Chapter 23

The following morning, Tank woke up to see Stephanie standing by the closet. She threw his boxers at him. "Huh," Tank said, grinning.

Stephanie reached into the closet and shifted her head a little bit. Tank saw a camera sticking out of the closet door.

They dressed quickly before going to the coffee room to meet the other men. After she grabbed the napkin on the table, Stephanie removed a pen from her purse and wrote, "Camera in closet. FBI?" Stephanie wasn't sure who had planted it in the room. The FBI seemed to be the logical choice.

She placed the napkin on the table for Ranger, Morelli, and Zack to read her note. Stephanie didn't trust that the coffee room was free from bugs. The men were not impressed that someone continued to spy on Stephanie and Tank. However, Tank had decided to sleep in that room the previous night.

"Jake, can we do some shopping for the baby, please?" she begged as she smiled at her husband.

"Yeah, we need to start preparing for this one," Jake replied. As he came up behind Stephanie, he wrapped his arms around her. Tank's hands automatically embraced their baby.

"Wait, you two have not even started preparing for the baby?" Joe asked. He was surprised Stephanie was leaving them for so long.

"We have not had the time," Stephanie said, defending Tank and her.

Jake put another napkin down. "I will call my contact," he wrote. He pushed the napkin away so the three men could read his message.

"Jake, do you have a protein bar?" Stephanie asked her husband. Her stomach grumbled in anticipation.

He removed a protein bar from one of his pockets and gave it to her. Stephanie tore off the wrapper and put it on the table. She wasted no time eating the food.

"That is the one that nobody will eat?" Ranger asked as he looked at the Strawberry and Caramel one. Ranger shook his head. Pregnancy makes people eat the strangest food combinations.

"All right, let's go, little one," Tank said as he held out his hand. Stephanie entwined their fingers and grinned. "Bye," Tank said.

They took a few steps when Ranger prevented their escape. "Hey, use my SUV." Ranger tossed him the keys to his vehicle.

"Thanks," Tank said. He knew Ranger would have trackers on the SUV, but he didn't care.

Morelli, Ranger, and Zack looked at each other. "I think this kid will be an only child," Morelli told the other men. "I can't picture Stephanie going through a second pregnancy."

"Yeah," Ranger and Zack agreed. They watched Tank and Stephanie walk towards Ranger's car.

The men saw Tank help Stephanie into the SUV. They saw her buckle up, Tank into the driver's side doing the same, and the SUV drove off.

Before they left the parking lot, Stephanie's cell phone rang. She read the caller ID and smiled. "Hi, stranger," Stephanie greeted.

'Hey, can we meet and get some coffee somewhere? I would love to catch up," Jen asked her old college friend.

"Sure. Can you hold on for one minute?" She turned to ask her husband, "Hey, one of my old friends from college lives here in New York and wants to catch up. I want you to meet her. Where are we going shopping?"

"SunnySide Mall, we will be there in fifteen," Tank replied.

'Did you hear that, Jen?" Stephanie asked.

"Yeah, see you there, in fifteen at the old cafe," Jen replied before hanging up.

Tank pulled into the SunnySide Mall fourteen minutes after Stephanie ended the call. He parked the vehicle, helped his wife get out and walked into the mall.

Stephanie grabbed Tank's hand, and they turned to the left to find the Old Cafe. When they arrived, they discovered it was closed.

Tank saw Jen approach from behind Stephanie. "Hey, stranger," Jen said. Stephanie turned around to hug her friend.

Jen used the key to open the gate to the shop. They entered the shop, following Jen as she turned on the light. Jen closed the gate once they got inside. They sat down at a table in the corner.

"Look at you. The woman who kept telling me that she would never be the classic Burg wife," Jen joked to Stephanie.

"I am anything but the classic Burg wife," Stephanie replied to her. Stephanie matched Jen's grin.

"Yeah, I do not have a single doubt about that," Jen said. "Why is Rangeman, the Army Rangers, and Trenton PD looking into Sanders?" Jen asked.

"Why is the FBI looking into Sanders?" Stephanie said.

Jen pulled out her badge from her belt clip. She was an FBI Special Agent. Tank was surprised.

"Okay, I will go first," Jen said as she put her badge back on her belt.

"We think Sanders is trying to expand his drug operation all across the US. There is a problem trying to get proof. Every time we get an agent inside his operation, he finds out about them. We have tried twice, losing one agent and putting another in the hospital. He's in critical condition." Jen told Stephanie. "Your turn to share."

"Sanders contacted Rangeman five months ago requesting some undercover protection work. He had an account with Rangeman until five months ago. Sanders closed the account two days after Stephanie and I went undercover. Our boss got orders from his superiors to gather intel here in New York. Ranger encountered one of our friends on the PD in Trenton, and they decided to work together," Tank told her.

"Okay, so how about this? The FBI works with Rangeman and Trenton PD," Jen suggested.

"On one condition, Jen. Rangeman takes the lead on this investigation," Stephanie told her old friend.

"Yeah, we can do that," Jen said.

"Blue eyes, I will have some rooms ready for you and your crew in a couple of hours. I will call you with the details when it is arranged," Jen said.

She got up and left through the back door. "Thomas, make sure they get some breakfast," Jen said before exiting the cafe.

"No way," Stephanie said when she saw Thomas.

"Wow. I never thought you would wind up married again after Dick," Thomas said as he made them both some eggs.

"This is my husband, Tank. Tank, this is Thomas, Dick's cousin. He is the only good one in Dick's family." Stephanie told him. Stephanie giggled. "I was going to say Thomas was the only dickless Orr, but it didn't sound quite right."

"Yeah, I never forgave the worm for what he did to you," Thomas said. He pointed a spatula at Stephanie. "You're a funny girl. Remember not to bite the hand that feeds you."

"Sorry, Thomas," Stephanie said as he placed the food on the table.

"Tell Morelli that Thomas says hi."

"Oh, I will," Stephanie told him before digging into her food.

After they ate, Thomas opened the cafe to the public. Stephanie and Tank thanked Thomas for the meal. They left the cafe to shop for their baby.