This is an AU story. I hope you find the characters still themselves even if their world is different.

Sally

The Good Wife

Chapter 4

I don't want to know, I don't want to know, I don't want to know, I chanted. My mind was racing. Maybe if I flirt with him more, I can avoid having to hear about the creepy note I found in my purse for a few minutes. That would be good. If I moved beyond flirting and jumped him again I could extend it to a few hours before I have to deal with reality. An excellent plan I thought. I know if I could get him naked it would be at least a week before we would leave the hotel room and by then it would all be over. It would be over by then right? Please? Pretty please? I chewed on my lip, beside myself with worry.

I heard Ranger groan, breaking my train of thought. His eyes were darker than I remember. "You're killing me here Babe." What was he talking about?

My eyes got wide. "Shit, did I say that out loud?" He nodded. I heard Lester clear his throat behind me. Ranger seemed to have forgotten Lester was still in the room. They had one of their mind meld things and Lester stepped into the hallway. Ranger led me over and sat me down on the couch. He grabbed us each a bottle of water before sitting in the chair opposite me.

I apologized, "Sorry. I hardly ever do that anymore. When I get nervous about something my mind goes into denial mode." I bit my lip, "I let my brain wander into places it normally wouldn't go." I gave him an apologetic smile and snuck a quick look at him to gauge his reaction. I got the raised eyebrow thing. "And sometimes I think out loud." I finished quickly. Sure that explains everything. This is totally not awkward at all anymore. I didn't wait for his reaction.

"So are you going to tell me what the hell I am doing up here or would you just like to sit back and watch me make a fool of myself?" Sadly I chose reality over what would no doubt be a sexual experience of epic proportions. We are talking doomsday orgasm here people. I really need to get my priorities in order.

Ranger grinned. He seemed to be enjoying this a little too much. I must have been thinking out loud again. Fuck! I snatched the card from the table. He got serious again. Great.

"What is this about?" I studied the card.

Ranger was studying me, "I was hoping you could tell me."

I shrugged, taking a drink of water before answering. "I know. I know what? It could be anything. I know you are addicted to Tastykakes. I know your husband can't help but screw any woman within reach. I know you bought a new shower massager. I know you molested your bodyguard on the way here. It could be anything!" If you are going to send a threatening note, please be specific. I noticed my mind was still wandering a bit, but hoped Ranger didn't notice.

"There have been threats." Ranger was trying to remain all business, but I could tell my outbursts were making it difficult for him.

I rolled my eyes, "I know about the threats, Dickie has been getting them for months. It all started when he tried to help broker a deal between a couple of labor unions. They traced it back to the Grizolli family, but haven't narrowed it down."

Ranger shook his head slightly. "There are other threats."

I sighed, "There are always threats." He studied me for a moment before continuing.

"These are about you." He was trying to let me know what was going on without making me panic. He was probably worried about my reaction. Smart man. He saw what happened when I went into denial. If I really got freaked out, I might cuff us both to the headboard to escape dealing with it. Once I thought of it, I decided the plan had merit. I was guessing the bedroom was through that door. I studied him, wondering if he had cuffs on him. Before I could act, he cut me off.

"Babe, please." His voice was a groan. He sounded pained. Okay, focus Steph.

"What kind of threats? If you wear fur we will throw paint at you sort of threats?" I was hopeful. I didn't like fur anyway.

Ranger opened his jacket and pulled out an envelope. He moved to sit next to me on the sofa before handing me the envelope. I tried to open it, but my hands were shaking too much. He took it out of my hands and opened it. There were dozens of photos inside. He handed me one. It was a picture of me leaving Lula's Spa yesterday. I looked fabulous. It was our test run for tonight's hair and makeup. In blood red marker someone had drawn a slash across my throat and drops of blood falling from it. Shit. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and set it on the table. Ranger handed me the next one. It was me in the backyard at my sister Valerie's house. I was pushing her little boy Frankie on the swings. A set of crosshairs had been drawn over my heart. Fuck. There were more. One by one we went through the two dozen images that promised my death, each in a different way. They were all laid out on the coffee table. I drew a deep breath.

My voice was shaky, but high pitched like I was trying to be cheerful. "Certainly a creative psychopath. It would have been really dull if they had just sent a note saying, I'm going to kill you. Then I would have to imagine what they were thinking of doing. This way I have all of these different images to work with. I can come up with dozens of scenarios. It is quite thoughtful really." I just kept rambling. My body started to shake. I was cold. My chest was tight, breathing was becoming difficult and little black spots started to dance in front of my eyes.

Ranger moved quickly. He placed his hand on the base of my neck and pushed my head down until it was between my knees. "Breathe, Babe," he whispered in my ear. He gently massaged my neck and shoulders whispering in Spanish. His tone and the fluidity of the words calmed me. I was too distracted to try and understand any of it. When my breathing had returned to normal and there were no more black spots, I sat up slowly. I leaned my head back on the sofa and closed my eyes.

"How long?" My voice was stronger than I expected, maybe the rest of me was too.

"A couple of months, the first photos were the more mild ones. They arrived once a week or every other week since the end of the election. This last month they have intensified, the more explicit threats coming every other day." His voice was calm and business like, but it was laced with concern.

My eyes flew open. "Why is this the first I am hearing of it? Some psycho has been sending me death threats for two months and no one bothered to tell me? Don't you think I should have had some idea?" I was livid.

Ranger explained, "We were only given the case in the last 24 hours. We've had to scramble for coverage tonight. There hasn't been much time for us to investigate. Your husband called me in as soon as he found out what was going on. He requested that I be your personal bodyguard until this was solved."

"What? Dickie just found out?" The wheels in my brain were turning so loud, it was hard to think. "Who the fuck has been hiding all of this?" Tell me who it is so I can fucking kill them I wanted to add.

"Your father in law has been working with the State Police. They have been trying to keep it quiet."

I quickly revved into rhino mode, "Charles! That Bastard! Lousy fucking piece of shit!" I stood and threw my hands in the air and began pacing. "Of course he is keeping it under wraps. The man is a goddamn control freak. God forbid anything messes with the second coming of Camelot and tarnish the image of the perfect Orr Dynasty. This is so fucking perfect."

I made my way to the bar and poured myself a vodka and downed half of it. Crap, that burned. Christ, this is so not the way I saw my evening going. How did this happen? That note, that stupid cryptic note. I scanned the room and saw the note on the couch where I had left it. My eyes flickered from the note to the photos on the table to the note and back again. Something didn't add up.

Ranger was watching me, "What do you see?" he asked me.

I tossed back the second half of my drink and poured another. It burned less this time and I was starting to feel tingly. Ranger came over and handed me the water I had discarded earlier and tried to relieve me of my drink. I didn't want to let it go. I wanted to drink myself into oblivion and pretend this never happened.

"Later," he said softly. "Right now I need you. You see something. I know it. I need to know what you see." My grip hadn't eased. "Please?"

Shit, he said please. And he gave me the small smile with the liquid brown eyes. I nodded and let go. He steered me back to the couch. I picked up the card. I ran my hands over the letters. I know. I picked up the picture of me at a fundraiser for the Foundation. I had a glass of wine in my hand. The skull and crossbones sign for poison was drawn on the glass and my eyes were blacked out. It was too bad, other than that it was a good picture.

I shook my head. I looked at Ranger and handed him the note. "The person who sent this, is not the same person who sent this." I handed him the photo. He studied them, and then waited for me to continue. "The note is mysterious, vague, meant to make me question, I know who, what? Not necessarily a threat." He nodded agreeing with my assessment. "The picture, all of the pictures, they are very specific, graphic even. They are meant to frighten me. This person wants me dead, but wants to watch me squirm first."

He studied the photo and the note before talking into his wrist again. Then he made a brief phone call, no time for hello or goodbye of course. As he hung up the phone he brought his eyes back to me.

"Nice job. Proud of you Babe. I have them sweeping the party and watching the video to see who may have had a chance to plant the note." I smiled. His words gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

I stood, "Great, now take me back to the party."

"No." He stood next to me, blocking the door.

My hands flew to my hips, "Why not? The person who left me that note has nothing to do with the pictures. It is a totally different psycho!" When my words hit my ears, my face paled as I realized. Two. I have two stalkers. Great. This is just fucking great! I saw Ranger's face while he watched me, waiting for the realization to hit me. My eyes went wide, the little black dots made a reappearance and my knees gave out before the whole room went black.