13. Smart Kid
Lil had spent all of Wednesday relaxing, having quality time with Tilde. It was a girl's day in. They snacked, played, sang. It was one of their many little mommy-daughter traditions. The day had been extra enjoyable thanks to the high Lil was riding after the dinner party. Overall it had been a complete success. The food had been fabulous, the company even better. She was starting to see some of the guy's individual personalities. Everyone was becoming more comfortable with her and Tilde. Talking to the men about the shooting and Tilde's birth was tough, but well worth it. Lil was really starting to view Tank as more than a neighbor but also a friend. He had a way about him that cut to the chase. It didn't hurt that Tilde absolutely adored him. "Carlos", that was her biggest victory of the night. Somehow she had found a small way in. It might just be a little crack in his rough exterior, but it was definitely a start. Lil figured if she kept up the pressure, subtly, she could expand on it. Who knows, maybe one day soon she would also consider him a friend.
Last night, Cal had been by to chat with his sister. She had officially been moved in at Rangeman for a week, and had only left the building once. Considering that it was a trip to the TPD, it couldn't really be counted as 'fun' time. He was expecting her to start getting cabin fever soon, he knew he would in her place. As a soldier and security expert, he wanted her to stay inside as much as possible. As her brother, he wanted her to live her life. It was a difficult balance to achieve. Cal broached the subject with Lil. She said she was OK with staying inside for their safety, but he could see the toll it was already taking. Lil wasn't exactly a social butterfly. Since bringing Tilde home, most of her time was spent with her daughter anyway. But every adult needed some adult time. He proposed that she spend some time the next day exploring Trenton, meeting some new people. Lil was hesitant, "You want me to just walk up to complete strangers and start making small talk?" Cal smacked her playfully, "No, we know a few people in town. Smart ass. Some women you could get to know. Give you a break from all this testosterone." Lil nodded, her constant masculine surroundings were getting to be a bit much. It had been a long time. Dry spell? Like the fucking Sahara. Lil hadn't had a social orgasm since before the shooting… a long ass time ago… Of course her brother didn't need to know that bit of info.
On Thursday morning Ranger placed a call to the bonds office. Connie answered in her typical bored spiel. "Yo, I need a favor." He could hear her suck in a breath over the line. "Go ahead." Her breathing was heavier, but she was all ears. Ranger gave her the overview of Lil's possible Mob issue, asking if Connie could make a few calls. She easily agreed. If anything was happening in Trenton involving an outside Family, hers would know about it soon enough. "One more thing." This time, Ranger sounded...awkward?… He cleared his throat in a very un-Ranger-like way. Now Connie was really paying attention. "Lil, she doesn't know anyone in town..." Connie gave a dry chuckle. "Bring her over later, we'll give her a proper Jersey welcome." Connie hung up, alleviating the need for him to respond. He really didn't mind dealing with her occasionally.
Lil called down to the fifth floor at 1300, wondering who was on tap to be her shadow. The line was transferred to Ace who readily agreed to meet her in the garage in ten. His excitement was amusing. Lil thought she and Tilde could have a far worse tour guide. Ace was the epitome of a live GI Joe action figure. Hot. He was also very nice during their first meeting. Sporting her finest relaxed jeans and a Metallica tee, Lil gathered her daughter and her bag before hitting the elevator. Her hasty ponytail and minimal makeup would likely stand out in town. Oh well. At least Tilde looked stunning as usual in a tiny blue sweater, jeans, and boots. Lil stepped out of the elevator into the garage, kid on her hip, and scanned the sea of black autos looking for Ace. At the same moment, Ace stepped out of the stairwell door… followed by Ranger. "Good afternoon gentlemen. What magical mystery tour do you have planned for me Ace?" He tried really hard to hide his blush. "Actually, Ranger and I are going to take you around town for a bit." Lil was caught off guard. Surely he had better things to do with his time. "Are you sure Carlos? You probably have meetings, or countries to liberate, bodies to hide..." She was teasing him. He gave her a barely-there smile. Ranger didn't mind the teasing, he just liked the sound of his name on her lips. His men were smart enough to pretend the mocking didn't happen. Or he WOULD have bodies to hide…
Lil removed Tilde's car seat from her Nissan and placed it in the middle row of the Explorer Ace beeped open. To her surprise, Ranger climbed in the back with the peanut. Ace was also surprised, but shrugged and hopped in the driver's seat. They took a circuitous route around town. Ace pointed out some of the places he thought Lil might be interested in. The Quakerbridge Mall, Pino's, the Deli, Shorty's. He even drove her by the outskirts of Stark, so she would know what areas to avoid. Lil was trying hard to pay attention, but she was distracted. Somehow, Tilde had convinced Ranger to read her a story in the backseat. When Lil turned around, their heads were together over a tale about an elf and a dormouse. It was precious. He looked relaxed, the low tones of his voice barely carrying up to the front of the SUV. But Lil knew he was still eyeing his surroundings. Ever vigilant. After another fifteen minutes of riding and story time, Lil was ready to be off the road. Driving around Trenton was annoying. The other cars were either rude or lost in space. She had road rage and she wasn't even behind the wheel. "How do you refrain from getting violent with these people?" Her exasperation made Ace laugh. "You get used to it, or so they tell me. I've been here five years and still wanna run at least one car off the road each day." Lil sighed, "wonderful."
They pulled up to Plum Bail Bonds, securing a prime parking spot. Ace opened Lil's door while Ranger unbuckled Tilde. He stepped out and passed her over to Lil. Three women inside the bonds office were gaping at the scene. Ranger stepped through the door first, his mirrored sunglasses giving nothing away. "Ladies." Ace and Lil followed directly behind. Stephanie and Lula remained transfixed, their fish outta water impression was spot-on. Connie recovered first, "Hiya, I'm Connie, you must be Lil." Lil was amused by her thick Jersey accent and her uncanny resemblance to Betty Boop. "This", Connie indicated the other two women, "is Stephanie and Lula." Stephanie was a pretty woman, long wild curls and deep blue eyes. They were similar in height. Lula was a whole lotta big beautiful woman. Her snake-skin print dress was mostly spandex. At least four sizes too small. What she might have been lacking in standard fashion sense was completely made up for with personality. Lil immediately liked Lula. Ranger looked toward Connie after giving the others a nod of greeting. "Did you make the calls?" Connie, suddenly all business, replied. "Yes, my uncle Tony has put the word out. He will let you know if there's any movement. Consider her under Rosolli protection." Ranger nodded before tilting his head in the direction on Vinnie's door. "He in?" Connie rolled her eyes dramatically, "Ya, the weasel's been holed up in there all day." Steph and Lula shuddered. Ranger left the room without a word, forcefully entering Vinnie's inner sanctum.
Tilde looked at the women who were still in fish-mode. "Hi!" Her giant brown eyes and pouty smile were enough to break the spell. Steph's Burg upbringing fell into place. She waved a hello with her own warm smile. "Well aren't you just the cutest?" Tilde beamed. Lula took a seat on the worn Naugahyde couch, patting the spot next to her for Lil to sit down. "Now looky here, two skinny white girls!" Connie rolled her eyes while Steph snickered. Ace had remained on guard duty, mostly scanning out the windows for possible threats. When he turned his backside toward the girls, Lula and Connie fanned themselves. Steph and Lil giggled. "This is Matilda, my daughter. Everyone mostly calls her Tilde. Tilde this is Miss Connie, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Lula. They are new friends." Tilde, no hint of shyness, climbed off of her mommy's lap and straight to Lula. She delicately touched one of her beaded braids. "You're pretty." Lula melted. That child could charm the pants off of anyone. "Huh you know it little mama!"
"So you must be new in town, are you visiting?" Steph's question was innocently curious. Lil gave a shortened version of her reasons for being in NJ. "Wait, so you're related to one of Ranger's men?" Lula was having a hard time containing her excitement. "Which one." Lil laughed. "Cal." At their look of confusion she added, "tall, muscles, tattoos, flaming skull on his forehead..." Steph's eyes widened. She had only met a few of Ranger's men in the last year, but had admired others from a distance. Lula's only response was "dayum." Tilde laughed. The women chatted for a while since Ranger was still behind closed doors. Stephanie explained that Vinnie was her cousin, though she hated to admit it, and how she had spent a very short time as a bounty hunter. When Lil realized that Morelli was her one and only FTA, she nearly peed herself. "Ya, that's how I met Lula and Ranger. I was desperate for money. And I had a score to settle with Joe. We've been kinda dating since then." Everyone laughed. Lil's opinion of Officer Morelli plummeted even further. He was hitting on her pretty hard for someone who was already dating a girl like Stephanie. "But after I got my check, I realized that BEA work was not as glamorous as on TV. So I put in an application to become a reporter for the Trenton Times. Now I get the excitement of following leads, without the flying bullets and creepy perps. It's still exciting, but way safer. And the paycheck is dependable." Lil could understand her choice.
The women peppered her with questions about living in Las Vegas, her previous work, and living at Rangeman. They were a little over-eager in their desire for details about Ranger and his men. It seemed that needing to know everything about everyone was a Jersey characteristic. As was being nosy. But Lil took it in stride. Steph and the others wanted gossip, but they also seemed genuine in their friendliness. "Look, I know we just met, but we should exchange numbers. Maybe get together sometime." At Lil's raised eyebrow and look toward Ace Steph added, "I know Ranger and the guys are handling your security. I'm sure we could figure something out." Lil smiled. She liked Stephanie's spunk.
Just as the women finished exchanging phone numbers, Ranger walked out of the door, followed by a slimy, short man with perv-eyes. Tilde, who had removed herself to the floor when Ranger walked out, shuffled quickly to his legs after one look at Vinnie. Ranger looked down at her. Under his breath he muttered, "smart kid." Tilde had a hold of his black cargo pants. He lifted his glasses and picked her up. Tilde clung to him. Connie, Lula, and Stephanie were having a moment. The fish impression in triplicate. Lil stood and introduced herself to a leering Vinnie, she didn't shake his hand. Smart woman. Tilde whispered something into Ranger's ear that caused him to throw his head back in laughter, startling everyone. Lil narrowed her eyes at Ranger and her daughter. "Behave you two." They looked at her with smiles, "Yes ma'am."
Steph, Connie, and Lula felt they had entered the Twilight Zone. Ranger, the Man of Mystery, was laughing and holding a child. Steph noticed that he was a little softer when dealing with Lil and Tilde. She liked the way his eyes lost their hard edge when he looked at the little girl. He was a good man, kind of a friend. Far a short time, Ranger had been a good mentor. She wanted him to be happy. Her impression of Lil was a positive one. Steph's spidey sense was screaming that there would be something more between Ranger and Lil, eventually. Question was, did THEY know that yet?