Stephanie stayed in Charlie's room until she fell asleep. Her father's rejection hurt Charlie more than the divorce. Charlie didn't know where to go or what to do. Her uncle Raymond did the only thing he could think of and shipped her to Europe to stay with her father. Raymond didn't know the plan was doomed to fail.
Charlie asked Stephanie a lot of questions regarding Ella Guzman. She was excited to meet the grandmotherly woman Stephanie described. Stephanie promised to video call Ella for them to meet.
Too wired to sleep, Stephanie used her Rangeman laptop to run a search on William Lockwood. By the time she finished reading his file, she was vibrating in anger. She created a report, then sent it to Ranger for safekeeping.
Stephanie entered Maddie and nurse practitioner into the search parameters. When she added Doctors Without Borders to the filter, she received only one name. Madeline Lockwood. She was currently working from the Bull Meadow Clinic. Slick's mystery nurse was none other than Charlie's aunt.
She cautiously approached Slick. Stephanie placed the laptop on his lap and pointed to the screen. "You found her," he whispered. She noticed Slick was wound up tight like a spring. A small gesture or incorrect word could set him off. Stephanie had to get Slick to release the pressure she could see building up inside of him.
"Yes. It's a very small world." Stephanie sat beside Slick, then went through the intel she gathered. "She travels a lot. What's your military background?"
"I have some medic skills, but I was proficient with physical therapy," Slick replied. "I have credentials to work as a physical therapist. Rangeman hired me as their in-house locksmith. There isn't a lock I can't pick. Hector learned all the tricks. I'm replaceable." Slick realized he sounded bitter. Stephanie obviously picked up on the tone.
"That's a ridiculous way of thinking about your job and importance within Rangeman. Unfortunately, everyone is expendable. When you lose a comrade, there is always another man to take his place. It's the way life works. The only people suffering are the family members the man or woman leaves behind. You are a part of the Rangeman family. They will miss you if you leave," Stephanie said. She wasn't pulling any punches.
"Don't I deserve a risk-free life?" Slick demanded. Stephanie flinched away from the man. He was angry. "I'm tired of chasing the FTAs with Rangeman. I want to use my skills for good, not hunting down the next lowlife threatening to impose on my freedom. I'm a soldier. I fought for those scofflaws to have freedoms that third-world countries kill to receive. Instead of thanking us for our service, they take advantage of the freedoms my sacrifice provided. Then you refused to accept training or help until faced with no other options. I'm honestly surprised Ranger let you hang around Rangeman this long. Why don't the Rangeman rules apply to you? Is it because you're fucking Ranger? I can't believe I'm stuck here with you."
Woah. Tell it like it is, Slick. There was always something about Slick that rubbed Stephanie the wrong way. Slick did not like Stephanie. In his opinion, she was reckless, untrained and irresponsible. He had no patience for people refusing assistance to become a better person. Slick resented Ranger for sending him on the overseas mission with Stephanie.
Stephanie moved away from Slick. A tear slipped from her eye. What did she do to deserve his hateful words? He was not the man she met at Rangeman. Maybe that was Slick's issue. He's mad at the Army for sending him on a mission without adequate backup. Stephanie could understand his point of view, but he did not need to take it out on her. "I'm working on getting trained. You can either help me or get the fuck out of my way," Stephanie snapped. She did not like Slick's attitude.
Slick felt horrible for yelling at Stephanie. He knew Ranger would beat him senseless for treating Stephanie poorly. "How many times have you chased after the same man because he skipped court?" he asked after taking a few deep breaths to calm himself. It was time to put his grievances to rest.
"More times than I care to admit. I don't understand how Vinnie keeps posting bail," Stephanie replied.
"You're not getting it, Steph. Even the men I got paid to kill for the government had another man waiting in the wings to pick up where the previous man left off. Those men were more ruthless and evil than their predecessors. The world would never be free of evil. I gave my life to the Army and special ops. My contract ended. I spent too many years fighting the bad guy while my life slipped by. When is it my turn to find love?"
Slick was taken aback by the kindness he saw in her eyes. Stephanie returned to her spot beside Slick. He was angry at the situation, not her. She pointed to Madeline's picture. "Do you love her?"
"I do. I felt a spark with her. Madeline refused to date me while I was a patient. I'm hoping we could meet again and rekindle our relationship. That's if she'll have me," Slick sadly said.
"Start small. I have her email address. Madeline's a busy woman. She seems like the type to get annoyed by unexpected company while she's trying to help the injured."
Slick laughed. "You'd be right about that. Madeline takes her job seriously. May I use your computer to send an email?"
"Go for it. I had already logged out of my email account. You can an email whenever you want. But I suggest waiting until Madeline replies before sending another. We wouldn't want her to think you're stalking her," Stephanie joked.
"Thanks, Steph. I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you. When I met Madeline, I fell in love. She was kind and gentle with me but became annoyed when someone interrupted her patient care. As you can see, she's beautiful," Slick explained.
Slick met her while deployed in Iraq. He got injured on a mission, and she nursed him back to health. Madeline possessed him. Slick supposed it was a Florence Nightingale type of love, but it felt like more than a simple crush on the nurse. The day before he got discharged to return home, she was already gone. Madeline got reassigned to another US Army camp that required her assistance. Slick felt lost. Madeline never said goodbye.
Every relationship he attempted after meeting Madeline never lasted more than a month. They just fell apart before things moved into a serious relationship. Slick wanted to die. He was considering volunteering for a suicide mission.
Stephanie stopped Slick from tendering his resignation. "Wait until you're mentally ready to see Maddie face to face. Grandma and I would like to explore Europe while we're here. Do you mind leaving Devon as our last stop?" Stephanie asked.
"Sure. You're travelling in the UK with Maddie's niece. Maddie would get mad if I abandoned Charlie," Slick replied.
Stephanie waited until Slick sent the email to Maddie before saying, "Goodnight, Slick." She took her laptop into her room after logging out of her account.
Every night before going to bed, Stephanie called Ranger. They got to learn more about each other. Neither asked questions to make the other uncomfortable. Ranger patiently waited as Stephanie described the activity of the day. He was pleased Stephanie was enjoying herself.
Charlie woke up early the following morning to the sounds of skin slapping and grunts. She thought someone was having sex until she entered the living room to explore.
Stephanie wore biker shorts and a sports bra. She was deflecting Slick's punches and kicks. The sound of their skin slapping echoed in the room. "What are you doing?" Charlie asked.
Slick paused long enough to reply, "Self-defense."
Charlie sat on the couch pushed against the wall to watch the movement of the two adults fighting in the open space. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten much the previous day. "There's a room service menu beside the phone. Grandma will help you order breakfast," Stephanie said before swiping Slick's feet from beneath him.
Slick fell to the floor with an "Umph."
"Stephanie kicked your ass," Edna said when she joined Charlie on the couch. "Charlie, I heard Stephie ask you to order breakfast."
"She said you'd help." Edna asked Charlie what she wanted to eat, then placed an order for everyone. "Woah. You ordered a lot of food. Room service is expensive," Charlie whispered when Edna ended the call.
"Stephie's friends are financing the excursion. We don't have to worry about the cost. Her best friends, Ranger, Hector and Lester, told us not to concern ourselves with how much we spend," Edna explained. "They want us to enjoy ourselves. We only order room service a few times per week. You don't need to worry about money."
"Lester added more money for your clothes, Charlie. He wants you to buy whatever you need," Stephanie added. "Hector is setting up a new laptop and tablet for you. He will leave them with Ella."
"They don't even know me. Why would they do that?" Charlie asked. She wasn't used to people letting her have anything she wanted.
"Because they love Stephanie," Slick replied. "There isn't anything they wouldn't do for her."
"I still don't get it," Charlie said.
Stephanie grabbed her phone off the coffee table. "Hey, Lester. Charlie has a question for you," she said when he answered the call.
"Um. Hi. Why would you give Stephanie money to buy me clothes?" Charlie asked.
"Before we met Stephanie, we were angry all the time. People in town were afraid of us. Stephanie entered the building without fear. She didn't see us as criminals like all the others. I thought Stephanie was only hanging around us for the money. She surprised us all when she refused money for a car or her rent. No matter what Stephanie faced, she held her head high and persevered. Stephanie is the kindest, gentlest, loving and most generous person we have met. Because of her, we became better men. Stephanie made us a family. Since she refused to accept our financial support, we collected money to send her on a selfless trip with her grandmother. Most of all, we love Stephanie. She's our family. We take care of each other. Now that you're on the journey with the women, we have extended that care to you. Do you have any more questions?" Lester replied.
"No," Charlie tearfully answered.
"Oh, sweetie. Please, don't cry," Lester begged. Edna pulled Charlie into her arms.
Stephanie grabbed the phone. She went into the bedroom to talk privately to Lester. "Charlie got raised by her mother. They couldn't afford new clothes, so they shopped at the thrift shops. The backpack she brought on the trip was second-hand. Her laptop was a five-year-old model and refurbished. Charlie doesn't have a cell phone. Raymond, her uncle, purchased Charlie a new computer and phone, but her mother had to sell them to afford treatment," Stephanie explained.
"Why didn't Raymond pay for treatment?" Lester asked.
"He didn't know his sister-in-law was sick. Raymond wasn't financially responsible for his brother's ex-wife. Charlie's mother died in a car accident on the way to her chemotherapy session," Stephanie replied. "It took grandma and me a long time to get the story from her. Thank you for adding funds for her clothes. I can hardly wait to take her shopping."
Lester laughed at his friend. "We're keeping an eye on the funds. You have enough to circle the world five times," he said.
"That's absurd," Stephanie replied, laughing. She ended the call when Slick knocked on the door. Stephanie didn't know that Lester was dead serious.
~~~~~~~~~~
Helen answered a call from Joyce. She didn't know Frank was in the house, listening on the other line. Frank decided to have some fun at Joyce's expense. It was time to teach that viper a lesson. He would deal with Helen. Frank grinned as he planned the punishment.
He sent Ranger a message. "Have the guys talk about Stephanie being in Niagara Falls. I want to see who Joyce takes with her."
"Morelli," Ranger replied. Frank grinned. Morelli was his first choice too. "Legal?"
"Yes." Joseph Morelli is about to learn a valuable lesson. You do not mess with Frank Plum's youngest daughter. "I need to borrow or purchase a few items," Frank added. He told Ranger what he needed.
Ranger grinned and promised to send a man to purchase and deliver the items. He loved the way Frank Plum thought. Hopefully, it distracted Helen. Ranger called Hal and Manny to his office.
"What's up, boss?" Manny asked.
"If you bump into Joyce, let it slip that Stephanie is in Niagara Falls. Hector will send you photographic proof."
"But she's in the UK," Hal replied.
"Hector wanted to play with his new photoshop program. I need you to pick up a few items for Frank," Ranger said as he passed Hal the list. Ranger watched Hal's face blush a deep red as he read the shopping list.
Manny snatched the list from Hal to read. "Sweet. Pleasure Treasures, here we come. No pun intended," Manny said. Ranger's lip twitched in amusement. He laughed full-out when Hal groaned and turned a brighter shade of red.
Hal and Manny went to Pleasure Treasures to pick up the items Ranger requested. "I never realized Frank liked to experiment," Hal said. His face was still bright red from blushing.
"He's trying to up his game. I bet Helen's been interfering again. Hey, isn't that Barnhardt's car?" Manny asked. Hal looked in the direction where Manny pointed.
"Yes. Time to have some fun," Hal replied. He rubbed his hands together in excitement. Hal couldn't wait to trick Barnhardt. She was relentless in her attempt to get him to talk. The fear of meeting Ranger, Tank and Santos on the mats helped Hal maintain his silence.
"How are we going to play this?" Manny asked.
"Follow my lead," Hal replied.
"Hello, boys," Joyce said. She walked toward the men with her hips swishing from side to side. Joyce would have been an attractive woman if she didn't have plastic replacement parts. Hal could tell her breasts and ass had silicone implants. Though, Hal had to admit her beauty got significantly marred by her dark soul. She was a man-eater.
"Manny, did Steph send you the photo of Niagara Falls? They travelled to the Canadian side to take the amazing picture," Hal asked.
"I thought she waited until the end of their trip before sending them," Manny replied, playing along.
"You have got to see it," Hal added. He opened the text from "Stephanie" to show Manny. Hector had used the phone Stephanie left at Rangeman to send the image. "There's a double rainbow behind the women."
"Let me see," Joyce said, then snatched the phone. She wanted to ensure it wasn't a trick. Joyce smugly passed the phone back to Hal.
Manny and Hal waited until Joyce's car squealed out of the parking lot before laughing. "That was too much fun," Hal said.
"She bought it hook, line and sinker," Manny replied. He texted Ranger.
Ranger sat at his desk, grinning. Tank, Lester and Bobby entered his office to discuss the plan. "Have Hector watch the trackers on Morelli and Barnhardt's cars. Lester, keep an eye on the airlines for flights to Buffalo. Bobby, book a flight for you and Rodriguez. I want you two prepared to initiate the second phase," Ranger said. He carefully explained what he had expected Bobby and Rodriguez to accomplish. Bobby grinned as he rubbed his hands together. Operation Get Morelli Away From Stephanie Permanently has begun.
"What is my job?" Tank asked. He didn't want to get left out.
"Follow them," Ranger replied. "I'd go myself, but I can't reschedule the meetings."
Tank accepted his orders. He wondered when Lester, Bobby, and he could implement Operation Get Ranger Married To Stephanie.
~~~~~~~~~~
Joe woke up in the hotel honeymoon suite. He looked around at the flowers, the half eaten chocolate covered strawberries, and the two empty bottles of champagne. "What the fuck happened?" he shouted.
"Stop yelling," Joyce moaned. She stretched, then froze when something on her finger snagged the blanket. "Shit. Joe, did we get married?"
"No," Joe yelled. "We couldn't have." He jumped from the bed to search the room. On top of the dresser, he found a marriage certificate. "Shit!"
Joyce cautiously approached Joe. "Did we?" she timidly asked.
"It appears so," he replied. Joyce shook her head. She only married wealthy men. How was she supposed to support her lifestyle off Morelli's wage. "I'll verify the validity before you work yourself into a tizzy."
Unfortunately, they discovered they were legally married. "We can get an annulment," Joyce suggested.
"I don't believe in divorce," Joe replied. "Why don't we give it a shot?" Joyce nodded as her lip quivered.