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Realigning Destiny
By TT

Sometimes chance intervenes in our lives and causes destiny to jump the tracks. When this happens, fate steps in and realigns destiny’s course to bring us to where we need to be. But, as with the course of true love, the road of realignment doesn’t always run smooth.

Part 35 - Tissues

When her tears had finally subsided, a hand appeared in front of her holding a box of tissues.

Without a word, she took several and dried her tears, being sure to wipe under her eyes in case her mascara had run. Fortunately it hadn't.

Tossing the used tissues in the wastebasket, she grabbed a few more and blew her nose before discarding those as well.

Looking up, she offered a wan smile to Bob. “Thanks,” she said softly, resting her head on Ranger's shoulder. “Sorry about this. I guess hearing ... It just hit a little close to home with Charlie.”

“It's OK, Steph,” Bob assured. “I”m sue you can tell I didn't react so well either,” he continued, a rueful smile on his face.

“None of us reacted well, and with good reason,” Ranger inserted.

A moment of silence fell before Bob stood and said, “Well, I'm ready for some dinner. The rest of this can wait.”

“I just need a toothbrush,” Stephanie said, making a face at the sour taste in her mouth.

Bob pulled open a drawer and handed her a new toothbrush emblazoned with the name of the local dentist before leaving.

Resting her head on Ranger for just a moment longer, Stephanie rose from his lap and moved to the sink.

A faint movement behind her caught her attention. Ranger had arisen from the floor and now stood behind her, resting his hands on her hips. She watched as he leaned down and placed a kiss just below her ear.

Her body shivered delightfully from the contact. Obviously pleased by her response, Ranger repeated the kiss with the same result.

It took Stephanie a moment to recall her current task and finish with her teeth.

Once done, she took Ranger by the hand and informed, “I think you'll like the casserole. There's even vegetables in it.”

Ranger responded with a chuckle and an amuse, “Babe”.

When they arrived in the kitchen, Bob had everything already set out for dinner.

They settled in and by unwritten agreement kept discussion light while they ate, laughing over Stephanie's day.

Once they were finished and the dishes were done, they headed back to the front room. Bob settled in a chair and Ranger led Stephanie to a settee where they sat side by side, his arm around her shoulders.

“So, why did you come out?” Bob asked once they were settled.

Stephanie took a moment to gather her thoughts and remember what had started all this for her. “I was talking to Mrs. Loosey and she mentioned that her brother had just gotten a job at the Denver Mint, I thought, if there had been hiring there, it might be something to look at.”

“That's good thinking, Babe,” Ranger encouraged. “But they have really tight security there and their background checks wouldn't allow for anything to pass. There is no way someone working there could be tied to an organization that DiMarco and Campbell are with and not be found out.”

“Oh,” Stephanie replied, deflating. “I didn't know that. But then, the guy who stole the depleted uranium had worked there for twenty years.”

“Different organizations, different checks and regulations,” Bob stated.

Stephanie just nodded. Oddly thankful that Mrs. Loosey's brother would have nothing to worry about from the terrorists. Unless, of course, they still planned on robbing the Mint. Setting aside those thoughts, she asked, “So, what happened that both of you were gone when I got here?”

The men exchanged a look. When Stephanie narrowed her eyes at them and presented her stubborn face, they relented and told her the story.

“I was listening and transcribing the tape you heard. It was the last one I had to transcribe and it was going along well. As I heard them begin to list their targets so casually, I began to lose my temper,” Bob explained. “Ranger had gotten up to make tea for us before I got to that part.”

Ranger interrupted at this point. “I had also gone to check that we were still recording information. With the relay set out like it is, there's always the possibility of it being discovered or of it being damaged.”

“When I reached the part about them listing off their targets,” Bob continued, “I lost my temper. The though of those animals hurting children and families that way was just too much. All I could picture was that day you, Charlie and I went to the museum. How many kids like Charlie, how many families would die if they carried through with that threat?”

Stephanie shuddered. It was precisely those thoughts that had run through her head as well. The thought of losing Charlie was unthinkable. Her eyes drifted to Ranger and she caught him shooting Bob a questioning look. She saw it change to a look of understanding and acceptance.

Puzzled by the fact Ranger didn't have his blank mask in place, she was about to ask him something when Bob continued his narrative.

“I had to find some way to release the rage that the revelation inspired, so I grabbed whatever was nearby and let it fly,” Bob admitted. “I started screaming and cursing. It was all so loud that I couldn't hear the tape anymore.”

“I came running out of the back just in time to dodge a book,” Ranger inserted. “After the papers went flying, I demanded Bob tell me what he'd heard, what had set him off.”

“So I told him,” Bob informed.

“And then I told Bob the bad news – the relay station we'd set up was no longer sending signal. I hadn't had a chance to check how long ago it had gone down, but it had to be a while,” Ranger explained.

“Not knowing what we would face, but knowing we had to check on it, we geared up and headed out, doing our imitation of poachers. I figured if we looked like we were hunters, no one would question our presence too closely,” said Bob. “Since hunters would be unlikely to go out on horse, we set out on foot to reach it. It's a bit of a hike, especially when you're trying to look like you don't have a particular destination in mind.”

That last turn of phrase caught Stephanie's attention and she lost track of what was being said around her. Snuggling a little more into Ranger's embrace and let her eyes become unfocused. She knew if she thought about it too much, whatever her mind was trying to work out would slip away from her.

After a few minutes of letting her mind drift, she gasped and sat up straight. It seemed clear to her now.

“What is it babe?” Ranger asked, knowing she'd thought of something, had some sort of breakthrough.

“I'm not entirely sure of the answer, but with what Bob said about the destination kind of got me thinking and, well, I think we're looking at this wrong,” she babbled.

“What did I say about destinations, Steph?” Bob asked, leaning forward.

“You were telling me about how you and Ranger were walking out trying to look like you had no particular destination in mind,” she informed.

“Babe, that was almost an hour ago,” Ranger told her.

Stephanie glared at him. “So it took me a while to figure out, I never said I was smart,” she pouted.

“Babe,” Ranger soothed, leaning forward and placing a soft kiss on her pouting lips.

Even after all the years they were apart, Stephanie found that she could still interpret his various 'Babe's. This one was an apology with just a hint of amusement and an assurance that he hadn't meant for her to take offense. Since meeting Ranger, she'd always wanted to be able to communication so much with so few words. The best she'd been able to do was her “mom tone” with Charlie.

“So, what did you figure out,” Bob demanded.

Stephanie shook her head and focused on what she'd come to realize. “You said 'no particular destination',” she began. “And then I began to think about just how many 'destinations' they had for their bombs. It really seemed like overkill. And then the way they talked about the fake bombs just sort of made me wonder about what they were doing.”

“They're terrorists, Babe. They're out to create chaos to make their point, to inflict terror on the populous” Ranger replied.

“But that's just it!” Stephanie exclaimed. “They're out to create terror,but they're creating too much chaos.”

“I don't understand,” Bob said.

Stephanie stood and began pacing, trying to focus her thoughts on what she wanted, no, needed to communicate. Blowing out a breath, she tried again. “OK. Let's look at what they've targeted,” she stated. “Museums, hospitals, businesses and a library as well as police and fire stations.”

“All high-profile targets,” Bob stated.

“All targets that would stir the masses,” Ranger added.

“All target they would try to get to in order to disarm the bomb before it went off,”Stephanie pointed out, looking at both men.

“That would tie up everyone and then some,” Bob observed, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling as he tried to work out what was the plan was. It no longer seemed like it was just a simple terrorists act.

“They'd call in all the experts and every available, cop, fireman and government official,” Ranger murmured.

“But why those places?” Bob asked.

“They're looking like they have no particular destination,” Stephanie informed. “I think they're trying too hard to make it look like a terrorist strike, trying too hard to cause chaos. I don't think any of those places are their real target. I think the bombs are just a cover.”

Bob and Ranger stared at her for a few seconds as they absorbed her words before turning to look at each other.

“That makes a whole lot of sense,” Bob murmured.

Ranger nodded his head. “But what's the real target?” he asked.

Stephanie re-took her seat next to Ranger. “That's what we need to figure out.”

“Right,” Bob agreed.

Ranger stood, went to the table and retrieved the map, laying it on the coffee table so they could all see it. “What do we know about what they're targeting?”

“They're all fairly public places that would be crowded,” Bob offered.

“Most if not all are open to the public,” Ranger added.

“But not all of them are in use every day,” Stephanie said, her eyes straying from the Qwest building to the museums. “Some of them are only open or busy on week days, so that would limit when they would actually move.”

“Good catch,” Bob praised.

Ranger smiled, wrapped his arm around Stephanie's shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “That would also limit time of day. Some of these places are only open during business hours.”

“So,” Stephanie summarized, “they're looking to do something on a weekday during business hours, but not at any of these places. I guess that means, our next question is, 'what haven't they targeted'?”

Continued In Part 36: Turning Point

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