Happy New Year! Thanks for reading and your patience with the long break in updating.

I closed the door to Ranger's apartment behind me and sighed. I was exhausted, emotionally and physically. Ranger's apartment was like a calm, well styled oasis. I kicked my shoes off, tucked them under his coffee table, and then stuck my head in the fridge. Ranger had said he'd get Ella to bring up some food, but I wanted to see if there was anything good in there. There was half a jar of olives and two carrots. Ranger really didn't take advantage of having a full time Ella.

I thought about snooping around in Ranger's stuff to distract myself, but I knew from my last visit that I likely wouldn't find anything good. It didn't feel right to sleep in Ranger's bed while he was home (well, more than right, it didn't feel safe) so I grabbed one of his pillows, and a soft throw blanket from the back of a couch and snuggled in. I'd had a long restless night, and before I knew it, I'd nodded off.

I woke up some time later. I could smell food, and hear someone dropping keys in the entranceway. "Dickie?" I asked, half-asleep. Then the last day clicked into place. "Oh," I said, sitting up.

"It's okay, babe. It's just me," Ranger said. Still half-asleep, I wondered if that was supposed to make me more relaxed or less. It was just Ranger – and I was in Ranger's apartment, alone with him. Behind walls of security that no one else could get through. Oddly, I felt safer with him there.

"Have you heard from Morelli?"

"He rang earlier to ask if I knew anything. Which I don't, by the way."

"What do you know?"

"Why don't we talk over dinner? Ella dropped off something earlier and reported you were asleep. I'll heat it up."

"Let me help," I said, getting off the couch and heading over. We heated up our dinner, and sat down at the dining table together.

"So before we start, tell me what happened after I dropped you back at your office yesterday?" Ranger asked. I sighed heavily.

"I went home. I ignored all Dickie's phone calls. I used the firepit that I bought him and we'd never had time to sit down together and use, and I started drinking and burned some of his clothes. Or maybe I burned the clothes, then started drinking? It's a bit unclear. I don't usually drink much," I said.

"Yeah, I figured that."

"Hector came by. He made me go to bed."

"I never took Hector as the mother hen type."

"Maybe he's scared of you. He's definitely not scared of me. Anyway, I slept on the sofa bed in my office because I didn't want to face Dickie when he got home. I woke up early and went to work. Dickie hadn't come home but I figured he was avoiding me. Mary Lou came in and the gossip was all over town already. Then the police showed up and told me that Dickie was missing. His office was trashed and there were signs of a struggle. He hasn't tried to call me since midnight last night and was calling regularly since then."

"Have you listened to his messages?" Ranger asked.

"No. Is there any point?"

"He might say something useful," Ranger gently pointed out. I sighed and dialled my message bank.

"Prepare yourself for the Burg gossip line," I warned him. I set my phone up to play on speaker, then dug into my food.

"Steph. Steph. I'm sorry. I fucked up. Call me back."

Not likely, Dickie.

"STEPHANIE! THIS IS YOUR MOTHER! Linda Woodford's daughter called her and said that she saw you attack your husband in his office! Stephanie, how could you? Call me back. This is Mom."

How could I? HOW COULD I?

"Steph. Me again. Look, I can explain. It isn't as bad as it looks. Just call me, okay?"

It isn't as bad as it looks? That photo was fairly graphic. I'm not sure how it could not be as bad as it looks.

"Steph, it's Val. Look I just got a phone call and I'm worried. Can you give me a call back? Please?"

Oh Val. She really did sound worried.

"Steph, I got everything sorted out with the security at Dickie's work. But now I don't know where you are. Do you need a ride back to your office? Are you okay? Should I call someone? Oh, and it's Eddie."

Eddie sounded a bit frazzled. He was mostly on foot patrol, making sure that the line outside the deli didn't get too rowdy. Today was probably the most action he'd seen all year, and he wasn't handling it well.

"Stephanie, answer the phone. Stop ignoring me."

Nope nope nope.

"Hey baby granddaughter, it's your smoking hot grandmother here. I overheard your mother talking to Val. Don't listen to whatever your mother tells you, baby girl. She's got your best interests at heart but her head lives up her patoot. Your grandfather, God rest his soul, always told me that Dickie was a good for nothing but I let him suck me in with that charm. Well never again. He's a horse's ass and he's not welcome in this house anymore. And if you need to move back in, remember that my time in the bathroom is at 8am. I take a while."

Oh God. Where was I going to live? Would I have to move back in with my parents? Oh no. Maybe I would. Plum Lingerie wasn't making enough to support me fully yet. Oh God.

"Steph, it's Mare. Call me when you can."

Mary Lou, such a good friend.

"Look Stephanie, I have to get back to work. I have clients. I'll talk to you later."

Except apparently you're about to be kidnapped and possibly murdered, Dickie. And the more messages I listen to, the less I start to care about that.

"Babe. Call me."

My eyes flicked over to Ranger.

"That was before I tracked you down in the bar. I'm still impressed at your lack of trackers."

"Stephanie, it's Dad. Call your mother. Please."

Geez, now she's got Dad in on it. He sounds like he's being tortured.

"Cupcake, it's Morelli. I got the update from Eddie. What a dirtbag, and that's coming from me. Let me know if you need assistance. With anything."

Anything. That could cover a lot. Was that anything as a cop, or anything as a member of the Morelli clan?

"Hello Stephanie, it's your Uncle Harry. Your father tells me that you have a problem at home and might need some assistance with your renovations. Let me know if my company can assist with providing you with new carpeting."

I groaned and covered my face with my hands. My father got Harry the Hammer to call me. He is my cousin Vinnie's father-in-law and apparently that's close enough for him to offer to take care of something for me. Or maybe he really, really hates Dickie. Maybe it's his fantasy to get rid of Vinnie and he's willing to help my father out the same way. I assume that the carpeting was being rolled up about Dickie's dead body in this scenario.

"Steph, you okay? I haven't heard from you. Let me know if – oh God, Kenny just vomited everywhere. Kenny, I told you not to eat all those cheezels. I'm sorry, Steph, call me, okay?"

Mary Lou was really not selling this parenthood thing well to me. Oh no – what if I was finally pregnant? Jeez, wouldn't that be a kick while I was down. Also note to self – need STD testing. Have shared Joyce cootie. Worse than when she spat in my milk. One thousand times worse.

"So I have to work late. Hopefully you've calmed down by now. I'll see you at home later."

Oh you have to work late? Seriously? You should have been at home trying to save your marriage, then you wouldn't have gotten your ass kidnapped. Serves you right, asshole.

"Babe," Ranger said.

"That obvious?"

"Kinda."

"Ms Plum, this is Alexander Ramos. I understand you got some unpleasant news this afternoon. I am sorry to hear of this, but also not sorry that your little weasel husband got himself caught. I knew that an intelligent woman such as yourself would not stand for such things. Ah if only I were younger. Although I am in need of a new wife. But also, so is my son Hannibal. Please consider this when you are in need of a new husband, which I think will be soon."

My eyes flicked over to Ranger. He shook his head slightly. "That wasn't a threat. Ramos isn't known for his discretion. He genuinely likes you and wants to marry you off to Hannibal."

Eh. Hannibal wasn't bad looking, although he had cold shark eyes. I could do worse. There was a beach house involved, although maybe I'd have to marry Alexander to get the house in Deal. But still, it wasn't the worst offer I'd had. Especially with the quality of men that my mother was sure to start trotting out soon. And the only decent Morelli was taken. Ugh. Why was I thinking that way? My mother was getting to me.

"Steph, it's Shirley. Eddie told me what happened. I'm sorry. Joyce is scum. Worse than scum. We all know what she's like. I'm sorry that the gossip turned out to be true. Don't hold it against me, okay? Call me. Eddie is worried."

Oh Shirley. She was a dead set champion whiner and gossip, but she'd done me a favour this time. So big that when all this settled down, I might even babysit. With Mary Lou for back-up.

There was a pause between calls now. It must have been dinner time in the Burg.

"Stephanie, you're being immature. Stop ignoring my calls and answer me."

Whatever, Dickie. I'll show you immature.

"Steph, I'm leaving work soon. I'll see you at home in half an hour."

The time on that message was 11.45pm. Dickie was expecting to be home just after that. That was the last message that night. I looked across at Ranger.

"That was the last message that night. I've been answering my phone today, and Dickie didn't try to call at all," I told him.

"It narrows down the timing for us. Dickie was leaving the office then, your house is a quick trip from his work. It sounds like not even Dickie expected to be at work that late. I don't think anyone would have expected him to be in the office at that time."

"What does that mean?"

"Well the good news is that it most likely wasn't a kidnapping attempt aimed at Dickie. The bad news is that means he got in the way of someone."

"Oh no."

"Also you seem to have a lot of offers from people offering the take care of your problem for you. Dickie doesn't seem to have been well liked."

"The Burg takes care of its own. Also they're a bunch of weirdos that miss the good old days when men would get marched out of the house in their pyjamas and taken away at gun point."

"I can see that," Ranger said.

"So, your turn. Tell me what this means and what you know. And why you were trying to bug Dickie's office."