Disclaimer: I do not own anything Stephanie Plum, that's property of Janet Evanovich.

Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I appreciate the encouragement. There were a few people I wasn't able to reply back, Lisa and Janet Fan. My goal is to update more often, thank you ladies. Also, thanks to my beta ladyofkeegan for editing this chapter. She's a busy mommy. Ricky and I are very proud of her, she's wonderful. I would also like to add that I'm currently looking for another beta to help out with these chapters. If anyone feels up for it, send me an email. It should be fun. Take care everyone, and I hope you will enjoy this chapter.

Chap 14. Pieces of the Puzzle

Mrs. Manoso flipped back her hair and smiled my way. The lunch had consisted of questions and answers. Where did I live? How did I meet her son? Has it been hard being away from home? Who are my parents? The questions were nonstop. Thankfully, most of the questions were for my son. The expression on her face expressed astonishment and disappointment when she learned the date of Ricky's birthday. Ranger's and Ricky's birthday fell on the same day.

"Do you love Carlos, Stephanie?" She asked when the dessert arrived. Ricky's eyes moved from hers to mine. Obviously, he was intrigued about our conversation. Most importantly, he understood the question. She noticed my gaze and smiled warmly, her eyes focused on my son. She took her fork and fished some of Ricky's dessert.

"Nice," she commented teasingly. "Are you sure you don't want to move in with grandma?"

Ricky shook his head, "I can't. I take care of mommy."

"Of course you do," she said in teasing lament. "Would you come visit me?"

"Okay," my son nodded. He scooted closer to her and gave her a hug, thinking she was sad. I took a sip of water and lowered my head shamefully.

"Would you mind if we drop Ricky off at RangeMan?" She asked abruptly. "I would like to talk to you alone. I'm sure Ella would be more than happy to take him for a few hours. She gets this look in her eyes every she talks about him."

"Sure," I answered reluctantly. This woman's presence had me speechless. I didn't know what I was in for by talking to her, or what she wanted to accomplish. I'm quite sure she hates me though.

-rs-

We drove up to RangeMan and found Ella sitting behind a pastry table outside the building. Ranger was standing with his arm crossed by the door, watching the guys helping Ella pick up the trades. Mrs. Manoso parked her car right in front of him and in front of mine. Ranger's eyes fell on her car and then mine. He had on his blank face.

"Did he order you to pick up, Ella?" Mrs. Manoso asked, glancing at her son accusingly, stepping out of her car.

"No, I think it's going to rain," Ella replied loudly. Ricky rushed out of the car towards his father; his little feet couldn't go fast enough and I feared he might fall. Ranger stopped half way, blank faced, taken by the moment. He directed his eyes at me. I guess he didn't expect his son to be so happy to see him.

He effortlessly picked him up. I envied him for that! Ranger gave his son a kiss on his forehead, and closed the distance between us.

"Daddy," he exclaimed breathlessly. Ricky swallowed and wrapped his arms around his neck.

"Mommy says I can have a birthday party, and all my new friends will go," Ricky rambled. "Tia Sofia says I will get lots of presents and a big cake. A moon and batman cake."

"A moon and batman cake?"

"He wants a cake with a moon and batman themes," I explained. "Moon and batman themes, together."

Ranger kissed his son's forehead, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. He set him on the ground and off he went to give Ella a warm hug…and possibly get a pumpkin cookie.

"Did she give you any trouble?" He asked in a deep tone, and his eyes traveled to his mother. She was helping Ella with her pastries. They seem in deep conversation. Ranger actually sounded frustrated.

"You could have told me she was coming," I continued, "and she hates me."

"Did she tell you that?"

"No"

"I had little warning," he said. "She's an unpredictable storm, and she doesn't hate you."

"I would hate me," I said thoughtfully, more to myself. Ranger looked into my eyes. "If I was your mother, I would hate me too."

"Babe"

"Why is Ella selling pastries?" I asked curiously. Ranger's blank face came back to play. He stared at the guys as they carried the things into the building.

"It's a long story," he said.

"Does this have to do with your lack of transportation at the beach?" It didn't hurt trying.

"Tank and Bobby were supposed to keep an eye on you," he stated. Ranger wasn't having a good day. I refrained for asking more questions.

"I can take care of myself," I whispered angrily.

"I know," he replied after a pause, "I like taking care of you."

Mrs. Manoso walked towards us holding Ricky. Ranger's blank face was still on.

"Mom," he said. "I thought we had an agreement.

"I did not insult her, baby," she answered indignantly and shaking her head. It sounded weird to hear anybody call Ranger by "baby." There was nothing "baby-ish" about Ranger.

"Did I insult you Stephanie?"

I shook my head.

"See?" She said. "Now, you stay with Ricky while Stephanie and I have a little chat."

I blinked and glanced at Ranger. He seemed like he was upset but I wasn't sure. Mrs. Manoso took my arm and guided me towards my car. She got in the passenger seat and waited for me to get in. I looked over my shoulder to Ranger, trying to find an answer to my unasked question. Should I go? I felt weird leaving Ricky with Ranger. He was probably busy, but I was also terrified of Lorena Manoso.

She stared into my eyes and I ran into the car before her they fired lighting. I secretly wondered if Storm from X-Men ever fired lighting through her eyes. I wasn't sure. I got in the car and drove away.

-rs-

Mrs. Manoso and I stopped for coffee at a local café in front of the park. We took our table, she ordered a dark coffee, and I ordered a mocha latte.

"Stephanie means crown," she said with a smile, then her voice drop to a whisper, "and you sure are a heck of a crown."

The waiter interrupted to bring us our orders. She poured a bag of sugar into her coffee and took a sip.

"I know my son is not… He's not the easiest person to understand," she continued looking into my eyes, "but he made me a promise a few years ago, and I expect him to live up to that promise."

"What was the promise?" I asked gingerly.

"You'll find out when the time is right," she told me casually. Great, just what I needed another mystery for me to solve.

"I wanted to meet you first and get to know you. I have my own questions to answer. In all his life, my son has never shown interest in anybody," Mrs. Manoso explained quite seriously. "He never talked about women to us, never introduced us to anyone. We started to wonder, you know. It was getting suspicious."

She chuckled at my expression.

"Then we heard about you," she said looking into my eyes. "Celia liked to grill him on anything Stephanie Plum. He wouldn't say much, of course. He's very private, and he never said anything to me. Nonetheless, I can't hide the fact that I felt relieved, thinking that my son would finally let someone take care of him for once, someone to make him happy because all I would see was that stupid blank face."

Mrs. Manoso's voice became clearly emotional by the end of her last sentence. I know that face. I'm quite familiar with it. Ranger would put on that face every time we talked about "us." Mrs. Manoso grabbed a napkin and cleaned the tears rolling down her eyes. She inhaled the rest of her tears away.

"I understand, Mrs. Manoso," I said sincerely. "My relationship with Ranger has always been complicated. Our relationship was always been quite confusing, even to me. I know you're probably here to address the fact that… that I left."

"Stephanie…"

"Mrs. Manoso," I interrupted holding up my hand. "I understand. I was the girl that left and made Ranger's life miserable for the last four years and a half. Got pregnant and didn't even send him the message. Mrs. Manoso, I understand why you hate me. I'm not trying to make excuses for myself, but believe me when I say that I do regret what happened. I will regret it for the rest of my life. Please, just let us move forward, because it would make things a lot better for us. "

She blinked a couple of times, she didn't say anything, just took a sip of coffee. I waited impatiently for a reply. She didn't say anything, and I felt the tickling sensation of the tears threatening to make their appearance.

"Mrs. Manoso," I chocked.

"It's Lorena," she said. I wiped the tears with the back of my hand before they fell.

"My son's eyes sparkle when he speaks about you," she said softly. She running her finger over the ring of her cup, "I don't hate you, Stephanie. But I do need to know honestly, do you love my son?"

I nodded timidly, staring at the design of the table.

"Okay then," she said smiling. "I know that he loves you, but for what I understand you're both equally stubborn. I don't want to worry about the three of you. There isn't just the two of you anymore. Therefore, whatever happens between you too, you have to think about the consequences…and think about me. I'm getting old and I need more grandchildren. Let him love you, dear, make it easy for him."

She sounds like my mom. Mrs. Manoso laughed. Why was she chuckling? Did I just say that at loud? Darn it! My phone decided to interrupt. I checked on my phone and it was grandma. I excused myself and picked up the call.

"Stephanie," Grandma Mazur yelled at my phone. "Stephanie, is that you?"

"I hear you Grandma," I said. "You don't have to scream."

"Honey, would you pick me up?" She asked. "I need a ride home. Mary was supposed to pick me up, but she's not here, and I don't want to be late for today's viewing."

I could hear some yelling in the background, followed by the sound of something that sounded like a dryer.

"I can't grandma," I said. "I'm sort of busy."

"Helen is at the hospital," she said, "and your father can't pick me up."

"Are you at the salon?

"Salon? No dear, I'm not at the salon," she said. "I'm at this little store. It's lovely, just come get me. You're going to love it."

I took a minute to process everything and wrote down the address. This place sounded familiar to me for some reason. I looked up at Mrs. Manoso sitting in front of me.

"My grandmother," I explained. "She wants me to pick her up."

"Oh, lovely. I would love to meet your family," she said excitedly, gathering her things. I love Grandma, but this might not be the greatest idea.

-rs-

Seriously Grandma? Pleasure Treasure? Couldn't it be the knitting store or the senior center?

"Stephanie," she hollered standing at the door. "There's someone here who wants to see you."

Mrs. Manoso was already out the door.

I noticed the store looked a little differently from the inside. There were dildos and other toys propped on a shelf, looking colorful with their discount signs. They reminded me of the way bakers display their goods. Its official, Ranger is sending me to live with penguins. We made our way to the cash register.

"Good morning ladies," the man said looking down at his notepad. "How may I help you today?"

"Sally?" I was surprise to see him. Sally Sweet looked up from his notes and stared at me in surprise.

"Stephanie?" He questioned and walked around the desk to hug me. He embraced me, lifting me up in the process. "Holy Sh…! It's you! You're really back. You're f-fudging back."

"How are you doing?" I laughed. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm alright," he said in disbelief. "I had to stop my previous work because I couldn't stop cursing. Now I'm working here, got in trouble a few days ago for public indecency, but I swear it meant nothing. The woman who denounced me had a problem with my earrings. Oh crap, you're here to take me in, aren't you?"

"No," I chuckled.

Sally looked at his watch, "good because I still need to make my quota or I could get fired."

I looked around the store. It was empty.

"Isn't this store great, Stephanie," Grandma asked me nudging me. "It's good for us single ladies."

Grandma was standing next to the shelf of dildos. She was gesturing towards them, a big smile plastered on her face.

"Uhhmm," Mrs. Manoso responded to Grandma's comment. I cleared my throat.

"Grandma, Sally, this is Lorena Manoso," I introduced. "She's Ranger's mother."

Grandma whipped her head around, her eyes examining the woman next to her, and then she smiled.

"Your son has a nice package," she complimented confidently with a smile. My eyes almost came out of their sockets. Grandma!

"Good," Mrs. Manoso replied taken back. "Good for him."

She walked away from us, browsing through the store.

"Grandma!" I complained in a low voice. "She doesn't need to know if her son has a big package or not."

"Why? I was just being honest, dear," she said. "Parents like it when you compliment their children."

"What are you doing here?" I questioned suspiciously. She looked at me with excitement.

"Remember the ladies from the salon?" She asked. I nodded.

"I told them that you're looking for that missing girl. What's her name? Leticia, I told them you were looking for Leticia. Carol said she remembers seeing Kennel coming into this store. I came on your behalf, to ask some questions, and explore, of course. That's when I found Sally here."

I glanced over at Sally and pulled a picture from my purse.

"Have you seen this guy?"

"uhmm… I think I have, yes," he said. "He has been here. He came looking for somebody else, a girl."

"He did?"

"Oh yea," Sally moved behind the register and pulled a receipt out a drawer.

"He was following a man, Andrew Matta," he informed giving me the receipt. "Matta is a frequent buyer at this store."

My spidey sense went off.

"Stephanie, you should get one of these," Grandma said happily. I turned my head to see her pull a dildo out of a bag. It was big and pink. She turned it on to demonstrate and the machine came to life making a loud noise, rotating around its base. I realized that what sounded like a dryer on the phone was a dildo. Grandma started shaking it in a suggestive gesture.

"Grandma, I don't think you should get that," I said nervously.

"Why?" She questioned loudly over the noise. She sounded disappointed. "I like it. It's for a great price too. Men my age usually need a little help, you know, getting it up."

"I don't know," I chewed my lower lip. My mother will flip, my father will move out of the house.

Mrs. Manoso looked our way and smiled. It couldn't have been more embarrassing. She looked at the machine in Grandma's hand and replaced it for something different.

"It's too noisy," Mrs. Manoso interjected. "It sounds like a broken motor. This one is quite silent," she said, "I think you will enjoy this one better."

She walked back to another shelf and I stared after her a little surprised.

"Could I help you Madam?" Sally asked Mrs. Manoso. I snapped out of my trance

Ranger's mother was looking through the products. We both walked over towards her. It was filled with creams, editable underwear, and toys.

"Do you know if this cream is hypoallergenic?" She asked holding up a bottle. "My husband and I tried one similar to this one, and it gave him a weird rash."

I became slightly pale.

"Rashes! You have to be careful with rashes," Sally exclaimed, using his hands to explain. "Has he gotten tested? I've had weird rashes before, not pretty."

"Rash?" Grandma pitched in, "Anthony from the senior center had a rash around his…"

"Grandma," I said warningly.

"It was an allergic reaction," Mrs. Manoso corrected him. "Now we only use organic products."

"Organic is always good," Sally wave his hands dismissingly. "We don't have organic, but let me interest you in a Couples' Vibe Crown. I think you'd love it."

"I have one," she said proudly, "but I'll get one for Stephanie if it makes your quota. As long as she promises to use it with my son."

She smirked and tilted her head to the side, searching for me.

"And add a bottle of those oils," she continued.

I almost fainted.

"Stephanie, you're looking a little sick," she said. "Are you okay?"

I nodded and swallowed.

"M'hija, sexuality is a very important part of a person's life," she explained with a professorial, informational sort of voice. "Orgasms help you relief stress, regulate hormones, and it's good for your hair. It also improves your mood. I think my son and you could benefit from such great exercise. You know…together."

Grandma smiled my way. She was grinning.

"I like her," she said, turning on the apparatus in her hand. By the end of the day, Mrs. Manoso and Grandma left Pleasure Treasure with a bag filled with goodies. I had a few of my own, courtesy of Mrs. Lorena Manoso.

-rs-

We dropped Grandma off at the viewing. The place was almost empty because we got there a little too early. I took a few minutes while Grandma showed Mrs. Manoso the owner's handy work.

I called Sofia. She was shadowing the Internet and phone usage of Leticia's friend. It was little scary the way in which she could tap into someone's computer so easily. The day I decided to open a private detective agency, I asked Sofia to be my partner due to her fabulous computer skills. The truth is that Sofia is a freelancer, she doesn't work for anybody. I was surprised she said yes to my proposition.

"How are you?" I asked

"I'm bored!" She exclaimed. "I need to do something, shoot somebody, anything. I would love to bury a body right this moment."

"You and I both," I stated. "I have a job for you. I want you to look up a credit card for me. Andrew Matta made a purchase at Pleasure Treasure store, yesterday afternoon. He paid with a credit card. The last four digits of the credit card marked on this receive are 4700. RangeMan ran a search on him, but it doesn't hurt trying again. I was wondering if you could match it with the database, maybe also his computer."

"Will do," she replied happily. "Oh! I have another date with Lester."

"Again? Wait! I have another call."

"Okay, call you when I'm done."

I closed on Sofia and picked up the other call. It was Ranger.

"Ricky wants to talk," he stated.

I chuckled knowingly.

"He likes to talk," I said seriously.

"I noticed," he replied solemnly.

"Ranger," I sighed.

"Stephanie," he articulated. He was trying to teach me a lesson. I was trying to force myself to say it, but my tongue was tied.

"Just talk to him," I pleaded. "You just have to ask him questions. He will go off on his on. You don't even have to say another word. You might learn something new."

There were a few seconds of silence before he asked, "Is my mother still with you?"

"Yes," I said looking over my shoulder.

"She's an interesting woman," I continued, nodding to myself.

"She wasn't always like this," he said.

I told Ranger about Sally and about Mr. Matta. He and I agreed that something wasn't right.

"I don't feel good about this man," I said. "My intuition rarely fails, but this goes beyond suspicion, he sort scares me."

"You should not be scared of him," Ranger said in serous tone. I know that he didn't like the idea of letting a criminal go free after a RangeMan capture.

"I think I'll keep my eyes on him for a while. We'll be there in a few," I reminded him, "talk to your son!"

Ranger's POV

Ella refused to watch Ricky, arguing that it was my responsibility, and that I had no reason not to take care of him. This is part of their plan against me, do anything that might annoy the boss, like not following orders. I buckled Ricky in the back seat of the Cayenne and took him on a little detour. I would normally not supervise security projects with a child, but I didn't have any other option.

"Daddy?"

"Yo"

He giggled, "I want to sit next to you."

"No, you can't," I replied gently.

"Why?"

"Because you're a child," I explained, "and under New Jersey law, you have to sit at the back. You should be in a kid's seat, secured. You can't sit next to me."

I glanced at him through the mirror, and chuckled silently. Ricky was upset. He pursed his lips, crossed his arms tightly, and glared at the seat next to me. Maybe he was hoping it would catch on fire.

I know I should not find my son's tantrum funny, but the look was priceless. We have spent little time together, but I have learned a lot about him in such a short time. Now I know what makes him tick, authority. My son doesn't like rules or authority. He reminds me of someone, me. This might become a problem.

"Please," he pleaded.

"Fine"

I pulled over and helped him to the seat next to me. Then I continued driving silently for a few minutes.

"Daddy?"

"Uhm?"

"Are you mad at me?" Ricky questioned unhappily. I glanced at him once again. My son's eyes had turned soft, wide, and moist. He looked like he was in the edge of tears.

"Why would I be mad at you?" I asked him, not quite understanding.

Ricky sod silently, "because… I want… I want to sit next to you."

"No! What makes you think I'm mad?" I inquired.

"You don't talk to me," he rasped, his bottom lip quivering. "You are mad."

"I can't talk while I drive," I explained softly. I'm bad with kids, not other people's kids, just mine.

"It's dangerous," I told him, hoping to sooth him.

"Mommy talks to me," he said, "and we sing songs."

"Songs?"

He nodded, and my hands tightened on the stirring wheal. This is going to be a very long day.

-rs-

Ricky: Uncle Cal, would you come to my birthday party?

Cal: Sorry kid, the boss wants me to work.

Ricky: He's a meany.

Cal: I know. He won't even let me eat cake.

Ricky: *Gasps and runs to Ranger* *amazed* Daddy, Uncle Cal's boss is a meany. He won't let him eat cake!

-rs-

Ranger: Babes, please summit a review. It would make me happy for about an hour at least... I don't know my happy meter hasn't working properly. Also, Cal might be able to make it to Ricky's party, and I'm looking for a second beta reader to help out. Have a wonderful and beautiful week. Click on the review link.