Chapter 8

Joe Morelli was on the warpath. He got put on temporary suspension for a few weeks. It was with pay, but that wasn't the point. Joe was mad that I got a restraining order against him, and he got reprimanded for assaulting me. I'm not sure what he expected would happen. The days of me letting him get away with his actions were over a long time ago. I laughed when Eddie mentioned Joe having to attend anger management courses. Joe couldn't return to work until he passed the course. Unfortunately for him, it took nearly all summer.

Woody, Sean, Jack and I went shopping for groceries. I wanted to make sure we had all of their favourite foods. Sean joked and said it was because I had to validate my own junk food addiction. So what if the Cheetos, Doritos and BBQ chips managed to land in the shopping cart?

"Steph, we need vegetables too," Jack joked. "Grandpa says we have to eat our vegetables too."

I rolled my eyes and let them add some healthier options to the cart. "Fine, but I don't eat celery or carrot sticks."

"You can add them to your recipe, Steph," Sean added. "My mom used to sneak them into casseroles."

"Exactly how do you sneak them into casseroles?" I asked through squinted eyes.

"She cut them very small," Jack explained.

Resigned, I said, "Okay. I'll let you cook dinner tonight."

"Yes!" Jack fist-pumped the air. I have freaky brothers. Why would you want to cook?

"It's healthier than eating take-out all the time," Woody whispered. I didn't realize I spoke out loud. Woody cooked most of the time.

When we got home, Jack and Sean cooked dinner. I laughed at their banter in the kitchen. It was hard to believe they'd been in Trenton for two months already. Dad was picking them up in a week to take them back home. Sean had to get ready for college. He was staying close to home. Jack leaves a week after he gets home to finish his final year.

"What are you going to do when you finish school, Jack?" I wondered.

"I haven't decided yet," he replied.

"Not going into the family business?" I joked.

"I'm not sure I want to be a cop. I'm proud of my dad and uncle, but I don't think it's a life I want," Jack honestly replied. Sean was still undecided.

Ranger visited after dinner. My brothers were playing a racing game on the Xbox in the basement entertainment room. "Babe, I'm putting you on desk duty," he announced when he took a seat in the chair.

"Why?" I asked, wondering if he knew about the pregnancy. We didn't tell anyone at Rangeman. I was going to make an announcement next week when I reached twelve weeks.

"You're pregnant. Woody goes on restriction until three months after you deliver," Ranger replied. "Don't argue with me."

I was pissed off. How dare he invade my privacy to get the results of my pregnancy. My appointment was only a few days ago. "How?" I shouted.

"Babe."

"Ranger. How did you know I am pregnant?" I ground out between clenched teeth.

Sean and Jack entered the room to see why I was yelling. "Babe, relax," Ranger stupidly said.

My hormones had already gone haywire. I did not have the patience to deal with Ranger today. "Tell me," I demanded.

Ranger sighed and stated, "The insurance company reports all medical claims to Rangeman." Huh, this was news to me. I could understand if I got injured on the job, and they received the information. To obtain the details for a private appointment didn't feel like something Rangeman should know.

"Nothing got indicated in my contract about Rangeman getting the details of my medical claims," I shouted. "It's an invasion of my privacy. I quit!" I removed my Rangeman access card and fobs from my purse.

"Babe, be reasonable," Ranger said. I threw my arms in the air and left the room. Sean and Jack followed me up the stairs to my bedroom. Did I overreact? Probably. Would I take back my words? No. I have enough money to live comfortably for the next few years.

Woody and Ranger shared a heated conversation. My husband felt Ranger invaded our privacy. Especially when he learned Ranger announced my pregnancy to Rangeman without our permission. "I quit too," Woody stated. "I'll get Hector to grab our personal items from our Rangeman apartment." He slammed the door when Ranger left.

"Steph, everything will work out," Jack said as he rubbed circles on my back.

"Woody and I will drive you two back home tomorrow. Maybe we'll stay in New York for a few months," I said as I put my head on his shoulder.

"Dad would be happy," Sean added. I shrugged before I got off the bed.

"Pack your bags. I put the clean laundry on your dressers. We'll leave in a few hours," I added. I wanted to get some distance from Trenton.

Ranger returned to Rangeman stunned. He didn't expect Woody and Stephanie to quit when he confronted them about the pregnancy. The baby was important to him and his men. "What did she say?" Lester asked when Ranger exited his car.

"She quit," Ranger replied. "Woody too."

"Crap," Lester stated. "We can't let her go."

"It's too late. I messed up," Ranger mumbled. He left Lester in the garage and took the elevator to his apartment. "She kept the panic button and tracker earrings. Do not access the devices unless she uses sounds the alarm."

Hector received a call from Woody to grab the non-Rangeman clothing from the apartment on four. Woody asked him to drop the clothes at the house and put them away. Hector was angry when Woody mentioned that Ranger didn't have their permission to announce the pregnancy.

Stephanie called her uncle Frank. Speaking Italian, she told her uncle what Ranger did. She told him about the pregnancy, and she'd maintain contact while she was out of town. "I don't know when we'll come back," Stephanie replied.

"Take care of yourself," Frank stated. She ended the conversation to finish packing.

On the drive to New York, Sean asked, "Why did you get so angry with Ranger, Steph?"

"It took me nearly two years to get him to stop making decisions for me. Everybody tells me what to do without asking for my input. I'm sure Ranger's excited about the baby, but he didn't have the right to invade my privacy," I replied.

"Rangeman has several policies in place to protect their employees. If someone gets injured on the job, Bobby receives the prognosis, therapy suggestions and medical expenses paid by the insurance company. The balance not covered under the insurance gets paid by Rangeman. When Stephanie and I got married, our insurance covered the full expense," Woody explained.

"Her pregnancy isn't from a work injury, so Bobby shouldn't have received the paperwork," Jack stated.

"Then how did Ranger find out about the pregnancy?" Sean asked.

"Ranger has a habit of checking up on me. He accessed the medical database to uncover my pregnancy," I replied.

"Your pregnancy isn't any of his business," Sean stated.

"Correct. Woody and I planned to tell the core team next week. I had no intention of working in the field while pregnant," I added.

"You were pregnant when you caught Julio Sebastian," Jack said.

"I didn't know I was pregnant until later. If I knew, I never would have risked the baby," I confessed.

"What are you going to do until the baby is born?" Sean asked.

"Online courses," I replied. I had no idea what classes I would take, but I didn't want to be idle.

Traffic was slow moving when we got to New York. Woody patiently maneuvered through the busy streets to get to my dad's house four hours after leaving Trenton. Sean called him earlier to announce our arrival. We would stay at the house for the night, then live with grandpa until we could find a home.

I was surprised to find the house filled with guests in the morning. "Doesn't anyone have to work today?" I mumbled.

"It's Saturday, Steph," Sean replied.

"Then why did you wake me up before noon?" I groaned.

"We need to talk," Danny answered. "What's the plan beyond finding a home?"

"Online classes," I mumbled. "I was thinking along the lines of criminology."

"How do you plan to use that knowledge?" Grandpa asked. I shrugged since I had no idea how I could use that skill as a civilian.

"I never gave it much thought. Sitting around doing nothing never goes well for me," I admitted. "I'm open to suggestions." I was amazed at how supportive the Reagans are in comparison to my aunt Helen. Erin and Jamie had a lot of suggestions. What I chose was ultimately my decision. Grandpa suggested I take courses to help with the job I wish to do for a living.

My phone kept pinging from text messages. Most were from Ranger, asking me to call him. I powered down my phone and dropped it into my bag. "You'll have to deal with whoever keeps messaging you eventually," Henry said when he saw me turn off the phone.

"I know, but I want to live in the land of denial for a few more hours. I'll read the texts after I eat," I said as my stomach grumbled. Sean and Jack laughed before grabbing a plate to fill with eggs, sausage, pancakes and fruit. Jack set the plate in front of me and passed me a fork.

The meal was noisy, and a lot of conversation centred on courses I should take and how I could use the knowledge to do my job better. A job that I quit because my boss invaded my privacy.

"Why did you quit a job you love?" Henry asked when I said we don't work for Rangeman anymore. I explained my reasoning. It seemed like a lame excuse, but I do not like people ordering me to do things their way.

"I'm a civilian, not ex-military. My hormones are all over the place. I grew up with my aunt and uncle. Uncle Frank was supportive, but Aunt Helen always manipulated me into behaving like a 50s wife. It's because she always tried to shove me into the box that I spout off and run away," I explained.

"Ah, I think I understand the dilemma. You felt like the boss was caging you and Woody," Henry reasoned.

"While getting chained to the desk," I agreed. The Reagans laughed at my analogy but supported my decision to get away.

"Let's read the texts, Steph. Maybe this old man could help you write a response," Henry said after I finished eating. After reading the messages, I decided nothing had changed. Ranger didn't accept Woody's or my resignations. He said he placed us on long-term leave. My medical expenses would get covered by Rangeman's insurance, but he requested they don't send him the report. It was a generous offer and one he should have implemented in the beginning. I could live in New York with my husband and get to know my family.

Woody and I sublet a house a few blocks away from Frank Reagan's home. It was a beautiful yellow-brick house similar to the one my grandfather owned. There was more space than we needed. The homeowners went to Florida for the winter. They only lived in New York from April 1st to September 1st.

Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's day passed alarmingly fast. I was too busy studying to take much notice. My psychology and criminology courses made me understand how the criminal mind worked.

I noticed someone had been following me for several weeks. The man sent my spidey senses into overdrive. My panic button got kept within reach, and it made me feel safe. Woody wasn't surprised I wore the tracker earrings exclusively. The day I delivered Casey Reagan Johnson was insane.

Traffic got backed up so much that I almost gave birth in the back of our SUV. If we didn't have the police cruisers in front and behind our car to guide us, we never would have made it in time. Henry sat in the back to keep me focussed on breathing. I did not want my great-grandpa to deliver the baby.

Casey was born in the elevator between the fourth and fifth floors. He was too impatient to wait until we got to the eighth-floor maternity ward. My son weighed a healthy nine pounds on the nose. He was long at twenty-three inches. Danny, my dad, was a proud grandpa. My Reagan family arrived at various times during the day, so I didn't get overwhelmed. Woody and I moved back to Frank's house until we returned to Trenton. I couldn't stay away for too long.

When Casey was one month old, we packed up our clothes to go home. My Rangeman family kept texting for news on Casey. They threatened to bring us home. I noticed that man was still watching us as we packed the car. Woody drove while I sat in the back with our son. My gun got tucked into the small of my back. Dad gave me a smaller weapon to hide in my boot, but I had it tucked between my breasts.

A few miles outside New York, a car slammed into the passenger side of the SUV. The vehicle rolled as I reached for Casey. He screamed when the car stopped rolling. I couldn't move more than my arms. As I reached into my jeans pocket, I pressed the panic button and prayed someone would find us soon. I removed one of my earrings and attached it to Casey's onesie. If anyone checked, they would assume it was one of the snaps. I attached the other earring to my bra, placing it below the gun.

"Woody, are you okay?" I asked. He moaned without answering. Casey was still screaming. I didn't want to remove him from the car seat. He was secure.

The car door opening startled me. "Look what we have here. It's detective Reagan's bastard daughter and grandson," the man who had followed me stated.

Now that I had an unobstructed view, I saw it was Luis Delgado, the man who ordered Linda Reagan's death. "Shit," I said as he roughly pulled me from the car. As I reached towards Casey, everything went black.