Sadie and Mary Alice grinned as the reporters took photographs for the local newspaper. The two girls, with help from Santos Engineering - Sadie renamed the company - designed affordable housing for veterans nationwide. Other businesses in metropolitan cities got Santos Engineering to work on blueprints to retrofit or build similar structures.
Lester and Marty stood away from their daughters, pride evident on their faces as the reporter snapped picture after picture to get the right one for the Trenton Times.
"Miss Santos, how do you feel about the city recognizing you for this achievement?" Fred Telfer asked.
"I feel great. When Mary Alice and I learned about the lack of affordable housing for the veterans, men and women who served their time to protect our country, we knew something had to change. I inherited a few properties from my birthmother's family and wanted to use them for good. Well, here we are, three years later, and we rebuilt - from the ground up - a second apartment complex for our local veterans," Sadie replied.
"And what about you, Miss Romeo?" Fred asked, pronouncing her last name as Ro-me-oh.
"It's Ro-may-oh," Mary Alice quickly corrected. "I'm proud of our accomplishments at our young ages. We started this project with disabled veterans in mind. Then we realized other veterans older than our grandpas could benefit from affordable housing. That's why we built a second apartment complex in Miami, Atlanta, Boston and here," Mary Alice replied, adding to Sadie's statement.
"My sources say you painstakingly drew the building specifications using construction paper, popsicle sticks and a ruler," Fred said. "Is that true?"
Sadie and Mary Alice giggled. "Yes," Sadie replied. "I asked Tio Tank for scrap graph paper. He gave me a banker's box filled with various sized graph paper and grids. It helped Mary Alice and me to draw the layouts for the apartments to scale."
"We also spent hours researching designs, furniture, countertop and wheelchair sizes. When we didn't find designs that worked for our plans, we created our own layouts," Mary Alice added. "Sadie and I love art class."
"What are your plans for the future?" Fred asked.
Mary Alice waited for Sadie to answer. "I'm planning to become an architect," Sadie replied.
"I want to be a structural engineer," Mary Alice answered.
"I'm not surprised," Fred said. "Congratulations, young ladies. You are a role model for all the young girls across the county. I can't wait to see what happens in your future."
"Thank you, Mr. Telfer," Sadie and Mary Alice replied. They ran to their fathers after the interview.
"How's Neil?" Lester asked after leaving the girls with Ella. "Is he finally sleeping through the night?"
"Yes. I never realized teething was that bad," Marty replied. "Lisa didn't fuss too much with her molars."
Lester chuckled. "Tell me about it. Lydia and Danny couldn't be more different. Danny was the trooper. Teething didn't phase him. Lydia was grumpy all the time. She only settled for Sadie. Thankfully, she's past that phase now."
"Are you having more children?" Marty asked. Lester raised a brow. "Val's pregnant again."
"Didn't you get snipped?" Lester asked.
"Yes, but she got pregnant a month later. It takes a few months for the procedure to be effective," Marty replied.
"Man, I got snipped after Nicki had the twins. She didn't want to endure another pregnancy. We religiously used protection until I shot blanks," Lester said.
"We used protection, but the condom broke," Marty confessed. Lester burst out laughing.
Patrick grabbed a newspaper from the local magazine stand. His daughter's face filled the front page with another young girl with brown curly hair and blue eyes. Sadie resembled Lydia too much not to be their daughter. He tried to find something in his parents' house to confirm Sadie was Sandra without approaching the woman who raised the girl for ten years. Patrick couldn't exactly go to the lawyers and ask, "Hey, is Sadie Santos my long-lost daughter that I sold for a pretty penny?" Considering Sadie Santos inherited the Buxom estates, she had to be Sandra Huntington.
The girl, Mary Alice Romeo, reminded him of Stephanie Plum and her young children. Patrick saw them the previous year at the grand opening ceremony for the Boston Acres Apartment Complex. It was affordable housing for military veterans. The cause was honourable. However, the money would have served much better in his pocket. Shouldn't charity begin at home? Patrick shook his head to dismiss the thought.
Stephanie had three children with her; two boys and a girl. Patrick had a buyer for the girl. He knew Stephanie hired a surrogate to carry the triplets from her file. She was young enough to get more eggs harvested. Taking the daughter wouldn't end the world since Stephanie could try for another.
He had watched the family from afar. One of Stephanie's sons remained at a distance from the other boy and girl. It would be easier for Patrick to lure him away from the others. Alas, Patrick had his sight set on the gorgeous little girl. How much was the child worth to the parents?
Reading the article, Patrick discovered Sadie lived in Trenton, New Jersey. He should have known his daughter would find Lydia's best friend.
Jeanne Ellen passed her sleeping son to Ram. "Are you sure about this?" he asked. Ram carefully moved Matteo's head to his shoulder.
"Yes," she replied. "You and Melody can visit with the children. Jordan and I decided our children should spend time with their half-siblings."
"But we agreed when I donated the semen that the children belong to Jordan," Ram insisted.
"Davin, we already went through this when Melody had Tanner. Mica noticed Tanner resembled Matteo. It was never Jordan or my intention to lie to our children. We want you to be a part of Mica and Matteo's lives. Without you, they wouldn't be here," Jeanne Ellen explained. She watched Mica climb the stairs, likely wanting to see her half-brother.
Mica looked into Tanner's crib and explained how she was his special half-sister. Melody watched the adorable conversation. It filled her heart to have Mica accept Tanner as her sibling. "When is my sister going to be here?" Mica asked.
Melody smiled at the gorgeous girl. "Soon, Mica," Melody replied. "Is that why you wanted to spend time with us? What about your cousin Alex and Lisa?"
"Having a sister is different than having a cousin," Mica replied. "I have a lot of girl cousins, but I don't have a sister. Mama and Papa can't have more."
"I know, sweetie," Melody replied. Jeanne Ellen had a difficult delivery with Matteo. She got an emergency hysterectomy after his birth. "Sometimes those things happen."
"Did you know I found pictures of Mama pregnant with my cousins?" Mica asked.
Smiling, Melody replied, "No, I didn't know that. But Alex, Ricky and Max are biologically Tio Carlos and Tia Steph's babies. Your Mama was their surrogate."
Mica rolled her eyes. "I know that, Tia Mel. Mama told me that Tia Steph got hurt and couldn't have babies. My Mama offered to carry the babies. I don't know how babies get made. I'm five. Mama promised to tell me when I grow up."
Melody sensed there was something else bothering Mica. She extended a hand to Mica, who readily accepted it. They walked hand-in-hand from the nursery to the kitchen. "Chocolate or vanilla?" Melody asked, referring to the cake.
"Both," Mica replied, smiling. Mica took a bite of the cake. "Would Tio Davin still visit with me when you have the baby?" The question took Melody by surprise. Mica was an intelligent girl.
Ram, Jordan and Jeanne Ellen entered the kitchen and overheard the question. "Mica, you can visit me anytime you want," Ram replied. "Your mom explained how you were feeling about Melody's baby girl. The seven of us are a special family. Nothing would ever stop me from spending time with you or Matteo."
"What happens if Mama and Papa die and I'm still a kid?" Mica asked. Jeanne Ellen quirked a brow.
"Mi hija," Jordan answered, "You would live with Tio Davin and Tia Melody."
"Okay," Mica said. Her legs swung beneath the chair as she happily ate the cake.
The adults wondered what brought on the insecurity with Mica. She never displayed that level of apprehension after Tanner's birth. "Mica, why did you want to know?" Jeanne Ellen asked.
"Tio Lester talked to Tio Bobby. Tio Lester said that Tia Steph and Tio Carlos would raise Sadie, Danny and Lydia if he and Tia Nicki died. I wanted to know where I would go," Mica replied. Jordan and Ram planned to take Lester and Bobby to the mats from discussing private matters in front of the kids.
Jeanne Ellen and Jordan left for their date night after setting up the DVD player for Mica to watch Frozen. Mica and Matteo would spend the night with Ram and Melody.
"I never expected there to be this many strings for donating my sperm to Jeanne Ellen," Ram said, hugging his wife.
"Had you known then what you know now, would you change your mind?" Melody asked.
"No."
"Good answer."
Agent Corey Morrison was visiting his brother Kyle in Atlanta, Georgia. Kyle worked for Rangeman, Atlanta. They went for a walk after eating dinner in the local pub. Something in the alley behind a bakery caught Corey's attention. Kyle and Corey removed their guns from the holders and approached with caution.
A woman with dark hair and blue eyes stared into the dark sky. She was lying in a pool of blood. Her shirt contained many tears caused by a sharp object. "Call it in," Corey ordered.
Kyle contacted the police as Corey assessed the scene. Corey took photographs but didn't touch the body. After providing his location, Kyle approached his brother, "What do you think happened?"
"The serial killer resurfaced," Corey replied. "I hope the director would reopen the case."
"Do you mean the case you closed a few years back?" Kyle asked.
"I didn't close it. Agent Hunter Jansen and Agent Gordon Macintyre closed the case. I wanted it to remain open. Do you know if your boss, Ranger, is still collecting details?"
"They are," Kyle replied. "I found a few more unsolved cases in California. It's the same MO." Kyle pointed to the dead woman. Corey asked Kyle to contact Ranger with the intel. Their suspect had likely fled the area.
"You have reached Rangeman. Casper speaking. How may I direct your call?"
"Hi, Casper. It's Kyle Morrison from the Atlanta branch. I need to get ahold of Ranger. Is he available?" Kyle asked.
"What is the issue?" Casper wondered.
"It's a new case to add to his investigation," Kyle explained. "I'm saying that the case is so new that my brother and I are looking at the body in the alley."
"Shit!" Casper said. "I've got your number. Ranger will return your call."
Casper disconnected the call to contact Ranger. "Yo," Ranger replied, checking the time on the clock. Ranger listened for a few seconds before ending the call. Casper sent Ranger the phone number via text message.
"Report," Ranger ordered when Kyle answered the phone.
"Sir," Kyle said, "A woman with dark curly hair and blue eyes got found in an alley behind a bakery. My brother Corey noticed a foot sticking out from behind the dumpster."
"Injuries?" Stephanie asked. Kyle wasn't expecting to hear her voice.
Ranger didn't have the call on speakerphone, but Stephanie knew there were only a few reasons for anyone to contact Ranger at 2200 hours. Someone got hurt on the job, or a family member got hospitalized.
"Carlos, put him on speakerphone," Stephanie urged.
Kyle smiled when the background noises got louder. "Same injuries as the last two victims I emailed you," Kyle replied. "She was beaten and stabbed."
"Tell me everything from the beginning," Stephanie demanded. She listened as Kyle patiently repeated the information. "Was she found behind the Fulton Bakery?"
"Yes," Kyle replied. "How did you know?"
"Has anyone searched for her son?" Stephanie asked without answering his question. It was her nightmare becoming a reality.
"What makes you think she has a child?" Kyle's question piqued Corey's interest. Corey knew deep inside his bones that the dead woman was another casualty of the serial killer. There was only one other case in California the previous year.
Sirens got closer to the bakery. The police arrived with the coroner to protect the crime scene. "Morrison," Officer Miller greeted. "What do we have here?"
Stephanie listened as Kyle explained how he and his brother happened when they found the body. "Tell him about the child," Stephanie urged.
"Do you mind?" Miller asked.
"Officer Miller wants to talk to you," Kyle told Stephanie.
"Put him on," Ranger ordered.
"Hi. I'm Sergeant Adam Miller with the Atlanta Police Department. What do you know about the case?"
"You're going to think it's weird," Stephanie replied.
"I'm used to it," Miller joked. He listened as Stephanie told him about the recurring nightmare she had for the past five and a half years. Miller instinctively knew the dreams were premonitions. His mother was a seer. He was used to the strange proclamations. "She has a son?"
"Yes," Stephanie replied. "He has dark blond hair and blue eyes, like his mother. The boy is only three. I'm afraid someone will sell him on the black market."
"I'll check, ma'am," Miller said.
"It's Stephanie or Steph," she automatically corrected. "My husband, Ranger, and I are heading to Atlanta." Ranger contacted Hal for a ride to the airport. They weren't supposed to leave for Atlanta until the following afternoon. Their trip got moved up by several hours.
"You don't need to come here," Miller replied.
"We were coming to Atlanta anyway," Stephanie said. "Tell Kyle we'll see him in a few hours." Stephanie ended the call without saying goodbye. Carlos quirked a brow in amusement. Stephanie smiled and stuck out her tongue.
She went to Ricky's room to find all three children awake and waiting for her. "Is it time to go, Mama?" Ricky asked.
"Yes," she replied. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Max replied for the group. Max grabbed Alex's hand. They left Ricky's bedroom, with Ricky and Stephanie following.
"Babe?" Carlos asked.
Her voice was quiet as she replied, "They know."
Stephanie felt the weight of impending doom. Someone was going to suffer. She prayed it wouldn't be Ricky. The anxiety built as Carlos drove to Rangeman. He parked in the garage and waited for Hal to climb into the car.
Hector, Tito and Bobby got into a second vehicle with Cal driving. Stephanie felt a sense of relief knowing the men would help protect the children. She needed her hermano.