while she was eating. He looked at Ranger, who a smirk going on the corners of his mouth.

"Does she always do this while she's eating?" Zeke asked him.

Ranger smiled at him. "Every time I've eaten with her."

"I can't help it. I love food." Stephanie said. "Besides Ella is a great cook."

Zeke could understand that, everything he had eaten so far here had been good. "I agree. It's great." Zeke said.

He went back to eating. It was a little awkward. He looked back up at her.

"So, I, uh.." Zeke started then swallowed. "I know you didn't keep me. What about your parents? Did they even know?"

His mother groaned. He watched as Ranger put his hand on his mother's back. Zeke could tell he was soothing his mother. Hopefully, she would be able to tell him. He picked up a piece of garlic bread and started eating while he waited patiently for the answers.

"My parents didn't know." Stephanie said. "I couldn't tell them. The only person that knew was Mary Lou, my best friend."

"I don't understand." Zeke said. "How could they not know about you giving birth?"

He listened to the elaborate way, his mother and her best friend set everything up, so she could give birth without anyone finding out. It was hard to fathom the lengths she had gone, and it had worked.

"What would have happened if you told your parents?" Zeke asked her. He couldn't see them being worse than the Butlers.

His mother sat back in her chair. Ranger had his arm around Stephanie now. All three of them had finished eating. Zeke listened as his mother explained the expectations of her parents. How she was supposed to be like her older sister Valerie. He realized his aunt Valerie was the favored daughter. His aunt appeared to be the perfect daughter and couldn't do anything wrong. From the sound of it, his mother had been in one accident after another growing up and trouble always seemed to find her. Then she informed him about all the Burg expectations. The perfect world of the Burg where everyone knew what everyone else did. From the sounds of it, his mother was discussed the most.

"They would have killed me." Stephanie said. "Well, maybe not actually killed me. But, it would have been bad. Single parents in the Burg come from divorce or one of the parents in jail. Not a child born out of wedlock."

Zeke drank the rest of his water; he had and looked at his mother. "What about now? Is it still like that?"

Stephanie nodded. "Bridget Santini had a child out of wedlock a few years ago. It wasn't pretty. Her family disowned her and she had to move away, because of the pressure from the Burg housewives. Last I heard, her parents won't have anything to do with her anymore, still. She's in Atlantic City, her little girl is now five, and Bridget turned twenty-one not long ago."

"That's fucked up." Zeke said.

Stephanie sighed. "I agree."

"Would your parents do that to you?" Zeke asked.

He watched as his mother shrugged. "I'm not sure what exactly my parents would do. My father would love to have a grandson finally. While my mother would be angry and demand I be married within twenty-four hours to your father."

"That's impossible since you don't know who he is." Zeke said.

"Exactly."

Zeke looked at her. "Are you going to tell them about me?"

His mother reached across the table and caressed his face. "As soon as I figure out the best way to tell them. Yes, I plan on telling them."


Tank held the containers of homemade chicken soup that Ella made for him to take to Lula. He knew the way the Burg was. All the guys knew. He also knew for certain, none of them would ever leave Stephanie's side because she had given birth to a boy out of wedlock. Stephanie had become Lula's best friend. As far as that was concerned. Lula had become better off knowing Stephanie. Stephanie had been a really positive influence in her life. Tank knew, Stephanie needed all the support she could get.

He unlocked the door to her apartment and went inside and reset the code beside the door. The alarms she had now in her apartment had been set up by RangeMan. He had been seeing Lula for awhile now. He found her in her bedroom propped up in bed watching movies on the flat screen he had bought her a few weeks ago.

"How's my Baby feeling?" Tank asked.

"Better, now that you're here." Lula said.

Tank smiled at her. He had been checking up on her since late last night. She had some type of stomach virus, but the worst of it had passed now. He sat on the side of her bed adjusted the containers to one arm and then reached over and caressed her cheek.

"I brought you some chicken soup." Tank told her.

"You be takin' good care of me." Lula told him.

"Let me make you a bowl, and I'll put the rest in the icebox. You'll have plenty for tomorrow."

He went to the kitchen and set up the bowl of soup for her and went back to the bedroom. Tank came back and got in bed beside her. They watched a movie while she ate, and he snuggled with the woman that was now in his life. After the movie and she had her fill of soup; he turned down the television.

"I have something to tell you. You can't tell anyone at all." Tank told her.

"What is it?" Lula asked as she looked up at him from his shoulder.

"You have to promise me Baby."

"I promise. Now what is it?"

He kissed her forehead. "Stephanie has a son."

"What?" Lula sat up. "You be tryin' to pull somethin' on me."

Tank shook his head. "I'm not."

"You best tell me and wait till I get a hold of her." Lula said.

Tank pulled Lula back into his arms. "He is sixteen years old. His name is Ezekiel Butler. He has Stephanie's eyes, long black wavy hair, and mocha latte skin tone. Hal and Roy picked him up in Memphis. When you meet him Baby, you need to be careful around him."

"Why?" Lula asked.

"He's been abused."

He watched as the flash of anger flared into her eyes, and she said a few choice words. Tank put a finger on her lips.

"Calm down. Ranger will help him. We have helped plenty of experience with abused teens. And his mother right now he is allowing her to comfort him. Stephanie is going to need someone by her side. You know how the Burg is. She's going to need every friend she has in her corner once this gets out." Tank told her.

"I wouldn't turn against her like the Burg will. They will be talkin' about her. Connie hasn't called so no one must know that he's here yet."

"No one other than RangeMan and now you." Tank said.

"I need to call that woman." Lula said.

Tank held her tighter. "No. Not right now. Let her call you. You aren't supposed to know till she's ready. And you promised. Wait until she tells you."


Ranger walked into the conference room early the next morning. Chet was there with several files spread out on the table.

"What did you find out from the PI?" Ranger asked him.

"The man is out of the country. Which one he is in, I'm not sure at the moment." Chet said.

"What?" Ranger asked.

Ranger watched as Chet turned to him. "He's a crafty old dog, but I'll find him. His files are on the table."

Ranger walked to the table and opened the first folder. Judson Andrew Walker, age fifty-five, private investigator for five years after a twenty-five year stint with the US Texas Marshal office. The man had experience in creating new identification and moving people. This made sense why the documentation that Zeke had was able to go through the courts for the emancipation. The man probably used his connections in his old office to make things happen. The more he read, the more he liked. He had been shot five times, it was fifth time while guarding a person in hiding that he finally left the Marshal's office.

Ranger looked at Chet. "We have to find a man who was paid to keep people hidden and alive."

Chet looked up at grinned at him. "It'll be a challenge. I have confirmed he is not in Canada."

Ranger shook his head.

"He laid quite a few trails," Chet said. "This man is running. He has to be. For the last five months."

"Five months?" Ranger asked.

Chet nodded. "I called yesterday to the agency he was working with. The two guys he partnered with don't know where he is. He took off five months ago. And for the last five months Judson had Ezekiel watched and guarded till he got his emancipation and left the state. I found that out from the owner of the PI agency. All the records that had dealt with Ezekiel was taken out of the office. Judson took everything when he left."

Ranger shut the file. None of what Chet told him sounded well.

"Did they say why he did that?" Ranger asked.

"I asked. They don't know. They did say that Judson was afraid, but he would never tell them what he knew. They said he was afraid of what he found. Also, they've never known Judson to walk away from a fight."

Ranger placed both hands on the table as he leaned on them.

US Marshal's hunt down fugitives. They hide people under the witness protection programs. They guard people till they testify against the gang leaders, drug dealers, gun runners, the mob. Whatever this man found was worse than what he had been doing for twenty-five years of his life. That does not bode well. Ranger thought.

"Find him. Whatever he knows we need. We have a teenager who doesn't talk." Ranger looked at Chet. "Right now, I want you working on nothing else but finding this man."