Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ranger sat in the front seat, back straight, a grim line to his mouth. When exactly had his life gotten so far off the rails? When had this woman, wormed her way under his skin straight to his heart. Ranger had a plan, and that plan didn't include Stephanie. It was just a phase. He'd get through this, get some distance, and get over it. Because that is how things worked. Ignore and override. Ranger focused on his breath. In for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and exhale for the same.
It didn't seem to be working, no matter how many times he did it. He couldn't believe she'd stun gunned Hal. Not that Hal didn't deserve it for being an idiot, but she had felled him without throwing a single punch. No, all Stephanie had to do was look at him with those big blue eyes and Hal had been a goner. Ranger could relate.
Then Ranger had totally lost his cool and yelled at her in front of everybody. And the thing was, she hadn't flinched or backed down. She'd gone toe-to-toe with him, and if that wasn't bad enough, then he had kissed her. No, more like devoured her like a starving man's first meal. Ranger closed his eyes and mentally counted to ten. He was pretty sure he could count to infinity and it wouldn't help.
Now, she was in the backseat because he had let her come with them on something that could go FUBAR in the space of a single breath. Something she was in no way trained to do. His job was to protect her. Not to put her in harm's way. So far, he had failed at everything when it came to this woman, so he supposed it shouldn't have really come as a shock that he failed at this too. Les glanced over at him when Ranger pinched the bridge of his nose like he'd just gotten the worst migraine of his life. Pain in the ass was more like it. Ranger suppress a sigh, but just barely.
Not that he'd had much choice about her coming along. That had been pretty clear when she got off the elevator with that look on her face. The one that kind of terrified him. He was never living this down. Les would lord this over his head until his last breath, which might be sooner than he thought, because he was pretty sure the woman was going to kill him. He'd have a stroke, pop an aneurysm, something. Maybe he'd just shoot himself. That might be preferable. Quicker and less painful for sure.
The bad part, Les had warned him. He'd told Ranger in no uncertain terms that trying to keep Stephanie at arm's length wasn't going to work. Not when it came to Novak, and not when it came to him. Ranger hadn't listened. Really, what did Les know about women anyway? How to talk them out of their clothes and how to lose their numbers the next morning, seemed to round out his knowledge, but somehow, Les had called the ball on Stephanie. It irked him that Les, of all people, knew more about what Stephanie needed, what she wanted, than he did. For the first time in a long time, Ranger envied Les. Ranger tried to push away his dark mood. He hated to feel out of control and on the edge, and that was all he'd felt since he met Stephanie.
If he hadn't been on the receiving end of her tenacity, he might have even admired it. The woman made him lose his damn mind. Since when had Stephanie become so important? He couldn't sleep until she was tucked in his arms last night, and then he'd slept better than he had in years. He had spent the whole day wishing for a glimpse of her. Looking at his phone, annoyed that she hadn't texted him. He had given her a phone. What exactly did she think it was for? It wasn't like his number wasn't the first entry programmed into the damn thing.
Ranger had actually been irritated that Tank had finally broken Lyons when he did. Irritated that going after Novak, interfered with dinner. He'd had Ella prepare some of his favorite dishes. Things he wanted to introduce Stephanie to. Like it was some damn date or something. Ranger barely managed not to roll his eyes. Pathetic. There were words for guys like him. None of them particularly flattering. And now, her damn clothes were hanging in his closet, and he kind of liked it. That scared him more than just about anything.
This white-hot energy that burned between them. It confused him. It was as dangerous as it was beautiful. This thing between them, was only supposed to be a one-time encounter. Ranger was afraid he'd never be able to walk away unscathed. Not after this morning, but then if he was honest, he'd known that from day one. He'd been helpless against the raging current that pushed him towards the jagged shoal. That woman was going to rip him to shreds, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
When she'd reached for him this morning, the way she had stroked him. The rush of adrenaline that coursed through him, should have killed him. His body had reacted like he had been struck by lightning. That had never happened with any woman before. And the handcuff thing. Oh, dear god. He'd almost swallowed his tongue, when she had baited him like that. Images of her naked and bound on the bed, naked, bound, on her knees his hands fisted in that dark, curly hair with her using that very talented mouth on him, flooded his mind, causing his eager cock to twitch in anticipation. Ranger barely managed to suppress a groan. At least he thought he did. The way Les looked over at him, made him wonder.
He really needed to get a grip. Ranger didn't do relationships, and he definitely needed to stop doing Stephanie Plum. The woman was like kryptonite. She made him weak, she made him vulnerable. She made him feel. Getting Novak, and making sure she was safe had to be the priority. The first step to being able to disentangle from her. Ranger ignored the clenching of his gut. It was hunger, not regret he told himself.
"What's the plan?" Stephanie asked from the back seat.
Les looked at her in the rearview mirror. "Silvio was able to narrow the list you came up with down to two possible locations. Tank was able to use that information with Lyons and he confirmed the base of operations. Ram and Tank are going to check one, and we have the other."
"Where?"
"One is the vacant warehouse on Calhoun not far from the one you were at. The other is the office building you identified that is still under construction. Same area, a few blocks over from the warehouse. A couple of the floors are finished, but no tenants yet. We confirmed both buildings are owned by Vito."
"That makes sense I guess." Stephanie replied. More to herself than Les.
At this time of the day, street parking was easy to find, not that it would have been hard in this neighborhood anyway. Les pulled up about a block from the building. They made their way up the street. The area was deserted. It might eventually be an up-and-coming business district, but right now it was in transition. Older, rundown buildings surrounded the new construction. Most looked vacant except for the occasional squatter.
As they approached the building Les pulled out a device and typed in a command. "Let's hope Hector was right about the security system."
"What is that?" Stephanie asked.
Les shrugged. "Software-defined radio. It intercepts and replays communications, confusing the alarm."
Les produced what looked suspiciously like a crowbar and wrenched the door open. A panel on the wall was flashing, but all the lights were green, and no audible alarm went off.
"The fourth and fifth floors are mostly finished. Steph and I will take the fifth floor. You take the fourth and clear the stairwell." Ranger told Les.
Les headed off. The lobby was dimly lit, as were the halls and elevator. They entered the elevator, Ranger pushed the button, and looked over at her.
"You're very calm."
"It's easy to be calm when I'm with you. I feel protected." Stephanie shrugged, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Ranger thought it felt a little like he couldn't breathe. Her faith in him, her trust scared him.
"I try," Ranger replied. "You don't always cooperate." His voice was light and teasing, despite the fact her admission stole his breath and humbled him.
Stephanie just rolled her eyes, and Ranger gave her one of his almost smiles.
The doors opened, and they walked down the hall to one of the office suites. Ranger pulled on a pair of disposable gloves and they stepped inside and closed the door behind them. The interior room was pitch-black. The outside offices showed ambient light from the street, but not enough to really see. Ranger clicked his penlight on.
"Let's try to use just the one light" Ranger told her. "Hang on to me if you can't see."
Stephanie curled her hand into the back of his cargo pants just above his gun belt. "I'm good to go."
Ranger was still for a beat. "You could have held on to my jacket."
"Would you rather I do that?" She asked.
A beat went by. "No. Not even a little."
Ranger flicked the light over the cubicles and into the offices. He stopped and opened a file cabinet. Empty. As expected, the office space was not occupied.
"None of this is being used. Let's check out the offices." Ranger kept methodically moving through the suite.
Ranger flicked his light in each office as they went. So far all of them were vacant. Ranger opened the next door and flashed the light around. It was a boardroom. Large oval table. Chairs pulled up to the table. Unoccupied. It had the smell of new paint.
Stephanie was beginning to have a sinking feeling that Novak wasn't here. She tried to suppress a sigh, but a small one escaped anyway. `
They continued down the hall to the corner office. The door was ajar, and Ranger stopped before entering. He knew what he was going to find inside. Stephanie did too. She could smell it. The same coppery, metallic smell. As long as she lived, she would never forget the smell of death. It was unmistakable.
"Wait here." Ranger told her.
"It's OK. I can deal." Stephanie assured him. She just hoped that was actually true.
Ranger locked eyes with her. He was doing that thing where he was taking her pulse and peeking inside her mind. He nodded.
Novak was on the floor by the desk. He had a bullet to the back of his head. Execution-style. Blood and brains were all over the carpet.
Stephanie suppressed a gag and her stomach roiled.
"Are you OK?" Ranger asked. Stephanie nodded. She didn't trust her voice. She was afraid if she opened her mouth she might puke. Ranger eyed her warily for a minute.
Ranger handed her a pair of disposable gloves and they methodically went through the file cabinets.
"I'm not finding anything here," he said. He moved to the credenza. "Uh-oh," he said when he opened the top drawer.
Stephanie's head snapped up. "What uh-oh? I hate uh-oh."
"Leave the room. Now." The command in his voice was unmistakable.
"Why?"
"Explosives." Ranger said. "On a timer and a trip wire. If I'd opened the drawer another half inch, your hamster would be an orphan."
Stephanie felt panic surge through her and she was momentarily paralyzed. She forced herself to breathe and focus. Rex wasn't an orphan, at least not yet.
"You can fix this right? Defuse the bomb, do some of that batman voodoo shit?"
"No."
"NO? What do you mean no?" Now she did sound slightly hysterical.
"Leave. Get outside." Ranger repeated.
"No. I'm not leaving you."
Stephanie felt sweat pop out on her upper lip and pool at the base of her spine. Her vision tunneled a little and she forced herself to breathe, even though the last thing she wanted to do was take a deep breath. In addition to a bomb, there were death cooties all over the office and it was giving her the heebie-jeebies.
"How much time do we have?" Her voice came out steady and clear even though it felt like terror was gripping her throat and cutting off her air supply.
"Seven minutes." Ranger replied.
Ok, that wasn't so bad she thought. Ranger was gently sliding the drawer closed, moving at the pace of a geriatric snail, in an effort not to blow them to kingdom come.
"Jeez. Why is everybody trying to kill me?" Stephanie muttered.
"I don't think this bomb was meant for you." Ranger replied as he finally popped the drawer closed.
Stephanie's head snapped up. "Oh well, sorry I'm overreacting and not specific enough for you." Stephanie hissed and glared at Ranger.
"Babe." She was pretty sure in this case, Babe meant she was pushing his patience to the point where he might just stun gun her himself.
Ranger clicked on his comms. "Santos evacuate the building we have a live explosive. Tank be advised we have explosives in this location."
Stephanie took out her phone and took some photos of Novak and the room around him.
Ranger gave her a questioning look.
"Proof." She said and Ranger grinned.
"Let's go." Ranger grabbed her hand and yanked her into the hall.
They ran flat out down the hall and through the cubicles to the doors of the office suite. They pushed through them and hauled ass down the stairs.
"How much time do we have?" Stephanie panted.
"Four minutes, give or take." Ranger didn't even sound winded. "Plenty of time."
Stephanie wasn't so sure that was true, but she kept moving. When they burst onto the street, Les was waiting for them in the SUV, idling in front of the building. They piled in the SUV.
"Two minutes," Ranger said, as Les hit the gas. The tires chirped and they rocketed away from the curb. "Trigger the alarm."
Les flipped the switch on the little gizmo. The fifth-floor windows blew out as they reached the corner. Les hooked a U-turn and parked so they could watch the building. There was a second explosion, the alarm was wailing away, and fire spilled out the open windows.
Ranger called the control room. "Alert responders to secure the exterior of the building, and the possibility of explosives. Under no circumstances should they to go inside until the fire marshall declares the building safe. And keep RangeMan out of the report."
Ranger hung up. "Probably better if the local LEOs don't know we were here given the bomb and the body." Ranger said to no one in particular.
They watched as police and fire rolled onto the scene. It was difficult to see much of anything other than billowing smoke and flames shooting into the black sky. The street was clogged with fire trucks, EMTs, and police cars. They were already getting water to the fire, but it was apparent that nothing was going to be saved.
"Well, that didn't work out exactly as expected." Stephanie mused as another small explosion shook the building. They all grimaced as a fireball shot into the sky.
"Did you find anything?" Ranger asked Les.
"No, the fourth floor was clear."
"We found a dead Novak, but no Tiny." A minute went by as they watched the chaos unfold. "I should probably call Montero." Ranger said absently.
Ranger turned to Stephanie. "You did good Babe. You really kept your head about you. Taking those pictures was a great idea." The corners of Ranger's mouth tipped up. "And you can really haul ass when you need to."
"So, you're not sorry I came along then."
That got a small smile out of Ranger. "I wouldn't go that far."
Ranger locked eyes with her. "You should have left when I told you. That bomb had a trip wire, and I could have set it off just as easily as not when trying to close the drawer."
"Well, it is a good thing you didn't set it off, because I was never going to leave you."
Their eyes held for a moment. An awareness arced between them.
"You are impossible." Ranger muttered, shaking his head.
"At least nobody important died." Stephanie shrugged and sat back in the seat. Ranger gave her a look that she decided meant she had a point. It could have also meant Ranger thought she was crazy. Then again, crazy recognized crazy so there was that.
"Seems like a woman like that is worth keeping." Les said under his breath.
Ranger gave Les a dark look. "Let's go."
Les put the SUV in gear and headed back to RangeMan. Ranger's phone dinked.
"Tank got Tiny." Ranger announced.
Stephanie thought she was probably the only one that saw the irony in that statement.
Then again, she had just been involved in a B&E, found another dead body, and had almost been blown to smithereens, and yet somehow it all felt perfectly normal. She decided she didn't have the energy to ponder what that meant.
When they got to RangeMan they took the elevator to the fifth floor. Les headed off to find Hector and return his electronics. As Ranger and Stephanie walked to Ranger's office, it was pretty clear the scene in the garage had spread like wildfire. Heads popped up out of cubicles like a bunch of little meerkats.
"Is Hal OK?" Stephanie enquired. She didn't see him in the control room. She really hoped Ranger hadn't fired him.
"Yeah, he's OK. Except maybe for his pride. The men in the control room were laughing so hard when you stunned Hal, they couldn't get up the stairs fast enough to stop you. I gave Hal the night off. I figured he deserved it. He's never going to live this one down."
Stephanie winced a little. "Tell him I'm sorry."
Ranger looked over at her. "It was a good lesson for him. For all my men. Women can be just as deadly and ruthless as men, and he needs to stop underestimating them."
Ranger had said a mouthful with that one, but Stephanie decided not to go there. They went into Ranger's office.
"Do you think Vito killed Novak?" Stephanie asked.
"Yeah. Word on the street is that he's eliminating business partners associated with E.E. Martin. You know Vito. "
Stephanie shook her head. "No, what do you mean?"
"Large ego. Terrible temper. Probably criminally insane."
"Ah, got it." Stephanie just rolled her eyes. Sure, like everyone knew that. What world did this guy live in where that was common knowledge.
"Of course, all the evidence was probably destroyed." Ranger was watching her closely.
"So, Vito just gets away with it again. He has Morelli shot, but everyone involved is dead, he has Skagal killed but burns the place down destroying all the records, and then he kills Novak and blows-up all the evidence. I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Apparently, Vito is a little like Teflon and nothing ever sticks to him." Stephanie was horrified to find tears of frustration in her eyes. This whole mess just felt hopeless.
"Vito makes a lot of his money by blackmailing and extorting honest businessmen into stealing from the companies they work for."
"Like Skagal and Fry." Stephanie interjected. Ranger nodded.
"They get involved with him and are forced to cook the books. When the business finally collapses and their creditors and clients come looking, Vito's evaporated. It's standard Mob procedure. All money is drained from the legitimate business, and the Skagals and Frys are left holding the bag. They're the guys who go to jail, jump off bridges, or blow their brains out. Everyone has a weakness. We will find Vito's."
Stephanie just huffed out a frustrated breath, pulled off the vest, and flopped in a chair, suddenly tired. She wasn't so sure that was true. From where she was sitting Vito didn't have too many weaknesses.
"Let me call Montero and send him the pictures you took, then we can go upstairs and get something to eat."
"Don't you have to go waterboard Tiny or something." Stephanie gave him a half smile.
The corner of Ranger's mouth went up in an almost smile. "Not yet, it's better if you let them stew a little."
Ranger shut the door and called Montero. He sent him the pictures Stephanie had taken of Novak. From the sound of things, it didn't seem like Montero was all that broken up over Novak.
"So that's it for you, I guess. You got Novak. Dead or alive, right."
"Something like that." Ranger confirmed.
"Maybe I can get Montero to move me to Montana or something. The way it is going, I may be on social security before anyone gets Vito." Stephanie sighed.
"What is it with Montana anyway?" Ranger asked. "Everyone in WitSec always wants to go to Montana. It seems like it might be a little cold, and have a few too many farm animals for a Jersey girl." Ranger was smiling at her.
"Yeah, well I have to go somewhere. May as well be Montana." Stephanie sighed and closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the chair. She figured all that fresh air and open spaces would probably kill her, but she kept that to herself.
"I like you in my apartment…. and my bed." Ranger's voice had taken on a husky quality that felt almost like a physical caress as it washed over her.
Stephanie's eyes snapped open. "But I'd have to leave eventually, wouldn't I?"
Their eyes held for a few long moments. Ranger's face giving nothing away.
"Yes,….probably,…maybe." Ranger finally said.
Stephanie shrugged and stood up. "Good thing I'm partial to chickens and sheep then." Stephanie walked out.
Ranger stared after her. "Well, that went well." Ranger said to the empty office.
He rubbed a hand down his face. Ranger had an almost overwhelming desire to whack his head on the desk. Maybe knock some sense back into himself. Why did he keep hedging? Yes, the answer was yes. Of course, she would have to leave. So why did that seem like such a horrible idea all of a sudden? He got up and followed her out, catching her at the elevator. Stephanie Plum had walked out on him more in one week, than anyone had ever walked out on him in his entire adult life.
They rode in silence to Ranger's floor, he opened his door, and they went into his apartment. It was cool and pristine as always. Subdued lighting in the hall. Fresh flowers on the narrow hall table. Beautiful artwork. All thanks to Ella. As Ranger put his keys in the silver tray by the door, Stephanie wondered if he ever even noticed all those touches or was it like the Bulgari shower gel. Something someone else thought suited him.
Ella kept Ranger's life comfortable and orderly. While Ranger lived in the apartment there was nothing personal. No pictures, no mementos, no favorite coffee mug. Ranger was attached to nothing, and Stephanie was pretty sure that included women in general, and her in particular.
She followed him to the kitchen. He dropped his jacket and gun belt onto the kitchen counter and poured them each a glass of red wine. She sipped it. It was nice. It had a full-bodied flavor with hints of fruit and spice. She had a feeling it was expensive. Ranger clearly knew the value of temptation and bribery.
"Hungry?" Ranger asked her.
"Starving." Stephanie replied, although she wasn't entirely sure it was for food. Now that they were back in his apartment she wondered if he would make good on his promise. Her face felt warm, and her body tingled at the memory. Her gaze cut to the dining room table, and she saw a hint of a smile on his face. There was stark hunger in his eyes, and it wasn't for Ella's fabulous cooking.
Stephanie looked away. What was wrong with her. The man had literally just told this was a short-term thing.
"Whatever Ella made; it smells wonderful." Stephanie needed to get them back to neutral ground, or she would be yanking that t-shirt off of him in about two seconds flat. As good as he looked in the thing, he looked a whole lot better out of it.
"Do you like olives?" Ranger asked.
"Yes. Olives and peanut butter, olives and pimento cheese, olives and olives." Stephanie was smiling at him.
"Good. This is picadillo a la habanera. It has potatoes, olives, in a tomato-based sauce." Ranger spooned some in a dish for her along with some rice, and made a plate for himself.
They took a seat at the bar, and Stephanie took a bite. "Hmmm, that is really good. Is this one of your favorites?"
"My grandma used to make this all the time. I went to live with her for a while."
"Does she live in Trenton?"
"She does."
"Do you see her often?" Stephanie asked. She had a feeling there was a story there.
"Not as often as I would like. Sometimes I go to Mass with her."
The answer surprised Stephanie. From what Morelli had said, Ranger made his own rules and some of them didn't completely line up with the Ten Commandments. But then she was beginning to think Morelli's view of Ranger was tainted. It was becoming clear Morelli had tainted views on a lot of things. She didn't think Ranger was a guy that would easily accept someone else's doctrine, but whatever code he lived by, she knew one thing. Ranger was a good man. Complicated, but good.
Ranger cleared their plates and brought over a tray with little fried pastries shaped like a figure eight.
"What are those?"
"Buñuelos." Ranger answered.
Stephanie gave him a questioning look.
"The Cuban version of a beignet. I think you'll like these better." Ranger locked eyes with her.
"Why is that?"
"More satisfying."
Oh boy. If there'd been any more innuendo in that conversation, Stephanie could have fried an egg on her forehead.
Ranger's phone dinked.
"I've got to go deal with Tiny. Get some rest." Ranger got up and then he was gone.
Stephanie tried one of the buñuelos. They were tasty, but maybe not all that filling. Dessert was nice, but you couldn't live on it.
Stephanie tapped on Rex's aquarium. "What do you think?"
Rex just wiggled his little hamster butt and dug in further to the shavings. Always the brilliant conversationalist that one. Although, she had to admit he was a pretty good listener.
"Don't get too used to your deluxe hamster digs." Stephanie told him. "You won't be staying here forever." Of course, neither would she.
She suddenly felt very alone. Ranger was fire and magic, but he wasn't real. Morelli had been everything she wanted in a man except he wanted her to be something she wasn't. Well, that and the whole knocking up a mob princess thing. A little sigh inadvertently escaped.
Stephanie cleaned up the remaining dishes and padded into Ranger's bedroom. She wondered who had decorated the place. His bedroom was a study in masculine luxury. Dark woods, ivory walls, tans and browns, king-size bed with expensive Italian linens, but nothing personal. No bedside photo, no dog-eared paperbacks.
Stephanie went into his closet and opened the drawers in his built-in dresser. Her clothes were neatly tucked away, perfectly folded. She closed the drawer and opened another until she found what she was looking for. Stephanie pulled out one of Ranger's t-shirts. She held it to her face and breathed in his scent. She was going to miss him. Stephanie undressed and pulled the shirt over her head.
She took one last look at her clothes hung up next to Ranger's. She shook her head. Yeah, as much as she might want it to be, the truth was those were not her clothes, and this was not her closet. She flipped off the light and crawled into bed.
Stephanie fell into a fitful sleep. Sometime during the night, she felt the bed dip under Ranger's weight as he slipped in beside her. He pressed his warm body against her as he wrapped his arms around her. The familiar weight of his arm draped across her middle, his faint scent curling around her. She snuggled back into him. Everything about it felt right, it felt perfect. She wished for just for one moment that she would never have to leave his bed, even though she knew she would. But she was here now. She grasped his arm and tucked it more tightly against her. Stephanie pushed away the thoughts of tomorrow and promptly drifted off. There would be plenty of time for regrets later.
Stephanie woke up slowly to the persistent buzzing of Ranger's watch. The only light filtering in was from the streetlights. Once again it was pre-dawn. She slid her hand down his arm and clicked off his watch. Ranger's arm was draped across her middle. She turned her head, and looked at him. Ranger was still asleep. His breathing was slow and steady. Everything about him looked softer, younger. The tension around his mouth was gone, and he looked relaxed. She smiled down at him and stroked her hand across his silky hair. Relishing in this rare moment to observe him. He was so very complicated. An impossible puzzle for which she didn't have all the pieces.
His eyes fluttered open.
"Hey there." She whispered.
Ranger wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. She turned to face him, cuddling into him and burying her face in the crook of his neck. He smelled great, like his Bulgari shower gel. How it stayed with him all night was a mystery. She felt him kiss her neck and then her shoulder.
Her fingers traced his collar bone and then down the valley of his chest, earning her a guttural groan. His chest and abs were hard and unforgiving as she traced the contours of his exposed flesh and the lines of his body. Running her fingers along the waistband of his silky boxers.
Ranger's hand slipped under her t-shirt and slid up her abdomen and to palm her breast. He rolled her nipple between his thumb and his forefinger, twisting and tugging with enough force that pain and pleasure hung in the balance. His hand slid down and cupped her ass, pulling her leg over his hip so his hard length pressed into her. Stephanie gave a little gasp and canted her hips forward to rub against him.
Stephanie was really beginning to think this whole concept of morning sex, wasn't so bad. It made waking up at zero dark thirty tolerable, pleasurable even. Then Ranger's phone rang.
"Fuck" he ground out.
No, not this morning Stephanie thought as Ranger rolled away from her and answered the phone.
"Yo!" Ranger barked. He listened for a minute, and then Stephanie heard the dreaded words. "We will be down in a few minutes."
Ranger hung up. "We are going to have to rain check this. Montero is on his way."
"To get Tiny?"
"No, he has news."
Stephanie's heart did a little stutter. In Stephanie's experience there was no such thing as a good call at 5 AM. All calls between the hours of 11 PM and 9 AM were disaster calls, and Stephanie wasn't sure just how many more disasters she could handle.
Stephanie followed Ranger out of bed. She guessed she was about to find out.