Wow, the response to the first chapter was amazing. Really, I had no idea this AU fic would be such a hit. This chap's a little bit of a transition. We'll get more action and backstory to our fave characters in upcoming chapters. But fear not, Ranger makes his presence known in this chappie;)
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.
Perhaps the only good thing that came out of my car being devoured flames is the gained knowledge that things are definitely not what they seem.
The police arrived quickly. Apparently they'd just been here because Rangeman notified them of the break-in. That settled the why and how this Ranger man was in the house so quickly right after I went in.
Once the situation was handled by the professionals I headed to the bonds office. It wasn't a long walk, but I still needed to resolve the car issue. I can't work if I don't have transportation.
Connie was on the phone when I came in. She motioned for me to take a seat across from her desk while she ended the call. As I sat down, I noticed her desk was scattered with paperwork. Connie was swamped with work.
"I heard what happened." Connie offered me a Coke from the mini fridge next to her desk. I took it, enjoying a long sip. It helped me unwind.
"Why didn't you mention the alarm?" I asked.
Connie blinked, surprised when I told her about my short encounter with the handsome…err… Ranger.
"His name is Ricardo Carlos Manoso, but he likes to go by Ranger. He used to do skip tracing for us until he got into private security and became part owner of Rangeman." Connie got a Coke for herself as she told me that Rangeman handles security for the bonds office. "I had no idea Vinnie had Rangeman install security at his place."
I finished my drink, thinking.
S&R
Connie decided to close up shop a little earlier than usual. She gave me a ride to my parents' place.
My mother was waiting at the door for me. The house looks the same every time I see it. And every time I come to visit either my mom or Grandma are waiting for me.
"Are you okay?" My mother did a head to toe inspection despite my assurance that I was fine. The people in the Burg don't need the internet to know what's happening. They do it the old fashion way: by phone.
I helped set the table for dinner.
"Why did you ask me to look into this?" I said to my mother. "You've never approved of what I do." My mother hates that I'm in the phonebook listed under private investigator.
"You're doing well." My mother shrugged, bustling around the kitchen to make sure everything was set for dinner. I didn't push. My mother had just told me, in her own way, that I'm good at what I do.
"Of course, she's good!" Grandma Mazur has always approved of my professional choice. She thinks it's cool. "Vinnie's family," Grandma Mazur waved a hand, saying the least we could do was poke around. Even if Vinnie isn't high on anyone's list of favorites. "And you're the most experienced at finding people."
That was true. At first, I thought it was luck that kept me in the business as a private investigator. But now, I have gained enough experience to let it guide me.
"Are you going to continue with the search?" Grandma Mazur asked me during dinner. I looked up from my half empty plate of food to find that even my father had stopped shoveling food into his mouth to await my response.
"Yeah." I told them things got a little personal when my car blew up. I failed to mention my extra close interaction with Ranger.
As soon as dinner was over and the table clear, I said I had to go.
"You don't have a car." My mother wanted to know if I needed a ride to my apartment building.
"Actually..." Grandma Mazur gave me the keys to Big Blue. The car isn't in use, just collecting dust since Grandma is no longer allowed to drive.
"I uh..." I really didn't want to take Big Blue. It's the type of car that, well, once you're seen in... you're seen.
But I had no other choice. For now I was stuck with the gas-guzzler of a car.
S&R
I parked in my usual parking space. I live in a three-story, redbrick apartment building. The appliances predate the dinosaurs, but they work. The building is full of seniors and since they spend most if not all of their time inside their apartments, this was the perfect place for me to live. I usually work long and irregular hours when I'm on a case and it's sort of comforting to know that regardless of the time I'm returning there's a good chance that my neighbors are home.
I live on the second floor and after taking the stairs I felt a little suffocated. I shrugged out of my jacket as I kicked my door shut. I made sure the locks were in place before moving to the kitchen.
I said hello to my hamster Rex by tapping on his glass home. Rex came out of the soup can he likes to sleep in and stared at me. It's not that he's waiting for me to tell him all about my day. Mostly he wants to know if I'll be dropping some food in. I gave him some food pellets and told him about my car blowing up. Rex stuffed his cheeks and went back to his soup can.
"Yup. Hiding sounds very appealing." I left Rex to enjoy his treat and migrated to the living room. Some people have cats or dogs as pets. I have a hamster. We have a good relationship.
I tried watching TV, but I couldn't concentrate. After a few minutes I gave up, remoting the TV off and snatching a notebook from the coffee table in front of the couch. I like to note details about my cases and jotting them down in a notebook helps me keep the facts in order. I tried using a voice recorder, but technology isn't my forte. I kept re-recording over my notes.
I started off by drawing a stick figure to represent Lucille. So I can't draw, what's wrong with that?
Ten minutes later I had very little written. All I knew so far was that Lucille didn't show up for court, but didn't know why. Not yet. No one knows anything about Vinnie's whereabouts either, so I can't ask him if he noticed anything out of the ordinary in his wife's behavior days prior to her court date.
I called Connie and asked if she could tell me more about Lucille's case. Right now my best shot at discovering anything was going to be by digging through Lucille's recent history.
"I'll do you one better." Connie said she had to go back to the bonds office for her computer, saying she could make a little detour to drop off a copy of Lucille's file. Connie was cooperating with me because apparently the current bounty hunter wasn't doing much progress. I got the vibe that she wasn't fond of the bounty hunter.
Works for me. The more resources I have, the easier it is to make forward progress.
Twenty minutes later I had Lucille's file and a warm cup of coffee to go along. I read over the file. No priors. Her father, Harry 'the Hammer', finances the bonds office.
"Huh." It makes even less sense that she would skip court knowing she could potentially harm her husband's business, and her father, along the way.
My next potential lead could come from Walter Dunphy, the security guard she assaulted. Also known as Mooner. I remember him. We went to high school together. He was voted most likely to be adopted by an old lady. The file says he's living with his mother. Close enough to the prediction of his peers, I guess.
I finished my cup of coffee and decided I had a new place to start: by talking to Mooner and hearing his side of things.
I rinsed my cup, shut down my laptop and went to bed.
S&R
I nuzzled the side of his neck, breathing in his unique and masculine scent. My hands fisted his jacket, pulling him closer. I wanted to feel his body as close to mine as possible.
I darted my tongue out, intent on tasting him…
I was jolted awake when my alarm blared. I silenced the offending beep-beep and tried to catch my breath.
What was I doing letting a total stranger, regardless of how hot he is, invade my dreams?
I grunted and got out of bed. I grabbed clothes on the way to bathroom. A shower. Yeah, that would help.
As I shampooed I couldn't help but think about Ranger. I can't deny he's attractive and that it felt good, a little too good in fact, to be pressed up against his hard body.
I noticed I was getting carried away fantasizing on this Ranger guy. I adjusted the water temperature from boiling to barely warm and speeded through my shower. Probably the only reason I was having such impure thoughts about this guy was due to my lack of a sex life.
Yeah, that sounded reasonable enough.
I opted for cereal on the go, giving Rex a quick 'good morning' tap on my way out of my apartment.
As I pulled out of my parking space I realized that thinking about getting naked with a man was a good sign. It probably meant I'd moved on and was ready to get back on the saddle.
Oh boy.