Yikes. Has it really been three months?
So school is over for the semester and I finally have some more time to write. I would've had this out sooner, but after writing three monster papers, it was really hard to look at any Word document, let alone my computer. I'm going to TRY to get at least two more chapters out before I go back, and not have such long breaks between chapters again. I know how frustrating that is.
So here's the next chapter, not a lot of action, but I really wanted to get something out so you guys didn't think I abandoned ship. Definitely more R/S in the next few chapters...
Not mine, but seriously, I wouldn't mind Ranger, a cabin, a winter storm and a very comfy bed for a few weeks... or months...
Morrisey stepped out of the room to find Farmer and Gordon still there. They looked as grim as he was feeling right now.
"She's not going to give him up." Gordon said. Even Farmer wasn't making his usual jokes.
"No, she won't."
The three men stared at the woman through the glass.
"I can't say that I blame her." Farmer said after a moment of silence. The two other men looked at him in surprise. "What? I can actually say something worthwhile."
"A blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while…" Gordon muttered.
Farmer rolled his eyes. "You showed her pretty much everything. You told her that he took the hit contract and she didn't bat an eye. Maybe she knew about it?"
Morrisey shook his head. "No, he wouldn't have told her. Ranger plays everything very close to the vest. He tells her that, and then suddenly the only person making progress on this case no longer trusts him. No way would he risk that."
"Makes you think what happened if they saw each other now." Gordon thought aloud.
"Probably knee him in the balls." Farmer remarked.
"…And the sass is back."
Morrisey crossed his arms. "No, she wouldn't."
Both men turned to look at him, questions blazing in their eyes. "Because she's in love with him. That's why she won't give him up. She still thinks he's a good guy."
Gordon scoffed. "Maybe deep, deep, deep, deep down he is."
"Maybe. But until she gets over him, she won't rat him out even if we set her hair on fire."
Gordon rolled his eyes. "Really?"
Farmer shrugged and smiled.
"The worst part is," Morrisey started. "Is that she doesn't even know that she's in love with him."
"Hey, Lula." I said when I sat down next to her in the conference room. She was munching on a glazed donut with one hand and waved at me with the other. I looked across the table and enjoyed the view. Donuts and bagels with an assortment of cream cheeses as far as the eye can see. My stomach growled loudly.
Lula had been living here for a few days before I finally (temporarily) moved into the fourth floor. We were neighbors and had frequent slumber parties. Much to the guys (Lester) dismay, there were no pillow fights in skimpy lingerie with heavy make out sessions afterwards.
I don't think the guys would be able to handle Lula in a skimpy outfit. Well, skimpier.
"What's up, girl?"
"Nothing." I had snagged a blueberry bagel and plain cream cheese. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I'm sick of sitting in my apartment being scared. I want to help."
"You did help. You saved me from getting shanked."
Lula shrugged. She had heard from a friend in the "business" that someone was going to come after me and kill me slowly and painfully. The guys had taken her in and kept her safe in case word got out that she had blabbed. The friend had already left town, moving on to better corners.
"Do you miss it?"
She turned to me. "You mean standing on the corner for eighteen hours a day working for shit pay by spreading my legs for just about anybody?"
"Nooo," although, I did wonder about that… "I mean your freedom to leave the building." I had been here for two weeks and I was feeling a little stir crazy.
"Oh." She thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, sure, I miss it sometimes. But I'm essentially getting paid three times what I make a night to help Ella for a few hours. But I need to do more. I want to catch the son of a bitch that wants you dead. I got your back, white girl."
That caught me off guard. We weren't exactly friends, but maybe moving towards it. "Thanks, Lula."
We chatted for a few more minutes and then the guys began to wander in. Lula and Tank studiously ignored each other which made me even more suspicious. Something was brewing there. I looked at Lula and raised my eyebrows. She just blushed.
"He won't go for a girl like me."
"Why not?"
"I'm a prostitute, Steph. I know where my place is. Once the threat is gone, I'm out of here."
That thought made me… sad. "Lula, just go for it." I took a peek at Tank who was blatantly staring at her from the corner of his eye. "He can't take his eyes off of you."
"I am wearing a lot of color today."
"Stop selling yourself short. You don't have to be a hooker anymore."
"This isn't pretty woman, girl. I'm not going to stop because I suddenly get a rich man."
"Don't you have any dreams?"
She shrugged. "Sure, but…"
"We can talk about them later. You are a great woman and he'd be lucky to have you."
"The same could be said for Batman over there. He's looking at you like you're lunch."
It was my turn to blush. "I have a boyfriend."
"Hunh. And where is he?"
"Working. He's a cop."
"And too busy to help you?"
"It's better this way. I don't want him in harm's way."
"Uh huh. Who are you trying to convince right now. Me or you?"
I didn't get a chance to respond because Ranger had cleared his throat.
I never realized how much gravitas Ranger has at his company, until this second. Sure, he scared the bejeezus out of me, but I've never seen a roomful of grown men cower like they do when they hear him coming.
"Report." Ranger barked out.
I rolled my eyes. He always sounded like a drill sergeant. When my eyes went back to their normal spots, I caught him staring at me. He looked like he wanted to smile.
Whoa, big reaction from the man.
Each man took his turn. They rehashed what had been found and that no real progress had been made. Ranger's gaze grew grimmer with each passing moment.
This was hopeless. I was being chased by a mad man and we couldn't even pinpoint why. Sensing my inner turmoil, Lula grabbed my hand. I smiled, surprised that she knew what I needed before I did.
I wished that I could give Lula a fresh start. One where her mother wasn't a crack addict. One where she needed to sell her body for money. One where she could be comfortable in a good home and…
But then she wouldn't be Lula. She wouldn't be the vivacious woman that sits next to someone that she barely knows and hold their hand. We can't change people, but we can change how we see them.
"It's all about perspective." I said lowly.
"What?" Lula asked me.
"Perspective. We can't change the people we talk to, but what if we change how we talk to them."
"They won't tell you anything, white girl. You tried that once before and let me tell you, it didn't work."
"Right. Because we tried to bully them. Threaten them with jailtime when we had no right. The only person I got any straight answers out of was his mother. What if we went back and…"
"Apologized?" A woman scoffed. I hadn't realized that all the conversations around us had ended. "Just go back and say 'we're sorry and we won't hurt you. Please tell us what you know'?"
"Why not?"
"Because it's a weak move! Rangeman isn't weak." She turned from me to Ranger, who had yet to say anything on the matter.
"I'm not talking about showing weakness. I'm talking about showing compassion."
"Same thing, girl scout. You can't be compassionate without being weak."
"That's just your pride talking. You've probably never had to apologize for anything in your life."
Her face didn't move. I took that as a yes.
"What are you suggesting, Stephanie?" Ranger asked.
"Going back and talking to them again. Bring it to their level instead of making them feel less of a human."
Lula squeezed my hand gently.
Ranger still didn't move.
"And you're just going to invite all the gang bangers over for tea and cookies?"
"No, but maybe some of the people that are afraid of them. Show them that we have their backs."
The woman looked back at Ranger. "You're not seriously considering this, are you?"
"What other choice do we have?"
"Give me three days. I'll find out the truth."
Ranger considered this. He couldn't be seriously thinking about letting blonde cat woman loose on the streets.
But he nodded. "Three days. Then we reevaluate. Dismissed."
The men all moved out of the room. The woman looked at me like the cat that got the canary.
"Jeanne." Ranger barked. She looked and motioned to his office.
"I think it's a great idea." Lula said. "Show them that we can protect our own."
"Too bad I got shot down."
"To talk in person." Lula said thoughtfully. "But not over the phone."