Chapter 7 Hector

Sorry about the typos/miswords/spelling last chapter. I have problems staying in the same tense. I often write in 2nd and then go back to 1st. I don't always catch the changes. Also, I've increased my font size so my poor eyes can see-but I still can't spell, LOL!

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Estafania?

"Hector!' I jumped up from my hospital waiting room chair and threw my arms around him and kissed him. My eyes now were getting moist. "Thank you for finding me."

"I hurt when you went away."

"I was in a bad head, Hector," I said apologetically.

"Y su Corazon."

"Yes, my heart was bad as well."

"You also sick."

"You know about the diabetes?" my eyes grew wide.

"Si, I am your ghost."

I kissed him, "No you are my angel."

He got a strange look on his face but it quickly passed.

"The Navy will come to talk to you soon. They aren't going to arrest you; they want to know how you got through on their super-secret communication system."

"You know?" He choked.

"I was sheltered during the hurricane with a Navy communication's expert, she helped design the system."

"Si, Grace. Mr. Antonio's wife; she is good."

"Do you know her Hector?" I was quite surprised.

"I know everything, Estafania."

"I don't understand." What did he mean everything, even Tank mentioned it.

"Senora Grace, she write many articles. I understand her thinking from articles. I have system little like hers for Rangeman but Ranger say no, not yet."

I stood and looked at him. How people underestimated this tattooed man as a low life street thug. He's probably a genius. Is that what Ranger saw in him beyond the gang killer? "How did you find me?"

"When you got job you did not change your name or government number. I hide information from Ranger and Tank to give you time. Took me time to find you, you were dark for a while."

"More than you know my dear Hector, more than you know. I was living between life and death. I thought I was too dysfunctional for him. All the times he left…..I was afraid he left because he didn't want me. I couldn't see life without him. I didn't want to live."

Hector put his hand on my cheek, "But now you strong in head and body and even more beautiful. Will you come back with me now? Haywood."

"No, Lester, I can't. Not on the 7th floor, not on the 4th floor. I don't want to see my friends if I have to leave them again. If Ranger doesn't want me, or he dies, then I can't be in Trenton."

"You will leave forever!?" He asked with alarm.

"It would be too painful to remain here."

"You go to your family now?"

"Nooooooooo. I'll get a room near the airport and rent a car. I don't want to commute from Trenton."

My cell phone rang, it was Florida.

"Michelle?"

"Antonio"

"Have you been watching the news? Beth is missing."

"Missing, what do you mean she is missing?"

"The earthquake in Japan; the most destruction is exactly where she is." His voice sounded more than concerned, actually scared.

"The communications are probably down, no landlines, no cells phones. She'll contact when she can, "I said dismissively.

"No Michelle, the hotel she was in collapsed during the earthquake, in the middle of the night. She might be buried in the rubble."

"Oh no," I whispered. I looked up at the ever playing tv on the wall and they were showing pictures of the devastation and collapsed buildings. Hector saw me watching the screen.

"You need me back in the office?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, if you can."

"I'll call the airlines immediately, Antonio."

"Thank you, Steph—Michelle."

"You can call me Stephanie if you wish. I've been discovered."

"How is Ranger? Do you need to stay?"

"He needs time. We'll see, Antonio, we'll see."

I sat stunned as I watched the television reports. I thought the buildings were earthquake proof.

Hector took my hand, "Estafania?"

I tilted my chin towards the screen, "Beth is there."

Hector moaned. "You tell Tank?"

"You know?" Silly question, it seems Hector knows everything.

"Si, Bobby, Lester and I know; no one else."

Tank will be furious not being told immediately but now that I've seen him in his combat face, he doesn't need more to worry about. He'd probably want to rush to Japan and dig bare handed through the rubble. "No, he's under enough strain right now. Let's let it sit a day or so. Hopefully she is fine and will get word to us. I am needed back at the office, Hector. I must go."

"Wait one," he said. He punched his phone a few times. "Your flight leaves in two hours. I drive you now."

"I should go back upstairs and explain," I began to say, "Especially to Ranger."

"No, I explain."

"Hector, you are a good friend, truly my angel."

"No Estafania, you are my angel. "

On the way to the airport I thought more about Beth and Tank and Hector "knowing all."

"Hector….."

"Si?"

"Did you have something to do with Mr. Bernstein contacting Beth to bid on his project?"

He didn't speak for a while. "Si, So Ranger would find you. I did not expect Tank and Mrs. Crowder to fall in love. I also send Tank to deliver drawings to your office but you were at Tae Kwon Do event. "

"Hector, are you playing cupid?"

"Si, and I am no good. I should stop, but not before maybe Mrs. Crowder moves here with so many new clients, you come too. Mr. Antonio come and Grace come too."

"Grace is in the Navy."

"If she leaves Navy, maybe she teach at Princeton and I take her classes?"

Laughing I said, "More likely you teach and she takes your classes. Hector, you are spending way too much time in the basement by yourself."