*Sigh* So I appreciate everyone being patient with me. I thought that once Ranger and Stephanie were interacting more, the story would flow faster out.

Apparently not.

I hope that the muse kicks into high gear soon. School's going to get more stressful and writing really is one of my outlets and I'll be needing it. Until then, just be safe in the knowledge that I'm going to finish it (it's just going to to take me longer than I thought).

Not mine, but mistakes are.

I paced in front of the wall I had made of all the information that Ranger and his Merry Men had dug up for me. On many of the pages, I had written follow the money or follow the drugs on yellow post-its. I passed the pages again. And again. Nothing changed.

What was I missing?

Lost in thought, I jumped when someone knocked on my door.

"It's open." I said.

"Jeez. Are you trying to get murdered?" Eddie Gazarra asked me when he came into the room. He was carrying a bag from the Tasty Pastry and one of those coffee cup carriers with two cups.

"What happened to the diet that Shirley had you on?" I blatantly ignored his question. Shirley was his wife and my cousin. Everyone called her Shirley the Whiner behind her back.

He rolled his eyes. "I was coming to your house. Do you think I'd come empty handed?"

"Because I usually don't have food in the house?"

"Bingo."

I rolled my eyes. He grinned. "What's up?"

"I need you to take me to drug school."

"Who are you, the Rock?"

"You've watched Walking Tall too many times to know that."

He just shrugged. I snatched the bag of donuts and munched as he took in my wall. His eyes narrowed. "Where did you get all this?"

"Uh…"

He turned those eyes on me. "Just tell me it wasn't Joe."

I shook my head. "It wasn't."

He stared for a moment, then nodded. "Good. He could get in a lot of trouble if he shared this information."

"I got it from… other sources." Thank God Ranger hadn't told me how he got it; plausible deniability and whatnot.

The look that Eddie gave me made me think that he knew exactly who gave it to me. "And this person… You're sure he's reliable?"

"Clearly more reliable than you…" I muttered.

"What was that?"

"Hmm?"

He glared at me. "Never mind." He took a look at my wall. "How long did it take for you to put this up?"

I shrugged. "Awhile."

His eyes narrowed. "Please tell me you didn't spend all your time doing this."

"Well…"

"Jesus, Steph. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"No!"

"I see this all the time at the precinct. Cops get obsessed and they can't let anything go."

"I can let it go! You'll see. Teach me and I'll pass on the information to…" I paused. "My contact and then I'll be done. Swear."

But I wasn't. I was like a dog with a bone. An alcoholic with a drink. An addict with a needle.

An obsessed woman with too much coffee and way too many sayings running through her head.

Eddie lived up to his end of the deal and taught me about the drug trade through Trenton. Most of the small time dealers were here making money for their bosses up in New York City. Those small time dealers got the gangs to do most of the dirty work and they in turn got young kids to sell it on the street.

Young kids like Donny Johnson.

His mother was right; he wasn't part of the gang. But that didn't stop the gang from pressuring him into dealing. He was trying to protect his mother and they figured since he was a good student, he'd fly under the radar.

Too bad he flew straight into the rival gang's radar.

In the middle of my musings, my phone rang.

"Hello?"

There was a pause. "Hey bitch."

"Who is this?"

"You need to stop sticking your nose where it don't belong, bitch. Or bad things will happen."

"Who is this?" I repeated.

There was a click.

Oh boy.

Three days later, I was still reeling from that call. My phone number wasn't listed, so I wasn't sure who was making the calls. My first thought was Eddie, trying to scare me off the chase, but immediately nixed that. He thought I'd quit.

Next was Ranger. I actually giggled at that one. He wanted my help, not to chase me off. I didn't know him that well, but I could just feel that he wasn't going to go behind my back. He wasn't going to push me out. The more I thought about him, the more the tingles spread.

Until my boss came up to my desk.

"Stephanie, can I see you in my office?"

I nodded quickly, then scurried after her. Sally gave me a worried look so I tried to smile. It came out more like a grimace.

She waited patiently until I settled myself into the seat. "Look Stephanie, you're my best and hardest worker. I know that, you know that and most of the employees know that. But…"

Uh oh.

"But your work has been… slipping. I get more angry calls about you than I used to. I've listened to your calls and you sound… bored."

"But I'm not!" I lied. In truth, I was. I had something more interesting going on at home.

"I know you're having trouble with your boyfriend, but you really shouldn't let that interfere with your work."

"How do you know that?"

"I know Officer Robin."

Ah. She was the biggest gossip at the precinct.

"Are you feeling burned out?"

"What? No!"

"Because that would be okay. It happens to all of us. I used to be one of you. And now I'm here. Trust me, I'd rather be here."

"I'm okay, honestly."

She pulled a file closer to her. I took a stab and figured it was mine. "I took a look at your file. You've got a lot of vacation saved up. Why don't you take some?"

"Really, I'm good."

She sighed. "I wasn't asking."

Oh.

"Take a week or two. Relax. Get your head on straight."

There was no other option. Either I took the time or I didn't come back at all. I sighed this time and then nodded. She looked pleased. "Good. Just let me know when you're ready to come back and we can dust off your desk and phone." She smiled.

I couldn't speak, so I nodded again.

"I don't want to lose you, Stephanie. I know you'll go far."

I gave her my best smile and left. I always thought so too. I loved my job and the people I worked with. But was it what I really wanted anymore?

Ranger's POV

I kissed her neck softly, enjoying the moans that came from her mouth. She was soft and sweet and my tongue craved to taste every inch. Her hands ran through my hair, tightening to bring me closer to her skin.

"Touch me," she breathed.

I wasn't going to deny her that.

It was as if our clothes just melted off and soon I was doing just that. With my lips on her collarbone, I tested the weight of her breast. It was full and natural with a perfect rose colored nipple. My cock grew. I couldn't wait…

She moaned and lifted her chest, inviting me.

My mouth closed on the tip. The breath flew right out of her.

"Ranger." She gasped.

"No."

"No?" I could hear her pout. It made me smile.

"Carlos."

She sighed. "Carlos," she purred. "Carlos please."

I gave one last suckle to the nipple and worked lower.

And lower.

And lower.

And then the phone rang.

She sighed. "You should get that."

What?

I blinked at my companion and she smiled sadly. "Wake up."

"Babe?"

"You need to wake up."

I woke with a start. The phone was actually ringing.

"What." I said. The raging hard on was trying my patience.

"It's Hal. We're watching that woman Stephanie? Me and Woody"

"What about her."

He hesitated.

"Out with it."

"Her apartment was firebombed."