I use them for fun and not for profit.

Chapter 11

They visited the tobacco shop next. Rock stayed in the car and let Stephanie go in for the face-to-face meeting. She was going to use the ruse of buying cigars for her father, but she didn't have to. Tinley was not at work that day and once she made that discovery she returned to the car.

"The guy inside said Tinley wasn't working," Stephanie told Rock. "I was careful about what I said, though, because I had the feeling someone was in the back room. Let's split up. I'll cover the alley and you cover the front. We'll watch for a while and see if anyone leaves." The alley that ran behind the tobacco shop intersected with the alley that ran alongside the former bonds office. Stephanie stood at the juncture of the two and kept her gaze mostly focused on the back door to the shop. As time passed she began to look more and more frequently down the other alley.

Her mind was filled with images flashing through like a PowerPoint slide presentation. Ranger, pushing her against the bricks of the wall and leaning into her. Ranger, tweaking her curls and taking his cap off to pull it down over her head. Ranger, telling her to be careful before he walked away without looking back at her. It was all part of another life and she supposed that aching at the back of her throat, the watering of her eyes was just nostalgia for what had almost been, but never would be.

Her phone rang and she looked at the caller ID to see it was Rock. "What do you say we knock off and re-group to stakeout Tommy's apartment this evening?" he asked.

"It sounds like a plan," she said. Stephanie needed a nap, and a hug. She thought she could get the nap.

It was well after dark when they settled down to wait in the RangeMan SUV. Stephanie's excitement for the stakeout diminished quickly. It had been many years since she'd sat in a vehicle, eyes focused on a lighted doorway, waiting for a skip to make an appearance. The memory of a numb butt, full bladder and an aching need for Tastykakes came back in a rush.

Across the front seat, Rock sat quietly showing endless patience. Stephanie was showing her patience was at an end. She turned to the back and tried to peer through the tinted window. It was impossible to see anything in the dark, but she wondered if there was a RangeMan vehicle behind the one they were in. She'd had the feeling all day, the feeling she used to call spidey sense, and for most of the day she'd pushed it to the back of her mind. After Ranger's kiss and abrupt departure the night before she wondered if he was following them. In all likelihood he had assigned one of his trusted core group to do the job. She was better at spotting tails than she used to be, but she'd seen no evidence. Still, the feeling was persistent and she'd learned the hard way not to ignore it.

In the dark, the resemblance between Rock and Ranger was more pronounced. The shadowy light muted the differences in their facial features and it was easy to imagine she was sitting across from Ranger. When Stephanie realized that's what she was doing she made an effort to clear Ranger from her mind.

"What are we going to do if Tinley Hicks walks through the door?" Stephanie asked. "We have an obligation to bring him in, because he's in forfeiture of his bond. But if we bring him in he won't lead you to the man you're really after."

"I'm not really a RangeMan employee," Rock said. "I will turn him over to the bonds office for re-bonding eventually, but I will let him lead me to Montara first. I have to complete my mission and my mission is to get Montara."

There was silence in the car for a while, and then Rock turned toward Stephanie. "We've had good conversation today, Stephanie. I feel like we're friends. So is there anything else you'd like to ask me, maybe some information that was unclear in your search?"

"You think I did a search on you?" Stephanie asked.

"Part of the reason I picked RangeMan as the organization to go undercover inside is because of the reputation RangeMan has for its thoroughness and efficiency. I can't believe Ranger would allow someone as important to him as you are to help me, without first conducting an extensive search of me and everyone involved my operation. And you happen to be the head of research, Angel."

"Okay, you're right. I researched the holy heck out of you and I know more about you than your mother does."

Rock threw back his head and laughed. It totally obliterated Stephanie's fantasy that she might be sitting across from Ranger. Rock's voice was a deep baritone, and though he spoke softly it had a throaty quality, which was sexy. "Just how much do you think my mother knows about me?"

"I found out a lot more than you shared with Ranger when you came on board at RangeMan. Would like me to tell you what we know?"

"We? With whom did you share your information?"

"Just Ranger," Stephanie said. "He's the boss."

"Is that all Ranger is to you, Stephanie?" Rock asked. "I've heard that once upon a time you were much more than friends."

"Once upon a time is for fairytales," Stephanie said. "Why don't you get comfortable in your driver's seat, Ricardo Carlos Madrid, and I'll tell you what I discovered."

"Ricardo Carlos is my name, but I've always gone by R. C. I saw no need to change that when I came to RangeMan, especially since by some weird coincidence I share the name of the CEO and I happen to resemble him. I've always wanted a nickname, and I like Rock. I'll keep it even after I leave this op. Okay, Stephanie, tell me your story."

"It's not my story," she said. "But here goes. In the first place your story was bull-shit. Naldo Montara does not buy drugs from Tinley Hicks. Naldo Montara is the big cheese and Tinley Hicks works for him. Naldo is a practioner of Santeria, which is a religion that involves animal sacrifice and while there is no hard proof it is believed he could be involved in human sacrifice. Human sacrifice is in no way ever condoned by actual practioners of Santeria, so that would indicate Naldo is off his rocker. A nut job. How am I doing so far?"

"Not bad," Rock said. "Naldo has been telling people he is an actual orisha, or saint, sent down from heaven. He tells them he has the power to take them straight to heaven with him if they follow his teachings. He uses hallucinogens and manipulates people into helping him procure and distribute drugs. The drug sales pay for his religious rituals and what's left over goes to off-shore accounts in the Caymans."

"There seems to be no clear cut answer, but some information suggests he really is a religious fanatic," Stephanie said.

"While other sources claim it's all just a scam to make him a very rich man," Rock said. "And along the way he gets to fulfill his obscene appetites for ritualistic sex and violence."

"Which theory do you ascribe to?" Stephanie asked.

"The latter. He is an evil man, no question."

"And you know this because he is your brother?" Stephanie expected her comment to be a bombshell dropped in the confines of the intimate space of the vehicle.

Rock didn't show any surprise at her statement. "My half-brother," he said. "He was a disturbed child who's grown into a truly evil man. He's crazy."

Stephanie shivered violently and Rock looked over with concern. "Are you cold, or is it this talk that's bothering you."

"Neither. Somebody's watching us. I'm sure of it and I don't think it's anybody from RangeMan. We're in a RangeMan vehicle on the RangeMan grid. They wouldn't waste personnel following us when they know, electronically, right where we are." She reached into her purse and pulled out her weapon. It would be good to have it ready.

Rock didn't question her instincts, but readied his weapon as well. There was a sudden burst of activity at the front of the building they were watching and both of them forgot about Stephanie's instinct. A woman ran from the door of the building and stopped halfway to the street. She turned and called to the man coming out behind her. The windows of the Escape were down and they could hear every word.

"Come on, Tin-Tin. That asshole cousin of yours is drunk. He won't even know we're gone." She held out her hand and as the man left the shadows of the building and stood under the streetlight they could see it was Tinley Hicks.

"Good thing we had the picture of him with the paperwork," Stephanie said. "He's changed since high school." She heard Rock's snort of laughter. Tinley Hicks was a large man with an enormous spare tire around his middle. His hair was balding on top, but long and curly on the sides, waving past his shoulders.

"Slow down, baby, I'm coming." Hicks hurried to draw abreast of the woman and Stephanie noted his sloping shoulders and duck-footed waddle.

"Not yet, Tin-Tin, you're not coming yet, but you will. And we'll be back inside before he knows we were even gone." Stephanie shuddered at the verbal foreplay. There was something creepy about these two sneaking off for a rendezvous. Tinley caught up to her and they linked arms with one another, as they walked toward a blue Honda in the parking lot. The woman turned into Hicks' arms and lifted her face for what turned out to be a lengthy kiss. They got in the car, with Tinley driving, and pulled out of the lot.

Rock let the blue car pull out and get a block down the road before he turned the key in the ignition and pulled out to follow them. It was past midnight and traffic was sparse.

"Don't get too far behind," Stephanie warned him. "But don't get too close. We don't want him to make us."

"This ain't my first rodeo, Angel," Rock said. "Who's the woman?"

"I don't know. I'll try to get the plate and we can call it in."

"I've got it," he said. "Call the control room and see if we can get an ID."

"Okay," Stephanie said. "It might help with location if we lose them."

"We're not going to lose them."

She called the control room and spoke with Howdy, a recent hire. She gave him the number Rock recited and disconnected. They continued to follow the car at a safe distance. It became obvious they were heading to an area east of downtown. The car slowed and angled in abruptly, in front of a neighborhood tavern. The woman and Hicks exited the car and entered the bar.

Stephanie's phone rang and she answered quickly. "What have you got, Howdy?" She listened for a moment and said, "Thanks."

"Well, they're driving Tommy's car, so that's a good indication they'll be going back home."

"This seems like a long way to come for a drink," Rock said. "And they didn't sound like it was drinking they were sneaking out to do."

"Maybe there's an apartment in the back or upstairs," Stephanie said.

"Did you get a good look at the woman?" Rock asked.

"Yeah, she was a dead ringer for Olive."

"She was a double for someone you know?" Rock asked the question in such a strained voice Stephanie turned to look at him.

"She was a double, but not for anyone I know personally. She looked like Olive Oyl, Popeye's girlfriend." They were both silent for a moment considering Stephanie's description. The woman had been tall and thin with her hair scraped back into a bun. It was hard to tell for certain, but under the streetlights it had looked bluish-black. She was wearing a long flowing skirt and a white t-shirt, and she really had resembled Olive Oyl. Without warning, Stephanie shivered again. The temperature was high and so was the humidity and it wasn't the weather causing the shiver.

"Are we going to wait for them to leave?" she asked. Her fingers were curled around the grip of her weapon.

Rock looked up and down the deserted street. "No. We know where he's staying. We'll just keep Tommy's place staked out until we can follow him alone. He will lead us to Naldo, I'm sure of it."

Stephanie was quiet on the way back to RangeMan. Her mind was spinning over everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, starting with Ranger's kiss. His statement had been puzzling and she still wasn't sure whether he'd acted in anger or passion. It probably didn't matter, because the end result was passion. She didn't need a reminder of what had been between them. It was still there. Ranger was magic, but Ranger was also pain, and she was beginning to wonder if the magic was worth it. She'd move on. She might never get over him, but she'd move on. She needed the transitory relationship.

When they got back to Haywood, Rock turned the car into the parking lot next to the row of townhomes. "I'm staying in a condo in the middle building," he told her, as he carded his way into the secure lot.

"I'm staying temporarily on six," Stephanie told him.

"Can I walk you to your door, Angel?" Rock asked. She nodded, wondering if he had another motive. There wasn't any place safer in Trenton than the RangeMan building. He was chatting as they walked and Stephanie had let her mind wander a little. When she heard the word transition, she started listening more intently.

"I like being a RangeMan employee," he said. "It beats the hell out of the DEA. I wonder if Ranger would hire me permanently. I'm qualified and I would be good in the PI sector of RangeMan. I'm ready for a change and I may give serious consideration to leaving the DEA after I get Montara. This could be a transitional position for me."

Transitional. He'd said transitional. He was the guy! The thought hit her with such force she almost reeled. He looked like Ranger, but unlike Ranger he was emotionally available. His body was perfectly formed and he was young. Ten years younger than her, she'd bet. That would preclude any kind of messy relationship issues. He'd never be interested in anything permanent with someone her age. It would get her over the dry spell of her un-orgasmic life. She wondered if he was too tired tonight. She'd seen him looking at her ass earlier in the day. He shouldn't be too hard to convince.

"Rock, would you like to come in for a beer or have you had enough of me today."

"I'll come in, Angel. I don't think I could have too much of you." He winked and Stephanie laughed. It had been a long time since someone other than Lester flirted with her.

She opened her door and Rock followed her in. Before the beer, before she could lose her courage, she would do to him exactly what Ranger had done to her the night before. She turned to see him push the door shut. When she heard the lock click she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She was working hard at not thinking and hoping he wouldn't when she pulled his head down and found his mouth with hers.

It was a good kiss and as it continued the balance of power changed. He slid his tongue between her lips and his arms came up to pull her close to him. She was getting tingly and warm, and she was feeling a little odd. This was the first non-Morelli, non-Ranger kiss, well, serious kiss, she'd shared with a man in a long time.

His hands spanned her waist and then started moving slowly up her ribcage. He broke the kiss and held her away from him slightly as he moved his hands up over her breasts, his thumbs teasing her nipples. Even through the cloth of her t-shirt and bra she could feel them pebble against his hands.

This will work, she thought. It wasn't the mind-numbing passion Ranger induced, but if she worked at it she knew she could have a great orgasm. She moaned and arched against his hands, and he pulled back.

He ran his hands through his hair and gave her a soft smile. "Angel, I'm all for this, but we need to talk first."

"Haven't we talked enough for one day?" she asked.

"We have and that's why I'm going to leave. Come with me tomorrow morning and we'll stake out Tommy Hicks' place again. I have some things I need to explain to you and then I hope we'll continue tomorrow where we are leaving off tonight."

"I can't go early tomorrow," she said. She recovered from the kiss quickly, as the responsibilities of her job came to the forefront of her mind. "What about tomorrow right after lunch? I need to put in some time at my desk."

"Okay, after lunch." He reached out for her again and she went willingly into his arms. With her eyes almost shut, she caught a glimpse of dark hair and mocha latte skin so similar to Ranger's. As his lips came down over hers she thought of Ranger and she hated herself for it.

When he pulled away he smiled such a lovely smile her guilt made tears fill her eyes. "Tomorrow, after lunch," he said. He opened the door and let himself out. Stephanie stood in the doorway and watched him walk to the stairwell door. Her hair was wild about her shoulders and her lips were swollen and she looked exactly like a woman who'd just been kissed.

In his office on five, Ranger watched the feed from the security camera on six. As R.C. Madrid walked out of camera range, Ranger tightened his grip on the pen in his hand until he heard the snap. He looked down to see a large smear of black ink on his hand. He dropped the pen on his desk and hit the power button on his computer. Walking quickly to the stairwell door he opened it to see Madrid rounding the corner getting ready to descend the next flight.

"Madrid," he called.

Rock stopped and turned, looking up the stairs at Ranger.

"Any luck today?" Ranger asked.

Rock smiled. "Depends on how you define luck," he told Ranger. "We found Tinley, but he didn't lead us to Montara. We're gonna give it another try tomorrow. All in all, it wasn't the best day, but yeah, I had some lucky moments."

Ranger stood motionless and Rock took that as an indication the conversation was over. He turned and started down the rest of the stairs, whistling, a little off key. Ranger listened as the whistle became softer and softer. He heard the stairwell door open and close and there was no more whistling. It was only after he registered the silence he realized what Madrid had been whistling. 'Feel like makin' love.' Feel like makin' love? He'd let Madrid get his man and then he was going to kill the son-of-a-bitch.

A/N: This might be as close to a song fic as I ever get. The reference is to the song 'Feel like Makin Love' by Bad Company, for those of you too young to remember it! Ranger recognized it and maybe the reason he was so perturbed about Rock's whistling is because the lyrics resonated with him:

Baby, if I think about you
I think about love.
Darlin, if I live without you
I live without love.If I had the sun and moon
and they were shinin
I would give you both night and day
Love satisfyinI feel like makin
Feel like makin love
Feel like makin love
Feel like makin love
Feel like makin love to you.