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Chapter 48: The Next Round
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Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 49: Cold Realization
Chapter 49: Cold RealizationMichael eased out of bed, pausing to slip into his jeans before he headed to the living room to refill their empty glasses. "Be right back," he said over his shoulder.Maggie grinned and rolled onto her back, gazing up at the modern silver chandelier hanging over the bed. Unbelievable. After all this time… Of course, he's leaving tomorrow. She grimaced slightly. He'll be in the Maldives for two weeks. With Vivian. She sighed deeply, wondering if she remembered exactly which one was Vivian. They were all fairly interchangeable. Stop analyzing it. Just enjoy the moment. We're adults here. She could hear him putting ice in the glasses. The cold clink of ice cubes was replaced by the ringing of the doorbell. Frowning, she glanced at the bedside clock and saw that it was 11:30. Then she heard voices."What are you doing here?" she heard Michael ask. "It's nearly midnight.""You called me, remember?" replied a female voice."That was hours ago.
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 50: Michael's Holiday
Chapter 50: Michael's HolidayVOLUME 2: RUNNING ROGUEMichael Rannigan reclined on a chaise on the private deck of the over-water bungalow and watched as Vivian snorkeled a few yards away. He reclined. But he didn't relax. He had too much on his mind. Memories of his last night in New York before he left for vacation swirled through his thoughts. Initially, he'd worked to downplay it in his own mind. It's no big deal. I fuck around all the time. Maggie's just another piece of ass. Deep down, he knew better.Vivian disrupted his thoughts as she tossed her snorkel gear onto the deck before climbing up and stretching out on the chaise beside him. "God, that water's great!" she said, smoothing back her soaked blonde hair. "You really should try it."Michael smiled his best self-deprecating grin, grateful for the mirrored Ray-Ban aviators that shielded his eyes from view. "I will. I'm just relaxing now, soaking up the rays."Vivian frowned at him skeptically. "We've been here
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 51: So Now What?
Chapter 51: So Now What?The following day, Michael left his sanctuary to relax on the beach. He chose a chaise far down the beach and away from the other sunbathers. Thoughts of Maggie still swirled through his mind like dry leaves in a brisk fall breeze. I can just go about my business like nothing out of the ordinary happened. I'm sure she's not spending time obsessing over it. He shook his head. That wasn't true. He knew Maggie well enough to know that she was bound to be thinking it over, considering how best to handle the situation. Besides, she'd been upset when she left, thanks to Gwen. She'd been in such a hurry, she'd forgotten her bracelet on the bathroom counter. After Maggie left, he'd asked Gwen to leave and eventually had to threaten to call security before she would go. She'd had some choice words for him, too. It was stupid to call Gwen anyway. I'd gone through all my usual dates and couldn't find anyone. Better no date than Gwen.He'd tried to call M
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 52: Words You Can't Take Back
Chapter 52: Words You Can't Take BackHer last day at Murphy, Rannigan was harder than Maggie had imagined. There was a surprise going-away party that afternoon in the conference room and she'd had to fight back tears. She knew she'd miss her colleagues on the 50th floor. She was grateful that Michael was still away. I don't think I could deal with him as well. After the cake was cut, she slipped back to her office to pack up her personal things. She looked lovingly at each photo as she put it into the small box she'd pilfered from the supply closet. She had very good memories from her time here. Mostly. The thought of Jean-Luc LeRoi caused her to wince. Well, no more of that kind of thing. On Friday afternoon, Michael took the elevator to the 50th floor. He'd ended his vacation a couple of days early. Two weeks is really too long to be gone, he reflected. He figured he'd check up on what had happened in his absence then join the gang at Docs. He had Maggie's bracelet
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 53: Uneasy Peace
Chapter 53: Uneasy PeaceMaggie padded into the kitchen in her favorite faded jeans and an old black Green Day t-shirt. She poured herself a glass of wine and returned to the living room to click on the television. When her door buzzed, she peeked out the window, thinking that Ben and Nate had come over despite her protests. Instead, Michael stood on the front steps looking up at her. "Shit!" she hissed. Her finger wavered over the button. "What do you want, Michael?""I need to talk to you for a minute. Can I come up?"Maggie hesitated. "No. I'll meet you outside." She slipped into her flip-flops and went downstairs. When she opened the door, she saw that Michael had brought the box from her office. She stepped outside and let the door close behind her."Great shirt," Michael said uneasily.She crossed her arms protectively. "Why are you here?""You left your things," he shrugged. "I wanted to bring them to you. And apologize. I was an ass." He handed her the box. M
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 54: The New Normal
Chapter 54: The New NormalMaggie was early for her first day with the District Attorney's office. The commute is shorter, she observed. That was one good thing. She met with Rance for about half an hour as he discussed her responsibilities, then he showed her to her office. It was one of several off the main space, a small square room with three bare cinder block walls painted beige. There was a tiny window positioned high on the outer wall. The fourth wall featured the door and was made of glass, affording a view of rows of beige cubicles in the center of a large room. A small metal desk was positioned under the window. Maggie noted that it was dented; looking around she saw that part of the beige rubber baseboard was missing and there was a snag in the beige industrial carpet.Rance watched her taking it all in. "I guess it's not what you're used to over at Murphy, Rannigan."Maggie forced a smile. "It's fine, just fine. I'll just…it will be great," she said around the
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 55: Gift Exchange
Chapter 55: Gift ExchangeOn Saturday morning, Maggie's phone rang. Cautiously, she looked at the screen. Karen. She frowned a bit. "Hello?""Hi, doll, how are you?" Karen said cheerfully. "Meet me for coffee."Half an hour later, she entered the coffee shop Karen had indicated. The two women hugged each other, and Maggie slipped onto a seat across from her old friend, who smiled winningly. "So how was your first week in your new place?" Karen asked.Maggie thought of her new office with its lackluster beige everything. She smiled deliberately. "Oh, you know, it's an adjustment, but it's going well. How are things…" she trailed off.Karen looked down for a moment. "Well, Michael's a mess."Maggie frowned. "What do you mean, a mess?""I mean, he pretty much locked himself in his office all week." Karen looked at her intently, lowering her voice. "And when he wasn't in his office, he was in yours.""What?" Maggie shook her head. "What was he doing?"Karen shrugged. "When I
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 56: A Familiar Client
Chapter 56: A Familiar ClientThe New Year took off quickly with Michael's caseload piling up. Which, I suppose, is better than the alternative, he thought. Amy made for an efficient second. She was thorough and attentive to detail. But she was also about as much fun to talk to as a bowl of lukewarm oatmeal. Plus, she was married, hurrying home to the hubby every evening. She was no Maggie.He thought about Maggie from time to time, and heard through the grapevine that she was doing very well working for Rance. According to those in the know, she won the majority of her cases, a fact that didn't actually surprise him. He hadn't talked to her since Christmas, but he glimpsed her occasionally at the courthouse. Her red hair always made her stand out from the crowd.Michael's personal life carried on in usual form. Obviously, Gwen was off his list and Vivian wasn't returning his calls. But he'd added a new blonde or two to his collection, and he never had to wonder whether or n
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Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 131: Epilogue
Chapter 131: EpilogueIt was a crisp fall day as the new black Range Rover made its way carefully through the narrow lanes, coming to a stop at the base of a hill. The deep cerulean sky was accented by the vibrant scarlets, pumpkins, and golds of autumn leaves. Bobby shifted into 'Park' and looked over at Maggie.She chewed her lip anxiously. "I won't be long.""Take your time, cher." He smiled at her reassuringly. "We're not in any hurry."Maggie sighed deeply and unfastened her seat belt. She stepped out of the car and opened the door to the backseat, leaning in to retrieve a small bundle before closing the door again. "I won't be long," she repeated.Bobby watched as she carefully picked her way up the hill. "Daddy, can I go, too?" Savannah chirped from the back seat."No, June bug, let Mommy have a minute. Then we'll go to the country. Are you ready to pick some apples?""Yes! Apples!" she responded, and she began to sing a song about picking apples.At nearly the crest
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 130: So Typically Michael
Chapter 130: So Typically MichaelBrian smiled warmly as he welcomed Maggie and Bobby into his office. "I'm happy to have you here," he said, "I only wish it were under different circumstances."Maggie nodded mutely as she took in her surroundings. The law offices of Brian Murphy & Associates occupied a converted three-story building on W. 79th. The building had once been residential. The outer walls were exposed brick, and Maggie found that along with wood accents and details, everything worked together to create a comfortable, relaxed feel. Brian himself was casually dressed in khaki slacks and a white button-down shirt topped by a forest green V-neck cardigan. "This is a nice place," she murmured thoughtfully.Brian gave her a curious look and smiled again. "Well, it's not Murphy, Rannigan, but I think I actually like it better. We don't stand on formality around here. We're a small firm, and we like to think of ourselves as the friendly neighborhood lawyers. You know, whe
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 129: Heartbroken
Chapter 129: HeartbrokenSean Michael Rannigan was buried on a cold morning in late March. The frozen ground was bare of snow, but flurries swirled through the air on a biting breeze. Maggie found the grey day fitting for a funeral. As she watched the assortment of mourners gathered around the grave, her thoughts went back four days earlier to the day Michael had died.There had been a blur of activity. Rosalie had made the necessary calls to the necessary parties. Attendants from the funeral home had come and discreetly ushered his body away. Maggie had been disconsolate. Bobby had held her until she'd run out of tears.By the time they'd left to pick up Savannah from school, the apartment had been restored to normal, the medical equipment packed up and hauled away. Maggie had sensed the emptiness of the place and insisted that they pack up their things and return to her apartment.She'd forced a smile when Savannah came running up to the two of them in front of the school. "
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 128: Michael's Journey
Chapter 128: Michael's JourneyMaggie clasped and unclasped her hands as she sat anxiously beside the hospital bed in Michael's bedroom. Michael lay propped up against a mountain of pillows, his grey t-shirt showing above the crisp white cotton blanket that covered the rest of him. He'd insisted that the bed be placed beside the window and the drapes be left open so he could look out over the city. He drifted off now and again, but he seemed determined to be awake.It had been a rough night. Maggie and Bobby, along with the overnight nurse, had tag-teamed sitting up with Michael, who had alternated between sleeping fitfully and waking to spells of deep coughing and ragged wheezing.Bobby went to shower and get Savannah ready for school while Maggie and Michael watched the sun come up over the city. The colors were extraordinary, washing the sky in shades of pink, orange, purple, and blue. Maggie couldn't recall the last time she'd watched the sunrise. Michael watched the scene a
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 127: Michael's Family By Choice
Chapter 127: Michael's Family By ChoiceSavannah's clear blue eyes were huge as Bobby introduced her to Michael. "Savannah, you remember Mr. Michael. We met him at the airport that time. He's invited us to stay here with him for a while until we find our own house."When the doctor had released Michael from the hospital, he'd given him a timeline of a few weeks. Maggie had approached Michael, asking if she and Bobby could bring Savannah and stay with him for a while, and Michael had balked. "I don't want a bunch of people waiting around for me to die."She'd convinced him that he'd be doing them a favor, buying them time to find the right place. The truth was, she couldn't bear to think of being all the way in the East Village when he might need her.Now, the little girl regarded Michael solemnly, taking in his gaunt appearance, his grey sunken cheeks and his eyes with their dark circles. Her little brow wrinkled. "What's wrong with your face?" she asked."Savannah!" Bobby excl
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 126: Familymoon
Chapter 126: FamilymoonMaggie sat up on her beach blanket and hugged her knees, wriggling her toes and burying them in the cooler sand below the surface. Further down the beach, Bobby dutifully carried a small pink plastic pail as Savannah gathered shells. Maggie gazed past them to the sailboat anchored a few hundred yards offshore. It was their home for the week, and they'd sailed it to remote coves and empty beaches, relishing the quiet and the opportunity to bond as a family. Her gaze returned to Bobby and his daughter, and she smiled contentedly. It wasn't conventional, but it was just right.As if he felt her eyes on him, Bobby turned and smiled knowingly. He bent and said something to Savannah who looked to Maggie and waved. Maggie smiled and waved back as the pair returned to where she sat, Savannah scampering along while Bobby strolled purposefully, dropping his tall frame to the empty space beside her on the blanket."You've worn me out, June bug. Let me sit here by M
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 125: Michael, Back in the Saddle
Chapter 125: Michael, Back in the SaddleMichael sat back in his chair at the large oak conference table and relished the feeling of being in control. It had been too long since he'd done real casework. He'd forgotten how it felt, the rush of knowing that he held all the right cards. His charcoal grey suit hung a little loose due to the weight he'd lost, but he still knew how to project a confident presence. Figuring it would negatively impact his intimidation factor, he'd left his oxygen in the rental car.Bobby sat quietly beside him, tension radiating from his body. Michael had thoroughly prepped him. "Don't say anything. If they speak to you, look at me. Above all, don't let them bait you."Across the table, Deanna, in her white blouse and navy-blue knee-length skirt with her honey blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, looked more the sad abandoned single mother than the scheming opportunistic gold-digger that she was. Her gaze flitted nervously between Michael and Bobb
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 124: Custody Issues
Chapter 124: Custody IssuesThe deceptively bright sun and cloudless blue sky seemed at odds with the brisk cold day. But it made for a perfect afternoon spent skating at Wellman Rink in Central Park. Savannah squealed in delight as she struggled along on her ice skates. She was in no real danger of falling, safely tucked between her father and Maggie who each held a hand. She looked up, and Maggie could see the child's pink cheeks and sparkling eyes. "Are you having fun?" she asked the little girl."Yeah! This is awesome!"Bobby looked at Maggie over his daughter's head and winked, smiling. He was beyond grateful to Maggie for taking the unscheduled visit in stride. She'd even taken off work on Friday afternoon so that she could stay with Savannah when he'd had to leave for the studio. He'd arrived home late that night to find the little girl fast asleep in a makeshift tent constructed out of a blanket draped over a card table. "We decided to pretend we were camping," Mag
Rannigan's Redemption Chapter 123: Engaged
Chapter 123: EngagedBobby's eyes twinkled with mischief. "How's that?"Illuminated only by the handful of candles scattered about the room, Maggie pulled against the restraints that bound her wrists to the bars of her iron headboard and giggled softly. "It's fine.""No, you're fine," he murmured as his hand lightly traced along the side of her body. He continued down her leg to bind first one ankle then the other to the corners of the bed. He stood at the end gazing over her nude body spread out before him, candlelight bathing her skin in a soft glow. "Aiee, cher, how did I get so lucky?"Slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, he removed his shirt, jeans, and boxer briefs. His impressive erection stood at attention. "Where do I even start?" he whispered, and she giggled again.Bobby crawled onto the bed between her open legs, moving up over her body until he reached her face. Leaning down, he kissed her deeply. "Oh, Bobby," she whispered against his lips.He lightly nipped down t
