Chapter 25

RPOV

I felt that I understood Charlie Watson as I finished reading through the words that he'd written. The one annoyance that I had with him was how he had purposely involved Steph into his investigations. I actually sighed, deciding that there was no point in going over that argument again, I needed to look forward because I needed to find Steph.

This disappearance felt different, as though I could almost feel the danger that she was in. I knew this time we had to find her quickly. I picked up the photographs next, the ones that Steph had been given by the old man in the tunnel. All of them were of places that Steph had mentioned, with no people that seemed important. I knew that Steph had found clues at the play zone and in the library, did that mean that the other places in the photographs also held more evidence that Charlie Watson had hidden? I didn't think so, especially as one of the photos had led her to that warehouse on Lamberton Road.

I arranged the photos into two piles, one contained the places that I thought Watson might have hidden something and the other pile I thought might be of interest because of where they were or more importantly who might be seen there. I didn't think the Trenton Times would be somewhere they could hide Steph, too many people who worked there 24/7, and the same for the hospital. But the museum, that was a very big building and looking at the photo I just knew that it was somewhere that we needed to check on.

I sent a message to the core team and Hector to come up to my apartment and then used Steph's laptop to pull up a map for where the museum was located. At hearing the door to the apartment open I made to stand up, grimacing slightly at how stiff my leg felt after being sat for a while. I was greeted by all of the men as they came through to the lounge and took a seat.

"The New Jersey State Museum. Hector, find a set of plans without using the Rangeman system"

"Museum, why there?"

I placed the photos on the coffee table and watched as Santos picked them up. As he looked at one it was passed around to the others.

"Where did these come from?"

I looked over at Brown as he asked that, forgetting that I hadn't shown these to anyone yet.

"Watson gave them to Steph"

"I don't follow"

"Simple Santos. Those photos are where there are clues. Some photos are where Watson thought that people might be, and I think he expected Steph to work out who those people were. The others are where he hid some of the evidence that he'd found"

I watched as each man looked at the photos and as Hector laid them out on the table. He picked up four before he said anything.

"These are clues to the people who might be involved. St Francis might point to Nazara, the warehouse to Jackson then we have the Trenton Times and the museum"

I nodded my head, pleased that Hector had followed the same logic as I had.

"Who do we want on the team, I take it we're going into the museum because you think Steph will be there"

Once we'd sorted that one out, we got down to business. Hector brought up the blueprints for the museum onto the TV screen for us to decide the most logical approach. After we agreed that the lower basement floors were a likely place to hide someone we started planning for an incursion. The problem we were having was who and how to debrief the men given that we may have someone on the inside.

"We have the four teams. Alpha is you and Tank. Bravo is me and Ram. Charlie is Cal and Hector and Delta is Hal and Woodie"

That should be enough, but it surprised me that he hadn't mentioned Jayce and Tali maybe Santos was as wary as me at using them because Steph was in their care when she was taken.

"What are you not telling us about Jayce and Tali, Santos?"

I could see that he felt uncomfortable at me asking that question which only had me suspecting that he knew something. I continued to look at him hoping that he'd spill something, he usually did given time.

"Okay, okay. When I was up in Boston a couple of months ago, I ended up hooking up with Tali"

"Hooking up as in how you normally hook up with women?"

Came from Tank. Even I was a little surprised at that.

"Her and Jayce, they're not a couple. Tali supports Jayce because of how she was treated as a kid and then in the army. She pretends to be her partner to protect her"

"Are you saying that Tali is into guys?"

I watched as Santos looked down at his hands before squaring his shoulders and answering Brown.

"Yes. It seems she always has been but didn't want to feel that she was letting Jayce down"

"Santos why the hell would that affect whether or not we included them in this job?"

Because at the end of the day they were still Rangeman employees and were damn good at what they did. Why Santos would think their sexual orientation would affect that was beyond me.

"I spent time talking with Tali when we checked out that building. She kept trying to work out how the hell they were found unless someone had access to our systems and Beautiful's trackers"

"Is she suggesting Jayce?"

I retorted back, not really wanting to hear what he was saying.

"She has the skills and access"

I looked at Hector as he said that trying to figure out why Jayce would betray us like that. For now though we had more pressing matters.

"We'll go with four teams"

I stated, putting an end to the conversation we seemed to have diverted onto, there would be time to follow up on Jayce once I had my Babe back next to me.

We spent two hours going through our planned entry and search of the lower levels. In the end we changed up the teams so that each of us would partner with a man not here and fill them in as we went in. Santos would remain with Ram, Tank would partner with Woodie while Brown would be with Cal and I would have Hal with me. Hector was going to hook up into the museums security system and silence any alarms tripped with opening doors or windows and be our eyes through any cameras or sensors.

This was one of the times when we went down to the lower basement and into the area where we kept equipment for missions. I meant to show these people that they couldn't fuck with me by taking Steph, that they'd answer for what they were doing. We were going to the museum prepared for anything, with flack vests, comm units and enough arsenal to start a small war. I made two phone calls before I left, let's say it was my way of keeping certain people happy.

Each team approached the museum from a different direction, parking up the vehicles in darkened alleys nearby. We were quiet and stealthy as we moved through the open spaces, Hector keeping us up to date with the lone car travelling past or person out walking. There were several entrances down into the lower floors where the public were never allowed. These areas stored exhibits past and future in areas where the temperature and humidity were well controlled so no relic would be damaged.

Team 2 was Tank and Woodie, and they were going to be entering through one of the delivery bays. Team 3, Santos and Ram were opening the door at the east of the building where employees would normally enter. Team 3 was at the west of the building gaining access through a fire door while Hal and I, Team 1, had just managed to open the windows at the south end of the building that accessed into the lowest of the floors.

Only when I heard from each team that they were in place would we start the systematic search of the rooms for Steph. We all had specific areas that we would search and as each team cleared an area, they reported in.

As each team reported in I felt that we were running out of time and I was beginning to think that Steph wasn't here, that I had made a mistake with where I thought that she would be. I had a horrible feeling come over me as Hal and I made our way to the last room in the area we were searching through.

"Fire, in sector 6, lower ground"

Came through the comm unit from Hecotr. He must have seen the alert come up as he scanned the security system. That was on our list of areas to go to after we'd finished sector five but for some reason, I had Hal follow me and made my way into sector 6 as I requested back up from Team 3. Approaching the area, I could smell the smoke from ahead of us but was concerned with the white fog that seemed to be spreading. I raised my gun and backed onto the wall as a figure appeared in front of us. They didn't look to be armed in fact they looked to be affected by the smoke and as I nodded my head to Hal to cover me, I stepped forward to confront this person. All I saw was Steph laid across a man's arms and as he collapsed forward, I managed to reach for her, and hold onto her before she struck the floor. The man was now down on his knees, coughing and choking but also trying to tell us something.

"Out, out. Explosion"

I didn't need to hear him say it again and was shouting down my mic to the teams.

"Abort, repeat abort, IED"

Hal had grabbed hold of the man and now had Ram helping to lift him while Santos went ahead of us ensuring our path was clear. I held on tightly to Steph as we raced along corridors toward a door that would enable us to get out of the building. I was more than a little surprised when a truck came to a stop in front of us, though looking through the window I recognized the driver and was quick to get inside as we sped away. The other two teams were already on their way out and were collecting the cars as we started to move away from the square and that's when it happened.

It was like watching a firework display as the sound of loud bangs reached our ears and I couldn't stop myself from turning and looking behind us. Fire was now erupting from doors and windows in the lower floor with a white cloud bursting out behind it. It was a spectacular show and for a moment as I looked down at Steph I did wonder if she had been the one responsible for it happening.

I allowed the truck to drive into the garage so as not to be out on the street. As I lifted Steph out Juadyn stuck his head out of the driver's window, watching me with a serious expression on his face.

"We got photos Ranger, here's the card. If they had their drugs in there and she was breathing it in, then she's gonna be real sick. Talk soon"

Was what I heard as he pulled the van out of the garage. I took Steph straight to the infirmary pleased that Brown was already there waiting for me. Laying her down on the bed I took a good look at her. Her cheek was bruising badly against her pale skin, but she wasn't still. Her eyes were moving underneath her lids and a variety of expressions were crossing her face. Muscles in her hands and feet were jerking.

"Juadyn thinks that she may have inhaled the white powder"

Bobby gave me a serious look as though he already knew that treating her was going to be difficult.

"I need to get a nurse in to help, Ranger"

I just nodded my head as I pulled up a chair and sat next to her as Bobby started her treatment. I was pleased that he hadn't suggested taking her to the hospital because to be honest I wouldn't feel that she would be safe there. The treatment wouldn't have been any different to what Brown could do and she would be monitored constantly here in a similar way to any hospital. It was a long night for me just watching and being there with her.

Once the nurse had arrived, I was asked to wait outside. Apparently, they needed to insert a nasogastric tube to administer activated charcoal, and Brown didn't want me watching as they did their job. When I was allowed back in, she had a tube coming out of her nose, a mask delivering oxygen and an IV tube in place. Of course, there was the monitoring of her vitals but at least Brown had turned down the volume that normally came from the machine. Maybe he remembered just how much Steph hated that sound. I wasn't sure I could cope with that incessant slow beep of her heart beating but I still found myself looking at the machine regularly. Brown was quick to remind me that the first few hours would be crucial in ensuring that her breathing and blood pressure were maintained.

It was early in the morning that Brown thought that she was holding her own, and I felt that I could start to breathe properly. The nasogastric tube had been removed but there was still an IV providing fluids going into her arm. The mask providing oxygen had been replaced with a nasal cannula.

As I'd sat there next to her, watching her, touching her hair and face I knew that I held my future in my hands. I suppose that I'd always taken her for granted and took from her what I needed because in the back of my head I had always known that she belonged to me. She was my soul mate, my other half and I loved every aspect of her. If I was worried after she'd been arrested and the state that she was in then, it was nothing to how I had felt over that long night of watching and waiting. She was the light in my life and only now did I really understand what that meant, understand why over the years I had always made sure that she was safe, even if it was from a distance at times. Now though, there would be no distance between us.

It was twelve hours later when Brown declared that she was through the worst. God knew what the hell was mixed in with the white powder that Steph had inhaled. Ram had taken a sample so hopefully would have some answers for us soon and then at some stage I would need to talk with the man who had brought Steph out. According to Brown he'd had the sense to cover his mouth and nose with a scarf so hadn't been as badly affected as Steph had. Even though I had things that needed my attention I wasn't leaving Steph until she regained consciousness, the other men could cover things.

I was alerted to the door opening and watched as Tank came to the end of the bed, looking down at Steph.

"Brown says that she's over the worst"

I nodded my head because I knew every man here at Rangeman would be wanting to know how she was doing. Tank stood back from the bed and nodded to the corner of the room making it obvious that he wanted to talk to me. I left Steph's side but never stopped watching her as I moved across to where Tank was waiting.

"The man who brought her out, he's the man from Anansi, Rodney Carpenter or Jonathan Denby"

That had me glancing briefly at Tank as I tried to work out what that man had been doing at the museum.

"He says he has a real interesting story, but will only talk to you"

"Where is he now?"

"Down the corridor, handcuffed to the bed. Brown reckons he didn't inhale as much as Steph so he's awake and waiting"

"He can wait. I won't leave here until Steph wakes up"

I could almost see the frustration in Tank's eyes, but I wasn't going to change my mind.

"Is Rangeman locked down?"

"Yeah. Hector's working through our systems, he's as mad as hell because he can't find out how someone got into our systems"

I wasn't too sure what that meant but again it was something that I'd get caught up with later.

"News of the fire at the museum?"

I asked knowing that the media would have picked that up as breaking news.

"Some photos with the fire department trying to contain the fire. Speculation about what was damaged but so far they're saying that it could have been an electrical fault"

At least that meant that we hadn't been seen near the place and no one had put Steph in the building. It did make me wonder who had started that fire, I couldn't see it being Denby and was surprised that no one in any of the teams that were inside hadn't caught sight of someone.

Watching Steph, I moved away from Tank. She was moving more than she had before so maybe she was close to waking up. Sitting back down in the chair I held her hand in mine feeling her fingers moving slightly. I saw her body stretching and as her eyelids began to flutter open. The light in the room was dim so wouldn't hurt her eyes as she opened them, so I waited, so relieved as I caught glimpses of those beautiful blue eyes.

"Babe, it's okay. You're here with me"

Her movements stilled as her head turned slightly toward me and just looked at me, a slight frown on her face.

"There's nothing to worry about"

Seeing her mouth open and close a few times I reached over for the cup of water and held the straw to her mouth. After a few sips it seemed she felt better but her voice when it came seemed at bit hoarse.

"My throat hurts"

"You inhaled a lot of white powder, so Brown had to get some medication inside your stomach"

As she thought that through I waited to see what she could remember.

"White clouds, I remember them and then the feeling of floating. Why was Baloo the bear talking to me and Bagheera smiling down and was there an elephant dancing?"

I would have laughed if I didn't think that doing so would upset Steph.

"You were hallucinating Babe"

"There was gasoline, I remember smelling it, and then a whoosh as the fire came. Who started the fire? Oh god, that white cloud, was that the drugs being kept down there?"

I wasn't going to start questioning what Steph knew, even though it seemed she had seen or heard something. She looked tired and as she turned onto her side and looked at me, I could see that her eyes were getting heavier.

"Go to sleep Babe, I won't be far"

"Mmm"

Was the response that she gave to me. I knew now that she was going to be alright, so messaging Santos asked him to come down to the infirmary. Santos was the only other person that I would totally trust my life with so knew he would stay with Steph. They were good friends and Steph would feel safe with him. As he came into the room I saw as he looked at Steph's sleeping form.

"She okay now?"

Nodding I found it difficult to take my eyes from her face.

"Will you stay with her while I catch up with what's going on?"

"No problem. Has she woken up yet?"

"Briefly. I know Brown will be in and out"

Santos took my seat and leant over the bed, his hand reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Yeah, Santos cared very much for Steph so I felt I could leave her with him.

Coming out of the infirmary I could see where Denby was probably being kept, Cal was stood outside one of the rooms as though on guard duty. He turned as I approach him and before he could utter a word, I gave him the news that I knew he would want to hear.

"Steph's fine, she's sleeping"

I shook my head at seeing the grin crossing his face, since when did these badass mercenaries grin like that? Since they got to know a woman named Stephanie Plum was the answer that I gave myself.

Opening the door into another room I took in the scene in front of me. A man who was wearing a grey T-shirt was propped up in the bed, a handcuff on his wrist attached to the side frame of the bed. To the side was Woody, stood at parade rest, dressed in a Rangeman uniform. There was an empty plate and mug on the table next to the bed and a newspaper laid over the man's knees. As the door closed silently behind me the man in the bed was looking at me. His face showed very little, obviously he was good at playing poker.

As I pulled a chair from the back of the room over to the side of the bed, I was aware of him constantly watching me and he never broke eye contact once I was sat down. I sat and I waited. I wanted this man to talk, to spill what he knew. I also wanted to know if he was responsible for nearly killing Steph with that stupid stunt in the museum.

"I assume that you're Carlos Manoso, also known as Ranger?"

I nodded my head not impressed that he knew who I was.

"Is Miss Plum going to be okay?"

That did surprise me because he actually sounded concerned for Steph and how she was.

"Yes"

I couldn't elaborate, the pain of nearly losing her too close to the surface.

"I was trying to find her, to get her out of there. When that fire took hold and it hit the bricks of drugs, hell, I was so worried that she'd get killed"

This hadn't been what I was expecting to hear. I'd expected excuses or him shouting that I couldn't hold him here. That he'd focused on Steph as the start of his conversation was puzzling me.

"Start at the beginning of your story. Mr?"

"I used to be Rodney Carpenter but I'm Jonathan Denby now. I admit, years ago, I got caught up in allowing drugs to be distributed from a club that I was part owner in. I was never part of the operation, but I suppose was guilty of allowing it to continue. I was charged and doing time when I was approached by some government agency. They offered me a get out of jail card, so I took it. They'd make Rodney Carpenter die in exchange for information. I thought that was an easy exchange. The men that I knew who were supplying the drugs got caught and put away. Job done, or so I thought"

Remembering how I found it strange that he was released early from prison made his story sound plausible, but I remained silent wanting him to continue.

"I was approached again and told it was time to really pay up. Be their inside man and find out who was really pulling the strings of a group here in Trenton"

As I listened, I could actually believe what he was saying especially his timely death and the quality of his new identity. Not that I was just going to take his word for it. I didn't say anything wanting Denby to continue with his story.

"It took a few months, but people remembered me, they were happy with the fact that I had a new identity, in fact they saw it as a bonus. Said that at least the new name wouldn't raise any red flags with the authorities. I started to set up the gambling gig and used it as a way to gain access into this new organization. Problem is I have no idea who the ultimate bosses are. Last night, well everything was about to move quickly and that young woman, Miss Plum. Hell, they're fixated on the idea that she has information that could identify everyone, maybe even the bosses. I wasn't about to let her get killed and let me tell you, that's what they wanted to do. I hung around after the others had left to see if I could get her out of the building. Do you think the others will just assume that she died in there?"

That was an interesting possibility, but it would rely on someone admitting that she was even in the building to start with, which I didn't think would happen. Admitting that would raise questions as to why she was there and how they knew. Denby leant over to the table and picked up the glass, taking large mouthfuls of water before replacing the glass back onto the table.

"It was as I was looking for her that the fire started"

"You didn't start the fire?"

"Are you mad? Starting a fire, well you saw what happened"

If Denby hadn't started the fire then who the hell had? Did that group have someone inside that was opposed to what was going on? The questions were outnumbering the answers at the moment but there was one answer that I had to have from Denby.

"I need the name of the man that you report to. No argument Denby"

I made sure that Denby was looking at my face, the man who could kill him with one strike and to be honest this man wasn't trained to defend himself. He was almost a bumbler really, not someone that I would have thought an agency would trust to complete the role of an inside man.

"Denby. A name"

I repeated as he continued to just stare at me. I saw the moment that he relented, the sweat was beginning to form on his forehead, and I would say he was definitely a shade paler.

"Jensen. There you have it, but don't think you're gonna get involved in this. It's my freedom on the line here, he's my ticket in proving that I was working for him so won't get charged and end up back inside"

The name Jenson wasn't one that I immediately recognized but I'd soon find out. My phone vibrated in my pocket so taking it out and reading the message I smiled. At least that job was done so now to move forward with what we did next. I turned to Denby as I stood up and leant down so that my face was close to his.

"You are going to write down the names of all the people that you know are involved in this and a colleague will help you"

I left Denby to contemplate the situation that he was in and stopped in front of Cal.

"Cal, take Mr Denby a pen and paper and ensure he writes down the names of all the people he knows about"

Yeah, Cal would intimidate him into spilling everything. Now I needed to call the core group together, update them and plan our next move.