All characters named in this chapter were created by Janet Evanovich, Except Helen a.k.a. Elena created by AutumnDreaming and Charlie created by Charles Martin in the novel "When Crickets Cry".

Steph's POV

Ranger had taken a call while we were watching Jean Ellen's ambulance pull away. He walked away from us to speak in private. He seemed pleased with the news, whatever it was, although it wouldn't be accurate to say he looked happy about it either. Maybe relieved would be a better way of putting it. Ranger had been much more open lately, but when he came back over to us, he didn't offer anything about the phone call. I supposed it was because we were in mixed company.

Ranger sent Elena and me back to Rangeman, with orders to stay in his apartment and not to leave. Morelli seemed shocked by this, but Ranger said something about acceptable arrangements having been made. Was he talking about us? Ranger and me? What were the acceptable arrangements he was talking about? Before I had a chance to ask any questions, Tank and Lester were pushing us into a black Rangeman SUV. Ranger and Morelli were heading out, each in their own vehicle.

This was the sort of thing that usually made me crazy. I knew that Morelli and Ranger were going to have to handle the clean up and paperwork, but they were also making plans to catch Vito, and they were doing all of it without me. The clean up part I was okay with. It was the other part that had me a little steamed. But, thank God, I was too worn out and exhausted to care about anything more than a long, hot shower with Ranger's high-power shower massage and delicious Bulgari shower gel.

Sure enough, I still had clothes in Ranger's closet. Elena borrowed a pair of black sweats and a black T-shirt from Ranger. They were ridiculously large on her, but she was clean and comfy enough to lounge around the apartment. We camped out on the couch and watched TV for a few hours before heading to bed. I knew chances were good we weren't going to see Ranger till tomorrow.

The sunlight was streaming through the windows when I opened my eyes. I knew Ranger was back. I could hear his clothes rustle as he leaned against the doorframe watching us.

"How are my girls this morning?" he asked, with only a hint that the sight of two women in his bed amused him. To me, he sounded mostly comforted to find us safe, sound, and rested. It also meant he'd done his job well.

"Don't get any ideas," Elena shot at him.

Ranger just grinned with a menacing glint in his eyes like he might devour us. He didn't mean it, but he couldn't resist playing. Good. If Ranger felt playful, things had gone well overnight.

There was a bag of donuts and fresh coffee in the kitchen. Elena and I dove into the donuts while Ranger drank his black coffee and brought us up to date.

"Terry had given info to Morelli sometime long before about Vito's retirement plans. She said he wanted to buy a huge spread in Argentina. While his money would certainly go father in South America, I doubt Argentina is his true destination. Vito didn't grow this old by trusting anyone, especially family. That's the only reason he's still alive today. Terry did try to poison him. We found evidence of that."

"So, why did Vito take Kenny? Is he still trying to get the money from him?" I asked.

"Vito has his own money. I think he took him because he chose Kenny, put him in charge, and he wants to believe that he still has the money. Plus, Vito doesn't like spilling his own blood. But, when he finds out what really happened to the money, he'll start feeling better about it."

"So, if Kenny had told him the truth already, he'd be dead?" Elena asked.

"Yes. Keeping his mouth shut was the only way he could stay alive," Ranger said. "But if he keeps losing body parts, he's going to talk."

"Wouldn't Vito already have found out Kenny lost the money gambling? I mean, Connie knew. Doesn't Vito know?" I asked.

"No way," Ranger laughed. "No loan shark or bookie in his right mind would admit to fleecing Vito Grizolli's heir apparent. And if they knew at the time that Kenny stole the money from Vito, that's the same as stealing from Vito directly. No better way to find yourself under a fresh slab of cement."

"So, where do you think Vito went?" I asked.

"I have a few ideas, and I have eyes out…a lot of eyes" Ranger said. "The real question is how to get close to him once we find him. He'll have at least two bodyguards with him. More than that in an airport would draw a crowd. He'll be trying to fly private or charter a boat from an individual, and off the grid if possible. I think I've got that market covered. He'll turn up. When he does, someone has to get close to him, take out the guards, and then we can take him down, preferably alive and in one piece."

"Why does it sound like there's a catch?" Elena asked.

"There is. The catch is that Vito has paid good money to obtain photo id's of all of the cops, feds, Rangeman personnel, and other East Coast and freelance mercenaries who might come after him. That file includes the two of you. We have to have a fresh face. Someone they haven't seen before."

"You have someone in mind," I said. I knew when Ranger was leading up to something.

"I do. And he's agreed wholeheartedly to help us."

Vito was wearing a disguise and was barely recognizable. He didn't seem the least bit broken up about the death of his nephew, whose mangled and mutilated body was found in a water-filled pit at a construction site near the Delaware the day before.

Vito had chartered a small private jet from a small community airport in Orlando. Ranger explained that the plan was to enter a South American country, drop off the three passengers and take on three passengers and return as if they had been on a sight-seeing trip looking over some real estate. No one would realize the plane had landed, or that a wanted man had escaped the country.

As Vito stood, waiting by the windows with a goon on either side, all three appeared non-descript, dressed in black suits and sunglasses. Vito wore a dark brown Panama hat, and had colored some of his gray a caramel brown.

A man was sitting in a chair in the lounge. Vito studied him as they entered, appraising his dress, his face, and his companion. After a few minutes of looking into the man's eyes, he seemed satisfied, and gave a wave of acceptance to the thugs who were prepared to clear the area.

An announcement brought the man slowly to his feet, and he and his companion, a seemingly arthritic German Shepherd, to their feet. Both moved as if it required a lot of effort, and once on their feet, the man extended a long white cane with a red tip. They approached, the dog almost pulling at the lead. Suddenly, the man released the dog. "Take down, left, Achilles!" The dog launched himself at the guard on his left, growling and biting as he knocked the 250lb muscle to the floor. The man yelled, striking the other goon in the gut with the red end of the cane before bringing it down on his back as the goon doubled over.

Without warning, the man was on Vito Grizolli, wrestling him to the ground, but the goon grabbed him and pulled him off. While the two men struggled, Vito got to his feet and ran, leaving his Panama behind. He only made it about fifteen feet before he was thrown to the floor. Four huge paws dug into his back and he felt hot breath and teeth against his ear and neck.

Ranger appeared out of nowhere and cuffed Vito while Achilles ripped up the material of Vito's suit jacket. Ranger seemed satisfied to let Achilles toss Vito around like a rag-doll until Elena called him off. Tank had one goon in tow, and Charlie had the other, following Tank's echoing footfalls.

"Now, that's what I call the long paw of the law!" Charlie said, calling Achilles over to him and patting him on the head.

Everybody groaned. "That was so bad!" Elena said laughing. "So bad it's almost funny!" She handed him his walking stick, which surprisingly was still in working order. She checked him over. A cut over his eye was bleeding a little. She dabbed at it with a damp paper towel at the water fountain as I brought him some wrapped ice from the drink station.

"I might not be able to see out of that eye for a while," he said, grinning down at her.

She wrapped both arms around him. "That's okay," she said. "Because now, I can see you."

To be continued...