Chapter 22

*Warning for 18 and older, an adult situation will be at the end of this chapter.

Hey, y'all! I hope you had a great long holiday! Get comfortable. This chapter is super-sized! You'll most likely will need a snack too, I think Stephanie would recommend a doughnut! You'll notice that later in this chapter, I refer to the year as 2018. I didn't want to bring our current plague into my fantasy world. So "plot twist" I'm writing around that problem out of the story. I hope you enjoy it!

Ranger drove to Stop-n-save a small grocery off of Greenwood in the Burg. How this man found a parking spot close to the door, Terri would never know. He looked back at me but spoke to Bobby.

"You need any supplies?"

"Yes. I have a list." Bobby dug around in his shirt pocket then handed a list to Ranger. He looked it over.

"This is a long list." Then handed it back to Bobby.

"How about you pick up everything? I'll text you my list."

"Can do, Boss."

Bobby turned to me. His chocolate eyes evaluated me with just a glance.

"Do you take vitamins?"

"No. "

He nodded. "What do you like to snack on?"

"I don't do much of that; I don't have time. I eat on the run. I like protein shakes for breakfast, salad for lunch, a microwave dinner, that kind of thing."

Bobby nodded again.

"You have dark circles under your eyes. It tells me you need some major rest. Your thin, and you need calories."

He asked for my arm and checked my pulse. He put his hand on my forehead and checked for a fever.

I smirked. I wanted to call him "Mr. Mom."

"Are you cold?"

"I am."

He found a plaid blanket under the seat and covered me up, then reached down and reclined my chair. It surprised me, and I jolted back up. He gently pushed me down again and patted my arm, trying to put me at ease.

"The anemia can make you feel cold. Close your eyes nap if you can. The more you rest, the better you will feel."

He looked at me, gave me a flirty smile, and winked.

"That's an order." He said and left to go grocery shopping.

I had no good reason for wanting to cry. Bobby's tender bedside manner had sparked insecurities towards Joe. Should she give Joe a chance? Should I declare him a childhood fantasy and look to someone like Bobby for love?

Ranger pulled me out of my thoughts by asking "How are you doing?"

"I'm struggling."

"Are you contemplating life?"

"I might need a consultation with the Pope."

"I've never wanted to talk to him." He supplied.

"Yeah, it's a first for me too."

"Is this about Joe? Or life in general?"

"Both. I'm mad at Joe because he asked me out on a date. "That was the first honest thing I had said in the last half hour.

"Yeah, Men are stupid. Ask me how I know."

That made me chuckle.

"Are you cold?" He asked me.

"Some."

"I'll turn the heat up for you."

Five minutes later, Ranger noticed her breathing had evened out. He went back to surveying the area looking for potential problems.

Bobby's dilemma

What was wrong with me? Was I in fifth grade? You didn't wink at a mob princess!

I entered the store thinking about what Terri said she ate every day. I didn't think she was getting enough calories to maintain her weight. I started counting, and I was worried. I knew getting her to eat more calories was going to be a tuff sell. I went down the candy aisle picked up some decadent dark chocolate. Hoping that would entice her to eat along with some high-calorie protein shakes. I grabbed some bag salads and bought some nuts and croutons to increase the calorie count. I would love to add meat but what kind? I texted Ranger.

"What meat does she like? Chicken? Fish?"

"I'm not asking her that! Get something lite, a veggie high protein option like avocados, eggs, cheese, mushrooms. Try chickpea or turkey burgers."

"T.Y. That's what I needed."

Ranger's list was simple rotisserie chicken, broccoli raisin salad, and a small package of donuts for Stephanie. Apparently, he didn't entertain much that was not enough food for this crowd. Tank could not survive on that meal alone. I added in some roasted potatoes and stir fry veggies from the deli. I put bread and a tub of pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough in my cart as well.

I stood in the check-out line and found my thoughts on Terri again. She was beautiful. I wondered why Joe Morelli was hanging around her? He's going to marry Stephanie or at least was going to marry her. Is Terri why? Did this slip of a woman break them up? I'm drawn to her but I need the story before I go jumping into a relationship mind field. The cardinal rule is never to date a patient, but what if she's a lost and lonely mob princess? It's time to intel gather, learn as much as possible before I step into an emotional quagmire.

Meanwhile, at Lula's

The trio had returned to Lula's apartment. Tank was on the phone, standing in front of a dry erase board writing things down as he talked. He looked up at them and waved. Then he held up five fingers to indicate he wouldn't be on the phone long. Lula sent him an air kiss. He caught it and threw it back to her.

"Ain't love grand!" Grandma said. We made our way to Lula's sectional couch and sat down, not sure what to do.

When Tank finished his call, he came over and joined the conversation.

"Hello, ladies! I trust your secret mission was successful?"

"Yes, Sir." Grandma gave him a salute.

"So successful I need a nap. Lula, do you mind If I go lay down upstairs a while?"

"You make yourself at home."

"Thank you. Could someone get me up at six? I want to go to Astrid Vanderfeilds viewing. Eddie's a real looker! I'd love to get my hands on that man! I can't risk him slipping through my fingers! Annnnd later, the shopping channel is gonna have palazzo pants on sale! I gotta get me some of those! My check just came!"

"What are those?" I asked Grandma.

"Girl, you gotta stay up with the trends. You gotta read Vogue now and again. A girl can't rely on Cosmo alone." Lula admonished me.

I didn't consider "The shopping channel" high fashion but kept that thought to myself. Grandma shuffled off to the bathroom before heading upstairs.

"She's not going to the viewing. It's too much of a risk. And she's not going to be home to receive a package. She might be disappointed." Tank gently advised.

"Maybe she can help make dinner?" I asked.

"Dinner is on the way. Ranger said he needed healthy food."

Everyone groaned.

"We have another problem—sleeping arrangements. Everyone needs to be on the lowest level tonight. We have six that need to sleep, and one person will be up guarding at all times."

"The couch sleeps three, and I have a blow-up bed, so that's five." Lula supplied.

"So we need one more spot."

"Just send someone upstairs as the lookout." I supplied. "Being able to see out of the second story might be a great surveillance spot." I added.

Tank looked at me.

"Good point."

"Do you think Rangers in danger?" I continued.

"I think it's all a shit show: nothing but a staged power move. If Rangeman had been up and running, it never would have been attacked. I'm more concerned that Terri could be a target."

"Why? She's a mafia princess. Wouldn't her Daddy go all gorilla mafia on anyone who bothered her?"

"Yes. However, Terri is trying to separate herself from that life. You know what they say about the mob? They take you. They use you. Then they kill you. In that world, some think she's a liability. They want any secrets she may know to die with her."

"Really? This is the Burg in 2018! Most members of the family live in Shady Pines nursing home. It's an extinct way of life." I added.

"True, but her Dad still has rivals, especially now that he owns most of Trenton. He has a monopoly here, and because he is older, it makes him venerable. Add in a beautiful single daughter, and boom, it's the perfect storm."

"Beautiful, my ass." Said Lula.

"My dear, you are a Goddess of unmatched creation."

"He's good!" Grandma exclaimed as she shuffled out of the bathroom and made her way upstairs.

"That's how I got pregnant. One night Grandpa told me I was his Queen, and well, along came to your Mom nine months later!"

"Ugg. Thanks for that gem, Grandma!"

"Anytime, dear!"

Tank

Tanks cell rang. He picked it up to hear the middle of a conversation.

"Ranger, are you noticing the limo four cars back?"

"I am. Have you noticed anything else?"

"No, but they could be trading cars out."

"Tank, we are being followed." Ranger announced.

"We just turned onto Garfield. I'm going to go up Walnut. Then I'm going to hit Walter."

I could hear the motor surge with power when he accelerated. I said nothing, not wanting to interrupt him should he need to give me information. I looked to Lula and Stephanie and put my hand to my lips, hoping they wouldn't start asking questions at a crucial moment.

"Cutting down Wilmar Alley, I'm going cross Olden."

"I don't see them. Bobby informed Ranger."

"I'm on Yale. We are going sit in the CVS parking lot."

"10/4 on Yale. Do you want me to send an escort?"

"It's not a bad ideal," Ranger replied.

"I'll call Hal. He's in the area."

Stephanie handed me her cell. I mouthed a "Thank you" told Ranger to hold on.

I handed Stephanie my phone telling her not to hang up, and directed her to keep Ranger talking.

"Hello, Ranger, it's me."

"Babe."

"I'd like you to take note; It's not me on an adventure this time."

"Noted." he said.

"I didn't know you were back. It's good to know you are with Tank."

"How's Terri? Is she going to be okay?"

"She's good. So good she spotted the tail about the same time I did."

"Do you think they are after her or you?" I mentally held my breath, knowing Ranger was in danger. I hoped our new relationship would not come to such a sudden end.

"I don't know."

Tank motioned for the phone back.

"Hal is on his way. His eta is three to five minutes. I'm going to suggest you wait it out till sunset, maybe until the street lights come on. Darkness will give you another layer of maneuverability."

"I was thinking the same thing." Ranger replied, "I'll call back if anything happens. For now, let's go silent."

"10/4."

And with those words, the room was quiet, all but Grandma's snore from upstairs.

Tank was in the parking lot to greet Ranger. Bobby was the first one out of the truck. He moved quickly to help Terri. She was moving too slow to please Bobby, so he scooped her up in his arms and hurried inside. Ranger grabbed three duffel bags and asked Tank to get the groceries out of the passenger side.

"Can do, Boss."

"Don't call me boss."

"Yes. Sir." Tank said with a shitty grin.

"Don't call me sir. I'm not in the mood to play."

To the casual observer, Ranger would seem angry, he wasn't. He was deeply concerned about having someone follow them.

"No one but Bobby, You and Joe knew when we left the hospital. I know the leak is not any of you. We will hunker down here for the night but move on to a more secure location in the early morning. I sent Hal home."

Ranger and I caught up to Bobby.

"Terri, meet Tank, my business partner."

"Hi Terri, I hear you are going to be working with us."

"That's the plan."

They came to Lula's door Tank knocked, and Stephanie opened the door.

"Babe." Ranger leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She kissed him back.

"I brought you donuts."

Stephanie blushed as if he had said something else.

"It works for me." She managed to stammer out.

Tank put the groceries on the counter in the kitchen and sniffed.

"What's for dinner?"

"Rotisserie chicken and broccoli raisin salad. Nobody touches the donuts they are for Stephanie." Ranger commanded.

"Got it." Tank replied.

"Did you get biscuits to go with the gravy?" Lula asked Ranger.

"I did not."

"Say what? What about the baked potatoes and sour cream, cheese, and bacon bits?"

Ranger shook his head.

"You're holding out on me, aren't you? You got dinner rolls! The yeasty kind that you tear apart! Right? I'm right, aren't I? Cause I know, you would not forget the bread."

Ranger gave her a curt "No. I didn't get any of that crap."

Lula sucked in a breath. "You didn't."

Tank grinned. He couldn't hold it back as he took the groceries out of the bag.

"Nope. He bought the bake in the oven kind of bread and roasted potatoes."

"Less bag rattling, more getting dinner ready." Ranger declared.

Lula walked over to Ranger and grabbed him by his shirt collar, and laid a kiss on him. His eyes were open the entire time, his body in shock that she would "kiss the temple.".

"I know you love me. Just so you know, your welcome anytime to my place, especially when you bring bread."

Bobby sat with Terri at the dinner table. He rummaged through a medical bag and produced a fake bit watch. He opened the packaging then asked for her wrist.

"What's that?" She asked.

"That will tell me some of your vitals. I can look at your heartbeat, your blood oxygen level."

"This little thing?"

"Yup. It's much better than being hooked up to a bunch of wires. Come on, let's get this on you and get your IV started. Hand me your arm." She refused.

"I thought I was ready to come home? Why do I need this?"

"It was part of my care agreement with the doctor who treated you. He said you had to have complete rest, no play, and hydration."

"I'd like to decline."

"You need the boost because you lost a little blood." He could see she didn't want to give in.

"It's only for a few days, not forever."

"Okay." She extended her arm to him, and he made quick work of it.

"Let's eat!" Tank loudly pronounced. "Drinks are in the frig."

The smell of chicken filled the air. The table was laden with paper plates, service wear. Steam rolled off of the hot food making everyone just a little bit more hungry.

Bobby stood. "I'll be right back with a plate of food for you."

"I can get my food, Bobby."

He pointed to her IV, and she got quiet.

Bobby was back a few minutes later with a loaded plate.

"Uh, I hope that's yours," she said, staring at all the food.

"Nope. Yours."

"I can't even touch half of that."

"No problem, eat your fill."

"You sound like my Grandma."

Bobby laughed. "When was the last time you had a good meal?"

"I'm not a good cook." Terri replied.

"I want to know if you have had more than nasty hospital food."

"I don't remember; it's been quite a while. I usually eat on the run. ."

"So that's a no."

"My life has changed since Dad married Purina Pro."

"Your Dad married..dog food?"

"Well, he married a dog. Since Joyce is pissing on my life like a mailbox pole, I figure she deserves the name."

Ranger could not help his self he laughed.

"That sounds rough," Bobby replied, then he growled and barked like a dog making everyone laugh.

After dinner, they all moved over to the sectional couch. Bobby helped Terri get comfortable and made a plant hanger an impromptu IV pole.

Ranger looked at Tank. "I'm tired. I could use some downtime. Where is a good spot to crash?"

"Go upstairs, lay down. I'll take first watch." Said Tank.

"I'll take second." Bobby offered.

"Me and Stephanie is gonna clean the kitchen up, then sit here and watch the shopping channel. They have free shippin tonight!"

A tired Ranger headed up the stairs to bed. Tank sat chuckling, knowing that Grandma lay in the bed upstairs, but the joke was on him. Ranger never said a word.

It was 2 am Bobby had just changed Terri's IV bag. It was the reason he was taking the graveyard watch shift. She had fallen asleep ten minutes after eating dinner and slept through a few board games and a movie. He had made her put up her feet on the couch and covered her up with a fuzzy neon green leopard print blanket. She had gotten up to use the bathroom a few times but went right back to sleep.

He took his pistol out of his holster and set it on the table. The room was dark, all but the street lights that shone through the uncovered upper windows. For the Stark street area, it was almost too quiet. No rap music, no street races, no helicopters looking for errant violators. He thought he should walk around the building when he saw a flashlight attempt to scan through Lula's main room window. Tank had explained earlier tonight how he applied a privacy film on her triple hung bulletproof windows. Her outside windows looked the same as all the other units.

Ranger thought the leading security risk was thermal imaging cameras from drone surveillance. A little known fact is that thermal imaging didn't work well in the rain. Tank couldn't make it rain, but he could turn on a rigged up sprinkler system making this side of the building "wet" and it would run a minor interference with the thermal imaging reading. It was time for reinforcements.

Bobby moved silently to the blow-up bed, where Tank slept in the center of the room. Two taps on Tanks shoulder was all it took to wake the slumbering giant of a man. He awoke almost instantly and rolled off the air mattress onto the floor. The movement woke Ranger, and he stealthy came downstairs silent like a panther. The men stood in the dining area, firearms in hand, ready to defend. Bobby quickly updated them, and Tank took his phone out of his pocket and hit the go button on his outside water gardening app. The sprinklers went off and making whoever was outside wet and no longer undercover.

Five minutes later, Ranger received a text from Joe Morelli.

"I'd like to know if I can check on Terri?"

"Sure, she's doing good. She fell asleep just after dark and is still resting."

"No. I want to see her."

"Oh."

"May I see her?"

"Were at a secure location."

"You are at Lula's, right? Open the door. I'm outside. I just want to check on her."

"Why do you think I'm at Lula's?"

Ranger sat at the table and shared the text with Tank and Bobby.

"Why does he want to see her? Why not Stephanie? Did they break up?" Bobby asked.

Tank elbowed Bobby to be quiet.

"They broke up." Tank said.

Joe continued the conversation.

"Because your truck is in her lot."

A knock at the door surprised all of them.

"I gotta go. We are having a security issue at the moment," Ranger texted back.

"If you talking about setting off the sprinklers on a peeping Tom, it was me."

"What do you mean that was you?"

"I'm not lying. I'm soaking wet and freezing. I'm knocking on the door."

Ranger got up and went to the door. Tank pulled up the hallway security feed on his phone and verified that it was Joe and that he was alone.

Tank opened the door to a very wet Joe. You could hear the water droplets fall in the silent hallway. His hair had curled to his head like a bad wig, and water rivulets dripped from hair to shoulder. His shirt was soaked, and the front of his jeans looked as if he might have bladder issues. Tank held up his hand to keep Joe from entering and took a step backward into the bathroom, and threw Joe a towel.

"Thanks." He said as he patted himself dry. "Cute plan, by the way. What would you do if I were a drone?"

"Net launchers. I rigged two old t-shirt cannons to throw fish netting."

"Creative. Listen, we have problems. Someone tossed my place tonight, I'm just guessing, but I'd bet they were looking for Terri."

Ranger replied with "Someone attempted to follow us home. Is Bob okay?"

"He's good. He's been with Mooch the past couple of weeks. It's a good thing too they broke the ground floor windows out. Glass is everywhere."

Joe's arrival had woke the women despite the hushed conversation. A sleepy Stephanie made her way over. She gave Joe her typical wave greeting and shuffled into the kitchen and started the coffee maker. Then she shuffled into the bathroom.

Terri sat up a bit shaky at first but gone was her ghost-white skin.

"Joe? "

He walked over to her, looked her over, and smiled.

"You look like your feeling better."

"I am. Did I hear you say someone tossed your house? Are you okay?"

"I'm good. The house is good. It's been and boarded up and is somewhat safe again."

"I'm sorry. I know it has to be because of me."

"It's not the first time I've had my home tossed. I'm glad it happened while I was on duty. Mooch was the one who found it. He drove by to see if I was home."

"Mooch has always been a good egg." She replied.

Ranger made an announcement.

"I think with all this agitation. It's time to move on to another secure location. We're up, so let's move and take advantage of the cover of darkness."

"Do we have time to take a shower and go get some breakfast?" Stephanie asked as she made the first cup of coffee.

"I'd prefer to get on the road."

"Don't forget me! Grandma said from upstairs.

"We won't forget you." Ranger replied. "I'd like to caravan. Let's call Hal. Wake him up, and get him over here.

"Do you want backup?" Joe asked

"I appreciate the offer. I'll keep you on speed dial."

"No problem. I'm going to be on my way." He looked a Terri then at Stephanie and waved goodbye.

"Can we stop by the house before we go? I have a few Home Shopping packages on the porch and want to get them before the Pirates do. We should probably pick up Stephanie's rat if we are going to be gone long." Grandma asked.

"Oh no, I forgot Rex! He's all alone! I've got to get him! I'm a horrible gerbil, Mom!"

Ranger pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It's okay, Stephanie. We can stop for Rex and get the packages."

Amazingly twenty minutes later, everyone but Joe was headed towards Stephanie's childhood home. The three-car caravan felt like a three-ring circus going to save a gerbil. Ranger parked in the alley behind the Plum home.

"My key unlocks the back door. Sometimes that lock sticks, so I squirted the tumblers so they would work better."

"You did not. You oiled the lock because Mom caught you coming in late two weeks ago."

"Tomayto, tomahto."* Grandma said.

Ranger held his hand out for the key and opened the door with no problem. Ranger was always aware and ready, but today he missed the mark. Grandma grabbed Rangers shirt, pulling him a bit off balance. She "shushed us" then pointed to the dining room—a moan, then a slapping sound. A Crash that sounded like dishes breaking. Ranger drew his weapon and surged forward opened the swinging door that led to the dining room.

"Put your hands where I can see them!" Then he gasped for breath.

I was worried his life was in danger. Before I could move or talk, Grandma elbowed Ranger out of the way and waved a huge .38 special around. Yelling, "Get out of here, you low-life loser! This house ain't no thrift shop warehouse!"

When Grandma gasped for breath as Ranger had, I jostled around them to find my Mother Helen Plum laying naked on the dining room table being serviced. The man who had cleared the table wasn't my father Frank Plum.