Dawn Tracy
The characters you recognize belong to Janet Evanovich. I'm just borrowing them for fun and pleasure.
Rating: R
Spoilers: HS through EOT CHAPTER ELEVENMy phone woke me from a pleasant slumber. I saw the number it was my mother.
"I've been trying to get you. You went to Paula Gumbazzi's party with Ranger. You're living with Ranger. You were left unconscious with Ranger in his car. What's going on Stephanie? Should I start thinking about calling a caterer? Do you have a ring yet?"
"Mom it was just a party. Um we were hit with stun guns. It was just uh a mugging, it was nothing major. No on the caterer."
"Are you bringing Ranger to dinner tonight?"
I looked over at Ranger who was now awake and watching me with amusement. "Am I bringing Ranger to dinner tonight?" I repeated the question so he could hear it.
"That's what I asked you. You're living with the man. He could come to dinner. I'm sure he has to eat. I'll set an extra place for him."
"Looks like you're having dinner at my parents tonight." I said, trying not to laugh. There was no way to say no to my mother.
"Oh really? What do I get out of this?"
"I don't know what do you want?" I leaned over him and kissed him. "How about a blow job?"
He smiled. "Now?"
"No, not now. After dinner."
"Sure, make me wait."
"It will give you something to think about over dinner."
"While your grandmother is trying to grab my package."
Ranger went to meet Morelli and I decided to work on some searches. I ignored what was in my box. Tomorrow was Monday and it would come quickly enough. I started with Teddy Sanchez. I found the dates he was in prison and the prison that he was assigned to. I continued searching and found that Homer Ramos was in the same prison as Teddy Sanchez. I wondered if there was any chance that these two knew each other more than in passing.
I went onto Rodney Smith. A detailed search of his records and a call pretending I was an attorney got me the information that his business was all left to his brother Luther. Luther of the S & M club.
Looking into Bruzniak Construction some more. I found a database that listed licenses they took out to do construction work. They did work at both properties Marco Sanchez owned and also at the building that housed Grey's Gym and the S & M club. I found a few sites they were currently working other than the Morrison Center. I wondered if they were worth a visit. I knew I should consult Ranger. He would not want me going off on any freelance field trips. Considering what happened last night I was willing to be reined in a little, at least for the time being. I copied the addresses of the sites and printed them for later.
I looked for information about Ken Thomas. He was 45 and from Trenton. He worked for Hennessey Contractors for fifteen years and was laid off two years ago. I actually found his resume online. He must not have been happy at Bruzniak; he seemed to be actively seeking a job. He was divorced with a son in college.
Ranger called and told me he wouldn't be back for lunch and to tell Ella we would not be there for dinner. I still felt weird letting Ella bring me food, but when she offered to bring me lunch it was hard to say no. She's like my mom too.
"We won't be here for dinner tonight." I informed her.
"Okay dear. Going out somewhere special I hope."
"Not really. Just to my parents'."
"Oh." Ella smiled. "That's nice."
Not if you've been to my parents' for dinner.
To Ranger's credit he didn't complain at all on the way to my parents. He was very polite as I introduced him again to my parents and my sister Valerie, Albert and the kids. We were in for the full show tonight.
"Do you want to see my gun Ranger?" Grandma Mazur offered. "I've got bullets in it and everything."
"No guns at the dinner table." My mother commanded.
I could see Ranger trying not to smile.
Valerie, the perfect daughter, helped my mother bring the platters to the table. Mary Alice galloped around the table. Angie sat primly with her hands folded. My father seemed oblivious to the entire situation.
"Where's Lisa?" I asked. Lisa was Albert and Valerie's baby daughter.
"She's napping." Albert told me.
Lucky child.
"Pour the wine." Grandma Mazur commanded. "I need a drink."
"So Stephanie, when did you move in with Ranger?" Valerie wanted to know.
Oh great. I didn't want to play the interview game. "Just this week."
"That seems sudden."
"So, what's for dessert?" I asked.
"Chocolate layer cake." My mother informed me.
I glanced over at Ranger who was actually eating the broccoli that my mother put out. No one ever eats the broccoli. At least he was eating something.
I followed my mother into the kitchen to get a look at the cake.
"Does he get all those muscles from eating vegetables?" My mother wanted to know.
"He works out too." I told her. "And he doesn't eat cake."
"What do you mean?"
I smiled and reached for the dessert plates. My mother would never understand. I wasn't sure I did.
When I got back into the dining room Grandma Mazur was trying to crawl into Ranger's lap. He gave me a look somewhere between help and I'm going to kill you.
"Grandma, come help me cut the cake."
"Can't you cut a cake on your own? I'm busy over here checking your man out."
"This is a really big cake, I need help."
Grandma Mazur shook her head and came to help me. "I like him. You should keep that one."
I ate my slice of cake and was half way through Ranger's before my mother noticed.
"Stephanie, don't eat his cake. You can have another slice."
"He's not going to eat it."