Chapter Twelve

It didn't take much for Steph to straighten her clothes. Her jeans had only reached mid hip. Showing a tempting little ring of turquoise lace. She tugged her jeans back into place and rebuttoned them. He hadn't needed to do any more than let his shirt fall back down over his abs. All of his efforts to be presentable had been internal. Few men had control over their bodies like he had. Like all of his other skills, it was something he'd had to learn. A necessity when you've got a high sex drive and a dirty mind.

Steph didn't look nearly as okay with it. "Stupid Pritchard," she muttered under her breath.

He laughed at her. Self control had never been her strong suit. Wasn't the patient type. He stuck his hand into her back pocket and gave her a gentle squeeze. It was meant to be a promise for later, but it worked more on him than it did her. Weakening his resolve just a little. He pulled her against him when they reached the door. Pressed her into the wall. His last chance to enjoy her before their every movement would be monitored by his men. He knew they wouldn't dare say anything if they caught a glimpse of he and Steph being intimate in the hallway, or the elevator. But there were still some things that are best kept private.

Every inch of them was touching. Bringing back a little of the sensations he'd tried so hard to suppress. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly. "If we can deal with Pritchard fast, I promise I'll make it up to you."

"What's fast?"

He couldn't stop the grin. She wanted him bad. He brushed his lips across hers to draw out the anticipation. "The next half hour, if we want to take our time. I have a client meeting at three, and then I have to follow up with a subcontractor. Should be through by this evening, though, if you want to discuss this over dinner. Then maybe you could spend the night."

She didn't volunteer right away, but he could tell she was thinking about it. He kissed her again and took her hand. Tugging her into the elevator before he could change his mind.

The tension between them was still raging by the time they reached the control room, but at least she looked like she'd regained a little of her composure. If he could manage it, he'd deal with Pritchard in a matter of minutes. Then he might not even wait to get her upstairs again. He might just lock his office door and have her right there on his desk. He smiled at the thought. If he did that, he'd never be able to have a meeting there again without fighting an erection at the memory. Just like his 911 Turbo. He got half hard sometimes driving it now. Even when he was alone.

Worth it.

Pritchard stood when they came in. Pleasantly surprised to see Stephanie. His eyes moved over her in a subtle way she wouldn't notice. Ranger tried not to be pissed about that. Not only was Pritchard interrupting their private encounter, but now he was eyeing her like he was thinking about an encounter of his own. Not fucking likely.

"You brought in the ringer. That was quick."

"Stephanie was already in the building." And in his bed, no fucking thanks to Pritchard. "What is it exactly that we can do for you today?"

"I have a briefing with my superiors this afternoon about the deaths downtown. I thought it best to touch bases first. Make sure the information is as complete as possible."

"In other words, you're hoping we'll make you look good to your bosses?"

Steph shot a glance at him. She'd noticed his rude tone, even if Pritchard didn't. But then, she knew him a lot better than most people. Not to mention that she was feeling the same frustration as he was.

Pritchard didn't even blink. "Between you and me, I could use all the help I can get. We only just start proving the man hours have been worth it on this, and then there's a massacre on our watch."

Ranger shrugged. "There was no avoiding it. Power plays are an inevitable part of territory disputes."

"I wish that's all this was. You've seen the reports, right?"

"I was on scene for several hours last night."

"With Ms. Plum?"

"No. I haven't had a chance to fully brief Ms. Plum on the subject. I was attempting to do so when you asked for this meeting." It wasn't the only thing he was attempting, but it was on his list. Pritchard's expression turned speculative. Then he glanced at Steph. Taking in the light flush to her skin. The crazy texture of her bedroom curls where she'd been pressed against his mattress. She had a look about her of a woman who'd been thoroughly kissed. And Pritchard wasn't stupid. Good thing he was smart enough not to comment.

"Then you know this wasn't just a territory dispute."

Ranger nodded.

"But did you know that two of the victims were CIs?"

That got his attention. He could feel it when Steph went still beside him. "Go on."

"My office had contact with them, but they weren't on the same crew. I want to believe it was a coincidence, but…"

"But the chances that two CIs from rival gangs would be taken out at the same time are slim. I agree. Any idea who would have had access to them?"

Pritchard shook his head. "I don't know who they were talking to, but I'm working on it. In the meantime, I followed up with the lab. You were right, Stephanie. The joints found in your man's possession when he was arrested were in fact laced with a designer drug. It's not PCP, exactly, but it causes similar symptoms. A stronger dissociative state. Agitation and extreme violence. It showed up in the hospital tox screen too, prior to his death. Depressed his breathing and stopped his heart. He's officially been added to our growing list of confirmed victims."

No surprise there. Ranger had already heard as much from his contact at the hospital. "Anything new on where it might have come from?"

"Not yet."

Unfortunate. He'd have to hope Gregorio found something more useful. "So what are you looking for from us?" Ranger asked him again. "Seems you know quite a bit already."

"I was hoping you might have more about last night. As far as I've heard, they've only identified three of the bodies. Our CIs, and a foot soldier from the Latin Kings named Castillo. Of the other two, we know one was in Kings colors. The other was from a local Crip gang. They're not as big as the Kings, but they've caused their share of trouble the last few years. Headed up by a piece of shit named Skeezer."

"We're familiar," Ranger said. No need to tell Pritchard, or Steph, that Skeezer was all but stalking her. Held back only by Ranger's promise to bring hell down on his head if she suffered so much as a bruise at Skeezer's command. No one really understood the depth or nature of their relationship, but she was a well enough known associate of his that most in the Trenton underground wouldn't dare mess with her. It was the outsiders and the crazies she really had to worry about. "So you want to know if we've identified the remaining bodies and if we knew who's responsible."

"Basically."

Ranger was silent a moment. He'd planned on showing Steph the photographs in private. Where he could make up for their graphic nature with gentle affection. He couldn't do that in front of Pritchard. He debated asking Steph to step out, but he knew it would have been unfair to make the choice for her. Not to mention a severe vote of no confidence. She didn't always know it until after, but Steph was a strong woman. Stronger sometimes than even Ranger anticipated. And these wouldn't be the first mutilated bodies she'd ever seen, in photographs or in person. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a large manila envelope. "I was planning on going over these with Ms. Plum after I'd finished catching her up on the agency files. But since you're here."

He dropped the envelope on the desk and pulled out the stack of photographs. Laid them out. Grouping them together in clusters to illustrate the original crime scene. Steph moved in next to him to take an earnest look. She wasn't eager, but to her credit she didn't turn squeamish either. She leaned into him a little. Her hip brushing against his shoulder. Maybe taking comfort in his stoic presence. Ranger let an arm down behind her when Pritchard turned his attention to the photographs. Stroking the back of her knee. As much for reassurance as to offer distraction.

"These are a combination of official PD crime scene photos and shots taken by me and the men I had on scene. We were only able to identify four of the victims. The last was too far gone."

Pritchard nodded. "Hard to identify a body like that with no head."

Steph made a face. Her warmth pressing against his arm and shoulder. He couldn't help but find it cute. She wasn't comfortable. And she was a little annoyed that he was. She wanted to be stoic too. Unaffected by the blood and gore. Underestimating what he had to have seen and done in his life to be desensitized to something this brutal. Ranger hoped she would always be uncomfortable with things like this. He didn't want her to face what it would take to become like him.

He stroked the back of her leg again. "I can confirm that the first man from Skeezer's crew was named Garcia. I'm guessing that was one of your CIs?" Pritchard nodded. "We're still working on the second. Without identifying features, we have little to go on beyond a general guess that he used to be about 5'10", 180lbs. I've got someone working Skeezer's crew to identify him through process of elimination, in case the coroner has trouble fitting a name to the body. The others with Castillo were Angel Garza and Jaime Mendez. Mendez was low level, but Garza was an enforcer. Taking him out sends a serious message. It's a safe bet our John Doe was high level too, given the brutality."

Pritchard glanced up at them. Unhappy with the gravity of that. His eyes dropped to the crime scene photos again, understanding their meaning for the first time. "So you think we've got both a confidential informant and a high level officer each from two of the most influential gangs in the city?"

"It would seem so."

"Well, shit."

No kidding. This had hostile takeover written all over it.

"You think someone planned this all along?" Steph said. "Flood the market with bad drugs to upset the balance, and then start eliminating the competition?"

"Could be. Or it could be they saw an opportunity and took it."

"Any clue who 'they' are?" Pritchard asked.

"Not yet. But I've got all my resources working on it. No one wants a war."

"Someone does," Pritchard said, a frown etched into the lines of his good natured face. He let out a low breath. "Is it possible for me to get copies of these?"

"I'll have a set printed for you."

"Thanks. I appreciate that."

o o o

Pritchard didn't leave for another half hour. Going over the grizzly photos in detail until Steph was two steps shy of green. Any mood that might have remained from the near fucking upstairs having been effectively forgotten. He traced a strong line along the length of her leg and back again when they were alone. Hoping to ease some of her discomfort. "You alright?"

She nodded vaguely. "I wish I could have been more helpful."

"Give it time. It's a lot to take in all at once."

Something she was all too aware of. "Why do you have so much faith in me?" she asked. It made him smile. She thought that because she wasn't hard and jaded like him that she wasn't good at this. That somehow being soft hearted and clumsy lessened her value. It surprised him how much she underestimated herself. He didn't just have faith in her. She was tried and proven. And she didn't see it.

Ranger caressed the back of her thigh on his way up. Tugged her into his lap. She fell across the arms of his chair and onto his chest. Melting into him when he kissed her. He slid a hand under her shirt to feel her through her bra again, like the last half hour never existed. She stopped breathing for a few seconds and he was hard again. Incredible how she always had that effect on him. No matter what kind of shit was going on around them. He glanced at his watch. Damn. "If I had more time I'd take you right here on my desk."

"How much time do you have?"

He grinned at how breathless her voice was. "Not enough. I'd need a lot more for everything I want to do to you." She sucked in a breath at the way her body reacted to that. Just the promise was enough to make her wet. Complete putty in his hands. He held in a laugh. Brushed a light kiss across her lips as a teaser of things to come. "What did you have planned for the rest of the day?"

"Nothing much. I'm just waiting for a call on Ronald Walker."

He brushed a thumb across her nipple and he was rewarded with a squirm of pleasure. "If you like, you could take the rest of the case material upstairs and look it over. Spread it out across my bed. Get comfortable. If my meeting goes smoothly, I could be up in an hour or two. Then we could explore some of our options before we go out to meet with Gregorio."

"We?"

"If you want," he said, teasing her lips with his. "Should be interesting. He's been doing some legwork for me. Trying to find the weak link in the supply chain. What do you think?"

Her fist closed around his shirt to pull him onto her mouth. "I think I'm in."