Chapter 21
SPOV
I knew when I woke up that I was on my own, the bed felt empty and cold. Ranger had stayed with me as I'd fallen to sleep but refused to wake me when he was leaving, that was probably for the best. I already felt tearful at the thought of him going, it would have been a bad idea for him to see just how upset I was.
I made my way into the bathroom and after showering came back to the bedroom and changed, it was a jeans and T-shirt day today, maybe I'd go visit my parents later, yeah, I already felt guilty about not seeing them so maybe that's what I'd do. As I wondered into the kitchen, I noticed a rose set in a vase on the table with a card next to it, Ranger had left the card, so I assumed the rose as well. Picking up the card I read what it said, it was almost as if he had to have the last word.
"Stay here at Rangeman and use Santos to help you, please"
Okay, I'd probably do that, but I wasn't sure I could stay up here on seven on my own, I'd get used to it and that wasn't a good thing to do. Ranger could be gone for a long time and I needed to get back to work and get my life back under control. Plus, I didn't think Ranger had really thought through what he'd said, he wouldn't want me here for a long time.
I found some cereal and bread for toast and sat on my own trying to ignore how quiet it was, no I definitely couldn't stay here on my own. The feel of Ranger here was just too strong and I definitely didn't want my heart to get the wrong idea. He'd always told me his life didn't lend itself to relationships and me still being here would imply just that, that he was stuck in a relationship with me. In some ways I could see where he was coming from, I knew we were friends, but I wasn't confident enough to say that he would want me in his life.
Once I'd tidied up, I went down to five and found Les in the room I'd been working in.
"Morning Beautiful"
"Hi Les, sorry I didn't realize you worked in here"
"I don't, I was waiting on you"
"Okay, so what did you want?"
"Just to make sure we were all set for tomorrow"
"Yeah, the coffin with Buckley in should be there by 10 and the service is at 11. I'm not sure who'll turn up though, there may not be many there"
"Okay then we'll drive up just after 10. So, Ranger suggested that we both went after this latest skip of yours, how about you do the research and figure out the where and the how and we'll look to do that the day after tomorrow?"
"Okay"
I made to get up but Les put his hand on my arm stopping me.
"Where you going?"
"My cubbie"
"Work in here, the computers are all set up and there's more space"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. I've moved your in box in here as well so there's plenty to be doing, just make sure you take a couple of hours off to rest"
"Les I was thinking I needed to visit my parents tonight for dinner"
"No problem"
I watched as he left the room and then picked up the file that Connie had handed me, hell I didn't like the sound of this one, Ranger was right, no way could Lula and I have gone knocking on his door without someone getting hurt and usually that was me.
The man was called Shamus Goody and was 45 years old. He'd been married and divorced. I noted that he didn't live with his wife and there were no children involved but did wonder if her leaving him was the reason he started assaulting women. The file suggested that he was a predator of young women and he'd avoided being caught by threatening the women he assaulted until one was strong enough to stand up against him.
Now that the one woman had spoken up several others had followed suit. He worked as a personal trainer based at a gym out at Ewing Township but actually did a lot of his work at the clients' houses as well as at the gym. Hell, there was no way we could try to take him down when he was outside of a private residence, maybe as he left the gym might be a possibility. His address was given as Dunmore Avenue, so I looked up where that was to find that that address was the one for the gym. So much for Lula saying to go to that address, so I booted up the computer and opened the app to do a search.
Interesting, Shamus Goody's mother lived on the Burg, I wonder if he was back living at home, maybe Grandma might have some information. I noted that he clocked into the gym every morning at 8.30 but didn't clock out again until 7, why so late? I suppose maybe some clients would want their sessions after they finished work.
With that in mind I decided it was time for some lunch and probably a sleep, though I wasn't feeling as tired as yesterday but if I was to be at my parents for 6 then I would definitely need to be on top form. I found a sandwich in the break room and went into the elevator up to seven and then hesitated as I walked in.
It was so quiet inside and it felt so empty, all the energy that Ranger carried had gone, left with him, leaving a place that was cold and lifeless. I couldn't stay here, hell it had only been twelve hours since he'd left but I already felt so alone. When he came back and I was fully recovered and any danger was over I couldn't bare the idea of him just expecting me to leave, my heart wouldn't cope with that. It was bad enough with how we existed at the moment trying not to scare him away by being too dependent on him. I walked into the bedroom, trying to ignore everything of his and took out a bag and packed some clothes into it, the bathroom was just as bad but twenty minutes later as I left, I knew it was the right thing to do. The problem was did I go down to the apartment on four or go back to my own apartment? Then I remembered that Les had told me my apartment had been trashed, shit I'd need to go over there and sort that out.
As I stood waiting for the elevator to arrive, tears streaming down my face, the choice got taken straight out of my hands. Les pulled me into his embrace telling me Ranger would be okay, he'd be back soon, but that wasn't the problem I was facing at the moment. Before I knew it we were on four and Les had opened the door to the apartment I'd been in before.
"Beautiful he'll be back soon, why not stay on seven?"
"You don't understand Les, I can't do that"
"Why not, he'd expect it"
"And then what, I have to go back home sooner rather than later"
"Beautiful why would you want to do that?"
"I can't get too close to him because it would kill me when he told me to leave"
"Why would he ask you to leave?"
I looked at Les thinking how stupid that comment was, surely, he knew how Ranger was, hell he was just the same.
"I can't be a friend with benefits"
"But you're more than that"
"No, I'm not"
"What the hell has he said to you to make you think that?"
"He loves me in his own way, no ring but a condom would be useful. Or how about I'm a line item under entertainment"
"He actually said that?"
"Yeah, he isn't relationship material, his life doesn't lend itself to relationships so maybe now you can understand why staying up there is such a bad idea"
"Shit he said that"
I watched as Les drew his hands down over his face and then came and stood in front of me, oh god I so did not want a lecture from Les.
"You two are already in a relationship, hell Steph if he didn't love you why the hell is he constantly looking out for you, being there when you need him and asking us to make sure that you're okay"
"Because I'm like some stray cat he takes pity on and then puts back outside when he's tired of it"
I'd had enough, I so did not want to argue with Les and that's what would happen if I stayed in the same room as him. I pushed past him into the bedroom slamming the door behind me, thankful that the bag was still in my hand.
I fell onto the bed trying so hard to get a grip of myself. I'd heard Ranger's message loud and clear but that didn't stop the inevitable from happening. I fell in love with him, slowly at first but that whole incident with Scrogg and Ranger being shot was when I finally admitted it to myself.
I cried myself to sleep, not a very restful sleep and when I started to wake up my heart leapt as I felt someone next to me. Had Ranger come home so soon?
"You okay Beautiful?"
Les, why was he here, what did he want, to tell me what an idiot I was?
"I'm sorry Beautiful I didn't know"
"Yeah well, now you do"
"You know I think you're wrong"
"Doesn't matter what you think"
"Fair point, so you going to get ready for your parents?"
"What time is it?"
"5.20"
Shit I couldn't be late getting there, not when I hadn't been for a while and I certainly didn't want to be the cause of a ruined dinner. I picked up a skirt and sweater and went into the bathroom to freshen up and change. Returning to the lounge to find Les stood by the door.
"I'll drive you there and wait outside, Hector asked me to give this to you"
I took a watch from his hand realizing it was a tracker and panic button, okay maybe I did need it, I mean if I'd been wearing it when we went to that dam company I may not have been shot and Buckley might still be alive. It was then that I realized that if it weren't for me, he'd still be alive.
I had my bag with my phones in and put on a short jacket. It had pockets at the waist so if my shoulder began to ache, I could put my hand in the pocket. No way was I going to try and explain that I'd been shot, my mother would have a field day telling me to change my job. I was quiet on the drive over, of course Les insisted on driving, saying I couldn't because of my injury, and he was probably right.
I was feeling anxious as I walked up the path but had no idea why, maybe because this was the first time I'd seen my family in a while. So much had happened since then. My Dad was in the front room watching a game on TV so after saying hello I went through to the dining room to find my mother and Grandmother bringing things through.
"Stephanie get your Dad will you, I'll set out another place"
That done we all sat down to a roast chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. It was weird really because I'd loved this type of food once upon a time, but now it had no taste to it and seemed stodgy. Maybe it was because I was so used to Ella's cooking and I suppose she made sure that everything was healthy. Once our plates were full there was no conversation, in fact I don't think anyone had said hello to me except for my Dad. I ate what I could but couldn't finish everything on my plate.
"Stephanie, what's wrong with your food?"
"Nothing Mum, it was lovely but I'm full"
"Are you still ill?"
"I'm better than I was"
"What's that Baby girl, you've been ill?"
"Yeah I came down with pneumonia"
"You're better though?"
"Yeah, thanks Grandma"
"I hear Joseph is home this weekend Stephanie"
"I didn't know"
"Well maybe you can come to dinner on Sunday and I can ask him as well"
"No Mum, he's made a new life for himself in New York"
"That's not what I heard. Angie says he's homesick"
"What news do you have Grandma?"
So sue me, I had to get away from the conversation my mother was headed down.
"Quiet really, though some of the women are rabbiting on about going to the mall tomorrow"
"What for?"
"Seems some company's been selling faulty detectors, so we're going to buy some more"
"Mother I've told you it's just a rumor"
"It isn't actually"
"What you heard Steph?"
"The factory that made them have been reported and their carbon monoxide detectors are faulty"
"Oh dear, you need to check ours out Frank"
"Grandma, do you see much of Mrs. Goody?"
"Not really, she's having a hell of a time with that son of hers"
"Why's that?"
"Well he was fine when he got married but that wife of his was a bully. She belittled him so much he started to do bodybuilding, then she kicked him out of their house, so he went back to live with his mother"
"So, bodybuilding, is that why he's giving his mother hell?"
"Seems he's into them drugs that make your muscles bigger, maybe I should get myself some of those?"
"No Grandma, but how do the drugs make him hell?"
"He's fine in the morning when he leaves the house, but he starts downing the drugs when he finishes work so he's real nasty when he comes home. Poor Sheila doesn't know what to do, he goes out every night so angry"
"Are you looking for the son Stephanie?"
"Yeah, he attacked a woman, well several women, so he's FTA now"
"I hope you're not going after him on your own?"
"No mum, I'll have someone with me"
"Is that why there's a black car parked outside?"
"Les drove me here because he didn't think I was well enough to drive"
"I hope you're not hanging around with those thugs"
"They are not thugs Mum"
"No, they're real hot men"
"Mother"
"Especially that Ranger, now he's got "
"Grandma"
"So, I should expect you here more then?"
"Maybe"
"You can come shopping at the mall with me tomorrow"
"Sorry Grandma, but I have to go to a funeral tomorrow"
"I wasn't aware that you knew anyone that had died"
"I didn't know him for long Mum, but he was a kind man"
"Don't tell me he was someone you were chasing, you didn't kill him did you?"
"Mum, of course not"
"Well if you got a better a job at the button factory these things wouldn't happen to you"
As if, hell the trouble so far had nothing to do with my job. I think from her tone it was time to leave so I bent down to pick up my bag.
"You haven't had desert yet"
"I'm not that hungry Mum, I still haven't got my appetite back"
"I'll get you a bag"
"No, it's okay Mum"
I didn't want to offend her but somehow, I think that's just what I'd done, the look on her face confirming it.
"I'll see you on Sunday then"
"No Mum, I'll call and let you know when I have time to come"
I stood up and started for the door seeing the wink that came from my Grandma and the smile from my Dad, what was that all about? My Grandmother walked down the hall with me and was set to continue down the path to see Les but as if she remembered something she stopped and touched my arm.
"She's trying to keep from telling you what to do but she still has her slip ups"
"Thanks Grandma"
"Your Dad and I are on her case, don't you worry"
I walked down to the black SUV and thought about what Grandma had said, dam, I should have asked her what they were doing especially my Dad, I mean he never said much and I couldn't really see him standing up to my Mum. I didn't say anything to Les as I got into the car and I was grateful for the silence as we headed back to Rangeman.
