Chapter 21

I'd spent the day with Angel yesterday and now had my full disguise in place, the appliance to my teeth and the Botox in my lips made a hell of a difference, did I feel different, maybe, I needed to play the part, be an actress, lie, now that I could do. So here I was in a dark grey Audi SUV travelling through the streets I knew so well. Kade had been brilliant and already I felt he was a close friend and as for Angel she was already a good friend. We pulled into a garage that was on the same level as the street and got out of the car, man the cars parked up looked awesome, dark grey and sleek, different models but all top of the range. I had a dark grey Audi TT turbo, leather seats as my personal vehicle. We travelled up to the next level and this is where I almost had a deja vue with the sight in front of me. There were the same banks of monitors and cubbies, a corridor with offices opening up from the hall, all exactly like in Rangeman. We walked into an office that had two names on the nameplate, my new name was Fern and Angel was Maddie, we were only going to use one name, less complications to remember. Our cover within the business was as Private Investigators and we had all the paperwork to go with it. Inside the office was a large table set up with computers, screens and a printer, several seats, a large board and Kade, sat with his feet on the table smiling.

"Ladies welcome to "Elite Services" our new company name, I have business cards here for you and if anyone looks into your background you're legit with a history. You two certainly look good"

We'd kept to the grey as the uniform, grey hipster jeans with narrow leg, black cat boots, grey roll necked long sleeved T-shirts, but had conceded with the pink and now had on black short leather jackets. Yeah you guessed, with a magic Kevlar lining. Angel had also insisted on her cat boots having an inch of sole to give her a bit more height.

"Your first assignment, should you choose to take it, is to spy on a Mr. Higgins, his wife thinks he's stepping out on her and wants the proof"

I tilted my head to the side.

"Is that Charlies Angels or Mission Impossible?

"The guys are calling you Kade's angels"

"What's the cover for the company?"

"We are a company providing investigative work, body guarding and event protection, may do some FTA work, but Ranger and I decided to do that only if we needed to show the community that we're in competition, and not friendly"

I sat down and looked at him.

"Steph basically everyone will be following their targets as agreed, so you two girls need to find Grossman"

Angel and I collected our bags and headed to the garage, we had some addresses to follow up. I drove as we felt that my knowledge of the area would be helpful while Angel kept an eye out for anyone following. The first address listed as Grossmans home had us both smiling, sat in the driveway was a grey SVU. I turned to Angel as I parked the car a few houses down.

"I suggest we watch for a while then go knock on his door, but we need a story"

"Hows about we've been employed to talk to him as a possible witness in the disappearance of Stephanie Plum, that we know at one stage he followed her so maybe he saw something"

"That's good, who's our employer?"
"That's confidential information"

"Brilliant, let's go"

We walked with confidence and knocked on the front door, which was opened by a smiling Ben Grossman.

"Ladies how can I help"

Angel took the lead.

Mr. Grossman I wonder if we might come in and talk with you?"
"Why would I let you in?"
"We are Private Investigators and need to ask for your help with an investigation we're following"

I took out my PI card to show him and after a quick look he opened the door for us to follow him in. He led us into the first room, which was a lounge. Angel and I discussed that we never touch anything so as not to leave fingerprints.

"Can I offer you a tea or coffee?"

"No thanks, Mr. Grossman we are trying to find out the whereabouts of Stephanie Plum, we've been informed that at one stage you were following her and maybe you inadvertently saw something or someone"

"Oh it wasn't like that"

"Then what was it?"

He stood up and walked around the room, stopping and obviously thinking of his answer. The room had a lot of pictures and photos and one stood out.

"Ladies I don't know how to say this, but I was sure she was in danger"

"Why did you think that?"

"I don't know if I can tell you"

I got up diverting attention to me and picked up the photograph.

"Is this your father, Mr. Grossman, it looks like an old picture?"

"Why yes, it was taken during the war, he was from Hungary and as a Jew things got very bad over there"

"Is that his daughter, your sister?"

"No, No. That's Erzsébet, she had no family so father brought her here to America"

Yes, maybe I'd found our mysterious woman. Erzsébet could be Elizabeth, maybe in a different language? And the last part could give you Beatrice? Maybe?

"She's a very pretty little girl, what's her last name?"

"What? Why are you asking?"

"Well my name is actually Feny but people have shortened it and changed it to Fern, I am really interested in names and the sound of them in a different language, in fact my name is firstly a Hungarian name, don't you find names interesting Mr. Grossman?"

All right I was trying to talk him to death so he'd give in.

"I suppose so. I never really thought about it. Her name was Erzsébet Lange. Now back to your original conversation please"

"Mr. Grossman who do you think Miss plum was in danger from?"

"I don't know anything and I think you should leave"

I turned to Angel and whispered, "Get copy" then turned back to Mr. Grossman with a smile on my face.

"Mr. Grossman would you mind if I asked for some water?"

"Of course, come with me"

He led me into a kitchen and handed me a glass of water, I pulled down the cuffs of my T-shirt as I took the water and brought it close to my mouth but not touching then moved across to the sink pouring out the water.

"Thank you Mr. Grossman, I wish you would talk to us, a life may be at risk, do you want that on your conscience?"

I gave him a card and collected Angel out of the front room. As we got into the car she turned on her phone.

"Mic planted, record and report"

"Clever, you get a snapshot of that photograph?"

"Yes, well done, I thought you were going to talk him to death"

"I think it must be lunchtime"

"Stephanie are we going somewhere where there will be people you know?"

"You betcha, Pinos has the best food, lets go test out these disguises, but you do all the talking, my voice is too well known"

I drove to Pinos and parked out front, was I stupid coming here? Was I going to blow my cover? No be positive I want to know what people are talking about. Angel picked up on my dilemma.

"You sure Steph?"

As an answer I got out of the car. We walked into the restaurant amongst stares and whispers; yeah we had their attention. I found a booth, not one I ever sat in and picked up the menu, Angel sat next to me so we both had a full view of the room. I pointed to a chicken salad for my choice and Angel chose the same with two waters. There were a few people I recognized but no one I knew well, until of course Morelli walked in. I whispered to Angel who he was and she smiled.

"Let's have some fun"

Angel sent a dazzling smile across to him, and like the moron that he was, he sauntered over to stand next to our table.

"Ladies, new in town?"

"Yes, we're new, just checking out the local haunts and getting to know the lay of the land, so to speak, so who are you?"

"I'm Detective Morelli, Trenton PD, but you can call me Joe, and you?"

"I'm Maddie and this is Fern, pleased to meet you"

Oh Maddie was really flirting with Joe and I could see him preening at her attention, I stayed quiet not wanting to get involved.

"You working locally then"

"Yes, we work for Elite Services as Private Investigators"

"That the new outfit with the grey cars?"

"Yes it's new but growing fast"

"I'll bet Manoso is happy with that"

"Sorry, do you mean Rangeman?"

"Yeah they have a bit of a monopoly round here"

"I hear the boss was involved with the girl who bombed that bank?"

"Not really, she was a wild card, probably deserved whatever happened to her"

"So you want to show me the town one night, Joe?"

"Love to, let me put your number in my phone"

"Here, it's on my card, we need to move, work to do"

"I'll call you"

I stood up and had to very carefully control myself, out in the car I didn't speak nor when we got back to our new building, but inside my office I screamed and started to hit the wall. I admit I lost it, lost control and it took Kade to physically bear hug me from behind and lift me off the floor.

"Angel what the fuck happened?"

"Morelli, I've got a sedative ready"

With that I felt a prick in my arm and as I felt my muscles relax the world went black.

Chapter 22

I had a call from Kade last night to get over there, as they had an emergency. We'd arranged that if anyone needed to enter that building we'd use the rear exit and wear clothes to cover our identity; I had on blue jeans and a grey sweatshirt with the hood pulled up. Kade must have been watching out for me as he opened the door himself.

"Level three, apartment 4"

I gave him a questioning look but took off up the stairs. When I entered the apartment Angel was stood at the bedroom entrance and beckoned me in, I stopped at the door to see my Babe asleep in the bed. A raised eyebrow, I needed an answer from Angel.

"I had to sedate her, she lost it on the wall in the office, even Kade had a job holding her, we ran in to Morelli, and he said something that just sent her over the edge, to quote he said "she was a wild card, probably deserved whatever happened to her" I'm sorry Ranger but I thought it best if you were with her when she woke up, which should be soon. I'm going to hitch up with that bastard and find out what his game is"

"Thanks Angel, but be careful with him I really don't know what he is up to"

I undressed and slid into the bed, Steph was restless so I assumed she was nearing conscientiousness. I held her firmly in my arms, my face next to her hers and started to talk in Spanish to her. Her movements relaxed and I felt her still. I smiled as she opened her beautiful blue eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm told you tried to beat the shit out of a wall and Kade"

"Oh, I can't really remember, I was just seeing red"

"Tell you what, I'll get Tobi to show you how to beat the shit out of a punching bag, less damage to your hands"

I picked up her hands seeing the scrapes and bruising on her knuckles and gently kissed them.

"I'm sorry, I lost it"

"De nada. What he said deserved him being beaten up, you did well to stay in control long enough to get out and get back here"

"I don't understand why he would say something like that"

"Angel will sort him out, maybe he's still upset or maybe he has a guilty conscience"

"Yeah, I got more information today. Grossman had a photo of his father and a little girl, she was called Erzsébet Lange, his father brought her over to the states, I think he thought she was Jewish, I don't, so we have a name to follow now, that's if there are any records left from Hungary"

"Why don't you research that tomorrow and work with Tobi, stay here and let Angel do her stuff with Morelli?"

"Okay"

You feeling better now?"

"Yes, you're here"

"Good because I haven't slept properly since I left you, I missed having you next to me"

"I missed you too, ended up with nightmares again"

I wrapped myself around her and placing her head onto my chest kissed her head.

"Sleep Babe"

My Babe was still sleeping when I woke, it was late for me so I slipped out and showered redressing in the clothes I had come in. I left a note for her so she would know I was still in the building and went to find Kade. He was in his office with Tobi.

"That's a hell of a bruise Kade from a little white girl?"

"Shit Ranger she was wild, how do you mange her?"

'You obviously don't have the knack. Tobi a favor, can you teach her to use the bags and maybe some hand to hand?"

"Haven't you done that yet?"

"No, she's too stubborn and hates running, so training has always been a bit contentious, but I think because she doesn't know you, she'll do it and probably be very good"

"Yeah, love to, I bet if I can focus her energy and anger, we'll get results fast, she has innate instincts, very intuitive"

"Thanks Tobi, I told her to stay in today, work with you and do some searches on that name they found"

"Angel told me, I think it's time to put a little pressure on Grossman"

"Agreed, tell Angel to be careful with Morelli, he has a family reputation that I wouldn't like to see appear"

"She's good at her job Ranger, and she'll be wired and have backup"

"Good. I'll take some breakfast up to Steph then I need to get back to Rangeman, catch up with you later"

I found some bread, cheeses, bagels and fruit, made some coffee and took it up to the apartment, Steph was in the shower so I set the things on the breakfast bar and waited for her.

"Morning Babe"
"Morning Carlos, sorry you ended up having to come over, but I'm glad you did"

"So am I, how are you feeling this morning?"

"Much better thanks, I think because I got rid of my anger I feel ready to get my teeth into doing something productive"

"Good, I spoke with Tobi, he's looking forward to working with you. Turn around and let me see your back"

Steph turned and dropped the robe she was wearing from her shoulders to reveal her bare back. The bruise had just about gone and the small incisions looked healed. I kissed her gently from the nape of her neck down to the bruises.

"Healed nicely and the bruise has almost gone, how does it feel to you?"

"Doesn't hurt at all, good as new"

"If you start to feel any pain then stop the workouts, OK?"

"Will do"

"You could probably do to still gain a bit of weight back"

"Does that mean I can eat doughnuts?"

"Yeah Babe, I have to go now so remember you said you'd stay in for today, I'll speak with you later. Love you amante"

"Te amo"

Taking her in my arms I kissed her, deepening with open mouths and tongues exploring, until I felt her sinking into me, then pulled away and with a kiss to her forehead, nose and lips turned and walked from the apartment. I returned to Rangeman, careful not to be seen and entered through a back exit door, I'd sent a message to Tank to scramble the camera over the door and open it for me. He was waiting as I entered and we went straight up to seven. Once inside my apartment I informed him of the girls' events from the previous day.

"Is my Little Girl gonna be all right?"

"Yes, she's resilient, I've asked Tobi to work with her in the gym on boxing and some hand to hand"

"Hope you warned him to wear a box, you know her knee can be lethal"

"He'll learn"

Laughing we turned to the boards and added the updates. A knock at the door and Santos came in holding papers in his hands.

"Find something?'

"No the opposite in fact. I've been checking on the road trip Beautiful took and am drawing a blank, whoever set it up was real careful at keeping any knowledge of a person responsible out of the loop. Hotels and flights booked on line using a card that was stolen from some poor shmuck out in Tennessee a couple of months ago, for some reason he never realized that he'd lost it, says it's a card he only randomly uses. Anyway he checks out. The bike, when I spoke to Juan, he says it's come from a chop shop; no two parts came from the same bike, brilliant job, and any parts with identification from stolen ones. I had Juan chase up any video footage from the parking area, they show an empty space one day and the bike there the next, footage for in between was missing due to vandalism, cash paid into a machine close to the where the bike was parked so again no footage. Who ever set this up really knew what they were doing"

Hell we were going round in circles on this. Today I had to meet with new clients so changed into a suit, as Steph would say my CEO look, and left the building with Tank for our meetings, today would be long and boring with a focus on business.