Ranger put down the fork as he heard his phone ring.
"Yo." He said into the cell phone.
"Tommy and Paco's cells just went out." Torres said.
"What do you mean went out?" Ranger asked.
"The tracking on the cells just went dead at the same time. They don't have a signal coming from them anymore."
"Give me the address." Ranger said.
Stephanie looked at Ranger. Ranger shook his head. "On my way." He hung up his cell phone. He looked over at Mrs. Plum. "It was a lovely dinner, but Stephanie and I need to leave." He stood up and pulled out Stephanie's chair.
"What is it?" Stephanie asked.
"I'll tell you in the car." Ranger said.
Stephanie turned and started to follow Ranger. He looked back at her. "The slam books."
Stephanie turned and raced up the stairs. When she came back down she had a medium sized box with her. Ellen plum came into the hall holding a brown paper bag. "Just incase."
"Thank you." Ranger said. He took the box from Stephanie and Stephanie grabbed the bag of food and they headed to the car.
"What is it now?"
"Tommy and Paco dropped off the radar." Ranger said as he put the box into the back seat.
"Weren't they with Joe?" Stephanie asked.
"Yeah Babe, they were." Ranger got behind the wheel and started the car. He took off from the curb after he turned on the lights and headed to where the records' building was.
By the time they got there the block was already roped off. Ranger and Stephanie went under the crime tape. Ranger followed Stephanie and when she was stopped by one of the officers she knew he would fill them in on what was going on.
"Real doozey of a blazer we got going. The fire chief said they can't put it out. They have to let it burn out."
"Do they know if anyone was in there?" Stephanie asked.
"Haven't been able to tell." The cop said.
Ranger snagged Stephanie and they walked away from the cop. "Not a good idea to let on that you think people are in there Babe."
"This is Joe and two of your men." Stephanie said.
"I know that Babe." Ranger said.
Ranger led them back through the crime tap and his phone rang again. "Yo."
"Two blocks away is the SUV to the south."
"Good to know." Ranger hung up the phone. "Let's go to the SUV."
Ranger moved back to his car and got back in. He made a u-turn and then went to the south two blocks over and started looking for the SUV. He saw it and pulled up next to it. Ranger got out and looked inside, he didn't see anyone. He turned around and started looking toward where the fire could be seen not to far off. Stephanie was right beside him.
"They can't be dead. They just can't be." Stephanie said.
"Keep that attitude. Stay here, incase they show up. I'll be right back." Ranger started walking into the shadows of the building that was blocking the fire. He looked to and fro, then he saw it, he saw a foot. Ranger ran over to the foot and knelt down. It was Paco, he was passed out, but not dead.
"Babe! Get over here." Ranger told her. "Just follow my voice."
Ranger pulled Stephanie down beside Paco. "Stay with Paco. I'll find the others."
Ranger pulled out his cell and sent orders. He would have men here in short order. He found Tommy on the side of the building, he had a few burns, but was still breathing. Ranger moved again and walked around the building. He saw Joe lying in the parking lot, Ranger ran over to him. It was hot and sparks from the flames were flying all over the place. Ranger grabbed his arms and started dragging him back over to where Tommy was. Once he had him on the side of the building Tommy was coughing and trying to clear his lungs.
"Take it easy." Ranger told him.
"Fire...trapped, medal broken off in the lock." Tommy coughed and coughed.
Ranger looked at Tommy. "You guys were locked in?" Ranger asked.
Tommy shook his head. "Didn't find everything, but enough."
Joe started stirring, Ranger looked back down at him. "Help me with Morelli."
Ranger stood up and took Joe under one arm and Tommy grabbed the other. They made their way back to where Stephanie was. Paco was sitting up, he looked at Ranger. "That fire had to be started, it accelerated way to fast."
Joe was coughing. Stephanie went to Joe and lifted his head. "You okay?"
"Yes," Joe choked out and started coughing again.
Ranger saw the headlights coming down the street. He moved out from under Joe and went to the street. When his other SUV stopped two of his men got out Ranger went to the back and opened the door. He pulled out the small oxygen tanks and walked back over to the three men. He handed Joe one and gave the other to Tommy who was coughing as much as Joe.
After a few minutes, Joe pulled the mask back off. "I didn't find the piece of the birth record that gave me her name."
Stephanie looked at him. "I know her name, it's Medea Alexis Morelli."
Ranger watched as Joe look at Stephanie. "How did you?"
"Slam books, Lacy wrote it all down in other peoples slam books." Stephanie told him.
"Torres, drive the other SUV. Take Tommy home, make sure Paco gets back to the office." Torres nodded and Tommy and Paco left along with both of the SUVs.
"What all is in there?" Joe asked her.
Ranger watched as Stephanie shook her head. "I think you better read it for yourself Morelli."
Joe followed both of them back to Ranger's car. He got in the back, the smell of food overwhelmed him. "Been to your mom and dads?" Joe asked.
"Take it, but you better save me the dessert. I didn't get any." Stephanie said.
"God forbid we deprive you of sugar." Joe said. Ranger chuckled as he started the car.
Stephanie gave him the pen and turned on the light and handed him the slam books. She flipped to the first page and flashed the light. Ranger saw Joe look at the words.
It was a quiet ride; Ranger just drove in no particular direction. He just put space between him and the fire. He heard Joe swear off and on, Joe started switching between Italian and English. He saw Joe toss the slam books back into the box.
"Pull over." Joe insisted.
Ranger pulled over and Joe jumped out. He walked away from the car and bent over. Stephanie reached back for the slam books and Ranger stilled her arm. "Babe, I don't want another person sick in my car. Don't read it, please."
Joe opened the door and got back in, he saw where Stephanie's hand was and Ranger's hand on her arm. "I wouldn't read it." Joe told her.
Joe turned and looked out the window. "Take me to the station. I'm booking this all as evidence. Then I'm getting my daughter's birth certificate and I'm coming to get her."
Ranger released Stephanie's arm. He drove towards the station. "You want her packed tonight?"
"Yes." Joe said.
POV Change
Alex lay in the bed. Ranger had come back several hours ago and told her she needed to pack her things. She was now looking up at the ceiling with her hands behind her head and her legs crossed. He hadn't told her why, and Alex looked at her bags. It wasn't like she ever really unpacked. She had counted the tiles on the ceiling and new exactly how many across there were as well as how many down. Alex heard voices outside the door.
"What do you mean she has to see an optometrist?"
Alex knew that was Joe's voice.
"She has problems with her peripheral vision. On her left side, she needs it checked to make sure the damage isn't lasting."
Alex knew that was Lester's voice.
"How bad is it?" Joe asked.
"The doctor thinks it's just from the swelling, but he wanted her to be checked. The visit is already scheduled. They're expecting her." Lester said. "I don't see why you can't wait till the Judge makes a decision instead of taking her now."
"She's my daughter Santos. We'll show back up for Court, but I want my daughter."
Alex heard the door unlock. Then the steps and someone bang into the wall. She smiled, it had to Joe. Lester knew the layout of the room. She had the lights off and he was walking in the dark.
"Alex?" Joe asked.
"In here." Alex said.
She turned her head and saw his silhouette in the door frame.
"I'm taking you home, Kitten."
Alex turned her head back straight and stared back up at the ceiling. "You can't take me anywhere yet. I'm not in your custody."
She felt the bed sink and then closed her eyes as Joe found the lamp by the bed and turned it on. Alex kept her breathing as even as she could. She didn't understand why she was starting to feel afraid but she was. She felt his hand rub her cheek.
"You will be soon. I want you with me now. I lost enough of your childhood, I don't want to loose anymore of it. Not even a second, Alex."
Alex opened her eyes and looked at him. She studied his face, he looked haggard. Not like he had when she first saw him at Crystals. His face looked pained and worried, but he had slight smile on it.
"Is that my name?" She asked.
"You're middle name is Alexis." Joe took his hand away from her cheek and opened the folder he had. He pulled out a piece of paper and laid it on her stomach.
Alex picked up the paper and drank in every word that was on her birth certificate. She looked at the date, she would be fifteen tomorrow. She looked at Joe and laid the birth certificate down.
"Why did she name me Medea?" Alex asked.
Joe picked up the birth certificate and put it back in the folder. He laid the folder on the night stand then placed his right hand beside her left side. He leaned down a little. Alex was watching his eyes. She could still see the worry in them.
"Your mother is Greek. Medea is an ancient Greek name. Medea was a sorceress. I think she named you that because she had Athena as her middle name and it is also an ancient Greek name. Maybe it was something her family did. I'm not sure. We could ask your Grandfather if he knows."
"I have a Grandfather?"
Joe reached up with his left hand and rubbed her cheek again. "You have a lot of family you need to meet. You aren't alone anymore Alex, and they won't treat you the way Lacy and Michael did. I'm not going to treat you the way they did."
Alex looked away from him. He says that, but what if he really does treat me like Lacy and Michael did? Damn it! Why am I so afraid of that?
"Kitten, you don't have to meet anyone until you are ready. I'd rather we didn't for awhile. I want to spend time together with just you and me. I think we need that, I know I do. I don't want to have to share you right now, I want to get to know you."
Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Kitten, what's wrong?" Joe asked.
Alex could feel his hand as it still rubbed her cheek.
"Tell me. I can't help if I don't know what it is."
Alex turned her head to look back at him and saw not only worry laced within his eyes but concern. "I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"I don't want to be hurt anymore. I can't take it anymore."
She watched as Joe closed his eyes. "No one is going to hurt you. I won't let them."
Alex saw him open his eyes again. "I gotta know you won't do it."
Joe smiled at her. "I'm the last person you need to worry about hurting you. You're mine, and what is mine I protect. We may argue and we may not see eye to eye on things, but I would never hurt you. I'm not out to fuck you over like you've had done to you before. I can't show you any of that if you don't trust me. I need you to give me a chance Kitten. We both need it. If you want to go to China, I'll sign the papers that Jose wants signed. If that is what it takes to get a little bit of your trust then I'll do it."
Alex moved and sat up. "How big is your place?"
"You'd have your own room. You might have to share it with Bob every now and then, but it'd be yours."
"Who's Bob?"
"My dog. He's a nut, but I love him. He's got big floppy ears. He'll like you. He likes everyone."
Alex looked at her bags and then back to Joe. "I can't go unless Lester comes."
She saw Joe bow his head. "Why Santos, Alex?" he looked back up at her.
"I'm in his custody until the Court releases me. We would all get into a lot of trouble if I just left with you and didn't stay with Lester. I don't know about you, but I don't want my ass in the sling with the Courts again."
Joe stood up and grabbed the folder off the night stand. He looked at her bags. "Is this it? You have anything anywhere else?"
Alex moved and sat on the edge of the bed. "That's all I got here, other than what's left at the apartment."
Joe stooped down and picked up one bag and tossed it over his shoulder, "Grab your other bags, we'll pick up Santos on the way out."
Alex got off the bed and picked up the other two bags. "I thought you didn't like him."
Joe looked back at her. "I may not like him, I trust him, sort of, but if it means I get you tonight, then he's coming."