Standard Disclaimer applies. Janet owns them…I don't. I'm not making any money, nor do I wish to. This story takes place in alternate universe. Characters are changed for better or for worse.

A huge thank you to my editor, Carmen!

Chapter 2

I extended my hand to him and said, "Stephanie Plum. To you…as your partner…you can call me Stephanie." I added, "It's nice to meet you, Ranger."

His warm hand gently held mine. A hint of laughter sparkled in his eyes. Lord, was this man gorgeous or what? Ranger wore black cargo pants, a black painted on tee-shirt, and a pair of black Ranger boots. I had many identical outfits. Hell, every Army Ranger has multiple identical outfits.

I had been in the Army Ranger's a few years back. I loved every second of it. The adrenaline rush can only compare to a few things. And one of those things, I was sure the man standing in front of me could give me. He looked to have a Latin background, his almost black hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck, and his muscles had muscles. Wow.

No, Stephanie, I told myself, you wouldn't give yourself up to a man, would you? After everything you stand for? After everything you've promised? You'd just blow it all away for a great night? And how would you know it was great…you have nothing to compare it with! It could be lousy and you wouldn't even know it.

Well, the other side argued, I could tell somewhat, I'm sure. The other part of me shut up.

I looked at the man standing in my doorway. It was about ninety degrees outside and my door was wide open. "Come in," I ordered him. "You're letting all the cool air out."

We sat on my couch, Lucy in my lap, and talked.

"So Simmons sent you here?" I asked.

"Yeah."

I had some stranger in my house, and he was claiming my boss sent him here. I took the phone from its cradle next to the couch and dialed.

"Simmons."

"It's Plum," I told him.

"What do you want?"

"There's some strange man sitting on my couch."

"You're a trained Special Forces Army Ranger. You don't need me to babysit you. You want him gone…you fucking take care of it yourself."

"He's telling me you sent him. Care to explain."

"Oh, yeah. His name's Manoso."

"Yes, we've introduced ourselves. I'm a trained Special Forces Army Ranger…I can take care of myself. Why the hell is he here?"

"You have a mission. More info is at the office in LA…go there to pick it up." And he hung up. Damn.

♫

I watched as she folded her phone back and put it in her pocket. "Am I cleared or do I need to go through a few more checks?"

"Whatever." She glanced at the clock. "Shit. Peanut butter and jelly?" she asked me. "I have to leave in fifteen minutes."

She got up and headed toward the kitchen, taking out Jif peanut butter, blackberry jam, and bread. She made two double-decker sandwiches and one normal, handing a double-decker to me and the normal to the ape. Stephanie poured three glasses of milk and we sat at the kitchen table, eating sandwiches.

Suddenly she jumped up from the table, "Gotta go. Come on."

"Where?"

"Work."

"Where do you work?"

"Where don't I work?" What the hell was that supposed to mean, then she added, "Come on, you can come along."

Guess I was about to find out…

We loaded into her Jeep Liberty, the chimp in the back seat, and she pulled out of her driveway, her neighborhood, her town. An hour and forty-five minutes later, she slowed the car down from ninety-five miles-per-hour and pulled off the highway, pulling into UCLA parking lot.

"Student?" I questioned.

"Professor," she corrected. On what, special forces?

French hall, parking lot, for teachers. Keys out of the ignition, chimp out of the back seat, heading for the door.

"What do you teach here?" Another question on my part.

"A symphonic band and a concert band. We meet twice a week for two hours. I'll get cha outta here by six o'clock. If you want, there's a lounge down the hall, where you can sit; or you can act like you teach here and fall asleep. Your choice."

She flounced into the building. Symphonic bands and concert bands? She looked more like she'd be on stage singing heavy medal. I found another tattoo on her left, back shoulder. Strength; written in funky, black lettering; about two inches by six inches. An odd, slight bulge on her very flat stomach showed she probably had her naval pieced as well; although, it didn't look like the normal naval piercing. Following from behind, I noticed an awesome ass. It was rounded. Not exactly fitting with the very small body of hers, but still looked beyond good.

She hit a button for the elevator, we stepped inside, and she hit floor three.

♫

As we headed back to my car, I got to thinking. You know, sometimes I love my job. I get to teach college band. I love music. I love directing. I love the sound of a good symphony.

Sometimes, like today, I couldn't stand my job. Students don't listen. Students don't shut up. Students don't play with good tone.

Ranger sat in the front of the room, watching. Either that or he can sleep with his eyes open. I sorta resent that he got to see the bad side of my teaching. (Me stopping every five measures and yelling.) I mean when the music says to play piano play piano. When the music says play forte play forte. I don't get what's so hard about that!

I swung the Jeep Liberty onto the roadway and glanced at Ranger. "You know," I said, "I'm not usually that mean of a professor."

"You mentioned other jobs. What else do you do?"

"Other than various government jobs?" He nodded before I went on. "I give private lessons on piano and flute."

"Damn, it must be hell having a frigid teacher going one-on-one."

I felt my face flame up. "Did you not hear me? I said I wasn't usually that mean!"

"What government jobs do you do?"

"I believe it's my turn to ask a question…What do you do, other than government contractor?"

"I own a business. RangeMan LLC," said Ranger.

"You own RangeMan?" I sounded incredulous, even to myself.

"Yeah. You've heard of it out here on the west coast?"

"First, I used to live in Trenton. Second, you have a huge reputation in our world."

"In our world?"

"The world of independent contractors for the government. Ex-Special Forces Army Rangers."

"I see. Now answer my questions."

"I help train contractors. I work with them when it's their first time out. Their second time, their on their own."

"Damn. We were on our own our first time. The feds really want us safe, huh?"

"They do the newbies."

I rolled into the parking lot. The building looked like any other and was almost so unnoticeable, most people didn't see it. There was no sign or anything marking what it was, just a mailbox out front with a street address on it.

Ranger and I spotted it immediately. We headed to the fifth floor where we'd find the assignment administration and the main secretary. Her name marker on her desk identified her as Laura Coe. She was wearing a wedding ring.

"Uh-hem, Mrs. Coe? My name's Stephanie Plum and this is my partner Carlos Manoso. Gerald Simmons sent us here to pick up some information."

"Oh, yes. He called. Here is your plane reservation information; it will pick you up at the San Diego Airport tomorrow morning at nine-thirty. You'll meet your team mates on the plane. You'll be working with a Robert Brown, Lester Santos, and a Richard Lovejoy; Mr. Manoso, I believe you already know them. Also with a Paul Plum and a Bree Ret."

"Plum, any relation to you? I know who he is." Ranger asked. Great. Paul's going to be on our team. I just love this. Bree Ret, on the other hand, had been a friend of mine for quite a while. I was excited about working with her again, and knowing I wasn't the only girl going.

"My brother," I mumbled an answer.