Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own anything. The Plum characters belong to Janet Evanovich. However, I do own Sofia.
Note: Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks to JessicaRenae and Joleen for helping me make this fan fiction so much better. Thanks to everyone for reviews and comments. It has taken me a long time, but this story is almost over. I am grateful for all the support and for your patience. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Also, I posted some new material on my blogs. The links are on my profile if you guys would like to check those out. Take care!
Chapter 20. Basement
The traffic didn't help my mood. My anger flared. How dared she? Why would she write about us without my permission? The worst part of all was that I still thought she was a decent person. A part of my brain that told me that Joe would have never married a hypocrite.
Finally, I reached the house and managed to slam on my breaks inches before denting the rear side of Joe's car. In the distance, I saw Amy battling with an oversize tote bag. She looked up, aware of my presence and quickly made her way towards the car.
"Stay in the car," Amy said before I had time to dismount. She slid into the seat next to me and threw her possessions in the back.
"The Turbo will make a better impression," she said thoughtfully. Then, she studied my clothes with her gaze. "What are you wearing?"
I gapped feeling miffed, in more than one way.
"What exactly are you playing at?" I questioned, the words finally coming out of my mouth. "Do you know in how much risk you put my family? My son?"
"It was a necessary hazard."
"It was a necessary hazard?" I echoed.
"Mrs. Alonde would not even consider you," she admonished. "Lucy told me that Mrs. Alonde thinks you are a good for nothing. She said that you only caused chaos and destruction to the city of Trenton."
I gaped in surprise. Although, I don't know why it surprised me. Perhaps, it was the cruelty behind the words, the degradation.
"Don't get all emotional," she commanded.
I glared at her in annoyance.
"Not everybody in this tiny little world has to like you," she ranted, almost hysterically. "We are women. Why do we always want to be liked by everybody in the world? Why? This is why so many women feel trapped. They live their lives trying to accomplish everybody else's dreams, measured by everybody else's standards of happiness. Instead, they should pursue their own dreams and their own happiness."
Amy's eyes filled with a fierce and indescribable emotion. My mind was too clouded with worry, shock, and confusion to decipher her little speech. In a way, I'm quite sure not all her words were directed at me.
I paused, "what does that have to do with your article?"
Amy's eyebrows knitted and she smirked.
"Stephanie, your family has one of the best protection system in all of the US," she retorted. "There's no way anyone is going to get to Ranger, and even less a chance they would get to Ricky."
"Do you know how much work and stress it takes to keep everyone at RangeMan safe?"
Amy sighed, "I'm sorry, but this is your only way to Alonde's house. Now she called me personally to request a meeting and asked me to invite you. I was going to pick you up, but based on the fact that you're using Ranger's car, and dressed in Ranger's t-shirt, I conclude that I wouldn't have found you home."
I grunted and started the engine. "Are you always this irritating?"
"Only when there's a story. I'm good at finding stories." She mused, "sorry for the ranting. It wasn't entirely directed at you. After this article, Ms. Alonde has no choice. She has to invite you to her house and at least pretend to like you, because today…Trenton loves."
-RS-
Mrs. Alonde puffed on her cigarette, starring at us through half narrowed eyes. She turned to her side and placed her cigarette on the ashtray.
"Amy, darling, how's the baby?" She asked, smiling warmly at Amy.
"She's almost done cooking," she replied.
"She?" I gasped. Joe's having a girl?
"We don't know the sex yet, but I'm sure we're are having a girl." She told me softly. "Laura, this is Stephanie Plum. Stephanie, this is Laura Alonde."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Laura greeted as if finally noticing me for the first time. Laura's eyes scanned my figure and her eyes dwelled on the logo over my breast.
"I read Amy's piece this morning," she informed us. "It was lovely. I'm happy to meet the infamous Bombshell bounty hunter. Please, follow me. We can have coffee or tea if you prefer."
She led us to a small study, and we sat in silence for a few minutes until the service brought tea and cookies.
"Stephanie, you must be so busy these days, with the kidnapping and all. Tell me, are you working for RangeMan?"
"Yes, I am."
Ranger forced me into working with RangeMan once again. All with the intention to keep me safe and bored in front of the computer screen.
"Ohh," she answered, taking a sip of tea. "My husband wanted to request RangeMan services, but he opted for a company with more experience. You know, quality."
I nodded and faked a smile. Amy and Laura exchanged a few sentences about the book club and the other ladies in the book club, and their families. I made a few passing comments about the books in the list.
Laura wanted to know everything about everybody, running to Amy in quest for juicy gossip that she never provided. I stepped back from the conversation and examined the room once again.
"Could I use your bathroom?"
"Of course," she said, signaling her maid. A girl with a blue maid's dress stepped forward. She had large brown eyes, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. On our way to the bathroom, I noticed she was limping, dragging her right foot slightly.
"How long have you worked for the Alonde's?" I asked. She slowed her steps.
"A little too long," she said with a slight southern accent, "but soon I'm moving away."
"Relocating?"
"No, just going away." She replied. "You are that woman from the papers, right? The one the boss was talking about, the bounty hunter?"
"Yes," I said instinctively.
We walked down the stairs and through a number of corridors before reaching the bathroom.
She led me to the kitchen. The other maids stopped on their tracks and to look at us. The girl put a finger over her mouth, indicating that they should not speak. Then, the young woman led me to a hidden stairs door behind the kitchen. I could tell by the closet full of aprons and uniform that it was the service's bathroom.
My alerts flags flared up immediately, not that they weren't flaring already.
"What's your name?" I asked the girl.
"Victoria," she said. "People used to call me Victoria Black."
"Used?"
"Yes, the bathroom is here," she indicated to the bathroom, but move her fingers to point towards the end of the hall. I nodded in understanding, and she hurried back to the kitchen.
I used the bathroom and investigated my surroundings. It was a small room, compacted. The wooded old floor creaked as I walked. I heard a low rasping and stopped in my tracks and examined the ventilation on the wall. The noise seemed to be coming from that spot, small muffled sounds. I skirted the wall in search of a door, and I found nothing. I walked around the room and examined the hall a couple of times, becoming frustrated.
Why would Victoria lead me this way?
The door past the maid's quarters displayed a collection of locks. I examined the door and looked down in search of the vents once again.
Voices! I could hear soft voices, whispers almost a lost in the wind. A soft and delicate melody reached my ears. In a mix of darkness and fear, somebody was singing softly, a delicate voice.
I had no reception on my phone, and I didn't want to leave. These people are imprisoned in the basement. Why?
They were not there when Ranger and I came to snoop. In fact, the house was empty.
I jumped at the sounds of steps coming my way.
"Ms. Plum," Mrs. Alonde called out. "What are you doing down here?"
"I got lost," I explained, feigning confusion. "I was hoping to find the kitchen and get a glass of water."
"This is not your house, Mrs. Plum," she reproached. "We have maids. If you want water, I prefer you ask for it. One of our employees will fetch a glass for you."
My jaw hurt from clenching it so tightly. Mrs. Alonde motioned over to the stairs, asking me to follow. I complied with irritation, hoping not to look suspicious. Amy gave me a questioning glare when we reached the living room.
"I got lost," I said defensively.
"I think we should go," Amy announced. "I have a doctor's appointment."
We said our goodbyes, with the promise of coming back for the book club meeting, and made our way out to the car.
"You look pale," Amy remarked once Laura was out of earshot.
"I heard voices coming from a locked basement," I whispered.
Amy's eyes widened, "are you sure?"
"Yes"
Amy inhaled deeply, closed her eyes, and rubbed her stomach.
"Are you okay?" I asked. "Do I need to call Joe?"
"I'm fine," she said. "I think."
-RS-
The core team, the feds, and the police officers listened carefully as I explained what happened at Mrs. Alonde's house. Samuel, Leticia's uncle, was the first one to get up and reach for the door.
"What are we waiting for?" He asked. "She could be in that house. We need to move."
"We could be putting a lot of people in danger," Samantha, the FBI agent specialized in human trafficking, reasoned.
"Are we just going to sit here then?"
"I sent a surveillance team to the site as soon as Stephanie called me," Ranger informed us. "We also notified the teams involved."
"Good, now that we have this information, the FBI will search the house," Samantha said, standing up. "Samuel, you're welcome to join us."
"What about us?" I questioned.
"Stephanie, you should stay here," the detective replied. "In case we don't find something at the house, we don't want to blow your cover. We have a few leads. This is just one of them. The rest of the team is welcomed to join us, though."
I was about to protest, but Ranger put a hand on my shoulder and shook his head.
"You stay here," he said. "I need to talk to you."
The people started spilling out of the room, and I turned to Ranger. He locked the door and pointed a remote to the camera in the room. Confused, I smiled shakily.
"You aren't going?"
"This is more important."
"What did I do now?"
He opened his arms and pulled me into a tight hug. Slowly, I melt into the embrace and took a deep breath. A few tears leaked through my closed eyelids. He then put his hands on my face and made me look at him.
"Babe, I need you to promise me that whatever happens, you will listen to me," he said, his voice serious.
"What are you saying?" I put my hands round his wrists, his hands still holding my head still. "Why are you saying this?"
"I have done this long enough to know that things don't necessarily become easier as the end approaches," he said, "and I need to keep Ricky and you safe."
"And who keeps you safe?" I asked him in annoyance. He smiled, his 100 watt smile, and kissed my forehead.
"I own this business, don't I?
I huffed. "What should we do until they come back?"
"We wait. This is a FBI investigation, we are only helping them out."
"I hope they find her," I said, "and no one gets hurt."
"Me too."
Ranger dropped his hands from my face and tried to comb through my hair with his fingers. My hair was too frizzy and wild for it to work, but I marveled at the sensation provided by his touch. In the mean time, I let my mind speak without censoring.
"Ranger…. Ahh… Carlos," I started.
"Babe"
"What's with the push and pull thing we have going on? I don't like it one bit."
He arched an eyebrow in question.
"C'mon, yesterday, at the club, and after the club, and before the club."
"Babe, I'm sorry, but I don't follow."
I sighed, contemplating if I should say anything at all. In this case, avoidance didn't seem like the best option. If I my feelings were going to get hurt, I rather they are hurt now than later. Besides, I went through enough arguments with Joe to know that avoiding our issues and ignoring them did nothing to strengthen our relationship.
"What are you thinking, Steph? I won't let you leave this room until you are honest with me."
"I just don't know how to act around you," I admitted. "First, you push me away, and the next minute you're kissing me against the wall, then we are fighting again, the next moment we are sleeping in the same bed…"
Ranger was about to interrupt, but I stopped him.
"I know the bed thing isn't your fault," I said, "but I asked you for forgiveness and you said you wanted to move forward and establish a relationship as parents. Then yesterday…."
"What about yesterday?"
"Yesterday, before the assignment, you told me that whatever happened at the club was only for work. It wouldn't mean anything," I explained, "but you kissed and touched me and wanted to do those things. You want… me."
"I did mean it," he said. "I do want you."
"I'm so confused," I grunted.
"Babe," he took my hands in his, turning them face up. He kissed both my palms and rubbed his thumbs over the spot where he kissed me. "I don't know how to act around you either. This is why I keep trying to keep a distance and it doesn't always work."
He smiled knowingly. Did he know something I didn't?
"Babe, we are inevitable."
"Are we?" I gasped, my heart suddenly decided on some exercise. I cleared my throat and composed myself.
"Are you Ranger?" I asked, this time hiding the surprise and excitement from my voice.
Ranger took my right hand on both of his and spread my fingers out and pressed my palm over his chest. I could feel the rapid beating of his heart.
We stayed silent for what seemed an eternity.
"Promise me that you'll listen to me," he said. "I need to know you are going to be safe."
It was too overwhelming to have him this close to me, in such a caring, and intimate moment. There was a knock on the door, and I quickly retracted my hand from his chest.
"Uhh…Ranger," came Tank's voice, a little hesitant. He stepped in and closed the door. "We have a situation. "Steph's house has been breached. There are casualties."
"Casualties?" Ranger asked, with his eyes fixed on me.
"They left a body," Tank replied turning to me. "I'm sorry, Stephanie."
The news knocked the air out of my lungs. I found myself being pushed towards and sat on a chair. There was another murder, the body found in my house. My new home has been corrupted. I could not ignore the message. I will be next.
-RS-
Ranger: Babe, we need to add a room for Ricky at my apartment.
Steph: (dismissively) Okay (continues reading)
Ranger: I'm also adding a third room for our second child.
Steph: Okay...whatever you... Wait…WHAT?
Ranger: (Smiles mischievously) I love you, Babe.
Thank you for reading. Please, let me know what you think.