Chapter 9

Ranger was back in the wind come Monday morning and the top file in my in box was on a Rosealie Burton along with a note from Tank. "I want to know everything about her; the only thing I found out Saturday was that was who Ranger has been with these last few weeks."

I ran the standard search. She lives and grew up in Philly. She's a scientist with a cosmetics company. Smart and beautiful-she graduated with honors from Pitt. Twenty-seven years old, two brothers, one sister, parents divorced. Her dad married twice. Her mother is a doctor and her father is a banker. She drives a brand new Saab and has no outstanding debts. How the hell did Ranger meet her? It was lunch and my brain was fired from the research. I needed real food so I dropped the file off with Tank and told him I was going out for lunch.

"Hold up I'll go with you," he said. While Tank drove I called Lula and told her to meet us at Shorty's. When we got there Tank walked to the back booth already filled with Rangeman all sitting with their backs to the wall. I don't know how they do it. Six really big guys filled the booth and all six had their backs to the wall. I think some of them were holding their breath so they could all fit. Lula and I slid in on the ends and ordered pizza and a pitcher of beer. Tank announced the work day officially over because we needed to brainstorm.

He flipped the file open on Ms. Burton and read the information I collected.

"Anyone find anything out Saturday night?"

"Why do we care?" Lula asked. She wasn't being rude, it was just a question. We all looked at her in amazement, but yeah why do we care? "Ranger has a girlfriend good for him."

"Right now Ranger may not be making the best choices. He needs someone to watch his back," Tank told her.

"So" Lula summarized "Since Steph here broke his heart you don't trust his head."

"Something like that" Lester added.

"Hey, this is not my fault; I didn't break Ranger's heart I never had it to break."

They all stared at me until the waitress brought the pizza and we all dug in.

By five o'clock and countless pitchers of beer later I was wasted, so were the guys and Lula, so I called Joe.

"Hey Cupcake."

"Hi yourself."

"Uh oh Cupcake you sound drunk."

"Yeah we are." I started giggling but Tank got me back on track with a nudge to my elbow.

"Me and the guys we need a ride."

"Who are you with? Christ Steph it's only five."

"We started at noon."

"We? Who?"

"Lula me and the guys."

"The guys as in your Merrymen?"

"Yeah that would be them they're real Merry right now."

"Where are you?"

"Shorty's."

"I'll be there in ten minutes." He hung up but it took me a minute to figure that out, probably due to the number of beers I drank. "Why is it that no one says goodbye at the end of the conversation anymore?"

Ten minutes later Joe arrived with the calvary, other Rangeman employees.

Joe was laughing so hard at the guys in their drunken state that I thought he was going to wet himself. It was a sight to see. They are always so in control I really hope I remember this.

Joe got himself under control. "Steph, Tank and Lula rides with me. Hal and Cal go in one Rangeman car and Bobby and Lester ride in the second Rangman car. I'll take Tank and Lula back to my house tonight." Joe told Binky and Woody "Can someone drop off a car for them tomorrow?"

"Sure." Woody confirmed and we were off.

"Ok," Joe started, "What happened?"

"Well," I started and turned to look at Lula then to Tank, then back to Joe. "I'm not sure."

"How much did you drink?"

"A lot," Tank confirmed with a big un-Tank like grin. Joe was stopped at a light still laughing and said, "Apparently." Lula was lending up against the glass snoring.

"I remember!" I yell. "It was batgirl." Lula and I started calling her that during pitcher number four.

"Oh yeah Ranger's thinking with his dick again," Tank added. "Got to watch his back last time he did something like this man it really wasn't good. Girls go after him for his money and they take advantage of him when he's vulnerable. I got to watch his back you know." Tank was babbling by this time. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew we were home.

Ranger was back the very next day and he was none too happy that the six of us were all hung-over. We had a staff meeting that morning. I guess Ranger had gotten back yesterday while we were all at Shorty's; he had been by the bond office and had the FTA files ready to hand out.

I was flipped Benny Smullen, so I cracked the file open and started to read. Domestic Violence was the current charge; I see he favors hitting on the ladies, with his fist. Reading on I see his favorite weapon is a knife. Oh goody. Also a heavy drinker, 6'2", 309 pounds of very scary guy. Holy mother of God! I look at Cal. I don't think Cal is even that big.

"Babe."

"This guy is huge." Not sure why it was that stat that I keep going back to.

"I'm not asking you to marry the guy, already did that, just get him out of the bar."

Hold up already yep everyone heard that. "What does that suppose to mean?" I asked.

"Get him out of the bar? You know escort him outside so we can take him down you have done that about a thousand times before."

"That's not what I mean. Can I see you outside for a minute?" I asked and Ranger walked to the door.

"We will be right back." He said we went down the hall to his office and closed the door.

"Do you have a problem?" I asked

"No"

"Than what was with that comment back there?"

"Just making small talk Babe."

"Bullshit you don't make small talk and what the hell is up with you and that Rose chick." I was on a roll might as well go for broke.

"What does that matter to you Mrs. Morelli?"

"You can date whoever you want I don't care, but you don't date."

"I needed one for your wedding reception." Ranger spit the words out like they were on fire "And Rose is a friend that I see."

"Really, a friend that Tank doesn't know?"

"It could happen I don't need him to wipe my ass."

"Well then, understood," I told him standing to leave."Are we good?" I ask my voice a little softer.

"We will be Babe, we will be."

I understood that he needed time. I could give that to him and we went back to the meeting.

All eyes were on us Ranger just picked up where he left off.

"Ok we know this guy hangs out at The Point we need to find out when we can expect him. Bobby and Steph work it out and get it set up. Next up we have a security install and two consultations tomorrow. Lester you and Hector have the install Steph I want you to do the 2 p.m. consult. I'll take the other and meet back up with you at 4 to review. You have your files and the shifts have been posted for the week. Anyone have questions?"

Everyone had questions but no one was dumb enough to ask them to Ranger they all waited until he left and cornered me.

"OK Stephanie what the hell?" Tank spoke first.

"What do you mean?"

"The private talk you had with the Boss." Lester joined in.

Bobby was next. "He was snippy and pissed before then the two of you came back and he was the Boss again."

"We cleared the air," I told them.

"Spill!" they all said in unison.

"What's up?" Tank asked.

"Fine he's still hurt about my marriage. Rose is a "friend" he sees from time to time and she is "helping" him get over it. We didn't find anything in her history let them be." I got up from my chair and went back to my desk.

I typed Benny Smullen into my search programs and waited for the info to come back. I spent the next hour going through the data. Bobby stopped by around three. "I set up a meet with the Point's bar manager want to ride with?"

"Sure" I told him. I grabbed my gear and we left.