Chapter 2

Thinking about today I knew that I'd have to rest up. Brown was right, this damn cut was giving me some grief. There was no way though that I was going to miss out on any gym time, there were exercises that I could do that wouldn't impact on my chest and the wound. I dressed in a vest and shorts and with running shoes on, headed down the stairs. My intention had been to do several miles on the tread mill, but I ended up outside running along the sidewalk instead. I had no idea why I'd done that, but once outside I felt myself relax. The air was cool and invigorating, traffic and pedestrians were few and far between, so I soon found my rhythm and just ran, head down feeling the endorphins flow, feeling good with myself.

That was until I stopped and looked at where I was. As I bent over to catch my breath, I was berating myself for not looking at where I was going. Finding myself in the parking lot of Steph's building I looked up to the fire escape, thinking that she might suddenly appear. A stupid notion and as I bent over again, I was swearing out loud to myself.

"You stupid bastard, she's not here"

The sound of light footsteps had me suddenly turning, I'd been so transfixed on that window I hadn't been aware of someone coming up close behind me.

"Well, looky here, have you come to visit me instead?"

I turned quickly to the sight of Edna Mazuur, Steph's Grandmother, heading my way. It seemed that she had planned her move right, because I was caught between the dumpster and a car with no way of avoiding her, and I really wanted to avoid her. She was a link to Steph that I didn't want a part of now.

"Mrs. Mazuur"

I said acknowledging her and looking up to watch her as she made her final steps toward me. I was trying to convince myself that she wouldn't try to grope me, when I really looked at her. She seemed to have aged since the last time that I'd seen her. She seemed smaller, her posture less upright and as she stopped in front of me her eyes weren't as bright as they usually were, as though she'd suddenly lost the twinkle of mischief that she normally possessed.

"Are you alright Mrs. Mazuur?"

I enquired, expecting some sort of rebuke for asking or the excuse that she'd just returned from a night out on the town. She stopped in front of me and just shrugged her shoulders.

"Couldn't sleep"

I raised an eyebrow remembering just how well she normally slept. Hell, that time when she'd stopped with Steph none of the visitors had woken her. Well except for when Steph had managed to roll me, and we'd ended up on the floor.

"I can't get my head around it"

"Around what?"

Wondering what the hell she was talking about.

"Why she up and left. She never even spoke to me before she went. I thought I had a better relationship with her than that"

I knew straight away that she was talking about Steph and to be honest it had me curious as to what Mrs. Mazuur knew. Steph loved her grandmother the most from her family and was always looking out for her. They had a connection and not just because they were related, Steph had more of her grandmother in her than her parents, so I suppose what Mrs. Mazuur was saying seemed out of character for Steph. I didn't know what to say really, I hadn't been here. Maybe if that damn mission had finished when it was meant to, then maybe Steph would have spoken to me, but it hadn't, so I was in the same situation as Mrs. Mazuur.

"I heard she's with Morelli down in Atlanta"

As Mrs. Mazuur looked up at me, a sigh escaped from her mouth.

"That's what I was told as well. Ellen, she received a text telling her that. Ellen was over the moon that she was with Morelli and didn't seem to care that Steph hadn't come to see her"

I wasn't too sure what to say to her, she seemed upset with the way that Steph had left, without a word, not unlike anyone else who knew her. A movement caught my eye and looking beyond Mrs. Mazuur I spied a black SUV pulling into the parking area.

"I have to go, if you need anything, then just call me"

I meant what I'd said, so walking past Mrs. Mazuur I went over to the SUV not at all surprised to see Santos sat at the wheel. Once I was sat in the passenger seat I watched as Mrs. Mazuur made her way to the back entrance of the building.

"Got worried about you when you disappeared"

I didn't bother giving Santos a response partly annoyed with myself for ending up here. No doubt he'd had Hector trace the location of my phone which actually made me feel stupid for being found here. I found myself making excuses, though was sure that Santos was thinking something else.

"Mrs. Mazuur looks to be struggling, she's lost that spunk that we all knew"

Remembering how she looked and sounded as we'd talked.

"Yeah well, I'm not surprised. Steph upset a lot of people"

I looked over to Santos as he said that, realizing that he'd said that with a touch of anger in his voice.

"Maybe she would have spoken to us if we'd been around"

Why the hell was I trying to defend Steph against Santos? I sighed as I realized what I'd said.

"Sorry, I know you and Steph got on well together"

Maybe that was an understatement because I was sure that Santos felt more than that for Steph. They had a connection through humor and food and Santos had always been keen to make sure that she was okay.

"I was angry with her, to some extent I still am. Hell, I went to see her after you'd left, just to check up on her. She was her usually self, chatty and never even mentioned Morelli. Then the next thing I knew was the buzz on the street that she'd just upped and left with him. I even checked the Atlanta PD and sure enough there was Morelli's name. J Morelli, homicide detective"

I felt guilty that I hadn't even thought of doing that, maybe I just didn't want it confirmed, because I didn't want to believe it. We spent the short journey to Rangeman with our own thoughts, me rebuking myself for allowing Steph to have so much influence over me. Once back at Rangeman I left the garage, no words were spoken between Santos and me which was probably a good thing, hell what was there to say. I certainly wasn't about to admit how devastated I was feeling with Steph gone. I was keen to get showered and changed and as I went through those rituals it occurred to me that I hadn't mentioned to Santos about a trip up to the city, so messaged him before I left the apartment. Maybe it would send a message that I wasn't bothered by what had happened. By the time I reached the fifth floor I had my answer so was looking forward to the evening and a way to try and forget all about Stephanie Plum.

After another day of working in my office I was so ready to get out. Brown had been optimistic about the cut so dressed in pressed trousers and a black shirt I grabbed my jacket and bag ready to meet up with Santos. As agreed, we were meeting in the garage and driving up to New York, each of us sure that we would be sober enough in the morning to make the return journey. I watched as Santos threw a set of keys toward me, surprised when I recognized them as belonging to the Porsche Turbo. I'd enjoy driving this car along the highway.

How wrong I was. As soon as the engine came to life all I could think about was how much Steph had loved this car. I was even aware of that slight fragrance unique to her and visions of her here with me started to plague me. I clenched my teeth together, focusing on the road and the feel of the power in my hands, banning any emotion that I'd had for Steph to the depths of my mind. Tonight was going to be the night that I banished all demons behind me.

Two hours later the car was parked in the garage of a hotel where we had two rooms booked. The club that Santos wanted to go to was one where he knew the owner so that gave us the advantage of walking past all the queuing people outside. It had been a long time since I'd picked up a random woman for sex and was surprised at how nervous I was feeling. Would I let Santos take the lead, probably not.

"This place is the place to be in New York, some amazing talent as well"

I watched as Santos started to eye up a group of women ahead of us.

"Let's get a drink first and then scope out the place"

Not wanting to settle on the first women we set eyes on. I wanted to take my time before finding someone interesting enough to take it further. Once at the bar we ordered a beer each, not wanting to be too drunk to appreciate what the evening might bring.

"Those two there are cute, and I do believe that they are looking at us"

"I bet we both fancy the same one, so keep looking"

I answered as I looked across at the women that Santos had pointed out to me. One was a very beautiful woman, slender with an amazing body and straight blonde hair. The friend, not going there, plus I didn't really see her as being a one night stand. The music was loud, and the place was packed with the sounds and reverberations helping me to get into the mood. The mood, yeah, I was in the mood to find a woman to sink into, the old feelings of the chase slowly building up inside me. It had been a long time, but it felt very welcoming, like an old familiar friend.

As I cast my eye around the room and onto the dance floor, I spied a group of women moving seductively to the beat of the music. One of the women dancing caught my eye and how she was glancing around the dance floor as though eyeing men up She seemed a better option for me, so placing my beer on a passing table I made my way onto the dance floor.

As there was a group of women, it wasn't too difficult to infiltrate my way into their inner circle and move until I was stood in front of her. She was as tall as me in her FMPs with a dress that was almost indecent as her breasts seemed to sway to the music. The body language and smile that graced her lips had me confident that she was the one that I would be with later in the evening. She was lithe and her movement toward me meant that I soon had her in my arms. I moved in to hold onto her thin waist, pulling her close to mine, our hips and chests touching. Maybe fate was with me because the tempo of the music changed to a slow pace. I had to admit that it felt good to be holding someone in my arms, the feel of a warm supple body moving in synch with mine as we followed the slow tempo of the music. As the music changed back to a faster beat, I stepped in closer to suggest the next move.

"Do you want a drink, all this dancing is thirsty work"

"Sure why not"

She answered in a low husky voice. As we made our way to the bar, I held my hand against her back to guide her through the crowd, spying Santos chatting to a woman at one of the tables. The look that passed between us communicated that we were both thinking that we were set up for the night and we'd see each other in the morning.

"What would you like to drink?"

I asked once stood at the bar and trying to get the attention of the man serving the drinks.

"White wine, please"

I ordered two glasses of wine and looked to my side to get a better look at the woman and had to say that I was pleased with what I was seeing. She was stood touching my arm and I felt it link through mine as her face looked up at me with a smile. Her eyes were a deep brown, the same color as her hair, with golden colored makeup to match her dress. Yeah, she was definitely looking and behaving as though she had plans for the rest of the night that included me.

"Maybe we could buy a bottle of this and, err, find somewhere quieter"

Yep, she definitely had plans that included me which made me relax.

"Sure"

I quickly answered hoping I was reading her correctly.

"My hotel room is just down the block"

"Even better"

I answered as she finished the wine in her glass. As I ordered a bottle, I watched the reflection through the mirror, as she walked over to a table where I presume her friends were sat. I was aware of them looking up and over to where I was stood and the expressions on their faces. It seemed that I hadn't lost my way with women and was feeling the anticipation growing inside me.

Leaving the club, we walked slowly down the sidewalk to where her hotel was, avoiding other revelers out on the street. We were both quiet as though words might spoil what I was sure was about to happen. Her hotel room was on the tenth floor so having the privacy of the elevator was when I started my slow seduction. Pushing her against the wall with my body and twisting my hands through her hair, my mouth sought out her neck to taste and tease toward her mouth. Feeling her arms around my waist it seemed that she was just as keen as me. At the ding indicating our arrival at her floor I think we had both decided that this was definitely a good idea. The hotel room was just one bedroom with an attached bathroom, neat and clean and certainly sufficient for what we would need. As she closed and locked the door, I could see the carnal desire on her face as her eyes tracked their way down and back up my body. Her next move took me by surprise, it being almost an attack and I had to hold her hands by her side to slow her down.

"We've got all night"