Chapter 40

SPOV

I watched as Ranger left pleased to see my bag sat on the counter in the kitchen. Both of the phones still had some charge in them so stealing myself I pushed the contact for my parents, wondering what reception I would be getting.

"Plum residence"
"Hey Mum"
"Stephanie, where have you been"
"Working out of town. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?"
"Well I assume you must think something is wrong if you felt the need to harass Rangeman"
"I needed to talk with you"
"So what's wrong?"
"You need to come to dinner"
"Don't think so Mum, I'm busy"
"Stephanie I'm worried about you. Are you alone?"
"Yes, but"
"Are you hurt?"
"No, why would I be hurt?"
"Joseph, he says you were attacked at that building where those thugs hang out"
"I don't suppose he told you that his behavior was aggressive toward me?"
"Don't be silly Stephanie. He was only trying to get you out of there"
"Mum, I am not going to New York with him"
"That's okay, he says he'll move back here so you can get married then he'll take you back to New York with him"

I was sure my eye had started twitching just because of what she was saying. I was getting annoyed and didn't really want to be rude to her, but I couldn't help what came from me.

"Mother stay out of my life, stop interfering. I have no interest in Morelli. I'll speak to you when I'm ready, so stop annoying people"

I ended the call feeling half elated that I'd said my piece and half guilty that I'd ended the conversation by shouting at her. I checked my messages while sat there seeing one from Connie, so decided instead of reading the message I would call instead. I knew she would be at home so at least I didn't have to worry about Lula being there.

"Hey Connie"
"Steph, I was getting worried about you"
"No I'm fine, just been working out of town"
"Good for you. At least you've not been subject to all the shit going on here"
"Go on, I know you're dying to tell me"
"Vinnie got pissed when you weren't around so he upped Lula to Apprehension Agent"
"How's that going?"
"It isn't. The regulars are giving her the run around, hell even Mooner, and she has no clue how to find anyone"
"Maybe she needed to find out herself how difficult it is doing that job"
"Yeah well, seeing as she no longer files she only has the money she makes from apprehensions, so she ain't doing well"
"What else?"
"Joyce is here a lot"
"You reckon I'll still have a job?"
"Oh yeah, Vinnie is constantly telling both of them they're gone when you get back"
"At least he appreciates me now"
"Yeah but you aint coming back"
"I'm not?"
"No, Morelli's told everyone you two are getting married and you're going to stay home in New York"
"No chance"
"I thought that. What rumor do you want out?"
"I don't know Connie. This job isn't finished and until it is I don't have time for his bullshit"
"Okay I'll just keep my ears open and let you know of any other news"
"Thanks Connie"

"Speak soon"
Shit why could my life never be easy. I mean who else had to put up with a mother like mine or an ex who wouldn't leave them alone? I had enough to think about already, remembering I still owed Les some money and wondering where the hell I was going to be getting any money from to pay my rent and bills on my apartment. My apartment, Les said it was a mess, so maybe I would need to go there and try and salvage what was left. As I looked at my watch, I realized it was too late to go down and join the meeting. I'd have to ask Ranger in the morning what the plans were, though I knew I wouldn't be part of them. I appreciated he didn't want me there, but it didn't make me feel any better. I headed into the bathroom for a quick shower and dressed in T-shirt and shorts then settled on the couch to wait for Ranger to come up. I have no idea what was showing on the TV screen because before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

I couldn't stop the images and sounds as they crashed through my mind. Robots with people's faces all heading toward me and talking at me at the same time. When I tried to move all I could see was a glass wall with them reflected back at me. Morelli, my mother, Dolby and Gannon. I couldn't understand what they were saying but their expressions showed annoyance. Suddenly there was cold water rising up from my feet, but I couldn't move, I felt cold and struggled to breathe. Then each robot raised their arms and bullets fired toward me, all in slow motion so that I could see where they travelled through the water. I panicked waving my arms and trying to move until I became aware of Mr Buckley holding himself to me, but his eyes were cold and dead and the water was turning red. I screamed and felt myself fall. That of course was when I woke up.

RPOV

As I entered the apartment, I could hear the TV thinking that maybe Steph had forgotten to turn it off. It was a second sound that had me concerned and as I entered the lounge, I could hear that the noise was coming from Steph. As I neared her, she let out a horrifying scream and her movement caused her to roll off the couch and land heavily onto the floor. As I reached down to her, I could see that she had woken herself up but she was dazed and still breathing quickly. I sat down next to where she was and gently gathered her into my arms.

"Babe, it's okay, you've had a dream. Babe wake up for me"
"Ranger?"
"I'm here amante"
I cradled and rocked her as her breathing calmed down and then standing walked through to the bedroom and gently laid her on the bed, then lay down beside her with her still in my arms.

"Babe, how are you doing?"
"I'm sorry"
"Don't be, you had a bad dream"
"I couldn't get away from them"
"From who Babe?"

"Morelli, my mum and then there was Dolby and Gannon but they were the faces on those robots"
"They can't hurt you Babe, you're safe"
"I know, but it was scary"
"You okay if I change?"
I saw her nod and as I got up from the bed was already stripping off my clothes and pulling on some boxers. I wasn't going to leave her alone and very quickly we were both under the covers with her wrapped in my arms.

"What happened to bring that on?"
"Probably the conversation with my mother and Connie"
"What did they say?"
"That Morelli said he's looking for me and how he was going to take me to New York"

I moved so we were facing each other, gently caressing her face and looking into her eyes.

"He's not taking you anywhere, I won't let him"
"Thank you"
"No, thank you for loving me Babe. No one is going to separate us okay?"
"Okay"

"Go back to sleep, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere"

I felt her as she snuggled against me and then tightened my grip around her body. I remembered what Ash had said about what she'd been through and that was before all the shit with the robots and Gannon. No wonder she was anxious, her nerves must be on overload, anyone, even a trained soldier would be struggling with what she'd been through. As I felt her relax more into sleep, I hoped I had the power to calm her as much as she calmed me.

I woke fairly early and remembered how I'd found Steph the previous evening so decided to stay in bed until she woke up. I loved to watch her sleep, the movements she made and how her hair fell in unruly curls over the pillow and my chest. Her face looked relaxed and always looked beautiful, but I wanted to see her eyes as they opened and how their color would change as she moved from sleep to consciousness. By 8 in the morning I felt I needed to wake her up, there was a lot happening today and I intended to add an additional visit into my schedule. I peppered her face with kisses and tucked a curl behind her ear. Then watched as her eyes slowly opened and a smile spread across her face.

"Morning Babe"
"Morning, is it morning already?"
"Yeah, busy day today"
"How did the planning go?"
"Good. There'll be two teams at the park, in fact they should be there already"
"Are you wearing a wire?"
"Of course. We've put you on comms with Ash, if that's okay with you"
"Thank you for that"
"Well I thought if you listened in to the conversation you might have questions that I wouldn't think about"
"I can do that"
"Good. What are your plans for this morning?"
"I'm not sure, I could do to call at my apartment and maybe get a start on tidying it up"
"Take Ash with you, he enjoys being with you and maybe a team to shadow you"
"Okay"
"Okay?"
"Yeah. I know you worry about my safety. So I was wondering if someone could maybe help me to get acquainted with my gun and maybe some self-defense"

"Proud of you Babe, you have no idea how much I love you"
"I love you too which is why I want to do it. I just found you so I have no intentions of losing you"
"So you're doing it for me?"
"Yeah, and me as well"
I felt so proud of what she'd just said so moved in to her and started to kiss her to show her just how much. Her lips parted for me allowing me entry encouraging me with the whirl of her tongue against mine. As she started to move her hands around my neck the sound of my phone pierced the silence of the room.

"Shit"
"You need to answer it could be important"
I suppose she was right considering the plans we had for the day, nothing could be allowed to interrupt them.

"Yo"

"Sorry man but we've got Morelli downstairs claiming he has a warrant for Little Girl"
"Are you shitting me?"
"No, I wouldn't do that to you or her"

"He say what the warrant's for"

"No, wouldn't even show it to us"
"Get Hedley here ASAP and tell Morelli he can talk to me when my lawyer arrives"

"Done"

I replaced the phone and lent my head back on the pillow, closing my eyes. What the hell was that fucker up to now?"
"Ranger what's happened?"
"Morelli is here saying he has a warrant for you"
"What, how?"
"I don't know Babe"
"But he can't"
"Let's get dressed and go down to five and see what we can find out"
"I'm gonna phone Eddie, he might know something"
I quickly went into the shower, I had been so concerned for Steph last night I hadn't had the time for one. Then I dressed in my usual Rangeman gear, including the guns and knife that I always carried. As I stood up from lacing my boots, I turned to see Steph in a similar outfit, wondering if she was wearing the black underwear with Rangeman sewn onto it.

"Yes I have. I want everyone to know I'm yours and if that pisses Morelli off all the better"

I smiled as I approached her pulling her into my arms burying my face in her neck. My tongue licked a spot on her neck and sucked it between my lips.

"Now he knows you're mine"
I lightly ran my finger over the red mark on her neck.

"Are you marking your territory mister?"
"Oh yes"
As soon as we were down on five Tank pulled up the cameras from the lobby showing Morelli lent against the wall and two other men with him. Steph had just put her phone in her pocket and walked over to stand next to me.

"Eddie has no idea what it's about. He said because Morelli was working out of New York he couldn't get access to anything"
"Angel I have some toys for you if you end up having to go with him"
Both Steph and I watched as Ash approached us.

"Okay you have your watch but I'm sure he'll know that it is a tracker. I have some other things that you'll need to switch on to start them transmitting. That way if anyone scans you they won't pick them up until they're activated"
I watched as he replaced the laces on her left boot, replaced her earrings with studs and then lent into her and whispered in her ear. I saw Steph turn red with embarrassment as she took something from his hand and left the room.

"Ash?"
"Err, one for her to keep inside of her"
As Steph came back into the room, I held her against me.

"You okay with that last one?"
"If it keeps me safe then yeah"

I watched on the screen as Hedley walked in through the front door and approached one of the men with Morelli. The sound from the camera was turned to full volume and Hedley knew what safety procedures we used, so knew about the cameras and microphones.

"Ranger, the two men with him, I don't think they're who they say they are"
I turned to Ram not understanding what he was implying.

"Someone needs to verify their id's with whichever precinct they say they're from"
"I'll go down"
"Ranger be careful"
I kissed Steph on the forehead before stepping out of the room and took the stairs down to the lobby. My temper was beginning to simmer, because if this was Morelli's way of getting Steph away from this building, he'd more than regret it. As I entered the lobby he came toward me and stood there looking at me.

"Morelli"
"Manoso. I need Stephanie here"

"Maybe I should introduce you to Mr Hedley, our lawyer.

I stepped next to Hedley because I wanted him to front this conversation. I was more interested in watching the faces of the men stood here in my lobby and any moves they might make.
"Why are you here detective?"
"I have a warrant"
"For what"
"That's none of your business"

"As a lawyer it certainly is"
Morelli begrudgingly handed over a paper and I watched as Hedley turned as if trying to read the paper in a better lit area. He handed the paper back to Morelli, but he maintained his stance.

"I also I need to see the id's of each man here, I know that is my right as you are on private property"

Morelli pulled his badge that was fastened to his belt and handed it to Hedley, who held it so the cameras would see it, then as he handed it back waited for the other two men to do the same. They hesitated then relinquished their wallets for Hedley to repeat the procedure.

"Detective Morelli why do you think Miss Plum is here?"
"Where else would she be?"
"Her apartment, her parents, out catching skips?"
"You're just wasting time"

"I don't think so. You may say you have a warrant for Miss Plum, but you do not have a warrant to be in these premises"
I liked the sound of that coming from Hedley and watched as Morelli's face started to scowl.

"Shall I quote the law for you Detective. If a law enforcement officer wants to enter the residence of a third party where he or she suspects that a suspect is but where the suspect does not live, law enforcement must obtain a search warrant. A search warrant requires law enforcement to establish probable cause that someone is likely in the location specified"

We watched as Morelli mulled that one over and the two men were now looking very uncomfortable. I wondered if they were bona fide policemen or if Morelli had tricked them into helping him. I smiled as Morelli turned and barged out of the door followed closely by the two men.

"Thanks Hedley"
"No problem. I took a photo of that warrant he was carrying. I know a judge who'll look at it for me"

Once he'd left, I went back up to the fifth floor and noticed Zeph following me.

"I tagged the car they were in"

"Whose car do you think it was?"
"Well Morelli was driving it so hopefully his"
As I entered the conference room the look on the faces of most of the men was murderous, yeah they wouldn't be pleased with what Morelli had tried to do.

"We need to get set up for this afternoon. Tank use the comms room in the basement, that way if Morelli does come back with a search warrant, he'll never find anyone. Ash, you go with Tank and Steph. Ram garage with the comms systems. Cal load up the vehicles, I want everyone dressed, full suits. Santos ask Ella to hide any clothes of Steph's in her apartment. Any questions?"
Everyone looked back at me and acknowledged they were ready to go and started to make their way out of the room. Steph stayed behind and came up to me, wrapping her arms around me and kissed me hard on the lips. I was surprised that she initiated such a deep kiss, but then maybe not.

"Don't get shot"
"Don't go crazy"

I then walked out of the door heading toward the garage.