Chapter 26

Cally sat in her Jeep, momentarily lost in the stories she was finding about her mother. Without warning the passenger door of her Jeep opened and she let out a startled gasp. Before she could further react, a man slid inside. "The number one rule of any stake-out is to be aware of your surroundings," he said.

"Carlos!" It was half a question and half an exclamation. Intellectually she knew the man next to her was Carlos, but his appearance was far different from what she'd grown used to. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with faded blue jeans, which while far from baggy, were loose enough to allow his brace to be worn underneath. And on his feet were running shoes, well worn. The main surprise though was the navy ball cap pulled low on his forehead and the even hairline at the back of his neck.

"You cut off your ponytail," she exclaimed. "Are you wearing your leg brace?"

"I did and I am," he replied. "The second rule of stake-outs is to keep your doors locked."

"This isn't a stake-out," she said. "I unlocked them because I was thinking about getting out."

"You were not getting out," he said. "You were completely lost in whatever you were reading on your phone. What are you doing here? Where's Luke?"

"Luke is at his apartment," she said flushing slightly. "Don't get mad at him. He thinks I'm at work. He told me not to do this, but…"

"But you don't like to be told what to do," Ranger interrupted. He sighed. "You're very like your mother. If Luke told you to stay away from this funeral home, there was a reason. We're trying to keep you safe."

"Why are you staking out this funeral home?" she asked. "Is Terry inside?"

"I doubt it," Ranger said. "And I'm not staking out this funeral home. I'm following you. Tank got a call from Luke that your car was on the move."

"What?"

"You have a tracker on your car, Cally. It was put there so we could better monitor you and protect you."

"You what!"

"It's standard operating procedure. Luke called Tank. Tank told him to stay put and then called me. Luke's a little pissed that you lied to him and thought maybe I should come and find you."

"I did not lie to him!" Cally protested. She looked at Ranger, but he was no longer listening to her. He'd gone completely still, his attention riveted to the back door of the funeral home. Cally followed his intense gaze and saw what had caught his interest. A woman had just stepped through the door. She turned to say something to the man who was behind her. She was blonde, but not the cool blonde Cally had seen in pictures.

This woman was a brassy bottle-blonde. Her hair was in a short bob that hit her face at an unflattering angle, emphasizing instead of disguising heavy jowls. She was wearing a simply cut grey suit which did nothing to hide the thickened middle common to some post-menopausal women. Her legs were encased in stockings which, to Cally's trained eye, had the look of compression hose. Her ankles and feet were puffy and stuffed into plain black pumps. Even from this distance, Cally could see the swelling of her legs and feet. This was an unhealthy woman. Obesity, and probably congestive heart failure. The woman turned to her companion and listened to what he was saying with a frown on her face.

"Is…Is that Terry Gilman, and her bodyguard?" she questioned, hardly believing her eyes.

"That's Terry Gilman," Ranger said.

The pictures she'd seen earlier during her google search must have been old. There was a saying she'd always despised, but it was apropos. This woman looked like she'd been 'rode hard and put up wet.'

"She looks different than I thought," Cally said.

"The life of a mafia princess is a hard one. Her work shows on her." They both watched as the couple walked to a black BMW parked just behind the building, and only partially visible to them. Terry got into the driver's side and the man got into the passenger seat.

"Buckle up, Cally. Let's see if you're as good at tailing a suspect as your mother used to be," Ranger said.

"Tailing a suspect?" Cally said weakly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, follow that car," Ranger told her.

"But what if they see us. Won't Terry recognize you?"

"They won't see us until we want to be seen," Ranger said. "Just do as I say, and we'll be fine. Your mother used to do this in a powder blue '53 Buick. You're driving a silver Jeep. Piece of cake. They're pulling out of the lot now and will head down the alley, so wait just a few seconds, then you pull out onto the street. Turn left and we'll catch sight of them at the corner. We'll let them get ahead of us once we get into traffic."

Cally followed Ranger's precise directions. They stayed a block behind the black BMW always making sure that there was at least a car between them. Cally's heart which had been racing double-time had slowed back to normal. She kept her eyes on the car and did everything Carlos told her to do.

Ranger pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and called Tank. "I found Cally in the parking lot of Stiva's Funeral Home," he said. "She must have her mother's instincts and good luck because she was parked facing the side of the building, partly hidden from view of the back entrance. And you'll never guess who came out. Terry Gilman and Brian Gregg."

There was a gasp from Cally who took her eyes off the road long enough to give Ranger a wide-eyed stare.

"Brian Gregg? You sure?" Tank asked.

"It's been years since I've seen him, but I'm sure. We're following them right now. I need you back from D.C. asap."

"What are you going to do if you catch them? Confront them?"

"Depends on where they're headed. If it's someplace public then yes, I'm going to confront them. Maybe introduce them to Cally if she's amenable. That would be the surest way of finding out if Gilman knows of her and Stephanie's existence."

"You think it's wise to do that without backup?"

Ranger hesitated, but only slightly. "I think two on two will be better. Less threatening. But call Luke and tell him to follow Cally's car. He's probably tracking it right now."

"I know he is," Tank said. "I'd like to be there when you come face-to-face with Gregg. If he knows that you know what he's been up to, he'll be plenty threatened."

"I'm counting on that," Ranger said.

"Traffic allowing I'll be there in less than three. I'm already on my way."

Ranger disconnected the call and slipped his phone back into the front pocket of his hoodie. When he removed his hand there was a gun in it. He saw the sidewise glance from Cally.

"You're armed," she said. "Do you think there's going to be trouble?"

"Keep your eyes on the road," he said. "Back off a little. Traffic is thinning out and we don't have to be so close. I'm always armed. I had no idea I'd be running into Brian Gregg. The only trouble I came out looking for was you. But I'm always prepared."

"I'm prepared," she said as she took her foot off the gas and let a car go around her. "I have a gun."

"You're carrying?" Ranger asked.

"Yes. I have a concealed carry permit. I told you that before. I always have my gun with me. Don't patronize me. I'm not an airhead who takes unnecessary chances."

"I'm not patronizing you," Ranger said. "Are you comfortable with your weapon?"

"Of course! I mean, I've only shot at targets, but I'm pretty good at hitting them."

"Do you have bullets in your gun?" Ranger asked.

"Yes!"

"Well, I guess there's a little of your father in you, too. Their turn signal is on. I think they're turning in somewhere off this road. We'll drive by and then angle back. Huh! Mosconi's. Why am I not surprised?"

Cally cruised past the entrance to the restaurant and at Ranger's instructions went another block before they turned around.

"Hungry?" Ranger asked.

"I am," Cally said. "All I've had today was a doughnut."

"From the Tasty Pastry, I know. That's where you were when Luke called Tank. I'll buy you lunch at the infamous Mosconi's."

"What's infamous about it?"

"It's where the elite mob meets to eat…and do business," Ranger said.

Ranger saw Cally giving him the once over as they walked across the parking lot toward the restaurant. "Do you think we're dressed appropriately?" she asked. "I'm in my scrubs and you're wearing a sweatshirt and jeans. This place seems kind of upscale."

"We're fine," Ranger said. "My plan is to introduce you to Terry Gilman as Cally Morelli, but I won't do that without your permission."

"Why do you want to do that?" Cally asked. "Won't that lead her to wonder about mom?"

"Yes, it might," Ranger said, "but it's the surest way to find out if she already knows of your existence. If she doesn't it will create major friction between her and Gregg, which we could use to our advantage. If she does know then we've been right to assume you and your mom are in danger."

They entered the foyer of the restaurant where the maître ď came immediately toward them. "Mr. Mañoso, it's been awhile since we've seen you. Welcome back!"

"Thank you, Tony. It has been awhile."

"Your preferred table at the back is open. May I show you to it?"

"We're here to surprise an old friend. He's lunching with Ms. Gilman, could you seat us with them? They've only just arrived, I think."

Tony frowned, clearly not comfortable with Ranger's suggestion. "They are in the private dining alcove and I got the impression they would be discussing, uh, business."

"Both Ms. Gilman and her companion are acquaintances of more than twenty years," Ranger said. "We'll just stop in for a moment and say hello and then return to our table." Tony's forehead smoothed out at Ranger's suggestion. Or maybe it was the hundred-dollar bill that unobtrusively changed hands that smoothed his brow. In any case he stepped back to let them pass.

Ranger knew exactly where Terry and Brian were sitting. There was a small dining alcove in the back that was separated from the main dining room by curtains. If the curtains were open the wait staff would enter freely, but if they were closed, they stayed out until they were invited in. As Ranger and Cally approached the alcove the curtains were still swinging from their very recent closure. They were plotting something, and he felt a rush of adrenaline as he pulled back the curtain to interrupt their planning.

Gilman and Gregg looked up to see Ranger and Cally standing inside the curtain. He heard the sharply indrawn breath from Gregg and saw the simultaneous frown on Gilman's face at the interruption. She hid her expression quickly.

"Hello, Ranger," she said. "Long time, no see. I heard you had a horrible accident. I'm surprised to see you up and around."

"Horrible, yes," Ranger responded. "Accident, no. It was a purposeful attack." At Terry Gilman's raised eyebrow, he continued. "All water under the bridge, though. As you can see, I'm completely recovered, and in large part due to this young lady." He turned slightly to Cally, who smiled at him. He was reassured. She seemed calm which was going to be important once he introduced her.

"How nice," Terry said. "I hate to be unsocial, but my partner and I were just getting ready to discuss a business matter."

"I can imagine," Ranger said dryly. "How are you, Brian? It's been a few years. I heard by the grapevine that you've retired."

"Mañoso," Gregg muttered with a slight dip of his head in acknowledgement of Ranger's greeting. Gregg was fidgety, with one hand clenching and unclenching at his side and the other stuffed deep into his pants pocket, also moving. His foot was tapping time to an unheard rhythm. Good, Ranger thought. Gregg was thrown completely off-guard by Ranger's presence. Not so his dinner companion who was staring at Ranger impatiently.

"I'll let you get to your lunch shortly," Ranger said. "I just wanted to introduce you to my friend. Terry Gilman, meet Cally Morelli, Joe and Stephanie's daughter."

"That's impossible," she snapped. "The Joe Morelli family was killed in a horrible accident over twenty years ago!"

"Once again, horrible, yes," Ranger said. "Accident, no. And Cally survived."

"What are you trying to pull, Ranger? You know what I'm saying is true. That family died."

"It didn't," Ranger said. "Look at Cally, Terry. Look at her mother's eyes shining back at you and look at her father's chin. This is indeed Joe and Stephanie's daughter. And if you need more convincing, look at Gregg's face. That will convince you what I'm saying is true."

Terry took a moment to study Cally and then looked toward Brian. Ranger saw the realization wash over her. "You fool," Terry spat at Gregg. "You couldn't kill Mañoso the first time. Now I find out you failed me years ago. How did you keep this hidden? What other surprises do you have for me? If Joe Morelli is still alive, I'll make you wish you were dead. You'll be begging me to kill you."

Gregg was rattled. That was good, Ranger thought. "Now's your chance, Brian," Ranger said softly. "She's asking you to tell her everything, but maybe you'd rather I tell her for you."

"Tell me what?" Terry asked. "Is Joe alive? He can't be!"

"Oh, no, Joe's dead," Ranger said. "Poor Cally never knew her dad. I was wondering if you knew about Brian's wife. His little woman that he keeps tucked away back home, in Vietnam," Ranger asked.

Ranger didn't see Terry's reaction to his statement because he was focused on Gregg's hand, which had been continuously moving inside his pocket. Suddenly the hand emerged. Gregg's fingers were wrapped tightly around a Glock. He raised his eyes along with his unsteady hand to take aim at Ranger and found Ranger facing him, his weapon aimed directly between Gregg's eyes, his arm steady.

Cally gasped audibly and started to move toward the men, but Terry moved also. She moved quicker than Ranger thought possible for a woman of her age and body habitus. Terry stepped forward as her arm shot around Cally and pulled her off balance. Terry's dominant hand gripped a knife that was pressed tightly against Cally's neck. "Don't move," Terry and Ranger told Cally at the same time. Her command was a threat, his was a warning for her safety.

"Drop your weapon, Ranger, or I'll slit this girl's throat ear-to-ear!" Terry hissed.

He'd expected Terry to be armed, but not with a knife. A knife was silent in public spaces, but messy and not typically a woman's weapon, but he thought Terry would use it. Ranger watched as Terry's focus went from Brian to him and back to Cally. Cally had gone completely still, leaning back at an odd angle because of her greater height, but Terry had a tight grip on her.

"Drop it!" Terry commanded Ranger. He spared a moment to look at Cally. There was a thin stream of red trailing down her neck. One of her hands was in her purse. He wondered if she carried pepper spray, or even hair spray, which had been effective for her mother. He acquiesced and let his weapon drop to the floor.

"Here's your second chance, Brian," Terry said. "Kill him."

Except for the trembling of his gun hand, Gregg remained still.

"Do it!" Terry commanded in a tone so low it was almost a growl.

"I can't," Gregg said. "This is a public place. I'd never get away with it."

"I can't do it," Terry said. "I'm known in this town. You can do it. You can disappear and come back with a new name. I'll help you get away. Kill him!"

But Brian remained still. Ranger sensed the man's weakness. He thought Gregg was near his breaking point because Gregg now realized that his secret was no longer a secret. Ranger wanted to push him over the edge.

"Much easier to run over someone than to point blank pull a trigger, right, Brian?" Ranger taunted. "And you forgot your suppressor. That's not very professional. But what am I thinking? You're not the killer. You always hired others to do your killing for you."

He knew his very presence intimidated Gregg and he was hoping that would give him enough time to neutralize the situation. He'd have to take Terry out first and hope that Gregg wouldn't shoot or would miss if he did.

A sound came from deep inside of Gregg, part anger and part desperation and his gun hand raised slightly. As if in slow motion, Ranger saw his finger pull back on the trigger. Cally screamed and Gregg's arm swung toward her. He fired as Ranger rushed toward him. Shots rang out. Gregg's shot, then seven shots in quick succession. Ranger counted them automatically even as he saw the blood splatter and saw Gregg crumple to the floor.

Ranger looked at Cally. She was standing with her hand still in her purse, the bottom of which was completely blown away. Blood was streaming from a gash in her neck. Terry was standing back against the wall, the knife still in her hand. He lunged for Terry and once again she moved quicker than he would have thought she could. She pulled back the curtain and ran from the cubicle. He let her go, instead focusing his attention on Cally as he moved to her side.

"Is...is he dead?" she asked.

Ranger nodded and caught her as her knees buckled. He sat on the floor with her in his lap and cradled her tight against him. He reached to the tabletop and found a white linen dinner napkin and used it to put pressure on her wound. Although the cut was bleeding freely, the blood was seeping, and thankfully not spurting.

Seven shots. She'd said not to patronize her, that she was prepared. She'd had a freaking bullet chambered and then emptied the magazine. She'd calmly told him she was carrying not an hour earlier but neglected to tell him she had a round chambered. He took a quick look at Gregg. The shots were all mid and upper torso. No, she wasn't a girl to be patronized.

He became aware of chaos in the restaurant. Background sounds of chairs being knocked over and patrons screaming told him the restaurant was emptying out. He hoped Gregg's single bullet hadn't found a mark. He quickly perused the restaurant proper. People were cautiously peeking from under tables where they'd hidden and most everyone was making for the door except for Luke Santos who was dodging escaping patrons, making his way to the back of the restaurant.

Luke glanced at Gregg but came immediately to Ranger's side. "What happened?" he said. "I just pulled up and was hanging around the entrance when I heard shots and then all hell broke loose." He dropped to his haunches and looked at Cally, pale and trembling, still being held by Ranger.

"Where's all this blood coming from?" Luke asked and Ranger remembered he'd been a medic in the Army.

"Shallow cut in her neck," Ranger said. He tilted his head toward Gregg. "That's the SOB that's really not okay, but there's no help for him."

Cally's ruined purse was lying on the floor. He nodded toward it. "That's where the flurry of shots you heard came from." Ranger remembered that Stephanie had killed Jimmy Alpha by emptying her gun from her handbag into his chest.

Stephanie had carried both emotional and physical scars from the incident. He remembered the dimpled cheek where she'd been shot in the ass before she did Alpha in. He hadn't been there to see it, but he heard about it. People would hear about this, too. Cally was going to have a physical scar from this experience, albeit on her neck instead of her ass. They had to act quickly to get their story straight. It was self-defense, that would be obvious, but there would be questions that Cally wouldn't want to answer—that he wouldn't want to answer. Stephanie's identity had to be protected.

"We need to talk about this," he quietly told Cally. "I have a feeling we're going to be here a while and there will be lots of questions to answer." And even as he said it three of Trenton's finest entered the restaurant, guns drawn.