The holidays pass with tears and my family sharing memories. I go through the motions as the devastation of Grandma's death threatens to drag me away. Living in denial land isn't a healthy way to get through the festivities. Mom and I force ourselves to smile for Angie, Mary Alice and Lisa. Bert's too young to understand why we're upset. Zack accompanies me to Thanksgiving and Christmas. We work on New Year's Eve, but I manage to find time to spend with my family on New Year's Day. Mom, Zack and I put flowers on Grandma's grave on Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. We give Grandma poinsettias on Christmas Day. Valerie only accompanies us on Thanksgiving day. She promises to come with us on Grandma's birthday.
Working at Rangeman keeps me busy, so I'm not concentrating on the upcoming trial for Lula and Bella. Zack and I are material witnesses, partly because we heard the confessions after planting a microphone. Perkins thinks this will help keep the recording as incriminating evidence against the women. The defence lawyers insist on dropping the audio track from the evidence, claiming it's a forgery. When this tactic didn't work, they asked the judge to dismiss it because Lula and Bella were unaware that someone had recorded their conversation. The judge will rule on the evidence during the trial. He will listen to the questioning and cross-examination before sharing the recording with the jury.
I'm in the first-floor conference room with potential clients when the door opens. I glance up to see who is interrupting the meeting that took months to arrange. Kevin and Bernice Watson own the pharmaceutical packing plant in Hamilton Township, within Rangeman's patrol area. Looking like he lost a significant amount of weight, Ranger enters the room. "Mr. Manoso, I heard you were out of town," I say, standing.
Bernice, a beautiful woman in her late fifties, clutches her neck as she blushes. She finds Ranger attractive. "Welcome to Rangeman," Ranger says, offering Kevin his hand. Kevin stands and introduces himself and his wife to Ranger. "What brings you here today?"
"Miss Plum caught one of my employees stealing drugs and selling them on the streets," Kevin replies. It isn't entirely true.
"That's not how this meeting happened," I argue. Bernice giggles and agrees with me.
Ranger raises a brow, waiting for someone to explain. I wave my hand at the seat beside mine, silently asking Ranger to sit. He stares at me as he walks to the head of the table. The chair barely squeaks when he pulls it out to sit. I'm glad he chose that seat instead of the one beside mine. It gives me the chance to look at him as I explain the situation. Ranger folds his hands on the smooth surface and waits for me to talk.
"Hal and I were on a surveillance shift," I say. Ranger's eye gives away his thoughts. He wants to know why Zip isn't my partner. It's against Rangeman protocol to work with someone you're dating. The conversation about my change in partner must wait. "We were waiting for José Juárez to exit Watson Pharmaceutical Packaging because he missed his hearing. José must have seen the Rangeman SUV because he went inside and dragged Melanie Watson, the third shift supervisor, from the factory while holding a knife to her throat. Hal called Rangeman for backup, and I exited the car, leaving my weapons behind, to see how I could help without spooking him. José didn't know I wore a wire and earbud to communicate with Hal and the control room. I got José to trade Melanie for me by saying he had a better chance of getting away with my help."
"Did the plan work?" Ranger asks, suspecting I'm omitting the worst part.
"No. José turned when he heard someone approaching. I managed to shove Melanie away when José sliced the air with his knife," I reply, touching my left arm where José cut me.
Ranger's lip twitches in amusement. He turns slightly to face Kevin. "Where was your security team?" Ranger asks.
"Watching a game on the television in their office," Kevin replies. His tone betrays his anger at the employees. "Having an in-house security team made them lazy. That lunatic could have killed my daughter on their watch."
"How did you meet Miss Plum?" Ranger questions.
Smiling, Bernice replies, "One of your staff entered the factory and ordered a guard to contact us. We live a few blocks away from the building. It didn't take long for us to arrive. I noticed one man stitching Stephanie's arm. When Kevin asked Tank for the details, I learned Stephanie worked for Rangeman Securities. I approached Stephanie and asked how she got injured. She explained the situation as Bobby, her coworker and company medic, tended to her wound. Stephanie's a remarkable woman. My daughter needed sedation after being held at knifepoint while Stephanie passed off her injury as a scratch."
Kevin continues the story, "Tank explained Rangeman's directive and what they offer their clients. I must confess I was impressed with the company you built after serving in the military. As an act of goodwill, Stephanie researched my employees. We discovered Brian Howell, our head of security, was helping José steal and distribute the drugs. His employees didn't report his activities because they feared getting fired. Stephanie's detailed reports brought us to this meeting. I want to hire Rangeman for our security needs in our home and factory. Stephanie and I were negotiating the terms when you arrived."
Ranger motions for me to continue our meeting. "As I was saying, the installation team needs to remove the clunky cameras in your home and replace them with less conspicuous ones, which I included in the terms of the contract. Rangeman will only activate those cameras if someone trips the sensors by opening a door or window. It's important to enter the code within a minute to deactivate the alarm and prevent Rangeman from accessing the feed. Before a team is dispatched to the house, someone from Rangeman will call and ask for the password, which is stored on a secured server. This computer is only accessible to the man monitoring the accounts while the alarm is sounding."
"What is the response time?" Kevin asks.
"Five minutes, since we will have men patrolling that area," I reply. "Ten if we need to dispatch a team from Rangeman."
Kevin follows along with the paperwork. He initials and signs the document for the Rangeman installation team to replace their cameras. "Rangeman replaces the cameras at no charge when improved models are on the market?" Kevin asks.
Ranger replies, "Our devices are cutting edge and made specifically for Rangeman. You won't find comparable cameras anywhere."
I open my laptop bag and remove a few cameras. I put them on the table for Kevin to see. He picks up the smallest one and turns it over. "That model is wireless. It connects to a secure network. Most clients prefer the other one with wires to connect to their electricity. I recommend having both available in your home. The wireless one contains a lithium battery, which lasts for two years before it requires replacing. That camera will still work during a power outage. The alarm panel connects to the electricity, but it will trip to battery operated to keep your house secure," I explain. "Rangeman will receive a message if your power is cut."
"If we have no power, how does Rangeman contact us?" Kevin asks.
"The alarm panel has a button to call the control room. We can use that channel to contact you," Ranger replies. Kevin quietly discusses the options with Bernice before signing the paperwork with the highest security available. I add my signature and use the portable printer to scan and produce a copy for Kevin.
It takes longer to negotiate the factory contract. Kevin and Bernice want a three-man team on the premises at all times. Rangeman will have to hire more staff or take on the current security men. "We can keep your security staff if they abide by Rangeman's protocols," I reply when Kevin insists we keep his staff. Ranger remains silent. He's assessing Kevin while reviewing the background information on those men.
"Or we need one Rangeman employee on the premises to oversee the current guards," Ranger says.
Kevin discusses the factory cameras. He wants Rangeman to record everything on the lines and anything in the offices when Melanie or Bernice presses a button. "Do you want the button to serve as a panic button, too?" I ask, making Ranger smile. He knows how much I hate carrying a panic button in the field. "Pressing it will start the recording. Holding the button for a few seconds alerts Rangeman to dispatch a team while your on-site guards secure the building."
"Why can't one of the guards assist us if we sound the alarm?" Bernice asks.
"Because they need backup," Kevin replies. "The guards won't know the situation to respond adequately. We need to protect our employees, too."
"Our Rangeman employee will direct the guards to their stations and position himself outside the office where the alarm sounded. He will ensure your safety until adequate assistance arrives," Ranger says. Bernice exhales in relief.
Kevin immediately signs the paperwork when Ranger adds the protocol to the agreement. Ranger signs the document since it's a multi-million dollar contract. We'll have enough money to hire six men for the Trenton office.
I escort Kevin and Bernice to the door, where Binkie is waiting to take them to the parking garage. Once the newest Rangeman clients are out of sight, I say, "That was a hard sell."
"Babe, they made a decision before meeting you today. Kevin never negotiated contracts outside his office," Ranger says. "You made them come here and work for the account."
"They came here because I asked them to meet me here. Lula is stalking me. She follows me everywhere. The police can't stop her because she isn't breaking the law, especially when visiting businesses near my location. Zack and I can't go on a date because she always shows up and makes a scene," I explain.
"You're dating Zip?" Ranger asks.
"I am. We've been together for the past six months. Tank said you were supposed to be gone for two months. Why did your mission take so long?"
"It went FUBAR within days. I had to hunker down and plan everything to stay alive," he replies, giving me information I shouldn't have. "Is your relationship with Zip solid?"
I'm unsure how to answer. Zack and I haven't had sex yet. We're waiting until I'm ready to take that step. "It is," I reply.
"Zip's a patient man. He must think you're worth the wait if you haven't had sex yet," Ranger says, making me blush.
"Grandma died six months ago," I reply. "He's helping me deal with the grief. I want to retrieve the missing bits before I take things further."
"Missing bits?" Ranger asks, opening the door of the conference room.
"This isn't a conversation we should have when other people can overhear us. Can we talk in your office or on seven?"
"Do I need to worry about Zip getting jealous?" Ranger teases.
"No. He understands we need to talk," I reply, rolling my eyes. Ranger places a hand on my lower back as he directs me to the elevator. The doors open upon our arrival, and we step inside. He presses the button for the seventh floor. "You look tired and sick."
"Babe," Ranger replies. I glare at him, making him smile. "I barely slept and ate. It will take a few weeks to feel human again."
"I'm sorry," I say. "Are you okay?"
"I will be," he cryptically replies. The elevator opens on the seventh floor. I step from the cart with Ranger on my heels. He presses the button on his fob to unlock his door. I enter his apartment and sit on the couch. Ranger sits beside me and pulls me onto his lap.
"Ranger, I'm dating Zack. We can't do this anymore," I say, attempting to move off his lap.
"Give me a few minutes," he begs. I'm too comfortable to move. His warm embrace relaxes me, and I miss cuddling with him. I notice the difference between his and Zack's embrace. While he can comfort me, Ranger cannot give me more than we have. I'm craving Zack's arms to give me what Ranger's unable to provide. "Thanks," Ranger says once he gets his fill. Ranger's right; we can't have more than whatever we had in the past. That realization makes me feel sorry for Ranger. He's incapable of truly loving another person.
"Zack won't mind us hugging, but cuddling like we did isn't appropriate. It makes me feel like I'm betraying my relationship with Zack," I explain.
"What are the missing bits?" Ranger asks, looking into my eyes. I try lowering my head to stare at my hands, but he uses a finger to keep my eyes on his.
"Whenever we had sex, and you qualified your love as not coming with a ring, but a condom is handy, it chipped away bits of my heart and soul. I was becoming a version of myself that I could barely be proud of or recognize. Then, when I needed a car or money, you loaned me a vehicle and let me work at Rangeman. After someone destroyed the car, we had sex. Eventually, it felt like I was repaying you with my body. I lost more bits of my heart and soul. Somewhere along the way, I lost respect for myself. Maybe I never had it, and that revelation tore away more bits," I reply.
"I'm sorry, Stephanie. I do love you in my way. My soul is too dark to pollute your pure soul. You will always have a place in my heart," Ranger says, placing my palm above his heart. "Whatever you want or need, I will give you. The only thing I can't offer is my heart or details of my past. I worked too hard to keep people, women especially, at a distance. You know more about me than anyone else. I trust you implicitly, but I can't be more than your friend."
"You're telling me everything I already know. I need more in a relationship, and I have to respect your honesty when you say you can't give me your heart. You never lied to me. It was my own stupidity for continuing to hope you would one day wake up and realize I'm the woman you want as your life partner," I say.
"Stephanie, I do love you more than anyone else. That fact will never change. I would never destroy your soul by pretending to be something I'm incapable of becoming. You make me want things I don't deserve. Stephanie, please tell me how to fix what I broke?" His gorgeous eyes are swimming with unshed tears. I didn't mean to hurt him.
"Be my friend. Don't poach or interfere in my relationship with Zack. Before making decisions regarding my safety, discuss the options with Zack and me. I will make an informed decision, and we'll learn to work together when my life's in danger. You are an important person to me. I'm not ashamed to admit I need you in my life," I reply.
"Thank you," Ranger says, surprising me. I look at him in confusion. "I'm glad you're not suggesting I move to Miami."
"Hmmm. If Zack and I relocate, would you come with us?" I joke.
"Babe, just say the word, and I'm there," he laughs. "It will be nice to see Julie more."
"Okay, once we hire the guys to manage the new accounts, Zack and I are requesting transfers to Miami," I reply, mostly serious. Zack's sister, Bonnie, lives in Miami. She feels alone and wants Zack to move to live with her and Tyler. "Have you heard about Lula and Bella's trial?"
"No. I haven't received the reports from Tank," Ranger confesses.
"Why not?" I ask.
"I returned to Trenton today. Lester and Bobby are in the field, and Tank said you were here," Ranger says. I furrow my brows, wondering why Ranger didn't talk to Tank on the way home. "Tank had to take another call. What did Lula and Bella do to get arrested."
"It started when Bella offered to pay Lula for shooting an explosive into my apartment. They didn't know Grandma and Mom had gotten into a fight, so Grandma went to my place to clean and hide. The explosive broke the dining room window, which pierced Grandma's neck and shoulder. Thankfully, she didn't get burned by the blast. She seemed on the road to recovery until a blood clot made her have a stroke and die," I explain.
Ranger's face turns murderous before he slams his blank face in place. I'm unable to look at him while I finish the story by mentioning Vinnie holds Lula and Bella's bonds. Ranger waits until I finish the story before speaking. "Lula is dead," he growls.
"Leave them alone, Ranger. I'm waiting for the women to throw each other under the bus or kill each other. I can work from Rangeman for now."
"Babe."
I exhale and reply, "You're right. I'll go crazy before the trial ends."