My muse dug her way out of the snowbank. Thanks for all the hot chocolate and cookies you electronically dropped off. She is such a drama queen.

Thanks Jenn (financebabe). I sent her an email asking for financial clarification as I am not too sure of your tax laws. Hopefully your tomorrows are better than your yesterdays, Jenn.

Thanks Megan (Megz17). I hate how you have used the yellow highlighter as much as you have but truly appreciate the help. I've been told it is better than Red!

Happy first day of spring, everyone.

Oh, and Janet owns all the recognizable characters.

Chapter 1

It was a dark and stormy night (I always wanted to start a story like this!).

Rangeman control was quiet. Shift change had come and gone. The lights were in the dimmed position as per the new protocol. There was confirmed medical evidence that lights at full strength for the day shift and dimmed for evening and night shifts had proven to be easier on the employees when it came to varied shifts and rotations. It seemed such a small thing, but the human body appeared to embrace lighting changes that followed the world outside.

Credit for that new protocol had gone to Stephanie. She had been taking more of an interest in the day to day activities of Rangeman. She had a new attitude. She had progressed from performing searches and distractions only to add assisting with clients and contracts. She was taking university credit courses in criminology and justice and she had nearly completed her certificate in Justice and Crime.

Stephanie no longer worked for Vinnie. She dropped in to see Connie and Lula now and then, but her life was busy. She would combine a visit with picking up Rangeman files. Lula was now taking the low bond files and was doing a good job. She would partner with a Rangeman if something or someone became too difficult. Rangeman still took on the mid to high range files.

Stephanie had moved into Rangeman almost seven months ago. Ranger had been called on a mission and his last request before leaving was that she move onto seven and let her rat trap of an apartment go. They had committed to try a relationship a few months earlier and Stephanie relented and moved in the day he left. Everyone at Rangeman heaved a sigh of relief. She would be better protected there and they did not have to expend manpower staying outside her apartment anymore. They could also work on her fitness and healthy eating levels if she were in the building. Ranger was gone three months. Upon his return he saw the new and improved Stephanie.

She now carried her gun on her hip at all times and had another hidden in the small of her back. She also carried a knife at her ankle. She could run eight miles without effort and no member of Rangeman tried to sneak up on her anymore.

The last man who had tried was still on reduced duty. He was healing from a bruised sternum and a broken foot.

Danny limped to the water fountain. He was overly brash, sometimes immature and acted like the little brother they all had dreaded growing up.

Ranger had taken a chance on him. He had performed very well on his last mission as a member of Ranger's team and he had asked Danny Machocha to consider Rangeman when he got out. Two months after Ranger had returned home, he received a call. Danny wanted out and asked if there was a job for him at Rangeman.

Tank had interviewed him and had given his approval. He was young... very young, but did he ever know his way around electronics! He had already patented and sold his remote control racing boat designs to a major toy manufacturer and his bank account was very healthy with quarterly payments continuing to arrive.

Danny settled back into the chair by the monitoring screens. His eyes glanced from picture to picture. He leaned forward and pressed some keys. One of the four screens on monitor A enlarged to full size. Danny scanned it quickly. He pressed more keys and the four screens re-appeared. The computer then automatically brought up four more accounts.

Junior was sitting at the other bank of monitors. He looked at Danny. Danny shifted in his chair.

"I thought I saw some movement at Riley's Jewellers. It was only the wind whipping the cloth awning. By the time this storm ends, it will be ripped and hanging on the ground. "

Junior nodded. He turned back to his monitors again. Nights like this had the men on monitor duty on edge. Tree limbs could fall on or against buildings and send the sensitive equipment to alarm status instantly. Window panes would flex in the wind and send off false signals. Unfortunately, this was also the time that criminals were the most active. Thinking that nobody would be out in this weather, they mistakenly believed that it was an opportunity not to squander. The vehicle patrols were usually very busy on nights like this.

Two hours left until they would have a break for supper. Ella had just left after refilling the coolers and crock pots with food. The men had smelt the wonderful aromas as Ella pushed her cart past them. They toyed with sneaking into the room after she left for a quick bite. Unfortunately, Ranger and Stephanie had not left the floor yet and they dared not to even think of bringing food to the control room.

Ranger had a sixth sense anytime someone had tried it. You were allowed one warning, which included a visit with him on the mats. A second infraction meant instant dismissal. It was harsh, but everyone knew the rules. Ranger was anal when it came to food near the equipment. He needed the systems up and running and not down due to spilled drinks or particles of food in the keyboards.

Everyone understood the rules, including Stephanie. Her love of food was legendary and not too long ago she had been caught by Ranger eating a peanut butter and olive sandwich as she walked through the control room. He had firmly taken her by the hand and walked into his office. The door closed. The men were curious. Was there a double standard here? Suddenly, they heard a loud noise. Then another, and another. The men looked at each other.

The door opened. Stephanie stepped out. Her face was red. She walked to her cubicle. She carefully sat down and turned on her computer.

Nobody said a word. Five minutes later Ella came into the room. She was holding a small cushion. She took it to Stephanie and gave her the pillow and a hug. She grinned as she left the room. She figured she would be getting a call from Ranger requesting a special meal and dessert for her.

~~~o0o~~~

The time inched along. Junior would check a screen and then relax. They fielded a few nuisance calls to the patrols and continued to watch. The patrols started to trickle in. They would stop for something to eat then head out again.

One alarm rang. Zero and Tiny were in the neighborhood. They were quickly dispatched. Danny watched the outside camera as they pulled up. Two adolescent boys came streaking out of the door and tried to wriggle their way past. Quickly they were subdued and cuffed. One look at Tiny and the youngsters stopped their struggling.

Tiny was every bit as wide as Tank, but he was also almost seven feet tall. Everything about Tiny was large. From his size 15 footwear to his 6XL extra, extra long shirts. Everything had to be specially ordered.

Tiny grabbed both the boys by their cuffs in one massive hand and crab walked them backwards to the Escape. Zero already had the door open and the would-be burglars were quickly buckled in and shackled to the floor in the back seat. The doors closed and the SUV headed for the police station.

Ranger and Stephanie stepped out of his office. She took her laptop and placed it in her cubicle. Ranger strode over to the men. He quickly looked at the screens. He murmured. "Ugly night. Keep your eyes peeled."

Both men nodded. Ranger walked to Stephanie's cubicle. He leaned again the wall. "Ready, Babe?"

She smiled. Standing up, she slipped her small hand into his large and calloused one. She sidled up to him and leaned against his chest. She put her lips to his ear and whispered. Ranger's eyes changed and his breathing hitched.

They headed for the stairs. The stairway door closed. Danny and Junior could hear them racing up the stairs. Suddenly Stephanie shrieked. The men looked at each other.

"He's a lucky bastard."

They both shifted uncomfortably in their chairs.

The control room phone rang. Junior grabbed it first. "Rangeman."

Zero was on the line. "Pull up the camera feed from our vehicle. Is Ranger there?"

Junior grumbled. He hated to disturb Ranger when he left the floor. This better be good. "No, he just went up to seven."

There was silence on the line. Zero could be heard muttering to Tiny. He was trying to decide how important it was. Could it wait until morning?

"I think he will want to see the tape. Do you want me to call him?"

Junior sighed. It was his job. He would do it. He hoped it was as important as Zero inferred. "No, my job, my call."

Zero spoke again. "I don't know whether to take them to Rangeman or TPD."

Junior hung up. He made the call.

Ranger picked up. "Yo."

Junior spoke. "Zero asked me to call you. He wants you to see the camera feed on the two kids we just picked up. They were in Abercrombie's house on Taylor. Zero and Tiny can put them in the holding cells if you want or they can go to the station. Cal's standing by for guard duty."

Ranger pondered. "Send it up to my computer here."

Junior found himself listening to a dial tone.

Zero and Tiny came onto the floor. They both headed to the break room and each filled a plate with stew, salad, carrot and celery sticks and a slice of home made whole wheat bread. They headed for a table and started to eat.

Ranger walked into the break room. He took a cup of black coffee and headed for their table. He sat down. Zero and Tiny kept eating. They only had 20 minutes and then had to take over for Danny and Junior on the monitors so they could eat.

Ranger watched them shovel the food in their mouths. He sipped his coffee and thought about the tape he had just viewed. This could be trouble. He hated that he had lost his gang informant.

Hector was on long term disability. He was on four convalescing. Someone had taken issue with his sexual preference. He had been ambushed and left for dead. His memory was improving but so far all he could remember was being cornered by a group in black wearing hoods. He had put up a good fight but the numbers were too many to escape from. Thankfully he was wearing his personal panic button. Rangeman had found him and got him to the hospital. There was some fear that his work outside Rangeman might be over. He might never again be able to lift heavy objects. There was enough work inside Rangeman that he would never need worry but Hector was fighting the possibility that his active and gang lifestyle might be over.

Rangeman was tracking clues as to who had done the ambush. They were slowly narrowing it down. They hoped to have an answer very soon. Hector's family had been notified but they felt safe in their neighborhood. Just in case, a Rangeman vehicle stayed close by.

~~~o0o~~~

Zero and Tiny leaned back. Ranger put down his coffee cup. He had already warned Danny and Junior they might be delayed a few minutes from getting supper relief.

"I saw the feed. How serious were they? Their attitude seemed like a couple of punks with just a sliver of information."

Zero spoke. "I've picked up these punks before, Ranger. They seem to have glommed onto some information and are trying to save themselves from Juvie time. They didn't cause any damage to Abercrombies."

Ranger nodded and stood up. He pulled out his phone. He pressed a number.

"Tank, I know you're off tonight but I need you to meet me at the holding cells in 20. We might have a situation and I need your special input."

As always, reads and reviews are appreciated.