Disclaimer: The characters are property of Janet Evanovich and I am not making any money from this story. The story line is mine.

Warning: Angst and High Drama and Violence.

Finding Yesterday 13

By, Elissahara30

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

I never really understood what Ranger had meant when he told me to focus on my goal. It takes a lot of emotional strength to not just fall apart. At night, when the darkness threatens to drown me, I think of all the things that are happening to him. I try not to blame myself for failing to get him out the first time. For putting my trust in someone who had ulterior motives and played me for a fool. And I try not to wonder if he forgives me for leaving him behind.

I had never been able to reach total emotional lock down. Until now. I worked hard on making sure I was strong. I ran, I plotted, and I used my gun without fear. I read reports that came in on The Cavilers. I hunted down anyone who had a connection to Eleanor. And I found their weak link.

After all this time, I understood total emotional discipline and it should have frightened me.

Paris was a site to behold, as I watched the sun set over the Trocadero an eerie sense of electricity vibrated off my skin. It was a sensation I associated so closely to Ranger. He was here in my heart. He was lending me his strength so I could bring him home.

I leaned against the upper second floor railing of the Eiffel Tower and closed my eyes as the night's breeze caressed my skin. There was a bitter mustiness in the air and I opened my eyes again and made my way to the stairs. The interior of the tower cast an orange glow across the floor as I slowly descended the stairs. I politely ignored the idol chatter of an elderly couple who were making their way past me.

I walked along the circular promenade and stood before the doors leading into Altitude 95 Restaurant, aware that Python was on the first floor north pillar, not far from my position. I brushed a stray hair behind my ear as I carefully switched on my ear piece and mike.

I casually looked at the lighting of the round door before me smiling as couples entered the restaurant, "Status?"

"All clear, you're good to go," Python said with deft precision.

I let one humorless smile play across my lips as I looked back toward the stairs, "Is DM in position?"

The pause over the earpiece was intense and heavy. I was very aware of the risk I was taking in allowing DM to take part in this op. DM was a chameleon and right now I needed him on the inside.

"Yeah," was Python's strangled answer, "I also have The Christian on the second floor and Spider is at the Esplanade under the tower."

"Good, I want radio silence unless something comes up. Understood?"

"Just try not to blow up the tower; we can't completely destroy all of France's cultural icons," Python smirked over the radio, "After all we have to pace ourselves."

"Asshole," I bite under my breath.

"Only for you sweetheart, only for you," was Python's reply.

I plaster on a smile as I entered the Altitude 95 Restaurant. I took a moment to just appreciate the simple beauty of the room. The place was huge with a bar and what I assumed was more dining on the second floor. I looked over at the bar and nodded at DM before I made my way to the Maitre'd's stand. The man was in his late forties and his smile was full of gleaming white teeth, "Good evening Mademoiselle, do you have a reservation?"

I smile warmly at the Maitre'd, "I'm surprising a friend." I said as I leaned forward ever so slightly and I watched as his eyes track down to my chest, "We are very special friends." I purred.

"Hmm," he says to my chest, "And his name?"

I trace a finger against the lapel of his shirt and ever so lightly whispered the name in his ear. I breathed delicately against his all the little delicate hairs and smiled as he shivered. I pull back and give him my best seductive smile.

"Yes," The Maitre'd's smile almost transformed into a leer, "Please follow me."

I followed the Maitre'd past the bar and up the stairs to the second floor, we worked our way around to the more select and secluded seating in the back of the restaurant where the views of Paris were more stunning. There were many diners who wanted privacy to go along with their over priced meals simply ignored me.

I saw my mark's back, his head bent down as he read from some papers on the table. I turned and quietly excused the Maitre'd so I wouldn't give myself away too soon. I watched the man before me, arrogant in his importance that he discounts his surroundings so easily. How many times had Ranger told me to be more aware of my surroundings? Way too many times to count. After all you never know at what angle the enemy would present itself.

I make a slow approach toward the table. Noticing the tenseness in his shoulders as he writes furiously on one of the forms in front of him, I made a slow circle around the table and sat myself down across from him, "We meet again Marty."

I couldn't help the predatory smile that tugged at my lips as Marcel Reynard looked over at me with wide shocked eyes, "Dahlia?"

"No today, Marcel. Once upon a time I was known as Stephanie Plum," I said as I let my New Jersey accent come across for the first in over a year, "But if you play nice, I'll let you call me Jersey."

Sweat started bead on Marcel's upper lip as he grabbed at his goblet of water and took a deep drink. "You shouldn't be here," he said. "It's not safe."

I sit back and lazily poured myself a goblet of water from the glass pitcher on the table. I took one delicate sip all the while not taking my eyes from Marcel. I set the glass down on the table, "The question is," I drawled out all the while reveling in my East Coast accent, "Who is it that is in danger . . . you . . . or me?"

Marcel laughed as his eyes quickly scanned the room, "Shouldn't that be obvious."

"It all boils down to a matter of perspective." I said.

"What do you want?" He demanded as he tugs at a loose string on his napkin.

"Ranger."

Marcel's adams apple bobbles as he reaches for his goblet again takes another drink. His hands start to shake as he says, "I don't have him anymore."

"Maybe," I said. "But you know where I can find him."

"And why do you think I would risk my life to help you." He demanded as he started to rise out of his chair.

"I know your secret," I watched as Marcel sat down heavily and spilt his water on the table soaking the papers he had laying there. He swore under his breath as he wipes up the mess using his cloth napkin.

"You're bluffing," he said.

I was the worst poker player known in Trenton, New Jersey, but time and persistence honed my ability to hide my emotions, "The SGA needed an inside guy to feed them information about the Cavilers." I picked up one of Marcel's damp papers and glanced at it, "What did they offer you? A way out of organization, more money, or a way to allow you to keep your pets?"

I looked up meeting Marcel's eyes coldly, "If I figured it out, it is only a matter of time before Eleanor will make the same connections."

"You're wrong," Marcel whispered his lips tight with tension.

"I think I'm dead sure," I hissed as I leaned across the table, "I know you're the mole for the SGA. You gave them the in, but you didn't bank on Eleanor did you?"

"I can't help you," he said again and he picked up his papers and tried to leave.

DM clamped his hands on Marcel's arm and sat him back down. DM pulled up a chair and sat down at our table. "The lady is not done talking to you," DM voice heavy with dangerous intent.

Marcel's wide eyes swung from DM to me "Are you trying to get me killed."

"If you help me, I can get you out." I said.

Marcel shook his head, "No one leaves the Cavaliers alive."

"You do this, you get me Ranger, and I swear I will get you out. You can start over without the Cavaliers." I leaned forward, pressing my chance, "I know people who can help you disappear."

Marcel let out a chocked laugh, "She won't let me go."

"Let me worry about Eleanor." I said and I looked over at DM and nodded. He pulled out an envelope and handed it over to Marcel, "Inside is a contact that will start the process to get you out. You screw with me Marcel; Eleanor will be the least of your worries."

Marcel hesitated for a moment before taking the envelope. He looked up at me and I saw the naked fear in his eyes. I knew that look, I've seen in a dozen times reflected back at me from the mirror. Marcel stood gathered up his papers and walked away. DM looked over at me but I shook me head.

"You think he'll take the out," DM said.

"If he's smart, he'll take it." I looked at DM and sighed, "But I think he'll give the information to Eleanor."

"Then why in hell did we come here anyway?" DM demanded.

I turned away from DM and saw a man in a dark suit get up from one of the small tables by the oval railing and exit down the stairs behind Marcel, "What better way to flush out an enemy than make yourself present around town." I smirked, thinking back to when I was out and acting bait for Scrog. God that was almost a lifetime ago.

I clicked my radio, "What's the status?" I asked.

"Reynard's left the promenade," Python's deep voice said over the radio.

"Spider let me know when you have a visual," I said and DM scowled at me as his blue eyes bore into mine. It almost felt normal for us to be sitting here, but nothing could quite extinguish the undercurrent of distrust that hung in the air.

"He has entered the Esplanade," came Spider's quiet voice. I started to relax when all of a sudden there was a loud baba-boom that shook the entire restaurant so hard it rattled the glasses on all the tables. DM and I stood up abruptly and tried to get a visual from the second floor window. A fire ball cascaded out from under the tower, trailing thick black smoke into the air.

"Spider!" I yelled as fear suddenly gripped me. I turned as DM was running toward the stairs barking orders over his own radio, the other dinners was alternated between complete panic trying to exit the restaurant and morbid curiosity by making their way toward the windows. "Python, Christian, come in," I said as my own panic started to lick at my belly.

All I could hear over the radio was hazy static. I don't know how long I stood there frozen in shock. DM came back toward me and grabbed my arm pulling me hard, "I think we can get out through the service entrance." He shouted over the noise.

I nodded my head dumbly as he led me away. We made our way past the throng of people back toward the kitchens; then I felt all the little hairs raise on the back of my neck and goose flesh creep down my arms. I turned around and there not 25 feet away was Eleanor, raising her glass of champagne in toast to me. I lost sight of her as DM pulled me around the corner.

A/N: At last another chapter. I must say I love my internet. Take the virtual tour of the Eiffel Tower. It is so darn cool.