The next morning I woke to see sunlight streaming through the window. There was a heavy arm wrapped around my waist and I was snuggled up against a naked Ranger. The night before had been amazing.
Mother Nature was screaming, so I tried to slip out from under his arm without waking him. No such luck.
he mumbled sleepily.
I've got to use the bathroom. There was only a little desperation in my voice.
He chuckled and moved his arm. I dashed off, took care of business, and decided as long as I was in there I might as well get a bath. After the night I had I really needed a long soak. I was still reveling in the thoughts of last night, and the fact that I was in love with Ranger and him with me, when a knock sounded on the door.
You know we still need to go running.
I groaned. I wasn't real sure I could walk steadily, let alone run. Why did I have to fall for a health nut? He'd probably try to force feed me tofu next.
We'll skip the tofu for today, he chuckled, opening the door. I looked up to see Ranger standing over me in all his naked glory. Whoo boy. I could think of much more fun things to do than go running.
He reached down and tweaked my nose.
I stopped, he was already gone. That man could disappear faster than anyone else I knew. Guess he didn't understand the importance of a long soak after a night of sweaty sex. Also didn't look like I was going to get out of running. Oh well, all the better to catch the bad guys, or in my case escape from them, I thought.
I finished my bath and dressed in the tie-dye shirt and shorts Ranger had brought in for me. I found Ranger in the bedroom already dressed and finishing up a phone call. He was looking yummy in his black running shorts and sprayed on black t-shirt. I blushed a little remembering what all those muscles felt like up close.
he said, and flipped his cell shut. He looked over at me.
Yeah, as long as I don't have to run on those mountains, I said, pointing out the window. The mountains looked like two giant triangle shaped rocks jutting into the sky. They were gorgeous, but I was pretty sure if I tried running up them I'd die.
Ranger kissed me on the forehead. We'll run in town today. Maybe we'll try mountain climbing later. Let's go, tiger.
I growled, but consoled myself with the thought that I'd have a wonderful view of Ranger. Ranger was always good to look at, but watching his muscles ripple while he was running was a real treat.
We returned to the hotel, showered, and came up with the plan of action for the day. I thought that we needed to go talk to Terry and find out what, if anything, she knew about the murder. The more I thought about it, the less I believed she was guilty. It was just too easy. You don't get to be a professional hit woman by being stupid.
Ranger commandeered the Bronco and the two of us took off for the police station to confront Gilman. Ranger was in his zone while driving, so I worked on putting together what I knew about the shooting. Unfortunately what I knew didn't cover much. All I was sure of was that Terry had been holding a gun when I looked up. It did make her look guilty, but her reaction was just too unexpected. Something wasn't adding up.
I jerked to attention when my door suddenly popped open. Ranger was standing beside it. Earth to Stephanie.
Guess we were here.
What are you thinking, Babe?
Just trying to figure out who shot Velasquez. Terry doing it just doesn't seem right.Maybe. Not Terry's style to go back on her word.. Ranger answered, looking thoughtful. I didn't want to think too much about what Ranger might know about Terry's style. There were some things I probably really didn't need to know.
So you don't think she did it? I asked.
He cocked an eyebrow at me. I wouldn't rule her out just yet.
I slung my arm around Ranger's waist, and he reciprocated by hugging me around the shoulders. It felt good to be open about how I felt about him. Ranger looked down at me and grinned.
Let's go talk to our source, Babe.
We walked into the station together. It looked the same as last night, except the officer manning the front desk was different. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and about three chins. Obviously a believer in eating lots of donuts. Made me consider cutting down just a little. Maybe just one Boston Creme a day instead of three.
We'd like to see Terry Gilman, Ranger announced.
The officer punched something into the computer, then looked up at us.
Sorry, sir, she was released a few hours ago. Ranger said, with his patented one raised eyebrow.
Yeah, says here the charges were dropped. Insufficient evidence. I said. We walked back out and into the parking lot. I got into the Bronco and looked over at Ranger as he climbed into the driver's side. Apparently Velasquez's wound didn't match up with Terry's gun. If the shots hadn't been fired from Terry's gun, I wondered who on earth else could have shot him. Hard to believe anyone could have snuck past the merry men. Something strange was definitely going on.
We need to find Terry, I said. I think she saw something. Have you talked to Lester and Tank? Maybe they saw the shooter.Tank thought it was Terry, babe. The shooter must not have been far from her.
That certainly wasn't helpful. It was one thing for me not to see what was going on, but Ranger and the guys noticed everything. Probably Velasquez had seen the shooter, but considering the circumstances that wasn't going to get us anywhere.
You didn't see? I asked.
Ranger grimaced. No. I was watching you go after the bad guy.
Hmm. Mr. Be More Aware of your surroundings had missed something. Maybe he wasn't perfect after all.
Never claimed to be perfect, Babe. He handed me the cell phone and stuck the keys in the ignition. Call Tank. We'll be at their place in ten.Aye, aye, captain. I said tapping my hand against my forehead in salute.
Ranger shifted his eyes to me.
I dialed Tank's cell and watched the town pass as we drove. We were headed back the way we came. We passed a huge park on the left and several businesses on the right. Mostly restaurants from what I could see.
Tank answered on the second ring.
Yo yourself. Ranger and I are headed your way. We're going to find Terry and figure out what happened last night.Isn't she in jail? Tank asked.
No. I'll explain when we get there. See you in ten.
I hung up first. Ha! I bet he wasn't expecting that. I chuckled. That got me a raised eyebrow.
I hung up first,I explained. I don't think Ranger truly appreciated just how proud I was of that. He continued driving, back in his zone. I shrugged and watched as we pulled off onto a smaller road. I recognized the huge brick buildings, giant trees and perfectly trimmed lawns crisscrossed with huge sidewalks as a campus. It hadn't been so long since I went to college that I couldn't recognize a university when I saw one. Of course, the big sign that said University of Colorado helped, too. We pulled to a stop in front of a big stone building that I could only assume was a dorm.
The Merry Men have to stay in a dorm?
Ranger answered,Lester misses his alma mater sometimes. He likes to stay here whenever he can.
Hmm..Wonder how I could use that against him. I still owed him for the tie-dyes. There must be something useful I could do with this information. I put those thoughts on hold for the moment. Time to focus on finding a murderer.
Ranger put the Bronco in park and stepped out. Guess we were going inside for the information exchange. I hopped out my side and joined Ranger, stepping into the building right behind him. Yep, looked like a dorm. Undecorated stone walls, lots of doors. Wouldn't be my first choice of places to stay, but, then again, I always thought Lester was a little odd.
A door at the end of the hall opened and Lester ushered us in. The room was decorated with two desks and bunk beds. Enough guns to take out a small army was displayed on the bottom bunk. Maybe I better forget revenge and stay on Lester's good side.
What's up? Tank said Terry has gone missing, Lester greeted us, as he closed the door behind us. I pulled up a chair and sat down facing Tank and Lester who were standing in the middle of the room. Tank was arming himself. These guys were nothing if not prepared for anything. Ranger leaned against the desk beside me, arms crossed across his chest. Time for business.
Gilman was released because there wasn't enough evidence to hold her. Steph thinks that means Velasquez wasn't shot with her gun. I'm not so sure. Did either of you see another shooter?
I watched both Tank and Lester shake their heads.
Lester spoke first. There was no one else there, Boss. We would have seen them if there was.
Tank added, I saw Terry fire her gun. Steph was very lucky to get out of the way in time.
Ranger nodded, his mouth set in a grim line. That coincides with what I saw. We need to find Ms. Gilman and figure out what she's hiding.