CHAPTER 7

I have been working at Rangeman for the last two months. My job was a bit dull at times, but I was enjoying the steady paycheque. The typical background checks were boring, but sometimes I was given an investigative research project, which was more exciting. Using my spidey-sense, I'm able to hone in track down information Rangeman applicants attempted to bury. Most hidden information hindered the hiring process and more times than not, they weren't hired. My work day at Rangeman started at 11 am, which gives me the chance to complete my workout routines prior to beginning my day. Part of my workout routine includes teaching kickboxing and self defence to abused women and children. Rangeman rents an old dance studio for this purpose. I enjoy teaching women how to empower themselves, to not allow these abusive men to take away their self worth. It was very therapeutic for me and the women. Combining exercise and teaching was Ranger's solution to keep me exercising and helping others. Ranger knew I needed to spend time helping others before spending my day staring at a computer monitor. I was looking forward to the day I could work in the field doing security checks. But first, like all Rangeman employees, I had to pass all the required tests. Physical fitness, psychiatric and gun range tests. I still had a long way to go for the physical fitness requirement, but I passed the psychiatric and gun range tests with flying colours. In the gun range, you needed an 80% accuracy rate on all weapons in order to pass. I currently have an 85% accuracy rate. The only person with a higher accuracy rate is Ranger at 86%.

Sophia helped me sort out my issues with Joe and my mom. She helped me explore my growing feelings for Ranger. I cut off all ties to Morelli. When I met with him at Pino's last month, I saw a side of Joe I never experienced, but other women warned me about. It appears that all the Morelli men were exactly like their abusive, philandering father. The day after my amazing night with Ranger, I went to my parents' house for dinner.

I parked my Jeep Cherokee in front of my parents' house at 5:55 pm. Before parking, I scoped the area for my sister's car and Morelli's SUV. So far, it appears my mom took me seriously, she didn't invite anyone else for dinner. I received a text form Ranger 'All clear' followed by one from Tank 'All clear'. They were telling me there was no detection of Morelli's or Valerie's cars. My mom was peaking through the front curtain, while my grandmother was waiting by the door. When I exited my car, my Grandma Mazur's face lit up with a huge smile. My grandmother is the best. She always had a way of making me feel welcome. Ranger's car parked 4 houses down the road. I knew he would have another Rangeman car around the corner. My parents' house hasn't changed much since the last time I visited. They installed new carpet in the living room and new tile in the kitchen. I sat across from my grandmother at the table.

My mom carried the roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans into the dining room from the kitchen. I was surprised to see the green beans weren't covered in cheese or in a casserole. When we started to eat, Grandma jumped up from the table and set another plate. I was about leave the table when I felt my neck tingle. "Ranger, what are you doing in here?"

He smiled. "Edna sent me a text." I looked at my grandmother.

Before I had the chance to ask, my grandmother said, "You looked so lonely sitting across the table, so I asked your stud muffin if he would like to join us for dinner to keep you company. By the look on your face, I know it was the right choice."

My mother drank more of her 'iced tea' which smelled like whiskey and mumbled, "She said she'd leave if we had anyone other than the four of us."

Ranger laughed, "I think it's safe to say Stephanie will stay." He grabbed my hand under the table and gave it a light squeeze. We ate dinner with little conversation. My mom apparently had nothing to say, especially in front of Ranger. She cleared the dirty plates from the table and took them to the kitchen. An upside down pineapple cake with lots of whipped cream (my favourite) in her hands when she returned. However, she was disappointed when I took a very small piece and refused seconds.

Typically after a meal at my mom's, I eat seconds of dessert and she packs me a bag of left overs (including the remaining dessert). Today, I refused both, telling her to pass them along to Valerie and the girls. I attempted to initiate conversations with my mom, but she refused to participate and stared at her 'iced tea'. When we decided to leave, I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door to Morelli. He realized I was here and decided to ambush me. I looked at my mom saw the expression on her face... he was invited. She honoured my wishes for dinner, but apparently when dinner was done, it was fair game. "MOM! HOW COULD YOU?"

My mom said, "You told me not to invite anyone to dinner, but you didn't specifically say I couldn't invite someone to visit after dinner."

I was furious. "Dad, Grandma, I'll be in touch. Mom, I NEVER want to see you or talk to you again." I hugged my dad and my Grandma goodbye.

Ranger was close on my heels as we left the house. He put me in the passenger seat of my car so he could drive. I asked, "What about your car?"

He said, "I had a feeling this would happen. Tank is driving it home." Home was Rangeman. I haven't been back to my apartment in over a month and had no intention of returning.

"Babe." Ranger broke my attention.

"Sorry, I was thinking about the last dinner at my parents' house. I still can't believe she did that to me. Is there something you needed?" His eyes dilated and moved closer to me to capture my lips with his. After being thoroughly kissed, Ranger told me they saw Morelli's car in the area and to be careful. He drives past Rangeman 2 or 3 times every hour. I was scheduled to teach a self defence class to abused women across the road in the old dance studio. Today is Tuesday, so my self defence class starts at 10 am. "Ok, I'll be careful. I can take Hal with me if it makes you feel better."

Ranger smiled, I clearly amused him. "I was going to suggest Lester, but I think Hal would be a better choice. Hal is less likely to flirt with the women." I laughed at his joke, then I realized he was being serious.

I walked across the road with Hal on my right. Morelli's car parked across the road and he jumped out. "Stephanie.. Wait.. I need to talk to you."

I heard what sounded like a gun shot, a loud ping, then felt a sharp pain in my left leg. "Crap! Something hit me in the leg. I think I've been shot. Hal call for help." I looked over at Hal. Great, he passed out when he saw the blood. I quickly looked around and saw Joyce's car speeding away. My cell phone was in my hand before I realized I grabbed it. I called Ranger, "Send help across the road. I've been shot in the leg and Hal passed out. Morelli was trying to talk to me when someone took a shot at him. He took off in his car, but I think he must have called for an EMT first because I can see them driving towards me." Ranger didn't respond. I looked around my surroundings and noticed the indentation in the metal garbage can next to the building. "Ranger, I think Joyce aimed for Morelli and missed, the bullet hit the garbage can, ricocheted and hit my leg."

I can sense his anger radiating over the phone. "Stay." I realized Ranger needed to see me before the EMT took me to the hospital.

A police cruiser pulled in front of the building seconds before the EMT. Eddie exited the car with his partner Big Dog. "Steph. It's been awhile since we've had a call involving you." He was going to say something else, but then he noticed I was shot. "Damn Steph. Someone shot you."

"Thanks Eddie, but I figured that out on my own," I said sarcastically.

Ranger appeared at my side, and pulled me close to him. "Babe. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Ranger. I've been shot before." In fact, I've been shot on three other occasions. I've been shot twice in the same arm and once in my left butt cheek. The worst was in the butt cheek. I could handle not being able to use my left arm, but not being able to sit? That was brutal. "I guess I'm unable to teach my self defence course. Do you have someone available to teach it for me?"

"Babe. Jeanne Ellen Burrows will teach the course for you."

"Why her? I don't like her and I know she doesn't like me. I know you two had a relationship in the past."

Ranger smiled then started to laugh. "Babe. Jeanne Ellen Burrows is my cousin. She's very protective of me." I was embarrassed, I had no idea they were related. Jeanne agreed to teach the class indefinitely and entered the dance studio just as the EMT left to take me and Ranger to the hospital. The bullet went through my calf muscle and embedded into my tibia. They took me to surgery while Ranger completed the paperwork.

When I signed my contract with Rangeman, one page was a power of attorney document, granting them permission to make medical decisions. However, this applied only to the Rangeman core team, who are also co-owners. I really don't like hospitals, but since there wasn't an exit wound, it was necessary for me to go. When I finally woke up in a private hospital room, I saw Ranger and a few of the Merry Men. All the men looked tired and scared. Ranger was sitting in the chair closest to me, holding my hand. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days. His eyes were closed and his head was resting on his arm next to our hands. Tank noticed my open eyes "Ranger. She's awake."

Ranger quickly raised his head and looked at my face. "Babe. Don't ever scare me like that again."

I was confused. I looked around the room at Tank, Hal, Cal, Lester, Bobby and Hector. Why is the entire core team here? "Bobby, what happened? Why does everyone look like they haven't slept in days?"

Bobby grabbed my chart and flipped through it. "It says here the bullet nicked your tibial vein. They had a difficult time stopping the bleeding and you lost a lot of blood. Thank goodness it wasn't an artery. Since your blood type is A-, we had problems finding an adequate match for the blood transfusion. The hospital depleted it's O- reserve last week and they had no A- in their blood bank reserve. It was lucky your cousin Shirley told her husband Eddie Gazarra that you needed a transfusion. He came to the hospital immediately."

"I regularly donate blood so they should have had a lot in the blood bank. What does Eddie have to do with this? Why didn't the Rangeman guys donate?"

Bobby sat down on the bed next to me. "None of the Rangeman staff could help, we have either A+ or O+ blood types and Eddie has the same blood type as you do. He was ten when his appendix was removed. Routine blood tests determined he has A- blood type. There are only two people in Trenton with A- blood type." "Let me guess, me and Eddie."

"Eddie isn't a blood donor. When he heard you were in the hospital needing a blood transfusion, he asked if he could donate."

"How does Eddie know my blood type?" I don't recall telling anyone my blood type. My mom had the test done when I was little and kept hurting myself.

"Eddie overheard your parents talk about it when you were kids. There's no A- blood left because Eddie was shot three months ago and needed it. They didn't have enough time to wait for Manhattan to ship some here." I didn't understand how Eddie could have donated blood for me. You needed to wait a minimum of twelve months before donating after a blood transfusion. The blood donation clinic always asked the question, 'Have you received a blood transfusion in the last twelve months?' before I was allowed to donate.

"Babe. When they realized it was your blood donated to Eddie, they made an exception."

I looked at Bobby and asked, "How long have I been in here?" His face looked grim. I had a feeling I wouldn't like the answer.

"You've been here for four days. The doctors kept you sedated to give you time to heal. With the risk of having only one possible donor, we invoked our power of attorney and decided this was the best solution."

Feeling my anger build, I sat up in the bed, opened my mouth to speak when Eddie walked into the room. Grinning, he walked over to me and gave me a hug. "Steph, I'm so glad you're alright. I was so scared."

"Thank you Eddie. I hear you saved my life."

Eddie sheepishly looked at me. "I always knew we had the same blood type, but I never realized we were the only ones in Trenton. There is usually a lot of O- blood on hand, but with all the shootings, they depleted their stock too fast. Whenever I had blood transfusions, they always had A- available. Now I know you are the one donating, so I thank you for saving my life multiple times. Once I'm able, I'll be making regular donations. They only made the exception this one time for you. The hospital arranged to have regular shipments of A- and O- blood from the clinic in Manhattan. This should help both of us if we get shot again." Eddie hugged and whispered, "Please don't get shot again. I don't want to lose my best friend. Oh... other than Shirley and these men, nobody else knows you're in here." After a few 'goodbyes' to the men, Eddie left the room.

"Didn't you guys tell my dad or Grandma I was here?" Tank and Ranger looked at each other. The silent argument ended with a brief nod from Ranger.

"Little girl," Tank started, "We asked the hospital administration to admit you under a fake name." Why would they do that? What exactly are they hiding from me?