Stephanie just stood there frozen in shock, holding the phone to her ear, as if in sleep paralysis from a nightmare. She wished that was the case this time...but this was no dream. It was all-too-real.
"Babe what is it? What's going on?" Ranger asked. His voice and face uncharacteristically revealing of his concern for her.
"M-m-y dad... taken... s-s-somebody... KIDNAPPED him. at gunpoint!" Her eyes looking terrified and pleadingly to Ranger. As if he could make a call to his mysterious contacts, to instantly learn the identity and the whereabouts of her dad and who took him, and dispatch a couple of his merry men, to take down the scumbag dadnapper,. And dad will be at his place at the head of the table, fork and knife in hand, waiting on the pot roast . and mashed taters and gravy. The end.
Not this time.
Ranger grabbed the phone from Stephanie. "Mrs. Plum, it's Carlos. Ranger. Tell me exactly what happened."
Ellen took some deep breaths, composing herself best as she could. "I got a call from Carl Costanza. He heard about it at the station and called me. He said that Frank was just picking up Mr. Milkowski to take him to the train station. Suddenly a man in a ski mask appeared out of nowhere, pulled Mr. Milkowski out and pushed him to the ground, stuck the gun in Frank's neck, and they drove off.".
"Descriptions? Of anything? Anything he noticed about the man? The gun? Which way they went? Anything?"
"All Mr. Milkowski saw was he was average height and build, wearing jeans, a black trenchcoat, black gloves, and a ski mask. The gun, he just said was big like some kind of Magnum. Didn't get a good enough look to be sure."
"Has the kidnapped contacted you? Any ransom demands? Anything?"
"No." There was a long uncomfortable pause. Then, Ellen asked, "We need to find out which of the dangerous criminals coming after Stephanie has taken my husband."
"How do you know it was someone after Stephanie?"
"What else could it be? Frank has no enemies. We're not rich. Can't be for money. I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone who wants me dead, so far as I know. It has to be Stephanie's job."
"If this was to get to Steph, he should have contacted her by now. Either to make demands ...or gloat."
"I don't know about any of that. All I know is, things like this never happened -- to ANY of us -- until Stephanie took on that bounty hunter job. She needs to get away from all thiat insanity and get married and have children while she still can. Know what I mean, Carlos?" She didn't even try to hide her anger. Ranger got the message.
It was clear to him that Ellen blamed Ranger for her daughter refusing to quit her dangerous job, and marry Joe Morelli.
To Ellen, Ranger was a distraction, standing in the way of her daughter having a safe and normal life. Like in the movie Titanic, how Rose's mother saw Jack. As a threat. Standing in the way of her baby having the life that Mama had mapped out for her.
Just like how Ellen blamed Ranger for her husband's abduction now.
"Yes I do hear you, Mrs. Plum. And you're right. Tell you what.. Right now, we have to put all that aside and focus on finding your husband.
"But I give you my word...once Mr. Plum is safe, I'll do right by your daughter, ma'am. Until then, i'll protect her with my life, as I always have. Try not to worry." And with that, Ranger disconnected.
"Mom thinks this is all MY fault, doesn't she?" Stephanie asked him.
"No, Babe" was all he said"
"Of course she blames me. This has to be some scumbag FTA trying to get back at me through my father. She's probably right. If anything happens to him, it'll be my fault! Mom will never forgive me. I'll never forgive myself." She broke down and started sobbing.
Ranger wrapped his huge, chiseled arms around her. "Babe, it'll be okay. We'll find him."
"I'm sure we will. Sooner or later. But will he still be alive when we do?"
"Don't go there. That's not gonna help him."
" So what will help him? "
"Let's start with the bonds office. We'll go through your skip filles. Find out who might have a grudge and take it out on your dad."
"You think it's my fault, too!"
"No of course it's not your fault, Babe. The only fault lies with the guys who took him. But we don't have any other leads."
They arrived at the bond office, not saying a word while enroute. Connie was at her desk and Lula was slowly doing filing, not making much of a dent in the piles of folders stacked up in various piles through- out the office.. Stephanie's eyes were red and puffy.
Lula was the first to notice. "Hey girlfriend, what's going on wit you? You been cryin. Did this man break your heart, or what?".
"My dad's been kidnapped," was all she could say.
"Say what???" Lula said in shock.
"What the hell?" Connie said, startled.
Just then, Morelli walked in. He did a grimace when he saw Stephanie and Ranger standing there together. Not even trying to conceal his disgust and anger.
"What are you doing here?" Stephanie asked Morelli. "You're homicide, not kidnapping."
"Kidnap cases are FBI jurisdiction. I'm here to see if I can figure out which one of your skips did this before the feds take it off our hands, " Morelli replied, trying to remain as cool and indifferent to Stephanie and Ranger as he could.
"Everyone thinks this is my fault!"
Stephanie was too upset over her dad, coupled with the guilt over her apparent responsibility for it, to be uncomfortable over Morelli, Ranger and her being in a room together. None of that mattered now Where she stood with Ranger, the headaches of her job, and busted heater all seemed seemed trivial.
"This is a kidnapping" Morelli said. "That means the FBI has jurisdiction."
"I don't trust the Feds!" She was in near hysterics. She felt like she had to do something to get her dad back. since she was certain it was her fault he got kidnapped in the first place."
"Well Stephanie, you wouldn't quit your job for your own safety. Or to Dave our relationship. But what about your father? Does his safety matter more than your job?'
She had no reply.