Some Babe, some Ranger, some Merry Men, but mostly Tank. If some other characters seem familiar, I have borrowed them from here, FF with gratitude to other JE fans. Of course, Ranger, et. al. belong to JE.
Chapter One: New Client
The taxi stopped in front of the non description seven story building on Haywood Street. The rear passenger door opened and impossibly long well toned calfs and ankles atop Four inch red heel pumps swung to the street. The man on the 5th floor monitoring security cameras whispered, "Look at those legs!" The man sitting to his right leaned slightly and said, "Can't wait to see the rest."
The legs' companions soon emerged. Long lean body and clothed in caramel colored pencil skirt suit, ivory silk blouse, red silk neck scarf. Her complexion was caramel and her short dark brown hair reflected the morning sunlight. She rolled her shoulders and slowly moved her head from right to left partially to relax her body 6'2" body not counting the four inch heels, from the cramped cab but also to examine the building in front of her.
"Day and night cameras, motion sensors, proximity sensors, two security light systems, reinforced garage entry gate, and what's this...hidden security spikes in the pavement? Nice," she whispered. reinforced glass. Tucking her red leather portfolio under her left arm, she walked confidently and gracefully to the front entry.
"Yipes," the second man at the monitors whispered. "No wonder Ranger is in his business suit."
"Bobby is in a suit as well, he must be backup today. Lucky him." Both men went back to monitoring their security screens.
The small brass plate beside the front door simply read, "Rangeman". The exclusive security company shunned public attention. The woman pressed the door intercom. The bodiless baritone voice spoke, "Yes?"
"I'm Jennifer Jenkins from JJ Enterprise. I have a 10 am appointment with Mr. Carlos Manoso."
"Yes ma'am, you are expected. Ma'am our sensors indicate you are armed. Is that correct?"
"Yes, I have a handgun and a concealed carry permit."
"Ma'am you will have to surrender your weapon at the front desk."
"I understand."
The door lock buzzed and the woman strode in. Behind the desk sat a man with a military hair cut. He was dressed in black polo shirt showing an impressive set of pectorals and arms. Another man, 6'3" tall, close buzzed blond hair, blue eyes, muscles extending up his neck also wearing black polo shirt and cargo pants came through the side door, "Ma'am, Please place your weapon on the desk. "
Slowly she reached behind and pulled the Kimber from her back holster, released the magazine extracted the bullet from the chamber and set all three on the table.
"Thank you for safing your weapon."
She nodded and watched as the gentleman gathered her handgun, magazine and cartridge, place them into a lockable box and carry it through a side door.
As her weapon was carried away, another door opened. A six foot tall medium dark skin gentleman dressed in dark suit, white shirt, and dark grey tie emerged, "Mrs. Jenkins, I am Bobby Brown. We will keep your property secure until you are ready to leave. Mr. Manoso has been informed of your arrival, please follow me."
As she was led through the heavy security door and down the hall she couldn't help but notice Bobby Brown also appeared to be in excellent shape. This bode well for Rangeman, at least they were physically fit. Bobby paused, opened a door and stood aside as she walked into the conference room. Her expert eye quickly assessed the room; the windows were thick, probably bullet proof and covered with a security film. The 72 inch rectangular walnut table in the middle of the room hosted just six large black leather chairs. The 72 inch flat screen television dominated one side wall while the other held nondescript art. On the fourth wall, the entry wall was a walnut console.
Moving toward the console Bobby asked, "Mrs. Jenkins may I get you a cup of coffee, tea or water? " Indicating all three would be available at the console.
"I'm fine Mr. Brown, thank you."
At that moment the door opened and Ranger entered, "Mrs. Jenkins, I'm Carlos Manoso."
As he stepped forward to shake hands he was taken aback by her height, "In those shoes she is as tall as Tank, but better looking, a lot better looking," he mused to himself. He shook her hand and was taken by her strength. He looked directly into her eyes, dark, like his own. He sensed shrewdness, determination, past hurt, and for a moment, something familiar.
She tried to size up Mr. Carlos Manoso in his black Armani suit perfectly tailored to fit his very fit physique, black silk shirt and patterned tie gave him a "dangerous, don't mess with me" appearance. She looked into his eyes and saw confidence, emotional control, and for a moment something familiar. Had they met before?
"Mr. Manoso, thank you for seeing me."
Ranger pulled out the chair and noted her brief glance towards the seat at the end. "She's used to the power seat," he thought.
She gracefully lowered herself into the chair, the jacket front opening just a bit to expose a very trim womanly body. Her jacket shoulders were not enhanced with shoulder pads, this was a woman who worked out, a lot.
As Ranger moved to the head of the table, he unbuttoned his own suit jacket, unconsciously held his tie against his own rock hard abs and sat. " Mrs. Jenkins, Mr. Brown will be sitting in our discussion today."
She nodded her consent as Bobby sat across from her, at Ranger's right hand.
Ranger began, "Mrs. Jenkins, you were referred to Rangeman by Congressman Junniack, is that correct?"
"In a business conversation with the Congressman, I mentioned increasing security issues at JJ Enterprise. Construction sites vandalism is not uncommon but ours is getting out of hand. "
Ranger nodded that she should continue.
"Initially it was materials and smaller equipment being stolen, construction trailers tagged but in the last 2 months our larger equipment is being vandalized or destroyed, and office electronics stolen. "
"Do you have security at the sites?" Range asked.
"Of course, but they have had little success in stopping the problem. It doesn't take much time to disable engines, punch holes in hydraulic lines, cut cables."
Bobby interjected, "What are the police doing?"
She dismissively said, "They respond after the incidents and write reports for our insurance companies. They have indicated they have increased patrols around our sites, but the problems continue. We need to to stop the vandalism, now." The last sentence was quite emphatic.
"How long has this been going on, Mrs. Jenkins?"
"Mr. Manoso, I inherited JJ Enterprise two years ago. At that time the vandalism problem was quite within norms for construction sites. But eighteen months ago the incidents began. They have increased gradually to where we are now being vandalized at least once a week at the job sites and equipment yards. Now we must make frequent repairs which is putting us behind schedule and we are getting dangerously close to falling behind in our contracts incurring stiff penalties. This is in addition to our rapidly rising insurance rates. As if this wasn't enough, I am now being harassed and vandalized. I can't help but think the two are related."
"Please explain ma'am," Bobby asked..
"Five or six months ago my own property became target. My cars and truck have had gas lines punctured, tires slashed, windows broken, paint thrown on and in the vehicles. My home's front wall has been tagged and the gate rammed, but it held. Six weeks ago the phone calls began, voice is scrambled, electronic."
"Do you have copies of those calls?'
"Yes, sir."
"Do the calls threaten you personally?"
"Initially they didn't, more like questioning how my sexual parts make me qualified to run the business. Now they have grown to threaten to release personal information about my deceased in-laws, my late husband and me. The last few calls threatened me and my family. Mr. Manoso my only living relative is my father in Washington DC."
Ranger remained passive as he asked, "Is there blackmail material?"
"Every family has skeletons in the closet except with the Jenkins' it is not a closet but a warehouse. I'll be blunt as you will discover, my deceased father in law was a first class SOB. If you'll excuse my language, he was a ruthless businessman with no scruples who he screwed either sexually or through business dealings as many people as possible. My mother in law was self absorbed bitch who collected fine art, jewelry and lovers. My husband was their heir, raised in absentia but overly indulged. He was an honest and brilliant business man with plans to diversify JJ Enterprise. He was also a homosexual. Our marriage, though consummated for my employment and inheritance sake, was only a contract between him and me. He gained a female wife for appearance and social obligations and I gained employment at JJ Enterprise."
"Please explain "employment and inheritance sake, Mrs Jenkins." Ranger asked.
"Due to personal problems, I had a very difficult time getting a job after business school. Jared and I were friends, not sexual friends, but very close friends. The marriage was consummated for legality sake only. Jerald felt his parents would try to ...screw me over...legally if something happened to him. I was not the type woman they had envisioned for Jerald; I'm not white enough and at the time I had some physical problems. Mr. Manoso I am not a gold digger. I was looking for a job and have worked and still work very hard for JJ Enterprise. I took entry level positions to completely learn the business even though I was qualified for something higher."
Mrs. Jenkins, I'd like to get back to your personal security issues. Have there been other incidents beside the threatening phone calls and vandalism?" Bobby asked.
"This may have no bearing, about a month ago I was assaulted in the parking lot of La Scala restaurant. I don't know if it had anything to do with the business or me. Maybe it is an anomaly."
Both men raised their eyebrows, "Were you injured Mrs. Jenkins?" Bobby asked.
"No, " she said as she shook her head slowly. "Years ago I was nearly killed in a personal assault. I spent three days on life support and have the "trach" scar to prove it" as she pulled her red neck scarf to the side.
She paused and took a deep breath, " Twelves days in a coma and 18 months in rehab. As a result I took self defense classes and have continued to study Tai Chi, Tai Kwando, and Karate. In the attack at La Scala I deflected the man's arm holding a pipe, smashed his wind pipe, family jewels, right knee and then ran like hell. The police said they'd watch the hospitals for anyone with appropriate injuries. Since then I've received a concealed carry permit and now carry. "
"I'm surprised you received the concealed gun permit," Ranger quipped. "You are not law enforcement, security or involved in an at risk occupation."
"I've got connections, Mr. Manoso."
"Do you body carry or purse carry?" noting she only had a red portfolio.
I body carry a Kimber Ultra Carry II but when a back waist holster isn't possible with an evening gown, I find a baby Glock, a 43, fits my evening hand bags.
Ranger continuing the banter, "Why not a Glock 37?" Thinking of his own personal weapon and weapon of choice for most Rangemen.
"It would be my first choice but does't fit well on my back with my wardrobe. If worn under the shoulder, it rubs my breasts. I'd have to wear it strapped to my thigh and I already scare the beegeezus out of most of my subcontractors. I don't think showing up as John Wayne would help. "
Ranger appreciated her humor. Turing serious he asked, "If you carry you have to be prepared to pull the trigger. Can you do that?"
"I remember eighteen months of pain in rehab. And more time in speech therapy and physical training. Yes, I can pull the trigger. Religiously I should say no, but I figure with heart filled confession and a lot of spiritual healing I pray God would be merciful."
"You Catholic?" Bobby asked.
"Greek Orthodox."
"St. George Church?" Bobby asked thinking about the local Greek Orthodox Church and one of their security clients.
"Yes."
Ranger cut in, "You mentioned the police are taking reports, have the police assigned a detective to your assault?"
"Why bother? If you read the police report you'll learn the assailant 6 feet tall, maybe an inch taller. Big, 250 pounds but mostly soft. His clothes were older jeans, dirty or dusty, ski mask, dark hoodie so I couldn't see his hair, gloves, brown work boots with the same dust. Very little skin, maybe around the eyes, light skin eyes hazel, not green or brown. I had no way to identify him. The pipe was not found. As far as the police are concerned I was probably tipsy from too much Chianti and mistook a proposition for an assault."
Did the assailant say anything?
"Not before the attack but I did hear a lot of swearing and "bitch" at some point. I didn't stay to converse."
While Bobby and Ranger were lost in thought, trying to grasp the scope of the problem and whether they had the resources to cover construction sites, equipment yards, main office, Mrs. Jenkins home, and possible personal protection when away from home, for example at church, she spoke,
" Mr. Manoso, I realize this is not the time to bring this up, but coming in today I noticed your security features: daylight and IR cameras, fixed and pivotal lights, these ain't frag windows," waving her hand toward the window. "The driveway deterrence features such as the enhanced parking garage gate and of course the nifty front drive retractable spikes are suitable low key features. You detected my weapon before I entered the building. Impressive. Then there are the interior amenities such as the anti frag wall coatings, crash doors, cameras, sensors and no doubt other detection and deterrence features I've not yet spotted. "
"Most people don't see those, how did you?" grumbled Ranger.
"Sir, in addition to having an MBA from Georgetown, I am also have an MBA in architect with a 2 year internship in Germany on designing ultra secure buildings."
Ranger's face remained calm but inside he hoped she was leading to something he had dreamed about for years.
"Mr. Manoso, These days no person, no building is immune from attack. Security should not be an afterthought or a line item easily vetoed by budget constraints, but a requirement from the conceptual stage. If Rangeman is what Congressman Junniack hinted it may be, JJ Enterprise and Rangeman may be doing more work together, providing you can solve my current problems."
"This building was, is, my first attempt in total building security. Perhaps someday I will give you an in depth tour, but first we need to solve your more immediate problems."
Reaching into the red portfolio Mrs. Jenkins continued, "And as you asked, here is a list of all employees of JJ Enterprise. Included is the background checks our current security has done. I don't know how much more you can find."
"We are more thorough."
"Thorough the enough to find the keys I lost last month?" lightening the mood.
"Do you want them back when we find them? "Ranger didn't smile but Bobby caught the "when."
"No," she chuckled, "Keep them. They are no longer of consequence."
"I hope they were not to your house or vehicles," Ranger countered.
"I'm not that careless Mr. Manoso, plus I use remotes, touch pads or card swipes."
"I'm surprised you don't use retinal scanners," he replied.
She smiled, "Smart aleck."
As the meeting ended, the three stood. She extended her hand to Ranger and said, "Mr. Manoso I look forward to hearing from you soon."
"Ma'am, please call me Ranger."
"As in Lone Ranger or Army Ranger?"
"Army ma'am."
Ranger noted she did not reciprocate the informal name exchange.
As Bobby opened and held the door for Jennifer and Ranger he said, "Ma'am, I will get your weapon and bring it to you in the lobby."
Ranger led her through the heavy blast door into the lobby, "May I walk you to your car?"
"I came by cab. I vary my travel methods. Saves on tire and window replacement. "
Ranger scowled and said, " I'll drive you myself."
Ranger watched as she deftly slid the spare cartridge into the magazine, slid the magazine into the Kimber, chambered a round, set the safety then slid the Kimber behind her back. He thought, "Woman Warrior."