CHAPTER 10

Present Day New Jersey

He'd thought about taking Tank with him, but had decided against it. Julie was his responsibility, and he wasn't one to shirk his duties, but he was nervous. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this nervous. When Julie had been abducted by Scrog, he'd moved heaven and earth to get her back. He'd sacrificed himself by knowingly walking into an ambush, and he'd been calm about it. He'd felt connected to Julie in a way he previously hadn't, but he hadn't had much contact with her since then. After he'd been shot, he saw her only briefly before Rachel had hustled the kid away from Trenton and back to Miami.

He didn't know his own daughter at all, but that was all going to change. What if she didn't like him? Hell, she had to like him. Kids had to like their fathers, right? Oh shit! He was in trouble. He realized that while he'd been immersed in self-doubt, passengers had started deplaning.

Two men in suits walked through the gate, followed by two tall and extremely thin women dressed fashionably in short skirts and high heels. Business class was exiting first. Harried salesmen followed by statuesque models. A third model, with short dark spiky hair hurried to catch up to her friends. His attention turned toward the entrance where a very pregnant mother was waddling her way into the arrival lounge. She was followed by an elderly couple holding hands and gazing adoringly at one another. Septuagenarian honeymooners, maybe. Julie must have been seated at the back of the plane. He kept his eyes on the door and waited for her, ignoring his increasing nervousness. He'd been to hell and back in his life. He could, he would, handle this.

"Dad … uh, Ranger." The words were uttered simultaneously with a soft pull on his sleeve. He looked to see the third model, the one with the short spiky blue-black hair, and holy mother of … it was Julie!

"I waved at you," she told him, "but you didn't see me. You were looking behind me at the door."

"I saw you earlier," Ranger said. "I didn't recognize you. You've changed since we were last together."

He let his eyes slide downward and take in his daughter. Puberty had hit her hard. She'd have easily passed for twenty-three instead of thirteen. Her body had lost all vestiges of the little girl he'd last seen. She was tall, even without the high-heeled ankle boots, and long-legged. Her body was firm and curved…and her curves showed clearly underneath the skin-tight black mini-dress she was wearing. Black hair, black dress, black tights, black boots. A face so pale, and lips so dark she should have looked like Vampira, but she didn't. The creaminess of her complexion showed through the almost white makeup. Her eyes were wide-set pools of warm brown, underneath arching brows. Her chin was determined, like his, he realized. She was beautiful, in spite of the heavy makeup and odd hair.

At first glance, she was a full-grown woman, but he noticed a slight tremble of her hand still on his arm and he relaxed. The young girl was still there, hidden behind a façade, not unlike the blank face he knew he was exhibiting. Things might work out after all.

"Where's Stephanie?" Julie asked. "I thought she'd come to meet me, too."

"She wanted to. She's away on a business trip. She should be home in a few days, hopefully. You're here a little earlier than we expected."

He'd said it without any criticism intended, but his daughter took umbrage with his words.

She raised her chin and managed to look down her nose at him. "Well, yes, I guess I am. Mother completely freaked out. There was no need to secret me out of town as if I was a criminal on the lam."

She talked older than thirteen, too. This was going to be an interesting summer. He might as well begin as he intended to go. "You broke the law. You were in danger of being arrested or, at the least, of being put on a watch list by the local police. Your mother acted, not over-reacted. And we are happy to have you. But there won't be any weed or alcohol while you're here."

He took her arm and began to walk toward the baggage claim area. "I trust you checked your bags?" he asked her.

"Yeah," she said.

It was only one word, but he thought he heard sullen. "Julie, I wasn't lecturing you. I was stating a fact. I can't allow you to do anything illegal. You are an extension of me, and I run a security business that frequently interacts with law enforcement. If you want to stay and be part of the family, you must obey the rules."

"Listen, Da... Ranger, I don't know what Mom told you, but I know you didn't get the straight story. I tried to tell her but she wouldn't listen. Ron was pissed, and all she wanted was to get me out of her hair."

Ranger took a careful look at his daughter. There was defiance in her voice, but hurt as well. This rift between Julie and Rachel was taking its toll on all involved. He would keep that in mind, but he also had to take responsibility as a father. "Are you saying you didn't smoke or drink after you snuck out to go to a party with older boys?"

"I'm not saying anything, until I'm sure you'll listen."

"I promise you, I'll listen," Ranger told his daughter. "Let's get your luggage, and you can tell me the entire story on the way home."

Twenty minutes later, the cargo space of the Cayenne was full and Julie was strapped into the passenger seat. As they pulled out of short-term parking, Ranger said, "I'm listening."

"Okay. I was spending the night with Melissa. It was her idea to go to the party because she has a huge crush on the guy that was having it, Jaime King. I didn't want to go, but I knew I had to, because she was going even if I stayed behind at her parents. There was alcohol and weed, and … way worse stuff, and I didn't have anything. Melissa got wasted. It was probably a good thing the party got busted. I pulled Melissa into the utility closet and told her to be quiet. I was worried, though, because she passed out and started snoring, and I was afraid someone would hear us. I propped her head up so she started breathing quieter and things were better after that."

Ranger again felt a little spurt of pride at his daughter's resourcefulness and loyalty to a friend, even if the friend was undeserving.

"Then we got out and ran back to Melissa's, and she caved and ratted us out to her mother. I told Mother and Ron I was innocent, but they didn't believe me. Do you?"

"I thought you called Ron Dad. When did that stop?"

"It stopped when he stopped treating me like a daughter and started treating me like an ugly stepchild. Do you believe me?" she asked again.

He was stunned by her words. He had more questions than he could formulate, but he refrained from asking her anything. "I believe you," he said, and realized he did, completely.

"Thanks, Da… Ranger." He looked across the car to see her looking at him with wet brown eyes. He hoped the tears wouldn't spill because he'd seen what tears did to Stephanie's mascara, and Julie's eye makeup was at least three coats heavier than Stephanie's usual look.

"Julie," he said without hesitancy or further thought. "Would you like to call me Dad?"

She nodded and sniffled once, before saying, "Yes, I would." This time when he looked, the eyes were still wet, but the grin was ear-to-ear and two hundred watts. This was going to be great. What had he been so worried about?

The Bluetooth signaled an incoming call and he pushed the button to answer. "Yo."

"You get Julie yet?" Tank's baritone boomed out of the car speaker.

"I did and you're on speaker. Say hi to Tank, Julie."

"Hello, Tank," she said obediently.

"Hey, kid. Long time no see. How'd you like to come to RangeMan and say hi? I need your dad to swing by here on his way home."

"RangeMan is not exactly on our way home," Ranger said. "What's up?"

"There is a courier here waiting on your signature to seal the Curtis deal. Can you swing by for just a moment? If not, I'll send him to your place."

"No. Don't do that. We'll be there within the hour." He disconnected and turned to Julie. "Do you mind stopping at RangeMan?"

"No, that would be great. It'll be interesting to see how it's changed from what I remember."

"It hasn't changed at all," Ranger said. "But it will be interesting to see what Tank thinks about the way you've changed since he last saw you." They exchanged grins.

An hour later, Ranger walked silently out of his office into the control room. He stopped short behind Lester and Cal who were staring across the room. Tank and Julie were standing with their backs to the men. Julie was bent slightly at the waist looking down at a row of monitors. Tank was giving her the nickel tour.

"Would you look at that," Lester said, his voice full of awe. "She's wearing black. She must be a new employee. And what an employee! Those legs go on forever and that tight a…"

Ranger's hand went around Lester's neck and squeezed, hard. He leaned forward and spoke loudly into Lester's ear, his voice easily traveling across the room. "Julie, do you remember Lester and Cal?" Julie swung around to look at her father. "And Santos, do you remember Julie, my daughter?"

"Oh shit!" Lester croaked. "Oh, shit, oh shit, I can't breathe." Ranger loosened his hold. "Oh, man … your little girl?" His voice had risen and Ranger took pleasure from the thread of hysteria he heard.

"Santos, did you hear that we are putting a man on site for the monitoring of the new contract on the geological site in Alaska?"

"Uh, no."

"Yeah, we'll need someone out there 24/7 for the first couple of weeks. Someone who will live in the hut and make sure all the monitors are up and running. It's a little remote, about eight hours to the nearest town. The pay will be excellent, though."

"You're kidding, right, Boss?"

"No."

Present Day Ohio

"Excuse me?" the waitress said, her brows furrowing inward.

"I don't believe it," Chase exclaimed, rising up from the booth. "Corrine? Is it really you?"

The waitress's frown increased and she took a step back. "I'm sorry. You must have me mistaken for someone else."

"Your name's not Corrine Silva?" Chase questioned.

"No," she replied, looking warily at him. "My name's René Madrid."

"Are you sure? Of course you're sure," Chase blew out a breath. "I'm sorry. It's just that you look so much like her. So familiar. I was so sure..." Chase almost whispered, as he collapsed back down in his seat.

"Who did you think I was?" she asked a little tentatively.

"My sister," he said. "I'm desperate to find her. It's a matter of life and death."

"Oh." René stared at Chase a few seconds before saying, "I'm sorry I can't help you." She shifted from one foot to another. "Um, would you like something to drink before ordering dinner?"

"Yeah," Chase replied, despondently. "I'll have a beer. Whatever you have on draft." He leaned back in the booth and stared down at the table.

René turned to look inquiringly at Stephanie. "I'll have a Coke, please," Steph said. The waitress nodded and left. "I'm sorry, Chase. It's hard to get your hopes up and then have them dashed. I've had that sad experience many times, but that's all in the past. Now, I'm married to Ranger. He refuses to let any of my hopes get dashed. I'm lucky to have such a supportive husband."

"Yeah, you're lucky," Chase said, not very enthusiastically. "Where's my beer?" he asked, searching the restaurant for their waitress.

Steph rummaged in her handbag and pulled out one of the sketches of Corrine, just as René deposited a tall glass of Coke in front of her and Chase's beer in front of him. Steph handed her the sketch and asked, "Does she look familiar?"

René studied the sketch. "This is the woman you thought was me? There is some similarity, but no, I don't recognize her." She handed it back to Stephanie. "Are you ready to order?"

After they'd eaten dinner, paid the bill and were getting ready to leave, René approached them. "The woman you're looking for ... you said it was a matter of life or death? What did you mean by that?"

Chase looked uncomfortable. He was tired and dejected and not in the mood to talk about such an emotional subject with a stranger. Steph took over.

"The life and death matter involves his son," Steph told her, nodding at Chase. "His son is very sick and needs a bone marrow transplant. We're searching for his sister. His half-sister, actually. We're hoping she might be a donor match. It could save his son's life."

René glanced at Chase. "I'm so sorry."

Chase nodded and turned to go, but Stephanie stayed behind. She handed René the sketch again and implored, "Please keep this and show it around. We really need to find her. A little boy's life depends on it. My name is Stephanie and my number's on the back. If anyone recognizes her, please call me, immediately." Steph's hand closed around René's and she gave her hand a slight squeeze. "Time is of the essence." Steph hurried outside to catch up to Chase. They'd reached their motorcycles when they heard Chase's name being called.

"Chase, wait," René called out as she ran toward them.

Chase looked up, a frown on his face. "How'd you know my name? I don't think I introduced myself."

René stopped in front of them. "I know your name." She paused. "Just as you know mine. I'm Corrine."

"What?" cried Chase. "But..."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to deceive you. I've been without family for so long..."

"You are ... Corrine?" Stephanie exclaimed, as she moved closer to Chase. "Why did you deny it?"

René aka Corrine shook her head. "I've lived a lie for eighteen years. It's hard to shed it in an instant. You caught me off guard and reflex kicked in. But when you said your son was in trouble and needed my help...I'll do anything I can for him—for you. I'm so sorry, Chase."

Chase reached for her and they fell into each other's arms, tears flowing. Steph stood off to the side, tears also streaming down her face as she watched brother and sister reunite. After the first rush of emotion had passed, Corrine remembered she still had a few hours left to work on her shift. Reluctantly, they made plans to continue their reunion the next morning, so she and Chase exchanged phone numbers and arranged to meet for breakfast.