Chapter 3 - Keeping Secrets.

I dropped Lula back at the office and decided to head back to my apartment to think things over. Besides it was almost dinner time and I was starved. On the way home I stopped at Cluck in a bucket and brought an extra large tub of extra crispy chicken and then at the bakery for a dozen boston creams. Okay so I needed some comfort food, I'm only human right.

I pulled into my lot and noticed two men leaning againts their cars watching me. One was Joe Morelli, my off again, on again boyfrind. The other was Ranger who used to be my mentor and who I now ran to whenever I got stuck. Both men lifted their heads as I pulled into the lot and Morelli aproached me as I got out of my car and took the chicken and donuts off me before heading towards the door to my apartment building. Ranger looked me up and down before sliding back into his black porshe and leaving the parking lot. Ranger's cars were always new, always black, always expensive and always of questionable origin. I stood there for a few seconds watching Ranger pull away before following Morelli into the apartment building.

Morelli was in the kitchen when I let myself into my apartment. He had already scoffed a handful of the chicken pieces and was now watching my aproach. "I heard from a little birdie that your going after Daniella Daniels" He said as I sat down on the chair and pulled the bucket of chicken towards me.

"And?" I asked him, "So what if I am."

"Shit Stephanie, Daniella's dangerous." He replied.

"It's my job, you don't hear me complaining about your job do you."

"I don't get shot at every fucking day at my job and my cars don't get blown up at an alarming rate."

"And your point it." I asked standing up with my hands on my hips, the fact is that I'm pretty sure I love Morelli but I don't like people giving me altermatums and Morelli did this more than any other person in my life, except maybe my mother.

"My point is, what the hell was Vinnie thinking of giving you Daniella, the girls a ghost for starters and I'm starting to think she's an inmotal rock with no soul. Did you know she's wanted for questioning for six, count them six diferent murders and ten disapearances."

"Out just get out... your sum Morelli." I yelled as I pushed him out of the door, slaming and locking the door behind him, not than it would do any good people broke into my apartement all the time, the three deadlocks and secuity chain I keep on my door wouldn't keep Morelli out if he really wanted to get in.

I watched him through the peep ghole on my door and was relieved to see him walk away. It isn't as if I hate him or anything it's just that I hate argueing with him, it was downright exhausting.

Sighing I walked into my bedrom forgetting the take out food of my bench, I silently stripped down to my underwear and slid into bed falling asleep imedietly

I woke up at 2am to the feeling that I wasn't alone. This wasn't unusual for me as strange and unstrange men had a way of letting themselves into my apartment without an invitation.

I could hear silent footsteps heading towards my side of the bed and I unconsiously pulled the sheet further up my neck. I was pretty sure I knew who the footsteps belonged to but it did nothing to slow my heart rate down. I opened my eyes slightly to see Ranger standing a mear inch away from the bed watching me.

"Babe" He said as in a way of greeting. I sat up on my bed and gave him what I hoped was an annoyed look.

Ranger was dressed in his usual black SWAT clothes and his long balck hair was tied back in a pony behind his back. Ranger was HOT, HOT, HOT and I wasn't the only person who thought so. Ranger showed the best of his Cuban American heritage in his eyes, hair and skin colouring and a girl would have to be blind not to have an orgasm on the spot when he aproached.

"What?" I asked almost yelling at him. I hated it when he woke me up this early inthe morning.

"What were you doing at 207 Greendale drive?" Ranger asked using the minumum amount of words to ask his question. This was one thing that really irritated me about him, Ranger wasn't big on conversation.

"Looking for my FTA, it was listed as her home adress." I replied hoping that was the end of his questions, I sucked majorly at keeping secrets from Ranger and I was pretty sure Vinnie would fire me if I told Ranger who my FTA was.

Ranger nodded and walked out of my bedroom, I breathed a sigh and listened for the tell tale sign that he had left my apartment, not hearing anything , (not that thats unusual for Ranger) I got up out of bed and went to check my front door. I almost jumped back in surprise when I saw him still in my apartment with Daniella's file spread across my kitchen bench.

As he looked up at me I could almost see the edges of his mouth twitch and I jumped again as I realised I was dressed only in my victoria secret bra and nickers. At top speed I grabbed an old t-shirt that was ten sizes to big and I sometimes used as a nighty and slid in over the top on my head.

Once I was sure it completely covered my nickers I went back into the kitchen where Ranger was sitting waiting for me.

"We need to talk." He said as I slid into the seat next to him. I looked up at his face to see an even more pronounced smile pull at the edges of his mouth.

"What" I yelled at his throwing my hands up at the same time to emphasize my remark.

"Nice top babe," Was his replie still struggling to remain composure.

I tried hard not to react to this comment, I knew from experience what happened when I encourage Ranger and at present I wasn't willing to repeat the experience. Trying to direct his attention back to a sort of safer topis I went to reach for the file.

My hand got half way there before Ranger grabbed it and use it to pull me up to him of my chair, I was a mear inch away from Ranger's face when he lent in and kissed me, the kiss was deep and romantic and I felt hot in all my sensitive places.

When Ranger pulled away I was still looking up at him and he pushed the file into my hands. "Get dressed, were going for a drive."

I starred up at him but this was Ranger, I don't know why it surprised me. Sighing I stood up and walked towards my door, just before I went into my bed room I turned round, "You wanna tell me where your taking me?" I asked.

Ranger smiled and walked up to me, " You'll find out," he said pushing me againts the wall and kissing me again, this time the kiss was deaper and hotter than before and I felt like I might explode with pressure. As I pulled away Ranger pushed me into my bedroom and closed the door. "You have ten minutes before I come in there and help you." He said to the closed door and I could feel my heart race as I pulled on my levis and a jumper at top speed.

Chapter 4 - Where is Ranger taking Stephanie?