Disclaimer: I wouldn't be writing this if 12 was published. I'd be reading the real thing instead! All characters are from the mind of Janet Evanovich.

Chapter Thirteen

Ranger's SUV proceeded to its next destination with Lula's Firebird close behind. Despite the fact that I had given up the bounty hunter business, there were times when I missed the excitement. Okay, so it wasn't all excitement, but there were moments when I enjoyed the job. While I had gotten really good on computer searches, there wasn't any true excitement in them. Ranger seldom let me tag along on the takedowns or even on surveillance. It was as if he had some unspoken agreement with Joe to try to settle my life.

Settled was something that my life simply wasn't. Any thought of a future with Joe was pretty much out the window. He had certainly offered, but I couldn't find it within myself to accept. I knew a part of me loved him, but for some reason I couldn't say it out loud. Then there was Ranger. A part of me loved him as well, but he didn't or couldn't handle relationships. Funny thing was that I could see myself telling him that I loved him. It nearly happened the other night. There was something about the way he touched me, the light in his eyes when he looked at me. Oh yeah, there was something there between us, but I wasn't sure it was enough. Joe would touch me and have one thing on his mind. Ranger touches me and I haven't got a clue what is on his mind, well not always.

Lula was suspiciously quiet.

"How did it go at the Rangeman apartment last night?" I figured I'd start the conversation, knowing she was dying to ask.

"Not as good as it went for you. You were in Batman's bed. You did Batman right under my nose." She sounded a little miffed.

"Okay, so I slept with Ranger. It's not a crime, you know." That sounded childish even to me.

"Yeah, but it would damn sure be one not to," Lula laughed. "Okay, girl, give me details. What's the Batman really like in bed?"

I thought for a moment, not sure if I really wanted to share Ranger, even this way.

"He's everything you would expect him to be."

Lula smiled. "Fuckin' A!"

The SUV pulled into the driveway of what appeared to be a deserted house. Tank and Ranger were out of the truck before Lula stopped her car. Ranger had his gun drawn. He motioned for us to stay put. I started to get out of the truck, but he threw me a look that warned there would be hell to pay if I didn't cooperate. I pulled the door closed and Ranger left with Tank for the front door.

Lula and I looked at each other. Is this where my father was being held? I searched my feelings, trying one of those Jedi mind tricks. Nothing. If Dad was here, he wasn't sending out any psychic SOS.

Ranger waved us in. I drew my gun, causing him to raise his eyebrows slightly. I know it isn't typical of me, but I wanted to be prepared to help save my Dad if necessary. I didn't want my fear of guns to be cause a problem for him.

The house was empty of furniture. There was a thick layer of dust on the floor. Lucky for us there was, because it showed footprints. Tank and Ranger followed those footprints to a basement door. Silently, they opened it and headed down. Lula and I waited, not wanting to walk into a shooting match should there be someone down there.

"Bomber," Tank shouted. "Get down here."

I ran down the stairs as quickly as I could. There tied to a chair was my Dad.

"Oh, my God, Dad. Are you all right?" My voice cracked with emotion at seeing him like this. Ranger quickly untied him and Dad grabbed me into his embrace.

"I knew you and your friends would find me, Pumpkin. I just knew it." Dad was a man of few words, so this was a real revelation.

"Are you all right?" I asked him again. He simply nodded.

"Let's get out of here and let the police know we found you," Ranger said to Dad and I.

I followed my father up the stairs, silently thanking God for letting us find him safe. Only once he was seated in Lula's car did I start to wonder why Willard had taken Dad.

"Ranger, you have to find Willard Noble," I stated as I looked at my father. "No one I love is safe until he's caught. I don't even know why he's after me."

Ranger put an arm around my shoulder. "Babe, he may not be after you."

I looked up at him in alarm. "Then why did he go after my father and why burn up my apartment?"

Ranger searched my face, as if trying to find answers within it. "I think he's really after Morelli. He sees you and yours as a way to get to Morelli."

"What's Joe got to do with Willard? Did Joe ever arrest him?"

Ranger smiled. "Probably, but I think the real problem is that Joe was involved with Terry Gilman. Willard used to have a crush on the woman. Maybe he's so taken with her that he'd go after the competition."

I tried not to see red at the thought of Terry and Joe. After all, it was over between Joe and I, but that didn't mean that there were no feelings there. "I still don't see what this has to do with me or my father."

Ranger kissed my forehead. "I've got to check some things out and then I can explain it to you later. Right now get your Dad back home. Your mother's waiting and I don't' want her to blame me for any delays."

He was right, of course. Dad needed to get home. He looked totally worn out. I got in the car with Lula and we headed for my parents house. Joe's cop car was parked out front.

Dad led the way to the front steps, but stopped short of the front door. He pulled me aside.

"Stephanie, I know that things are over between you and Joseph, but he's a good man. I also think that this Ranger guy is also a good man. I usually don't meddle into your business, but I have to say that I think you made the right choice. You're different, baby. You're not the typical Burg girl. Don't let anyone turn you into one." With that said, Dad kissed my forehead, much as Ranger had.

"Dad, that's the most you have said to me in ages," I grinned at him.

"Well, I had plenty of time to think of what to say, now didn't I."? Who knew that Dad had such a sense of humor?

My mother and grandmother came to the front door. I could see Joe standing behind them.

"Frank, are you all right?" My mother was out the door in a flurry of waving arms. Grandma stood her ground behind the screen door.

"I'm fine Ellen. Stephanie and her friends found where that weird guy had taken me." Dad moved from hugging my mother up the steps to talk to Joe.

"Joe, any word on the cab?"

Joe blinked twice. He appeared surprised that Dad was standing in front of him. "First, Mr. Plum, I am very glad to see you are okay. Second, yes. We found the cab abandoned not far from Noble's row house."

Dad moved to his chair in the living room. He raked his hand across his face. "Ellen, got any coffee?"

My mother hurried to get the coffee, offering some to the rest of us. Lula and I declined.

"So," Grandma Mazar began, "you said the Stephanie and friends found you. Guess you are talking about that prime package she calls Ranger. Why can't I have friends like that?"

It was likely that Grandma would continue on her tirade about Ranger, but I seriously hoped she wouldn't. I saw Joe come into the living room, coffee in hand, followed closely by my mother, who handed a cup of coffee to my dad and then ran her hand through his hair. It was the most affectionate move I had seen from them in a long time.

"Joe, any idea where we can find Willard Noble?" Joe seemed surprised I had asked this question.

"No," he answered simply.

"Well, Ranger would like to talk to you about him." I figured Ranger might already know that Joe was at my parent's house.

"Can I talk to you outside?" Joe's voice and eyes were hard and demanding.

I walked to the front door behind Joe. We stepped outside and the first thing we saw was the black SUV parked behind Joe's cop car. Ranger leaned against the hood.

"It's a safe bet you were with him when your apartment burned. You were with him last night too, weren't you? I came to your parent's house to find you after I heard about your dad's kidnapping. I realize you've made your decision, Stephanie, but I can't stand here and tell you that it doesn't hurt."

I searched Joe's face, a face I knew as well as my own. He was tired, probably both mentally and physically. He appeared defeated.

"Joe, I don't want to talk about Ranger. I'm worried about you. Ranger thinks that Willard is after you, not me. Why would he think that?"

Joe was watching as Ranger approached. He didn't miss the movement of Ranger's arm going around my waist. These two men had been dealing with each other and their feelings for me for some time. I didn't realize just how much Ranger had to do with the end of my relationship with Joe, but I was starting to see that maybe Joe was right.

"Ranger, I asked Joe why Willard might be after him. Maybe the two of you should talk this out," I offered, removing Ranger's arm from around my waist. I stepped away from them.

"Oh, and for the record, neither one of you had to save me today." Well, not yet at least.