Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum 13)

“Don't start,” I said to him.

“Do you need a doctor?”

“I need a shower.”

His eyebrows raised ever so slightly.

“No,” I said.

I limped into the bathroom and whimpered when I saw my reflection in the mirror. I closed the door and dropped my clothes onto the floor. Lucky for me, the weather was still cool, and I'd been wearing a heavy sweatshirt and jeans. The clothes had saved most of my skin from the broken glass. I washed away the grime and a lot of the blood. I slapped some Band-Aids over the deeper gashes, got dressed in clean clothes, and went out to face Ranger.

“You got home early,” I said.

“I had to fly charter. Couldn't get on a commercial plane with my man.”

“How did you know I wasn't visiting my mom?”

Stephanie Plum 13 - Lean Mean Thirteen

“Your visits are never that long. Hal got suspicious and called your cell and talked to your grandmother.” “I wanted to take a look at the warehouse, and I was afraid I'd be followed by a RangeMan caravan.”

He didn't say anything to that. If you didn't know Ranger, you would think he looked relaxed in the chair, one long leg extended, one bent at the knee, arms on the upholstered armrests. If you knew him at all, you would be extremely wary.

I sat across from him, on the couch, easing myself down. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes for a moment, struggling with composure, not wanting to burst into tears in front of Ranger. I opened my eyes and blew out a sigh because he was still there, watching me.

“I assume you burned the warehouse down,” Ranger finally said.

“It wasn't my bad. I think someone set a bomb, and I got caught.”

“Anyone else in there?”

"A dead guy. He was sitting behind a desk on the second floor. Looked like he'd been toasted with a flamethrower. I only know flamethrowers from movies and the six o'clock news, but that's what it looked like to me. The body was burned beyond recognition. It was awful. Both Dickie and Smullen are missing. I suppose it could have been one of them. No way to know for sure.

“I was leaving when the building caught. I was in the stairwell. Something went phunnnnf and then there was fire everywhere. I had to go back up to the office and jump out the window. That's the short version.”

“Did anyone see you there?”

“No one we need to worry about.”

“You should pass this on to Morelli so they know to look for the body.”

“I'll pass it on, but trust me, there's no body left.”

“What kind of shape are you in?” Ranger asked. “Are you functioning? We've still got Stewart Hansen on ice

at RangeMan. You can bring him in now, and no one will associate you with the cannabis farmhouse fire.”

“He won't tell anyone?”

“I don't think he'll remember,” Ranger said. “And if he does say something, I doubt anyone will believe him. We've been keeping him very happy.”

“Do you have him drugged?”

“Quality weed, Ella's cooking, and nonstop television on a fifty-inch plasma.” Ranger stood and pulled me to my feet. “Would you rather do this tomorrow?”

“No. I'll be okay.”

“You don't look okay. You've got blood soaking through your jeans.”