Chapter 4

SPOV

I woke up with a cry on my lips and the image of Ranger's face in my mind as he'd spoken to me last night. I had to fight away another crying jag, I didn't think I had any more tears left to shed. I went through to the bathroom sighing as I caught sight of myself, I had to get through today and then maybe tomorrow things would change. I showered and tried to cover up the paleness of my skin then dressed in jeans and a sweater. I knew I couldn't get into Rangeman to find Ranger but maybe he'd call at the bonds office or someone else might be there who could maybe tell me what I was supposed to have done. As I went to the counter I stopped when I remembered I didn't have any keys or a car. Dammit, I had no way to get anywhere and really there was no one who would probably help. I didn't think Lula would want to talk to me, not after her words to me yesterday. I looked over to Rex, he seemed to be the only friend I had left, but then I looked closer. His nose was just outside of his soup can, but his whiskers were too still. I panicked, quickly taking the lid off and lifting out the can, no oh please god no, not Rex as well. He slid into my hand, cold and limp, so maybe he'd only just died but I couldn't help it, I cuddled him to my face and let the tears fall.

I don't know how long I stood there but then knew I needed to do something with Rex. I put him into his can with lots of fresh bedding and a few new treats that he'd never been given and with a large metal spoon went downstairs to the area of soil at the side of the building. I just knelt there after I'd buried the can because to be honest, I felt he was in a much better place than I was.

"Hey you okay?"

I looked up shocked at the voice beside me seeing a tall guy standing there. I couldn't see his face though because of the sun light shining from behind him and the blurred vision from the tears in my eyes. I quickly looked back down at the small mound of soil where Rex was buried.

"My hamster died"

"I'm sorry"

"He was probably old for a hamster"

"Doesn't make it any easier though"

"No"

"My name's Jace. I'm visiting my grandfather and noticed you sat out here on your own"

"Stephanie. Sorry I need to get back inside and clean myself up"

"Could I help out?"

"No, no thanks"

I smiled as politely as I could and then made my way back inside and up to my apartment. I felt cold, and not just on the outside there was a growing coldness enveloping me. Without thinking I washed Rex's tank and threw out the bedding inside and then went into the bathroom to shower and change into clean clothes. I didn't know what to do with myself but felt I needed to get out of here. A walk, maybe that would blow away the feelings inside of me. I hadn't realized that the day had turned cloudy, but I didn't feel the chill of the air as I started to walk down the road and toward the park. Not somewhere I had been for a while, in fact the last time I'd been here was when I was looking after Bob when Morelli was out of town. I wondered what he was doing right now, he was far better off without me around; he'd find a woman that suited his wants and needs, someone that didn't cause him to worry or annoy him. I couldn't say that I didn't have feelings for him, but I knew I'd made the right decision and that maybe in the future we could be friends. I followed the path around the lake trying to blank the feelings that were threatening to consume me and found myself sat on a wooden seat just staring out onto the lake. It was so peaceful here, almost as if I was in a different time and place, my mind was blank because I knew that thinking about what had happened would end up with me breaking down again. As the light began to fade, I knew I needed to head back home. I walked slowly back along the sidewalk toward my building and then I went through from the car park looking around at the cars parked up. No black SUVs or any of Rangers cars and I suddenly felt all the emotions flooding back through me. How was I going to move on from this? Hell, why was I so stupid to think that a man like Ranger would be that interested in me, a girl from the Burg. He was a man of the world, a man of mystery so far out of my league. Sure, we worked together, but let's face it, it was usually him helping me. There was very little I could offer to someone like him, and if I thought about it, he'd always been honest with me and his feelings, or lack of, for me. I was entertainment and someone who he helped out. Somehow, I needed to move on from this, but I had no idea how to do that. As I stepped through the door into the building, I heard a movement behind me. As I turned, I was surprised when a shadow moved in the darkness, hell I couldn't even feel panic, I froze, just standing there staring at him. I watched as the figure of a man came toward me, was it one of Rangers men come to talk to me? But as he moved into the light, I couldn't see a face. Why would a man dressed all in black with a balaclava over his face suddenly appear in my apartment building? I was aware as his arm came toward me and that was when the adrenaline kicked in causing me to turn and to start running away from him. I must have been too slow, or he was faster, because all I felt was a pain when he touched a stun gun to my neck, as I fell I saw another figure as a shifting ghost before they blended in with the blackness that engulfed me.

I didn't know where I was, but I knew I wasn't tied up; I was laid on my side on a cold concrete floor. I had no idea why anyone would attack me; I wasn't being stalked that I knew of and there hadn't been any signs that someone was after me. There were no FTAs that I was after, other than Buckley, so why the hell would someone be interested in me? I didn't dare move because I was sure there was somebody in the room with me. At least I still had all my clothes on, but the silence seemed never ending. In the end I slowly opened my eyes to see a pair of black leather boots close to my face. Wherever I was it was dark, the only light seemed to be coming in through an open door, I had no sense of where I was and couldn't see anything beyond the boots. I really didn't want to look up to see who was there.

"Ah, Miss Plum, awake at last?"

I didn't answer and I didn't move, I was too frightened to do either. I had no idea why I was here or who it was that had taken me but most importantly what they wanted me for. Was this some enemy of Ranger's come to hurt me to get at him, no if that were the case he would have ensured some type of safety for me, or simply moved me to a safe house, wouldn't he? With that came the realization that I was on my own, I finally admitted to myself that he really was done with me, he really had turned his back on me and to be honest these men could do whatever they wanted to do because I now knew I no longer cared what happened.

"Miss Plum you have information we need"

I had no idea what he was talking about and decided to not answer or move, that was how I was going to play their game.

"Miss Plum where is it?"

I felt a foot strike me in the stomach and curled into a ball as the pain raced through my body and then the questions started again.

"Look we know he gave it to you, you were the last one to see him, so what the hell have you done with it?"

"Miss Plum tell us, and we'll stop the pain"

"Miss Plum it's not worth keeping silent for"

"Miss Plum, we have to have it"

I still had no idea what they were talking about, but I felt each kick after every question. My stomach and side were hurting causing tears to flow down my face. I knew they could have struck me harder but there was still a lot of pain following each strike. So, I did what I needed to do, and I felt my mind shut down while they continued. I couldn't answer them, and I know I wasn't seeing anything. I wasn't listening anymore even though I could hear their shouts, I think I just wanted them to finish me off.

"If we kill her, we'll never find out"

"Okay then we'll keep her in our sights and see who she talks to and where she goes"

That sounded like a different voice shouting out which pierced through my dulling mind. What was it that they thought I had or knew? I didn't know and I couldn't tell them anyway and to be honest I didn't care what they did with me. I was aware that the kicking had stopped, but the pain I already had was taking over. I felt myself being lifted but after that everything went away, and I was so relieved to see the blackness coming back.