Disclaimer: Janet Evanovich owns the rights to the following characters. This story is only intended as artistic exercise. I am in no way profiting financially from it.
Warning: This story is intended for adult readers only; contains graphic violent content, mature themes and adult language.
This is a Babe story, and will have and eventual Babe HEA.
Breaking of Souls
Chapter 7: Memoirs of a Stalker
Ranger raised Stephanie's wrists to his lips, placing a kiss to each of her freshly bandaged wounds. She lay asleep in his arms with her face burrowed snuggly into his chest. He traced the delicate lines of her profile, each feature sculpted to perfection in his eyes. He was thankful that her physical injuries were relatively minor; however, he knew that her emotional scars would take much longer to heal.
The Morris County Sheriff sauntered over to Ranger, his smug arrogance radiating from him, "Well… my boys are all finished up at the Jackson's place. Between the fingerprints, blood and hair samples, handwriting verification and saliva samples, this guy doesn't have a chance in hell of acquittal… should make for a pretty cut and dry trial once we bring him in to custody." He drawled on confidently, shoving his hands into his pockets and rocking back onto his heels.
Ranger nodded indulgently at the self inflated man, his words falling on deaf ears. Derek Cain's fate was sealed the moment that he laid eyes on his Babe; and his sentence would not be delivered by a judge and jury.
Clearly disappointed in Ranger's lack of praise, the Sheriff waltzed off, spreading his bravado elsewhere.
Agent Nielsen walked into the storage room, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve as he approached Ranger; clutching Cain's diary in his hand. He looked down at Stephanie's sleeping form, his eyes revealing his concern.
"Mr. Manoso, I wanted to update you on the information I've received about our perpetrator so far. His name is Derek Alan Cain, thirty two years of age, born January 3rd, 1977, to Alan and Sandra Cain. Little is known about his adolescent years, other than the fact that he was branded early on in his childhood as loner. He scored near genius levels on his college entry exams, landing him a full ride scholarship to Princeton University. However, his scholarship was revoked six months into his first semester when his literature teacher filed harassment charges against him for sending her threatening, sexually explicit love letters. The police report stated that Cain was aloof and unrepentant during his questioning. Since then he has had a string of manual labor jobs, the longest length of employment being eighteen months. He is currently working for Flint Ridge Energy as a roughneck on an oil rig just outside of Trenton. I spoke with his employer regarding Mr. Cain's whereabouts; he stated that he has taken a personal leave of absence, helping to transition his new WIFE into married life."
Ranger's hands tightened possessively around Stephanie at the word.
"I'd also like to speak with you about what I've just read in his journal… the content is… well, let's just say that it's beyond disturbing." Ranger's eyes snapped up to lock with Agent Nielson's, nodding for him to continue.
"In my twenty years as a profiler, I have never seen such an extreme case of morbid obsession. It is clear that Mr. Cain is indeed an Erotomaniac. He also exhibits signs of necrophilia, an intense sexual fascination with death. Be aware that he will not be deterred by personal threats or legal sanctions. He will only view this as another obstacle for him to overcome on her behalf. Even if he were to be detained and treated, people with this level of psychosis do not respond well to clinical rehabilitation. I believe now that Miss Plum has rejected him, his intentions will be to eliminate you as an obstacle and "free" Miss Plum, either through his eternal devotion to her or by granting her death by his hand. You, yourself are in serious danger. I believe that he will see you as his biggest obstacle and the source of Miss Plum's resistance towards him. His actions will be persistent, unexpected and dangerous .Initially he may revert back to his previous state of little contact; he may even attempt to contact her, seeking reconciliation. Do not let your guard down if time passes without any incident or sighting of him. He will not be discouraged by time or distance. He will try to catch you off guard, lulling you into the belief that he has lost interest in her. Take great care with your own personal safety, as well as hers… I do not believe the outcome of this situation will be a pleasant one."
Agent Neilson looked around furtively, stepping closer to Ranger and lowering his voice; "Off the record, this man WILL kill her… and you, before he is willing to face rejection and accept his own powerlessness," He paused, weighing his words carefully. "Ten years ago my daughter ended an abusive relationship with a man that she was engaged to marry. He refused to accept her decision, sending her cards and roses, showing up at her work and in places that she frequented, desperately trying to rekindle their relationship. When she resisted his advances he became aggressive and began stalking her. She played everything by the book. She took out a restraining order against him and installed a security system in her home. She even went as far as taking self defense classes and purchasing a hand gun. He showed up at her house on her twenty fifth birthday with a gift. When…" He swallowed roughly before continuing, "When she refused to open the present, he shot and killed her, right there on her front porch steps." He paused, his face twisting with pain. "She was still warm when my wife and I found her there… instead of celebrating my daughter's birth, I mourned her death."
He looked into Ranger's eyes, willing him to understand, "If I could go back in time, I would take ANY measure necessary to save my daughter. I put my faith in the legal system to protect her… and I will regret that decision for the rest of my life."
Ranger was filled sympathy and respect for the man before him; for his courage in sharing his heart breaking story, in the hope of preventing a similar tragedy. The intense sorrow exuding from him made Ranger unconsciously recoil away from him; praying that he would never carry this man's burden. Ranger nodded, extending his hand to Agent Nielson. "Thank you. I will keep her safe. There is no limit to what I would do in order to protect her."
Agent Nielson accepted Ranger's offered hand, "Good, because I fear those limits are about to be tested." He placed Cain's diary back into Ranger's hand, and turned to walk out of the door. He paused at the threshold, not bothering to turn around, "One more thing… NEVER, under any circumstances, allow her read that. Satan himself would be haunted by those words."
Ranger turned the diary over in his hands, leafing through the pages with his thumb; torn between the need to gain knowledge over his enemy and his aversion to being plagued with the memories. "No limits," he thought, opening the pages at random, reading the memoirs of a stalker…
February 2nd, 2009
I've finally found her, my destiny. I saw her picture in the paper today, and it was as if her eyes were boring into my soul; begging me for release from her dreary and pathetic existence; wandering blindly without me. I believe that she is searching for me, sending me messages and signals through code. I cut the eyes out of her photo, needing relief from the intensity of her stare; their depths driving me to the brink of insanity. I found her parents telephone number listed in the directory, I called and spoke with her mother, claiming to be an old friend of Stephanie's who wants to get back in touch with her. She gave me her address and phone number, telling me that she is sure Stephanie would love to hear from me… even her own mother can feel the connection between us. My life has finally found an everlasting purpose in the form of Stephanie Plum.
Ranger's hands gripped the diary tightly, the spine flexing under his grasp as his stomach rolled at the inner workings of a sadist. He flipped through the pages, continuing …
May 5th, 2009
I watched her sleep for hours last night, her body bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. I was thankful for the intense heat of the day, forcing her to sleep in only a pair of blue silk panties. I know that she wore them for me, luring me in with the enticement of her body. I will go back tonight and take them, adding them to my private collection. She has the most beautiful skin I have ever seen, like a mixture of cream and silk, and it makes me wonder… what she looks like beneath it. I ache to explore her fully, to peel back her layers and see what's hidden inside; to hold her heart in my hands and consume the flesh that binds her. Someday, we'll shed ourselves of our mortal gloves, leaving behind the filth of humanity; for only then can usher I my bride to God.
September 12th, 2009
I fear something terrible has possessed me, that a monster lurks within. This morning I woke with my hands and clothes saturated in blood; my fingernails uprooted from their beds with chunks of blonde hair twined through my fingers. The last thing that I remember is watching my love on the dance floor, her short emerald dress swirling around her legs as she swayed to the music; taunting me, teasing me with the movements of her body. I walked out onto the dance floor, needing to be close to her; stopping just a breath away as I soaked in her presence. She brushed against me, smiling innocently as she passed; but, she doesn't fool me. I know that she is testing me, baiting me for a reaction, challenging me to pursue her. I watched as HE came to her, pulling her to him in a perverse attempt to replicate the love that we share… that we are destined to experience together. Looking at my bloody hands, I send her a mental warning; be careful my love, someone else atoned for your sins last night, but you may not be so lucky in the future.
December 4th, 2009
What I experienced tonight was more painful than death; listening to the sound of my love being soiled with the seed of an inferior man. I made a plan to join us together for eternity… but she was too impatient to wait; consciously provoking me with her malicious affair. I feel her betrayal deep within my bones; a pain so intense that I'm crippled by it. I carved her name into the flesh of my arm, willing her to feel my anguish. I listened to her give herself over to his ministrations; every sigh, every moan, piercing through my heart. She spoke words, the darkest of blasphemies, professing her love to that imposter. She has forced my hand. Though, I know that he is the one who is preventing her from coming to me, polluting her mind with fallacies. She must be punished and cleansed of her immorality. I must take what is mine, and cut the head from the snake.
The words on the page blurred as Ranger's hands shook with fury; the movement rousing Stephanie from her sleep. Sensing her wake, Ranger dropped the book from his hands as if he had been burned, schooling his features to feign nonchalance.
"Babe," he whispered with a soft smile, praying she didn't pick up on his unease.
There was a bustle of movement at the door as Tank, Lester and Charlie came into the room, the small area causing them to huddle closely together, "How ya feelin' honey?" Charlie's weathered face softened as he looked into Stephanie's eyes.
"Much better… thank you. And, Charlie… I'm really sorry about your window."
"Oh, nonsense," Charlie waved his hand dismissively. "You can break in anytime. Besides, it's not every day that an ole' boy like me get's to spend his afternoon with a beautiful lady." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, winning a giggle from Stephanie. "Looks like they're just about to wrap things up here…" He paused giving the enormous men around him an appraising stare, "Ya sure this bunch can keep ya safe? Me and Norma would be glad to offer our services."
Tank's eyebrows shot up to his hairline in disbelief, while Lester choked back a laugh, slinging an arm around Charlie's shoulders. "You know Charlie… I think I might just have the perfect woman for you. Her name is Edna and …"
Ranger carried Stephanie out of the door, his laughter healing the ache in her chest.
TBC…
*So… what do you think about Mr. Cain? I'm torn between Ranger telling her about the journal or not…
*Thoughts?
*Thanks again to everyone who left a review on the last chapter… they brighten my day. : ) Also, I wanted to send a big "thank you" to all of those people who have left anonymous reviews that I cannot thank personally!
*Fact, 1.4 million American's are stalked every year. If you, or someone that you know, would like more information please google search: End Stalking In America and visit their site.
