Chapter 48
SPOV
"Marry me Babe"
Did I hear right or was it just post orgasmic thinking, but when I leaned back and looked into his face he seemed nervous. I took his face in my hands and lent forward so that I could whisper in his ear.
"Say it again"
"Marry me Babe"
"Say it louder"
He laughed as he too remembered the episode in the closet when he wanted to hear the only words that he wanted to hear. This time he raised his voice and it was my face in his hands as he looked deep into my eyes.
"I love you querida, please say you'll marry me"
When Morelli had asked the same question I'd panicked but now hearing Ranger asking me my heart soared at his words.
"Yes I'll marry you Ricardo Carlos Manoso, because I love you as well"
Where a ring came from I have no idea but I watched fascinated as he slipped it onto my finger then held my hand to kiss where it lay.
"The water's getting cold let's continue our celebration properly in bed"
I nodded my head in agreement and felt him lift me and place me on the floor, slowly drying me with a large fluffy towel. After I returned the gesture I was lifted again and carried through to the bedroom where we made love to each other, sealing our feelings for each other through emotions so intense. At some stage he allowed me sleep and with my mind filled with so many happy thoughts fell into a deep and restful sleep.
When I awoke I was alone and a panic overtook me, had I dreamed what happened last night? I calmed as I raised my left hand to see that there was a ring there, a beautiful ring with a round white, maybe blue diamond set in platinum, with smaller diamonds at the sides. It was simple and elegant with the diamond protected within the setting so that I couldn't catch it on clothes or more importantly when I was working. I must have drifted back to sleep because the next thing I knew I could feel soft kisses on my face and opened my eyes to a smiling Ranger.
"Come on sleepy head we have a meeting to get to"
"What time is it?"
"Nearly eight"
That meant the meeting would be scheduled for 8 sharp so knowing that I had one of the quickest showers I'd ever had and found a Rangeman uniform and underwear all ready for me on the bed. I quickly tied my hair into a ponytail and as I went into the kitchen Ranger was already holding the door open ready to leave.
"Ella's providing us with breakfast down there"
Thank goodness for that because I really felt hungry this morning. As we entered the lift I realized I was only wearing my socks, oh well, as long as I remembered to put shoes on before I went out. The men were already there when we arrived and there were lots of things on the side table to eat, so taking a plate I put something of each dish on it and then poured a mug of coffee. As I sat down Ranger started the meeting.
"Hector?"
"The banker, Boyd, nothing unusual during the work day but he goes to a private club down in South Trenton, The Peremptory Club. The building doesn't betray what it is and the only access seems to be through a guarded underground garage. I'm still trying to find out information on it"
"Ram?"
"Malory Gibson, he's been real busy at work, some late nights, nothing on the phone"
"Lester?"
"I have an alias set up; Hector is in the process of uploading the info. I've got all the credentials I need so I suppose you want me to find a way into that club?"
"If you can"
"You all know what went down at that motel and with Morelli, well we had reason to visit Sandra's apartment last night and some of the things that were well hidden have gone"
"Beautiful, what things?"
"Wigs and makeup"
"I'm not sure how that fits in here"
"Well, it's just that, shit it sounds so stupid this morning"
"Steph thought she saw Sandra because she saw the wig"
"There could be a logical explanation"
"I know Lester but"
The internal phone interrupted me from continuing what I was going to say; I stopped watching Ranger as he answered. Normally when we had meetings there were strict instructions not to disturb us so something must be amiss.
"Yo"
"What did he have to say"
"When?"
"Where and what time?"
"I'll deal with it"
As he finished he wrote a number down on the pad in front of him and then turned to me, shit, something was going on and for some reason I knew I wasn't going to like it.
"Babe your father called and because he couldn't get through to you he left a message at the desk"
My phone, I had it last night when I showed Ranger that photo, I looked around and sure enough it was sat on the edge of his desk in his office, probably flat by now.
"You've been requested to attend a meeting with Morelli's lawyer, the reading of his will"
Oh god no, why would Morelli include me? I mean we'd been finished for weeks.
"Babe? He probably didn't update his will, not many people do"
"Okay when and where?"
"Tomorrow at 10pm at the lawyer's offices"
All right I could maybe manage doing that, I think, as long as it wasn't Dickie Orr who was the lawyer.
"Babe?"
"What?"
"The lawyer is Malory Gibson"
"Shit"
"I'll have Sam go with you"
"Who's Sam"
"Samuel Dias, he's my lawyer and he'll make sure you're kept safe"
"I don't follow"
"He's ex JAG Corps or Military Lawyer, now civilian, he's also Ranger's brother in law"
"He still trains when he can and he will look out for you"
Brother in law!
"Babe you'll like him, I'll get him to meet you here in the morning"
That seemed to be the end of that conversation, maybe if he'd asked me instead of telling me I wouldn't feel so annoyed or mad? I knew I wanted someone to go with me but couldn't we have discussed it first? I mean he was Ranger's brother and I didn't know him and what if he told the rest of his family how fucked up my life was, they'd hate me before I even met them.
"Where are you up to at finding Hugo Babe?"
I looked at him and then around at the men watching me and just like that it was back to business.
"I need to follow up on something and then maybe I'll have a better idea of where he is"
"Okay let's meet in the morning, put anything you find on the boards"
Everyone left the room and I decided I needed to as well, I felt trapped being in here, unable to breathe. I walked from the room, ignoring Ranger shouting after me and headed for the lift, taking it down to the garage. Grabbing a set of keys from the board and pressing the fob to see which car they belonged to I headed for the car, then once inside started up the engine and screeched out through the gate. I didn't know where I was driving and in hindsight I knew it was a bad idea, the car would have a tracker somewhere on it and I'd soon have company. Somehow I ended up in the car park by the park where I'd come with Hector maybe my subconscious wanted me to go there, to feel the breeze in my hair and the quiet of the place and as Hector had said to find myself. I followed the pathway round the lake, walking slowly trying not to think at all, why had I bolted? Because all I could here was the voice of my mother from when I'd visited her with Hector. "Because you have always been a defiant child, thinking you know what's best for you, what else would I expect from you?" "Grow up Stephanie, of course you'll come here. Who else would put up with your antics?" Was it me, did I need someone to control my life? No, I was changing, or at least trying to, so why the hell hadn't I just told him I was annoyed at him, instead I revert to my unpredictable stupid way of managing my feelings and run. Half way round I saw a bench and sat down, leaning down with my head in my hands on my knees. I didn't deserve him and now I'd walked out on him, I wouldn't be surprised if he asked for his ring back, I mean who on earth would want to marry someone like me. I knew Ranger was near, I could sense him, the tingle down my neck that was so unique to him. I felt him sit down next to me, his leg brushing mine and then felt his arm around my shoulder.
"I'm sorry Babe, I was out of line"
"No, it's me"
"Hector just about took me off my feet when he saw you leave the garage, he said that I sounded just like your mother telling you what to do. I'm so sorry Babe, I just never thought"
"You were just looking out for me"
"I should have talked to you first, on our own and given you the choice"
"I shouldn't have run, I should have stood up to you"
He lifted my knees and swivelled me so I that ended up sat sideways, my legs over his.
"Forgive me Babe?"
"If you forgive me?"
"Done"
I snuggled under his arm staring across the calm water of the lake, I don't think we needed to say anything to each other, we both knew we'd each overstepped the boundary.
"I don't mind someone coming with me, in fact I'd prefer that"
"Sam is Celia's husband I knew him before they married in fact I probably introduced them. He's a good man but doesn't suffer fools and I know he'll keep you safe. I think that's why I just blurted it out when the news came in, keeping you safe is so important to me"
"Please just talk to me if it involves me, don't take my choices away or try to control me"
"Never, I know you hate it, from now on though we talk through things together, okay?"
"Okay"
"Come on let's get out of here before Hector sends in reinforcements"
I laughed as he gently lifted me to my feet and then he stopped still.
"What's wrong?"
"You've nothing on your feet"
"I left in a hurry, I'll be fine"
"Babe why here?"
"Not sure really except this is where Hector brought me after a really bad conversation with my mother"
He turned me into him a hand on my back and one in my hair and kissed me with so much tenderness I was close to tears. I noticed the car I'd driven here was gone so went with Ranger to his Porsche letting him open my door and help me in. He looked across at me as he switched on the engine.
"Where would you like to go?"
"Rangeman I need to find Hugo, besides I haven't got any shoes on and my feet are cold"
So that's where we headed for, pulling up in the garage in his parking spot. I opened the door myself and was surprised when I saw Hector there with his hand open to me to help me out.
"You okay Estefania?"
"Yes, thanks Hector"
"De nada"
Once back in the office I went back to my work, I had a lead to follow on Hugo and I was determined to find him. I called Droguespharma making sure I'd blocked my number first.
"Good morning Droguespharma how may I help?"
" I have a problem with the last delivery you made and am trying to chase it up"
"What was the problem Ma'am?"
"Well we had a temp in and she got us muddled up with another company, if I give you the date of the transaction and the amount maybe you could verify what information she gave you"
"But I'll need a name or address"
"Yeah I know but seeing as she gave you the wrong information I thought maybe you would be able to help, please, the boss is going nuts with me"
"I know how that feels, bare with me while I put a search on for the date and amount"
I waited and waited praying that I was on the right track with this company and let out an audible sigh of relief when the woman came back on the phone.
"I think I found it, the address she gave was Miriam Pharmaceuticals trading from
Waterview Drive Hamilton, did she give me the right address?"
"Partly, it should have been Melina, but that's okay I'll make sure we get it right the next time, thank you so much for helping"
"My pleasure Ma'am"
I knew this was the place but I didn't know why, something was dancing around in my head, something I'd read and for some reason the information I'd just found out about had me trying to remember what it was. I looked at the boards for inspiration and then stood up and took down the search on Hugo, I knew it, it was the name that I'd recognized because his first wife, the one who had died was called Miriam. I knew Ranger had meetings with clients today but wasn't sure of his schedule so I as I walked through his office I jumped when he called out my name.
"Sorry, I thought you knew I was here"
"No, I thought you had client meetings"
I walked over to him as he pushed his chair away from his desk and slowly sat down across his knee, running my lips from the side of his face toward his neck.
"I've found Hugo"
It took a few seconds for that information to sink in but when it did he shook his head as if clearing it and pushed me away from him with his hands on my shoulders.
"What did you just say?"
"I've found Hugo"
"Local?"
"Yes"
"I've got some news as well"
"Okay what?"
"I'm bringing in a good friend to help out"
"How does that affect me?"
"Well he helped look for you in Quebec so he can help keep an eye open on both of us"
"So some men know about him?"
"Yes, Tank, Santos and Brown know him from the army and Hector met him in Quebec"
"Why the secrecy?"
"That woman turning up at the restaurant last night, I can't help thinking it was too much of a coincidence"
"What about home?"
"I always turn my tracker off when we go there and Hector and Santos are the only ones who know about it"
"Do I get to meet him?"
"If you want to"
"I better had or else I'll think he's stalking me"
"Okay when he gets here I'll arrange for you to meet him"
"What about Hugo?"
"Maybe that might be a good job for Stix, do a surveillance of the place to check it out and see who else is around"
"Anything else?"
"I spoke with Sam and he said he'd meet you here at 9 so you can get to know him a bit better"
"Hell I'd forgotten about that, do you think there'll be other people there?"
"Probably"
I didn't like the idea of that because I had the feeling the other people would be his family and if Morelli had included me in his will they wouldn't be pleased about that.
"Do you want to go home or stay here tonight?"
"Home if that's okay with you"
"Definitely"
As we drove home from Rangeman I thought about the meeting in the morning so I was miles away not hearing Ranger talking to me.
"Babe, are you worried about tomorrow?"
"I was, but then I thought about it and I'm in the mindset that this could gleam some information about the lawyer Gibson and maybe about Morelli as well. I'm going to play the inconsolable girlfriend, that regrets us breaking up, so maybe we need Sam to be up to speed about it"
"Agreed, I have your watch with me so remember to wear it, and Sam will be wearing a mic so that we have a recording. Babe only you and I will listen to it, okay?"
"Okay"
