Family Ties

Chapter 10

I hurried to follow her directions. The phone hadn't completed the first ring when he answered. "Babe? Everything okay?"

I laughed into the phone. "Everything's fine. Just calling to let you know we're on our way back."

I heard him let out a breath. "Good, that's good. Did you...nevermind, we'll talk about it when you get here."

"Okay, see you in twenty." I disconnected.

Pat gave me an amused glance. "Don't tell me, he was worried sick."

I shrugged. "Guess so."

"Does he know you've been training with Tank?"

I looked at her, startled. "Apparently you do. And you know about 'Bombshell'. Care to explain?"

She shook her head a little. "Nothing unusual really. After Ranger called and said the two of you were on your way, I called Tank. If you were going to be backing up Jack, or me, I wanted to know a bit about you. So I've already heard some of the Rangeman stories. Tank says you're a quick study, and he'd trust you to watch his back. That says a lot."

I had mixed feelings about this. I mean, it made perfect sense for Pat to want to know something about me. And I was warmed by Tank's vote of confidence. But he hadn't mentioned it to me. And I still felt like...well, like he'd been talking behind my back. I didn't like it. I sighed, and decided to table it for now.

Pat was silent while I performed my metal gymnastics. At my sigh, she spoke up. "Back to the original question. Does Ranger know you've been training with Tank?"

The question surprised me, in that it had never occurred to me that he might not. Batman always seemed to know everything. Of course, he had been out of touch while he was focused on Sam. "I don't know." I finally answered.

"You should tell him. He'd probably worry less."

I smiled a little. "Maybe. Worrying about me seems to have become a habit for him. Hey, what were you starting to say before we met with Odie?"

She took a deep breath. "Just that...look, this may be none of my business."

"But?"

"I was under the impression from Jack that there was something going on between you and Ranger."

I shrugged, uncomfortable. How do I explain me and Ranger to someone else when I don't know how to explain to myself? "We're friends." I decided to go with the easiest answer.

"Just friends?"

I sighed. "Anything other than that is...beyond our expectations. I don't know how to classify what's happening with us, and I don't think he does either. We just..." I trailed off, unsure of what I was about to say.

"Love and trust each other." Pat supplied.

"Well, yeah, but..."

"But?"

"But his lifestyle doesn't lend itself to relationships!"

Pat burst out laughing. "Is that what he said?" At my nod, she continued. "True as far as it goes, but neither does yours. Neither does Jack's, nor mine. It works if you want it to, Steph."

That didn't seem to require a reply, so I didn't.

Pat's cell phone was ringing, interrupting a train of thought I didn't really want to have.

"Hello?...That was fast...shit...thanks, I appreciate this." She hung up.

My curiosity was killing me. "So?"

Pat smiled. "Seems Kendra's hunch was right. Brennan left the city, if he left, with a few thousand dollars. But, we have a description of the vehicle and a license plate. And Odie's crew is still keeping an eye out for them."

I didn't even notice we were back at the office until she parked. I quickly hopped out of the car and headed into the office. I found Ranger and Jack in the conference room.

Pat was half a minute behind me. She handed me my gun, and handed Ranger's to him. He raised an eyebrow at me but kept silent.

Jack was already pulling Pat into his lap. "So, I take it the meeting went okay?"

"Yep. Brennan was there to deal, walked away with a few thousand dollars. We did get a vehicle description and a plate though. I'm going to run it in a minute, see what we come up with." She made no attempt to get up, instead snuggling deeper into Jack's arms.

Ranger looked at the two of them and laughed. "C'mon, Snake. The ladies have been doing all the work. Let's at least go get them some dinner."

At the mention of dinner, Pat and I both perked up. Pat jumped up and extended a hand to Jack. He laughed as he took it, telling Ranger "There may be hope for you yet! Looks like you finally got one right today."

Pat swatted him on the ass and told him, "We're going to work on this plate. You get us some food, and you'll have a much happier wife."

He laughed and headed out to do as she asked, pulling Ranger out the door with him.

Pat turned to me. "Let's see what we can find out by the time they get back."

"Sure. I hope you mean the royal we, because I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Don't worry, I'll show you."

"Hey Pat, where's Sonny?"

"Hmm, good question. We'll ask the guys when they get back."

Pat showed me how to do some of the research on the computer. The more time I spent with her, the more I liked her. She had a way of teaching me things without making me feel like an idiot. I was so engrossed in what I was doing, I didn't even hear the guys come back.

Jack was waving a bag in front of my face, saying "Earth to Steph, Earth to Steph." I pushed the bag out of my way, trying to make sense of what I saw on the screen.

"Hey Pat? Can you take a look at this?"

I felt Ranger's hand on the back of my neck. "Find something Babe?"

"Maybe, the plate doesn't match the description of the car though."

Pat walked over to look. "Whatcha got?"

"The only plate I can find that matches what we have belongs on a Ford Taurus. We were told that they were driving a Jeep. Maybe I screwed this up."

Pat looked interested. "No, I don't think so. Scoot over, let me see what I can pull up."

I did, just as Jack spoke up. "They were driving a Taurus when they stayed with Kamia."

Pat just smiled. "Curiouser and Curiouser. Look, the Taurus the plate should be on was reported stolen last Thursday."

"The day our friends got into town." Said Jack.

"Was it recovered?" Asked Ranger.

Pat continued to punch the keyboard. "No, not so far."

"Do we know what they were driving when they stayed with Kendra?" I asked.

Ranger shook his head. "No, we didn't think to ask. Do we have a phone number for her?"

Pat answered. "Yes, but call in the morning. Kendra's an early riser, and it's getting late."

Ranger nodded. "Can you look up how many Jeeps were stolen between Friday and Monday?"

Pat nodded. "116"

"Try red Jeep Wranglers, five years old or newer, only in the city limits." I suggested.

"9"

Ranger smiled his appreciation. "Nice. Okay, so they have a stolen Jeep, and several thousand dollars. Why would they transfer a license plate from one stolen car to another?"

"Well, they're not very bright, are they?" Said Jack. "Maybe they're just trying to muddy the waters."

Pat shook her head. "I don't think so. I mean, anyone who watches TV has got to know that if those plates get run and don't match the vehicle, they are automatically in a boatload of trouble."

"What if they did it just to deal downtown?" I asked.

"Why would they do that?" Ranger asked.

"Well, if everyone's looking for that plate, it wouldn't take much to change it, would it?"

"No, but they've already stolen two cars. Why not just take another?" Asked Jack.

"Steph may be on to something." Pat commented. "They could take the Jeep, put its plate in the glove box or something until they were safely out of town. Switching a plate in the middle of the desert is a lot less risky than stealing another car."

"Yeah but why bother unless they specifically wanted the Jeep?" Jack looked thoughtful. "Off-road capabilities, maybe?"

Ranger nodded. "So they have an off-road vehicle and several thousand dollars."

"And camping gear." I reminded him.

Ranger ran his hands through his hair. "Shit. They could be in Mexico by now."

"Maybe," acknowledged Pat, "but I still think they're more likely to head to the reservation, at least at first. More chance of getting help."

"She's right. Even running scared, they're more likely to head to the familiar." I got up and put a hand on Ranger's shoulder. "Don't give up yet, I still think we'll find them."

He turned to me and smiled. "You're right. We're better at finding than they are at running. Thanks."

"Well, we can't do any more tonight. I'll try to track the Jeep further in the morning," said Pat. "Odie's crew will keep looking for them as well. Now, I think you boys promised us dinner?"

Laughing, Jack picked up the food and gestured toward the conference room. The rest of us quickly followed.

They had picked up Chinese food, and they got a lot of everything. While we ate, Jack kept us entertained with some of his stories from when he worked with Rangeman. He was a good storyteller, and Pat and I laughed so hard we cried.

Ranger was quiet at first, but his spirits picked up, and he contributed a few stories of his own. Of course, most of his stories showed Snake in a less than flattering light.

I had never seen Ranger like this, laughing and joking with friends. I blessed Jack for his ability to lighten the mood. Pat caught my eye and winked, she knew exactly what he was doing and why. I felt a rush of warmth toward both of them, and gratitude that Ranger had people like them in his life.

As the meal wound down, Pat suddenly remembered our question. "Hey! Where the hell did Sonny go?"

Ranger looked startled. "He caught a ride home. We'll catch up with him in the morning."

"Did he leave you directions to his sister's?" I asked.

"Directions, a key, and a promise to stock a few basics in the fridge before he went home."

"Oh, good."

"Babe?" I looked at him, curious. "Since when do you carry a gun? Especially an automatic?"

"Since when do you not notice?" I countered. He raised an eyebrow and waited. "It was a present from Tank. I've carried it for almost two months. Since when do you not notice?" I pressed.

He sighed. "Didn't sleep well last night, too keyed up to get started today. Can you shoot it?"

Pat interjected, "Tank says he'd trust her to watch his back."

The eyebrow was back up. "Really? Sound like you have a story to tell me, Babe." He stood as he continued, "But we better save it for the road. It's late, and Sonny will be over early."

We all started to clean up and get ready to go. Pat and Jack promised to call if they learned anything new, and we promised the same.

Ranger turned to them as we were leaving. "Snake, Kap, thanks for the help, the meal, and the company."

Jack clapped him on the shoulder. "Our pleasure, man. We'll have to get together under better circumstances."

Ranger nodded his agreement. "That would be good. Better treat your lady right, or I'll come back just to steal her out from under you."

Jack looked bemused. "Actually, I'm usually under her."

"JACK!" Pat was three different shades of red, and we left with the roar of Jack's laughter following us.