I'm sure that most of you out there are in a similar position to me. An unimaginable situation that has us thinking of loved ones and friends. I certainly have time on my hands being advised to remain at home. So knowing others are in a similar position am asking if you want the rest of this book uploaded for you to read. Already well on way with another!
Apologies, name should be Gauge not that no matter how many times it's read stupid mistakes slip through. Many thanks for reviews and I hope everyone stays well.
Chapter 51
SPOV
I couldn't remember coming to bed but waking up I knew I had slept well. As my eyes opened, I realized the sun was streaming into the room which meant it must be late in the morning. I stretched my arm across the bed knowing already that Ranger would be gone. He'd probably gotten up at the crack of dawn to go through his workout and I knew he had work to catch up on for Rangeman. For some reason I felt less enthusiastic about today. Maybe it was how yesterday had ended with Morelli. No matter what Eddie had said I still felt bad for him. I mean was it because of me that he'd become unhinged, or was us being together delaying the inevitable? Would he have changed anyway and started to morph into his father? I suppose there was no way of knowing that and now both of us would have to live with the outcome of his behavior. I just hoped I didn't have to be involved with any court case or have to see Morelli again.
I tied my hair into a ponytail and collected my phone, noting the missed messages. I wasn't sure how my mother would be reacting to the arrest of Morelli or my part in it. I could only hope for the best with her. Most of the messages I deleted. Most just wanted information to gossip about. Would there ever be a time when my life could be mine, without other people sticking their noses in?
I sighed as I finished my breakfast and thought maybe some yoga might settle me down. Ash had shown me some for warming up and cooling down, but I found it quite relaxing. After a quick shower, I was dressed in gym clothes, carefully stretching out in the gym when I saw Ash come in.
"What you up to Angel?"
"I needed to relax"
"You up for learning some moves?"
"Yeah why not, I mean those moves you taught me came in handy"
"Okay, so how about I show you how you can manage a frontal assault?"
"Okay"
I wasn't too sure what I was letting myself in for. I knew there had been times when I had been punched or someone had come at me to hit me. Ash took me through some defense moves very slowly. He never made contact with me and showed me how to step back and to the side to avoid being hit. Then he showed me how to use my arms and legs to deflect hits or kicks.
"Ready to mix what you've learned?"
"I don't follow"
"I'm going to attack you using different blows. You'll have to decide which defense move to make. When I think you've getting the hang of it, I'll speed up. Okay?"
Wow, that was how I felt as I defended myself against Ash. He did start slowly but he was soon speeding things up until I felt more confident about what I was doing. I knew I was tiring and thankfully so did Ash.
"You did really well Angel, if you practice you could be really good"
"It still wouldn't stop some of the things that get thrown at me"
"Maybe not everything but you may avoid some things"
"Thanks Ash, I'm gonna get showered and then see how my searches from yesterday came out"
"You found anything?"
"No not yet"
"Ranger's calling a meeting for 1600hrs"
For some reason I didn't want to say anything about where I thought Buckley's box was, maybe because it sounded so silly. Hell, I hadn't even mentioned everything to Carlos because I wasn't sure of myself.
Once showered and in my Rangeman uniform I headed to five and the room that had slowly become the one I worked in. Checking the searches I'd left running yesterday I was disappointed that there was nothing to find. As a last-ditch effort, I asked the program to list employees of Safenet, with their job title. I wouldn't put it past Dolby to fabricate an employer and use that name to hide behind. Maybe a name would stand out and it wouldn't take long to run. As the list started to appear on the screen, I hadn't realized just how many employees there were, too many to run a full search on all of them now. Once the list was complete, I downloaded it onto an excel program, at the moment it had the list according to alphabetical order according to surname. I used their job title to rearrange the order and then started to skim down the list. I ignored the cleaners, drivers and floor workers but the IT Development Department caught my interest.
There were only three names here and for some reason one of the names had my spidey senses humming. Siobhan Remington. That name in the search engine had me sitting back and looking at the screen. I recognized the face of the woman staring back at me. Hello Remi. A look at my phone for the time allowed me just enough time to print the search out before heading to the meeting with Carlos.
I was late, the last one to arrive, but hopefully the grin across my face would tell anyone looking at me that I had news to report. Carlos had started the meeting, so I stayed at the back. I'd seen him look at me but all I got was a raised eyebrow. Okay so I knew he liked people to be punctual but surely, he'd appreciate what I'd found. I tuned in to what Tank was saying.
"He's downstairs in the office on two"
Okay so he must have been talking about Gauge, I really hoped I could be involved in that conversation. After all it was me he was aiming for with his planning.
"Santos"
"No sign of Dolby, no one's seen anything of him since the explosion at Safenet. No movement of any vehicles that we know he owns or withdrawals from any accounts"
"Babe"
I looked up surprised when he'd said my name and all eyes turned to me.
"Err, nothing at all on Dolby, but I have found out who Remi is"
"Hey Angel, that was my job"
"Sorry Ash. Her name is Siobhan Remington and she was employed at Safenet in the IT Development Department. I was waiting on the search on her to finish"
"Good one Angel, because I'd got nowhere with her. Gannon is apparently back down south at the Adelphi Laboratory Center"
"Zeph"
"Morelli, was given bail earlier this morning. He spent the rest of the day at his house"
"It had better not be Vinnie who bailed him out"
"No, some new bails bond company up in Newark"
"Some progress then. Stay on the jobs you're on. I'm going to have a conversation with Gauge, Tank you're with me"
Being last into the room meant that I was just about first out. I had no choice with the size of men that were walking through the door. As I went back to my workroom, I tried to analyze exactly how I felt. It wasn't annoyance, which was the first thought that came into my mind. I felt dejected, insignificant, just another person who worked here. Maybe now we were eventually beginning to resolve all the issues we'd been up against I was back to being that white girl from the Burg. Entertainment for when I fucked up but not overly important. Did that mean Morelli's words were true? As I sat down the scene from the park came back to haunt me.
"Morelli what the hell are you doing?"
"Saving you"
"What?"
"Cupcake you belong to me. You don't exist in any other world"
"You're wrong"
"When Ranger's got from you what he wants he'll realize he doesn't have any need for you"
"That's not true"
"Cupcake, I love you. He can't, you've said it yourself. Once he's done with you he'll kick you out and move on"
"You don't know what we have together"
"Christ Cupcake, can't you see that's what you think, not him"
It was then I turned and started to walk away, only for Morelli to grab hold of my arm.
"He doesn't know you or love you like I do. You just don't belong in that world of his"
I'd started to cry by then and he made the mistake of wrapping his arms around me, pulling me back into his chest. It was then my temper took over, how dare he treat me like a possession. Even if Ranger didn't want me, I could never be with Morelli. Any love I had ever felt for him was insignificant to the hate that was growing inside of me. If Ranger decided he didn't want me then I'd move on, be the independent woman I swore I'd be.
I slunk my body down feeling his embrace slacken and then rammed my head back into his face. As he released me my foot came up and kicked him in the groin. Whilst he lay curled up on his side, I'd used my stun gun and handcuffs. Once I felt he was secure a phone call to Eddie ensured Morelli would be taken care of. But I couldn't face Ranger, not with Morelli's words echoing inside my head. So, I'd put on the crash helmet and driven hell for leather away from the scene. When I passed a black SUV on the street, I knew I would have to talk with Ranger, after all he had chased after me.
Then the meeting this morning, well let's just say I felt like Morelli's words might be true. As I lay my head down on my arms on the desk, I knew tears were flowing. I thought I heard the door open but wasn't going to look up unless someone approached me. Maybe they'd just think I was tired and leave me alone. I felt myself being turned and then arms around me. I knew by the smell that it was Ranger, but he didn't need to comfort me if he was really pushing me away.
"Babe, what's wrong? Did I do or say something?"
I shook my head, not daring to look up at him. He pulled me into his body tighter, his hand in my hair and the other around my back.
"Talk to me Babe"
"I'm scared"
"What of?"
"What if Morelli is right?"
"Tell me what he said to you"
"That I don't exist in any other world than his and when you'd got from me what you want you'd realize you don't have any need for me"
"That's not true"
"He said you can't love me and it was only me that believed that and once you're done with me you'll kick me out and move on"
"He was trying to manipulate you, Babe. I know the things I said and did gave him ideas and probably confused you as well. Babe I want you with me in every way possible. I know this isn't the right place, but maybe it's the right time. Marry me Babe, be with me forever. Let me love you forever"
As my face lay against his chest my eyes flashed open. Had I heard right, or was I mishearing what he'd just said?
"Do you need me to ask you again?"
I sat back and looked at him. Gone was the blank and bland eyes, looking back at me was the man I loved who was showing me how much he loved me.
"I love you, I don't need marriage to know that"
"Maybe I want marriage"
"What happened to no ring but a condom"
"I've had time to reevaluate what you mean to me. Before, every time a thought of you went through my head, I'd say it was something to think about later. I don't want to wait until later, I want it now. My life has changed and so has yours. So, are you going to give me an answer?"
"Yes, with no hesitation or doubts"
"Good"
With that one word he turned my face to his and sealed my answer with a mind-blowing kiss.
"I hate to interrupt you two, but are we heading downstairs now?"
I looked over to see Tank stood with a big smile on his face but what surprised me even more was the wink he gave me as he turned and walked away.
"I came to find you for us to go and talk with Gauge"
"Sorry, I let my thoughts get the better of me"
"Don't, I know I'm not good at talking, but with you it's easier and I'm good at listening. Be proud of who you are Babe, I know I am"
I wiped my eyes with a tissue and felt my hand being taken as Carlos led me out and down the stairs. I'd never really been onto the second floor and was surprised with how many men were working down here.
"This is where we have offices for lawyers or accountants to use. It's Rangeman's year-end so they're busy making sure all our records are up to date"
We went into a very small office that only had a desk, chair and computer. Ash was stood looking at the screen as we went in.
"Hey there Angel"
"Babe I want you to watch and listen to start with and then when the time is right, I want you to come into the room where Gauge is. I'm not sure what lies he'll try to use on us, but having you come in will throw him"
Okay, I could go with that. After what had happened at Hastings and then the story we heard from Gannon and Remi maybe it would help to decide if he was telling us the truth.
I sat at the desk and watched as Carlos and Tank walked into the room and Cal leave. Gauge looked tired, no not just tired, he looked ill. His hair was disheveled, and his skin seemed pale, almost grey. He was slouched in his chair wearing clothes that seemed rumpled. As he looked up, I thought his eyes looked bloodshot.
"Is he drunk?"
"Was, Cal's been plying him with coffee and food since he came here"
I was almost starting to feel sorry for him until his whole stance changed when Carlos walked into the room. He sat up straighter and stared at Carlos.
"You destroyed my factory Mr Manoso. I trusted you and that woman"
"Maybe if you'd told us everything Mr Gauge we could have avoided the destruction"
"I did"
"No, you omitted some important information"
"Like what?"
"The panel that turned on the equipment. I saw you watching Stephanie as she approached it"
If he thought staying quiet with that told us he had no knowledge of the panel and what it would do then he was only kidding himself.
"One of my men also saw you at a computer just before the doors to that inner room opened"
"What are you implying Mr Manoso?"
'That you staged the whole thing, that you wanted Stephanie inside that room"
"Why would I want that. If what you say is true then why would I want her in there?"
"Something you thought she alone could do"
"She destroyed it"
"How do you think she could have done that?"
"She was the one who had the knowledge, that's why"
He was definitely getting annoyed at where the conversation was leading and for some reason thought I could do something for him whilst in that room. There was no doubt in my mind that he'd trapped us into going down into thatplace. The problem was how much else would he admit to?
"Why did you think Stephanie had any knowledge to give?"
"Buckley, he'd only have given it to her"
"Why her?"
"Stephanie, he was infatuated with Stephanie, so of course that's who he'd trust"
I didn't think it was me that was being spoken about, I wondered if Buckley's fascination with Stephanie had been with the saint. I wondered what she looked like, if she might have blue eyes and curly hair like me. The idea certainly matched up with the research I'd done on the church.
"He hardly knew her, he only met her the once"
"But he met her, that was enough"
"So this knowledge, was it so important to warrant her being hurt?"
"That woman was nothing compared to what I'd achieved"
I saw Carlos turn and look up at the camera, giving a small nod.
"That's your cue Angel"
I was a bit nervous walking into that room. For some reason I thought Gauge thought I'd died in there and judging from the shock on his face when he looked up and saw me I was guessing right. The door had hardly closed behind me when he was suddenly out of his chair screaming at me.
"You destroyed her, you killed her. You were meant to deliver her. You murderer"
Tank, for all of his size was quickly holding Gauge in a hold from behind and none too gently pushed him back into his chair.
"Stay there or I'll cuff you to the dam chair"
As Gauge continued to look at me his expression changed to confusion.
"How?"
"How what Mr Gauge?"
"How are you here?"
"Mr Gauge your program was flawed"
"No, it couldn't be. I've spent years developing that program. She was almost there"
"No, she lacked humanity. Your source must have been corrupted"
"How dare you. The data I used was impeccable"
"No Mr Gauge, you can't use a person's thoughts to create another being"
"But she said it would work, that's why she agreed to work with me"
"But she died Mr Gauge"
"No, you're wrong, she lived within the program, her soul was transferred"
"So why did you need me Mr Gauge?"
"You have Buckley's program, that would have given her the ability to grow, to be conscious and to be free thinking"
"Emci was a computer program living within the confines of what you gave her"
"But she was developing"
"No, it was the conflict of her programming that led her to self-destruct"
"I don't believe you. I spoke with her, she was coherent and self-conscious"
"She was like a child, she had no understanding of what she was capable of. Mr Gauge she was intelligent enough to know what evil was and she saw herself as evil, as someone who could be evil"
"That was why I needed Buckley's program, to enable her to see what she could have become"
"I'm sorry Mr Gauge"
"I've lost Josie, I killed her. I'll never get her back"
"You killed her thirty years ago"
I watched as the tears formed in his eyes, as realization took hold. Hell, he was deranged on a totally new level. What Remi and Gannon had said was true. The thing was where did they fit into the whole picture?
"Mr Gauge maybe Remi could have helped you?"
"Remi?"
"Siobhan Remington"
"I have no idea who you're talking about"
Okay that was that idea out of the window but then I started to listen as Carlos took over the conversation.
"A man called Gannon was interested in what you were doing"
"Not really, he was after Buckley's ideas, like everyone else"
"You didn't discuss how far you'd progressed?"
"No, I only spoke with Buckley. I didn't lie when I said I fell to pieces after my wife died. Buckley did support me, but then he was so enamored with the work he was doing he wouldn't shut up about it. I tried to suggest that we combine our research but for some reason he was always making excuses"
"Do you think he knew about Josie?"
"Maybe, possibly. But surely if he knew he'd want the same as me"
"So you never shared any of your work with anyone else?"
"No. And now I've lost everything"
"No other labs or backup files?"
"No. I had everything at Hasting. I couldn't do it again"
"Why not?"
"Because I should never have done it in the first place"
I watched as his whole demeaner changed, he was a broken man with no purpose any more. I suppose losing Josie and the death of his wife pushed him over the edge. With the work from Hastings destroyed I wondered what would become of him. Was he strong enough to pull himself back from the abyss that threatened to consume him?
"Mr Gauge is there someone you can be with?"
"No. We never had children"
As Carlos stood, he leaned over to offer his hand to Gauge. I was surprised when Gauge acknowledged the gesture. Personally, I didn't want to go near him ever again, but that didn't mean I didn't feel sorry for him, sorry that he had sunk to the depths he had done. Tank walked him out and down the stairs to the garage allowing us a few moments before returning to work.
"What do you think Angel?"
"I think he's a sad old man who's realized what he's lost and his part in losing it"
"Yeah I agree. We are keeping an eye on him Ranger?"
"Yes, Cal has first shift"
"So, Angel, Siobhan Remington?"
