All the characters belong to the world of JE, all mistakes are mine. You've probably heard that somewhere before...
Ranger and I sat in his office, talking to our contract worker before he left Rangeman for the last time. No, we're not shipping him off in a box to a third world country, although I think Carlos would probably like that. Actually, I can't even think of him being a contract worker for Rangeman without laughing.
It all started ten months ago. Ranger, Tank, and I were called to the Mayor's office for a meeting. Mayor Juniak is my godfather, so I've known him forever. We were shown into his office. He shook hands with Ranger and Tank, and gave me a hug, asking me how my father was. Finally he got down to business.
"I asked you here today because I'm about to ask you for one of the biggest favors of my life. We've got intel on one of the mob families in Trenton, and we could bust the entire family in one operation. The problem is that I've got to get a man on the inside without anyone knowing he's a plant. That includes the people in my office and the TPD. The only people who will know are myself, you three, and the chief of police."
Ranger played it cool. "How can Rangeman assist you, Mayor?"
"Please, call me Joe. I have an officer in mind for the operation. He's been undercover before, has a tenuous connection to the mob already, and is basically ideal for this situation. What we are going to do is ruin his reputation in the department and fire him. Once it appears that he has hit rock bottom, I would like you to hire him and keep him in a low level position, one that would make him appear to be resentful of your help. I believe that he will be approached by the family because of his background and connections. If they approach him, I don't think they'll see it as the setup it is."
I still didn't see why Rangeman needed to be involved, other than the fact that we've always helped the TPD and the Mayor in the past. Before I could voice this opinion, Mayor Juniak continued. "If Rangeman agrees to help us, you'll basically get a free employee until he works his way into the family. The TPD will cover all his costs. I'm not kidding when I say I want him to have visibly lousy jobs and a good reason to complain. If this goes the way I would like it to, both the Chief of Police and the Mayor's office will owe Rangeman favors."
I was starting to get an idea of what the mayor was thinking. There's only one police officer I know who fit all the requirements of this job and would see working at Rangeman as being in the seventh circle of hell. The mayor stood and walked to another door. I can't really say that I was surprised when Joe Morelli walked in. It was an operation tailor made for him. He's Italian, he's been undercover, he was Uncle Sunny's godson, he's still connected to Terri Gilman both literally and figuratively, and he really would have to be at the lowest point in his life to take a job at Rangeman. Not that Rangeman would hire him. In fact, I don't think he'd even be able to pass the physical fitness requirements, but I know for a fact that Ranger would laugh for a week if Joe's resume ever did cross his desk.
Joe and Mayor Juniak outlined the plan for us over the course of the next hour. Before he agreed, Ranger asked for a few minutes to allow us to discuss it amongst ourselves. Once he and Joe left, Ranger looked at me. "Babe, if you think it would be uncomfortable working with Joe at Rangeman, we won't do this."
I was finally able to let out the laugh I had been holding in ever since Joe walked in the door. "Miss the opportunity to make Joe my bitch? Are you kidding me?"