Chapter 33

SPOV

Lucas allowed me some time to sit with him outside in the courtyard before he suggested that I really needed to rest and prepare for McCann's arrival. He hadn't said any more to me and the fact that he ignored me while he worked on his laptop made the whole experience a little unnerving. I wasn't even sure how the hell I was going to get McCann to admit anything if Lucas was there.

Once back upstairs in the room that I'd been allocated to, I locked the door behind me and went into the bathroom. That door was locked as well as I looked around to make sure that there were no hidden cameras. Assuring myself that there were no hidden eyes prying at me I undressed as the water heated up and then stepped into the hot spray of water, allowing it to cascade down from my head to my toes, soothing the tenseness in my muscles.

I dried my body with a large fluffy towel before pulling on a robe that was hung on the back of the door and set about trying to untangle my hair. Once finished I did feel tired so lay down on the bed in my thinking position.

I started to worry what Ranger would think of me and what I'd done. Did I have a choice, at the time I didn't think that I had, but I was pretty sure that he would be annoyed at me. Annoyed for not telling him, for not trusting him. Why the hell had I just gone ahead and followed those instructions, because I believed what I'd been told, that people would die because of me.

I had no idea how well Lucas and Garner had covered their tracks, whether it would even be possible to find me. And what would Tali be doing? I was sure that no one would be aware that she was involved. I now knew that she was responsible for me being found at the safe house and wondered what else she was responsible for. It saddened me to think that she might be throwing herself at Ranger now, trying to take my place when I was still alive. Her words came back to me when we were in that van travelling to the safe house.

While working for Rangeman up in Boston she'd heard stories about me and couldn't understand why Ranger kept helping me out. That when Ranger started to loan me cars, she thought that it was because he felt sorry for me. Hell, when Julie was kidnapped, she'd even offered to help, but Ranger had refused. She was jealous of me because she thought that Ranger was meant to be with her.

So had she asked her brother to get rid of me so that she could step into my place? Had the plan changed from destroying Ranger's business and I was now being used to destroy the man, like Lucas had been destroyed when Antonella had died? Lucas and Tali would get a shock if that happened because I was sure that Ranger wouldn't take them killing me that lightly, well I hoped not.

My thoughts went back to McCann, what would his plans be? That was something that I would have to try and get from him in the morning. It was with that worry that I must have fallen asleep.

I woke confused with where I was but as I opened my eyes and looked around the room all the memories from the day before tumbled through my head. McCann would be here soon, so I had to get up and prepare myself for him arriving. After visiting the bathroom, I quickly dressed in the clothes I'd worn the day before. It was that or some skimpy sundress that I really didn't want to be seen in. Okay it would be good for sitting outside and sunbathing but not for trying to trick a man like McCann.

Leaving the room and heading toward the stairs I stopped at the sound of voices. One of them I recognized as Lucas, but I had no idea who the other one was but had an awful feeling that maybe McCann had arrived. I wanted to hear what they were saying so crouched down at the top of the stairs. They were still out of sight, but their voices were clearer.

"What do you mean she's still alive?"

That sounded like McCann and he seemed to think that I would already be dead.

"A slight change of plan. Don't worry everything is in hand"

"Change of plan, why would you need to change the plan?"

"Look, Manoso will think that his woman is dead. He'll feel the pain that I felt"

I couldn't understand why he was saying that, how did he intend to let Ranger know that I was dead when I wasn't, or was that something that he was planning.

"Lucas, you agreed that you wanted him dead"

"I said that I wanted revenge"

I almost fell over backward at the intense anger in Lucas's voice, but it seemed that McCann wanted Ranger dead. After all of these years I couldn't understand why McCann was so set on that happening.

"I have to go into the factory this morning, I have some business to attend to. You will keep an eye on Miss Plum, and you will not lay a finger on her"

"I'm not here to babysit. I'll finish her if you can't, but you have to get rid of Manoso"

"Why is that McCann?"

The silence that followed was chilling and I think that McCann knew that he had overstepped with Lucas, it gave me hope that maybe Lucas was beginning to believe me.

"Breakfast is ready on the terrace. I'll go and get Miss Plum"

That had me suddenly moving, returning quickly to the bedroom. As I opened the door I turned and made out that I was just coming out. I stopped as Lucas approached and was surprised when he blocked me moving and turned me around to go back inside. I turned to face him as he closed the door my eyes suddenly seeing what was in his hand. I held out my hand to take the mic from him and turning around secured it with the piece of tape that came with it to the underside of my breast. When I turned back to Lucas, he looked amused and raised his eyebrow at me. Why was it men always could do that?

"I help out Rangeman with securing high bond skips so am used to wearing one"

I thought he might as well know how I had the experience of using one, not that it mattered.

"I've told McCann that I'm heading to the factory this morning, but I'll be close by, listening to what is said. It's up to you now"

I closed my eyes and took a deep before following Lucas down the stairs. At least Lucas was there when we walked outside to where McCann was sat.

"McCann, Miss Plum. I'll be back after lunch"

I saw the look that each of them gave to the other. Lucas looked stern and to be honest a bit frightening which didn't seem to be lost on McCann. I sat down opposite McCann and poured myself a coffee, looking at the man in front of me. He'd certainly aged badly compared to Ranger and the rest of the men. He was almost bald and had tried to cover it up by sweeping a longer section of hair over it. His skin was mottled and pale with beady eyes, so yeah, I had to stop a shiver from passing over me. The photo that I'd seen of him showed a full head of hair so maybe he'd forgotten his toupee in the rush to leave home.

I focused on helping myself to something to eat, pastries which looked delicious. To be honest I had no idea how to start a conversation with this man.

"Miss Plum, may I call you Stephanie?"

"Yeah sure"

I said around a mouth full of pastry. Once I'd swallowed, I pointed to the pastries hoping that talking about food might be a good way of breaking the ice.

"Those pastries are delicious, you must try one"

"I ate breakfast on the plane"

Okay so now it was now or never.

"Did you fly down overnight?"

"Yes. Lucas expects people to do as he asks. He asked me to come here, so here I am"

"Why, I mean why are you here?"

"You ask a lot of questions, Stephanie"

Anyone who knew me would know that. That's how I was, always curious or wanting to fill a silence with chatter.

"I'm curious, after all you have been part of what has thrown my life upside down"

He didn't look annoyed at what I'd said instead he looked across at the pool as though trying to ignore me. I was actually surprised when he turned back to the table and picked up his coffee.

"Not intentional to start with, but I have to say that you caused us a lot of concern when we realized it was you"

"Why was that Mr McCall?"

I noted that he never invited me to call him by his first name which to be honest annoyed me slightly. His only response was to continue drinking his coffee, basically ending that line of conversation. The way he sat back and looked across to the pool again made me think that he really didn't want to talk to me. Well tough shit, because I wasn't going to stop trying.

"I know that you were involved with Lucas and Jackson Mr McCann, but for the life of me I can't work out why. Was it your idea? Though I thought being a long term government employee you would have had higher moral standards"

As he returned his coffee to the table, he looked at me, I could see the scowl across his face so knew that I had hit a sore point.

"Then you would know that as a government employee I don't get paid enough"

"So it was all about money?"

"Maybe"

I watched dismayed as he got up and walked back into the house. Not wanting to give the impression that I was following him I started to stack the plates and cups from the table and walked into the house toward the kitchen.

McCann was nowhere in sight and that had a small sliver of panic run through me. Maybe he'd gone to the washroom. I went back outside and collected the remaining plates and the coffee pot so relieved when I saw McCann stood at the fridge reaching in for a bottle of water. I think I'd given up on being polite to him and maybe instead of continuing trying to be pleasant I needed to be more forceful with him.

"Mr McCann, I have the right to know why I'm here, why you are here. So at least tell me even it means that I have to listen to you gloating at how clever you think you are"

I watched as he turned to me, a smile across his face. Okay so he liked to think that he was clever, so that would give me an edge.

"You're just a pawn, a means to an end"

"Cut the crap Mr McCann and talk sense. What the hell is your end game, enlighten me"

Okay I meant for him to see how annoyed I was and made sure that I had my hands on my hips and my face turned up to show it. It seemed that I was amusing him, almost as though he was thinking that he could see his end game within his reach.

"Carlos Manoso is the target. He always was as far as I was concerned"

"What the hell did Carlos Manoso do to you for you to target him?"

I watched as he walked over to the doors that lead outside and as he stopped just looking outside. For a moment I thought he wasn't going to say anything.

"He ruined my life, got me kicked off operations, hell if it hadn't been for my dear old Daddy pulling some strings I would have been kicked out of the army"

"How did he ruin your life?"

I spoke quietly as I moved toward him hoping that he was so lost in his thoughts that he would simply carry on thinking out loud.

"In his report after a mission he said that I was incompetent"

"I'm sure you weren't. What did he say about you?"

I crossed my fingers hoping that McCann would fully open up and confess what he'd done.

"That I fucked up, a lot. That I missed the guard patrol when I was on duty and nearly got us found"

"Things like that happen, hell you were all probably under a lot of stress and tired. That could have happened to anyone"

He nodded his head as though he actually believed that, God he was delusional or he'd told himself the lies so often that he actually believed them.

"What else did he say?"

"I nearly got court marshalled for shooting a civilian"

There it was, an admission to shooting someone but even as he said it, he turned to me, rage marring his face.

"I think that you ask too many questions. You might think that you're clever but you're not. You're here, on your own and Lucas will make sure that Manoso goes down"

I checked around me, okay I was looking for somewhere to run because I had to get the punchline in, I had to get him to say out loud that he had been the one that shot Antonella. If I got hurt in the process, then so be it at least I'd know that Lucas wouldn't go after Ranger.

"So the civilian that you shot was Cordoba's daughter. Surely the reports would say that"

I had to ask, had to push him, it was the only way to get him to admit what he'd done. He thought that he was so clever with what he'd done, surely he'd want to brag about it.

"No, I switched out the report. As far as anyone is concerned it was done by Manoso"

Could I push him further, hell he was so willing to open up and talk?

"You killed her, shot her didn't you?"

As he took a step toward me I stepped back, the look on his face frightening but almost captivating.

"Yes, I did, just like I'm going to kill you. Lucas is too soft with you, but I'll make sure that what we planned goes ahead"

I turned and ran hearing swearing behind me and hoping that McCann was so unfit that he wouldn't be able to catch me. Okay so was I but when I needed to run to save my life then I could pull out all of the stops.

At the front door I was so relieved that it was unlocked and flung it open before making a dash outside into the bright sunshine. I knew I was squinting against the sun and only hoped that McCann was as well. I headed for the wall, ducking and diving around bushes and trees and then veered right. If I headed along the wall, then maybe I could get back inside through the doors in the courtyard. I heard the firing of a gun and saw and heard the bits of stone as they shattered close to my head. It didn't make me stop, it just made me run faster. I was thankful that I was wearing the trousers and T-shirt but every step seemed to bite into my feet. Was not having any shoes for me Lucas's way of making sure that I didn't try to escape, because I was cursing him with every footstep.

The gun shots seemed to stop and I could see the pool, so knew that I was almost to the back of the house. I knew that I couldn't run any more, my side was killing me with a stitch and my breathing was hard and fast. Maybe McCann had lost me or even Lucas had come back, whatever the reason was I felt a little more confident that I'd tricked McCann.

Winding between the tables and chairs I could see the open doors ahead of me and everywhere seemed quiet, so I very carefully and quietly walked through the doors and into the house. The kitchen was empty as I passed through it and made my way to the stairs, my intention was to get to my room, lock the door and then lock myself in the bathroom until Lucas came back. I wasn't too sure what would happen then but was just praying that Lucas would help me.

I kept to the wall as I took the steps one by one and was nearly at the top listening above the beat of my heart for any sounds and looking behind me in case McCann had followed me.

"There you are Miss Plum"

I turned to see McCann on the hallway above me, the bastard had obviously come back through the front door and was checking out the rooms upstairs. I watched as he raised his gun, that sick smile on his face. I had no doubt in my mind that he was going to shoot me so stepped down onto the next step. Several things happened at the same time, I lost my footing, and the shot of a gun firing went off. I wasn't too sure what I could do because I was suddenly falling down the stairs screaming as I tumbled.

RPOV

Once the plane levelled out, we got down to planning our tactics for when we arrived in Mexico. Hector had a map of the area for where Leneghan's compound was situated and an aerial shot of the house itself. The house was set inside a compound with walls surrounding it, a large compound that had a guard house at the front next to the only visible entrance. The rear of the compound was at the edge of lake so the only way in or out of the area was via a single road that ended at the compound. There would be no opportunity to a drive by and the area at the front of the compound was open fields so little cover for any surveillance during the day.

"We could hire a boat and approach from the lake"

Came from Santos but even as he said it he shook his head.

"Nah, there are probably cameras facing out from the wall"

I didn't want to wait until nighttime, because that would mean that McCann would have been there for far too long and I really didn't trust McCann not to hurt Steph.

"Hal just messaged. He says everyone is in position at the house and they can see men moving about outside"

That didn't sound good to me and I was actually worried that I'd made a horrendous mistake in deciding to head down to Mexico. What if Steph was actually at that house?

"She won't be there Ranger"

I heard what Brown said and was praying that he was right. All of this was my fault, any danger that Steph was in was because of me. That was why I had been so reticent about anyone getting too close to me, for that person to be targeted to get to me. I wiped my hands down my face as I considered what I had done and what could happen. I wasn't sure that I could give Steph up now, that was if she wanted anything to do with me.

She could very well be so frightened from this that it might be her would decide to break any ties with me. At that thought I really wasn't sure what I would do because at the end of the day, I was totally and utterly devoted to her and always had been. I knew that I would fight to keep her with me and maybe she would be amenable to the lifestyle that I had and the constant need to be vigilant. That was something that we would have to work out if we came out of this unscathed.

"I'm going to walk in"

I said, because it was the only way to end this.

"No way Ranger, they could shoot you on sight"

I knew that Tank could be right but there wasn't much of a choice and I was banking on Leneghan wanting to see me face to face.

"No. If Leneghan wants me dead, he could have done it by now. He wants to see me, to gloat over why he's done what he has. This is personal to him so he'll want to do it himself"

Santos raised his eyebrows, but I could see that he was in agreement with me.

"Once you're in we need a diversion to keep the guards occupied so that we can get inside the compound. I don't know if he has many guards inside"

"I'll use the drone"

"Won't they hear it?"

I looked at Hector as he smiled, I knew that the cameras on those things would still pick up an image from a long distance, too far away for it to be seen and heard.

"Hal's on the radio, I'll put it on speaker"

We all turned to Tank as he placed the radio down on the small table, all of us I think on edge waiting for any news.

"We started to move in closer, never broke cover. Miguel used a parabolic mic but there was nothing to hear at first and then we hear some woman talking. It wasn't Steph, because this woman she was moaning about when was the john supposed to be there and how she was gonna be owed a lot of money. We caught a glimpse of her as she looked through one of the upstairs window. Shit she looked like Steph, with long wavy brunette hair, but it wasn't. A minute later Garner walks out of the house and clears everyone from the area just before the whole damn house exploded"

I felt so guilty that an innocent woman had died but so relieved that it hadn't been Steph. So the idea was for me to think that Steph had been killed, that was the purpose.

"Tali?"

"Oh, she's all weepy and wanting to know where you are Ranger"

I bet she was. The scheming bitch had killed an innocent woman to give me the impression that Steph was dead. The question was, did she know that Steph wasn't in the house and that it been a set up? That begged the question of why, why would Garner do that?

"What did you tell her Hal?"

"That you'd disappeared offline, that Tank and Santos were looking for you"

That was a good response from Hal although he was probably aware that I did just that when I needed to be alone.

"Hal, make sure the men who know that it wasn't Steph, keep a lid on it"

"The only men who know the truth are Miguel and me, I had all communication come through me. The rest of the men are pretty shook up, because they think Steph really was in that house"

I knew there would be a lot of self recrimination by a lot of them for allowing that to happen, but it was vital that Tali had no idea of where we were going or what we expected to find.

"Hal, I know it'll be hard for you and Miguel, but you have to maintain that illusion until we come back"

"I know, just make sure you bring Steph back home safely"

As Tank turned the radio off, we all sat there quietly. I had no idea what the others were thinking, me personally I wanted Garner and Tali to pay for what they had done because I had no doubt in my mind that Garner was responsible for that little stunt. Tali, well I was looking forward to seeing her and what excuses she would give me.

"That makes it even more important that we get in and out as quickly as possible"

Everyone nodded in agreement, hoping that Tali would have no reason to contact her brother. We spent the next few hours finalizing details before catching some sleep before we landed.

The trucks were waiting for us when we landed, old and battered, but Santos assured us that they were reliable, and to be honest they blended in well with the vehicles already on the road. It was fifty kilometers from Bacubirito to Guamuchil along sandy and graveled tracks. I drove one of the trucks with Brown beside me so that at least I could concentrate on the road and not on what I might find when we got to Leneghan's compound. Did I drive fast, yes, but I also knew not to draw attention to us as we drove through and past hamlets and built up areas where the locals tended to congregate.

Fortunately, the road improved once past the town of Mocorito, though that also meant we came across more trucks similar to ours. The whole area was flat with very few landmarks, we passed fields being used to grow rice and vegetables, with large areas of wheat and beans.

We knew criminal organizations were based and operating in Sinaloa state, After the arrest of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the cartel was now headed by Ismael Zambada García (aka El Mayo) and Guzmán's sons, so we were ever vigilant that we didn't draw attention to ourselves. The last thing we needed was to be stopped by one of them and for them to think that we were there to interfere with their business. It was a tense journey and I'm sure that we were all relieved as we neared our final destination without incident.

Once we had found the agreed vantage point, an area that gave us some cover from trees, the trucks were parked out of view ready for the last stage to be done by foot. Leneghan's compound could be seen from where we were and Hector was ready to deploy his drone.

We all tried to see what was displayed on the small screen as it gained height and headed toward the compound. That proved impossible as Hector tried to steer the damn thing and control the image that was seen from the camera.

"Something is happening down there"

Came from Hector as he studied the screen and we waited for him to give us more information.

"A car has pulled into the compound and someone is running into the house. The guards are walking back and forth between the front of the house and a small building to the side"

"Shit, is that a fire?"

My heart almost stopped at hearing that, surely, we weren't going to witness another explosion, not when I was sure that Steph was inside the house. I took the binoculars from Santos and looked to where he was pointing, relief pouring from me as he pointed to an area closer to the town. Sure enough, there was dark smoke curling up into the sky though it was difficult to determine exactly what was on fire because of the smoke. That was when I knew that I needed to be down at Leneghan's house, a pull so strong that I couldn't ignore it.

"I'm going in"

Was all I said as I pulled on a vest and checked the ammo in the gun at my side. All I saw was resignation on the faces from the others because they knew this was the only way. I had an ear bud and mic and switching it on we made sure that everyone was in contact.

"I'll get as close as possible to give you cover"

We watched as Ram disappeared into the field, the sway of the stems and heads the only sign of where he was. Ram would be able to get quite close to the front of the compound by using the cover of the wheat.

I drove one of the trucks back to the road and then turned off toward the compound, throughout the journey the words "I'm coming for you Babe" rolling through my head, well I hope it was in my head or the others would think that I was losing it. I stopped the truck several feet before the open gate, surprised that no one came out to intercept me.

At the gate I checked through the side of the guard house surprised that no one was there. Standing tall was the only way I knew how to do this so I started my walk with purpose toward the front of the house.

"In position"

Came through my earbud informing me that Tank, Brown and Santos had my back. They would be by the wall ready to infiltrate the inside of the compound. Though from what I'd seen I didn't think that they would have any problem doing that.

"Three cameras facing out from the front and corners of the house"

I relayed to them as my eyes constantly swept my surroundings. I was almost at the front door when a man ran out and came to a stop in front of me, obviously shocked to see me approaching him. For a guard he was slow to react and bring his rifle up to point it at me. Hell, I could have disarmed him and had him out cold on the ground, but I didn't.

"El señor Leneghan me espera" (Mr Leneghan is expecting me)

The man looked confused, but he didn't shoot me which was what I'd been expecting. Instead, he turned from me and started to walk into the house, so I followed, taking that as an invitation. To say I was shocked at the scene in front of me was an understatement. Men who I presumed were the guards were busy trying to mop the floor of blood, a wide smear that looked to stretch from the bottom of the stairs to where I was stood. A smear that to me looked like it had come from someone being dragged along the floor. I struggled to keep control of my emotions as I looked at the blood, my heart escalating with the thought that the blood they were cleaning up was from Steph.

"El señor Leneghan está arriba con el doctor" (Mr Leneghan is upstairs with the doctor)

My imagination was going rampant as I took the stairs, every possible scenario of what had happened flying through my head. The smell of cleaner assaulted my senses and it looked as though the wooden floor was still wet. Had there been several people shot, and where the hell was Steph? Was Leneghan injured and with a doctor being treated? I was instantly aware of a door opening so schooled my face for an impending confrontation only to see a small elderly man exit a room. As he was carrying a medical bag, I assumed that he was the doctor, and his timid smile assuaged the tenseness that my muscles had assumed. I didn't see him as a threat, a man who was small with circular glasses propped up on the end of his nose and greying hair flying wildly around a pinched face. To me he looked like a local doctor who had probably seen and heard everything living in an area like this. No doubt he would treat everything from small children breaking bones to men suffering from gunshots.

I caught the door before it closed and slowly pushed on it a fraction, giving me a view of the room that I was about to walk into. It was bright and airy but to see anything of importance I had to open the door further. My eyes immediately fell onto the bed and I stood for several moments feasting my eyes on the sight of who was laid down on it. I watched for the slow movement of her chest rising and falling, consumed in the knowledge that my Babe was still alive. Stepping into the room I caught sight of a man sat in a chair, sat watching Steph as she slept. Fury was an immediate reaction, that was my role, the position I took to watch her sleep not his. Of course, he immediately looked across at me, surprising me when I saw that his eyes were moist.

"I'm sorry"

Came across to me as a whisper, a whisper laced with anguish and despair. Keeping my eyes on Leneghan I walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge only taking my eyes away from Leneghan to look down onto Steph's beautiful face. Her shoulders were bare, with her arms laid over the sheet covering her, the sight of a clean white bandage covering an area over her shoulder. I trailed my hand down her head and through her hair, tucking a curl behind her ear, before taking her hand in mine. Seeing bruises on the white skin on her neck had me fighting back my temper, no one hurt my Babe and got away with it.

"Gunshot wound to her shoulder, the doctor had to sedate her so that he could clean it out and suture it"

Had my head whipping around to rest on the figure in the chair. What the hell had happened here and who had shot her? I had so many questions that I wanted answers to but was taking what I could at the moment, the feel of Steph close to me.

"We need to talk, I owe you an explanation"

I was sure that my eyebrow rose as he said that, hell, that was a line that I often used. There was no way that I was leaving Steph on her own again so stood up and walked over to the chair next to Leneghan. I turned the chair so that I could still see Steph but had Leneghan and the door in my sights.

"Talk"

After a few moments I noticed that he still hadn't stopped looking at Steph and to some extent he almost made me feel a little calmer, as though there was someone else looking over her, almost. I wasn't going to let my guard down and was positioned ready to move.

"I used to watch Ellie when she slept. She was like a bright angel that I was watching over, her ability to calm me so soothing"

I looked at Myer as he said that knowing exactly how he felt because it was the same for me with Steph. Watching her sleep calmed my demons and yes, I suppose the word soothing was apt.

"When I lost her, my world fell apart. I was nothing without her and found it hard to even function. I immersed myself in my work, not eating or sleeping without her face constantly haunting me. Then I heard rumors through some of the men who lived in the local villages. They were pleased that her father was gone, that the tyranny that he ruled with had come to an end, but they too were touched by Ellie's death. She was a doctor and a friend to them, so they thought the world of her. I discovered that it had been American soldiers who had attacked the Cordoba home and were responsible for her being shot"

That job had been a nightmare, trying to locate Cordoba and then to ensure that no innocents were injured. We were young and probably naïve to the destruction that we left behind, our only focus on completing our mission. I had never considered at the time the pain that was brought with Cordoba's daughter being killed. My anger had been turned on McCann instead and regrets surfaced later, regret at not stopping him.

"My life changed, I became infatuated with finding the man who had shot her, taken her away from me. So I began to look for anything that might give me some answers. I wanted that man to feel the pain that I had and then to kill him, slowly and painfully. Stories abounded and I aligned myself with the cartels around here hoping to find out more. The name Manoso came up so I grabbed onto that name like a sinking man"

I was surprised that the cartels knew of my name, but then again the number of jobs that I'd done in South America it was probably bound to come to the surface.

"I made some discreet enquiries, well I thought they were discreet, and a man named McCann approached me. He showed me reports that confirmed that you had shot Ellie. Do you know what was so ironical with that? My sister knew you and she was fucking working for you"

I opened my mouth to say something but decided that maybe Leneghan didn't know about the moves that Tali had made toward me.

"McCann came up with a convoluted plan that would result in your demise but then when Tali found out what we were doing she wanted to take it in a different direction. She used my rage and need for revenge against me, manipulated me by convincing me that by getting rid of Stephanie it would be like piercing your heart, like mine had been"

I had come so close to losing Steph all because of Tali. How the hell had I been so blind to that and why had I not seen Tali's actions for what they were. I would have gladly let Leneghan have his vengeance on me rather than anything happening to Steph.

"Garner was my man on the ground, and he told me about you and Stephanie, how you would do anything for her. The way that you looked at her and took care of her. There was no way I could allow her to be killed just to satisfy my need for revenge or because my sister thought that it was more fitting. So I got Garner to bring her here while he set up a distraction that would satisfy Tali that Stephanie was dead. If you truly loved Stephanie, then you would never recover, and Tali would feel that she'd helped me"

I would certainly agree with that. I would be more than broken if I thought that Steph was dead and would have nowhere to go but into a downward spiral but there would be no way that I would have turned to Tali.

"That woman, she's feisty and so full of life. I researched her before having her brought here and was amazed with her story. She's so tenacious about the people that she loves. I could never have killed her, maybe had her disappear and persuade her to start a new life. She was so adamant that you were innocent of killing Ellie, so I gave her the opportunity to get the truth from McCann. I just never expected him to try and kill her"

At least now I knew who had shot Steph and that Leneghan probably knew the truth about McCann.

"McCann played you, he hated me after what happened at Cordoba's because I tried to finish his career. I have the original report and a video of what happened if you want to read it"

"No. Stephanie got him to confess, and I heard it. She was pushing him even though she knew it might cause McCann to turn on her. I think she wanted to make sure that you would be saved"

That was Steph, she would always put herself at risk to save other people. It humbled me and made me love her even more.

"McCann?"

Because I wasn't sure where he was now.

"Dead. I shot him. Not as an act of revenge but to save her"

I saw where he was looking, over to where Steph was still sleeping. Steph could never understand just how many people were captured by her personality and character. There were so many people who had fallen in love with her. As Leneghan stood up, I was there next to him, still a little on edge with the situation that I'd found myself in.

"I need to manage the men downstairs and dispose of a body"

Was all he said before I was watching him as he left the room. It was then that I remembered that the men had probably heard every word that had been said. Would Myer welcome my men into the house, I wasn't sure but there was only one way to find out and I would be able to relax if I knew that they were closer.

"Steph is going to be alright. Form two teams, one outside and one inside the house"

I would let them argue amongst themselves who would be in each team, but I was pretty sure that Santos and Brown would be with me pretty quickly.