Chapter 4

I felt the barrel of the gun press deeper into the flesh on my neck.

Drop it, the gravelly voice behind me said.

I slowly removed my hand from my bag and let the straps slide down my shoulder. So much for the phone call. It probably wasn't important enough to argue with the guy holding a gun on me.

The gun dropped away from my neck and a black-gloved hand grabbed my purse by the straps. Suddenly the figure jerked and collapsed on the pavement in front of me. What the hell?

Got Mooner yelled. He was standing with his shirt open, revealing purple spandex with a letter M on it. He held a stun gun in his hand, and wore a huge grin. Maybe having pot-smoking crazy people in super suits as friends was a good thing.

I picked up my bag and managed to find my cuffs. I pulled the guy's arms behind his back and snapped the cuffs on before he had a chance to move. I finally dumped everything out of my bag, found my phone, and called the police. I explained what happened, threw everything back in my bag, and settled in leaning against the building with Mooner to wait for the police to arrive.

I said to Mooner.

No problem, Dude. Good thing I was wearing the super suit.

I just nodded in agreement. He probably wouldn't have had the stun gun otherwise. I really liked that purse, and I would hate to have to spend all my money replacing everything in it. I was very relieved I wasn't going to have to explain to Ranger how I'd lost his keys. He might not take that very well.

After a few minutes of hanging out with Mooner, I saw a black and white pull up. Carl Costanza stepped out, closely followed by his partner, Big Dog. Carl was wearing his usual shit-eating grin.

Who've you got there, Steph?

I shrugged. It wasn't anyone I recognized. He tried to steal my purse.Yeah, I stunned him, and Steph cuffed him. You don't mess with the Moon's friends. Mooner added.

Something to remember, Carl laughed. You on your way to the station? he asked.

Yeah, Mooner needs to reschedule, I explained.

Love how you provide a meal with your service, he said. My would-be purse snatcher had started to stir. Big Dog grabbed him by the arm and pushed him into the back seat of their car. He and Carl got in the front. Carl powered down his window and stuck his head out.

We'll get your statement when you get to the station, he called. They pulled off. I turned to Mooner.

Your ride awaits. he said.

I shook my head. I knew some really strange people. Of course, maybe if I smoked weed all the time I'd be that unconcerned about jail, too. The cell phone started ringing again as we pulled into the lot for the Trenton PD. I decided to ignore it. That was easier than trying to find it in the mess that was my purse.


I asked Mooner.

Yeah, let's get this over with. I don't want to miss the Star Trek Marathon this afternoon.Gotta have priorities.

Mooner nodded solemnly. I escorted him into the station and collected my body receipt from the docket lieutenant. He must have been new because he didn't have anything to say about my holdup.

Once I had Mooner all sorted and a call in to Vinnie to bond him out again, I went in search of Costanza. I found him by the vending machine waiting for a Snickers bar to fall.

Hey Steph, ready to tell me about the purse snatcher?

I followed him to a desk where he pulled out an official looking piece of paper and started writing. I told him about the gun, the guy asking me to drop the purse, and how he suddenly collapsed. When I finished Carl was grinning at me.

Your list of protectors just gets longer and longer, doesn't it?What's that supposed to mean?First Morelli, then Manoso, now Sweet and Dunphy. Honey, I think you need to take some self-defense classes.I'm working on it, I mumbled.

Costanza gave me an appraising look. He ruffled my hair. Good. Now get out of here before Morelli sees you. He's being a bear today.

Didn't have to tell me twice. I had no desire to see Morelli again anytime soon. I was still mad at him for arresting me.

Vinnie had just finished the paperwork for Mooner's new bond agreement when I returned to the front desk.

You going to drive him home? Vinnie asked, jerking his head in Mooner's direction.

Sure thing. Wouldn't want him to miss Star Trek.

Vinnie snorted. Ranger's looking for you. Call him for Christ's sake, he's driving me crazy.

That explained why the cell phone kept ringing. Guess I better call him back. I'd just seen him this morning, wonder what he wanted? It's not like I needed help to bring in Mooner.

What does he need?He didn't say and I didn't ask, Vinnie answered. He left and I tracked down Mooner talking to Big Dog.
Big Dog smiled at me when I approached. The Moon Man here was just telling me about your latest escapade. You just attract all the best people, you know that?Yeah, yeah, I turned to Mooner, You ready? I asked Mooner.

Let's blow this popsicle stand, he said. May not be the best choice of words in a police station, I thought, looking around. Lucky for us Big Dog just laughed. Hard to think of Mooner as a serious threat to anything. I caught a glimpse of Morelli out of the corner of my eye, and decided it was time to get out of there.

See you guys later, Big Dog called as we went out the door.

I called back over my shoulder.

That was fun. Mooner said. I haven't gotten to use my stun gun before, we should do that again sometime.Yeah sure, how about next time you get the gun stuck in your neck and I'll do the stunning, I answered sarcastically.

I went to open the door to the truck and was stopped by a large warm hand grasping my forearm. I looked down at the hand, and breathed a sigh of relief as I recognized who it belonged to.

Babe, why aren't you answering your phone?I can't find it. It's somewhere in my bag, but it always stops ringing before I find it. Vinnie said you were looking for me. I was going to call after I dropped Mooner at home.

Ranger nodded at Mooner. Tank will take you home, he said, indicating the giant man standing behind us. How had he gotten there? Why was I so easy to sneak up on?

Mooner's eyes widened as he took in Tank. Tank stood a good six inches taller than him, and was all muscle. Tank smiled at him, Let's go Mr. Dunphy. He turned and walked back to his truck. Mooner shot me a worried look.

He's okay, I told him. At least I thought he was okay, and Ranger seemed to trust him, so he probably wasn't a homicidal maniac. Mooner swallowed and got in the truck with Tank. I redirected my attention to Ranger.

We need to talk,he said. He still had a tight grasp on my arm. If he didn't loosen it I was afraid I might be sporting a new bruise soon. I had enough of those already.

Okay, but could you let go of my arm?

He looked startled, but did as I asked. Sorry. Just didn't want you running away.

I raised my eyebrows at that. Have I ever run away from you? he answered shortly. Well, okay, maybe I had once or twice, but he had been trying to cart me off to a safe house at the time. Surely that didn't count, unless...

Oh, no,I said shaking my head. You're not locking me up in some safe house. I started to turn away. He grabbed me by the wrist and propelled me into the truck. I thought I heard him mutter"I should,before he closed the door. He got in the driver's side and pulled out.

Where do you think you're taking me? Why have you been trying to call? What's going on?

Ranger ignored me. Damn! Should have known penetrating the driving zone was impossible. I crossed my arms and stared at him. If he wasn't going to talk, maybe I could stare him down.

You're staring, he said.

Well, duh. That was kind of the point. He chuckled. I'll tell you what's going on when we get home.

I hoped he meant his home, since I didn't really want to go see what havoc my sister had wreaked in my apartment. Funny how I didn't miss my apartment as much when I was staying with Ranger.I grunted in acknowledgment and stared out the window as we approached the Rangeman building.


As soon as I opened the door and stepped out onto the pavement in the parking lot, Ranger had his hand on my back and we were walking to the elevator. Was I going to object to him putting his hand on my back? Nope. Uh-uh, not me.

We rode up to the penthouse in silence.

I heard Ranger saying. He was right in front of me moving his hand back and forth in front of my face. I focused in on him. He looked like he usually did, with just a touch of worry in his eyes. Wonder what that was all about? I would have thought he was used to me zoning out by now.

I asked. Good thing I wasn't trying to impress him, I would have been failing miserably.

Time to get out of the elevator, Steph, he said. I walked out ahead of him, and opened the door. I whirled around as the door closed behind me, ready to confront Ranger on what was so important that we had to come straight back here. In an instant he had his arms around me and his lips covered mine, his tongue probing. My arms snaked around his neck and I lost myself in his kiss.

I finally pulled back and looked into his face.

What's going on? Don't tell me you were just trying to reach me for this.Would that be such a bad thing? he asked, tracing his finger down to my jaw line.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish. gulp, I stammered. How was I supposed to answer that? My hormones were ready for me to lead him to the bedroom, but my head insisted I'd just get hurt later. Ranger pressed a kiss on my forehead and led me to sit down on the couch. He sat on the opposite end and turned to face me.

Hate to disappoint you Babe, but there's a more important reason for bringing you back here.