Ranger pulled into Pinos parking lot. Not his normal hangout but he had it on good authority that a man with whom he needed to have a conversation was bellied up to the bar at this local pizza joint. He parked next to big, blue, beast of a car and his heart skipped a beat. Ranger took a moment to lecture his hormones about their advanced state of maturity.
Ranger walked into the restaurant and when his eyes adjusted to the lower light, he realized he was staring right into Stephanie Plum's blue eyes. They were wide again and Ranger felt a bolt of electricity and awareness surge through him and wondered if she felt it too. She looked quickly away, back to the man with whom she was sitting. Joe Morelli. Tank, Ranger's employee and oldest friend, had told him just that morning about a case Morelli had been assigned and encouraged him to get in touch with the homicide detective. Who was he to ignore the advice of his oldest friend? Ranger took the opportunity to amble over to the table and feel 'the air' between Stephanie and Joe, as his mother would have said. Stephanie glanced at him a few times in surprise and he made his way closer.
"Stephanie," he said, nodding at her when he reached the table. He turned to Joe, "Morelli."
"Manoso," Morelli acknowledged. Stephanie said nothing and Ranger allowed himself an inward smile. She was attracted to him and that scared her, so it should. The air between Joe and Stephanie felt decidedly tense and that encouraged Ranger as well.
"I heard you caught the Coselli case. I know Bruno Coselli. If you need some help, give me a call." Ranger pulled a card from his back pocket and handed it to Morelli. Joe seemed surprised.
"Yeah, sure," he said, putting the card on the table next him. "That's some bad business. You think he killed those people?" Ranger took a silent moment before answering.
"Not his style. He's a dangerous guy but if he's killing 14 people, he's gonna do it in a way where he's nowhere around to take the blame." Ranger said. Morelli shrugged one shoulder in agreement.
"I'll keep in touch," Morelli said in a way that made Ranger almost believe him.
"Stephanie," Ranger said, inclining his head at her. She blushed. His eyes lingered a moment too long and when he turned back to Morelli he could see that the other man had realized his real reason for stopping by the table. He shook hands with the cop and then headed over to the bar.
Ranger found the man he was looking for and put a hand on his shoulder. Lester Santos, a former member of the Special Ops unit that Ranger had led, turned to throw Ranger off balance but was too drunk and only fell off of the stool. Ranger leaned to help him up.
"Leave me alone! Why are you here?" Lester slurred drunkenly. He wobbled a bit falling into the bar as he got up.
"I'm here because you're drinking yourself stupid and it's time stop," Ranger said pointedly.
"What're you? The cops? Go away." Lester slurred. He reached for his bottle of beer and knocked it over. "Barkeep!" he shouted. Ranger held up a hand and the bartender wisely stayed back. If he intended to serve Lester another drink, he needed to be ready for a facefull of Ranger's fist. He watched as Lester worked his way into the seat and felt the rage build. What a waste. Lester was one of the best and here he was destroying his body and mind. Ranger decided at that moment that he'd had enough.
"You're coming with me," Ranger said, taking Lester's arm.
"Fuck you," Lester said, turning back to the bar. He hit the surface hard, "Barkeep!" Ranger took a deep breath.
"You can walk out of here or I can carry you out of here, your choice, but you're going. You're coming with me now and you're not coming back here." Ranger said.
"Aye-aye, Cap'n," Lester said. He picked up the bottle and shook it finding some liquid left inside and lifted it to his lips. In one swift movement, before Lester had time to protest, Ranger and taken the bottle from his hands and hit him on the side of the head knocking him out. Ranger hefted the large man over his shoulder before turning to the bartender.
"I do not want to hear that you've served this man again, do you understand? There will be dire consequences." The bartender stared at him wide eyed and Ranger didn't wait for his agreement. He knew the man would not be so foolish as to forget his words. He walked toward the door to find Stephanie holding it open for him.
"Thanks, Babe," he said, gracing her with a small smile before heading out into the sunshine. She almost seemed like she might talk but the only sound he heard was the small squeak. Ranger smiled once past her as he loaded his intoxicated friend into the vehicle, he loved that squeak.