Disclaimer: Janet owns the characters. I am only borrowing them for awhile.
The Investigation
Ranger and his men sighed as they pulled into the garage of Rangeman. It has been a tough mission and they were all tired.
Hal met them at the elevator and shook all of their hands. He looked as tired as they felt and they knew he was moving heaven and earth to figure what the devil had happened to Stephanie.
Ranger slid his gear out of the SUV and barked, "Report!." Hal had a file in his hand and handed it to him. As they all piled into the elevator, Hal gave an abbreviated report on the thick file in Rangers hand.
Ranger looked at his three buddies and said, "Get some rest. We meet in Conference Room Three in five hours. I need you sharp and ready to go." Tank, Lester and Bobby nodded and got off the elevator on four and shuffled to their apartment doors with their gear.
Hal and Ranger continued up to five. The elevator door opened and a chorus of "Welcome Back Boss" echoed off the walls. Thanking everyone, Ranger and Hal stepped into his office and closed the door. Ranger sat down heavily in his chair and started to read the file. Hal stood at parade rest and waited patiently. After quickly reading the file, Ranger looked at him. "Ok, I know what the file says, what else have you got?" came the growl.
Knowing that this was not the time to play mind games, Hal started in on his verbal report. "It just smelled like such a set-up, Ranger. Gaspick was not even supposed to be in that area of town. A number of the cops have contacted me and they think something is fishy too. As you know, Picky is not a popular cop downtown. A couple of the guys, Eddie and Big Dog thought he was targeting Bomber and making life a bit rough for her while you were away. They cannot prove anything, but he was bothering her when she brought in skips, or if he saw her at Pino's. "
Hal shrugged his shoulders and added. "I cannot figure out why Stephanie phoned Orr. As I understand from Lula and Connie, she thought that it would only be a fine so she didn't even consider calling me for advice. Imagine all our disbelief when we find out that she was sentenced to 12 months!"
Hal continued. "Joe has been a real prick to Stephanie as well. Those two broke up a couple of days after you left and I hear it was pretty bad. Most of the police station had a front row view of that screaming match. She had come in with Marty Brown who was FTA on a shoplifting charge and he had tossed her around a bit. Joe took exception to her appearance and the fight was on. Zero and Woody were there with Tyler Wozniak who was FTA on armed robbery. They said it was loud and ugly and from all accounts it looks like Stephanie and Joe are permanently done. The Burg grapevine almost had to shut down that day on information overload. It got so bad that Grandma Mazur and Grandma Bella were verbally having it out in Giovanni's and had to be escorted out of the store. Bella was threatening everyone with 'Giving them the eye', and Edna was flinging out Gypsy curses. I hear that Joe took some vacation time and he has been out of town. He took the dog but I didn't pursue where he might be."
Ranger rubbed the stubble on his chin and tossed the file on the desk.
Hal spoke softly, "Why not get a few hours of sleep too, Ranger. I can hold down the fort here. Nothing important going on right now and the accounts are quiet. I can ask Mr. Plum to meet with you later. He has his whole cabbie and lodge buddies out sniffing for information. He is irate and wants to help."
Ranger looked at him. "Thanks Hal. I'll be back in time for the meeting." Standing up tiredly, he moved to the door. Looking back at Hal, he said softly, "How is she really doing in there?"
Hal hesitated before choosing his words carefully. "She's coping as best she can. She has had some incidents and a few coordinated attacks, but you know Steph. She makes friends easily and for some reason, a bunch of the inmates have rallied to protect her. I think she is safe for the time being. I don't know for how long, but right now, she said she is handling it. Connie can only go on the weekends to see her. Lula has actually stood up to her fears of anything law enforcement to visit once. Her mom and dad go when they can. Grandma Mazur has been banned from returning. She made such a ruckus, she was escorted out which really upset the Bomber and she had to be dragged back to her cell."
Ranger having had a shower and a short nap was waiting in the conference room as the core team consisting of Tank, Lester, Bobby, Hal, Cal, Hector and Woody wandered in. They seated themselves around the table and looked at the file folder in front of them. Ella wheeled in a cart filled with coffee, sandwiches and fruit. Bobby stood up to help her unload the feast. "Thanks Ella," he said. "It was a tossup between sleep and food and today sleep won. " He hugged Ella and whispered in her ear, "We'll get her back!" She nodded and quickly left the room.
Ranger stood up and spoke. "Gentleman, this is the complete file as we have it. Hal has called in anyone who he could possibly think of and there are so many ears on the ground right now, we should be hearing something soon. He is under the impression that Stephanie was set up and is in some danger in prison. Mr. Plum has requested to meet with us and we will be expecting him shortly. He thinks he has some information we might be able to use."
Just then, there was a knock on the door and Vince peeked in to announce that Mr. Plum had just arrived in the garage. Ranger asked that he be escorted immediately to the room and Vince nodded. Scarcely two minutes later, there was another knock and Mr. Plum stood at the open door. Ranger rose from his chair and met Frank at the door, holding out his hand.
After handshakes and introductions all around the table, Frank sat at a chair indicated to him and started to speak. "I am glad you are back. This has been such a nightmare for my family. I have no proof yet but I am certain that Stephanie was set up and there are multiple persons involved. My cabbie friends and also my lodge friends have been hearing some loose lips around town saying that it is not just Gaspick involved but Orr and possibly the judge too. We have no information on the reason for this, or the sources of the information, but there is talk."
The men sitting around the table were well trained but this was the Bomber they were dealing with and nothing would be overlooked in their search for the truth. After questioning Frank some more, he excused himself and prepared to leave. Tank stood up and went to Frank. He towered over Frank by at least a foot. His voice, usually so strong and authoritive, almost whispered. "Rest assured Mr Plum, we will get to the bottom of this and figure out what pond scum needs to be removed."
Frank looked up at the big man and nodded. Lester also rose to his feet . "We will make sure that the truth comes out. Nobody wants to see her in there a minute longer than she had to be." Bobby piped up. "Bomber is strong mentally and physically. While she is looking after herself, we will be getting to the bottom of this."
Comforted by all the words of encouragement, Frank made his way out the door. Vince was standing outside waiting to escort him back to his cab in the garage.
~~~o0o~~~
Edna Mazur may have been banned from seeing her baby granddaughter but that did not mean she was sitting around. She also had her ears to the ground and, enlisting the ladies at the Cut 'n Curl. By God, they were going to help too.
First they targeted Officer Gaspick. He was one of the most disliked policemen on the force and nobody trusted him for a minute.
One of the ladies knew his family and set out to glean some information from them. She played bridge with his mother every Tuesday at the Club and managed to ensure sure she was at her table the next session.
Another customer lived near his grandmother and started to take her sheltie for walks past her house every day. They both took great pride in their flower gardens and short conversations sprang up about flowers and gardening practices.
Yet another group took responsibility for targeting Dickie Orr and his family. The Orr family was very wealthy . They were very good Corporate citizens and volunteered their time and money for many pet charities. This was the height of high society get togethers and there were many functions to obtain any information.
A third group targeted the judge. Judge Mary Werrick was in her early 50's, and very young for her elevated position. This group struck paydirt right away.
It seems she had stepped on a number of toes along the way. There was even the odd rumor that she would be moved to another district and lose her coveted first judge booking schedule if she could not hold on with an iron first. Her cases were being scrutinized for overly harsh sentences and many in the legal community thought that Stephanie's trial had been unfairly tried.
The fact that Dickie Orr had not appeared to help his client to the best of his ability leant some credence to the rumor that there might be something kinky going on between Judge Mary and Dickie.
~~~o0o~~~
Frank woke up to his cellphone ringing late at night.
Helen stirred in her sleep and Frank reassured her that it was one of his customers asking for a morning pick up. He took the phone and went into the hall to talk. It was a night cabbie and he had overheard a conversation that he thought might be important. Frank looked at his watch. It was just after midnight.
Ranger had given him a special cell phone number with instructions to call him day or night with information. He pressed the key and after barely one ring, heard a soft Yo. Relaying the information he has just received, he hung up and turned back to the bedroom, only to find Edna standing in the hallway. She had such a look of concern that unconsciously he gave her a hug. "It was not about Stephanie, but we do have a lead. I just phoned Ranger and he is getting his men on it right away."
Edna stifled her sob. She was so worried for her baby granddaughter and every day was making it harder to stay positive. Knowing that sleep would not come anytime soon, they made their way downstairs for a glass of warm milk and a piece of pineapple upside down cake. Since Stephanie had been in prison, there always seemed to be a piece in the house, waiting for Stephanie to step through the door and sit down to eat it. Helen would keep baking it until Stephanie came home. This was her version of love.
~~~o0o~~~
Ranger had been working at his desk when Frank's call came in. He immediately called Tank and they bolted for the door. Frank's tip could be a missing piece that they were looking for. With Edna's information, and Frank and his cronies beating bushes, that had left Rangeman time to put the information together and find the final missing pieces to this puzzle. Tonight appeared to be another tidbit of information.
Ranger and Tank raced to the location Frank had passed on. Pulling up quietly, with their lights off, they observed Orr's car sitting outside a room at a motel. Getting their surveillance equipment ready, they settled in to wait. Cameras were at the ready and listening equipment placed, they sat back.
No words were spoken. The air was charged with anticipation that this might be the final piece. Time slowed down and finally, the door opened. Dickie walked out the door, then turned around to kiss the woman in the flimsy negligee.
Tank was snapping pictures one after the other. As he bid a final goodbye, Ranger and Tank glimpsed a full view picture of Judge Mary. Dick climbed into his new Mercedes and left the lot. The door closed and the men settled in to wait some more. About ten minutes later, a nondescript Brown Nova slid into the same spot previously vacated by Orr and Officer Gary Gaspick stepped out of the car.
He knocked on the door and was immediately admitted. Tank and Roger looked at each other. Once again, they settled down to wait and after only a few minutes, Gary came out the door. But this time, the Judge was dressed in casual clothing and she had her shoulder bag. Climbing into the Nova, they took off into the night.
Ranger whistled softly. There was something missing here. As Tank pulled out, Ranger was on the phone with Silva in Miami. He was waiting for the phone call and got right to work. He would call as soon as he could.