Sorry I didn't update sooner. Here's what happened. I actually wanted to write another chapter on Edna's sleuthing. Well, Ranger wasn't pleased about that. He wanted to get some air time (so to speak) as well since everyone else has had some. So he sort of held things hostage. I finally gave in and I was able to write the chapter. Honestly, I think we're all ready for some Ranger action (I'm pretty sure me more than you guys!) and to be honest, I'm actually glad the chapter turned out this way. So thank Ranger!

I just wrote this today, so any errors, I apologize for. I thought you guys waited long enough.

Not mine. I own nothing.


There wasn't much information on the company. They had a simple website that really didn't give anything away. I searched google extensively for hours. Thankfully my daughter and son-in-law were asleep. I knew Helen would blow a gasket if she knew what I was doing. Even if I was trying to find Stephanie a man, she would never approve of my choice. She would only think whomever she chose would be best.

Clearly she didn't know her own daughter.

Sitting back, I sighed. I knew what I was going to do.

Thank god for .

Smiling to myself, I got ready for bed. Tomorrow was a big day.


I always enjoyed owning my own business. I got to be my own boss, set my own hours and delegate all the boring work to my employees.

The only downside was the paperwork.

I'd rather get a root canal. Without Novocain.

But here I sit, filling out reports and signing time cards, contemplating the gun in my drawer.

"Come in," I grunted, not taking my eyes off of the paper in front of me. If I did, it would multiply.

Lester came in and sat down. I looked at him for a minute and saw his broad grin. My cousin was up to something. He had dark skin like me and his green eyes from his mother were twinkling. Today, thankfully, he was wearing the appropriate Rangeman uniform of black cargoes and black t-shirt. When he's running late, sometimes he just grabs whatever's closest.

He'll never live down the Jimmy Buffet shirt.

"Your two o'clock appointment is here."

"I don't have any appointments today."

"Well you do now. Binkie set it up."

"Remind me to fire him."

"Dude, come on, he's new. He didn't know."

"If he can't follow orders. And don't call me dude."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine, I approved it."

I looked up. "Fine. I'll fire you too."

"Boy you're grouchy today."

I didn't answer. "Get rid of it."

"Fine. But she'll be very disappointed."

At the pronoun, my head perked up. I sensed a distraction. I would do anything to stop doing paperwork. Unfortunately, my cousin knew that too. "She?"

He grinned. "Mm."

"Hot?"

"Sure."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Come on, you look like you're going to kill everyone in this office. Take the meeting. Hey, she might change your life."

I thought about what he said. "Fine. Bring her in."

"Good choice." Lester said as got up. "You'll be pleased."

My stomach dropped when I heard Lester's boisterous laugh outside my door.

Shit. What have I done?

Five minutes later, Lester came back in with the woman behind him. She was a short, skinny woman who looked between the age of eighty and two hundred. Her hair was curled close to her head and shined silver off the florescent lights. Lester led her in and she sat down in the chair directly across from me.

That was when I saw her piercing blue eyes. It felt like she could see right through me.

She smiled at me and muttered something that sounded like 'yep, he'll do'.

"Thank you, young man." She said, smiling at Lester.

"Oh, it was my pleasure." Lester was grinning back at her. "Have fun." He said to me.

I was going to kill him.

"So, what can I do for you…?"

"Edna Mazur. But you can call me Edna."

"Sure. What can I do for you Edna?"

"Now, now. I gave you my name. What's yours?"

"Ranger Manoso."

"Your mother named you Ranger?"

"Ricardo Carlos. My friends call me Carlos."

"Carlos. I like that. I'm going to call you that."

I opened my mouth to tell her that I preferred Ranger, but she looked like a woman who wasn't told no very often. "Sure."

"So Carlos, I have a granddaughter in need of your services."

"Okay. Where is she?"

"At work."

I raised my eyebrow. "Shouldn't she be here?"

"Stephanie, that's my granddaughter, just opened her own store. She doesn't have time to think of things like this. I think she needs a security system."

"On the store or her residence?"

"Both. With the economy the way it is, I'm worried that she will be taken advantage of. I'd rather she was protected than watch her become another victim." She started rifling through her purse and pulled out a picture. "This is Stephanie."

I politely took the picture and looked at the woman. She was smiling widely at whatever the woman next to her was saying. She wasn't an exotic beauty, but there was something very appealing about her. Stephanie had curly chestnut hair, a straight nose and a full mouth.

As well as the same piercing blue eyes that sat in front of me.

My normal type of woman is the typical male style: blond and big boobs. Stephanie had brown hair and average, but perky breasts. Her hips flared nicely to give her good curves. Porcelain white skin that looked soft to the touch.

She wasn't my type at all.

Yet, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I looked back at Edna and saw her smiling at me. "She owns the store Pretty Lacy Things that just opened on Broad. It's not in a bad part of town, but I would feel better if she had some protection. And she's renting a house in Hamilton Township."

I nodded. I'd be doing a background check as soon as she left. We talked about security packages and she asked good questions. I could tell she had done her homework.

"I appreciate your time, Carlos." She said when we had agreed on a package shook my hand.

"We'll get started as soon as we can."

"Good. Now, remember, it's for her birthday, so I would like it to be a surprise."

I nodded. "We'll be discreet. Please, let me walk you out."

"Why thank you."

I led her to the elevator and thanked her again. When the doors opened, Binkie was inside looking pale.

"Sir." He said, coming out and stood next to me.

"Wait in my office."

"Yes sir."

Edna was staring at me. "They fear you."

"Fear is good."

"They also respect you. Each person we passed nodded at you. If they didn't respect you, they wouldn't do that."

I nodded. "Respect is good too."

"You're a good boss and a good man. Don't forget that."

"I won't."

We shook hands once more and then she was gone.

I went back to my office. Binkie was standing in front of my desk. He had brown hair cut in a marine buzz and his brown eyes were staring straight ahead. "At ease." I said, pointing to the chair.

He sat. "Sir."

"I'm not going to fire you."

He relaxed. "Thank you."

"I won't fire you this time. It happens again, you will be. I need to know that you can follow orders."

"Yes sir."

"Good. Dismissed."

He scurried out of my office. Lester came back in.

"You didn't fire him."

"No. How did you know?"

"Usually when you fire people, they pee their pants."

It was true. I could be intimidating.

"Well? What did she want?"

"To set up a security system for her granddaughter. She owns a lingerie store."

"Sweet. She hot?"

Hot wasn't the word I'd call her. Beautiful or gorgeous would be closer. Sexy. I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Not even a hint?"

"Nope."

"Dude. That's harsh."

"Dude. Get over it. And get out. I have work."

"Does this mean I'm not fire either?"

"Unfortunately."

"Awesome. Later."

He headed towards the door. "Wait," I said.

"What?"

"I have a new client to search."

"Cool. Name?"

I shook my head and crossed the room to him. "I said I have a new client to search. You," I plopped the heavy stack of paperwork into his arms. "Have paperwork to finish."

"Not cool."

"Consider it punishment."

"Got it." He nodded and left.

I smiled at my clean desk. That was quick and painless. I started towards my computer, but stopped.

The picture of Stephanie was lying on the floor.

Edna must have left it.

I smiled, put it in the top drawer and started the search program. I entered her name.

I had too much work to do to run after Edna, but I felt that this wasn't the last time I'd see her. I knew I'd get it back to her.

Eventually.