Chapter 14

True to his word an email arrived from Morelli with the information that had been collected when Roberts had been arrested. Using that and what Ram had given to me I ran some more invasive searches to try and find out more. I even ran a search on other robberies of jewelry stores that taken place in the last six months to see if there were any patterns. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised that nothing came up, but I'd compile the reports and eventually send them to Morelli. I was still struggling to understand what those men had planned for when they were inside Kennleys. It seemed an excessive amount of work and organization for a job that didn't seem to have a focused outcome. Then again maybe we had foiled their plans before they could get their hands on anything.

I woke the next morning to the buzzing of my phone and inwardly groaned at the message from Brown. Yes, I had forgotten about the check up with my doctor, but I wouldn't let Brown know that. I'd argued that I didn't need a check up because I was feeling well, but apparently there was no way to get out of it. Hell, Brown even threatened to have me delegated to being off field work if I didn't follow the protocol that every other Rangeman had to comply with.

After showering I dressed in black trousers and a black shirt deciding that a Rangeman uniform might not be the best thing to wear for a visit to the hospital. I felt ill at ease as I went down the stairs to meet Brown in the garage due to the lack of weapons that I had on my person. I knew there were back up guns in the SUVs but hoped that Brown was armed. I was actually surprised to see Santos standing next to Brown when I walked through the door and into the garage wondering why he was there.

"I know you Ranger, so I'm your back up for the hospital"

I was thinking that maybe Brown had brought him along to make sure that I stayed for all of the tests, but regardless of the reason I felt better knowing that Santos would have my back. Brown drove the short distance to St Francis hospital finding a parking space not a million miles away from the entrance. I'd been surprised that we were going to St Francis and not the private hospital but apparently the doctor had a private suite for patients, so it was more convenient for me of to have the appointment made for St Francis. At the back of the hospital was a new elevator that gave access to the private sector, a new addition to the hospital which Rangeman had donated towards. I'd felt that if any of the men were injured then they needed to be seen quickly and not have to wait for specialist equipment to be available.

Santos waited outside of the clinic while Brown and I went inside to talk to the doctor.

"Mr Manoso. How are you feeling, any problems?"

I shook my head as I sat down opposite the doctor and then waited for what he would want to do next.

"I'll take some blood so that we can check on liver and kidney functions. While that goes down to the lab, I'll be running an ECG and checking your lungs"

I knew that the illness could have had detrimental effects on my organs so I admitted that having these tests would ease any concerns that I might have had. Brown stayed by the door as the doctor drew a vial of blood.

"Mr Brown if you take these down to the lab that should speed things up"

I heard Brown speaking to Santos as he left the room, and I was actually glad that Santos was here with us. Being laid on the bed with electrodes stuck to my chest certainly made me feel vulnerable. My lungs were listened to, my blood pressure taken and even my temperature while I lay there so was pleased when Brown appeared through the door clutching a paper in his hand that he handed to the doctor.

"Excellent. All results are within normal parameters Mr Manoso, and the ECG is showing no signs of distress. Lungs sound good so I'm confident that you have no stray bacteria lurking around in your system or that there is any damage to your organs. You're free to go and hopefully I won't have the need to see you again"

"Thank you"

I said in earnest as I shook his hand and then watched as he disappeared out of the room.

"Good result Ranger"

I suppose that Brown had been right to make me come for this check up, at least now I knew that I had fully recovered from that infection. I slipped my feet into my shoes on the floor and was fastening the buttons of my shirt up when there was the sound of voices shouting outside. I was watching the door wondering what the hell was going on outside wanting to open the door and find out for myself. Even Brown was standing closer to the door and as I watched a smile flit across his face, I was right there stood next to him my hand on the handle turning it. If there was trouble outside in the hallway then we needed to be prepared.

Looking through the open gap I was just thankful that Santos wasn't blocking our view of the two women stood nose to nose out on the hallway. I instantly recognized the voice of the woman whose back was to us and was trying to place the woman who was stood in front her.

"Is that who I think it is?"

I nodded my head as I tried to focus on what was being said.

"Mrs. Plum, I will not allow you to take that food in there. How many times do I have to tell you that food like that will kill him"

"No it won't, he's been eating these cakes for years and never been ill before. It's those relatives of his, they're responsible for him being ill"

The other woman, who was probably a similar age to Mrs. Plum placed her hands on her hips and seemed to increase in size as her chest came out and her shoulders squared.

"Your husband has angina"

Did Mrs. Plum just tut as a response. I assumed that they were talking about Steph's father and that it was him who had been diagnosed with angina.

"He's on tablets now, they'll cure him and allow him to eat as he wants"

"Mrs. Plum. The tablets stabilize his condition. If he continues to eat the rubbish that you give him. he'll end up in a theater under a surgeon's life. Are you wanting to kill him?"

The volume of the woman's voice and probably what she'd said had Mrs. Plum's whole body suddenly shrinking. Her saying "No" was said so softly I almost missed it, certainly not the voice that had been screaming not two minutes before. I watched as the other woman stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Mrs. Plum's shoulder before she led her down the hallway and into a room. The silence that followed was surreal, the whole area was quiet so that was when I fully opened the door and stepped out.

"Let's get out of here"

I suggested pleased when Santos led the way and Brown followed me. Much as I was concerned about Mr Plum and him being ill the only thought that I had was that if Mr Plum was back home then that meant that Steph was as well. I felt a lightness in my heart thinking that and was making plans to ensure that I would see her even before we reached the SUV.

Of course we got the whole story from Santos, he'd had a front row view of everything that had happened and for once I was interested in what he knew.

"I thought that woman was going to deck Mrs. Plum. Man, I wouldn't like to cross her. Seems Mrs. Plum had brought in some treats for her husband, you know cookies and chocolate cake and that woman went ballistic"

I was almost regretting allowing Santos the opportunity to tell us what he saw and turned in the seat to give him a look that said to get to a more interesting part that we hadn't witnessed.

"Okay. I got the chance to chat up the nurse at the station as we watched the scene. Turns out Mr Plum was brought in last night by a private ambulance. He's been diagnosed with angina so has to make some lifestyle changes, only Mrs. Plum thinks she knows better. The woman, a nurse, came in with him and has made it her mission to make sure that everyone, including Mrs. Plum conforms"

I had to admit that something like that happening didn't surprise me. Ellen Plum only ever produced food that was full of fat and sugar with no option for vegetables. I didn't pity the nurse with the job she had in trying to persuade her to change her family's eating habits. I knew that I'd always joked with Steph that the food that she ate could kill her, but I honestly wouldn't wish anyone to come to realize that through being ill.

"Has Steph been at the hospital?"

I asked hoping that Santos would be smart enough to ask.

"I asked about Steph, but apparently she hasn't been seen. Theresa, the nurse I talked to, she knows Steph and was surprised that Steph hadn't been to see her father"

That puzzled me because even though I'd never been around when Steph had a conversation with her father, I knew that she was close to him and that she would be worried about him. As soon as the car stopped in the garage I was out and heading for my Porsche with the intention of going over to Steph's apartment. I ignored the looks that Santos gave me as I reversed, and he soon got out of the way when he realized that him being stood behind the car wasn't going to stop me. That lightness that I'd felt when I knew that Steph was back was swallowing me whole with the anticipation of seeing her.

After knocking on her door, I waited, after all I didn't want to disturb her if Morelli was here, though I hadn't seen his truck in the parking lot. This wasn't a time to be patient, so I was soon picking the lock and entering the apartment. It felt wrong as I made my way down the hall and into the kitchen area. Casting my eyes around the lounge area the place was tidy but felt cool and totally empty. I couldn't sense that Steph was here or had been here recently. Walking through to the bedroom it felt the same, the essence that I always associated with Steph just wasn't here. I sank down on the bed, the lightness that I'd been feeling slowly ebbing away from me.

Surely, she would have come here if she was back, wouldn't she? Or was she curled up with Morelli in that damn house of his and. I didn't even want to think what they might be doing because to be honest that made me feel sick to my stomach. As I lay across Steph's bed my mind went back to when I knew that I was coming home and how much I wanted to just see Steph. To watch her face at the expressions that she'd make, to hear her voice and what she would say. Most of all I'd wanted to touch, to hold and smell her as she curled into me, to feel alive in her presence.

How was it that a woman like Steph could make me feel like that? Yes, she was a beautiful woman but it wasn't just her looks with her curly hair that made me want to lace my hands through it. Her long legs that would warp around me and her perfect smooth white skin under my hands. No, it wasn't just that, it was what was inside. How she would call me out for doing or saying something with a smile on her face or always ask if I was okay, or how she could be so embarrassed at the slightest thing. The way her eyes would change color when she was annoyed or best of all when she was passionate. How she would accept everyone for who they were and not be judgmental.

I missed her and as I said that to myself, I remembered what my father had said to me.

That it nearly hadn't happened between my parents until he woke up and realized that he couldn't live without her. That she was different from any other woman that he'd known and that he was captivated by her. I already knew now what I'd been trying to deny for years, because Steph was the only woman who mattered to me, and I could feel that she was my soul mate. The problem I had now was what the hell I was going to do about it.

I needed to find her, and I needed to tell her exactly how I felt about her. Was I prepared to take on Morelli? Yes, I was. I locked Steph's door and headed down the stairs to the car and once out of the parking lot made my way across town to where Morelli lived. I wasn't going to barge in unannounced, if Steph was there, I knew that wouldn't be fair to her and she certainly wouldn't want to talk to me. Instead, I parked the car further down the street where it couldn't be seen from the house and then walked back along the street to where a lane ran behind the houses opposite to Morelli's. There were no houses overlooking where I was, so no nosey neighbors to contend with. I squatted down and waited as I watched Morelli's house.

There were no lights on in the house but Morelli's truck was parked at the front so I assumed that he must have been in. The drapes were open in the downstairs room but closed upstairs in what I assumed was his bedroom, so maybe he was up there. I closed my eyes as that thought went through my mind, shit why hadn't I tried to get in touch with Steph before now? Because I was stupid and wouldn't admit to myself that all the times when Steph had questioned being in a relationship with me that we were already in one. As I opened my eyes that was when I noticed shadows in front of the front door, the outline of two people as their shapes merged together just before the door opened.

I was expecting to see Steph come bouncing out of the door, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Morelli was right behind a woman that I'd never seen before with his hand on her back guiding her to his truck. She was a pretty woman, to me she looked too young for Morelli, but I wasn't going to pass judgement on that because I was too relieved that it hadn't been Steph who had walked out of that door. I shrank back into the bushes as Morelli drove the truck out of his drive and was soon walking back to my car.

I have to say that I was more than a little surprised when I noticed Hector leant against the passenger door. Neither of us said a word as I remotely opened the car and we both got in before I started the engine.

"Estefania isn't in Trenton"

I almost hit the brakes when Hector announced that but instead continued driving as usual.

"She hasn't been to the hospital to visit her father or home to see her family"

I knew that she hadn't been to her apartment, but no doubt Hector already knew that.

"Do you know where the wedding was where she went with her father?"

"No"

That had me looking at Hector because I would have thought that would have been the first place that he would have looked for. Which begged a question that I needed to ask of him.

"Why Hector, why have you looked for her?"

I had thought of going to see Mrs. Plum, on the context of offering my support for her husband, but seeing as Hector knew that Steph wasn't around, I decided to find out first how Hector knew what he knew. By now we'd arrived back at Rangeman, but I needed an answer from Hector before we left the confines of the car.

"She's special so I look out for her. After you left Morelli tried his best to win her over, but I don't think that she saw it. She had a lot of skips so was more focused on her work. I helped her with one skip. By chance I was hanging around where there was some cock fighting going down. Man called Huckby, nasty piece of work"

I waited quietly as Hector went quiet, as though he was remembering something that had happened.

"She thanked me in Spanish and kissed my cheek. Jefe. She accepts me. I see how she looks at you and I know that you feel more for her than you'll admit, but you're going to lose her unless you get your head out of your arse"

I never had a chance to respond to what Hector had just said because he was out of the car and disappearing into the darkness of the stairwell. I rested my head against the headrest and had to smile at what Hector had said. It took some guts on his part to say what he had which was why he must have disappeared so quickly for fear of retribution from me. He was right though, and hadn't I come to that conclusion already. Which meant that I needed to find out where she was.

Three days later I was running ragged. All that I knew was where Steph wasn't. I'd managed to get to see Frank Plum but getting a minute alone with him was impossible. Ellen Plum wouldn't leave me alone with her husband and it became obvious very quickly that he wasn't going to discuss anything about where he and Steph had been in front of her. I had the feeling that the wedding that he had been to had something to do with the cold atmosphere that I'd felt invade the room.

We'd tried to backtrack his journey before he arrived at the hospital, but Frank had managed to remove any medical information that came with him once St Francis had recorded his results into their records system. The nurse, well all anyone knew of her was that she was called Clare and she'd managed to disappear as effectively as Frank's records. Hector was becoming just as frustrated as I was. There was no record of them hiring a car or travelling by plane. Even Santos was helping out and had gone through Steph's apartment for any clues only discovering that she had likely packed for somewhere warm and as her passport was still there likely somewhere in the States.

I was at a loss as to what to do next and with each passing day became more agitated at the lack of information that we were finding. The men were wise to stay away from me for fear of being taken to the mats knowing that the mood that I was in it would probably end up with them being seriously hurt. Santos was the only person who had the gall to call me out on my mood.

"You can't take it out on the men because you cocked up. Why the hell didn't you get in touch with her when you got back?"

I was livid with him saying that because he of all people should have realized that I was stuck in that damn hospital.

"Because of that damn infection, that's why"

"You were here after that. She would have come here if you'd asked, all you had to do was use your phone and talk. Oh right, you don't do talking, do you?"

That had me standing up from the chair behind my desk and glowering at Santos. Seemed though that he had a death wish because he just couldn't back off.

"Then what, you decide that she was better off with Morelli? You're a maldito idiota. It's probably because of you that she's gone, because you couldn't drop that armor around that heart of yours and admit what everyone else can see"

"I didn't know what to say to her"

I hadn't meant to say that out loud but Santos heard me and surprised me when he dropped the arrogant stance and walked around the desk to where I was stood. What I'd said was true, hell it had taken me weeks to tell myself that so how was I supposed to be able to explain to Steph how I felt after all of the crap that I'd already told her. I'd screwed up majorly.

"We'll find her"

Was all Santos had said as he patted me on the back and walked out of the room.

Two days later I still hadn't made any progress. All that I knew was where Steph wasn't. What was really driving me crazy was why Frank Plum refused to say to anyone where they had been. Why would he do that, what was he hiding that he kept it away from even his wife?

There was no movement on Steph's bank accounts and her phone was unavailable which started to get me more worried as to where she was. Then Hal came to see me after a visit to collect the files from the bonds office with information that hit me hard.

"Connie told me that Frank Plum had been to see Vinnie. He told Vinnie that Steph wouldn't be coming back, that she'd found somewhere new to live, where she was safe and happy"

Hal was right to exit my office having delivered that news to me. It wasn't anger though that had swept through me it was a feeling of loss, as though a part of me had been wrenched from my chest. I couldn't process the idea that I would never see her again, or that she wouldn't be a part of my life. So I did something that I thought that I would never resort to doing. I sent out an appeal to colleagues to keep a lookout for her.

It was two days later when an anonymous email landed in my inbox. At first, I thought that maybe it was Steph trying to get in touch with me, but the content of the email only contained one word.

"Scintillante"

Of course, I immediately Googled the word hoping that it was a place. No such luck, there were only definitions for it as a word, sparkling or shimmering, but what I did learn was that it was an Italian word. I wasn't too sure if that had any relevance, but I wasn't going to be dismissing it.

"Milan"

Came from Hector as he burst into my room making me wonder what the hell he was on about.

"That nurse, I found her through face recognition at the airport and from manifest records, she flew to Milan"

I had a city, maybe. Who was to say that the nurse wasn't just taking a vacation?

"Hector can you trace this email?"

I turned the screen for my computer so that he could read it and know which email that I meant. It had come into my personal account so it wouldn't normally be accessible to Hector through Rangeman.

"Forward it to me"

Even before Hector had left the room, I had put the name Scintillante and Milan into a Google search and found myself looking at a website for a fashion house. I had no idea what that meant but I was going to be booking a flight to Milan to find out. What I wasn't expecting was for Hector to be accompanying me.