Chapter 36

Epilogue

So here we were again sat in the conference room but this time all the papers from the wall had been taken down, photocopied and put into boxes, yeah that's how much paper work we had. One box would go into storage here at Rangeman and the other was for Nathan to add to the evidence that he had already collected. I wasn't too sure about him having access to my story but he had promised that only he and his boss would to look at it. Nathan was here with a man I assumed was the boss, a tall man in his fifties who carried himself tall with all the decorum befitting a man in uniform, Joe Juniak who was talking avidly to Tank and a man I didn't recognize but who Ranger had introduced to me as Eli Franklin, the FBI agent in charge of the case. I had Nathan sat to my left but it was having Ranger to my right that kept me grounded trying to prepare myself for conversations that would finally allow me to get my life back without fear and move on with Ranger. Yeah, we were definitely moving on, as I looked at the ring on my left hand a very recent addition that had me swooning at the memory of how Ranger had proposed to me. We decided to spend a couple more days in Miami after Claire was arrested and decided to take advantage of the beach house, I'm sure Ranger was thinking of me and my love for the sea when he suggested the house. We'd spoken with Julie and she'd spent that first day with us, relishing her time with her father. It had been a lovely day, just relaxing by the pool and ordering a Chinese takeaway. I could see the affection they had for each other and that this day had given them an opportunity to deepen their relationship. Whilst I had tried to stay out of their way to give them quality time on their own it was Julie who insisted that I was always included. The following day Ranger and I had walked for miles along the beach sometimes lost in our own thoughts and other times really opening up to each other our inner most feelings. When we returned to the beach house it looked as though my fairy godmother had visited, there were lanterns and lights, flowers and plants adorning the area at the back of the house, all leading down to a pergola set up by the edge of the water. My instructions were to shower and change and when ready meet Ranger by the gate. I was excited and intrigued so went through my rituals very quickly, noticing a beautiful dress laid on the bed for me, along with some very sexy underwear. Ranger was waiting at the gate as promised and as he walked he linked my arm through his, escorting me to the pergola that now held covered dishes ready for us to savor the exotic smells coming from them.

As we sat watching the sun disappear and the moonlight dancing on the water we fed each other warm lobster, pan-fried sea bass with citrus dressed broccoli and just for me a heart shaped tiramisu with honeycomb crunch. As we left the pergola and started to walk up the path Ranger lifted me in his arms and then putting me down he went down on one knee.

"Babe, I love you so deeply, to the ends of the earth. Will you marry me?"

Did I stop and think? No, I knew the answer and without a moment's hesitation I knelt in front of him.

"Yes, I'll marry you because I love you, forever"

I smiled and then was brought out of my daydream by Ranger calling for the meeting to start. There were introductions before the main business started, starting with Nathan. "I was to find the person or persons responsible for selling secrets to overseas countries, I initially began by finding out that Edward Daine had information but when he disappeared I sought out Steph to help find him, I'm sorry Steph, because that may have brought her to some ones attention. When leads ran dry I followed the money and a link with the cartels in Honduras and followed it to the island in Pennsylvania. That's where I met up with Steph again and with help were able to bring in Bernal and an accomplish Finn Coleman, there was enough evidence to arrest both of them for murder and treason. Then following a lead from Ranger we found out that the driving force behind all the schemes was Claire Higgs, wife of Lieutenant Colonel Higgs and daughter of Colonel Wilbert. She was the one who followed us to Philadelphia and Albany and tried to get to Steph at the hospital. All three have been questioned and both Higgs have been charged, Higgs followed his wife's suggestion to call you Ranger and triangulate where you were and tried to shoot you outside of Rangeman, though it seems the Colonel was unaware of what the others were up to he allowed himself to be manipulated. As of now he has been removed from his position and the army are dealing with him separately"

"Eli"

"I dealt with Edward Daine as a witness and sent in Agent Finn Coleman undercover to find the man whom Edward had pointed a finger at. It was Coleman who betrayed Edward's whereabouts resulting in Edward disappearing and Coleman who suggested using Miss Plum to Bernal. He got caught up with the power and money Bernal offered him. Coleman has been charged with kidnapping, murder and treason"

"Joe"

"Morelli was infatuated with the idea that Steph had to be his wife and was stupid and naïve enough that he allowed himself to be manipulated by Bernal and his men. He's being charged with harassment, as he provided the photographs that were sent to Ranger. Unfortunately I can't do more, he really only provided the photographs and the prosecuters office doesn't think we have enough evidence but is willing to have a go at adding accessory to kidnapping and assault. He'll lose his badge and serve time in a prison out of state, then he has agreed to relocate to the west coast" aided and abetted

"Joe we have the tape from when he barged in here surely that would go a long way to providing evidence against him

"I think you're right I''d say he aided and abetted kidnapping and attempted murder, if I have my way he'll never see the west coast"

"Steph has suffered a lot from the hands of all these people and we've both gone through some extreme emotional upheavals, Steph do you have any questions or anything else to add?"

I didn't know what to say to respond to Ranger in front of everyone here, the people who we'd identified all seemed to have been arrested and hopefully would spend a long time in prison.

"Will Edward be able to return home Mr Franklin?"

"Yes, he will be giving evidence and then he can resume his life, though I could appreciate if you wanted to press charges for him instigating your injury at the falls"

"No, I think me getting hurt was an accident. As long as the main culprits spend a very long time in prison then I feel that the whole matter is closed"

Ranger took my hand and placed it on his knee, we'd talked about what had happened and whom we both felt were to blame, so I knew he supported what I'd said and me.

Ranger stood up taking me with.

"Gentlemen if that's all then Steph and I have somewhere we need to be"

I'm sure I was smiling as he led me out of the room and deposited me in the lift.

"I'll see you in 2 hours"
Then gave me a kiss that made my toes curl, my heart speed up and my voice moaning with his touch. The doors closed all too soon for me, but I knew I only had two hours to get myself ready.

Two hours later I was heading back up the lift to seven, yeah he'd banned me from that floor and made me use an apartment on four. When the doors opened I was amazed to find the other man in my life that I would call one of my best friends.

"Honey you look beautiful, are you sure about this?"

"Diesel I've never been more sure of anything"

"Good, I'm glad you two got there in the end"

"I didn't hear any alarms go off"
"Ranger threatened to shoot me"

We walked up the flight of stairs, arm in arm that took us to the roof and as the door opened all I could see was Ranger, stood in front of a table adorned with flowers. He looked so handsome in his suit but all I really saw were his eyes watching me as Diesel led me down a silver carpet that had pink rose petals adorning it. My friends were here, the Merry Men, the Vet Men, Connie, Lula and Mary Lou. They were my true family here to celebrate my marriage to the man that I truly loved.