Chapter 29

As I looked out of the window it looked to be a pleasant evening, there was still some sun left in the sky so I decided that maybe sat in the fresh air would help minimize the impact of the dream and give me some courage to face the content of the files. Just outside the door was a wooden bench so armed with a cushion from the couch that's where I made myself comfortable and began at the beginning of the information that Daniel had sent to Ranger.

There were five sets of paper stapled together, each one referred to the discovery of the body of a woman. It became obvious that different people had put a report together as the way things were recorded differed. I wanted to compare the woman that had been murdered so started by writing out the points from the first report that looked important to me. Name. Age. Description alive. Date reported missing. Date and location that the bodies were found. Where they had lived and who with. Job and hobbies. Significant partner. Cause of death and other injuries. I was very surprised that the names I had in front of me were ones that I recognized from the work I'd already done

I tried not to dwell on the overall picture until I had finished reading through the reports properly, though there were two columns I needed to add from two of the women. One was trophies, what had been taken from the body and the last column was what had been left behind that didn't belong to the woman.

Reluctantly I started to read through the detail of the reports, starting with the woman who had been found the last. I was disappointed that the photo that had been with report was grainy, not making it easy to distinguish exactly what she had looked like. She'd been in her late twenties and had been living in her own apartment near Boston. It seemed she was a career woman, having worked her way up in a company that focused on advertising. She'd had boyfriends but no one close at the time she disappeared, the report suggested that she enjoyed the single life.

Her body had been discovered nearly a year after her parents reported her missing, 6 months ago. A walker had found her at Ashburnham State Forest, an isolated place north west of Boston and it was determined that she'd been dead for at least 2 months. She'd been wearing a pale yellow silk dress and that was what had been what attracted the walkers attention.
The last page I turned to, was the one I was dreading the most, the coroner's report, but I knew I had to read it. I tried to detach myself from what I was reading but found it so hard to do. That poor girl had been kept prisoner for nearly six months before they'd killed her. I hated to think what she must have been feeling.

Hell, I had only been held for short periods of time, but the despair I'd felt at the time had been devastating. Being inside a coffin and then shoved into a cupboard still brought shivers to me at times. And when Scrogg had me and I knew all of the trackers had been removed I was genuinely frightened that I wouldn't get away from him.

The report repeated what Ranger had told me, that she'd died from the insertion of something through the back of her neck into her brain. It concluded that her death would have been quick and painless, though there was some speculation from tests that maybe she'd been drugged. Again there was a presumption that she had received food and water during her captivity.

It was the postmortem injuries that were horrific. Her skin had been cut, slashed, all over her body, including her face and the ring finger from her right hand had been cut off and was missing. The report though also noted that her skin and hair looked to have been cleaned post mortem and her finger and toenails manicured and a coating of a pale-yellow nail varnish applied. Apart from her missing finger a lock of hair had been cut off close to the roots, again it wasn't found at the scene. It did make me wonder how Jinski's skin had ended up under her finger nails.

I applied the same comparison to the second woman whose body had been discovered a year ago, 2 ½ years after she was reported missing by her mother. She had lived with her mother in Worcester Massachusetts and had been found a year ago near a place called Pottapaug Pond, west of her home town. Because of the conditions, her body was badly decomposed so whilst there was mention of her missing a finger, the slashes on her body were put down to wild animals.

As far as the other two women were concerned their deaths were hard to determine due to the state their bodies were in. In fact, I think the only thing that alerted the FBI that they were related was the age of the women when they'd disappeared and the possibility that they were missing a finger. To be honest the link was tenuous at best, making me wonder if these four women had been murdered by the same person or if it was a way for the FBI to close the cases.

Emma had been the third victim I came to and it broke my heart to read through what had been done to her. No wonder her father had become so ill with the stress and maybe guilt that her death had brought. I tried to ignore who she was and focused on the facts but by the time I'd finished I had tears in my eyes. I was so busy looking through what I'd written down that I jumped as a hand touched my leg. Looking up I saw Ranger squatted down in front of me and waited for him to say something.

"Hey, you're upset"

"I know. I can't even imagine what those women went through"

"You didn't sleep for long"

"No, I knew I needed to look at these. Is everything okay at Rangeman?"

"Yes. Tank has everything in hand. Morelli has told him he'll be there in the morning to ask questions about Hayes"

"Will you talk to him?"

"Yes. I need to get a line on where his thinking is going. It also adds to the illusion that I don't know where you are and am leaving town"

I wasn't too sure what to think let alone say. I knew that Ranger could manage Joe and would give him any information he felt was pertinent to Joe's investigation. Just as I knew Joe would assume Ranger knew where I was. It would be interesting to hear what Joe thought when I'd been named as a person of interest.

"I'll tell you what happens"

I saw the slight quirk to his lips as he said that, he knew me so well. Ranger tapped his finger against the files and then looked at me with a serious expression.

"How do the names tally with yours?"
"The same"

"What made you tie them all together?"

"Art, they all had jobs that were related to painting or drawing. Emma's mother told me how much Emma enjoyed drawing"

"What about the reports?"

"I'm not sure. The only common denominator between all five of them is possibly the missing finger, their bodies were too badly decomposed or damaged by animals to determine anything and there was no evidence to find"

"True. What are your instincts telling you?"

"There's one woman who I've added to the list who was found near Trenton and another who has never been found"

I saw the surprise on his face as I said that making me wonder if I was seeing things that weren't there.

"Why would you say that?"

"It's almost as if the unsub wants the bodies to be found now. Where the last two were found were tourist areas, whist the others were in remote areas. It's like they want the women to be found quicker now as though they want their work to be seen"

I knew I had no proof to what I was saying, but Ranger had asked me what my instincts were telling me. I did think that they were connected but how they were chosen or why eluded me for now.

"Look, I know I watch too many CSI programs, but because of that I'm betting that this killer started earlier than 5 ½ years ago. Maybe they even started by just kidnapping young women and the desire to do more grew to killing them"

"So they changed their MO over time, except for the finger?"

"I'm not sure, some of the bodies were badly decomposed and animals had got to them. I think that was why the coroner maybe wouldn't even notice any cuts"

"What do you want to do next?"

"How safe is it for me to go back home?"

"I'd give it a few days for the dust to settle"

No doubt rumors were rife as well and I agreed that going back now might not be a good thing. At least my parents weren't there to take the brunt of the gossip. As I thought of the people who might cause me the most grief Joe's name immediately came into my mind. If he was the lead on the death of Haye's then he would certainly need a statement from me, and I wasn't ready to face him just yet.

"Could we maybe head up to Boston and look at the last woman who was found. Memories will be fresher. But for some reason if these woman's deaths are related then it looks like it started further south"

"That could put the first in Baltimore or even Washington"

"Do you have the photographs that Daniel sent?"

"Yes, but I don't want you looking at them without me being with you. Okay?"

"Okay"

"I'm heading back to Rangeman before people get suspicious and then I'll do what people expect me to do. I'll put it around that I've had enough of Trenton. People can think what they want, either that I'm on another mission or I'm at another office"

"When will you be back?"
"Early afternoon, once Morelli has gone, then we can start to plan where we go first"

I knew he'd have to leave but I didn't like it, I didn't want to be on my own here.

"I have someone who's going to stay here with you"

"Who?"

"Hector. He's going to be our point man, all our communication will go through him, do you trust him for that?"

"Of course"

"Good. He'll bring some things that we can use safely. I'll pack a bag for you and by this time tomorrow we'll be on our way north"

"Who will know?"

"Just the core team, they'll hold the fort here"

I leaned forward and felt his arms come around, pulling me from the seat to him until I was sat with my legs wrapped around his thighs as he knelt on the ground. My hands went to his neck and twisted his hair through my fingers as I poured everything I had into the kiss between us, my love, hopes and dreams.

His hands were in my hair and on my back, moving us as he took control. As the kiss deepened, as we explored each other our bodies instinctively molded together, heat flowing through me. I'm sure I moaned as he pulled away, his eyes black as midnight as he looked at me.

"I have to go Babe"

I could feel how much he was affected by that kiss as I moved and he made to stand up, adjusting his cargos in the process. I turned as I heard a noise behind me and saw Les stood in the doorway. I had no idea how long he'd been there and suddenly I felt embarrassed at what he might have seen.

"We ready to go Boss?"

As he followed Ranger back into the house he turned and winked at me, letting me know that he'd seen something. I followed Les into the house and watched as they went out through the front door then screamed as I felt arms around me, lifting me from the floor. Once I was put back down, I turned to see Hector smiling at me.

"You walked right past me"

"I never expected you here so soon"
"Estefania, Ranger would never leave you on your own"

I knew he was right, since my conversation with Ranger I had a feeling he would always make sure someone was with me if he couldn't be. Hector led me back into the lounge area and started to unpack a bag that he must have brought with him. I watched as he took out a phone and a laptop and placed them on the table in front of me.

"Burn phone, no GPS inside"

"GPS?"

"You can't use it to work out where you are or where you want to go"
"Sorry, I understand now"

"The only numbers programmed in our mine and Ranger's"

"Hector, my parents, they ended up taking a vacation"

"Maybe we get a way for you to talk to them"

I watched as Hector thought about that. It had been something that had bothered me so speaking with them was important to me. My parents were careful with their money, after all, they were always helping Val out so wouldn't spend it on themselves and certainly wouldn't leave Val to manage on her own.

"Leave it with me, I'll see what I can find out. Estefania, don't contact them, it could be a trap"

What was worrying me was who would know that I would want to talk to them. Though maybe that was what any daughter would want to do if her parents were away and hadn't seen them.

"Estefania, don't worry. We will keep an eye on them"

"Thank you for that Hector"

"De nada"

"Okay, what else have you got in there?"

He smiled as he brought out a small laptop and opened it in front of me.

"No search programs, but it can pick up Wi-fi from wherever you're staying. Stay off any sites that you would normally log into, like Facebook or emails"

"What about the email address I set up?"

"Look but do not send to anyone at Rangeman"

I wasn't sure how Ranger and I were going to find out about anyone without using the internet but then I remembered it had been my idea to go back to basics, to talk to people and get a line on things from that.

"Will you be with us?"

"Not exactly, but I'll be watching your backs"

How the hell had I managed to get us into the middle of this, well me. Someone was after me for god knows what and I was chasing a serial killer. What was beginning to really worry me was that they were one and the same person. The thing that confused me was why were they after me, what was it that tied me into this and why the hell did someone want me to marry Joe?

I was pleased that Hector was here with me, not just for the company, but because he was a good cook. I couldn't believe what he managed to serve up from the groceries that they'd brought with them. As I finished the spaghetti bolognaise in my bowl, I felt incredibly full and tired. I suppose once again I'd missed a night of sleep running from those men and my attempt at napping hadn't been very successful. As I started toward the bedroom, I suddenly remembered that anything I'd had with me was in the jacket hung up in the bedroom.

"Hector, what about my bank cards"

"No problem. Just don't use them until this is over"

"Well there won't be much in my account anyway"

"You're wrong, from what I remember from checking on your account there has been deposits made"

"Maybe some from Connie"

"Yes, but also two were from a company called Negote and one was from Rangeman"

I was pleased that Jack had at least paid me for the two jobs that I'd been involved with, but was struggling to work out why Rangeman had paid me. Then I remembered the time I'd spent doing the searches for Tank. So, as I'd said to Hector, there wouldn't be very much in the account. It made me worry about the costs that Ranger would incur if I was with him. He'd already provided me with places to stay and food to eat. I had to make sure that whatever we found would be enough for Ranger to negotiate a contract with the FBI.

"Estefania now is not the time to worry about it. What happened to your phone?"

"I broke it"

I couldn't afford for anyone to know where I was through my phone, so it was lying somewhere in pieces. Then I panicked as I thought through what that young man who helped me at the soup kitchen could tell someone who was looking for me. I knew it hadn't been a long way from where Hayes was shot and if they started questioning people, he could identify the car that Owen had driven.

"Hector, we have to get a message to Owen"

"Why"
"They'll know it was him who helped me"

"How?"

"His car, the man who helped me. If anyone asks him where I went, he'll describe the car"

"No hay problema. He explained how he found you and just to be safe we switched out his car. The least we could do was to let him have use of one that was less noticeable and more reliable"

I was ashamed that I hadn't thought about it before but felt relieved that someone at Rangeman had. Hell, it could have put Owen and Jenna in danger, which reminded me.

"How did Owen threaten Les?"

Hector didn't smile very often but when he did it changed his whole persona. Stood in front of me now was a man who looked younger and mischievous, obviously desperate to tell me.

"Owen has his ways of getting hold of information, seems a girl Santos got cozy with, in a hotel room, has a very possessive boyfriend"

"Does the boyfriend know she cheated with Les?"

"He's suspicious, but Les is adamant she told him she was unattached"

"So Owen threatened to tell the boyfriend about Les?"

"That's what he told Santos, but he told Tank he'd never do it"

As Hector smiled, I couldn't help but laugh, that was one hell of a threat to hold over Les and he really wouldn't like it that he'd been put into that position by a woman. Maybe Les would be more careful when he picked up a woman in the future, maybe that was why he was so reluctant to chat up the waitress at that diner.

"Okay I could see how that would upset Les, I mean he has a reputation to uphold"

"It's good to see you laugh Estefania"

"Yeah, it feels good Hector. I need to get some sleep"

"You sleep, I'll check outside and keep watch"

I wasn't too sure what Hector would do but somehow, I knew that having him here would ensure that I was safe. Safe from anyone who came near us, but not from anyone who came in my dreams.

"Estefania, wake up"

I could hear Hector shouting my name and feel him holding my shoulders. Beyond that I was still trying to shake the dream from my head. As my mind cleared and I blinked open my eyes the images began to recede, images that were a mix of faces that came to me but always ended up being Jack as he pinned me to the bed and then me and Ranger falling to the ground.

"Estefania, it's okay, it was just a dream"

Just a dream, if only that was true, but at least I hadn't said anything that might alert Hector that the dream had really happened.

"Sorry Hector"

"There's nothing to be sorry about"

Hector was sat on the bed facing me and had obviously sat me up in order to wake me. Now he pulled me toward him and hugged me, holding onto me tightly. It was as if he was anchoring me to the here and now and helped the shaking to subside. After a couple of minutes, I pulled away, feeling slightly embarrassed at why Hector was comforting me.

"I had a sister who would have nightmares when she slept, I used to hear her at night and try to calm her down"

"What happened to her?"

"She left home and moved in with her boyfriend, but it didn't go well. He treated her badly and she ended up sick. The boyfriend, he didn't see that he was the reason for her nightmares and her depression"

"I'm so sorry Hector, is she back home now?"

"No. He killed her, when he flew into a rage with her"

I had no idea that something like that had happened to someone he was so close to and as he pointed at the tear drop tattoo under his eye, I understood what he'd done.

"He was the top man in the gang he ran. After she died, I got to know some of the men close to him. I found out that they would get high on drugs and that's why he hurt her. So not only did he turn her into an addict but he killed her as well"

"I understand why you did what you did"

"By the time I killed him I was very high up in that gang, everyone assumed I killed him for the leadership. It was Ranger who got me out of there, because I was gradually turning into him and I hated myself for it"

I could see that trait in Hector, the anger that surrounded him. He used that persona to keep people away from him, he wanted them to fear him.

"I know deep down that you are a caring man Hector"

"You remind me so much of Mia when she was younger, before she got involved with that man. That is why I will do anything to protect you. You may be the boss's woman, but I see you as my little sister"

"Thank you, Hector, for caring"

"I know someone has hurt you. You need to talk to Ranger about it, it will help to calm your soul"

"I'm frightened Hector, it scares me what he might do if he knew who it was"

"That Ranger will kill him like I did?"

I nodded my head in response because I didn't want Hector to feel that I was judging what he'd done.

"Estefania, I know I did wrong, but had Mia told me about what was happening I would have moved heaven and earth to protect her. I only killed the man because my grief and feeling of guilt consumed me"

"It wasn't your fault Hector"

"I know now, but at the time I felt that I had let her down"

"Thank you for sharing your story with me"

"De nada. I will be always be here for you"

"How did I end up with you as such a good friend?"

"Because you are you, you lighten the world around you with your heart"

I looked down at my hands that were twisting the corner of the bed cover, surprised that someone like Hector thought that about me. Somehow our friendship had moved to another level, one where we understood each other.

"Mi harmano"

He smiled as he replied with

"Mi hermana pequeña"

The moment was broken when I knew I needed to use the bathroom so as I started to move Hector got up from where he was sat and wondered through toward the kitchen area. I went through the bag containing clothes and chose fresh underwear, black jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt and a shirt that I could wear over it.

As I showered, I thought through what Hector had told me and the message he was trying to get me to understand. Was it something I wanted to do, to tell Ranger everything that had happened with Jack? I wasn't sure. I mean in some ways I think it might help me to cope with the feelings I was experiencing and even maybe the dreams, but I was still worried about how Ranger would react.

As I left the bedroom, I couldn't believe the smells that greeted me and was keen to see if what Hector was cooking was responsible.

"Bacon, you brought some bacon and real coffee?"

He laughed as he placed two plates on the table and turned to fetch some mugs before he sat opposite me. I inhaled the smell coming from my plate, from the bacon, eggs and sausages, not forgetting the toast and fried tomatoes. I was surprised when I looked over to Hector's plate and saw that he was only having omelet. There was silence as we ate, each of us just enjoying our food. It was only as I sat back, a clean plate in front of me, that I even picked up the mug and began to slowly sip it.

"That was just what I needed"
"Good, because with Ranger you might not get anything like that again"

"You mean he'd stop me from eating things that I like?"

"Things that are bad for you"

"So why did you give me it?"

"As a memory"

"Are you kidding me?"

"No. Do you like Ella's cooking?"
"Of course I do"

"Estefania, how does your stomach feel after eating that?"

"Full"

"And?"
He stepped forward and placed his hand over my belly which I instantly slapped away.

"Too much fat can cause bloating, nausea, and stomach pain. Too much sugar can do the same. Those are the immediate problems"

I couldn't believe what Hector was saying to me, I mean I'd been eating food like that for most of my life. Did he really think that what he'd said would make me stop eating the things I liked? Without saying a word, I picked up our plates from the table and ran some hot soapy water into the sink.

I was annoyed at how Hector had ambushed me like that, annoyed that he was right, and that my stomach felt bloated. I knew the feeling but had always put it down to being full.

"You've washed that one at least three times"

I jumped as Hector came and stood next to me and started to dry the pots and put them away. I still wasn't going to talk to him.