A/N - This had a working title of Secret Pleasures, but I changed my mind.
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Nightfall and nighttime in the desert is surprisingly cold. You can actually make ice on a flat dark slab of stone, you let it soak up the sun all day then pour water onto it, when the temperature drops, the thermal differential makes the water freeze fairly fast. The lack of clouds let the heat of the day escape into the night sky.
The millions of stars makes the night sky special. Uncountable tiny chips of ice spread across black velvet. Or maybe diamonds, though one diamond is all I want. Rolling over onto his back, his hours of watch over for the time being the tired man pulls out a small Ipod and threads the single earpiece into his helmet and into an ear he flicks the power lock off and hits play while hiding the faint light in a palm.
fssssssbeep
Are you OK?
First message I ever saved. First person to ever bother wondering if I was OK. The Ramos deal when I was FTA. Not was I innocent, was I OK.
fssssssbeep
a gentle sigh followed with a sleepy g'night
Wonder if she ever noticed that she was the only person with that number ... after I noticed she would call when I was in the wind to hear my outgoing 'Talk!' I started changing my outgoing message to give her more to listen to. Still, nice to think that someone was thinking about me that I didn't owe a paycheck to.
fsssssssssbeep
I had a *great* day - three skips all caught in the morning, nobody rolled me in garbage and I didn't kill my car!
*snicker* Happiness sounds so odd here, almost like my own little cheerleader.
fsssssssssbeep
What an asshole! I was doing admin when I got a call to go to the ER to meet Binky and Walton because a break in threw a chair at them and Walton ended up with stitches and a concussion. So there I am talking to Ruth - I think she has the hots for Lester, she keeps asking about him. I think I need to set them up. Carl and Big Dog are talking to Binky when Asshole storms in already in bitch mode. He has the *nerve* to ask me if you got tired of me and were passing me around like *candy* yet. <frustrated pissed off sigh> I was amazed, Carl shoved him and told him to go away. I got pissed and Big Dog had to take me for coffee. I was yelling at him that you had 3 other companies, and as CEO did have to travel to the other offices, as if it were any of his damned business anyway. <hmf sound.> She sounds pissed. Anyway, be safe and get back soon, I miss you.
I love the way she has all our backs. And she misses me. *Me*
Sighing again, he powers down the Ipod and flips the power lock back on, rolls the earpiece and the Ipod up and tucks it back into the protective case and slides it back into his pocket.
Snuggling into his shelter half, he falls asleep, at peace in his soul.
Can you say will the sun rise tomorrow
Will there be any time left to borrow
Will the poet make a rhyme, will there be any time
Can you say will there be a tomorrow
Seems to me I have been here forever
Will this war ever end, maybe never
Will the dawn still arrive, will I still be alive
Or will I sleep alone here forever
There's someone who I'm sure loves me only
She's the one on my mind when I'm lonely
Does she know, can she see, is she still true to me
Does she know what it's like to be lonely
From the sea comes the sun, dawn is breaking
Soon, the fight for my life I'll be making
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Changes - January
"Thanks for this, we really need you at Rangeman even if it is only part time." Tank pushes her copy of the contract they both signed over his desk to her.
"No problem, low end skips are just not doing it right now. Got to keep Rex in hamster crunchies, right?"
"I thought the little vampire lived on blood," wisecracked Ranger.
Steph whacked him on the arm on her way past. "When do you guys leave? Or if you tell me you have to kill me..."
"In two days, Zip is stepping up and running Rangeman Trenton. Cal is going to be his second in command. Cal is going to be managing your training, he has the medical information from Bobby for your physical training. I think that Hector is going to handle lock picking and other security bypassing, and Ram is handling weapons, and Binky for self defense."
"I wish you didn't have to leave so soon." Steph scooted past Ranger and slid her contract into her messenger bag. She grabbed her utility belt out of the top drawer and put it on. "And I promise, I will really keep my gun loaded and carry it any time I am not at my desk."
Hal popped his head over the cubical wall and added "Am I still going to be her first partner?"
Lester answered "yes, so you also get Granny Duty, so be careful of those fingers!"
Hal groaned.
Lester snickered.
"Guys, I *am* sitting here, and she is my grandmother ..." Steph teased. "Buttheads."
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"Stephanie" shrilled that annoying voice "It's your mother"
"Hello Mom, you don't need to shout, I can hear you just fine," sighed Steph.
"Well you don't need to be so rude about it" she went on.
"How many times do I need to remind you not to shout on the phone then?"
"Well, fine. Did you know your grandmother has been in *Connecticut* gambling?"
"No, just that she and her crewe, as she calls them, had gone to Atlantic City. I have been busy this week and didn't have time for the whole soap opera."
"Now that is just rude..."
"Well, rent needs to be paid, and I need to work to get the money to pay."
"If you would just quit that nasty job and go to work at the tampon factory and marry Joseph you wouldn't have money troubles," her mother spouted the eternal whine.
"Mom, I like my job, and I am not marrying Joe. I don't care what you say."
"Well I never..."
"Obviously you just did. So Grandma Mazur was gambling in Connecticut instead of New Jersey and this is important why?"
"Well, she just came home."
"And?" I really wish she would come to the point, if there was actually a point and no just some random reason to call and whine at me. "What do you want me to do about it *after* she got herself home?"
"Well" she huffed.
"Well what? She is home, I would guess she is safe, you know where she was, so what is left?"
"Fine. Dinner tomorrow at 6 pm."
"OK. So it is Friday dinner as usual. See you then." Hanging up Steph shakes her head and thunks it down on the arm of her sofa.
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Edna Mazur got her heavy blue woolen coat out of the closet and put it on, hung her purse on her arm and eased her way out the front door closing it softly so Helen wouldn't notice she had left. Walking the 2 blocks to her friend Lorraine Zupek's house she enjoyed the crisp morning air. Knocking at Lorraine's door, she winced slightly at the pain it caused the touch of arthritis in her shoulder.
Lorraine opened the door "Hello Edna, I just called the taxi for you, he should be here in a few minutes. I suppose you don't have time for a cup of coffee?" The burg housewife in Lorraine showed in the gracious offer of hospitality.
"No thanks, Lorraine. We can have coffee when I am done. This newfangled phone Stephanie got me for Christmas takes dandy pictures so I can show you the funny indian statues up at that casino in Connecticut, they are the darndest things!" Hearing the short beep of the horn on the cab outside, Edna opened the door and waved at the driver to let him know she was on her way out. "This shouldn't take too long, maybe an hour. I will see you when I get back and we can have coffee!"
I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
and every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time
Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace
I'm going through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time
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Not In A Shy Way
"The lawyer can see you now Mrs Mazur," the receptionist buzzed open the door as Edna moved towards the office door.
"Thanks."
"Mrs Mazur," the young man offered her his hand. "I looked over the paperwork we agreed upon, and everything is exactly as you wanted it. A few signatures, and you will be all set."
They both sit down at a conference table stacked with paper. Shuffling through the first stack he says "This incorporates the company and holds the financial trusts for everybody. You have control until your passing and then full control goes to Miss Plum."
"You better get used to calling her Stephanie, she doesn't like being called Miss Plum," Edna corrected him. Flipping through the first stack, she signs where all the little stickies with arrows point. "Now she won't know anything until you have that private meeting with her right? And we can make my little video tape?"
"I will try and remember, we do tend to be a bit more formal in my business." He moves the stacks around to get to the next stack. "And yes, we have the camera all set and ready to go, though it is all on computers now."
"Well, dang. I liked the idea of a video tape like in that movie ..."
"I don't think there has been a VCR around here for the better part of 10 years," he smothers a small smile. "These are for the building, the one you liked by the park. The architect has signed off on the job, it will be about 3 months of work for everything except the top floor apartment. We understood you wanted to leave it unfinished so she could pick her own floor plan?"
"She hasn't had much luck with her old apartment, it is pretty ugly if you ask me. It has an old orange and brown bathroom! I think she would like something pretty for a change."
"Well, she will have more than enough money to decorate it however she wants. And having income properties is smart, we have the list of management companies willing to work for her. It apparently is not uncommon for building owners to live in their own properties and use management companies so the other residents don't know they are the owner."
"Ha, a stealth owner. I think she would love that idea."
"And here are all the letters for everybody telling them what they got and why. New Jersey law states that if someone is mentioned in a will, and given a bequest they can not contest the will. I imagine that it was to stop people from fighting over the furniture and Grandmother's necklace, that sort of thing."
Edna reads over each letter and signs them. She heaves a sigh. "You know, other than winning part of that lottery, there isn't much to my life. Lots of love, but not a lot of things or money."
"Well, you can say that about most people. We all aren't rich and famous. I think that using your winnings like this is very generous. Everybody you leave behind is getting something, and you are providing something very special for your granddaughter. We will get the formal letter to you in your mail drop so that when you pass your family will know to call my office."
"Thanks, Stephen. I am so glad I could do this for everybody. Sort of like a super secret Santa." Edna sighs again. "So, how do we make my video?"
Stephen gets her set up in front of a small camera wired to a laptop. "And say whatever you like to your granddaughter. Then we watch it and make sure you like it, and save the file to a disc and keep it with your will. When she comes to the office to meet with me, she can watch it in here."
"Ok, lets get cracking!" Facing the camera, Edna chatters along to Steph telling her what she has set up for the whole family, and ended "And always remember to fly, love."
She gets up from the table with a little assistance from the lawyer and heads towards the door. "Can you have the little lady out front call me a cab, please?"
"Certainly Edna. My pleasure. Though I hope not to hear from your family any time soon!" He secretly liked the little fireball of a woman. Sadly he thought she did not look like it would be all that long before he heard from her family.
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way
I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way
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Painted Like the Wings of Butterflies
Steph parks in the side lot - new and contract employee parking. Locking her reasonably new to her CR/V she heads into the building.
Holy fuck, the freaking side lot. When Ranger gets home Diego better go back to Miami, or my foot will be meeting Ranger's ass and he will *not* be enjoying the encounter.
"Hey Nick. Quiet night?" Steph goes through the lobby to the file and mail room and dumps her purse on the desk and grabs her utility belt. Clocking in, she checks the sig and stun gun to make sure they are ready to go, she puts the belt on. "Headed to the range to get the bangy noises over with."
Nick snickers, Steph has improved her shooting to Rangeman minimum standards but still really dislikes her weapon. Clocking out at the Kronos site he fist bumps Steph. "Later Steph. Show those paper men something to fear!"
Nick heads out into the pretty spring day - May this year turned out to be clear and warm, almost beach weather. Steph sighs and heads into the depths of the building to get in her hated but required range time.
Empty spaces - what are we living for
Abandoned places - I guess we know the score
On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for...
Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore
The show must go on,
The show must go on
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on.
Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
I guess I'm learning, I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning, round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free
The show must go on
The show must go on
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on
My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly - my friends
The show must go on
The show must go on
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On - with the show -
I'll top the bill, I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the -
On with the show -
The show must go on..
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It's A Neighborhood Reunion
Steph forces her key into the lock and unlocks her door, shoving it open and rebounding off the edge of the frame on her way in. Dropping her purse on the coffee table, she heads into the kitchen and gets a beer out of the fridge. Back on the couch, she digs her phone out of her purse.
Opening her contact list, she hits Ranger's icon and flops her head back as it connects, "Your dime, my time ..... beep"
Still the same joke, so he is still not back.
Distracted by the irreverent outgoing message, Steph sniffles several times then stutters "R-Ranger, um" and in a panic hits the 'end' icon, and taps the phone on her forehead.
"Dumb, dumb, dumb." She heaves a sigh and hits the icon to reconnect. "It's Grandma, she is gone, and I miss her already. She had a headache and then .... gone. I wish you were here." She stabs the end icon as she dissolves into another bout of crying.
I can't deal with this. Why do I have to be the strong daughter today?
Flipping through her contact list she finds the listing for Stiva's Funeral Parlor and calls "Scooter, Stephanie Plum. Grandma Mazur passed, and we need you to go ahead. I will be there in a few to sign the paperwork to get you started." Listening to Scooters reply, Steph heads into her bedroom. "OK, Scooter. Bye." With a sigh, she rummages in her closet and finds a feminine black business casual pantsuit with a cream blouse ready for the meeting that will be perfect for a mourning outfit.
Mother can't bitch me out about not looking respectful. Heaven help the world if someone isn't wearing black because of a death in the damned family. I wonder if I could get away with my Rangeman cargos and tshirts ...
She shoves her feet into a pair of low business pumps in black, checks her hair - still behaving, and tones down her eyes by removing the smokey look and going for a more natural look in neutrals and bronzes, swipes on 3 coats of mascara and thankfully her shell pink lip stain was muted enough that she didn't have to remove and replace it. Adding a splash of Dolce for strength, she snuck a hand into her shower and grabbed her flask of Bvlgari and used it to wash her hands. Burying her face into her hands she took a deep breath to wrap Ranger around her in her mind, she headed to the kitchen to feed Rex and let him know she was headed back out for a while.
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"So, for Grandma Mazur. I am thinking those lovely Russian Tea Cake shortbread cookies, from almonds or perhaps oatmeal lace cookies. Which do you think she would have prefered?" asked Scooter. They had already gone through her coffin choice, the best viewing room and had agreed to use the picture and clothing she provided.
"I like both, so I can't really decide. Flip a coin?" Steph said tentatively.
"We can have both. She is our only guest this weekend so I have plenty of time for baking. It is going to be strange, not having her here. She was nothing if not an avid attendant at our viewings." Dave added.
"And the stand card asking for donations to the local VA charities instead of flowers?"
"We have the brocheurs that the people have given us to pass out ready. And the picture of her in her wedding dress, beautiful. We aren't from around here so we just knew her in the later years of her life." Scooter said. "So I think that wraps up the details. We will see you Friday afternoon at 5. Family only from 5 until 7, then we will welcome everybody until 9. Saturday 1 until 3, and the funeral at the graveside at 4."
"It sounds good. And don't forget, the spray for under her portrait, and the blanket for the foot of the casket in lavendar to match her track suit accented with the purple Japanese Iris and gold Gerbera Daisies. And no babies breath, she hated babies breath."
"Got it. As annoying as she got, we really will miss her," Scooter and Dave got up with Steph and both came in for a gentle hug. "Go home, get some sleep. We will handle everything for you. Until Friday." The two men walk her to her car, and stand watching as she drives off.
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"I'm back, Rex," she walks to the fridge, opens it and gets a grape, and drops it into the aquarium where her hamster Rex lives. Noticing he didn't immediately scurry out to grab the grape, she taps his soup can. "Rex, wake up. I want to tell you about the cookies..." Her voice trails off as there is no response. Gently she taps him on his furry little butt ... no response. So she gently tilts the soup can to discover .....
In a blind panic, she grabs her phone and makes a call - "Oh Ranger, everyone is dying! <wild sobs> I really could use you right now ...."
Going out in style Dropkick Murphy
I've seen a lot of sights and traveled many miles
Shook a thousand hands and seen my share of smiles
I've caused some great concern and told one too many lies
And now I see the world through these sad, old, jaded eyes
So what if I threw a party and all my friends were there?
Acquaintances, relatives, the girls who never cared
You'll have a host of rowdy hooligans in a big line out the door
Side by side with sister barbara, chief wells and bobby orr
I'd invite the flannigans
Replace the window you smashed out
I'd apologize to sluggo for pissing on his couch
I'll see mrs. mcauliffe and so many others soon
Then I'll say I'm sorry for what I did sleepwalking in her room
You may bury me with an enemy in mount calvary
You can stack me on a pyre and soak me down with whiskey
Roast me to a blackened crisp and throw me in a pile
I could really give a shit - I'm going out in style
You can take my urn to fenway spread my ashes all about
Or you can bring me down to wolly beach and dump the sucker out
Burn me to a rotten crisp and toast me for a while
I could really give a shit - I'm going out in style
You may bury me with an enemy in mount calvary
You can stack me on a pyre and soak me down with whiskey
Roast me to a blackened crisp and throw me in a pile
I could really give a shit - I'm going out in style
You can take my urn to fenway spread my ashes all about
Or you can bring me down to wolly beach and dump the sucker out
Burn me to a rotten crisp and toast me for a while
I could really give a shit - I'm going out in style
You may bury me with an enemy in mount calvary
You can stack me on a pyre and soak me down with whiskey
Roast me to a blackened crisp and throw me in a pile
I could really give a shit - I'm going out in style
Spread all my ashes about
Dump the sucker out
Toast me for a while
I'm going out in style
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
The One They Fix
"Ms Plum .... Stephanie, " Stephen greeted Mrs Mazur's granddaughter at the door to his office. "I am truly sorry for your loss. I only met with your grandmother a few times, but she was really something." He offers her a choice between a comfortable looking loveseat and a wingbacked chair.
"Thanks, I always was her favorite granddaughter, she said I had sparkle. She was the person I ran to whenever I had problems," Steph chose the loveseat, and put her purse down next to her. "She gave me a letter to open when..."
"Yes, I worked with her on her will back in February. She wanted to make sure that nobody in the family could interfere with what she wanted to give you."
"So, it mentions a video? And ..."Steph queries.
"Yes a video on a disc, you can watch it here and take it with you. And unfortunately lots of paperwork ... nothing I can do about the paperwork as we need it to be legal. With your job, you understand needing paperwork."
"So, start with the video or the paperwork? Does it matter which?"
A tap at the door is followed by an assistant bringing in a tray with coffee and pastries, which gets set on the coffee table. Stephen pours two cups of coffee and liberally spikes his with cream and sugar. Stephanie does the same, and lays claim to an apple fritter as there doesn't seem to be any doughnuts.
"Well, I think the video first, the paperwork can be overwhelming and I think that Mrs Mazur hits the highlights fairly well."
"Video it is."
Stephen flips open a laptop and pops open the DVD tray, inserting a disc and popping it back in. Autoplay opens the video:
Edna appears and Steph feels her eyes starting to tear up so she blinks several times to keep them clear.
"Guess I kicked the bucket, hope I was in bed with some hunk! This is for you, Steph - I didn't feel like arguing with that jackass of a son-in-law. God knows why Helen picked him, but he was a handsome fellow in that Army uniform! Makes me glad you ditched the idiot cop and went with the bounty hunter with the great package."
Stephanie snickers at this.
"Helen didn't know, but I won part of one of those lottery things, and got a bunch of money. Stephen here tells me if I make sure everybody has something, they can't force any changes in the will. So, let me tell you what I did for them first. I had Stephen buy out Mable next door and remodeled the house - turned the basement into a playroom with a bathroom for the girls and added a half bath upstairs and it is going to Valerie and the clown. You mother and father are getting a half bath, and an all new kitchen for your mother, and the whole duplex is getting all new heat and air conditioning, central! No more sweating all summer!"
That is actually a fantastic idea! Mabel's house is bigger than where they are renting now, and remodeling both is great.
Edna natters on "All four girls are going to be getting $10,000 when they graduate from high school, and a letter from me telling them to take a summer off to lay in the sun and decide what they *really* want in life. They also have a college fund to help them get where they want to go."
Definitely wonderful. I wish someone had done that for Val and I.
"And you, sweetheart. I bought you a building."
Steph's brain stutters to a stop. She starts abusing the cloth napkin provided with the pastries.
"What," Steph mutters, "a building?"
"I found a lovely old building by the park across from the bond office. It was a showplace back when it was built, and has lots of apartments. Stephen here has a list of companies that will be happy to manage the building so you don't have to do a thing. You have the top floor, and the guys that renovated the place are waiting for you to decide on how you want your apartment to look. I thought after so many years with those old farts you might like a pretty apartment. And you can walk to work!"
Steph breaks down crying, and Stephen pauses the video and hands her a box of tissues. As her crying slows to a stop, she indicates he can unpause the video.
"Steph, I wanted to leave you something special, a choice. Everybody seems to want to tell you what you need to be doing, and nobody but that guy with the good package has ever seemed to listen. Please, try to make it work with him, he seems to really love you. Listen to an old lady, and believe in yourself again. The building, the money. It isn't worth anything if you let people bulldoze you into doing things that are not good for you. If, God forbid, Ranger doesn't come back, or he decides to break up with you, please don't go back to Joe. With the building and money, you won't need anybody else. Keep working for the Weasel, he was good enough to hire you when you needed it. I know you love your job. Do what you want for a change, love. Let yourself fly." Edna looks off camera "Well, Sonny, that's all." and the image freezes then ends.
"So. I have a building, and money, and what?" Steph looks at Stephen as he pops out the DVD and adds it to a stack of paperwork in a folder.
"Well, as Mrs Mazur said. She bought and arranged for trust funds, half a duplex, and a lot of remodeling for your parents, and sister. You don't have to do anything more about that, it is being handled by our Trust department. She arranged the rest of the money to go into two things. First is a bank account in your name with $500 000 that is yours immediately."
Steph chokes on her coffee and sputters "What?!"
"Half a million dollars. Right now for immediate expenses of any sort. Anything you want. Then the rest went to forming a company called Angel Wings. It is also yours, and currently managed jointly with our Trust department and yourself, with yourself of course having controlling interest until you finalize management. Typically a company like this has a lawyer and an accountant and a manger and you tell it what you want to happen. It owns your building so nobody will know who actually owns it. We set it up that way so the nuts your grandmother said keep stalking you will have a more difficult time finding you. All your bills will go to a blind address and the management company pays them. Again, this is common for the so called 'rich and famous' to have a layer of protection from nuts finding them."
"Do tell ..." said a somewhat baffled Stephany. "So how 'rich and famous' am I?" with a touch of morbid curiosity leaking into her voice.
"After the cost of the building, the renovations, with an additional million for finishing your apartment, some fifty million is left in the account."
Steph spittakes her coffee into the cloth napkin provided with the pastries the assistant brought in. "I beg your pardon?!"
"Your Grandmother won a significant amount of money with the lottery. She took it as a lump sum and wanted to invest in *your* future. She provided very nice bequests to your parents and sister's family. She wanted you to have everything else, including 'Big Blue'. Until you pick a management team we will manage the trust for you, paying bills and so forth."
"Wow. Just...wow. And the rest of my family doesn't know anything about this?"
"Not at all. All they know is that my office currently has a very nice lady lawyer that came and is explaining everything that is their portion of the bequests, and you are here separately because you had a batch of paperwork to go through with the executor, which is me. About 20 signatures, a list of phone numbers and we are good for now. I would suggest you call the architect and contractor first so they can get started on your new apartment, and see your family. I might neglect to tell them you ended up with lots of money, though you might say she bought you an apartment and it is being redecorated for you."
"That sounds like a plan. And of course the car. I hate that car. But I can get myself a new car I don't hate." Steph sounds resigned as she leans over the coffee table and starts signing the paperwork. "I will make an appointment for next week to work on things with the trust people. Will you stay as my lawyer?"
"I would be happy to set the appointment for next Friday and will definitley be happy to stay on as your lawyer. Here is my card with all my contact numbers. You might think of taking a few days in Philadelphia or Atlantic City to get away from everything. Dealing with a major change like this is very stressful."
"I think I will, but first I need to see my building, and find a management company and see the contractor and architect. I will see you next Friday. Thanks, this really is a lot to settle in my mind." Steph shakes the lawyers hand and walks out.
You, who are on the road must have a code that you can live by.
And so become yourself because the past is just a good bye.
Teach your children well, their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams, the one they fix, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And you, of the tender years can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth, they seek the truth before they can die.
Teach your parents well, their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams, the one they fix,the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
When The Ocean Met The Sky - One Year Later
Steph sat in the sand at her favorite section of beach at Point Pleasant, coat wrapped around as tightly as possible to keep the cutting wind out. March is not her favorite beach month, but the salt air and sound of the surf calms her soul. Face down on her knees she is finally able to cry out her sadness. A cautious sea gull has wandered over to see if any random food has magically appeared - sometimes these big creatures leave food around.
She heaves a sigh and scrounges in her messenger bag for a tissue and blows her nose. Her phone rings and she pulls it out of her pocket and answers it.
"Steph, this is your mother..."
Just shoot me now and put me out of my misery.
"Yes mom. Now what?"
"Well isn't that just wonderful. Why did you not make it to the funeral today? That was entirely disrespectful..."
"I know mom, and any random Burg girl would have gone to the funeral and not embarrassed her mother."
"Stop taking that tone with me, you are being very rude."
"Mom, I am not going to deal with you today. Unplug the phone, or just stuff it where the sun doesn't shine." She clicked off her cell and shoved it back in her pocket. Getting up she slogged back to her car and headed off on the hour and a half drive back to Trenton.
Reaching home, she intercepted the shaggy golden retriever/yeti cross dog and clipped a leash on him and headed across the street to the dog park to let him have some running time. Twilight was one of her favorite times to let Bob run. Previously she would get off work and head over to Joe's to get Bob to have someone to run with. Now that Joe was gone her twilight runs with Bob made her as much melancholy as glad to see a simple creature having fun.
Sitting in the hospital with Anita off and on for the last three weeks was not so much as a duty as a closure. Sharing stories of life with Joe with his wife and a changing group of Joe's relatives while his life clock slowly ran down made her reflect at all the good and bad decisions that lead them to where they were now. If only Joe had managed to meet Anita three years earlier when she had first graduated the nursing program and found her job at the hospital. If only Joe hadn't considered Steph his ideal woman and flirted with the pretty little red headed nurse. If only they had gotten married, they could have had three good years together. And if wishes were horses beggers would ride as the saying goes. Though Anita asking her if she would like to have Bob back, along with the Joe and Steph photo album his sister had made and Joe had shoved into a cupboard one of the off times in their off and on relationships made Steph sad, she agreed to take them both.
She thought she would throw away most of the pictures and that Bob does enjoy the dog park across the street from her place.
The buzz of her phone ringing in her pocket jolted her out of her trance.
"Hello?"
"Steph, this is Anita. Everything is finally packed and we are leaving in 20 minutes."
"This late at night?"
"I just don't want to stay any longer. Bella is getting all witchy at me, as if I had anything to do with that damned bank robber that shot Joe."
"Bella hates everybody, don't take it personally. I could come over and threaten to shoot her for you ..."
Anita laughed 'Thanks, I would consider taking you up on the offer if I was going to be staying here. My brother thinks that we can make it at least 4 hours before he needs a break. That should get us to Richmond if traffic allows."
"Drive safe, and keep me updated. And Anita..."
"Hm?"
"Thanks for loving Joe, you were his perfect wife."
"Thanks, Steph. You were a good friend to both of us."
"Ocean Breathes Salty" - modest mouse
Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in.
In my head, in my heart, in my soul.
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again.
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Don't think so.
Well that is that and this is this.
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get.
You get away from me. You get away from me.
Collected my belongings and I left the jail.
Well thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell.
I had to think awhile. I had to think awhile.
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul.
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old.
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I hope so.
Well that is that and this is this.
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get.
You get away from me. You get away from me.
Collected my belongings and I left the jail.
Well thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell.
I had to think awhile. I had to think awhile.
Well that is that and this is this.
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed,
when the ocean met the sky.
You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye.
When the earth folded in on itself.
And said "Good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell
are really there, but I wouldn't hold my breath."
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul.
The more we move ahead the more we're stuck in rewind.
Well I don't mind. I don't mind. How the hell could I mind?
Well that is that and this is this.
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get.
You get away from me. You get away from me.
Well that is that and this is this.
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed,
when the ocean met the sky.
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste the afterlife?
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Don't Touch Me! May, one year later
The two men climbed around the outside of the helicopter. The tall blond on top calls down to the other man "Jetzt geht das schon wieder los!" As he starts to climb down he asks "Tankte?" then jumps the rest of the way.
"In Hülle und Fülle" responded the younger man. Turning, he waves at a cluster of people around a pallet of ammo cases. Three of them trot over with their personal duffles.
"Wait just a minute! You can't clutter everything up! We have people..." a young officer in textbook dress uniform flutters. He heads over, with two men draped with cameras following. "General Fobbs will be here any minute!"
Wrath hands her duffle off to a short heavily built man and wanders over to see what is happening. The two men load themselves into the helicopter and the shorter of the pilots starts the engines while the second watches the process from the outside and checks several items off on his clipboard.
"Wrath, we are ready now" Fog yells at the woman. The annoying officer is babbling something about a photo shoot and needing their helicopter and how they can't go until the General lets them ... Fog heads over and shakes his head. Wrath tells the PR flack no.
"Listen, I don't care of General Fobbit needs a picture, this is my helicopter and I have a mission *your* government is paying my team a small fortune for." She pokes the man in the chest hard and he opens his moth to protest further. Fog shakes his head and punches the man and he drops.
"Time to go now." He turns and gets into the helicopter, pulling on his flight helmet and flipping on the comm system. Sliding into his seat, he lets down the clipboard and as soon as they get everybody in he calls the tower and confirms departure.
"Wrath of God flight departing now. Get that idiot off the piste or I will land on him when we return. Fog out."
Song is Terry Hoax, Grasshopper - can't find any lyrics but it is a kicking video of air ops in Afghanistan.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Rise Ghosts of War
Grabbing Les by his arm, Tank flips him up in a fireman's carry and starts running along the ridge with Bobby and Ranger blowing through their last ammunition to get them the time to get to the most beautiful sight in the world, their extraction team.
The Wrath of God hits the insurgents following as the doorgunners add their GAU-21 suppressive fire to the mix. The tail ramp drops and tank hurls Les in and follows with a resounding thud. Bobby and Ranger slam in as the loadmaster hits the button to lift the ramp and the pilot takes off. The sporadic machine gun fire tapers off as they get some height and distance and the door gunners change out the spent cases of ammo with new and slide the doors shut. Bobby resumes working on Les' thigh, digging out more bullet fragments. Tank hands him another liter of saline from the emergency kit bolted to the bulkhead while Ranger vomits and rolls over onto his back.
"Gee, Ranger, and I didn't get you anything."
He looks up at the doorgunner, a slender dainty looking ex-Soviet merc. She passes him a bottle of water and he rinses his mouth and dumps it over his head. "Thanks for the lift. We thought you weren't going to make it."
"We wouldn't have if Fog hadn't punched out the overly officious prick on the flightline holding off our flight. I guess the General is going to be pissed we disturbed his photo op."
"Sucks to be him." He takes her hand and she hauls him up like he was a sack of potatoes. "And this is our last extraction. Going to miss us?"
"Contract finally over?"
"Can't be soon enough. Found someone." He wipes his face with a towel she hands him and walks back to watch Bobby and Tank working on Lester.
Wrath follows him and stands watching the guys working. "So the little white girl waited?. You got lucky."
"You have no idea. I have no idea how it happened. What she sees in me, in all of us I can't explain. I never thought we would survive this shit long enough to get out."
Bobby and Tank heave dual sighs as they finish cleaning up Lester's wound and stand up, each grabbing an arm and a leg and moving him out of the puddle of blood and into a basket stretcher.
The loadmaster hands out bottles of water to everybody, "Tank up. I have electrolite goop if you need it." Bobby and Tank chug their water and toss the bottles towards the trash and head for the seats across from the stretcher mounted on the bulkhead. Wrath hands out flight helmets and they all strap them on. Wrath and Wasp head back to their weapons and check the loading flex-channel and flick out errant dust and sand. Bolt dumps a scoop of absorbant on the blood spill and vomit, and kicks it round. Housekeeping done for now, he grabs a seat and straps in. Ranger heads forward and straps in next to the two doorgunners. The exhausted core team all doze off.
"You know Wrath, General Fobbit's going to turn that into a hot LZ." Wasp shakes his camel pac to see how much is left in it before he takes a deep drink. "His pog is going to whine about Fog."
"Can't do anything about Fog, not in his chain of command, and our handler will deal with it. We had orders to step off at a specific time and those oxy bandits were preventing it. Sucks to be them."
"We are 10 minutes out, wake up the sleeping beauties, their carriage awaits," Fog's voice came over the comm system.
"Ghosts Of War" Slayer
Fate silent warriors sleeping souls will arise.
Once forgotten soldiers come to life.
Fallen mercenary, dormancy is done,
Not content with wars we never won.
Memories can't ignore
Anguish of before
Satisfy the scorn.
Rise ghosts of war.
Target assassinate, time of your life has expired.
Hatred victimize, gaze in their eyes as they die.
Violence inflicting of pain, savage morticians deny
Drive the salt in the wound, arouse the subconscious to lie.
(Memories can't ignore
Anguish of before
Satisfy the scorn.
Rise ghosts of war.)
I deal in pain.
All life I drain.
I dominate.
I seal your fate.
I deal in pain.
All life I drain.
Memories can't ignore,
Rise ghost of war.
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