Warning for language

Valentine's Day

Chapter 11

I lifted the necklace from the box and noticed a small card flutter to the floor. I picked it up and saw it was in Ranger's handwriting. It only had the one word, but it made me gasp. It said: Remember.

I sat back down. I didn't think I could stand. I had my answer to whether or not it was the same one I saw in Point Pleasant. I still didn't know when Ranger had bought it or what it meant to him. I was more confused than ever. I was also suddenly more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the mystery.

I pulled out my notebook and started to plan.

Ranger's POV

Happy Fucking New Year. The year is only hours old and it already sucks. Deb won't leave me alone for a fucking minute. She hates the hotel. She hates Miami. She wants to go shopping. She wants to go see my family. Like there is any fucking way that's going to happen. It's bad enough I'm stuck here with her. There is no way in hell I'm going to subject my family to her.

She won't let up about Stephanie. She's pissed that I accepted her gift. What was I supposed to do? Throw it back in her face? She's even more pissed that I gave Steph a gift and won't tell her what it was. It's none of her god-damned business. I do realize I shouldn't have given it to Steph. It's only going to confuse her more, and probably hurt her more as well.

I hate that I'm hurting her. I would give anything to make it up to her. But I can't. This is the way it has to be. Anything else would be putting her life in danger. I won't take that risk. Even though I know that this is hurting her. It's destroying me.

Maybe I wanted to send her some cryptic message and that's why I gave her the gift. Maybe I never did really deserve her.

Steph and I had spent one fabulous evening at Point Pleasant. We had spent the whole time walking, and talking, and just enjoying being with each other. It's not something I'm accustomed to doing. Normally, every moment has to have a purpose. That night's purpose was just to enjoy ourselves. And we did. We walked on the beach, and we nosed around in all of those tacky little shops along the way. We ate food that would take a year off your life. It wasn't the kind of activity I would normally enjoy, but being with Steph, I didn't care what we did, as long as we were together. For just that one night, I thought anything was possible. I thought, maybe, a future was possible. Of course, at the time, she was still on again/off again with the cop, but I never really considered that an obstacle.

Steph found this necklace in one of the shops. It was made up of beach glass. I remember thinking, "Only my Babe." Most women would be fawning over the biggest, most expensive jewelry in hopes I would spring for it, but not Steph. She's the most genuine person I've ever met. She admired it and we moved on. I wish I would have bought it right then, but I didn't. I didn't want to cause trouble for her with the cop. I drove all the way back a couple weeks later hoping I could still find it. I should have given it to her then, but I didn't. I wanted to wait and surprise her on Christmas. I guess I can say mission accomplished. I know she was surprised alright.

I would have done anything to have been with her when she opened it. I had placed the card at the bottom of the box. Remember, I had written on it. I prayed that she could remember she meant everything to me. That she could remember the man I had tried to be for her. That she could remember I loved her. That I would never have chosen to hurt her.

When I opened the gift she had given me, I thought my heart would stop for a minute. Fucking shit. It was a painting, we had seen in together that night at Point Pleasant. I had said I liked it. She must have gone back to buy it later. We're so connected that we even think alike. Deb about pitched a fit when she saw it. Tough. It will forever be a reminder to me of what I can never have again. I'm keeping it. It's a piece of Steph that nobody can take away. Not Deb. Not the government. Not Johnson. Nobody. I'd like to see them try.

The next few days flew by in a blur. Between chasing skips, research at Rangeman, and research about Rangeman, my days were crammed full. I had alerted Tank to my plan, and he had agreed to help. Connie was calling in favors from her family, and Lula had her ear to the ground, as well. I felt confident that we could get to the bottom of this.

One morning, Tank called me in to his office when I arrived at Rangeman. He looked a little nervous when I walked in. My spider sense immediately went on alert.

"Sit down, Steph," he said, all business.

"What is it, Tank, have you heard something about Ranger?" I was concerned about where this conversation was heading.

"Well, I did hear from the man himself this morning. He'll be back in Trenton this afternoon." He sounded like there was something more he wanted to say, but he hesitated.

"And?" I prompted.

"Well, I don't think we can be sneaking around behind his back once he's home. I'm sure this isn't something he would approve of. We're going to have to be more careful, and a lot sneakier," he said with a grin.

"Is that all, you scared me!" I wanted to smack him for getting me all worked up.

"Not exactly. You were right. There's something strange surrounding this whole last mission. Files are missing. Intel doesn't add up. I don't know what yet, but something bad went down. Don't worry, we'll find out what." Tank looked intently at me when he said this. "You sure you're up to it?"

"WHAT??? You don't think I'm up to helping find out what's wrong with Ranger? Gee, thanks, Tank, I'm flattered!" I was getting angry. "Don't you think I can handle helping, because I'm a GIRL??"

Tank looked at me seriously for a moment before he spoke again, "No, Steph. That's not what I meant. I know you can handle helping. I don't know if you're strong enough to face what we find out. And not because you're a girl. Because you're in love with him."

Wow. Now that's scary. Tank thinks we're going to find out something horrible. Like that Ranger is really in love with Deborah Fairbanks? That would be horrible all right. But if that's all that's wrong, I can learn to live with that. Or is it worse? What could be worse? Oh, shit, shit, shit! I need a donut. I need some coffee. I need…

"Steph, STEPH! Listen to me! I don't know what we're going to find out, but it might be bad. I'm sorry. I don't doubt you. Now let's get the hell out of Dodge and go find out what's going on!" With that, Tank pulled me to him for a hug, and then drug me out of his office, down the elevator and into a big black SUV. He disabled the GPS and we motored out of the garage.

"So, Tank, where we headed?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Places to go, people to see," he answered cryptically. Then he was in his zone and there was no coaxing a conversation out of him.