Chapter 38

It was a sound that woke me, a subtle movement of leaves, but it had me bolting up from the place that I'd thought was safe. I'd been so tired that I'd persuaded myself that just five minutes to close my eyes would be okay, five minutes to rest up my aching legs and feet. It seemed the hollow of earth behind a fallen tree trunk had been enough to cast a spell on me, that of sleep. Now I was wide awake with enough adrenaline flowing through me to complete a four minute mile. All feeling of tiredness or aches a distant memory with only absolute fear and panic coursing through my blood.

All that I could hear were my footsteps crashing through the undergrowth and my blood rushing through my ears. So when I was suddenly airborne with a weight hurling me to the ground the air was pushed out of me making me unable to even scream. I tried to move but found myself totally wrapped up, including my head which really had me panicking.

"Stay very quiet and very still"

I had no problem doing that because the shock of who was holding me had me speechless. Where the hell had Ranger come from and why had he basically tackled me to the ground? I couldn't have moved had I wanted to, but it didn't stop me from listening or looking. As my breathing slowed down from turbo to just below rapid, I became aware of Ranger moving one arm away from me and doing those weird hand signals. I couldn't see anyone else near to us but knew that Ranger wouldn't be here on his own.

If there was any sound, I didn't hear it, but I was aware as Ranger moved above me and then it came, the unmistakable sound of men talking. It wasn't clear enough to hear what was being said but the fact that they were talking loudly enough to be heard meant that they had no idea that Ranger or his men were here probably waiting for them. Had it been them that had made the noise and woken me? Probably, and then like an idiot I had just run, crashing through the woods making so much noise that they could follow me.

Another hand sign came from Ranger, one I was pretty sure was a count down from three followed by some popping sounds and then the unmistakable sound of things falling heavily to the ground. The silence was broken by a voice coming from Ranger's ear. Okay, I knew that was from his earbud but now I wanted to know what the hell was going on.

"Bind them and take them back to the cells"

Was all that he said before he slowly started to unwind himself from around me.

"You okay?"

I nodded my head because as far as I could tell I hadn't been hurt, maybe a few bruises when I'd hit the ground, but I wasn't going to be complaining. I was lifted to my feet and held tightly yet again by Ranger, no doubt he was looking around him because I sure was. Shadows were all that I saw and maybe the sound of the rustle of leaves and branches, certainly not enough to have me thinking that there was anyone near to us.

"Let's go home Babe, you've had a long day"

With his hand holding mine we started to make our way through the trees. I was so busy trying to see where I was going and not to trip up, I was quiet for once even as where we walked showed that we'd joined an obvious track. It wasn't long before I was looking at an off road truck with Tank leant against the door grinning at me.

"One hell of a tackle Ranger. You okay Little Girl?"

I walked up to Tank and standing on my tip toes kissed his cheek.

"I'm fine now Tank. So, what took you so long?"

I quipped back at him as I opened the back door and started to climb inside hearing Tank chuckling from the front. Ranger got in the front with Tank so when the door opened next to me, I was sure that I jumped with surprise. Les was soon sat next to me and after he'd fastened his seatbelt his arm came around my shoulders.

"You did a good disappearing act Beautiful. Trackers just went dead so at first, we thought that guy Peralta had taken you. Hector had a conversation with him, but he denied taking you, so we were back to square one'

I was surprised when Les had said that they'd spoken to Lawrence because I wasn't even aware that anyone knew where he would be. I was kidding myself, of course Ranger would know where he would be, he'd have had eyes on him ever since that incident at the cemetery.

"While that happened Ranger remembered that Robert, that reporter, had left Hoquiam to chase down another story so he called Xander and asked him to put a trace on Robert's phone. That put him in the middle of the Pine Barrens so that's where we headed for. Then Hector called to say that your trackers had come back online"

Sheesh, I couldn't believe the lengths that Ranger had gone to. All that I could assume was that once that I'd ran far enough away from the cabin that my trackers started working.

"So what the hell happened in the woods?"

I wanted to ask why Ranger had tackled me to the ground, but I didn't want to sound ungrateful, seeing as he'd found me.

"We intercepted the trackers location, but you had men close behind you, Ranger was worried with the red laser point on your back"

That had me looking at Les because it had never occurred to me that I'd be shot at.

"Who?"

I asked although I had a feeling that I already knew seeing as I'd seen Usman outside the cabin.

"Zeneman's men"

Which only confirmed to me that Robert had been in cahoots with them. Maybe he thought that telling me that ridiculous story would persuade me to tell him what I knew.

"Did you get Robert and that man Usman?"

I saw Ranger looking back at me through the mirror so wondered what I'd said wrong and then it hit me, they hadn't known Usman had been there and Robert had disappeared. The silence told me the answer which had me wondering what would happen to the men that had been caught. I wasn't going to ask that and to be honest I was just happy that I was safe and on my way back to Rangeman.

I woke feeling very hot but very comfortable and realized that I was laid on my side in bed in Ranger's apartment with him spooning me. I must have fallen asleep in the truck and Ranger had brought me up to bed.

"Morning Babe"

Damn he was awake before me again. I turned over onto my back to see his head propped on an elbow just watching me.

"I hate that you're always having to save me. Why is it that all I can ever do is get myself into trouble?"

Hell, I'd traveled to the other side of the country trying to change who I was, and I still ended up getting mixed up with bad guys. All because I tried to do something normal, tried to work in an office just like my mother had always told me to do.

"Babe, it's not you. It's just fate. Maybe it's her way of telling you that you're destined to be the one who solves those puzzles and problems"

I actually had tears in my eyes as he said that because it sounded so sincere and so beautiful. He wanted to make me feel better about myself, but I knew nothing could explain how it was always me. Maybe it was my fate, but I'd have to do a lot of thinking about that to really believe it.

"Say I believe you? Don't I have some puzzles to solve?"

A kiss on my nose told me that he was okay with me changing the conversation and after the day that I'd had yesterday I wanted to somehow get back some control of my life, however it would look.

"I want to make a phone call and then rid ourselves of the scum from downstairs"

What? I probably had a very strange look on my face as he said that because surely he didn't intend to just make those men disappear did he? No, that wasn't how Ranger worked. I could believe that he might try and persuade someone to talk, maybe beat the shit out of them, but he would never ever sanction a man to be disposed of.

"How about when my visitor arrives that you're there with me?"

"What visitor?"

I never did get an answer and spent the next few minutes wondering who he was talking about. Did he mean Lawrence? Nah Hector had probably already frightened him to death when they were looking for me and Lawrence needed me alive to solve the mystery of where grandma had hidden that tie pin. That didn't even cover finding the person who was responsible for her death. I had a lot of thinking to do today with little idea of where to start.

Ranger was soon dressed leaving me with my thoughts I assumed to get some breakfast. What was really weird though when I came out of the bathroom after showering was finding a beautiful dress laid out on the bed. I pulled on a robe to find Ranger and ask him about it but found that he'd left. Sat on the breakfast bar was a bowl of fresh fruit and a note propped up against it.

"Wear the dress to impress our guest. Be as I always like you. 10am my office"

I smiled at the last comment because it was something that Ranger had said to me when we were lying in bed after making love in the shower. He loved my natural beauty. Which meant no makeup or trying to tame my curls. I wasn't sure why he wanted me to look like that, but I'd humor him.

At exactly 10 am I walked into Ranger's office expecting him to be alone. He was sat at the chairs that surrounded the small table with a man that I judged to be around 50 years old. Both of the men stood up to greet me and Ranger held out his hand for me to take. The man was watching us closely and from how he stood and the way that he schooled his face I knew that I was looking at a man who wielded power and I knew exactly who he was.

"Mr Zeneman. This is Stephanie Plum"

Okay, so he was not who I was expecting to be here, and I was certainly feeling a little overwhelmed as to why Ranger wanted me here dressed as I was. I sat down, smoothing the dark blue skirt of the dress over my knee. I felt out of place with no makeup on and my curls now reaching my shoulders. I knew that the dress suited my figure without it being sexy or slutty. The crossover top even covered my cleavage.

"Miss Plum. A pleasure to meet you. I have to say that I wasn't expecting for you to be here"

Zenamn sat down, pulling at the knees of his pressed suit trousers as though he wanted to avoid them getting creased. He may be a powerful man but to me he looked uncomfortable dressed in the expensive black suit and white shirt.

"Mr Zeneman"

"I think we know each other too well to be formal, don't you Carlos?"

I hadn't known that Ranger knew this man so well or that they were on first name terms.

"William, you took on a job for a friend of yours, one that isn't your usual focus. The result is that your men have been harassing Stephanie, helped kidnap her and put her life in danger"

Zeneman looked from Ranger to me and then back to Ranger a look of confusion crossing his face.

"I would never target someone who is so obviously with you and neither will I tolerate hurting innocent people"

Ah, now I understood why Ranger had asked me to dress as I had. He wanted Zeneman to know that I was with him and that from my looks would not seem to pose a threat.

"William, you have, I have three of your men downstairs who were part of kidnapping Stephanie"

Zeneman sat back in his chair, his hand rubbing his chin. Yeah mister, think through who it is and what they wanted and then decide if the job being asked of you is actually as it seems.

"A friend asked me to locate a women, something about her having something and needing to be found. I take it that I was being lied to?

I thought it was my time to speak out and I was going to ensure that Zeneman knew how much I knew, well some of it.

"Mr Zeneman, Jackson Hennley has always been more interested in a story than in how he finds it or its truth. I'm not missing nor have anything that would interest him. All that I'm interested in is finding out who killed my grandma, and I can't do that with your men following me and kidnapping me"

"I heard about the death of your grandmother and for that I am sorry. Don't get me wrong Miss Plum, I've kept up to date with what Carlos has been up to. Had to when sometimes there was a time when our lives crossed. I know of you and your reputation as a bounty hunter"

Oh shit, what did that mean? That he couldn't understand why Ranger was always protecting me?

"You had one of the best capture rates in this state which was quite a feat considering that you worked alone. I also understand that somehow, you've managed to help resolve cases for the police department. I can see why Carlos is so enamored with you"

I was sure that my face was bright red after he said that and looked down to avoid him looking at me. I saw and felt Ranger's hand as he squeezed mine, hell I'd forgotten that he still had a hold of it.

"I will no longer sanction my men working on that job. Besides I have a contract coming up over in Eastern Europe so have no interest in being any part of what Hennley is up to"

I looked over to Ranger almost on the verge of standing up and giving the man Zeneman a hug, I felt so elated that at least we'd be rid of those mercenaries and the threat that they'd posed.

"Usman as well?"

"Yes. I appreciate the ill feeling between the two of you, and I know that he has his issues. I will be dealing with him seeing as he was the team leader for this job. If you can allow my men to meet me in your garage by my cars, then I'll take them off your hands"

As both men stood up and shook hands, I joined them and allowed Zeneman to take my hand. He surprised me when instead of shaking it he moved it to his lips and kissed it. Shit did he notice the scars on my hand?

"Enchanté, Miss Plum. It has been a delight to finally meet you"

I was pretty sure that the man knew more about me than he had let on but hey, he was leaving and taking his men with him. I called that a win, something that we were due. I left the office after Ranger led Zeneman out and went into the conference room. It seemed an age since I was last in here.