Chapter Nine

Reyes and I had the evening surveillance shift. At 7 PM I was outside RangeMan waiting. A slick little black BMW pulled up.

I saw a dark head pop out followed by a well-muscled body. Reyes turned and nodded to me. Wow, I thought they must put something in the water over there at Kincaid.

This guy was gorgeous. Dark hair, dark eyes, caramel colored skin. Reyes walked up and shook my hand.

"I'm Reyes" he said.

"Reyes. Is that like Cher or Madonna or something? Do you have a first name Reyes?" I asked.

"Yes ma'am" he replied.

"Yes, as in you have a first name or I should just call you Cher?"

His lips twitched and I could see a smile in his eyes.

"Antonio Reyes, at your service ma'am" he gave a little bow and chuckled.

"I'm Stephanie" I said.

I saw something flash in his eyes like recognition. I thought that was weird because I knew I had never met him before. I would have definitely remembered him.

"It is a pleasure to meet you" he said. His voice was deep and rich. He reminded me of Ranger.

I suddenly felt a prickle of awareness. I absently rubbed the back of my neck and scanned the street.

"What is it?" Reyes asked instantly aware and scanning the buildings.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Just ghosts, I guess."

Reyes opened the door for me and I got in.

We went over the plan for the evening as we drove to Vega's. We parked a good way away and used binoculars to watch the residence. The lights in the house were on, but not much was going on. Kincaid had men at the back gate as well. Once Vega had gone to ground no one had seen much movement in or out of the compound.

We sat in silence for a while and suddenly Reyes looked over at me. "I knew Ranger" he said. "He was a very good man. I'm really sorry for your loss."

I was startled and stared at him for a beat. "Thank you. He was the best" I whispered past the lump in my throat. "How did you know him?"

"A few years ago, Ranger and I did a couple of jobs together. I recognized you from the picture."

"Picture?" I asked, confused.

"Yes, Ranger kept a picture of you with him, always. He would regale us with stories of his Babe the bounty hunter. I felt like I knew you. I can see he didn't exaggerate." He smiled. "You really burned down a funeral home?"

I nodded "Guilty." I was having a hard time reconciling the notion that Ranger had spoken more than ten words, let alone been a chatty Cathy. There was a lot I didn't know about Ranger.

I sat there for a second longer and contemplated what Reyes had said. Ranger had kept my picture with him for years? Long before we were ever a couple? Ranger had always said he loved me, I guess I hadn't really believed him because somehow, I thought love came with a ring. I realized Ranger's love for me was far greater than I'd ever known.

I felt tears fall on my cheeks. "I'm sorry."

Reyes brushed the tears away with his knuckles. "He said you were the love of his life."

"And he was mine" I replied.

We sat in silence for a while. "Montero is a good man" Reyes said. "I think Ranger would have approved."

I started shaking my head. "Oh no, Montero and I aren't a thing. I mean… well we're just…." Shit I had no idea what we were. I sounded like a lunatic.

Reyes laughed "Right."

Just then I saw Montero approaching the car. Reyes rolled down the window to greet him. Huge grin pasted on his face.

"I thought Plum might need a break from you" he said to Reyes. Montero's eyes moved between me and Reyes with a questioning look.

Reyes cut his eyes to me and raised his eyebrows.

I gave Reyes the death glare. "Not a word Reyes."

"Yes ma'am" he replied and got out the car laughing.

Montero got in and handed me a cup. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing" I mumbled. Geez did everyone know I had the hots for Montero?

We drank our hot chocolate and chatted for a while about nothing in particular, just regular get to know you kind of things. Favorite food, movies, books.

"How long have you worked at RangeMan" Montero asked me.

"Not long" I said. Which was true. I'd been with RangeMan less than two years even though I'd been around RangeMan much longer.

"Before or after Manoso left?" Montero continued.

"Mainly after." I guess left was the new euphemism for killed, burned and buried in a mass grave. I shook off the thought.

"So, you didn't know him well?"

I thought about that for a beat. After what Reyes had told me, I wasn't sure I'd ever known Ranger.

"No" I said. "Not all that well I guess."

Montero nodded. "I know him, well more of him, I guess. He is a solid operator. He seems like a good guy."

For a dead man I thought.

I felt kind of like a rat, but I decided now was a good time to learn more about Vega. "You said Vega was responsible for your fiancée's death. What did you mean?"

"Yes, Lillian was my fiancée. Lillian Beckett."

"Tell me about her."

Montero went on to tell me that he and Lillian were high school sweethearts. She'd gone to college and he'd gone into the SEALs. They'd both joined law enforcement. He went with the US Marshals and she went to the FBI. Given their schedules spending time together had been hard. He said they'd been engaged forever, but never could manage to pull off a wedding. He had wanted to elope, and she had wanted a big wedding.

He talked about her with such affection. She was smart and brave. He said her death had been devastating. Although he admitted sometimes it felt more like they were friends than lovers. She did a lot of undercover work and the reality was they only spent a few weeks a year together. He wanted her to take a different job, but she liked undercover work. She promised just one more assignment and then she would ask for a transfer.

He said they'd fought about it. He felt bad that the last time he'd seen her alive they had a fight. She'd taken yet another assignment to go undercover. Her target had been Vega and his operation.

"I'd do anything to have her back. To be able to go back to that moment and redo that conversation." He sighed.

I thought how much that sounded like the last time I'd seen Ranger. I'd do anything to have Ranger back. To have more time. I felt a rock in my stomach and an empty space in my chest. I wondered did it ever really get better or was Les just full of shit.

I casually asked if he knew if there were other players in the Vega operation. He said he didn't know. While he had clearance, he didn't have many answers. Her cover had been blown and she had disappeared. Other team members were found dead, but her body was never recovered.

I could hear a buzzing in my head. Just like Ranger. It had to be the same operation. Drug cartel, mole, mass grave. All the same. I wanted to tell Montero about Ranger, but something held me back.

"How long ago?" I asked.

"One year, nine months and a few days" he replied.

I couldn't breathe.

"You OK?"

I nodded and managed to speak. "Sorry, yes" I said "It is just all so sad." I reached out and took Montero's hand. "You may not be able to bring her back, but we can at least get her justice."

He blew out a breath. "Not really date material is it?"

I shook my head. "Don't be silly. She was a big part of your life and always will be. We should always be able to talk about the people we love."

"Ever been married?" Montero asked.

I thought about it. I didn't really count my disastrous and short-lived first marriage.

"Almost" I replied.

"What happened?"

"He died" I said simply.

"I guess that makes us both screwed-up" Montero said.

"Yes, in a very large way" I replied.

We moved on to other topics.

Our replacements arrived and Montero drove me home. I told him to park two blocks from RangeMan. Hope springs eternal I thought.

"Do you want to go to dinner tomorrow?" Montero asked.

"Dinner?"

"Yeah, you know where you sit down to eat and pretend to be civilized" he smiled.

I thought about it. I wanted to do dinner and a whole lot more if I were honest. Unfortunately, I had lots of work and not a lot of time. Between Ruiz, Vega, and all our other clients we were stretched thin. This being an adult thing really sucked.

I sighed. "I can't, but I might be able to get away for coffee."

Montero smiled and my heart stopped. The man was gorgeous. "Plum, I'll take whatever you can give me. Text me and let me know."

He pulled me close and gave me a proper kiss, that felt a little chaste. I was a little disappointed. Montero must have read my thoughts.

"Plum I'd probably be to third base by now if I didn't think Tank would kick my ass."

What? I whipped my head around and Tank was standing with his arms crossed over his chest watching us.

"Oh shit."

"My thoughts exactly" Montero laughed.

"Tank can be a little protective. I'll see you tomorrow" and hopped out the car.

Tank was watching me. His expression unreadable. I didn't know how Tank was going to react to me kissing Montero. While he had pushed me to declare Ranger dead and move on, I'm not sure he included sex in the equation. Tank had been fiercely loyal to Ranger.

"How's the leg?" I figured I'd go for perky and pretend like he hadn't just seen me trying to grope Montero.

"Fine."

Tank always was the talkative one I thought.

"You and Montero?" Tank asked.

I winced. "Yeah, it's nothing."

"Didn't look like nothing."

I looked at Tank. He was grinning. "I'm glad baby girl. It's about time you were happy again." Tank pulled me to him and hugged me.

I'm not sure which one of us was more stunned.

I went up to the apartment. Les was waiting for me. "How'd it go with Vega? "

"Nothing to report." I knew patience wasn't my strong suit, but I wanted answers and waiting was killing me.

I thought about taking a shower and heat rushed to my face. Oh lord had that just been last night. Desire skittered through me. What was wrong with me? I'd been ready to do Montero in the car and now I was having thoughts about Les. I really needed to get a grip.

Les was eyeing me suspiciously. "Everything OK?"

I nodded. "I'm going to bed."

"Do you want me to sit with you while you fall asleep?" Les offered.

I thought about it for a minute. "I think I may be OK" I realized it was true. I was going to be OK. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but someday. "Want to have waffles tomorrow?" I asked Les.

"Hell yeah" he said grinning. Les knew I was going to be OK too.