Gone Girl

Chapter 58 – Part B

Resolving the Car, they drove off the bridge

A/N For your reading pleasure here is the second half of chapter 58 – Part B. Another 25 pages and 9200 words. Me editing/beta'ing my own work always means it expands as I go.

You know Part A was the whole set up – getting the car guy primed to go with Ranger's deal. Now they get down to the nuts and bolts of finding an affordable replacement car.

One thing you'll find with my writing is that I like a lot of action and drama. A lot of things going on, for the characters to deal with. But I also like happy endings and win-win scenarios. Where the bad guys get punished and the good guys (and in this story) the good guys all around them (Merry Men, guy who got his car stolen and even Anton (who is a selfish, self-serving Asshole; but who did save Stephanie and Julie)) all win. (Anton did give her 2.5 million dollars and a $200,000 car; he just likes to be a pain in the ass to Ranger, so he kinda gets a happy ending – I mean he doesn't get eliminated. LOL). I like happy endings for everyone that deserves one.

There have been a few calls of Rachel getting what she deserves, like going to jail, and I thought long and hard about that. The problem is that the evidence against her is flimsy. That recorded phone call would be thrown out of any court proceedings as it was not obtained legally. Then there would be no evidence against her except the word of an 11-year-old, and what she thinks she overheard 5 months ago. I thought about what Julie would want, and I felt like Julie would want her mom to get straightened out and be a good mother to her siblings. I think Julie would feel bad that she got everything she wanted (living with Steph and Ranger) while her siblings were out on the street, losing their house, all their belongings and their mother. The solution was unexpected, but I felt it gave a good resolution for everyone. It comes out in the next chapter.

Joyce, on the other hand, has been a grade A bitch to Stephanie throughout all the cannon books. Using Stephanie, abusing Stephanie, manipulating everyone to get her way, and never really having anything bad happen to her, as a result of all her backhanded behavior. Well in this story, she takes it a step too far, trying to kill Stephanie (and Lula) and blowing up her beloved car. Well this strong, well-trained Stephanie has had enough, and when she finds out WHY Joyce was doing it, she makes the decision to protect herself and those she loves. So, I hope there are no Joyce lovers reading this story.

Finally, I have to give credit to the many on-line car websites where I did research to find out what the Audi R8 was worth, find just the right car to star in this chapter and find just the right car for Stephanie. You can't post web sites because FF just deletes them. But CarandDriver dotcom, KBB dotcom, Lamborghini dotcom, motortrend dotcom, and a few more. The car facts you find about the new car and the old Audi are all true. Side note – probably nobody knows this but they stopped making Audi R8's in 2015. So, Ranger couldn't replace the car with another R8 today which led me to seek another amazing car for him to buy. The bluebook value quoted in this story is correct for a 4-year-old Audi R8 with appropriate miles for a car that was being driven from New Jersey to New York. I did a lot of research (in 2019 when I wrote these chapters) to make all the numbers as accurate and realistic as possible.

Chapter Fifty-eight - Part B

Friday April 18, 2014 - Day 157

Ranger POV

When we arrived at Sports and Import Auto's, Kyan greeted us warmly. Ranger explained that this was the gentleman whose car was stolen and driven off the bridge. That it was his responsibility to replace the car for him, and asked him to show us only cars that would go over 150 mph. Kyan quietly assured Ranger he would get him a great deal on whatever Ocalli picked out.

Kyan went into his office, to get a list of cars currently on the lot, and the lower prices; that he could sell them at, for Ranger. He came back out a moment later and walked over to him. We started heading for the lot, but we stopped walking, because right in the middle of the showroom was a brand-new Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. The sign said that it was three months old with 5,800 miles on it. Brand new it was $628,000 with all the options it came with, and they were asking for best offer. It was a beautiful new burnt orange gold color and Ocalli seemed enthralled.

"How much for my friend?" Ocalli asked and patted him on the shoulder.

"In two weeks, I can sell it to him" Kyan pointed at Ranger, "for $375,000.00."

"Sold!" Ocalli shouted enthusiastically; a huge smile on his face and a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. In fact, he practically glowed as he bounced with exhilaration.

"That is if it hasn't sold. This car is here on consignment. We have two weeks to sell it for more than the best offer he has had." Kyan explained.

"How much for him to buy it today?" Ocalli looked really eager and full of anticipation.

"I would have to ask. The guy is getting desperate. Basically, he has a business deal, that he needs cash for, and loan wise he's tapped out. So, he is selling everything he can get his hands on, to raise capital. He has two weeks and the Lamborghini dealership wouldn't take the car back, or put it on consignment for him. He has one offer of $370,000, and I promised him I could get him more than that. Let me call him, and see what he says." Kyan walked into his office to look up the number; which was really just an excuse to get away from us, because Ranger knew he would have this number on speed dial.

He looked at Ocalli and said, "That's a little more than $250,000." But he could probably buy it for less than the half a million he'd quoted Tank, so he'd just have to see how this worked out.

Ranger stopped short in his tracks, because the man practically had tears in his eyes, looking at this car like it was his dream come true. There was so much raw emotion on his face, that he couldn't even approach him. If there was some way, he could get this car for him; Ranger was going to do it. For him being understanding about Stephanie, and willing to not press charges; he deserved to have a replacement car that he really wants.

"I was going to spend $350 thousand on a car. That was my top dollar, and the Ferrari 488 Spider, with the color and features I picked, was going to cost me that much. But Fuck the Spider. This is a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Do you know what the J stands for?" Ocalli's voice was reverent and quiet, as if they were in a church.

He asked like it was important, but honestly Ranger didn't know much about Lamborghini's. He knew the J meant it was faster than the regular models without the J, but he didn't know the specifics. He shook his head.

"No, but I have a feeling you do." He was trying to tease, but the emotions pouring off this man made him take a step back. He was practically shaking with excitement.

"The 'J', if you know your Lamborghini history, stands for "Jota", the most extreme version of any Lamborghini model. That means these cars are the fastest most high-performance model of a car possible. This is the first Jota that is factory built. In the past, privateers, under authorization from the factory, take the cars beyond their production limits and build the "J" spec cars. But this one is totally different. It was designed and produced in the regular factory, which has already rewarded Lamborghini with a Nurburgring production car speed record of 6.44. The fastest in the world. Base models start at $519,000. I looked at them briefly. Drooled over the articles and then put it away, because that was way above what my allotment was to spend on a car."

Nururburgring was the top track in Germany, where the best car builders went to test their cars. A quick look up in Google proved he was correct. The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ currently held the record for the fastest road legal car tested at Nururburing. Meaning a car that was completely legal to drive on the streets without any modifications.

Ocalli continued, "When I started buying high end sports cars, my wife and I decided that I couldn't spend any more, than she could spend on remodeling the house. In the past five years she has spent $350,000 so that is as much as I could spend on a car. But your $250,000, with my $350,000, means I could actually afford this car right now." A tear ran down his face and he said to Ranger in a small voice he had only heard from his 3-year-old nephew, that was somewhere near a whispered plea. "and I really, really want it."

"Then it's yours." was all Ranger could say because his emotions were so raw, real and overwhelming; they were choking him up.

Kyan came out of his office a few minutes later and whispered in his ear. "I could only get him down to $480,000. We have a $20,000 consignment fee so the lowest I can go is $500,000."

"We'll take it." Ranger told him and sent him in to start the paperwork.

Ocalli never told him what country he is from, but from his coloring Ranger was guessing the middle east. Anyway, he broke into song and dance. With kicking legs and waving arms. Singing, in what must have been his native language. Ranger spoke several middle eastern dialects and he recognized it, but he didn't speak this one. It was Coptic, spoken by Egyptian Copts. Ocalli paused mid kick to say, "770 horsepower!" Then he went back to his dance only to pause again and say, "531 pounds of torque!" More singing and dancing and he says, "217 top miles per hour."

Ocalli totally stopped dancing to say, "My wife won't let me go faster than 150 mph. Well," he had to qualify, "my wife loves me and has requested I not go faster than 150 mph, and because I love her, and respect her request, I refrain, but it's nice to know the car can do it if I try!" His voice rising up a whole octave in his excitement. He laughed out loud and said, "Now the cops will never catch me, unless I let them!" He laughed again, loud booming great big belly laughs, that bent him over full of delight.

Then Ocalli came over to Ranger and grabbed his neck on each side with two hands; pulled his face forward, and kissed him on both cheeks. Then he went back to singing and dancing in a circle, around the car, and he thought that this was how being with Stephanie and Julie made him feel; so full of life and joy like singing and dancing in a circle. He'd never been that happy over a car – ever. To him cars are just a way to get around town. He would choose to not drive POS cars like Stephanie has, and he didn't see the point in spending too much money. He'd rather invest it. Porsches always worked for him; they aren't too expensive, and they go faster than he should drive.

But Ranger could honestly say, he had been enjoying driving Steph's R8. He didn't think she knew it, but it was bought used, just with really low miles. He'd looked at the title that was left (until he'd removed it and put it in his safe) in the glove box. It only had one seller listed, and Steph listed as the only buyer. She hadn't even ever signed it, and who knows whose plates were on the car, because she had never transferred the title into her name. The registration was still in the other guy's name, and probably these were his tags. Unless Anton just stole tags off another car and put them on hers. As far as he knew, nobody had ever run her tags, and he hadn't brought it up to her, but he never saw any proof of insurance.

Twenty minutes later, Kyan sat us down with all the paperwork to sign, and honestly there wasn't as much as he thought there would be, because he was buying the car outright with his card.

Ocalli went to sign the first page and Kyan said, "I'm sorry but this price was just for Mr. Manoso. So only he can sign the paperwork and only he can pay me for the car."

So, Ocalli sat wiggling next to him, while they went through every page of the paperwork, with his leg jiggling and his hands shaking, and he just couldn't sit still during the whole process. Ranger had to call and add the car to his insurance; seeing his rate almost double. He didn't put it on Rangeman's Insurance, like he would have, if it had been for Stephanie, because he had an excellent driving record, and you couldn't get much worse than hers.

Besides it wouldn't be there long. Ranger would have Ocalli insure it, and let him drive it till we got back. Once he got the new title, he would sign it over to him, and it would be a done deal. Not the worst $250,000 he'd ever spent. It kept Stephanie out of jail, and it was really the cheapest he'd expected to get away with. The man's car was worth $115,500 on the blue book low end. His was in pristine condition, it just had a lot of miles on it; in a private sale he probably could have gotten $130,000 for it. So really, it's only costing him $120,000, and he probably would have spent that on legal fees to keep her out of jail.

Honestly it is a lot cheaper than the two-million-dollar ransom his attorneys would have paid – uselessly – to get Julie back if they hadn't run away. He was feeling really good about this transaction, and Ocalli was back staring at the car and practically drooling on it.

They finished up the paperwork, and Kyan told him it was going to be a few minutes to get the car out of the showroom. They had to move several other cars out of the way, to get this car out. Kyan tossed the keys to one of his associates, and walked Ranger and Ocalli out to the lot; to pick out the next car to be moved into the showroom.

He had several lower end Lamborghini's on the lot, but he was looking for the flashiest and more expensive cars to showcase. He picked a higher end Ferrari that was selling for $424,995. He whispered to Ranger that the car that he'd bought was the best car he had on his lot right now, and it was a great price. The guy was willing to deal because he needed the cash fast. Ranger asked him for the guy's name and number, because if he really had a good lucrative business prospect. He had a company of well-paid men who might like the opportunity to invest in it. It could be a win-win for the man and his men.

Ranger had an investment broker that helped his men invest their savings and retirements, but at this age many of the men were single and saving up to buy a house or get married, and wanted shorter term investments that would really pay off. Maybe this could be one of those things for them.

While Ranger wandered the lot, he started thinking about Stephanie and getting a new car for her. She would go crazy if he kept buying her $200,000 cars, and they kept getting blown up even with insurance. The company's insurance rates would go sky high, if he let her blow up multiple $200,000 cars. So maybe a car that is a few years older and less than $80,000 he thought as he wandered the lot, and then he saw it: a Maserati Gran Turismo Convertible in a beautiful blue, that reminded him of the color of her eyes.

The first thing he thought is that it had a back seat, so Julie could go everywhere they went. It is a sports car for sure. A really cute sports car convertible that Stephanie would look hot in. Most people don't know this but since like 2002, Ferrari has been making all of Maserati's engines. So, he knew the V8 400+ horsepower motor would perform. It wouldn't go as fast as her R8, but it would go faster than he wanted her to go, and certainly faster than she should be going with Julie in the car.

He would never say anything to her, but their 165-mph trip to the bridge gave him a minor heart attack, and he never wanted to see her driving that fast again! Especially with Julie in the car! Fortunately, the Police Chief already made that clear, and got her to promise that she wouldn't go that fast ever again, so he didn't feel the need to harp on her about it.

It was two years old, only had 18,500 miles on it and was priced at $84,900. He had to find Kyan, and see what he could get it for. He wandered back to the showroom to find Kyan directing the cars, as they were being pulled, one by one, out of the main floor. They were only three cars in, and had two more cars to go. Fortunately, they did this on a weekly basis, so they were pro's at moving the cars around in such confined spaces, and getting them out of the way.

He found Kyan and he said he could sell me that car for $58,000 plus tax. They had taken it in as a trade in for $55,000 and he would only charge me for the cleanup and touch up they did on it and one month's storage. Ranger knew he was basically giving the car to him, and not making any money on it, but he just made $20,000 off him, and that's a lot more than he usually gets.

Ranger told him he'd take it, and followed him back inside to complete the paperwork. When they were through, he told him that Al would be picking it up next week to do the usual modifications on it. Kyan was used to Al picking up their vehicles and making them ready for them, but Ranger was going to have to talk to Al because he wanted the SWAT package on it. Bullet proof glass, reinforced doors, sealed and protected gas tank, reinforced front and back bumpers and anything else he could think of to add to it.

It wouldn't be enough to stop a large bomb like what had just been placed on her car, but a grenade lobbed under the gas tank wouldn't blow it. No other car could hit it and do much damage, and he knew if they were shot at, as long as they kept moving, they would be safe. The safety glass that Al used could take two bullets; the third would penetrate so it wasn't perfect, but it was some protection.

After they finished the paperwork, and he added it to RangeMan's Insurance; he called Al and told him what he wanted. Al said it was all going to be custom work so it would cost extra, and Ranger told him to do it! These were the two most important people in his life and if it took a few thousand dollars of reinforcement to protect them it was money well spent. He took a few pictures of it in case he decided to tell Stephanie about it.

He called Stephanie and she and Julie were happily shopping in the mall for their vacation. Ella had come and walked them through buying suitcase sets, bathing suits and sun dresses. She had to go do some other shopping in the mall and left them to round out a wardrobe of shorts, tank tops and sandals. Stephanie confided in him and he's not sure why, or that he wanted to know, but she was buying Julie her first training bra; because she was starting to sprout.

Seriously there are some things a father just doesn't want to know about their teenage daughter, but she seemed really excited by it and he couldn't rain on her parade. Ranger told her he was in New York, and might be late for dinner. So, they didn't have to wait up for him. and as he was talking on the phone, Ocalli was standing there next to him vibrating, with two sets of car keys in his hand.

Kyan came out with all the paperwork for both cars, and Ranger looked through it. One of his salespersons was screwing temporary tags on the Lambo, and Ocalli was practically jumping for joy. Ranger interrupted his celebration to tell him to call his insurance company, and add the car to his insurance. He did so immediately, and once he was done, gave Ranger a big thumbs up.

It was going on almost 3 o'clock, and it had been two and a half hours since he had drunk anything, but he didn't have a good night sleep last night, and Ranger wanted to make sure they made it safely out to his house. Maybe he would let him, or Ram drive him out of the city. It was something that needed addressing sooner rather than later.

After a serious discussion, Ocalli agreed to let Ranger drive him out of New York to the New Jersey turnpike. He knew those roads like the back of his hand and there would be enough space to really open up the car. Ranger reminded him that they were entering rush hour on a Friday night and he was sleep deprived. Maybe he should wait till Saturday when the traffic was less, and he'd had a good night's sleep to drive the car.

He just smiled at Ranger and told him, he was totally wired as if he had drunk ten cups of coffee, and being tired was in no part his problem. He confided that traffic would be his problem at this point, because he might start running people over to get out of the city; which was the real reason, he was going to let him drive. Ranger took a picture of him standing by the car so he could show Stephanie that her problem had been resolved.

They left shortly thereafter, and Ranger was surprised. This was a car you really had to drive. It was completely responsive and did everything you told it to do, but every movement of your hand or foot reflected in the responsiveness of the car. So, you couldn't just coast and let the car take you where you wanted to go; every second, you had to be steering it directly, and watching how far down on the gas pedal you were pushing. Once they got out of the New York traffic, Ranger opened it up and got up to 150 mph in seconds. Then he slowed down, to pull over, and let Ocalli drive.

As they passed each other in front of the car, Ocalli tucked something into the breast pocket of his suit. Ranger reached in, as he got to the other side of the car and pulled out a check. He opened the door and got in, expecting that he was paying him for his $250,000 for the car, and just tucked it back into his pocket. Once he got his seat belt on, he was telling Ranger about all the modifications he was going to have done to it.

His wife insisted on having five-point racing harnesses installed, and he would have a safety roll bar installed inside. These cars were hard to roll, but they were made of some of the lightest weight materials they could find – not the strongest, and a friend of his died because his car rolled. It probably helped to save Rangers friend and his daughter, because these were some of the standard safety features, he has on all his cars.

Ranger never got a look inside the R8 they took into the river, because it was covered in a tarp, but having five-point harnesses and a roll bar made him feel a little bit better, about Anton picking that car for Stephanie and Julie to take for a ride.

"And I'll give you the insurance check." Ocalli said out of nowhere. Ranger looked at him hoping he would explain.

"Tomorrow I have to go to the police station to claim my car. They have been holding it for me, and it may still have some usable parts on it. I'm going to call the insurance company to let them know it has water damage. I don't know what they will pay on it, but I'll give that check to you."

"Why would you do that?" Ranger asked stupefied.

"Because I have a $600,000 car for $400,000. If they give me $50 thousand or $60 thousand for it, I can't take more money from you. You already saved me $100,000 right off the top plus what you paid for the car. I mean I'm getting my dream car for a steal, all because of you, the least I can do is give you the insurance money."

"I won't say no to that." Ranger said and he wouldn't, anything the guy wanted to give him he would take.

They got to Ocalli's house and had to wait 30 minutes for the limo to get there. Ocalli's wife was really sweet, and she was over the moon, with Ocalli being over the moon for this car. Ranger could tell that she didn't like her husband going that fast, because it was dangerous, but it was what he loved so she supported it wholeheartedly.

They were so sweet and so in love. She invited Ranger to come back in a month and have dinner with them one night, and bring Stephanie and Julie. Privately she thanked Ranger for making Ocalli's car dream come true. Saying he has never been this happy over any car he has ever owned, and if she had known it would make him this happy; she would have insisted he buy the car he really wanted.

Ranger found out that when Ocalli moved to the US he wasn't a citizen, and so at first everything was in his wife's name. Then they created a trust and all their money is held in trust for their kids. It explained why he couldn't find any financial information on Ocalli.

Once Ranger was back in the limo, headed back to drop it off at the rental agency; he thought what the hell, he would try to call and leave a message if he didn't answer. It rang once, twice and then a cranky voice came on the line.

"What?" The voice sounded upset like he was disturbing something important, well too bad this was important too.

"Was there insurance on Stephanie's car?" He got straight to the point.

"What happened to it?" Anton wondered.

"It got blown sky high. There's nothing left." Ranger reported.

"Oh shit, she mentioned something about that." Anton sounded amused that the car hadn't lasted.

"Well was there?" Ranger demanded. Hoping that there was so he could get out from owing Anton anything.

"Send the police report and the title to my PO Box and I'll send her a check." Anton replied snarkily.

"Keep it and we'll call it even." Ranger hoped he would agree because that would get him off cheaper than Anton out there using his name.

"No way brother! I'd rather you still owe me one, I like having your name to throw around." He could hear the smile on the other man's face.

"You're ruining my good name and straining my hard-earned contacts." He said frustratedly.

"Fine I'll save you to be my Hail Mary." And the line disconnected.

Ranger sat staring at the phone wondering what it would be worth to just eliminate the guy before he screwed him over royally. He needed to put the word out that Anton was NOT under his protection, and with a few well-placed calls he did just that.

On the way back to RangeMan Hector called him.

"Yo." He had seen Hector's number, but he wasn't sure why he was calling.

"Es una perra y una puta y quiero acabar con ella." (She's a bitch and a whore and I want to do away with her.) Hector started. Oh, he knew that they were going to talk to Joyce today. It must not have gone well. But then he needed to make sure they were talking about the same person.

"¿Quien?" (Who?) Ranger asked.

"Esta mujer que quiere a Estephania muerta". (This woman that wants Stephanie dead.) Hector was clear.

"¿Que pasó?" (What happened?) Tank hadn't called him because he was busy at the time. He had only texted that they hadn't gotten any good information and he would have to watch the video.

"Tank y Bobby intentaron hablar con ella y ella se acercó a los dos. Incluso ofreciéndoles un trío justo allí en la habitación. Ella les ofreció la mejor mamada que jamás hayan tenido. Cuando eso no funcionó, se inclinó y siguió tratando de empujar sus pechos en sus caras. Tank tuvo que amenazar con aturdirla para obtener respuestas reales de ella." (Tank and Bobby tried to talk to her and she came on to both of them. Even offering them a threesome right there in the room. She offered them the best blow job they have ever had. When that didn't work, she leaned way over and kept trying to push her boobs in their faces. Tank had to threaten to stun her to get any real answers out of her.) Hector spat, obviously sickened by the whole display.

"¿Dijo ella por qué lo hizo?" (Did she say why she did it?) Ranger needed to know what they got.

"Ella dice que no conoce a ese tipo y que no tuvo nada que ver con la bomba que era todo él. Ella dice que la invitó a ir a Cluck N A Bucket para almorzar. Ella pensó que él entró para usar el baño." (She says she doesn't know that guy, and she had nothing to do with the bomb; that was all him. She says he invited her to go to Cluck N A Bucket to get lunch. She thought he went inside to use the bathroom.) Hector said. Damn this was what he was worried about. She didn't handle the bomb and was denying the whole thing.

"¿Entonces no tenemos nada más que la palabra de Stanley de que ella le dijo que pusiera una bomba en el auto de Estephania?" (So, we have nothing on her but Stanley's word that she told him to put a bomb on Stephanie's car?) Ranger clarified. The video only shows her sitting in the car, it would not be enough to get charges pressed against her especially good charges like attempted murder that would put her away for a while.

"Nada, y con todo el dinero que tiene puede pagarle para decir que no fue ella. Ella necesita irse permanentemente." (Nothing, and with as much money as she has, she can pay him off to say it wasn't her. She needs to permanently go away.) Hector clarified the problem. It was true and she was a manipulative bitch. Certainly, she already set the stage for him denying she was any part of it. Oh, he may have told us the truth, but he would lie to the police and in court if she paid him money and she was rich enough. She had money.

"¿Por qué?" (Why?) Ranger knew why he wanted to kill her, but he was surprised at how vehement Hector sounded. It would take a bit off him if Hector took care of her, but he has never pushed his responsibilities off on anyone else especially such responsibilities with repercussions.

"Ella es una puta celosa. Ella quería matar a Estephania." (She is a jealous whore. She wanted to kill Stephanie.) Hector clarified. Hector did sound like he was ready to take his switch blade to her and teach her to have some respect.

"¿Estás seguro?" (Are you sure?) Ranger didn't know why Joyce would talk someone into putting a bomb on Stephanie's car. He was hoping it was to get Lula.

"Ella dice que odia a Stephanie y que no merece su auto nuevo ni a ti." (She says she hates Stephanie, and she doesn't deserve her new car or you.) Hector explained. That didn't sound good. It sounded like Lula was the excuse and Stephanie WAS the target.

"Explique." (Explain.) He needed to hear everything that was said.

"Ella seguía diciendo que enviara a Ranger porque nunca había tenido una mujer como ella y una vez que la tuviera, dejaría a Estephania y ella conduciría un automóvil así." (She kept saying to send in Ranger, because you've never had a woman like her, and once you had her; you would leave Stephanie and she would be driving a car like that.) Hector repeated. That bitch is stupid to think that he would ever want a diseased, manipulating whore like her, instead of a wonderful, loving, self-sacrificing woman, like Stephanie. Ranger was quiet. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"¿Le hizo volar el auto de Estephania porque está celosa?" (She had him blow up Stephanie's car because she is jealous?) He expounded. Wanting to make sure that his decision to end her was based on solid fact.

"Sí, y ella dijo que espera que vuelva a suceder." (Yeah and she said she hopes it will happen again.) Hector replied. What the fuck? Happen again?

"Infierno que suena como una amenaza." (Hell, that sounds like a threat.) Ranger responded. If she was going to keep trying to blow up her cars that would not set well with Stephanie, much less him.

"Quiero matarla." (I want to kill her.) Hector was blunt and to the point. Shit! He also wanted her dead, but they had to do this right because after talking to Stanley; the police would be looking for her. They would have to make it look like she left town.

"Creo que te dejaré deshacerte de ella. Tiene suerte de que Estephania no estuviera en el auto." (I think I'm going to let you dispose of her. She's just lucky Stephanie wasn't in the car.) It was all he could think. They knew from Stanley that Joyce and Stanley knew the car was going to explode without Stephanie being in it, but obviously; it was what Joyce was hoping for.

"Sí, ella dijo que era una mala suerte que no hubiera volado con el auto."(Yeah she said it was rotten luck that she wasn't blown up with the car.) Hector confirmed his thoughts.

Fucking cunt bitch. She didn't deserve to live. If Stephanie and Lula had decided to go somewhere else, or go for more of a drive, she would have been killed. He could not let someone live that was willing to kill Stephanie, for a stupid reason like jealousy.

"Parece que podría intentarlo de nuevo." (Sounds like she might try it again.) He said hesitantly. Wanting to make sure his decision to end her was the best decision for the situation. Sometimes it can be too easy to kill but, in her case, it may be the only way.

"Sí, ella dijo que conoce más hombres que pueden construir bombas." (Yes, she said that she knows more men who can build bombs.) Hector confirmed.

"No podemos darle esa oportunidad." (We can't give her that chance.) Ranger was serious. Just as he wouldn't let Ron live to try to hurt Julie, he couldn't let this woman who would gladly get some man to kill Stephanie, try again and again until she succeeded.

"Será un placer hacer cantar a ese gordo cerdo." (It will be my pleasure to make that fat pig sing.) Hector crowed.

"Espera hasta que nos hayamos ido. Partimos a Miami el lunes." (Wait till we are gone. We leave for Miami on Monday.) Ranger specified.

"Por supuesto." (Of course.) Hector said gleefully.

Joyce had always been a thorn in Stephanie's side, following her, taking her skips; but Stephanie didn't work there anymore, so he didn't think Joyce would be her problem any longer. But this was not going to fly. She didn't even pay that guy any money. She just manipulated him to blow up Stephanie's car, and he was going to try to wire it to the starter; he just wasn't smart enough to know how the rear mounted motors worked.

He didn't even feel a little bit bad. He knew not to go into that room with her because she always had come on to him. She wasn't afraid of him. She saw him as just another rich man to use. Hell, he could consider what he was doing a service to single rich men everywhere because she certainly was not going to stop her chosen profession of seducing and marrying rich guys and then taking them for everything they were worth.

In fact, her current husband may be willing to pay them for this service; and really it was a service to many people including Lucille who was going to be pregnant soon, and didn't need her husband bringing home active STD's to her.

As Ranger tucked his phone into his jacket pocket, he felt the check Ocalli had given him. He pulled it out and thought he would go by the bank and deposit it on the way home. He opened it and was shocked! Then he had to do a double take, because it wasn't for $250,000 as he'd expected. It was written out for $400,000 plus the amount of taxes and fees. Well over the $350,000 he said he would pay. There was a note stating his wife would just have to spend $50,000 more on home renovations.

Well that brought down the amount he was paying to $100,000. Well below the price to replace Ocalli's R8, and if he sent him the insurance check this would be beyond his expectations cheap, to get Julie and Stephanie out of harm's way. Ranger got back to Haywood in time to have dinner with his girls. They talked incessantly about their shopping trip, and what they wanted to do when they got to Miami.

Ranger told them this would be their first trip to his house, and they can decorate parts of it the way they wanted. Specifically, Julie can decorate what is her room. Stephanie asked if she could do a little decorating. He said yes, but no throw pillows all over the place. He wanted his space to be functional. A colorful throw over the back of the couch would be okay. Two throw pillows for the whole house, was his limit. He wanted to be able to sit down without having to move shit.

Julie laughed at him and he reached over and tickled her until she squealed and squirmed away.

Stephanie and Julie had bought some games, stating that's what they did every night – play games. So, they played Sorry, Uno Spin and Yahtzee; talking and laughing about the day.

At 8:00 there was a knock at the door, and Ranger was surprised because he was not expecting anyone. When he answered it, there was Charles with the updated blueprints. The girls Ooohed and Awwed over them; and Ranger wasn't certain why. He had two blueprints showing what had to be removed and what would be built. Instead of knocking out whole walls, he just added a door to the living room; that would lead to a hall that led to both bedrooms and the bathroom. As a special treat he made Julie a door directly to the bathroom; so she didn't have to walk around the hall in a towel or robe after her showers.

Their bathroom would back up to his bathroom, because they could save money running their plumbing back to back with his plumbing. Plus, this way the construction would go faster.

Ranger pulled Charles aside and asked, "How fast can you get it done?"

Charles said. "We can start Tuesday of this week, and will do everything, but the painting; because they haven't been able to pick out colors. Construction will take three weeks; because the plumber can't start till next week."

"Get it started and I will pay you extra to get it done in two weeks, and don't worry about the painting. Louis can do it." Ranger was certain without asking the man.

"I have another plumber I can call. With the two of them working; we might be able to get done sooner." Charles offered.

"I would really appreciate it with a big bonus; if you get it done sooner." A few thousand dollars would be well worth having a room and bathroom for Julie when they came back.

"I'll let you know Monday." Charles offered, and then he took the blueprints and left.

After Julie was in bed, Carlos brought Steph over to his computer, and pulled her down on his lap. He opened the file Tank had sent him; and they sat there watching Tank and Bobby interrogate Joyce.

The first ten minutes was her dodging the questions while she came on to them; offering them both sex, separately or together. Then she just kept saying how hot they were and kept making sexual innuendos. Then she got on how good her blow-jobs were. Telling them how they had never had one like hers because no matter how big they were she could deep throat them, and she had heard from Lula that Tank was humongous. They didn't even have to unlock her; they could come right over there and fuck her face as long as they wanted with her chained to the table.

"I can't keep watching this. It's disgusting and she's not answering any of their questions." Stephanie complained, starting to get up.

"It gets better in a few." He assured her as he held her on his lap. "In a minute Tank is going to tell her he is going to stun her… oh right here watch-"

Tank had pulled out his stun gun and told her if she didn't answer his questions, he was going to stun her and they wouldn't come back till tomorrow.

Fine she said and sat up straighter pressing her breasts out for all to see. Then she spent the next ten minutes dodging the questions and denying she knew anything about the bomb on Steph's car or what Stanley was up to. He just invited her to go to lunch at Cluck N A Bucket and she thought he went inside to use the bathroom. She just kept repeating variations on this thread.

Tank asked her why they followed Stephanie back to the bonds office, and she said that she need to talk to Connie. But after the car blew up there was too much excitement, so she was going to have to wait till tomorrow. Then she started asking why they were here asking her the questions? Asking and then demanding to talk to Ranger.

When Tank asked why; she said Ranger's never had a woman like her and once he does; she'll have a car like that! Since that is how he rewards his women. Once he had her, he would be hooked, and he would never let her go. He would get rid of Stephanie and good riddance; it was just rotten luck she wasn't blown up with the car. That would have made the whole thing more exciting and actually worthwhile. Then she said it was a good thing that car got blown up because Stephanie did not deserve that car or Ranger.

"Did she just say she wanted me to get blown up?" Steph squealed.

"Yes" He was stoic. Hector has relayed most of this to him already, but it was chilling hearing it firsthand.

She went on talking about how much better she was than Stephanie, and all they needed to do was send Ranger in, and she would prove it to him. Tank told her that she was out of business, because Stanley was behind bars and not going to get released again on bond. She responded that she didn't care, she knew other men who knew how to build bombs and would do anything for her. In fact, she hopes Stephanie's cars keep getting blown up. That she hates Stephanie, and her cars are all pieces of shit and so beautiful when they get blown up. Yes, she definitely hopes it happens again. Then she went back to calling for Ranger, stating that she was a much better woman than Stephanie, but he never gave her a chance. She may seem a little more aggressive than he likes but she can be docile in bed, and still give him the best sex he has ever had. But if he insists on keeping Stephanie, she would have to be even more proactive because Stephanie did not deserve that car or Ranger. She continued on to say she was a much better woman and she was going to keep after Ranger until he gave her a chance, removing all obstacles in her way if he forced her to, until she got him.

That last part surprised him because Hector hadn't told him that Joyce was directly after him; and was removing Stephanie because she was an "obstacle".

Tank ended the audio there, so if anymore was said they couldn't hear it. A minute later Tank and Bobby left the interrogation room.

"Well, she wasn't remorseful, or going to kiss my feet and beg for forgiveness," Stephanie said.

"I'll be honest with you. Hector already told me most of what was on that video and he asked me if he could do away with her."

"He didn't!" Steph sounded shocked and I didn't know why, Hector was one of her staunchest supporters and protectors. She hopped up off my lap and began pacing the room.

"Yes, he did, and without consulting you, I told him to wait until after we left Monday."

"Well that's all well and good but you promised me I could shoot her and damn it, after watching that video, I want to confront her, and explain that you are my man and I protect what's mine and then shoot her a few times."

"Do you want to kill her?" He asked tentatively, unsure of how far Steph wanted to take things.

"No, I can't do that. I don't even like knowing that Hector is going to do it for me. But I'm still grateful that he will, 'cause I don't need no stank bitch trying to blow me up, to get my man. Carlos, don't you ever doubt, that I would kill her to keep her away from you! But I'm glad that I don't have to." She paused a moment, "Is that bad that I'm putting my murder off on someone else to do?"

"No there are certain righteous acts that will let Hector feel better about himself and his life. Knowing he did something, to protect someone he loves, is one of those things. He won't feel bad for taking out that trash. He won't have any regrets. Where if you were killing to protect someone, like say someone trying to kill Julie; you wouldn't feel bad. But I know you, and if you killed someone to protect yourself; you would feel bad about taking that life. That's the good humane light, that fills you, that makes you such a good person. That's not a bad thing to have inside you."

"I know but it makes me feel weak, because obviously Joyce didn't have any problems killing me, to get to you."

"Joyce has fucked up morals in a lot of ways. She acts like she wants me, but I know the truth. She wants my money. Her goal is to screw my brains out till
I married her, and maybe even kill her current husband for her; so she could have all his money and marry me sooner. Then she would turn into the royal bitch that she is, and screw me for every dime she can take me for; while out on the hunt for another rich man. She's not even divorced yet – and already hunting me."

"Well I would kill her, if I had to, to protect you." She smiled at me.

"Thank you, my eternal love. Don't you ever doubt I love only you, and even if she happened to blow you up, I would still never sleep with a conniving diseased whore like her. I would be distraught, grieving endlessly over loosing you."

"Fortunately, you don't have to worry about that cause I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have you and I know you will always keep me safe."

"Don't ever doubt that!" He agreed.

"Take me to bed Batman, and make me forget all about all of it!" She asked taking my hand and pulling me to my feet.

"Come on Babe, with pleasure," He grabbed her and led her to the bedroom.

RSRSRSRS

Ranger hated going out at night, but it was long after Stephanie and Julie were already asleep. It was 02:00 and he was driving through the night with Tank and Hector. They arrived at a dark multi-million-dollar mansion, with what they considered minimal security. They broke in and he shut down the security system.

They trooped through the house with their mini-flashlights, silent as a grave, until they heard the snoring coming out of the master bedroom. They gathered around the bed, that had two sleeping occupants; while Hector swept the room for bugs and cameras. Not surprisingly he found two cameras. One that was drilled into the wall, and the other that was in a light fixture. One was motion triggered and the other was recording on a timer. He disabled them both, before we began.

They all aimed their flashlights at the ground so he couldn't see their faces. Ranger poked the man in his foot and he just moved it. Ranger poked him again a little harder and the man jumped and said, "Whose there?"

Ranger was being quiet because he didn't want to wake whoever was in the bed with him. "I am a problem solver. I want to solve your Joyce problem for you, but let me ask you a question first. How many millions will Joyce get if she can prove you cheated?" Ranger was curt and straight to the point.

"I'm worth twenty-five million. The pre-nup says she would get half and my prized house. That little bitch, I know she cheated, but now she is claiming emotional distress and suing me for seventeen million plus the house. I built this house and it is irreplaceable. Worth almost ten million dollars." He grumbled, sounding like he was barely awake, and Ranger needed him to be more awake.

"Let me play this for you, just watch and listen." Ranger pulled his phone out of his pocket, and turned on the video from the bond's office. A hand reached up from the bed, and he put his phone into it. The video started:

Joyce put her hands on her hips. "I've been married, and he didn't like his wife working."

"You mean he didn't like you around Vinnie." Lula interjected.

"He took good care of me while we were married and I have a pre-nup that says if he cheats, I get the house and half of what he's worth. We're talking at least twenty million!' Joyce sounded excited.

"Then why are you slummin' back here?" Lula asked.

"Because he is fighting it saying all those late nights rendezvouses with that lawyer were work related and I'm cut off and homeless until it all goes through." Joyce bemoaned.

"He's smart and covered his ass. You're going to end up with nothing but your big fat black leather pants!" Lula joked.

"I hid a camera in the bedroom and got him on video for a whole month sleeping with two different women. Plus, I took multiple trips out of town, to give ample opportunity to cheat. But my lawyer is waiting till we go to court to bring it into evidence; so they can't say it's faked." Joyce told it all.

The video ended and Ranger took the phone back. "In fact, Mr. Bloomdale, Joyce has two cameras right here in the bedroom. If she can get back into this house; she will have everything you have been doing since she left – on tape. You are still not divorced, and everything on those tapes can be used against you too." Ranger told him.

"What do you want?" Mr. Bloomdale asked.

"I want to get rid of this little problem for you and I'm wondering what it is worth to you?"

"Five million."

"Fine I will guarantee that Joyce won't show up to court and you will win the divorce decree. When you do, I will send you an account to wire the money to." Ranger didn't actually care about the money, but it would make certain that when the police came around looking for Joyce; her husband would play dumb and not help them at all. Besides Hector could use a bonus for looking out for Stephanie.

When they left, they went and got Joyce's car from where she had been staying; from the lavishly decorated apartment, it appeared as if she had already made off with a good part of her husband's fortune. They deserted the car with the keys in it down on Starks street. It would disappear without a trace and so would she.

To be continued…

A/N I have another question for you to answer in the reviews. I have avoided making a Pinterest page for this story because my Pinterest page for my last story frankly got out of hand. But if you would be interested in seeing the ring and the cars and later on dresses and such: vote yes or no on a Pinterest page.

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