Chapter 11

My head felt like someone hit me with a sledgehammer. Light hit my eyes and I recoiled, hiding under the covers, like a vampire dodging the sun.

I heard movement in the room. I peeked out from underneath the blanket. Ranger stood at the foot of the bed, holding a bag of french fries in one hand and a coke in the other.

"I come bearing gifts."

"What time is it?" I said, shielding my eyes from the light.

"Three."

"Am or Pm?"

"Pm."

I tried to focus on the room, but it wasn't that easy with my eyes mostly shut. "Where am I?"

"Your apartment. Lester and Cal brought you here."

I lifted the covers, and looked down. I had on pajamas. I didn't remember putting them on.

"How did I get into my pajamas?"

"What is the last thing you remember?"

That took me more than a few seconds. My brain was on slow.

Ranger smiled. "I came over last night to check on you. When I got here, you were passed out on the bathroom floor. I carried you to the bedroom."

"You carried me?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I helped you put on your pajamas."

"You helped me?" This had my brain on still. I didn't remember anything. "Did I need a lot of help?"

"You were all over me." He was smiling now. I wasn't sure how much I should believe.

"Was it that bad?"

"No. It was fun. You kept saying "Oh Capt'n, my Capt'n." I just didn't want you to think I was taking advantage."

"Were you?"

"A little."

"I am coming to the conclusion that I suck at drinking."

"You should have stopped at two. Know your limits. Next time, I might not be as honorable."

"Good to know."

Ranger sat down next to me on the bed and watched me eat. The fries were a godsend and the coke, that was the clincher.

"Here." He reached out and dropped pills into my hand.

"What are these?"

"Ibuprofen and Vitamin B. Kind of late for the Vitamins, but it couldn't hurt."

When I swallowed the pills, I noticed Ranger's eye. It was swollen.

"Your eye. Looks like it hurts."

Ranger nodded.

"Paulo? Is he okay?"

"Physically or mentally?"

That was a good question.

"Physically."

"He will heal." Ranger's face remained passive when he said it. No smile, no nothing.

"What about mentally?"

I stuffed a few more french fries in my mouth. My headache was slowly receding, but not quick enough.

"Mentally? As in 'is my brother a serial killer?'''

I swallowed the fries and took a sip of the coke to wash them down.

"I can't say the thought hadn't crossed my mind a couple a times last night."

Ranger smiled. "He's not what he appears to be".

"Which is?"

Ranger looked over at me. "Reckless."

"It seemed like he was teetering over the edge of crazy to me."

"That's because he likes you."

"He likes me? And if he didn't like me?"

"He wouldn't have been teetering. What made you decide Paulo would talk to you? You could have gone to any of my sisters and had a much better chance. Tank said Paulo was your idea."

"It seemed like the logical approach. Sometimes you gotta take chances."

Ranger barked out a laugh. "An hour alone with someone in my family and already your developing catch phrases."

"So, what's with him anyways? Was he always nuts?"

"Paulo isn't nuts. He just doesn't like to be in someones cross hairs. You were watching his house. He hates that shit. If you would have just walked up and knocked on the door, you would have been surprised at how much easier the whole thing would have played out."

Hindsight.

"What are your plans today? Ranger asked.

"I need to go to work. Connie has some files for me."

"You will need a ride."

"Why? Where's my car?"

"It's still at Rangeman. If you plan on going soon, I can take you."

I managed to drag myself into the shower and wake up a little. The hot water hitting my skull helped clear the cobwebs. It got me thinking about everything Paulo had said. I got dressed quickly, I wanted to start working on this puzzle as soon as possible.

Ranger slouched on the couch. His long legs crossed at the ankle under the table. He was talking to someone on his phone, concentrating on what they were saying. When he saw me, he dropped the phone into his pocket.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"It's not important. You ready?"

We motored over to the office in Ranger's black truck. I knew that he only drove it when he wasn't planning on working. It was his favorite.

"What are you doing today?" I asked, wondering about the phone call and if it had to do with the game.

"I have some things to take care of."

"What kind of things?"

"You are asking a lot of questions. Makes me wonder why are you suddenly interested in current events. Just so you know, I will be at Rangeman the rest of the day." He smiled. "I wont stop you from visiting."

"I practically live there as it is. Aren't you sick of me yet"?

Ranger's eyes met mine. He eased the truck out of the parking lot and into traffic.

My thoughts returned to Paulo. "Did you know he sleeps in his garage?" I asked.

"Who?"

"Paulo."

"He wont sleep in the house anymore. Not since Lecia died." Ranger said.

"He told me he was sleeping in there because of the game."

"He lied."

"Who is Lecia?"

"His wife."

"How long ago did she die?"

"About two years ago. She was a cop. Walked into an ambush. Paulo blames me."

"What did you have to do with it?"

"My informant opened his mouth. He told a bad guy that I had family on the force. They killed her to send me a message."

Now I understood what he meant by telling me Ranger's men have big mouths. It made a lot more sense.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too. She was a sweet person. They were good together."

"Where are his kids. He said he had four."

Ranger's eyebrows went up. "I am surprised. My brother doesn't get personal like that. They are staying with his inlaws. He doesn't want them here while the game is in play."

Ranger pulled into an empty parking spot right in front of the bonds office. He is the only person I know that had that kind of luck. Right in front. I was lucky if I got to park on the same block!

"I will have Tank bring your car over."

I undid my seat belt. Ranger grabbed me, and pulled me in close, kissing me. The heat that went through my body just about completely cured my hangover. My fingers instantly curled into the fabric of his t shirt.

"I suppose this means your not sick of me yet?"

"I don't think it's possible."

Oh no! What is going to happen? The next couple of chapters are still up in the air. :) Thank you again, for everyone's thoughts on this story. I love to hear what you think, and as always... let me know what I am missing, or misspelling.. :)