Ranger's Bargain Chapter 7

Opening the door, Steph steps back to let the man in. Walking through the door, he asks, "Stephanie Plum?"

"Yep. Are those for me?"

"Well, I assume so, they were sitting outside your door."

"You mean you didn't bring them?"

"Nope. I am, however, under orders to give you this." He says as he pulls a long thin box out of his jacket.

"Oh, who's this from?" Steph asks as she starts to lift the lid off the box.

"Ranger."

"Oh, how pretty." Steph exclaims as she pulls out a 14kt yellow gold .76ct oval pink tourmaline with .28ctw round and baguette diamond chevron necklace. (for picture click here)

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?" Short pause. "Oh, tell Ranger thanks."

"That's not what I meant. Who are the flowers from?"

"Oh, I guess I should check that out. Let's see... It says here...They reminded me of you. Meet me at the Merry Go Round at 10 tonight for another surprise. A surprise? Are you sure that Ranger didn't send these?" Steph's eyebrows slowly start to climb up her forehead.

"Pretty sure. Want me to check for you?"

"Would you?"

"No problem." He says pulling out his cellphone.

"Boss. Did you send Ms. Plum flowers?" Pause. " She got half a dozen red roses from someone who wants to meet her at the Merry Go Round at 10." Pause. "No problem." Click.

"He didn't send them. He wants me to bring the card back to the office, so that it can be scanned for fingerprints."

"What? Why? Does he think I'm in danger again?"

"Yep. He remembers what happened last time at the Merry Go Round."

"Damn. I didn't want to be reminded about that. I still have nightmares occasionally. Do you really think that it's someone dangerous?"

"I don't know, but you can never be too careful. Ranger also wanted me to ask who you would like to accompany you to this meeting. He's willing to let you pick your bodyguard this time. Maybe they'll last longer if you pick them."

"That's not funny. I'll talk to him about the bodyguard. Here. Take the card." Steph shoves the card at him.

"Not so fast." He says as he pulls out gloves and a plastic Ziploc bag. He carefully grabs the card using the gloves and then slips it into the Ziploc bag. "Don't forget to talk to the boss before you leave for the meeting. It would cause a lot more problems if he had to send someone to shadow you." He says muttering the last part as he heads out the door.

Stephanie shuts the door behind him and slowly slides down it, sighing.