Chapter 34

SPOV

Him saying that made me feel ever so guilty but as I thought what to say I knew it really hadn't been my fault. I walked toward him and wrapped my arms around his waist feeling the tenseness in his body slowly drain away. No words were spoken as I lightly kissed his cheek as though we both needed some time to settle ourselves.

I went through to the bedroom and found some joggers and a T-shirt then spent some time just stood under the shower. I hadn't realized how cold I had got being out in that forest and was glad of the hot water warming me up. Once dried and dressed I finger combed my hair before going back into the kitchen. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to see Bobby stood talking to Ranger, no doubt there was concern that I'd been hurt. As I walked over to them, I stood next to Ranger with my arm around his waist, glad of his arm resting around my shoulders.

"Steph, were you hurt at all?"

I looked up into Bobby's face seeing just how concerned he was about me and answered immediately to try and allay any fears he or Ranger may have had. In some ways I almost felt guilty with what I'm sure they had both gone through.

"No, not at all. In fact, the person who took me was very considerate"

"They didn't drug you or knock you out?"

"No. I'm okay Bobby, honestly"

I turned as there was a knock on the door and Ella walked into the apartment pushing a trolley ahead of her. I unwound myself from Ranger and went to help Ella unload two bowls that were covered and put them onto the breakfast bar.

"That one's yours dear, I thought you might want one of your favorites"

As I lifted the dome from over the bowl, I inhaled the smell that could only be from Ella's pasta dishes. I gave Ella a hug before she left hoping that conveyed how much I appreciated her. Ranger appeared next to me and sitting down he removed the dome from his bowl to reveal a tortelli dish that looked the same as mine but didn't have quite the same aroma.

I didn't say anything as I ate but it didn't stop me from thinking. I was worried about the car I'd seen heading toward the cabin and wondered if Ranger knew about it or who it had been. I was also wondering where the papers had gone that Jerry had given to me. As I finished, I was pleased that I'd managed everything from the bowl and was feeling very full. I sat back and looked at Ranger as he ate his last forkful and knew I would need to fill him in with what had happened. As I was wondering when to do that Ranger beat me by speaking first.

"Babe, the guys asked if they could come up after we finished eating. They're curious as to what happened"

"No problem, at least they'll hear the full story. I, err, had some papers with me. Where did they go?"

"In my office, do I need to get them for you?"

"No. They can wait until morning"

We rinsed the bowls before setting them back onto the trolley and I walked through to the lounge and sat on the couch as Ranger messaged the guys to come up. I wasn't too sure exactly who that would involve and hoped it was just the core team.

All too soon there was a knock at the door, no doubt the guys had been waiting for Ranger's call. Ranger sat down next to me and pulled me into his side, which I was glad of. I hadn't realized just how dependent I was on him, even it if was for him being near me and holding me. Tank, Bobby and Hector sat opposite in individual chairs while Lester came and sat next to me. This was it, the moment when I told them what had happened. For some reason I was nervous but then it dawned on me that these men sat here with me would be wanting to find my kidnappers and probably hurt them very badly.

"The two men who grabbed me didn't mean to scare me, but they were worried"

"Worried?"

I looked up to see the anger now on Tank's face as I'd said that knowing that was exactly how they'd felt about it.

"They didn't know how else to talk to me. They think they're being watched as well as me"

"A phone call might have been a better option Babe"

I looked up to see the blank face that Ranger would often wear to hide his emotions. I couldn't bear to see that look when he was looking at me.

"Please. I know they went about all wrong, but they had the best intentions at heart"

"Where did they take you Steph?"

I was once again looking across to Tank but moved my eyes away in order to continue my story, praying that they'd understand.

"They had a house that they'd rented where we ended up at"

"Do you know where the house was Beautiful?"

"No. They aren't there anyway, they've both left the area"

I could only imagine that in his mind he was preparing for a full out attack of the place. I took in a breath before I said the next thing that they needed to know.

"The older man was Jeremy Heap"

I was sure each one of them was surprised that it had been Jeremy Heap who had snatched me and Tank looked as though he was still trying to place him.

"The father of the woman you were looking at, the one you thought had disappeared?"

"Yes. He wanted to talk to me and pass on some information"

I wasn't going to mention that his son was the other man involved. I was sure that Tony would be on his way home and that he would have nothing more to do with what was happening, so before they even asked who it was I continued.

"He knew Sarah was in Yemen and any emails he received seemed to say that she was doing okay. Then he received a letter from her that said that she was worried because there were men coming into the village who weren't locals. Then she saw Darren Barnes. She knew about the case that her father and Barnes had closed, and that Jerry was suspicious that evidence had gone missing"

"What case?"

"I'm not sure, it was something to do with cybercrime. I have a file from Jerry with it all in"

"Beautiful, I'm getting a bit lost with who these people are?"

"Sorry, Jeremy Heap and Darren Barnes were the police officers that worked on a case, along with the FBI. When Barnes retired, Jerry didn't think that the pension Barnes would get could cover all the things that he wanted to do"

"So he thinks that Barnes took a payout?"

"Yes. The man who hurt me, Ethan Parker, was one of the men that they caught and charged"

"Beautiful, I have no idea how you manage to draw these people to you"

I smiled at Lester and was pleased that he seemed more relaxed but it I suppose it still didn't give us any ideas as to why I'd been involved in the first place. Thinking it through though Barnes would know Parker so maybe Barnes being involved wasn't such a long shot.

"Maybe Barnes a became part of what was happening. Jerry is going after Barnes"

"On his own?"

"Yes. He wants answers, he wants to know what happened to Sarah and he thinks that Barnes is involved"

"So it was this man Heap who contacted us to pick you up?"

"Why you Babe?"

I suppose it would be something that Ranger would be afraid of, that for some reason Jerry had focused on me to help him.

"He knew that I would help, that something else was going on and that you'd be the one to ensure the truth came out"

As I said that I looked up into Ranger's face so pleased to see that the blank face had been replaced with a softer expression and dare I say a slight tilt to his lips as though what I'd said had amused him.

"Only you Babe. People know how good you are at solving puzzles and that you'd work your magic to help them"

I'm sure my cheeks colored slightly at his words as I remembered the times that I'd done that, not because I had to but because I wanted to. It didn't make me feel any better about what Jerry had said he was going to do and in my heart, I was so worried for Sarah.

"I'm worried about him though, doing this on his own especially if people are watching him"

"Did he leave you at that cabin?"

"Yes, but I didn't want to stay there. I'm not sure why, other than it spooked me out, so I started to walk down the track. When a car came past, I hid amongst the trees, which was where I was when Ranger found me"

"You did the right thing Babe, though we nearly missed seeing you amongst the trees.

Ranger turned now to Tank and asked the question that I needed to know the answer to.

"Who was it Tank?"

"Your friend Fin"

I felt Ranger tense next to me, hell I was so glad that I hadn't been at that cabin when he'd arrived, but why the hell was he there. Was he looking for me again, thinking that he could outsmart Ranger? Or was him being there something to do with Jerry?

"Tank, you said he was going to keep you updated"

"He did Ranger, he sent the video, so I assumed he'd let me know what he was up to. Believe me he was as surprised to see us as I was to see him"

"Where is he?"

"Downstairs"

I had no trust in that man Fin, hell he'd tried to get close to me at the apartment and look how that turned out. Then it was him who had tried to take me when we were at the house by the beach. He'd said that he was on some clandestine job, maybe he was, but now I wasn't too sure whose side he was on. I wanted to hear what he had to say, what excuses he'd use this time. Hadn't he agreed to keep Tank up to date and how had he got hold of that video. Tank hadn't known where he was or what he was up to. I tuned back into the conversation between the men and heard that their plan was to talk to him in the morning. As I yawned Ranger kissed the top of my head and then stood up taking me with him.

"Steph's tired. Let's sleep on this and then meet in the morning"

Each of the men bid us goodnight, hugging me before they left as though they were making sure that I was really there. It wasn't long before we were soon left on our own.

"You're quiet Babe"

I hadn't realized that I was, but I suppose with so many things going around in my head I hadn't said very much once I'd explained what had happened to me. Ranger took me through to the bathroom and left me there before he disappeared. As I returned to the bedroom, I felt more awake and changed into one of Ranger's T-shirts and some shorts. I was pleased that as I pulled back the covers Ranger came into the room ready for bed. As we lay curled up together, him pulling me so that I was laid across his chest. I was anticipating for him to talk and I wasn't disappointed but was surprised at what he was saying.

"I'm sorry if I seemed to cut you out at the diner, but when I saw that you'd done some research on Yemen it brought back memories of the mission I was on"

"You were in Yemen?"

I watched as he nodded his head at me. It made me feel worse for how I had behaved because I knew he would never talk about the jobs he did. Why the hell had I let my anger take over so quickly. I knew that Ranger would tell me if thought I should know something.

"I understand then, I know you can't talk about it"

"Babe, what I tell you must never be repeated"

"If you don't want to tell me it's okay"

"No. I think it ties into what's been happening"

I felt his hand on my head as pulled it down to his chest as though he didn't want me to see how he was reacting to this. I'd already told him that I had an idea of what he did when he went in the wind so was sure that he wouldn't be telling me something that would shock me.

"I was down in Yemen to stop a group who the government thought were planning something, what was called a cell. They were stopped and their bosses dealt with. I was called home as it was seen as successful, but I was annoyed because I was sure there was something else going on. My bosses wouldn't listen to my concerns"

"What did you think was happening?"

Even as I asked, I had a feeling that I knew because that's where Sarah had been and where she said Barnes had turned up at.

"There were men who we couldn't account for. Then even after we closed down the group there was talk of activity in a nearby village"

"Why did your bosses not believe you?"

"I'm not sure now. At the time I thought they were just being bureaucratic. We'd done what was asked with the group and stopped them"

"Do you think that they were terrorists?"

"The group we took out probably were, but I wasn't given the chance to follow up with the other group"

"Will you tell your bosses what you know now?"

"No. To be honest I don't trust them"

It almost made sense really. If a group had been found, then I suppose another group wouldn't feel the need to have to cover their trail as much and could probably just continue with their plans. I shivered as I thought about that and felt Ranger's arms tighten around me.

"At least me being called back got me home Babe, so that I could find you"

I hadn't thought of that as he'd told me his story and it made me so thankful to be alive.

"What now?"

"Now we sleep"

If I'd not been so tightly wrapped up, I would have tried to dig him in the ribs.

"Smart ass. I mean in the morning"

"I'll be up early for a workout and then we can have breakfast together. You can read through that file while I talk to Fin"

It sounded like a plan to me and to be honest I had no desire to see Fin again. With that thought I fell into a deep sleep knowing that for now I was safe.

I was woken by the sound of the shower running so knew that Ranger must have finished his workout. Grabbing a robe from the back of the bedroom door I walked through to the kitchen. Someone must have started the coffee machine because it was flashing green and there were domed plates on the warmer. I couldn't believe that I'd slept through Ranger getting up or Ella coming into the apartment.

Lifting the center dome from the dish I spied scrambled eggs with lots of green things mixed in. I knew regardless of the ingredients it would taste good, anything Ella made always did, even though it would be healthy. It made me think of my mother and what she would serve for breakfast. If she was in a good mood it might be fried bacon and eggs otherwise some boxed cereals.

That last time that I'd seen her she seemed almost angry and the atmosphere in the room had been tense. I wondered if she had tried to contact me but the last time I'd seen my phone it was when we'd been fleeing from Trenton and Ranger had told me to leave it in the car. Something that I'd need to ask Ranger about.

As I thought of him, he came into the room, dressed in his Rangeman uniform. Every time I saw him, I thought how lucky I was, he really did care for me and love me.

"Deep thoughts Babe"

"I was thinking how lucky I am to have you"

"Not as lucky as I am"

A quick kiss to my head and we were soon sat down helping ourselves to the scrambled egg. I was right it did taste good, but I just had to know what I was eating.

"What's the green stuff?"

"Spinach, but there are also peppers and onions along with a few herbs"

"It does taste good"

Maybe he shook his head at that, hey I was all about the taste and so far, I'd been really good with what I'd been eating. I'd never really had a craving for anything sweet like doughnuts or tastycakes, how sad was that. As soon as we'd both finished and cleared away the dishes Ranger came up to me, his hands working their way under the robe until I could feel them on the skin of my waist. His mouth came down onto mine and as I closed my eyes the intensity increased, each of us devouring the other. As he pulled away, he rested his forehead on mine.

"How many more weeks?"

"A couple maybe"

"Okay I need to head downstairs. Are you with Bobby this morning?"

"Yes. Will you tell me what you find out?"

"Yes"

I changed into shorts, a sports bra and T-shirt and went down to the gym. Bobby wasn't there yet, so I found a space on one of the mats and started to go through the stretching exercises that Bobby had shown me. I'd almost finished when I realized he was stood watching me.

"Sorry I'm late. You seem to be stretching further, any pain?"

"No none. Does that mean I'm okay to resume normal activities?"

I know I sounded a bit sassy as I asked, but come on, I was doing well and there was nothing hurting me anywhere.

"Maybe. I'll check you over tomorrow"

Damn it, why not today? This time Bobby took me to one side of the gym and brought out some bandages from a box. I watched fascinated as he began to wrap it around my hands.

"We don't want any damage to your hands so listen carefully and do exactly what I tell you"

I had no idea what he was going to have me doing but as we approached a large bag hanging down, I actually felt excited. I'd always wanted to know how to punch someone properly and it seemed that today was going to be my introduction to that skill.

Once the session had finished, I returned to the apartment, sweaty and hot, but quite elated at what I'd been doing. Bobby had made sure that he took me through my stance and how to hold my arms and hands. The use of my bodies momentum before and after a punch. I loved it. Now though I needed a shower.

Once dressed in joggers and a T-shirt I walked barefooted into Ranger's office. The papers were where Ranger had said they would be so pulling a chair up I sat down to begin reading. There were a lot of individual papers, probably provided by different people and I found it quite hard to follow what the reports were saying. As I came to the last two pages that's where I found Jerry's notes that he'd made. I was so pleased that he had simplified things and had written everything down in a logical format, easy to read and follow. As I began to read his accounts I made notes in the margin of things that I needed more information on. The first paragraph focused on the man that I'd already identified.

A federal grand jury returned a 62-count superseding indictment charging the defendant, Ethan Parker, with 26 counts of cyber fraud, 33 counts of making false statements relating to financial accounts, and six counts of aggravated identity theft. The charged conduct was alleged to have occurred between 2010 and 2012.

As detailed in the superseding indictment, Ethan Parker allegedly performed illegal procedures without the proper knowledge or consent of the adults or organizations involved.

Another man at the center of the fraud had been sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $82.9 million in restitution.

Richard Ferdinand, who was already serving a 41-month federal prison sentence for a separate fraud conviction, pleaded guilty to his involvement, admitting to one count of conspiracy to pay bribes and kickbacks. The 66-month sentence would be served concurrent to the 41-month sentence.

In plea papers, Ferdinand, 47 at the time, acknowledged that he teamed up with co-defendant Ethan Parker and had set up a company as a cover for what they were doing. Together with an office manager Alan Andrews, Ferdinand and Parker conspired to access accounts in order to move money out of them, okay it was only small amounts but it soon added up. They'd set up scams through emails, phishing scams, asking people to complete personal information that they thought was from a reputable company that they may have used. That was how they got so much information on the accounts.

Jerry had added that the evidence for a fourth conspirator was missing. He was sure that in interviews with the accused men, there had been a single mention of a man called Edwards. Jerry had followed that lead, but he was unclear as to what Edwards role had been.

It seemed that everything that Jerry had found out about the man named Edwards and the involvement with the bogus company had disappeared. A final note from Jerry said that he'd tried to pick up the pieces recently, but of those people he'd worked with most of them had moved on or retired so he'd been unable to find out anything.

That left me with four names to follow up on, Parker, Ferdinand, Andrews and Edwards. The first thing I needed to do was to check and see if the two men were still in prison, so I opened up the search program and inserted the details that I had. I started with Parker as he was the first name on the list surprised and annoyed at the light sentence that he'd been given. Three years didn't seem very much for what he'd done, and he had already been released. It was strange though because the information on his whereabouts after release didn't exist. It was as though he'd just disappeared.

Richard Ferdinand had died in prison, according to the records from a heart attack after becoming a victim to some of the inmates. He'd been targeted from the minute he went into prison and had survived a number of attacks before his heart gave out. Neither of the searches brought up anyone by the name of Edwards so I moved onto the last name, Alan Andrews.

According to the information there hadn't been enough evidence to prove that he was involved in the fraud, so he hadn't been charged. It seemed that he was responsible for procuring all of the equipment that had been used. I assumed this meant computers and maybe phones. The information I had said that he was now working as a salesman for a large IT supplier, travelling a lot. His parents had died years ago, and he had a younger sister. That there was no photo of him surprised me but maybe if he was good with IT he could have removed it. That he was described as dark skinned and had brown hair and eyes had a shiver run down my spine. I was thinking that maybe I had just found out who Tasha really was.