Chapter 10
Stephanie and Lula left in the Ford Falcon. Stephanie took the directions that Lula gave her. She felt better the further away from Stark Street. She never liked being that close to Slayerland. That had been scary when she had been in there. Anytime, she had to go there now; she would ask Ranger to come along. Not that Lula wasn't good company, on the contrary, she felt safe with Ranger inside Slayerland.
Nixon's place ended up being several miles from Lula's apartments. Nixon's Jewelers was backed up to the commercial district not too far from downtown. They pulled into the parking lot that was connected to several businesses.
"Nixon has the best gold." Lula informed Stephanie.
They both got out of the car and started walking down the sidewalk. There was no parking on the street here in front of the businesses. The parking lots to each block held the business side of this block up to better standards where parking was concerned. And the store fronts were all open and viewable at every time, which in turn meant theft was probably a minimum in this area. It also boded well that Nixon's was butted up next to a firehouse, one of the other reasons why no parking in the street on this block. It saved a lot of traffic issues for the firehouse.
"You just let me do the talking." Lula said.
Since this wasn't the Burg or even near it, Stephanie didn't mind letting Lula be in charge. She hadn't thought about looking for a jewelers mark when she was younger. It had never occurred to her or Mary Lou at the time. Then again, she didn't know what all kinds of information you could find off a jewelers mark either.
"Hey Nick honey." Lula called out to the man who was behind the far back jewel counter.
The way everyone waved at Lula, Stephanie realized, Lula had been shopping for jewelry for quite some time with Nixon. Stephanie went to a case near the back, so she could hear Lula and Nixon as they spoke.
"Nick, my cousin, Ernie, gave me this ring. I can't find the jeweler's mark can you look for it." Lula passed the ring over to Nixon.
"Ernie huh?" Nixon asked as he turned the ring over in his hands.
"Yeah, he thought since I had my man now that it might be getting serious, and he got this ring from a buddy of his working in construction." Lula said. "I'm trying to find out if it's legit and where it really came from."
"That I can help you with. This is quality gold. You don't see any of the older pieces like this anymore." Nixon said.
He turned to the table behind him where a big magnifying glass was with a light. He flicked the light on and then pulled down the glasses he had on the top of his head as he turned the ring slowly underneath the light.
"We have two marks. One is the designer. This mark is out of New York. I've seen it plenty. He's dead now. He got all the good government designs for rings when it came to the military. He kept crappy records though. I doubt you can find the original purchaser that way."
Well, that's a let down. Stephanie thought.
"Wait, now we are talking." Nixon said and then he wrote down something on a piece of paper. "One of the top engraver's mark is on this ring. It's a family-owned business. Now they are down in Florida. Opened a shop in New York, five years ago. That is how come I recognize the mark."
Nixon turned and handed the paper to Lula as well as the ring. "Jewish family, they are real nice. Rothschild, not related to the family that runs the banks around the globe, but still a nice family. They keep good records."
"Thank you Nick." Lula said as she took back the ring and the paper.
Stephanie had Lula headed for the door.
"Come back anytime Lula. If your man doesn't like that ring; we can swap it out for one that is more fitting for him." Nick told her as they left the shop.
Stephanie and Lula made it back to her piece of crap Ford and got inside.
"See, now this is what I'm talking about. I know my stuff when it comes to jewelry, and Nixon is always the person to come too." Lula said.
Stephanie drove Lula and herself back to Lula's apartment. Once inside the two of them looked at the piece of paper that Nixon had given Lula.
"Well, go on." Lula said. "Make a phone call to the Rothschild's."
Stephanie was nervous as she stared at the New York phone number on the slip of paper that Nixon had written down as well as the name. Samuel Rothschild. She felt her palms sweating even as she held her cell phone. This felt impossible. She was still so nervous though. What if this actually worked? What if his father turned out to be some low life looser? With the way her luck ran, Stephanie wouldn't doubt it. She opened her cell phone and then dialed. Lula looked as if she was ready to wrestle the number away from her and make the call herself.
"Rothschild Jewelers. My name is Rebecca. How may I help you?" The female voice said.
"Yes. Um." Stephanie let out a slow breath and tried again. "Sorry about that, Rebecca. I'm Stephanie. I'm calling because I have a ring that was engraved by one of your jewelers, and I'm trying to find the owner."
"Alright Stephanie. Describe the ring to me and the engraving inside, and I'll see what I can do for you."
Stephanie described the ring and the engraving on the inside. She could hear Rebecca typing away on the computer. "Oh my that's an old ring. I'm not sure if that record will actually be on the computer. My great grandfather kept ledgers of his work."
The clicking of keys continued. "Oh, hang on. I see a reference for a ledger. Several with that engraving on it. Do you know if another ring was purchased?"
Stephanie stammered. "Uh, I have no idea. How many engravings are we talking? With a US military ring."
"Believe it or not, those rings ended up in a platoon company in several branches of the military with that engraving inside. Ten men in this one division alone in the Marine Corps. This certain company of men were all Jewish." Rebecca said.
"Is there anyway you can give me the names of all ten men?" Stephanie asked crossing her fingers.
"No. I can't do that. Let me see if anything was reported missing or stolen?" Rebecca said. "And while I'm looking, can you tell me why you are so interested in finding the owner of this ring?"
Stephanie weighed her options about the woman being in New York. She wasn't in the Burg. So she went with the truth. "There is a very good possibility that one of those men's grandson got me pregnant when I was sixteen. I'm trying to find out who it could be."
"Wow. Nothing was reported stolen. Three rings were reported missing. That is the best I can do." Rebecca said. "Whatever happens you didn't get this information from me."
"Understood." Stephanie said as she wrote down the three names and numbers that Rebecca gave her. She thanked Rebecca profusely and hung up the phone.
Stephanie ate lunch with Lula. The three names and numbers had netted them a big fat nothing. But, it had been worth a try. Lula had done some really creative lying to Connie to look up the numbers that had not stayed in the family. Now she was back at ground zero with the ring.
"What you need is a computer hacker to go in and steal the other men's names." Lula said as she was eating the homemade chicken soup.
"What good will that do?" Stephanie asked. "Those rings weren't reported stolen or missing."
"Humph," Lula said. "I got you this far. I'm telling you girlfriend. Listen, which scrawny little grandkid is going to tell his grandfather; he lost their ring. We need those other seven names. Briggs will do it."
Stephanie shook her head. "No way. He'll wheedle the truth out of us. I can't have this getting all over the Burg. He's liable to put it up on some website, and my parents will find out after the Burg does. I have to let them know before, not after Lula."
"Then fine missy. You just trot your skinny white ass over to where your father is and tell him. At least, you can tell your father you're hunting for that boy's daddy." Lula crossed her arms about her chest.
Lula did have a point, Stephanie reasoned. She always caught whoever she was looking for. And besides, she didn't feel her father would be too unreasonable about this. She would let him know as soon as she found out who Zeke's father was.
Stephanie stood. Telling her father would be easier than letting Randy Briggs have anything over her head that he could blackmail her with. As much as she liked Briggs, he had been one feisty little FTA.
"I'm going to my father's club. He should still be there." Stephanie said.
Zeke stayed quiet. He didn't want to think about the abuse that had been dealt to him, much less anyone else. He was thankful Ranger didn't push for an answer. Zeke knew he wasn't ready to talk yet. Telling what little he had was hard enough. The guilt of those dead women weighted heavily on his conscience. It just wasn't them, several of the children did as well.
He watched as his mother came out of an apartment followed by a large plus sized black woman in leopard-print clothes.
This is Tank's girlfriend. Oh man. Dude, she looks like a hooker. My mother has some really weird friends. Mercenaries, cops, hookers, man does she have anyone normal in her life? Zeke thought. Maybe this is normal, and I'm just seeing this in an unrealistic way of viewing life. Hell, I was raised by serial killers. What the hell do I know?
"So that's Tank's girlfriend?" Zeke asked as Ranger started the car again and waited until his mother's Ford was at the end of the block before he pulled out onto the street.
"Yes. She's a very nice woman. Don't let her appearance detract from your view of her when you meet her." Ranger said.
"Because she dresses like a hooker." Zeke said.
"Former," Ranger said as he turned a corner and put five cars between the two vehicles. "She's not ashamed of her past. She'll even tell you she was one. No one should ever be ashamed of who they are or their past."
Zeke looked out the window away from Ranger.
That's easier said than done. It's not just the shame, it is the fear. Fear of what I've done, what happened, what I had no fucking control over. And fear of what will happen when someone finds out who is in law enforcement. I don't want to feel like a caged animal anymore with no freedom. If any of them finds out; they'll lock me away.
Ranger glanced at Zeke as he followed Stephanie and Lula. The teenager was withdrawn and sullen again. He had hoped shedding a little light on Lula's past the boy next to him might open up a bit. That backfired. This frustrated him. He passed Stephanie and Lula as they walked down the street. Ranger made a U-turn on the next block over and was able to find a parking place once they passed the firehouse.
His mind was divided. Frustrated with himself that he hadn't been able to get the sullen teenager with him to open up more and curious as to what Stephanie and Lula were doing at Nixon's place. He knew Stephanie wouldn't be giving him anymore information until she felt herself ready. Ranger looked over at Zeke.
Of all the things your mother has to pass down to you, you get the secret keeper gene. How do I get this boy to talk? I need you to feel safe. Ranger thought.
"Have you ever held a gun Zeke?" Ranger asked.
He watched as the boy turned his head finally looking at him instead of out of the window. "No. Why?"
Ranger could hear the worry in his voice as he asked along with curiosity.
Good, he's got Stephanie's curious trait. Work with that. Ranger thought.
"Would you like to hold one?"
"Guns are deadly."
"Yes they are." Ranger said softly. "But it is the person behind the gun that actually makes them deadly. I'm going to pull my gun out and take the bullets out and sit it between us."
Ranger reached slowly to the small of his back and pulled out his Glock 9mm. He took the one round that was in the chamber out and then took the clip out and laid the gun between them.
"You can pick it up if you like. It won't hurt you, and there is no reason to be afraid of it." Ranger said.
Ranger watched as Zeke cautiously picked up the weapon. He watched the slow methodical process in which he examined the weapon.
Curiosity you get from your mother. Methodical is not from her. That has to have come down on your father's side. Ranger thought. He also has a healthy respect for it. I can work with this.
Ranger then gave him a small lesson on gun safety. He could tell he had the teenager's attention.
"You ever kill anyone with this?" Zeke asked him.
"Yes. After I beat the shit out of him for kidnapping and hurting your mother. I would do the same for you, because you are a part of her." Ranger told him.
Zeke handed him the gun back and looked out the window. "They're leaving."
Ranger put the bullets back inside the gun and replaced the gun to the small of his back. Ranger was quite aware he had given Ezekiel more to think about where his safety was concerned. He didn't need to go into any details, but at least now Zeke would know, he would kill for the boy.
Ranger followed Stephanie and Lula back to her apartment. Once they were safely inside he looked down at the time. It was getting close to lunch.
"We're going to head back to RangeMan now." Ranger told him.
"You don't watch her all the time?" Zeke asked.
"Nope. I don't invade her privacy. I know where she is, but what she is doing. I don't know that." Ranger told him.
Ranger also felt it would be better if he stopped following her at least for Zeke's sake so the boy could see that he didn't follow his mother around constantly. He turned the corner and headed back to Haywood.
When Stephanie asked the doorman at the Elks Lodge to go get her father. The doorman grinned and gave her several finger waves as he left through another door. Stephanie wasn't all to sure what her father did with his old Army pals here, other than play pinochle. It was always cards and drinking with his pals when he came here. She knew some of them couldn't drive anymore so her father picked them up in the cab. She had found his cab parked outside, so she knew he was there.
Frank stepped outside after the doorman fetched him.
"Hi, Daddy." Stephanie said.
"I got Daddy this time instead of Dad." Frank said. "What kind of trouble are you in?"
Stephanie wrung her hands. She couldn't help it. Typically, her mother had always been the one to confess too. However, after hearing what her mother had said earlier, that was not an option anymore.
"Pretty big trouble. I was going to talk to Mom, but that wouldn't have quite gone over the way I wanted. I left before Mom gave the third degree, about being a bad influence on the younger Burg girls."
Stephanie clasped her hands together like some wayward child, who tried to appease whatever god of obedience, because she was about to confess to her father the biggest secret of her youth, she ever had. She watched as her father stopped and looked her over.
"No more of this." Frank said as he pried her hands apart. "You are not a little child anymore, or a scared teenager still living at home, for that matter."
Stephanie watched as Frank looked back to the door, and she looked with him and saw the doorman had it cracked. He dropped one of her hands then took the other and placed it around his arm.
"Walk with me to the car, so we have some privacy."
Stephanie allowed her father to lead her over to her car. "I still feel like a scared teenager most of the time. Trying to live up to the Burg expectations and be the proper Burg girl." Stephanie confessed.
"Burg girls." Frank let out a little laugh. "I am going to let you in on a little secret. You know half the men in the Burg wish you were their daughter-in-law. Hell, most of them wish you were their daughter. I come to the lodge to brag about you. Not Valerie."
Her father let her arm go once they reached the car, and she leaned up against it. She looked up at her father who stood in front of her.
Mom is always going on about Valerie. Dad has never said anything. Really? I would have thought he'd be bragging about Val as well.
"Really? But Valerie is perfect." Stephanie said.
"Perfect is boring. Most of the guys at the club love hearing about you. They are always asking me to set you up with their sons. I don't do that. As far as I'm concerned, none of their sons are worth you. Your mother does enough damage trying to fix you up with men."
Stephanie looked down at the ground. She had never known any of this. She felt her father's hand on her chin and the slight push as he tilted her face back up to look at him. She saw the smile he had.
"What did you do now that you couldn't confess to your mother?"
Stephanie looked around and could tell it was a pretty good spot. No one was outside, and the doorman to the club stayed inside. He had also closed the door, so no ease dropping.
"I need to tell you something. Something that could cause some serious binge drinking by mom." Stephanie stated quietly.
She watched as her father's eyebrows went up underneath his cabbie hat. "You're pregnant and not married." Frank said.
Stephanie took the plunge on that note of what her father had said. "What would you think if I was?"
Frank pulled his hat down over his head. "Please tell me it isn't Morelli's? Pumpkin, I know you like the man, but seriously, I think your mother has lost all sense of reason if she thinks Morelli makes the best candidate for you as a future husband and father of our grandchildren. You ran him over with my Buick. Personally, I loved that one. I would have done that, but you beat me to it."
Stephanie looked at her father. He had never uttered a sound about her choice of men when they came over. Well, not really, but he was one for not speaking his mind so plainly. As far as she knew, her mother's choice was her father's as well. Evidently not.
"It isn't Morelli's. Why didn't you tell me you didn't like Joe? When did this come about?" Stephanie asked.
Frank pushed his hat back up on his head and exhaled deeply. "Pumpkin, when you girls were born. Helen said she would raise the girls, and I would raise the boys. I never got my boy to raise." Frank crossed his arms over his chest. "Your mother didn't want me to speak up because she felt my opinion would be too unflattering. I feel you should be with whoever you want to be with. While your mother wants another perfect Burg girl running around. I have to say, I have the best time that you aren't perfect."
"Really?" Stephanie asked.
"Really Pumpkin." Frank uncrossed an arm and reached out put a wayward curl back behind her ear. "I like you the way you are. You have a better head on your shoulders than Valerie does. So who was the man that got you pregnant? The bounty hunter? I liked him. He was Army like I was."
"No dad." Stephanie looked at him. "I'm not pregnant. This happened when I was younger. I had a boy that I gave up for adoption, because I felt you and mom would have killed me when I was younger."
She watched as her father swallowed and closed his eyes. She could see the hot flush of pink slowly rising up his neck. "I have a grandson. How old is he? Where is he?" He hissed.
"He's sixteen Dad. He came looking for me." Stephanie said softly.
His eyes snapped open, and he looked at her. "You had him when you were supposed to be in France with Mary Lou."
Stephanie scrunched up her neck into her shoulders. If she had been a turtle, her head would have been in the shell, but otherwise she was having to face this head on.
"Yes. And…" That was as far as she got. Her father put his finger on her lips.
"Don't say anything else." Frank said. "At least not here. I'm going back in and telling the guys they have to find a ride home for today. Then I'm coming back out, then you and I are going to go have a private talk. I want everything Stephanie, no hiding anything and no glossing it over. And no running. You are not a teenager anymore."
Ranger grabbed Tank as soon as he was back at the office. He had to figure out the reason why Lula and Stephanie would go to Nixon's place. Was it really for Stephanie or was it for Lula? That was the question that kept running from one end of his mind to the other.
"How serious is it between you and Lula?" Ranger asked as soon as he had his door closed to his office.
"What? I don't know. Pretty serious." Tank said.
"Serious enough that she gets Stephanie to take her to Nixon's place?" Ranger asked as he sat down behind the desk.
Tank took a seat in the chair in front of his desk. Ranger almost wanted to grin at the pale look Tank had on his face. Maybe they weren't so serious that their relationship declared a shopping stint to Nixon's. Nixon is known for having the best wedding rings in Trenton.
"She went to Nixon's?" Tank asked as he rubbed his face. "We've talked about moving in together so she could get out of that rat trap of an apartment. I didn't realize she was more serious than just living together."
"Maybe it had nothing to do with that." Ranger threw out. He had to save his drowning buddy since he caused this mess. "There might be another reason."
Tank looked up at him. "What? You and Stephanie? Have you said anything else to her? Maybe she's looking at wedding rings."
Of course he jump straight to what Nixon is known for. Would Stephanie be looking at wedding rings? Oh man, he just did not do that to me. Ranger thought.
"No, not that." Ranger shook his head.
"Stephanie asked me about a ring. My Grandfather's ring to be exact, his wedding ring. I brought up how I lost it. We were sharing stupid moments while getting drunk." Ranger said.
Tank crossed his arms. "You brought up your Grandfather's ring? I'm surprised at that. I know how much that meant to you. So what are you thinking?"
Ranger shrugged. "I'm trying to figure out why they went to Nixon's place. If you haven't brought up marriage to Lula and I know Stephanie and I aren't anywhere near that yet. Why did they go to Nixon's?"
Tank shook his head.
"I don't know. Why do they do half the shit they do? Women are confusing at times. Damn," Tank said. "Next time, don't drop that bomb on me. You know me. I am just not going to jump into marriage with a woman. Hopefully while she was in Nixon's place she didn't get any ideas."
Ranger's cell rang and he answered. It was Hector. Informing him of another impromptu stop by his Babe today. Ranger's eyebrows rose at hearing she was in the Elk's Lodge parking lot talking to her father. He shut the phone.
"Well, whatever talk she had with Lula got her moving. Stephanie is talking to her father." Ranger said as he looked at Tank.
"Let's hope her father doesn't belittle her like her mother does. I told you what Lula has told me about them and what all she picks up where Stephanie is concerned." Tank said.
"I know." Ranger said as he stood up. "Guess I'm going back to follow Stephanie for awhile. Oh and while you're here. Zeke said around hundred people, a quarter of that children. See if that helps you hunt down whatever church the Butler's are over."
"Will do."
Ranger headed out of his office. He knew he couldn't fight Stephanie's battles. At least not this one, but he would support her through it, if her parents and the Burg turned on her. He was more than willing to fight for her son, there was just something about that teenager that Ranger wanted that boy's trust. He wanted to be there for Stephanie as well as her son.
Frank had to step away. He gathered his thoughts as he went back inside to inform the guys they had to get their own ride home for today. His baby girl needed him. Frank was tired of his daughter acting like a teenager. He knew exactly where that had been coming from. Helen had been spouting her grief onto Stephanie for years. This was one of those times he would make sure it wasn't about to happen. Frank knew he had the inside track and he was taking it. For once, Helen wasn't here to stop him.
When he came out he motioned for Stephanie to come to him. She came and he could still see the worry in his baby girl's eyes. Nothing should have ever made his daughter this frightened from telling him anything. He walked with her over to the cab and opened the passenger door. He was going to drive her around town while they talked. He got into the front seat and started the cab.
"Before you start talking. I want to say one thing. I love you. I don't want you to ever feel afraid that you can't come to me ever again." Frank told her.
He started hearing the tears and the snuffles, he reached over and caressed her cheek.
"Now, tell me how this happened." Frank told her.
That was exactly what she did. He heard her tell him how her and Mary Lou went to go celebrate after finding out she wasn't pregnant by Joe. Sneaking out of the house wasn't his idea of celebrating, but given her age at the time, he could forgive that. This was all in the past, and what was done was already done. He made sure he nodded and patted her knee in all the right areas while she continued on. Then she got to the party and told him how she had gotten drunk and had sex with some unknown teenager she had just met. That she had hidden the ring he placed on her finger in her bedroom closet.
Frank now knew about the cubby hole in the floor of her closet. Something his wife had never known about that was for sure. She probably hid a lot of other things in this hole, but he wasn't about to get into that with her.
"You still have this ring?" Frank asked.
"Yes." Stephanie sobbed out. "I'm looking for the owner of it now."
"Good." Frank turned down one of the lanes downtown and continued driving. "Now tell me about the France trip you and Mary Lou should have been on."
The plotting and the scheming those two girl went through. Frank marveled at how his daughter's mind worked. He knew when Stephanie set her mind to something, she followed through. Those two girls had help, that was for sure. Now he understood all the postmarked letters from France and not from New York from where she had really been. How far she had gone with the help of Mary Lou arranging an adoption for his little grandson. It pained him to hear that she had given birth to a beautiful baby boy at the age of seventeen that had his black curly hair.
"I couldn't have an abortion. I just couldn't. It would have killed me." Stephanie sobbed. "Even after they took him away I felt like part of me left with him."
Frank understood this. His girls were raised knowing that life was precious.
"It's alright Pumpkin. What's done is done." Frank reached over and patted her knee again as he stopped at a light and let her cry for awhile. He kept circling blocks and weaving around downtown as she cried.
"That's all in the past." Frank said seriously. "Now we are going to talk about the here and now."
"Okay." Stephanie said as she drew in air trying to get herself back under control.
Frank patted her knee again.
"Once you find the owner of the ring. Don't think you won't because I know you will. You come to me. I want to hear it first. Then I'll talk to Helen. You let me deal with your mother this time." Frank said.
"I'm afraid of what Mom would do or even say to me." Stephanie said. "I've always been such a disappointment to her."
Frank shook his head. "You get that out of your head right now. Helen should have known better than to compare you to Valerie or any other girl in the Burg for that matter. You can only be you Pumpkin and no one else. There is nothing wrong with you."
Frank reached over and caressed her cheek as they stopped at another light. "Now, tell me about my grandson. What does he look like Stephanie? What is he like?"
He listened as she described his grandson. How the boy had his hair, her eyes, a slim frame build, how he was almost six foot, and with mocha latte skin. He smiled at the picture that formed in his head of that teenager. She also told him about being musical. They never had musical talent in their family that he was aware of.
"He's been abused, Dad." Stephanie said softly.
Frank felt his heart clench. "How bad baby?"
"Very bad. Ranger and I don't know how bad yet. He's staying in one of Ranger's apartments on the fourth floor. I'm staying there as well. Ranger's men picked him up in Memphis. He had been calling for the last six months just trying to tell me who he was." Stephanie said.
"Stephanie, is my grandson getting help?" Frank asked.
"Yes Dad. Ranger has been wonderful. If it hadn't been for Ranger I wouldn't have known how to approach him at the right time. Zeke isn't very trusting and he flinches and startles anytime someone touches him." Stephanie told him.
"Alright." Frank knew he was on Haywood now and knew where that building was. It was getting on toward dinner now. Stephanie had cried for hours in his cab baring her soul to him on what she had done.
"I'm taking you to his building. You are too exhausted to drive that car here." Frank said as he pulled up in front of Ranger's building.
He killed the cab and sat there for a bit as he reached over and wiped his daughter's face. "You let my grandson know he's got a grandpa that wants to meet him. You also let him know not to pay attention to anything that is said in the Burg. None of this is his fault Stephanie. You reassure him of that."
"I will dad. I love you." Stephanie told him.
Frank opened his door and then went around the cab and opened hers. He pulled Stephanie into a hug and kissed her temple. When he pulled all the way back he saw Ranger standing not to far away from them. Frank dropped his arms away from his daughter and walked over to Ranger. Frank extended his hand and they shook.
"Take care of my girl and my grandson." Frank said.
"I intend too."
Frank gave him a nod, got back into the cab, and headed for home. When he got to the corner, he looked in the review mirror. Stephanie was already in Ranger's arms, he could tell from the way that man held his daughter, she would be well taken care of. He had never seen Morelli hold his little girl that way, like she was a precious jewel and needed to be cherished.