Unable to let it go, Ranger reviews the intel from Rodriguez and Hector. He can't find a link between Stephanie and the boy. Stephanie's name isn't on the birth registry. Several boys were born within a month of Giuseppe. Without a precise date with the birth mother's name, Ranger can't determine which boy is Stephanie's baby. He knows Giuseppe is indeed Stephanie's son, but he can't prove his findings with birth records.
A name jumps off the screen: Aileen Celest Lummi. It looks like an anagram of Stephanie Michelle Plum with a few letters missing. Ranger checks the birth record. The woman's weight is slightly more than Stephanie's last weight. He reads through her medical file and stops short. Stephanie is attending Douglass-Rutgers in Newark during the time Giuseppe's mother is in the psychiatric ward of Chicago Hospital. Ranger dismisses the woman. It can't be Stephanie since being in two places simultaneously is impossible. He keeps searching for the other women's names. His attention keeps returning to Aileen Lummi.
Ranger sends a message to Hector and Rodriguez to ask about Stephanie's education. He can't leave Aileen Lummi alone. Maybe someone will know if Stephanie attended college in person. It isn't something people could fake. Stephanie didn't belong to a sorority, which would have been an easier way to track her. The only way to get the answers is to question instructors or previous students in the Business Administration program.
"If Stephanie has a child, why didn't she tell me?" Ranger asks himself. "Stephanie knows about Julie and never judged me for allowing Ron to adopt her. Is this why she accepted my decision?"
He rubs a hand down his face. Ranger saves the results and shuts down his laptop, hoping tomorrow will bring him the answers. Sleep doesn't come easy. Ranger is too worried about Stephanie and her son to sleep for more than a few hours. He never thought Stephanie's past was worse than his. Did Stephanie leave Trenton to save her son or keep everyone else safe? Ranger needs to find Stephanie to get that answer.
Stephanie senses Ranger knows the truth and is unable to substantiate it with the intel he has from the others. "Mom, is something wrong?" Giuseppe asks.
"Ranger knows but has no proof," Stephanie sadly replies. "He's going to do something stupid."
"Diesel, when do we land?" Carl asks.
Diesel walks to the cockpit without answering to ask the pilot if the Miami control tower approved their request and change of flight plan. He returns several minutes later and says, "We can fly to Nassau, The Bahamas."
"Thank you," Stephanie says. She takes a deep breath and dials the secured number for her grandfather. He answers on the third ring. "Hi, Grandpa."
"Have you heard about Giuseppe?" Franco asks.
"Yes, and you need to call off the police," Stephanie replies. "He's with me. Wolfram is after us. We're heading to Nassau, The Bahamas. This madness has to end soon. It's the only way to protect everyone else."
"Does Giuseppe understand the danger he's in?" Franco asks, hoping his granddaughter at least told Giuseppe about his biological father.
"He understands the danger, but I haven't got around to explaining why his life is in danger," Stephanie confesses. She feels Giuseppe watching her and turns to face him. "I have to tell him because he deserves to know the truth."
"I'll explain the situation to Federico," Franco promises. "Take care of Giuseppe. Protect him with your life."
"That's the plan," Stephanie sadly says. "If I don't make it through this mess, please know I love you and Grandma. I couldn't have protected my son without your help."
"Don't be so negative, Steph. You have a chance to live through everything," he reminds her. Stephanie feels encountering Wolfram will be the end of her life. She feels it in her soul. Ranger will have to learn to survive without her. Julie needs Ranger in her life.
"I'm not being negative, Grandpa. I'm being realistic. I have a minimal chance of making it through the encounter alive," Stephanie explains. She's trying to get her grandfather to understand what the higher power tells her.
"Why don't you ask Ranger and the others to help?" Franco suggests. "They can offer you more protection."
"Grandpa, you know that isn't true. You've seen my abilities when I get out of control," Stephanie warns. "I can't maintain control when the Merry Men breathe down my neck. Diesel and Carl are with me. We can handle everything without civilian assistance."
"Did Diesel return them?" Franco asks for confirmation. Stephanie rolls her eyes and thinks he's only asking to figure out what to expect. Her powers will draw Wolfram directly to her location.
"Yes," Stephanie replies. "He had to give them back. It was the only way to solve the subliminal messages haunting my dreams and return my abilities to draw Wolfram into the open. I needed my abilities to find and protect Giuseppe."
"And you're positive he's safe with you?" Franco asks.
"Yes, Grandpa. Giuseppe is safe with me."
"I love you, Steph," Franco says.
"I love you, too, Grandpa," Stephanie whispers. She wipes the tears off her cheeks and ends the call.
Giuseppe waits several minutes for Stephanie to gain control over her emotions. He senses the truth in what she told Franco Plum. "Mom, could fighting Wolfram cause your death?" Giuseppe quietly asks.
Stephanie wipes her nose and cheeks with the tissues from her pocket. "Yes. I can't risk Wolfram getting his hands on you. I should tell you about Wolfram Braun, your biological father," Stephanie replies.
She tells Giuseppe everything from the beginning, relying on Diesel and Carl to fill in the gaps. Giuseppe's face pales as he realizes how much his mother gave up on keeping him alive. It's nearly unbelievable. The story is beyond anything his imagination could create. "I never would have looked for you if I knew," Giuseppe says after Stephanie finishes the story.
"Wolfram would still come after you," Stephanie says. "You need my help to stay alive. I can't guarantee you will live through the encounter, but I will give my life to ensure you have a future."
"Thank you," Giuseppe replies. "It must have been tough to let your grandfather take me away. Did you want to give me up for adoption?"
Stephanie nods. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep you. The Unmentionable Committee would have taken your powers and ended your life. I don't regret my decision. My grandfather knew how to keep you safe. I trusted him to allow you to live and fight for survival. I'm sorry our reunion had to happen this way."
"But I could still die, right?" he quietly asks.
"Not while I'm protecting you. Giuseppe, you have to let me take control when it's time," Stephanie replies.
"What does that mean?" he asks.
"You possess the ability to take other Unmentionables' abilities. When the time comes, I need you to give me yours," Stephanie answers.
"Wouldn't that kill me?" he asks.
Diesel replies, "No. It will make you ordinary."
"That's okay with me if it means stopping Wolfram Braun from hurting more women and killing his children," Giuseppe says. Stephanie hugs her son, who is braver than her.