A/N: Not a particularly exciting chapter but we'll get a walk down memory lane if you've read my previous stories.
Previous Chapter: "Binkie, you're bleeding!" I exclaimed at the sight of blood on his arm.
"That's not my blood," he exclaimed immediately and placed his hand on my side. "You're bleeding, Alyssa."
I looked down at his bloodied hand next to my side. "Oh, I suppose I've been shot," I responded confused and a cold chill rushed up my spine. Allowing myself to close my eyes, exhaustion swept over me as I collapsed into Binkie's arms.
Chapter 6
I want to say that I'm a virgin to domestic abuse but growing up in different foster homes, I feel like I've seen it all. And the sad part about it is growing up you feel like you're alone with no one to run to and you quickly learn that other people never want to get involved with your problems. Too young to take matters into your own hands or those who have the power to do something about it don't always listen or take you seriously.
I've encountered numerous times when a fight has gotten so out of hand that nobody has ever bothered to call the police or stopped to help. But you can't completely blame them either. Sometimes the cops are completely immune to the workings of domestic abuse as well when you witness coming back to the same residence over and over again only for the victim to deny any claims of abuse and continue to stay and take it.
It's a sad world but it's reality and it's even more heartbreaking when children get caught up in it all. But in my opinion, it should never stop a person from trying to do the right thing and to help make things right. Yes, I could've turned and ran in the opposite direction of that house instead of running straight into harm's way and just called the police. But if I had, those kids would either have disappeared with Kit never to be seen again or worse killed by their own father.
I blinked a few times and sat up too quickly as the pain shot through my side and my head was spinning.
"Whoa there…take it easy," Bobby replied, placing his hands around my arms and gently lowered me back down onto my pillow.
"The kids?" I rasped out, as he brought a straw to my mouth and I drank the liquid greedily.
"They're fine…just a few minor cuts and bruises. They're with Ella and Luis in their apartment having cookies."
"Thank you," I smiled at him.
"You keep losing blood like that, you won't have any left in your body," he joked. "Luckily the bullet just grazed you."
I nodded my head and waited for him to give me the rest of the update.
He continued, "The authorities were notified. They found Kristen Johnson's body in her home. The ME reported that she died instantly from a bullet to the head. The TPD has a search team out looking for Kit. Child Services is working on locating next of kin for the kids."
"Thanks again, Bobby. You're a gem."
"The kids have been asking to see you. So, Ella's bringing them up to you in a few minutes."
"Beautiful, what is with you and little munchkins?" Les exclaimed as he walked into the room.
"Kids are easier to deal with than adults, Les," I smiled at him with my arms open to receive a hug. "I'm so sorry about your car. I know how much you loved it."
He waved me off and chuckled, "I knew the risk of lending it to you."
I playfully swatted his arm, "Help me up so I can stretch my legs."
He helped me out of bed and helped steady me as I paced around the room dragging my IV drip around and worked out the kinks in my joints when I heard a shrill scream.
"I DON'T WANT TO GO!" I heard Mia scream out.
I immediately tore out the IV needle from my arm…not a pleasant feeling so I wouldn't recommend it…and ran out the door.
"Alyssa!" Mia cried out, pulling her tiny hand out of the grasp of a woman wearing a boxy gray skirt suit and ran towards me and clung to my good side.
"What's going on here?" I asked the woman who was holding a wailing Michael.
I walked towards her and pried him out of her grasp and tried soothing him by stroking his back.
"Ms. Chau, I presume," the woman asked behind her gold wire-framed glasses.
"Yes, that would be me."
"My name is Jackie Beaumont. I'm the Case Worker from child protective services assigned to the Johnson children. I'm here to take the children to a safe place until their Aunt and Uncle can come and retrieve them."
"Retrieve them? They're not objects or a package," I grit out angrily. "Why can't they stay with me until they get here?"
"They're in a remote area in South Sudan with very little contact doing some sort of doctors without borders program. Until we can locate them, the children will be placed in temporary housing. It will only be a few days"
"Then they can stay with me as temporary housing," I replied defiantly.
"Ms. Chau, what do you know of caring for children? I imagine that you're a single working female who most likely lives in a one bedroom apartment — definitely not suitable for 2 young children."
"You're not taking these kids!" I shouted, choosing to ignore the jab of her assumption that I was a sad lonely single female. "They've been through something traumatic and putting them in the system only makes it worse for them. They trust me and feel comfortable with me. They need to be in a trusting and nurturing environment after the experience they just went through."
"The system was created for these types of situations, Ms. Chau. I assure you, the children will be fine. And they will need to be protected from the fugitive that has yet to be captured."
"And I assure you, Ms. Beaumont, as someone who's been put through the system after losing a parent. It is not. They stay with me."
"I can't let that happen—"
"—With all due respect, Ms. Beaumont. You'll have to take these kids over my dead body," I threatened.
"Ms. Chau, I assure you that the children will be safe," the mousy woman said adjusting her glasses.
"Really? Do you plan on keeping them together?" I challenged.
Often the social services try to keep siblings together but reality is that most of them are split up into different homes. I've had my fair share of understanding how the system works. It works well for some but not always for others.
When my parents passed away, I was picked up by the police and taking to the precinct where I waited for hours for a social services case worker to show up and was immediately dumped into a foster home.
Being that I was an older orphan at the age of eleven, finding a loving family to adopt an older child was slim to none. Some foster homes were more loving and supportive than others.
"I will try my hardest, Ms. Chau, to keep the children together," she cleared her throat, not convincing me the slightest.
"I stand firm. Release the children into my custody. I will provide for them. I'm not going to let them out of my sight."
"Ms. Chau, I know you mean well but—"
"Enough," Tank interjected. "Rangeman will be responsible for the children, Ms. Beaumont. The children can be under 24 hour surveillance in this secured building. We have apartments within the building and an on-staff caretaker who will cook and clean for the children until the children's new guardians arrive."
"This is against standard procedure," she said hesitantly.
"Call Chief Juniak at the TPD," I instructed her. "He'll vouch for Rangeman's reputation."
She nodded her head and stepped away from us to make a phone call.
I knelt down to Mia with Michael in my arms. "It's going to be ok," I wiped away her tears.
"I want to stay here with you," she sniffled.
"I'm going to try my hardest to make sure that happens, all right?"
She nodded and put her arms around my neck. "I don't want to go home to my daddy."
"That's not going to happen," I said firmly holding onto her.
The social worker came back towards us. "My supervisor has given the ok to allow the children to stay here under the supervision of Ms. Chau and Rangeman under the understanding that Rangeman is responsible for anything that may occur. I just need to you to take care of some paperwork."
"That will not be a problem, Ms. Beaumont. We can take care of that," Tank's loud commanding voice boomed. "Little girl, you can take the children to seven and settle them there."
I frowned at him, "Are you sure that's ok?" I can't really imagine Ranger being ok with me and two kids taking over his living space.
"It's fine. We don't expect him to come back any time soon."
"Ok," I replied hesitantly but pivoted my heel and headed towards the elevator. "Les, you coming?" I called back behind me.
"Right behind you, beautiful."
We took the elevator up to seven and I used the key fob Ranger gave to me over Christmas to get into his apartment. The place was like a time capsule. It looked exactly as I had remembered it but I haven't stepped foot in here since the after the incident with Deuces. The minute I learned that Ranger had disappeared into the wind, I picked myself up and left never stepping foot back in here until now.
"Is this a fancy hotel?" Mia asked in awe.
I chuckled, "I suppose you could think of it that way."
"Ella's going to bring up some movies and dinner," Les called out from the kitchen.
"Perfect," I smiled, falling into the plush leather couch with Michael in my arms.
After a few hours of watching Pixar films. I tucked the kids into bed and Les tucked me in next to them.
"If you need anything, you know where to find me," Les patted my head.
"Thanks, Les."
Ella was magical. Within a matter of hours, she had thought of everything from clothes, toys to a detachable railing of the side of the bed so that the kids couldn't roll off in their sleep.
^o^ * ^o^
Ella played babysitter while I was out working. The guys have been great, in making the kids feel comfortable and welcomed. In fact, Cal, the man with the scary tattoo on his head, became Mia's favorite Merry Man because he let her ride on his shoulders around the office. She said his tattoo wasn't that scary because if you squinted it looked like an angel.
I was healing up quite nicely and Tank has required me to bring a partner on all of my runs. Which was fine by me, I wasn't really much up to running after skips at the moment. And it was nice to have someone take over the physical aspect for a while.
"The TPD has located the children's aunt and uncle. A local official is assisting with their return," Vince reported to the group during our weekly Monday morning staff meeting.
"Have they closed in on Kit?" Binkie spoke up.
"There's still no new information coming from the TPD and we have our own men on the streets searching for him as well," Ram reported. "He's most likely has a friend helping him."
"Or he's no longer in town," Binkie grit out.
"We'll find him," Ram assured him. "Nobody shoots one of our own and gets away with it."
"You guys should be focused on finding him so that the kids remain safe, not because he shot me. And let's be honest, he only grazed me."
"That's enough to get a bullet to the head," Les replied.
"Ok enough," Tank took back control of the room. "If there's nothing new to report, everyone is dismissed."
We all stood up and began filing out of the conference room.
"Alyssa," Bobby said catching up to me. "I stopped to pick up your mail at your apartment. Thought you'd like to have it," he said handing me a bundle of mail.
"Thanks, Bobby, but it's only been 2 days," I teased him.
"Could've fooled me. It looked like weeks' worth of mail," he chuckled.
Ok…fine, maybe I'm really negligent at checking my mailbox.
^o^ * ^o^
Grabbing my pile of mail and plopped down on the couch next to Les.
"Thanks for coming over and helping with the kids. I think it's important to help them keep their mind off of what a fucked up whirlwind life has given them."
"They're really good kids. You're going to make a great mom someday."
I scrunched my nose, "I seriously doubt that. Everyone here has been helping me out. I don't think I could've managed on my own."
My thoughts floated to my browning fern sitting in the window sill of my bedroom back at my apartment. I can't even keep an easy to care for fern alive.
"You know when to ask for help and allow for it, so that makes a perfect mom. You shouldn't be expected to do it on your own anyways."
I shrugged him off before any tears could threaten to start brimming my eyes and began sorting through my mail. I pulled out a padded yellow envelope that was unmarked. Carefully opening it, I peered inside and couldn't make out the contents so I poured it out on the coffee table.
"What is that?" Les asked curiously.
"I don't know," I replied, picking up a pen and poked at the colorful pieces of plastic pellets. "Maybe it was delivered to the wrong address?"
"You said Bobby picked up your mail?"
I nodded.
"Bobby," Les spoke into his phone, "where did you find that padded envelop at Alyssa's apartment?"
He paused for a few seconds nodding his head in the process. He said, "Thanks," into the receiver and clicked off.
"Bobby said he found it stuffed between your doorknob and the frame. He scanned the contents with the xray machine to make sure that it was safe before handing it to you."
"Well, it's doesn't seem dangerous but I don't know what it is or who would send them to me," I pulled down the edge of my sleeve and picked up one of the pieces with my sweatshirt to inspect it closely. "Holy fuck," I breathed out.
"What?" Binkie quickly became more attentive.
"They're acrylic nails, but not just acrylic nails — they're only pinkie ones. Vince was right."
"Vince was right about what?"
I turned to him and gulped, "Vince thinks that everything that's been going on seems too much like a coincident with all the dead animals randomly showing up and the dead flowers, flowers with spider eggs. He thinks I have a stalker and after the rat incident."
"How long has been going on?"
"A couple of months from what I can recall it happening…maybe as far back as the box of roach infested chocolates you found at my door before the whole Deuce incident…It was all so subtle that I just didn't think much of it."
"Do you know of anybody that would be out to get you?"
"No, that's the thing. Everything's been pretty quiet up until now with Kit but I didn't even know of Kit Johnson until a few days ago when he was handed to me as an FTA. Everything's been pretty quiet."
"It could be a random obsession. Someone who's read about the incident with you and Pinkie in the news and has developed an unhealthy obsession with you."
Pinky Lupinski was one of my first skips when I first started off as a FTA and he was as dangerous as they come. He was working for Wesley Stranton of Stranton Construction. Pinky was Stranton's hired man but began taking matters into his own hands to protect his employer from his own indiscretions with the female variety and began "cleaning" up his messes by offing the women and burying them in the construction sites.
He was my first brush with death in my new line of work and the blossoming of my relationship with Ranger. Anyways, Pinky was now swimming with the fishes but not by my hand, but by the hand of his employer, Wesley Stranton. In the end, Pinky and Stranton's wife were having an affair and they were in cahoots to off her beloved husband and take his fortune.
My mind wandered back to the earlier days of Ranger taking me under his wing and trained me out of pure entrainment and boredom. It was hard not to be affected by a man like Ranger. His presence alone would man any woman and probably man drop all of their defenses. The electricity I felt every time he was around. I was the annoying thorn in his side but he practiced so much patience with me. I'm not saying Ranger doesn't still have the patience with me but our relationship is different now. So much has happened and he's not the same anymore. Even if we weren't going to ever be lovers, Ranger was my best friend. He always had confidence in me, he was always there for me. And now he's in the wind and not speaking to me. I don't know what to think of him anymore.
"I suppose you could be right…"I replied sheepishly.
"Why didn't you say anything to me after Vince brought up the idea of you having a stalker?"
"Because I forgot about it. After he got rid of the dead rat at my door, I just went back into my normal routine and it slipped my mind. Oh yeah and this," I pulled out my phone and handed it to him with the message open.
"That's an obvious death threat!" he balked at the message I received saying I should be dead like the rat.
"I know. I was going to mention it to Tank but then the whole murder thing got in the way…actually two murders! I've been witness to 2 murders in under a month," realization sunk in how death just follows me.
Les grabbed the envelop and swept the contents back into it. "I'm going to have it dusted for prints and have Hector see if he can run a trace on where the text came from. I don't think it's safe for you to go out again until we get more information."
"No, you can't keep me confined," I grit out at him, hating him for the moment for even trying to suggest such a thing to me. "It's been harmless so far."
"But you don't know when this person is going to start escalating into dangerous territory, Beautiful. You've been run off the road and shot all within a week!"
"I don't care. I can handle myself. I don't need a babysitter. When the time comes, I'll deal with it. But for now it's been harmless 'gifts' being left for me."
"Ok, beautiful. You know I would never force anything upon you but it doesn't mean that I like it," he said begrudgingly as he shut the door behind him.
Tank called up shortly after Les left to let me know that the kids' relatives were inbound for Trenton to pick up the kids. I cleaned up around the living area, and flipped off all the lights before heading to the bedroom. I looked at the large bed swallowing the tiny kids sprawled out. I smiled down at them as I rearranged them carefully and tucked them back under the covers.
Flipping off all the lights, I went to the bathroom and cleaned up before heading to bed. Being in Ranger's space was really difficult for me. It took a while for me to come to terms that his feelings for me were not the same as my feelings for him. Although he had once told me that I was always welcome in his space, I could never bring myself to be here.
Everything was him. His scent was everywhere. The feelings I had for him rushed in and took over my body every time I stepped foot into the room. His essence lived here and I couldn't escape it. But for the kids' well-being, I had to set aside my selfish feelings and needs to learn to cope with being reminded of him.
I maneuvered around the bed carefully trying to adjust my eyes to the dark, sidling down in next to Mia, she stirred slightly and called out, "Auntie Alyssa?"
I pulled her into my arms and snuggled up against her. "Yes, ladybug?"
"Are you going to be our new mommy?"
My heart skipped a beat. "I'm afraid not, sweetheart. You're going to go home with your Aunt Christine and Uncle Brad tomorrow."
"Oh," she paused. "I like them. They have a pretty house and always give cool presents."
I smiled and kissed her head.
"But I like you too," she yawned and I felt her head grow heavy and droop.
"I like you too, ladybug," I closed my eyes and the tears began falling.