Thanks you for all the reviews over the weekend. I promise to get back to you and thank you today.
Chapter 4
Stephanie came out of the bedroom to find Ranger working in his office. She sidled up to him and leaned into him. Ranger closed his computer and looked up. His breath caught. His heart skipped a beat. His eyes changed.
Her hair was hanging down in a slightly wild look. She had applied smoky grey eye shadow, three coats of mascara for courage and luscious red lip gloss, inserted big hoop earrings in her ears and she was wearing a spaghetti strap silk blouse that started low and ended high. She had glued some skanky rhinestones around her belly button. Her pencil thin skirt was molded to her body and ended mid thigh. There was a moderate slit up the side. She was wearing fishnet stockings and Ranger glimpsed a garter. She was wearing impossibly high 4 inch FMP's.
Stephanie licked her lips seductively. She sashayed to the door. She stopped and looked back. "Coming?"
Ranger cleared his throat as he stood up. He adjusted himself. That woman would be the death of him. He wondered if he would have to use his fob and scramble every camera in the building soon. His men were mere mortals, after all.
~~~o0o~~~
Tank was on the phone. He had just received a call from the punks. They had heard something else and had passed on the tidbit of information.
Tank hung up and made a note in the file. He had added Connie's note earlier in another. He was worried; the natives were restless. He continued to have a real bad feeling about tonight. He hoped that Ranger and Stephanie knew what they were doing.
He had already booked Bobby and Les and himself as customers in the nightclub. Ranger would appear to be on his own. Woody was tending bar and Ram was on the door. Roly would have his team spread out outside. They were as well covered as they were going to get.
Tank was nothing if not pro-active. He had all the wires ready for them to wear. In addition, he had secretly installed a number of cameras covering the main bar area. He knew the owner and had received permission for the installation. He had not seen the need to advise Roly of that fact. As per usual, the Feds liked to keep some details to themselves. Well, so did Rangeman.
Donnie and Caesar would be in the com van. Tank had briefed them very carefully. He needed audio, and video tape. He wanted full coverage of everyone in the room.
Ranger helped Stephanie into the Turbo. He waited until she had buckled her seat belt then roared out of the garage. The com van had already left. Bobby and Les would leave in a few minutes and Tank had hitched a ride with Roly.
Ranger pulled up to an open spot in the parking lot. He turned off the car and leaned back. He tried to control his thoughts. Once again his Babe was heading into an unknown situation. They always tried to prepare themselves for any eventuality but this one just seemed off.
Stephanie was checking her face in the visor mirror. Ranger was checking himself out in the rear view mirror. He was wearing his hair tied back in a pony tail. He was wearing a very big diamond stud in his ear. Around his neck was a thick silver chain which was easily seen through the three open buttons on his gunmetal gray silk shirt. He was wearing black jeans with a wide belt. His feet were encased in shined up white alligator boots. He felt damn ridiculous.
Ranger hated that he was not in charge of the take down. This was a very high dollar operation and the federal government was adamant that he be taken soon. Unfortunately, it all hinged on his Babe. She would have to be very, very convincing tonight. He had all the confidence in the world that she would be able to handle any part of the distraction, but there was always that one little thing that could take a simple mission and completely FUBAR the expected conclusion.
He was not happy that Roly wanted him inside. He preferred to stay outside so that he did not have to view Stephanie and the moves she needed to use to persuade her mark to leave. Les and Bobby could handle inside so much better. They had observed the Bomber in action many times and instead of feeling uncomfortable at her actions, were amazed at her acting ability.
Ranger mentally checked his weapons. He was unsure about accepting the money tonight. Usually they would just put through an account transfer but Stephanie did not trust Roly enough and wanted the whole thing processed tonight.
~~~o0o~~~
Joe prepared himself to place the call from the burned phone he had purchased. He had travelled to Newark a few days earlier and had worn a disguise. He had walked into a small mom and pop convenience store and had bought the cell phone with sixty minutes of talk time. His plan was coming together.
He called the Trenton Police Department. He tried to disguise his voice as he spoke.
" At the Prim 'N Parrot tonight there will be a young lady trying to solicit favors from unsuspecting men. Her pimp will be in attendance and handles all the money. She is brunette, about 5 foot 7 inches with blue eyes. She is a danger to unsuspecting men and should be stopped. She is carrying and passing on diseases and should be handled with extreme care. "
Joe hung up quickly as the young officer on the desk answering the phone started to question him. He did not want to get into talking too much.
Joe rubbed his hands together. Hopefully vice would put something together in time. Brian Smith would be on duty tonight. He was a good cop, but had aspirations of grandeur. He wanted to be an inspector and would leap at the chance to get a quick and easy collar.
Joe believed that the burg grapevine would be very active. The papers would get their teeth into the whole mess. By the time it was all straightened out, Rangeman's reputation would be questioned and hanging in tatters. Their scary looks combined with questionable tactics would ensure that Manoso's business would soon fail. People would initially question Stephanie's actions but then reason that she had been required to put on the act as she was an employee of Rangeman.
Joe smiled. He had remembered how many times Stephanie had groaned that she was only a line in his budget. Well, this would be very entertaining before it was done.
Joe wanted to believe that with Manoso and his thugs out of the way, Stephanie would return to his arms. He would be the supporting friend and offer to take her back into his life, and eventually his bed. He could almost feel her under him, moaning in his ear.
His pants tightened. He felt the need for release. He mentally reviewed his go-to's. Robin was at work, Terry was at her uncle's home. Mary was visiting a friend. That left Sally.
He phoned her number. Sally was a cocktail waitress at the Blue Diamond. He loved it when she came to serve him at his home wearing her uniform. He placed his order. She was just coming off shift and would spin by on her way home.
~~~o0o~~~
Ranger looked around. All his and Roly's men were in place. Everyone was mic'd and the com van was ready. Everyone knew their job but he still had a nagging feeling. Ranger looked at Tank. He was feeling the same unease. It was not too late to abort this mission.
Ranger followed by Tank went over to Roly. Roly was on the phone speaking in a gruff tone. They waited for the call to end. Ranger and Tank stood quietly. Their eyes searched the parking lot looking for a reason for their unease. Roly ended the call.
"Our mark is on his way. I hope everyone is in place. It all depends on how fast Ms. Plum can get him relaxed enough to get him out. I hope she is on her game tonight. "
Ranger nodded. He saw Stephanie sitting in the car making last minute adjustments to her makeup.
"I want to change the procedure a bit. I don't want the money handed to me either by the mark or you to give it to me tonight. I'd feel better if you wire or courier it like normal. It's just one more thing to have to worry about keeping track of. Besides, then Rangeman will have an official receipt of the delivery."
Roly considered the remark. He nodded and took the envelope from his inner jacket pocket. He gave it to an assistant.
Ranger stepped away. Everyone was preparing last minute details before the take down. He called for com checks. Bobby, Les, and Tank answered .
"Target pulling into the parking lot." That was the signal everyone had been waiting for.
Bobby and Les were heading into the club and they nodded at the doorman and walked through. Ranger waited by the com van. He watched as the mark exited the car and walked to the door. Perry talked to the doorman and slipped some bills into his palm as they shook hands. He looked around cautiously before heading inside.
Everyone waited patiently. Timing was everything. They needed Perry to find a seat and order a drink. He liked to look around and check out the ladies. Stephanie would make her entrance in a few minutes and she wanted him to see her come in.
Ranger walked over to the car. He opened the door and held out a hand. A long leg emerged. She glided out of the car. Stephanie knew how to make an appearance. Ranger gave her a quick hug as he reached behind her and turned on the mike.
He mouthed to her ear. "Go get 'em, Tiger." Ranger walked away and into the club. Tank waited two minutes then followed.
Stephanie squared her shoulders and The Bombshell emerged. Her manner changed. She turned to walk to the door and the doorman. She sashayed up to him, leaned in with a hand brushing his cheek and whispered in his ear. Ram grinned and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek opening the door.
Stephanie could make an entrance. She stopped at the door and perused the room. She used the time to make sure that every male in that room saw her. She licked her lips seductively and swung her hips as she walked to the bar. She found a stool two down from her mark. She sat down. The slit on her skirt opened up slightly and the red garter peeked out.
Stephanie spun around and put her elbows on the bar. She leaned back slightly. Her hair hung down almost touching the counter. Anybody looking at the glassed mirror behind her could see her breasts pushing up enticingly over the silk shirt.
Stephanie sat upright and spun her stool around, now facing the bar. Woody came over when she lifted her arm and enticed him over with a finger wave.
He wiped the counter in front of her. "What's your pleasure, doll?" He asked.
Stephanie looked at the vast selection of bottles. "How about a margarita to start?"
Woody smiled. He would make it look good, but Stephanie was a real lightweight when it came to alcohol. He would make her a virgin drink.
Once again, Stephanie spun her stool around. She appeared to be appraising all the male candidates in the club tonight. Perry watched her with hooded eyes. She literally eyed each table. She looked at Les. He smiled and prepared to stand up. She literally dismissed him. He looked shocked and sat down, dejected.
Stephanie checked out more tables. Some she looked at longer than others. Finally, appearing to not see anything or anyone she was interested in, she started to check out the counter. Perry watched with bated breath.
Stephanie set her eyes on him and kept them there. He smiled. He rose to his feet and brought his drink closer. He sat down by her side.
Stephanie took the drink Woody had placed on the counter sliding her finger just under the salt rim. She appeared to check him out through the mirror. Perry laughed to himself. He knew what she was doing. He did the same thing himself. It appeared that if he played his cards right, he might have someone for the evening. The roll of bills were ready.
Stephanie finally gave him her attention. "What brings a handsome man like you out tonight?"
