Standard Disclaimer: Not mine, not making money, yadda yaddacakes. I didn't put this in part one, but spoilers up through LMT.

Overheard Part 14

Somewhere in Missouri

When Ranger shut off the cell, Tank looked at him with an almost resigned look on his face. "We're going to Rogersville, aren't we?" Ranger just nodded. When the exit for Rogersville came up, Ranger swung the car off the Interstate.

As Ranger pulled into the gas station and stopped, Tank opened his door to get out. "Tank, stay in the car. I can handle this alone."

"Fuck you man, I gotta use the head." With that Tank walked into the station. Ranger shook his head and followed his friend.

Inside Tank was asking the clerk for the men's room key. When the doorbell tinkled again, the clerk looked up and paled slightly. Tank said "Don't mind him, somebody peed in his cornflakes today." The clerk chuckled nervously and handed over a key.

As Tank passed by Ranger, he punched him in the arm and said under his breath "Don't go scaring this poor old man." Ranger gave him a look that promised retribution later but didn't say anything.

When he walked up to the clerk he flashed a deliberate smile that immediately set the clerk at ease. "I am looking for a friend of mine that passed through here about an hour ago. She is about five-seven with brown curly hair and blue eyes." The clerk looked suspiciously at him. "What's it to you? Why are you trying to find her?"

Ranger smiled. Everyone his Babe met was protective of her. "She is my girl friend and overheard something and misinterpreted it. I am trying to catch up with her so I can clear up this misunderstanding. I also think there is something wrong. I can't shake this feeling. She does have a tendency to attract a lot of weirdos."

The clerk was a good judge of character and figured this fella was telling the truth. "Yes, she was in here. She bought some snacks, water and an atlas. Said she was heading to Trenton New Jersey but wanted to make a detour to see the King."

Ranger looked slightly puzzled and then it clicked in. "So she is headed to Memphis."

The clerk nodded. "There is something else. I noticed a car pull in right after her. Nobody got out or came in and it pulled out right behind her too. I bet your feeling has to do with this. It was an older model Chevy-brown and rusted all to hell."

Ranger swore. "Damn, she just continues to be a stalker magnet. Thanks for the information." Ranger pulled out his wallet and handed the clerk a hundred dollar bill. He tried to refuse it but Ranger said "She is worth all the money I have to get her back safe. Your help is appreciated." The clerk nodded and as Ranger left called out "Good luck." When the door closed behind Ranger he continued "I think you may need it."

Back in the SUV, Ranger waited for Tank. When he got back in the vehicle, he looked at Ranger and knew that they were not heading back to Trenton. Ranger looked at him and said "Get ready to visit the King. We are headed to Memphis." Tank groaned and rolled his eyes. Pulling out his cell he said "I'm going to call Lula and break our date for tonight."

Trenton

Woody and Zero reached the apartment building Sasha lived in. Looking at the building Woody remarked "This looks like a really nice building. How is it that nobody saw anything? And how is it that they could ignore the sounds of screaming and fighting without calling the police."

"I dunno man, but a lot of people today don't like sticking their nose in anyone's business. I think we should split up and each takes a floor."

Woody nodded in agreement and headed for the elevator. "I'll take the top floor and work my way down. You start here on the bottom and work your way up." Zero nodded and headed off to start canvassing the neighbors.

When Woody reached the fourth floor where Sasha lived, he made mental note of her apartment. Thinking for a minute, he knocked on the door opposite. When the elderly lady that lived there opened her door, he smiled at her. "Good afternoon ma'am. My name is Woody Johnson and I am with a firm investigating the attack on the young lady across the hall. Can you tell me anything about this?"

"Certainly young man. Please come in. And call me Mrs. Wheeler. Would you like some coffee or tea?"

Woody seated himself at her kitchen table. "I would like a cup of coffee if it isn't too much trouble."

"No trouble at all. I just finished making a pot." She poured a cup for herself and Woody placed them on the table along with sugar, creamer and some cut up lemon. "Now tell me what you need to know. I might be able to help you."

Woody sipped his coffee in enjoyment. "I need to know if you saw anything out of the ordinary on the day the young lady was attacked. Did you see anyone out of the ordinary?"

"Well, I did she a very handsome young man come out of her apartment. He smiled at me as he left." Mrs. Wheeler put a hand to her heart. "He reminded me of my Matthew, God rest his soul."

Woody look a bit disconcerted. "Was there anything else? Did you hear any screaming or shouting?"

"I sure did. She was screaming like a banshee. Throwing things and causing a ruckus. That good looking young man left and she chased him out the door, still screaming and throwing things. She didn't have very good aim because the only thing she hit was the wall next to my door. He left and she finally went back inside muttering something about getting even."

Internally bouncing with excitement, Wood asked her "Did you tell this to the police? And what time was this and what day was it?"

Mrs. Wheeler thought for a minute. "Well I was out of town visiting my daughter for a couple of days so I haven't talked to the police yet. It was Monday about two in the afternoon. My soap had just gotten over when the ruckus started."

"Ma'am, can I bring you down to the police station so you can tell the police what you just told me. The young lady filed a complaint against the man you saw claiming he beat her up. I would be happy to make sure you got home safely."

"I would be delighted to help. He seemed like such a nice young man. And she didn't have a single bruise on her when he left. Frankly, the young lady that lives across the street isn't much of a lady."

Woody opened his walkie-talkie call and paged Zero. "I found a witness. Meet us at the vehicle. We are taking Mrs. Wheeler down to the station so she can make a statement and clear Ranger." Woody carefully escorted his charge to the elevator and rode down with her. When they went outside and approached the SUV, Zero opened the passenger door and waited to assist Mrs. Wheeler. She smiled at him. "Thank you young man, but I think I can climb up into this myself. My late husband used to have a huge truck and I got used to climbing in it."

"No offense ma'am but I am sure you were younger. Please let me help you."

Mrs. Wheeler looked at him and promptly climbed into the SUV. "My husband drove that truck 'til the day he died three years ago. I'm still in pretty good shape for an old lady." Woody and Zero both laughed. Zero made sure she was safely seat belted in and they took off for the police station.

Near Memphis

Stephanie was driving along, bopping along to the sounds of a metal station. She occasionally glanced into the rear view mirror. Suddenly she wrinkled her forehead. "Rex, I would swear on a pile of Tastycakes that the same brown car has been behind us for the past eighty or so miles. Maybe I am paranoid. I mean they could just be heading to Memphis and since this is the Interstate that leads there he is taking it too. I'll keep watch once we get off the highway." Rex slept indifferently in his can. Stephanie knew he would be concerned if he was awake but she didn't have the heart to wake him up over this.

About an hour later, she pulled off the highway to find a hotel for the night. She watched behind her but didn't see the car that had been following her get off as well. I was just imagining things. She walked into the hotel lobby and up to the front desk. "Do you have any rooms available for the night?" The clerk nodded, handed a form for her to fill out. "It will be $45 for the night. We accept MasterCard, Visa or Discover."

Stephanie filled out the form and slid it along with her credit card back to the clerk. He looked the form over, took an imprint of her card and slid it back along with a key. "Your room is on the second floor, down at the end of the building. Checkout is at 11."

Stephanie gathered up her card and key and headed back out. Driving down to the end of the building, she parked in the space in front of the last room. Grabbing Rex and her duffle, she wearily climbed the stairs. Opening the door to her room, she went inside and placed Rex's cage on the table. Taking a minute to make sure he had fresh water and food, she went into the bathroom. Washing her face and brushing her teeth took only a couple of minutes. Stripping down to her panties and putting on one of Ranger's T-Shirt's, she collapsed into bed and was instantly asleep.

Meanwhile, on the road to Memphis

When the Goddess suddenly pulled off the Interstate, Jed was upset. He thought about using the shoulder to back up to the exit but he noticed a cop coming up behind him. Noticing the next exit was only two miles ahead, he decided to get off there and back track. He couldn't lose her now, not when he had just found her.