Chapter 39

I made good time driving to the station and once parked up walked inside with Ansgar, but I didn't go straight to the lockers. Instead, I went to the seats that were set back from the main entranceway looking for one particular person. I was so relieved when I spied Eula sat on her usual seat but then was second guessing myself.

"Hi Eula"

I said as I sat down next to her, which had her turning and giving me a weird look.

"Why are you here? I aint due in court?"

I suppose that would have been Eula's first impression at seeing me.

"No you're not. I wanted to ask you a favor"

Hell, I just hoped that Eula would be willing to help me out here. I was willing to make it worth her while.

"Depends, what's in it for me?"

Did I know Eula or what? I pulled out a twenty dollar note and handed it over to her, though she did surprise me with how quickly she snatched it from my hand and pocketed it.

"I want my dog, Ansgar to sit here with you, he'll be no trouble. I have to do something so when you see me walking out of the exit just say "go" to him and he'll follow me out"

"Is that it?"

I nodded my head as I said yes to her, pleased when she patted Ansgar's head. You might be asking why I was keeping Ansgar at a distance. To be honest I wasn't overly sure, only that I felt the longer that he was kept hidden then the better it might be. Okay now to see what was inside that damn locker. I wasn't stupid enough to look around me as I walked that way because to be honest there were so many people waiting around, anyone of them could have been watching me. I just hoped that they were closer to the lockers and hadn't seen me stop and talk to Eula. What did surprise me was that the locker was open, so maybe there was someone close by, there just in case some poor schmuck decided to use the locker or even take whatever was inside.

Once the door was open, I couldn't miss seeing the bright red box inside so carefully opened it expecting to see a note. There was a note, but it was telling me to wear the mic and place the earbud into my ear. Those were the last things that I'd expected to find. I switched them on first before clipping the mic to the collar of my jacket and then pushing the bud into my ear. There was nothing from the earbud, so I closed the door and looked around again. A voice in my ear almost had me jumping.

"I can hear everything you say, so don't think that you can tell your buddies where you're going. Drive to the Trenton Battle Monument and get out of your car and walk to Calhoun St at Pennington Ave. Get on the bus for Princeton. I'll let you know when to get off"

I closed my eyes momentarily thinking of how I was going to get Ansgar on that bus without it being obvious that he was with me. Damn it, this wasn't going to be as easy as I thought. I had to get moving before I chickened out, so I walked with purpose toward the exit. Ansgar was suddenly behind me and jumped into the sidecar before I started up the engine. Then it occurred to me that whoever was running this didn't have eyes on me all of the time. Hadn't he said to get out of my car? Which meant that they hadn't seen me on the bike or hopefully Ansgar either.

Getting to the monument wasn't a problem but I decided to park quite close to where the bus would stop. There were a couple of guys already waiting at the bus stop, maybe early twenties, and to my delight they really took to Ansgar as he sat a few feet away from me. To anyone watching they might even think that he was with them. I followed them onto the bus with Ansgar ahead of me and managed to find a seat opposite them. The bus was fairly busy, but again I couldn't work out if anyone was paying much attention to me.

"You're going to get off in five stops, outside one of your favorite shops, Dunkin Donuts. Go to the parking lot at the back. You'll see a red Nissan Rogue SUV. Keys are in the car. Turn left back onto the highway"

I was feeling nervous now with how these instructions were coming to me. It was almost as if there wasn't anyone following me as such, but being there at the specific locations that I'd been told to go. It was twenty minutes later when I spied the Dunkin Donut sign on the left of the street so started to walk up the bus ready to get off. The front area of the place was full of cars so as I reached the turning for the entrance, I turned to Ansgar.

"Stay. I'll call for you when I can"

Those big brown eyes just stared at me and followed me as I walked down the driveway and then around to the side to where I was supposed to find that car. I really hoped that somehow, I could collect him on my way out and not abandon him here. As I rounded the building, I was surprised at how few cars were parked up, but spotted the red Nissan SUV. A look in the cars led me to believe that they were empty so where was someone if they were watching me? Once seated in the driver's seat it took me a minute to realize that it was one of those push start cars with no sign of where the key fob was. The glove box was locked, so maybe they were inside there.

As I adjusted the mirrors it gave me a chance to look around, nope nobody hanging around and to be honest I didn't feel that I was being watched. Then I saw it, high up on the corner of the building, a camera. Was that how they were tracking me? Hacking into cameras on buildings or on the street? It would account for how they assumed that I was driving a car, and hadn't someone suggested that maybe the SUV that Les had been driving on the night we captured Latisha had been tracked using cameras?

Driving slowly to the entrance of the place I looked around for any street cameras spying one at the next set of lights. Now to get Ansgar into the car without him making too much noise. I used the control on my door to lower the passenger window and then brought the whistle to my lips slowing almost to a stop. As he leapt through the window, I turned on the radio hoping that would cover any sound that he made and as soon as he was in pointed down to the footwell.

"Turn the radio off Miss Plum"

I'd expected that so wasn't surprised at the voice coming through the earbud, but I decided that I'd had enough of their games. So went with annoying whoever it was that was listening through the mic.

"I've done everything that you've asked of me so where the hell am I driving to now?"

"Patience Miss Plum. Turn on the sat nav and navigate to home"

There was no way that I could do that while driving so I pulled onto the side of the street to set the damn thing up. It was then that I wondered what the hell I was doing. This was madness. If I turned up with the book, then they could kill both Ranger and me. I needed a way to bargain with them. I couldn't just stop and find a hiding place for it that would be secure, so what the hell was I going to do? Ansgar watching me gave me an idea, one that I hoped I wouldn't regret. As I started to drive following the voice from the Satnav, I felt a little more confident, but not a lot.

Having worked out that I was being tracked through cameras then it didn't surprise me that I stayed on the 206 until I hit the freeway, 295. I was in awe of who had programmed the Satnav though because it had me coming off at each pull off, going around the roundabout only to drive back up onto the freeway. At the Cosco roundabout, after going round the thing I was suddenly instructed to take the exit onto route 1 as though I was driving back into Trenton. If anyone had been following me then it would definitely have been seen.

Seeing the road name Youngs Road had me in an area that I didn't know too well. Okay, so I knew that Quakerbridge mall wasn't that far away, I'd been there often enough but used the most direct route for getting there. I had no idea what I'd find down this road and was surprised at how rural the area was. Until I started to see cars. Lots of them parked up in front of garages. Hamiltons Auto body repairers and Acres Auto Complex, which was where I was told to drive into. I didn't like the feel of this place as I passed what looked like a small office block and looked ahead of me. According to the Satnav I still had 100 yards to go but all that I could see were row upon row of stacked cars. Shit, I was in a breakers yard, and nothing ever good came from me being in a place like this.

"Ansgar, I think this is where you get out"

"I don't like this. It's too isolated and I hate to think what's at the end of this track"

Okay, I wasn't actually talking to him, but those were the thoughts that were going through my mind. I opened the window and pointed for Ansgar to leave, knowing that he'd do as I expected. I also knew that he'd keep me in his sights and if not, then the whistle would bring him to me immediately. As soon he disappeared into the dark, I started to move the car slowly forward, the stacks of cars on either side of me seeming to be closing up on me.

I didn't need that stupid voice to tell me that I'd reached my destination because I could see the main headlights from a vehicle facing me. Obviously, my welcoming committee.

Stopping the car, it was hard to see anything or anyone, that was until two silhouettes stepped in front of the lights. My palms were sweating as I sat clenching the steering wheel wishing that I was anywhere but here. I had to calm down, I had to get a grip on my control, lock down my emotions because I had to get to Ranger.

"Miss Plum, get out of the car"

If he thought saying that was going to intimidate me then he was sadly mistaken. I removed the mic and the ear bud and dropped them on the ground as I opened the door and got out.

"I'm here, just as you asked, so where is Ranger"

That was when one of the men started walking toward me, a man who looked tall and wide, and as he approached me, I was pretty damn sure that he was wearing a balaclava. Yeah, that had me backing up a step because all that fear that I'd felt when I was down in that basement came back to me. Was he one of the men who had hurt me?

"Need to check for trackers first"

Gees, now! If I had trackers on me then the cavalry would be right behind me. I think that he was surprised when his little gizmo wand didn't start screaming out but at least when he'd finished, he turned and walked away from me.

"She's clear"

I heard him tell someone else who was still behind the cover of the lights. I waited, not sure what was going to happen next, but I had my suspicions that Ranger wasn't even here. Why would he be if they thought I might be carrying trackers. Call their bluff, went through my head, I mean what else was I going to do, so I started to open the door of the car.

"You lied to me, and you double crossed me. You said that Ranger would be here"

"He will be. He's on his way now"

Okay, maybe I was hearing the truth now and maybe I'd wait and see if they did bring Ranger here. This waiting wasn't doing my nerves any good and I was seriously doubting why the hell I'd agreed to do this. Were any of the Merry Men close by? Would they know what was happening or were they going to rely on me? Shit, I hoped not because let's face it none of my plans ever went well.

"What about what you have. If this is going to be an exchange, then I need to believe that you have something for me"

I knew that he was right, but I refused to hand anything over until I knew that Ranger was safe. Would these people even let us go once they had what they were after? If I told them that I knew more, would they keep Ranger and maybe hurt him until I told them everything. It was a catch 22 and I had no idea which way to turn.

"I have it, somewhere safe. Once Ranger is freed then I'll hand it over"

Would they trust me to do that? I had no idea and to be honest was worried now for the both of us. Would Rangeman arrive when they knew that Ranger was here? Hell, I hoped so.

Al that I could do was to wait, which wasn't easy for me to do. It was so quiet even with the men still ahead of me. Looking around I was looking up at the cars stacked above me on either side. I realized that there was only one way out for me and that was the way that I'd driven in. As I heard the sound of a motor coming from somewhere behind their vehicle, I assumed that this track continued to maybe another way out. I was praying that they'd brought Ranger here. So come on guys, where are you? I was surprised when the headlights of the vehicle dimmed allowing me to see that there were only two men that had met me but now, I could clearly see a vehicle pulling to a stop behind them. I watched and listened as the front doors opened and as two men then moved to the rear door. It was so dark that I couldn't make out any details but then I saw him. I was so close to running to the man who was now stood between them with tears of relief washing down my face. That was until one of the men held a gun to Ranger's head.

I'd immediately recognized Ranger. His arms were pulled behind his back, so I guessed that he was cuffed. I had no idea if he'd been hurt or not because the light wasn't sufficient to show his face clearly. As he slowly looked in my direction, I was aware as his posture straightened and I could only guess that he wouldn't be happy to see me stood here. All that needed to happen now was for me to swap the book for Ranger and we'd all go in different directions. That was what I had hoped for but as I stood here now in the semi darkness, I was losing my nerve and had an awful feeling that things weren't going to work out that well.

"Miss Plum?"

As I heard my name being shouted, I knew the time had come so raised the whistle to my mouth and blew surprised at how quickly Ansgar appeared next to me. He must have followed the car out of sight which made me realize just how easily he could disappear and hide again. I removed the package from inside Ansgar jacket where I'd hidden it debating the best way for this to happen. I needed to take control of how this was going to go down.

"Let Ranger walk to mid way between us and then I'll send the book to you with my dog"

My heart was in my mouth as I said that, because I really wasn't sure if they'd fall for that. I watched as the two men who had originally met me huddled together talking but my eyes never left Ranger. I was trying to work out if he was pleased to me see me or annoyed. Something must have been said because Ranger was walked forward with one of the men next to him. I took in a quick intake of breath as I watched them walk from the car and then forward toward me. He was hurt, of that I was sure, but he wasn't going to let me see that. He was too proud to let an injury dissuade anyone that he wasn't still a dangerous man. I bent down and held the book in front of Ansgar hoping that we'd get out of this alive.

"Go to Ranger"

Was all that I needed to say before I turned and watched as Ansgar trotted toward Ranger. As Ansgar came closer to Ranger I think everyone had their eyes on the package in his mouth.

"Uncuff Ranger. Ansgar will only give the package to him"

I shouted over to the man who was with Ranger. By now Ansgar was sat a few feet in front of them and even as the man took a step forward, he took a step back. The man turned and shrugged his shoulders before he turned Ranger around and unfastened the cuffs. As Ranger crouched down to take the package, he looked over to me as though he needed to know what I'd planned. I nodded my head, because I knew that they'd have nothing by having the book and hoped that my ESP was working with Ranger.

Ranger moved so that he was closest to me, with Ansgar between him and the man as he handed over the book. This was the point when I was sure the shit would hit the fan. They had the package now, so what was to stop them? Shadows? I had an awareness of shadows moving between some of the cars. I froze, not sure what would happen next but for some reason I was watching as Ranger started to move toward me with the man now returning to the cars. Were we being ambushed?

The shadows materialized before my very eyes until they took on the shape of men, men who had their backs to me and were now protecting Ranger and me. There was no way that I couldn't recognize the profiles or their stance as they stood there a wall of formidable force.

"You've got what you came for so I suggest that you leave while you can. Be warned though, any move against Miss Plum, Ranger or Rangeman will have consequences"

Jackson Sinclair was certainly an intimidating man as he stood there with a machine gun resting in his hands, ready I'm sure to lift it and fire. Stood next to him were Kinley, Les, Tank and two men who probably belonged to Jackson.

"Babe, let's get out of here"

I felt as Ranger turned me by my elbow and started to pull me back down the track. Okay, I was wanting to know what was happening behind me and was surprised to see that the cars were reversing away. Even as we walked past that red Nissan, the shadows that had materialized seemed to just disappear. Looking to where we were walking to, I could see the taillights of a black SUV. Hector was leant against the tailgate and moved to open the rear doors for us. As we sat in the back of the car, I was conscious that Ranger hadn't said a word. Was he annoyed for some reason? With me, with getting taken or even with how Sinclair had swooped in? The longer the silence lasted the more nervous I became until I couldn't stand it any longer.

"Did they hurt you badly?"

I whispered as I leant toward him, almost sighing in relief when his arm came around my shoulder.

"A few bruises"

Yeah right. The way that he'd walked I knew from his posture that the injury to his side had been aggravated and even from the passing lights I could see the bruises on his face.

"I'll be fine Babe. Though seeing you stood there tonight nearly gave me a heart attack"

I knew that wouldn't have sat well with him, but I had to do it.

"I'll always do whatever it takes to make sure that you're okay, so get used to it mister. Maybe that need to protect what's mine is contagious"

I felt the quick squeeze to my shoulder so was relieved that he wasn't going to say anything else. I hadn't realized that we were part of an entourage of vehicles until we dropped down into the garage at Rangeman and saw them pulling in behind us. Bobby went straight to Ranger and was helping him toward the elevator. I was quick to follow needing to know how badly hurt he was.