Chapter 19

I opened my mouth and closed it at first thinking how awful that must have been for Joe. Killing someone should never be easy, even for him. Then as I went through what Ranger had said questions came to mind. Like who had made the anonymous tip and why was Joe even there? He would never be called to deal with something like that and why had he gone into the house alone if he knew that Crocker was armed. It should have been an armed response unit surely and wouldn't they have tried to talk him out before barging in. Had Joe gone in with the intention of shooting Crocker? Had Joe been so annoyed with Crocker for setting fire to my car and killing grandma that he'd felt that he could shoot Crocker?

Ranger was the one who sat forward now, and I felt as he took my hands in his. Looking up I saw the concern in his face and then saw the concern in his eyes. He was worried with what he'd said and as I continued to look at him realization came to me as to what he was thinking. Surely not, I mean why would Joe do that? It went against everything that Joe stood for. He was a cop for Christs sake. I closed my eyes feeling a little nauseous with what was being said. Taking deep breaths to calm me I needed to be sure that I was right in what Ranger was saying.

"You think that Joe was involved, don't you?"

Half of me was saying that what I'd asked was a stupid idea. I mean he was the one who had been adamant that someone was after me and that was how grandma got caught in the fire, that I had taken her with me. He said that he wanted to look after me, marry me and keep me safe. The other half of me was saying that Joe had set the whole thing up in order to berate and belittle me so that I'd cave in under the pressure from him and my mother.

If Joe set me up for Crocker to set fire to my car, then neither of them could have known that my grandma was inside, and Crocker would have soon realized that he could be charged with murder. Had Joe called in the anonymous tip knowing where Crocker was and then made sure that he went in first to make sure that Crocker didn't talk?

"Can we prove anything?"

A look at Xander and I knew where his mind had taken him. I was pretty sure that Xander didn't think very much of Joe before we heard Ranger's story, now he probably hated him.

"Not yet Xander but we will. Morelli may be a good cop, but he'll have made mistakes"

I looked sideways at Les as he said that realizing that he and Ranger were pretty sure of what Joe had done. I had no idea what those mistakes could have been because to be honest I was still trying to get my head around what I'd heard.

I wasn't aware as people left until there was just me and Ranger. He still had hold of my hands, rubbing the back of them with his thumbs.

"I'm sorry Babe"

I looked up not understanding why he would say that or was he sorry for thinking the worst of Joe. No, when I thought about what he'd told me it actually made sense.

"No, don't be. After you left for Miami, I hadn't really seen much of Joe after I told him what we had wasn't working. I suppose that I was avoiding him, and I know he was getting frustrated with me. I'd managed to get in my skips with only a few disastrous moments. Then he turned up at my parents when I was there for dinner and all he could talk about were those bad take downs. He made out that everything that I did was a disaster and that had my parents and him both going on at me, that I should pack in my job"

"Babe, I looked into your latest skips and most of the take downs went without incident. You're good at your job"

I shrugged my shoulders as I remembered the barrage of comments from my mother and Joe and how upset and despondent it had made me feel. I was on the verge of maybe agreeing with them when it was Lula, the next morning, who noticed how miserable I was. She went through every skip that I'd had over the last few weeks highlighting how successful I'd been, so with a renewed enthusiasm I'd tried to shun what Joe and my mother were saying to me.

"I wouldn't listen to them after Lula highlighted all of the good takedowns. Do you think that he thought my car blowing up would tip me over the edge?"

That wouldn't have, but grandma dying had. How could Joe have even thought that setting my car on fire would get me to change my mind? Why would he even think of doing that? Surely Ranger was totally wrong with what he was saying. Ranger talking had me looking up at him as he answered the question that was still baffling me.

"Maybe, especially as I wasn't around to pick you up. Maybe he took advantage of what did happen and thought that he could use it to his advantage. After I got back, he was adamant that you'd come running back to him, that he was the only person who loved you enough to get you through the guilt and the grief"

I closed my eyes as I remembered how close I had come to allowing that to happen. Joe had worn me down, ostracized me from everyone that I cared for making him my only salvation.

I felt as Ranger's hands moved from mine and up my arms before one settled in my hair and the other around my shoulder. He was so close to me that I could feel his breath close to my cheek and the steady beat of his heart through my chest.

"I've never felt so helpless before, hearing what Lula told me, and I never want to feel like that again. I'll always be here for you but promise me, Babe, that you'll always talk to me"

He felt so sincere as those whispers caressed my cheek and I knew then that Lula had told him everything, including finding me on the bridge.

"I want to believe that Crocker set fire to my car and killed grandma and that Joe shooting him is some sort of karma for what he did. The more I think about it though I can't help but see how much of a coincidence it was. If Joe had Crocker setting fire to my car, then I want that bastard to pay for what he did, for getting my grandma killed and for what he nearly did to me"

Because that was the only way that I saw myself being able to live with what I'd been through. The heartache, the guilt and emotion had just about finished me off and would have if it hadn't been for Lula, Jenson and Xander helping me when I needed it the most.

We stayed like that for an age, holding each other, as though we were both trying to anchor ourselves. I had my best friend back and for that I would be eternally thankful because now I knew that with his support, I had a chance to move on with my life. Yes, there would always be regrets and worries and maybe the time away had made me look at myself and what I wanted and what I needed to change.

The coughing from in front of me had Ranger moving back and turning, I was sure that he had been lost in the moment as well. He pulled me to my feet and into Bobby's welcoming embrace so once again I was overcome with emotion.

"Don't cry Steph. Everything's gonna be fine, everybody who is important has your back"

I noticed that he didn't call me Bomber as he usually did, and I was grateful for that. That nickname was something that I wanted to lose along with other names that I disliked just as much. Bombshell bounty hunter was maybe a part of my history that I'd never loose, courtesy of a damn journalist and Cupcake made me shiver remembering who and why it had been used.

"I got the notes from the hospital and the exercises from the physio so thought that maybe we could do that. It'll make you feel easier"

"Okay"

I replied because I was feeling stiff and maybe Bobby would let me include some of the exercises that I'd been doing at Jenson's. Bobby held onto my hand as he led me from the room making me smile as I wondered if he thought I might resist the idea of anything to do with exercise. There was a gym in the basement of the area of the house that Ranger had said was the annex and it held a lot of equipment. Walking in I didn't see a machine like Jenson's, but there were some that probably allowed for the same exercises.

Bobby had me doing passive exercises, in other words bending, lifting and stretching with the parting threat of me using the machines tomorrow. I have to admit that my muscles did feel easier, and I was walking better when I went back upstairs. Xander was in the kitchen looking as though he was preparing a meal, so I automatically went and helped him, chopping up the veg that was out. I was just about to slice up some carrots when a familiar voice sounded behind me.

"Angel. Eres un espectáculo para la vista. I am so pleased that you are here"

I turned to see Hector, his arms open toward me, so stepped forward into him. His hold on me was tight, his breathing ragged as we stood there. I knew that showing emotion wasn't one of Hector's strong points so wasn't surprised when as he released me, he walked away. Xander had been watching the whole time and when I went back to my cutting it didn't surprise me that he was curious about my interaction with the men.

"Angel, Beautiful and Babe. I understand now why you didn't want me to call you any of those names. They mean a lot to you, so I'm pleased that they are here for you, as true friends"

I turned to Xander because to me he sounded as though he was feeling left out, upsurged by these men who were suddenly here to support me.

"I wouldn't be here, Xander, if it weren't for you. You mean as much to me as a friend as they do"

It seemed that I'd said the right thing from the smile on his face and as he bumped his shoulder into mine.

"Okay, less mush and more chopping Annie"

Between us we produced a vegetable tagine that tasted wonderful and fed everyone. I hadn't come across any of Greg's men because apparently when they weren't patrolling the area they tended to bunk down in the gatehouse at the end of the drive. I was banned from clearing away which I was grateful for because I did suddenly feel exhausted.

After showering I sank into the bed, relishing the feel of the soft mattress and the smooth sheets. They were certainly an improvement on the hospital bed that I'd been in for the last week. As I lay there what Ranger had told me was going round and round in my head. I still couldn't quite believe what Ranger had implied, that Joe had had somehow talked Crocker into setting fire to my car. Sleep came eventually, what seemed to be a deep restful sleep. That was until the voices started to haunt me, softly at first as though they were a long way away. Then as they got louder the faces appeared, angry and distorted as they circled me making me flinch as though their words were physically hurting me. I was turning, looking for a way to escape them when flames came from their hands and mouths, burning me until I was screaming. The last person who turned to look at me was my grandma but even as she held open her arms flames began to lick around her.

"Babe, wake up. You have to wake up"

A voice was there calling out to me, but I couldn't see where it was coming from, only flames danced around me now.

"Babe. Wake up, I'm here for you. Wake up for me"

The voice sounded so familiar, and I wanted to go to it, for the voice to drown out the flames.

"Babe, open your eyes, look at me"

I felt arms around me, and the voice was stronger but it didn't quell the panic that was causing my body to shake. The feel of me rocking calmed me, and the sound of the voice distracted me away from the flames. The sounds coming from my chest and throat subsided and the images in my mind started to fade.

"It's okay now, they're gone, I'm here with you"

My eyes never opened but I knew that I was safe and the touch of hand down my cheek soothed me allowing sleep to return.

I woke feeling out of sorts because how I was laid felt so familiar. I could hear a steady bumping sound and feel my head rise and fall and then the touch of skin on skin, I knew exactly where I was and felt so embarrassed as I realized that my head was laid on Ranger's chest. I was pretty sure that I'd gone to bed alone and then it came back to me. The dreams, the nightmares, was it Ranger who was here with me, who guided me from the faces and voices?

I lifted my head to look up and was met with deep brown eyes looking back down at me so quickly looked away.

"I disturbed you, didn't I? I'm sorry"

I felt a hand run down through my hair and settle on my arm before his decided to reply.

"You're hurting Babe. I told you that I'd always be here for you"

I didn't know what to say because he had said that to me. I just never imagined that I'd be needing his help so soon or because of the nightmares.

"That's the worst that they've ever been"

Maybe the revelations from this afternoon had stirred everything up in my head. The nightmare hadn't just been memories like they had been before, they were far worse as though all of the fears I'd been holding in had erupted through my body and soul.

"We'll put the demons to sleep Babe, I promise"

Ranger very rarely used that word but when he did, I knew that he'd do everything in his power to keep it. How was another story, but I wanted to be free and be rid of the ghosts that were always haunting me.

"We work this, and we find the answers, that's what we do, what we're good at and there's no one better than you at finding the clues"

Maybe he was right, and I was certainly up for it. I knew that it wouldn't be easy but anything worth fighting for never was.

"Okay. So how are we going to do it?"

I felt as he bent over and kissed the top of my head before he was pulling away from me. I couldn't help it, watching him walk out of the room, his silk shorts sat so seductively low on his hips. I closed my eyes as he disappeared knowing how much that man meant to me. Now though it was good enough that he was here and supporting me, something that I had never envisaged all those months ago.

As I dressed, I went through in my head what needed to be done. I wasn't sure how we were going to tie Joe into being responsible for the fire or even the death of Crocker. Then there was trying to work out why grandma drove my car to the docks and then who the hell had organized for me to be kidnapped.

I was pleased that Xander was already sat at the table because I had one question that was niggling at me.

"Xander, how did those men know that we'd get off that bus in Chicago?"

His fork of omelet stopped before it reached his mouth and a frown fell over his face.

"It wasn't me, I didn't tell anyone"

Yeah, that thought had gone through my mind, but I honestly couldn't see it, I trusted him. We'd been together where better opportunities had arisen, and no one had made a move. He finished eating his omelet, but I could see that he was thinking about what I'd said. As soon he'd finished eating, he left the room without a word but a minute later was back again.

"I have no idea where to start. Give me a direction Annie"

I knew that Xander was best when he was given a task to do, but somehow, I needed to get him to think through a puzzle on his own and explore the probably routes.

"Okay. How could someone have known that we were at the Atlanta office?"

"Followed us there?"

"How" Think about how we got there and who you'd spoken to"

I saw the moment that Xander had an idea and watched as he was once again leaving the room. I made some toast and covered it in honey before pouring myself a coffee. If only it was as easy to come up with some ideas for catching Joe out. That was when I realized that different people had a skill that they excelled out. Mine were thinking of ideas and people like Xander were excellent at providing the data with the evidence. I felt guilty for expecting Xander to see any patterns so decided to go and find him.

Ranger wasn't kidding when he said that Xander had set up in there. The annex was a separate living area with lounge and several bedrooms, but the lounge was filled with computers.

Xander was busy on one of the computers but was obviously aware of me entering the room.

"Greg was the only one who knew where we were and that we were heading to Chicago, but I know that he would never betray us, well not knowingly. I hacked his phone to find out who he had spoken to and found that he must have been keeping Jenson up to date"

I was frowning at Xander because I just couldn't see Gregory or Jenson being responsible for telling someone where we were.

"So I went back to the Kilroy's phones"

"Who?"

Not knowing who the hell they were, then it came to me. Robert and Anya, because some of the paperwork was in Anya's name.

"No, I know who they are, go on"

"Maybe it's a coincidence but remember that number that we couldn't track down?"

I remembered because it had turned up on Anya's phone records and we couldn't figure out who it belonged to.

"Anya. The burn phone that was bought in Trenton"

Was that a logical route that Xander had taken? Could Jenson have told Anya where I was and then she had contacted that number? Shit, how were we going to explain this to Gregory? He'd be pissed that Xander had the nerve to hack his phone but then to accuse him of being the one who led those men to me?

"What are we going to do Annie?"

"Talk to Ranger"

Because if Anya was getting information through that route, then could we be in danger here at this house?

It was nearly an hour later before I tracked Ranger down. I found him in the gym running on the treadmill. I sat down on the floor leant against the wall waiting for him to finish. As he stepped off the treadmill he pulled on a T-shirt and hung a towel around his neck and walked toward me.

"You look as though you've found something that you're worried about"

How true he was. I just didn't know if Xander was right but to be honest it was a very logical solution to the problem that I'd given to him. Ranger sat down next to me and took a drink from a bottle of water not saying a word. I knew with him doing that that he was waiting for me to talk to him.

"I asked Xander how someone would know that we were on that bus from Atlanta to Chicago, wanting to know how someone was there waiting for us. Xander, well he took me literally and ended up hacking into Gregory's phone. I suppose in Xander's mind he was the only person that knew because they'd spoken"

I paused because this was the part that we weren't sure about.

"When I was in Hoquiam and we were looking for Robert, Xander did a search through Robert and Anya's phones, in case someone had called them and also to try and work out if Hennley was involved. There were some calls that came up on Anya's phone that we couldn't identify and those have continued"

Ranger tilted his head, finishing off the water before he rested his head back on the wall.

"So you think that Anya is getting info through her father from Greg?"

Hearing him say that made the whole idea seem stupid and if we hadn't discovered those calls then I would never have been suspicious of her.

"Call the number and see who answers"

I stared after Ranger after he pushed himself up from the floor and walked into the locker room wondering why I hadn't thought to do that. It was such a simple solution that could be done without upsetting anyone. So why hadn't I thought of doing that? In my old life I would have done. How many times had I called a number to make sure a skip was home or spoken to a relative or friend for information? So why had that solution evaded me now? Maybe because I wasn't that chatty person anymore or maybe because I'd been so wrapped up in myself that I hadn't wanted to have any contact with the world beyond those people that I'd come to know.

Finding a secure phone became my next task so going back to where Xander had been working I was going to be asking him for one. Xander wasn't there but Hector was, and I knew that he would be able to help me out.

"Hector, do you have a phone that I could use that can't be traced?"

Hector was his usual quiet self but produced a phone from the drawer beside him. Now all that I had to do was to call that number. It took me over five minutes of looking at the phone to tap on the numbers and as I heard the ringing tone was so close to just finishing the call. I felt so nervous with who might answer and in the end talked myself into believing that it might be a number for a retail outlet, somewhere where Anya ordered goods from.

"Anya, I didn't expect a call so soon. How is my beautiful grandson?"

Oh shit, the words being said were so not what I was expecting. I coughed slightly to clear my throat and that was enough for the woman on the other end of the phone to continue talking.

"When am I going to see him, are you planning on meeting me? I can't go to you, you know that"

I knew that my voice sounded nothing like Anya's, and I had no idea what to say anyway. I moved my hand back and forth over the mic and then used a broken whisper and hoped that the woman thought that the call was breaking up.

I ended up sat down because I had no idea what had just happened. Well, yes I did, Anya's mother had answered the call. It couldn't have been her in laws because Xander had told me that they were staying with them, and that they had already met the new baby. I had never even thought about Anya's mother. Was she still married to Jenson or a woman that he'd had an affair with? Why had I never asked him about her? I never saw anything in his house to highlight a wife. How stupid was that, I mean I suppose I may have thought that she'd died. I must have been so wrapped up in myself that it never occurred to me to ask, and Jenson had never mentioned anything about her.

Did the mother talk to Jenson or just to Anya and if she didn't then why not? Maybe they'd divorced years ago, and it had been a vicious divorce, so the mother only kept in contact with her daughter. Well, that put paid to Xander's theory and thank god I'd discovered who the calls were going to before I'd made any accusations against Greg.

Though it still left the puzzle of how anyone knew where I would be and why someone was looking for me. As I returned to the main area of the house another thought started to form. Was someone looking for Stephanie Plum, the bounty hunter from Trenton or were they looking for Chloe, the woman had helped Greg with the research?