I'm back ;-) Thank you to everyone who has read and left reviews for this story. After a small detour I am back and should be posting on a regular schedule. Thanks to my beta, jago-ji, who somehow always finds the places where the story doesn't flow smoothly, catches my typos and corrects my grammar. As always, I use them for fun and not for profit.

Co-Independence

Independence Day is such a big holiday that I had to tell its story in two parts. The second part will be forthcoming in the near future, but for now, I give you ...

Part 1

Stephanie Denial Plum. Yep, it was my middle name and also the name of the land where I was currently living. I awoke on the morning of July 4th thinking I was hearing gunshots from the alley behind Joe's house, but soon realized it was an early Independence Day reveler. I hadn't heard a word from Ranger or anyone in the RangeMan camp, but I knew he'd be home today to take me to the wedding. He'd promised.

Ranger had disappeared from Trenton with no fanfare, and Joe had slipped back into my life with an ease that should have been unsettling. Since Memorial Day, I'd been almost living with him, spending as many as four nights a week at his place. There was a practical reason for that. Joe had an extra bedroom, and I was using it.

When we split, Joe and I both knew it was the right decision. I cared for him, and he cared for me, but we'd been trying to make a romantic love out of what had basically been a friends with benefits situation. The benefits had been great, there was no doubt, but when the time came that we realized we both needed more than sex from our relationship it was time to move on.

Moving on. I'd left Joe and waited for Ranger to make his move. Joe had taken a more direct route and jumped back into the Trenton singles scene. He figured the right girl would come along eventually, but until she did, he was going to experience everything that was available to him. He'd been very happy without me. I knew this because my family lives in the Burg, and there are no secrets in the Burg.

My mom had taken our break-up better than I'd expected, because Joe's reemergence as a single man had also turned him into every mother's nightmare. He was still a good cop and a respected citizen, but the Burg was finally able to breath out its collective pent-up I told you so. The Morelli genes had surfaced. Joe was a womanizer.

Our current situation had become the topic of waggling tongues all across the Burg. No one knew the truth of the situation. Not my mother, not Connie, or Lula, although I could tell Lula suspected something. I didn't know if Tank knew the truth because I hadn't talked to him. As always, Ranger made it clear that I should go to Tank with any serious problem. I'd have to be discreet due to limiting my connection to all things Ranger. I'd have to be desperate because I was limiting my connection to Jeanne Ellen. I was intimidated by Tank on a normal day. Now that he was allied with Jeanne Ellen, I couldn't imagine a situation where I would go to him for help. I'd go to Joe.

The night I'd left Ranger's apartment with Joe we went to Pino's, ate meatball subs, drank beer and rediscovered our friendship. The rest of our world was assuming we'd picked up where we'd left off, but Morelli and I were enjoying a friendship without benefits … well, not those kinds of benefits at least. There were benefits in being friends with Joe. Bob, for one. I'd missed that crazy dog. And for another, a relationship with a man I trusted in every way except a romantic way. That was past. We'd thrown out the proverbial baby with the bath water when we'd separated. Now, Ranger, of all people, had given us the chance to redefine our relationship and cement its reunion.

Even Grandma was a little concerned about Joe's extracurricular activities. Once she made sure I was aware of and okay with the fact that Joe was seeing other women, she aligned herself with me. Thank God for my grandma. Joe had tried to be more discreet in his alley-catting, in deference to his pretend affair with me. I was okay with that. He was not the ideal candidate for celibacy, and we'd established the very first night that I was not even a mild blip on his radar screen.

I'd asked him why he'd volunteered for Stephanie duty. He'd been truly offended and a little pissed off when I asked him if Ranger was paying him. His response had been succinct, profane, believable and endearing. He loved me. He wasn't in love with me, but he cared about me, my safety and my happiness, and the craziest part was he didn't fucking know why.

The rat-a-tat-tat of illegal fireworks exploding from somewhere behind the house came at the same time as the soft knock on the bedroom door. I rolled over and watched as the door opened slowly and Joe walked in. He was carrying a mug in one hand and a Tasty Pastry bag in the other.

"I brought you breakfast," he said. He walked quietly, almost cautiously, to the edge of the bed. He set the coffee on the bedside table and pulled a Boston Crème from the sack. "Your favorite."

There was something in the tone of his voice, something in the way he moved that set my pulse racing, not because he was offering me caffeine and sugar, but because he was getting ready to deliver bad news. It seemed like my visit to Denial Land was going to come to an abrupt end.

I sat up and pushed my hair back off my face. I looked at Joe for a long time before I reached out and took the donut. He sat on the edge of the bed and watched as I ate, leisurely savoring every little squish of crème. When I was finished I licked my fingers and turned to grab the coffee mug. After two big gulps I set it down. Joe had been patient while I'd stalled, but when the donut was gone and my thirst was sated, I couldn't put it off any longer. It was time to hear the news.

"Go ahead," I said.

"I had a call from Tank early this morning. Ranger missed his last two check-ins. I'm not totally sure what the time frame was. Hell, I don't even know where he is, but Tank had originally expected him home today. And, Cupcake ... Tank is concerned."

"Of course he's concerned," I said. My voice sounded calm and reasonable and disguised the sudden double-time beating of my heart. "Ranger made a promise to me that he would be home and done with all his extra-curricular work. Today was supposed to be the first day of the rest of our lives." I cringed when I heard the banal words come from my lips.

"Something's wrong, but not with Ranger." I was being logical. I couldn't handle what I was hearing any other way. I had to assume there was a good explanation for Ranger's absence. I had to assume there was a simple, easily fixable problem. He was fine.

"He's just had a failure to … communicate." I heard myself uttering more banality, but I believed what I was saying, because not to believe would mean that Ranger wasn't going to keep his promise.

"Tank asked if I would take you to this wedding tonight," Joe said. "He seems to think it's important, now that Ranger's not back, that you and I be seen together, as a couple."

Now, that Ranger's not back, nothing is important. That was my overriding thought. My calmness departed and was instantly replaced by anger.

"Tank wants us to go to a wedding? Is he crazy? Ranger's missing!" I pushed back the covers and got out of bed. "I'm going to talk to Tank," I said. "It's time for some straight answers. How long has he known about this?" I bent to pick up the jeans I'd carelessly discarded on the floor the night before.

Joe, still sitting on the bed, reached out and hauled me down beside him. "You can't just go see Tank. You're supposed to be done with Ranger. If you go to see Tank you'll undo all the careful plans Ranger made for you to be safe."

"Safe from whom?" I asked. "Niko Mattas? Maybe I'll go see him. He's in this thing up to his eyeballs. He probably knows where Ranger is." I stood up from the bed and Joe stood to restrain me. I twisted and turned to get away, and he pulled to keep me still and somehow we both fell onto the bed. I whooshed out air as he landed on top of me, and we both stilled. This was a position we'd been in many times before, and I thought, maybe, I saw a brief flare of arousal in his eyes, but it was gone before I could be sure.

His knee was between my thighs and his body rested heavily on mine. "Cupcake," he said into my ear. "Hold still." I did. Even though I was waiting for the opportunity to jump and run, I knew better than to wriggle and twist under him.

"Listen to me, before you go off half-cocked and do something you'll regret."

"Okay," I said. "I'll listen, but get off me." He rolled off and laid on his back beside me.

"Ranger asked me to take care of you while he was gone," Joe said. "I told him I would and I'm going to. You can't run to RangeMan and demand an answer from Tank that he probably doesn't have."

"I need to talk to him," I insisted, my voice rising with each sentence. "He knows more than he told you, I'm sure. And I want answers. I've done everything Ranger asked. I've been careful with my skips. When I needed backup I just turned the skip over to RangeMan completely. I've been safe. Niko has probably forgotten about me. I'm fine. But Ranger is missing. I have to find out what Tank knows. I'm going to RangeMan!"

I was righteous in my anger. I had done everything I'd said I'd do. The Burg gossip lines were full of Stephanie and Joe talk. Surely Niko couldn't think I was still involved with Ranger, because the plain and simple truth is I wasn't. I wasn't involved with Joe either, but I'd done my best to make it look like I was.

"Niko hasn't forgotten about you," Joe said. "I've spotted a tail several times when we've been in public. He's just waiting for some proof of connection between you and Ranger. I'm not sure what he'd do if he thought you were involved in Ranger's business, but the goal is to not give him a chance to act." I was quiet as I pondered what Joe had just said. I hadn't seen or sensed anyone following me.

"Tank will be at the wedding tonight," Joe said. "He will find us and talk to us there. He seems to think it's very important that you and I show up there as a couple. Let's do as he asked. Then we can reconsider where we go from here."

That answered one question and brought up another. Tank apparently knew that Joe was in the picture at Ranger's request. But why would Joe and I need to be seen at the wedding? It must have something to do with Niko. Maybe Cathy and Tim, the bride and groom, had invited him as well, although I couldn't imagine that. He hadn't even been in the bar the night of the poisoning.

Where was Ranger? My stomach did a flip-flop and bile rose in my throat. For a moment I thought the Boston Crème might make a reappearance. I breathed slowly and deeply and waited for the nausea to subside. Okay. I'd done everything Ranger asked, so now I'd do what Tank was asking. I'd attend the wedding with Joe, find Tank, and get some answers. And once I had those answers I was going to do everything in my power to find out why Ranger was MIA.

I'd only looked at the wedding invitation once, and that was the last time I saw Ranger, but Morelli had been briefed by Tank as to the time and location, so I didn't concern myself with any of the details, other than I had to be ready by six in the evening. Apparently, it was to be a lavish outdoor affair. I hoped that whatever purpose was being served by attending with Joe was worth it. I didn't understand why Tank and Joe were going on with business as usual when Ranger was missing.

I spent the afternoon at my place, alternately worrying about Ranger and then bravely reassuring myself, he was fine. Between the mood shifts I managed to get ready for the wedding and was waiting at the door of my building when Joe pulled into the lot. I opened the car door and slid onto the passenger seat, not waiting for him to do the escort thing and get out and open my door for me. We could look like a couple when we got there, but for now I was all business. If I did as Tank asked, then he'd owe me one, and this was a good time to be in that position.

"You look nice," Joe told me as he handed me a piece of paper.

"Thanks. What's this?" I asked.

"It's the address of the wedding venue. Somewhere in Deal. Put it in the GPS for me."

"In Deal?" I was surprised. I looked at the address Joe had scribbled on the back of an envelope and my hand fisted around it. "I know this address, Joe, and I know exactly how to get there."

"Is it some fancy wedding hall?" he asked.

"Hardly," I said, recalling the house in my mind. "It's a big, pink, Mediterranean style McMansion that sits on the beach. Alexander Ramos' house."

"Alexander Ramos is dead," Joe said.

"Yeah, he is," I agreed. "But his business is alive and well and being run by his cousin, Nikomedes Mattas. And isn't it a coincidence that the wedding is being held at that house."

"Guess now we know why Tank wanted us to be there," Joe said.

"I'm going get some answers from Tank tonight," I told Joe. "I'll play the part of your loving girlfriend, but at some point I'm going to find Tank."

"How about I look for Tank?" Joe asked. "If Niko Mattas is there it might seem less suspicious if I talked to Tank."

"Fine," I said. There was no sense in talking about strategy with Joe. Ranger was missing, and I was going to be brought up to date on the intel and for once, be completely in the loop, no matter which one of us made first contact with Tank.

I could only guess as to why Cathy and Tim were being married at the Ramos family complex. It had been a few years since I'd met Alexander Ramos—way back when Ranger and I were still circling one another trying to figure out what to do about the attraction that was growing between us. I remembered that time well. I used to let myself wonder, late at night, what kind of a lover Ranger would be. Now I knew, and the reality exceeded all of my imaginings. The thought that he might be injured, or worse, sent me into a near panic attack.

Joe's hand slid across the console. As his fingers interlaced with mine I felt a rush of gratitude for his friendship and understanding. I concentrated on staying in control. I could attend this stupid wedding and show the world I was Joe's lover. I had to do it for Ranger. I was calm as I gave him directions to Alexander's beachside mansion.

It turned out that neither Joe nor I had to look for Tank. The RangeMan presence was noticeable almost immediately. As we pulled into the large circular drive in front of the Ramos mansion a valet was waiting to park our car and next to the valet was Huey. He saw me and nodded, but didn't come forward to talk.

There was a clearly marked walkway through the garden that sided the house to an area decorated for the wedding. On our short walk I saw another of my favorite RangeMen, Howdy. He gave me a wink and brief smile but made no other overture.

"What's going on here?" I asked Joe as we made our way across the petal-strewn path. "There's a definite RangeMan presence here."

"I see that," said Joe. "I'm not sure, but Tank is standing at the far corner of the house. Let me find you a seat, and I'll go have a word with him." I turned and saw Tank taking in the scene. Our gazes met briefly and he gave me an almost imperceptible nod before turning away from me.

"Yeah, you do that," I said. If Tank thought he was going to get away with just a nod, he was mistaken. I was going to have it out with him before the night was over. I would know everything he knew about Ranger's whereabouts. On that point I was certain.

I sat in the white chair on the bride's side and placed my purse on the seat next to me. If all the chairs were filled, it looked like there would be over a hundred guests. Joe and I had arrived fairly early, but there were already quite a few of the seats taken. A shadow fell across me and I looked up to see Niko Mattas smiling down at me. He was wearing a white suit with a black tie. He looked like a younger, hipper version of Mr. Rourke from Fantasy Island, but the look worked for him. This complex was his Fantasy Island in a way I supposed.

"Stephanie, do you mind?" he asked, his gaze traveling to my purse on the chair.

"Well, no," I said, moving my purse so he could sit. "My boyfriend will be back shortly, but you can sit here until he returns."

"Oh," he said. "I didn't realize Carlos was going to make it. I'm looking forward to seeing him."

"No, not Carlos," I said. "Joe. Joe Morelli. I don't know if you know him, but …"

"Oh, yes," Niko interrupted. "I know Detective Morelli. I just wasn't aware he was your boyfriend. I thought you threw me over for Carlos."

"I didn't throw you over, Niko. There never was anything serious between you and me."

"Sadly, my dear, that's true, but enough about my failed seduction. Let's celebrate the fortunate young couple to be married here today. They must think they've won the lottery."

"You mean because your sister poisoned the bride and now out of guilt you've given them your home for their wedding? That doesn't sound like such good luck to me."

Niko laughed. "I love your frankness, Stephanie. Is it my sister then that you hold against me? Is Elaina the reason you put the brakes on our relationship?"

"Niko," I sighed. I looked at the extremely handsome man, who was half taunting, half flirting with me. "There never was a relationship. There was consideration of one, I'll give you that. But Joe came back into my life and he's staying there. We've been together off and on, for a long time. Now we're on for good."

"And all this time I thought you were with Carlos." He was lying. I knew it, but I didn't know why. He knew I had been practically living with Joe, because Joe had seen his people watching me. Unless they had Joe's house bugged, Niko couldn't know we weren't lovers. It made me wonder once again why Ranger was so adamant that Niko think there was nothing between he and I. Niko was fishing for information, and he was using Ranger for bait. Every time he said the word Carlos, he was waiting for me to react. I thought I'd give him a little of his own medicine.

"So where is Ranger?" I asked him. "I see several of his men here. Did Cathy and Tim invite the entire RangeMan staff to this wedding?"

"No," Niko said. "Unfortunately, Carlos is away on business. I assumed you knew. When I saw you, I first thought maybe he'd returned to town and had escorted you here today. I understand, now, that you are with your new man."

"Joe is not my new man, and Carlos never was my man." Both parts of that statement were true. "I've been with Joe, as I said, for some time. You still haven't explained what the RangeMan crew is doing here."

Niko waved his hand as if that was unimportant. "Just a little problem of the beach having public access," he said. "RangeMan is providing security against any wedding crashers. My generosity has limits. I don't mind providing for the guests of the bride and groom, but not for the general public. RangeMan will see to it that the wedding crashers stay away."

Interesting. I wondered how Tank had arranged that, because I was sure the idea had come from RangeMan and not the other way around. "I'm aware that this beach is public access," I told Niko. A little devil inside me was making me play with him. "I used to spy on your cousin, Alexander, from this very beach."

Niko's beautifully arched eyebrows raised in surprise. "You spied on Alexander?"

"Oh, yes," I said, smiling sweetly. "In the beginning, I was too … reticent to approach him. But later on, he would sneak out of his house to spend time with me. He proposed to me, but I said no. I think his sons wouldn't have been in favor of the union." What I'd said was true, but there was no way I'd ever considered marrying Alexander Ramos. He'd been a crazy, and dangerous, old fool. The only reason I'd had anything to do with him at all was to help Ranger prove his innocence of a murder he'd been framed for.

"Now I feel terribly rejected," Niko said. "You refuse to let this mutual attraction we have run its natural course, but you were involved with my cousin, a man who was wrinkled, fickle, and old enough to be your father."

"Old enough to be my grandfather," I corrected.

"You should reconsider me, my dear Stephanie." He reached out and ran his hand down the length of my arm. I felt my skin prickle under the touch of his hand, but it wasn't with arousal. "I'd be a very generous and attentive lover," he continued. His voice was low and sensual, and hadn't carried far. It had carried far enough, though. Unbeknownst to me, Joe had returned.

"I'm sure you would be generous and attentive, Mattas, but you're poaching. Back off. Stephanie is with me and she's likely to stay with me." Joe stood menacingly in front of the chair where I was sitting.

"Forgive me, Detective," Niko said self-deprecatingly. "She's such a lovely woman, I had to try once more. I can see the circumstances will not play out in my favor. If you'll excuse me, I need to see to the other guests." He rose and walked away quickly.

"What was that all about?" Joe asked, as he sat down.

"I'm not sure. I think he was sounding me out. Trying to get me to admit that I knew Ranger was missing. I don't think I gave anything away. And I don't think he's at all fooled by our pretense."

"What pretense?" Joe asked.

I rolled my eyes. "The pretense that we are important to one another."

Joe took both my hands in his and twisted me sideways in my chair so I was facing him. "Cupcake, you are very important to me. Once I accepted that we weren't good couple material, I moved on and so did you." I squirmed a little wishing there was some way I could break into his monologue. I thought I was going to have to hear something I didn't want to hear … about how we should try for real. I remembered that brief flare of arousal when we had fallen on the bed together.

"I care for you, Stephanie, and just because we still find one another attractive…" He held up his hand to stop my protest. "You do," he said dryly. "I've seen you checking out the goods!" I blushed a little. "I can't think of any two people," he continued, "who are better friends than we are. We need to let go of the past and keep what we have. I'm grateful to Ranger, because if he hadn't asked, this wouldn't have happened. I might have gone a lot longer without bringing you back into my life. I want us to stay friends. I know you're in love with Ranger. That's sort of okay. He isn't who I would have picked for you, but he's who you've picked."

"Who would have you picked?" I asked. I was a little uncomfortable with such an outright declaration from Joe and at the same time curious about Joe's idea of my Mr. Right.

"Eddie."

"Eddie—as in Gazarra? You're nuts! He's married to my cousin!"

"Yeah, but he had eyes for you first!"

"You creep!" I said as I punched him in the arm. Joe had given me information that I didn't need about Eddie, but then I realized he'd done something else as well. He'd taken my mind, for a moment, off Ranger, and he'd cemented his place in my life. I leaned over and kissed him full on the lips.

"Thanks, Joe. I love you, too." He smiled at me but didn't say anything further as the music began to play. "Looks like this shindig is getting started," he said.

"Dang! I wanted you to tell me what Tank said."

"Later, Cupcake. Tank will be at my house after the wedding tonight. We'll talk then."

Considering I didn't know the couple other than very superficially, and that my mind was preoccupied with what might be happening to Ranger at that very point in time, I sort of enjoyed the wedding. I thought maybe Niko had a small point about winning the lottery. Cathy hadn't died after all, and that one incident had provided a fabulous wedding. The bride must have realized her good fortune, because she made a beeline to me at the reception.

"Stephanie, I'm so glad you came, but where is Ranger? I wanted to thank him," Cathy gushed. "I mean that guy you're with is hot, but he's not Ranger. Ranger is special. He's sending us to Fiji for our honeymoon. All expenses paid. Isn't that nice?"

"Uh, yes it is," I said. Had Ranger really done that or was that Tank at work again? I knew so little about RangeMan these days, I couldn't decide. I started to explain to Cathy that Joe was my boyfriend, but she'd moved on to another topic of conversation.

"Timmy and I are staying at the reception until the fireworks," she said. "Mr. Mattas arranged a private display for the wedding guests since it is the 4th of July."

"That's great," I said, inwardly groaning. My mother had beat certain rules of etiquette into me and one of them was you never left the reception before the bride and groom. I hoped the fireworks were good. As Cathy walked away to greet another guest I turned to look for Joe. He was talking to an older couple and seemed to be really involved in the conversation so I found my way to a table at the back of the reception area. It had a good view of the dark night sky over the beach and I figured that's where the fireworks would go off. I planned to sit quietly and wait, and then get the heck out of Deal.

I sat through the cake cutting, the first dance, and the garter toss. What next? Joe had moved on from the couple and was now talking to other guests. I knew he was keeping a close eye on me, but trying to work the crowd. I recognized his technique, but I wasn't sure what he was after. Probably trying to gather information on Niko, but these weren't Niko's guests. They were Cathy and Tim's. The DJ interrupted my thoughts as he announced that the fireworks would begin shortly. I tried to catch Joe's attention unsuccessfully. I was just about to get up to go to him when Niko slid into the seat beside me.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Stephanie?"

"Yes," I lied. "It was a lovely wedding. It was kind of you to provide your home for them."

"It's not really my home," Niko said. "It's part of the company's holdings. And I wasn't being kind at all. I was just assuring my continued good standing in the community. I didn't want any negative publicity after the situation at the Radius bar."

"Where do you live, then?" I asked. I wasn't surprised to find out he didn't live in Alexander's old home, but I realized I had no idea if Niko made his home in Trenton.

"I'm glad you asked," he said. The sky lit with a bright flash and then the ground reverberated with a thunderous bang. The fireworks had started. The lights went out as the sky filled with one cascading firework display after another. Niko leaned in. "I'm going to take you to my home. Very soon."

"I don't think so, Niko," I said. "I've told you. I'm not interested." I felt someone slide into the seat on the other side of me and I turned expecting to see Joe. It was Mick Barnes. "What are you doing here?" I asked in surprise. "You should be in jail."

"He's here legally, my dear," Niko said. "Mick is waiting for trial and I posted bail for him. I used your cousin, Vinnie. I'm surprised you didn't know."

"I only know about the FTAs," I said. I looked out through the darkness and saw silhouetted figures. Where was Joe? The little hairs on the back of my neck were prickling. Something was wrong, but I wasn't sure what.

"Mick is here at my request," Niko said. "There was an easier way to do this, but I'm afraid you've made it necessary to take a more—shall we say—sinister approach. Mick will be taking you to my home where you'll be staying for a few days as a guest. You see, I need to speak to Carlos urgently, and he's been hard to find. I think if he hears you are spending some time in my company he will be forthcoming."

"You can't kidnap me!" I said. "We are in the middle of a wedding reception!"

"Oh, but I can," Nick said. He nodded his head toward Mick and then walked away. I tried to stand, but Mick's big meaty hand pulled me close against him. I saw his other hand coming toward my face. He had a cloth in it and I wasn't sure whether he was going to drug me or gag me. Either way, I knew I had to scream and scream quick. I drew in a breath and then held it as I heard the click of a safety.

"Let her go," Morelli said.

"Joe!" I exclaimed, relived he'd figured out what was going on. He stood larger than life, and I felt safe again as I saw the weapon in his hand, pointing straight at Mick. I couldn't believe they were attempting a kidnapping right in the middle of a wedding reception. The fireworks were a perfect cover, because other guests weren't taking notice.

Mick Barnes didn't let go. He ignored Joe and tightened his hold on my arm. I sat frozen, not even attempting to get away, mostly because I didn't believe what was happening. Another man materialized out of the dark night and stood next to Joe. I saw Joe stiffen and realized the man had a gun to Joe's back. A third man came and stood behind me.

"Check and mate," the man behind Joe said. Mick stood and, still holding on to me, began to pull me up and out of my chair.

"Don't be stupid," Joe told him. "You won't get away with her."

"You gonna stop him?" the other gunman asked. "Not likely."

"More likely than you know," Joe responded. He swung around and grabbed the arm of the man behind him. The sky suddenly lit with another round of flashes, and the resounding booms caused a chorus of "oohs" and "aahs" to emanate from the guests.

I saw Joe crumple and fall. The gun had been fired with precision timing to the last flash-boom, and no one even turned in our direction. I looked down and saw a huge blossom of blood growing on the front of Joe's white shirt. I heard screaming. It wasn't until much later that I discovered it had been coming from me.

I remember hearing Mick's harsh words to the shooter. It was apparent that shooting a Trenton cop wasn't part of the plan, because suddenly I was alone standing over Joe. The henchmen had disappeared into the night, because once I started screaming, I seemed to be incapable of quitting. I was now drawing attention. A lot of it.

I left the table and slid to the ground where Joe lay. His eyes were shut and his body was motionless. This was serious. I didn't know what to do. Did I put my hand on the wound to stop the bleeding? Did I leave Joe, because it looked as though he was as good as dead, and chase after the men who had somehow disappeared? Or did I just pass out? The last option seemed the most likely. But then Tank was there pulling me up and away from Joe.

There were more RangeMan operatives than I had known at the wedding and they converged on the area where Joe had fallen. Tank shook me and I'd like to say it was to prevent me from becoming more hysterical, but it was probably because he was angry at my unprofessional behavior.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Niko," I said.

"Niko shot Morelli?" Tank asked, sounding astonished.

"No. Mick Barnes, no not Mick, but someone with him shot Joe. Oh, God, please! Don't let him die." I tried to turn back to Joe, but Tank was holding tight. Far more tightly in fact than Mick Barnes had been holding me.

"We've got this under control," Tank said. "911 has been called. I need to get you out of here. Come on!"

"No," I wailed. "I need to help Joe." I pulled against Tank. He responded by picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. As he moved quickly through the crowd with my ass pointing skyward and my head bouncing against his back, a kaleidoscope of blurred images passed before me. The last thing I remembered was a bride and groom looking truly horrified. That would teach them to accept anything from Niko Mattas, I thought. I next thought I might be sick, and then, blessedly, I didn't think any more at all, because I must have passed out.

Later, as I was sitting in the RangeMan fleet vehicle drinking a can of Coke Tank had forced on me, I tried to recall in detail the order in which things had actually happened. I couldn't do it. I looked through the window where Tank was standing by the hood of the car, talking on what I thought might be a SAT phone. His body was still, and it was dark on the side of the road so I couldn't see him well, but I heard the low rumble of his voice. I couldn't make out the words, and I was pretty sure that's why he was standing at the hood of the SUV. He didn't want me to hear.

When he got back into the car I wasted no time. "Why are we stopped here?" I asked. "I need to get to the hospital. Joe looked bad. I need to be there with him."

"Do you have a valid passport?" Tank asked.

"Tank!" I exclaimed. "Listen to me. I need to go see Joe."

"Morelli is at the hospital, and is already in surgery. There's no need for you to be there."

"There is," I insisted. "He saved my life."

"You can't go to the hospital," he said flatly. "I need to get your passport. Where is it?"

"In a safe place." I reached for the door handle. "I'm going to go to the hospital to see Joe, and if you won't take me, I'll walk." Before I could open the door the automatic locks clicked.

"Stephanie. Quit the bullshit!" Tank looked at me and I could see the anger in his eyes. And something else, maybe. I might have seen fear. And then I was overwhelmed with fear. Because Morelli getting shot, or me being kidnapped wouldn't cause Tank to be afraid. He was afraid for Ranger.

"Oh no!" I said. "What's happened. Do you know something about Ranger?"

His answer was telling, even if it wasn't to the question I'd asked.

"You can't help Morelli by going to the hospital. He's either going to make it through or he's going to die. I need to get to Columbia, soon. And after tonight and Niko's attempt to get to you, I need you to come with me."

"Okay," I said, my voice sounding small. "I keep my passport and important papers in my cookie jar, with my gun."

Derision. He looked at me with derision! My temper started to rise and that was a good thing, because my temper could get me through a lot ... and it looked as though there was going to be lots of stuff to get through.