Chapter 4

My Beta Babe tried to smooth out this chapter, but I've made further additions. So if you find errors, THEY ARE MINE! Trust me; this was the most complicated chapter of the story.

Day 3: Before Les got off duty he received a message from Bobby. "She's in ICU. NOT GOOD!"

When Lester arrived, he was frightened and saddened. She was flushed, sweaty with her hair plastered to her forehead. The lovely green eyes were dull, her demeanor dulled.

"Hi, handsome," she spoke quietly as she panted. He glanced at the monitors and saw the blood pressure and heart rate were elevated.

"Are you having a rough time?" he asked as he took her very warm hand.

"The doctors are worried about septicemia, blood poisoning."

"Keep fighting, Charlotte. I'm here to help in any way I can." No wonder she was in ICU, she could advance to septic shock or even worse, sepsis where up to 50% of patients die or suffer life-long complications.

"Prayers Lester, I need prayers. Are you religious?"

"I was raised Catholic but got turned off by the nuns teaching purgatory for not following the rules."

She shook her head, "No, that's not the religion at all. The nuns were wrong to present it that way. The religion is about joy, love, respect, forgiveness, and self-determination."

"Combat probably killed my forgiveness chances," Lester shrugged.

"It's forgiveness of others Les as well as our ability to repair our sins. Remember the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us," she whispered. "You must never give up. Did you ever give up when you were fighting?"

Of course he didn't, that's one reason why he was standing here right now. He was trained and had the internal fortitude not to give up no matter how bleak the situation. He could sacrifice his life if necessary, but losing her was unthinkable. "Don't you give up Charlotte Williams and I promise I won't either."

As the hours went by her conversation diminished. The nurses and doctors were worried. Les held her hand as if his strength would be enough to pull her through. Wiping her brow with a cool cloth he became lost in her emerald green eyes. This woman with the bright copper colored hair and green eyes was fading away. He couldn't lose her, not after such a short time together.

She smiled and tilted her head into his hand. "Thank you for all you've done."

'Charlie, I wish I could do more. It is painful to watch you suffer." Out of the corner of his eye he saw a red haired woman come to the door. She was older than Charlotte but similar in appearance. She stopped to watch Lester and smiled.

Kristen Sorenson had rushed to Trenton when contacted by Dr. Brown. As concerned as she was, she was also delighted watching her daughter interact with the gentleman dressed in black. For three years Charlotte mourned her husband's death, avoiding contact with men. Across the room things seemed to be changing.

"Charlie?" Kristin called out.

"Mama?" Charlotte's voice was weak.

"Dr. Brown called. I flew up immediately." When Kristen Sorenson drew closer to Charlotte and saw her flushed skin, she moaned, "Oh Charlie, why didn't you have someone call us earlier?"

"It's nothing, Mama. I'll be going home to Colt's Neck today."

Kristen looked at the man beside Charlotte who was as surprised as was she. Charlotte was starting to hallucinate as her fever grew.

Suddenly remembering her upbringing, Charlotte said, "Mamma, this is…somebody."

Lester's heart fluttered in dismay but he regained his composure, "I'm Lester Santos from Rangeman Security."

"Mr. Santos, I'm Kristin Sorenson," she said as she extended her hand to shake Lester's. "I deeply appreciate your attendance. I've talked with Dr. Brown and Mr. Manoso on my way here and am prepared to do whatever is necessary to keep Charlotte safe."

Lester was surprised. Yesterday Ranger was chewing his ass over spending time here and now the mother indicated she had Ranger's support. What has changed? "Mrs. Sorenson, I'm sorry I did not see Mr. Piras' knife earlier and spared your daughter being injured."

"Mr. Manoso indicated Mr. Piras is out on bail and may present a problem. Frankly, I'm surprised he received bail."

"The state of New Jersey has mandated that everyone have an opportunity of bail unless they are so mentally incapacitated their safety and the public's safety would be at risk. Also, Mr. Piras has no felony arrests or convictions in New Jersey and did not warrant being held."

"I'm sorry Mr. Santos, but he stabbed my daughter!" Kristen said rather forcefully.

Les shook his head, "He's innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, Mrs. Sorenson. I didn't write the laws."

"Do you think he'll come after Charlotte?"

"It's an ongoing investigation. You need to talk with Detective Copatchek, Mercer County Sheriff." As Lester talked to her he flashed that the mother looked enough like the daughter, maybe she should be covered as well. He stepped outside the room and called Tank. He also called the hospital administrator's office to report Charlotte Williams' mother had arrived and could take possession of the wedding rings. The administrator seemed relieved. Lester then walked back to Charlotte but stood back in security mode.

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Mrs. Sorenson and Detective Copatchek sat in the hospital cafeteria to talk. "Ma'am, in our investigation, Mr. Piras has been cited numerous times for fire code violations, health and safety violations and suspected liquor problems. There has been no prosecution because of suspected payoffs. He has, what you'd call, connections and sadly too many of Mercer's public officials turn a blind eye for money."

"So why, sir, do you believe my daughter is in danger?"

The detective pushed his coffee cup aside. It was a poor blend and had turned cold and soured his stomach. "Liquor licenses are a state regulated business, not municipal or county. The cost of a vendor's license is $500,000 per bar of which he has three others. His bulk sales-liquor store license is $1.5 million. If Mrs. Williams had reported him, off the top he could lose $3.5 million in business licenses in addition to the profits from the four businesses."

"Yes, but why is my daughter's life?" Kristin Sorenson was not easily led astray.

"We suspect Daryl Piras' licenses are held as collateral for other enterprises," the detective said.

Kristen nodded her head. She understood, "He is involved in illegal activities."

"We've never been able to prove it, but he is allegedly associated with those who are and as I said, they have bankrolled some of his businesses, including Diamonds bar. Once again allegedly, Daryl Piras is a legitimate business man."

Kristin wanted to say, "His business involves stabbing people?" Instead she remained calm, "So you are telling me his backers might come after him and in return he comes after my daughter? Or the other side, his backers come directly after her because of the money loss?"

"Yes ma'am. Witnesses report your daughter questioned the bourbon's veracity suggesting it might not be what the bottle indicated."

"Detective, do you have the bourbon bottle? My daughter is very aware of what bourbon goes in what container."

The detective smiled maybe for the first time in the investigation, "Our forensic experts contacted Hunter's Bow distillery this morning and have the answer. We sent photographs of the bottle, carefully detailing the labels to a Mr. Allen Crosby assistant manager of distribution. He quickly replied the labels on the bottle were inconsistent with one another. The front and back labels were four years apart in age and different in production date. Also the bottle shape was from the select bourbon, not the premium as the front label indicates. Mr. Crosby checked past invoices and noticed Daryl Piras' bulk liquor store last received two cases of Hunter's Bow premium two years ago and three cases of select seven years ago. The product codes on the evidence bottle are consistent with the two shipments made directly to the package liquor store. Somehow that bottle went from the liquor store to Diamonds bar. Normally alcohol shipments are made directly to each bar. Finally the labels were misplaced by ½ inch from the bottle bottom. Somebody who doesn't know the Hunter's Bow brand and knows nothing about label codes appears to have switched labels on the wrong bottle then filled the bottle with scotch. This was not a professional con job, but a sloppy attempt to pan scotch off as premium bourbon."

Kristin shook her head sadly but said nothing.

"Ma'am I initially talked to a Magnus Sorenson, head of distribution but he immediately recused himself due to his relationship with Mrs. Williams.

"They are siblings. Getting the labels off the bottle takes skill. Pity other bottles from Diamonds couldn't be examined." Kristen sat and thought for a moment, "If Piras or Diamonds bar was tampering with the alcohol, the license would be null and void; insurance might only cover the building, not the business if it was being run fraudulently. If the state pulled all his licenses, his backers would be out substantial money. If he had the establishment torched, insurance on the building would also be null and void. If his backers were tampering with the bourbon and perhaps other liquors, then perhaps the fraud goes beyond Piras to his backers in which case all the establishments might be burned or the stock destroyed."

"Ma'am, at this time we are trying to get subpoenas to search Daryl Piras' other bars and liquor store. Right now we don't know who ordered the arson on Diamonds. Was it to destroy evidence or collect on the building insurance? We don't know who tampered with the bottle and labels and refilled the bottle with scotch. Apparently neither Mr. Piras or Ouellette know we have the water glass and the bottle. We still have too many questions, but the most important investigation right now is the stabbing."

Kristen voice dropped, "We haven't discussed the drugging."

"We believe the bartender Antoine Ouellette and Daryl Piras find Rohypnol an easy way to satisfy their sexual depravities. A room-by-the-half hour hotel is behind Diamonds owned by Mr. Piras' associates."

Kristen Sorenson shuddered. "How many women have they molested?"

"Most women do not remember being in the bar or the hotel room and cannot identify their attackers, even weeks later. We don't know the number, but suspect at least a dozen. Mrs. Williams is the first positive tie in with the drugging and Diamonds. The water glass tested positive for Rohypnol, the liquor glass did not. Her voice was caught on microphones hidden on Mr. Santos and recorded."

"Were the microphones there for Piras and Ouellette?"

"No, a bond fugitive from Atlanta was in the bar and Rangeman was coordinating his capture. Mr. Santos was right behind your daughter. The only drug conviction we may get is the water glass with the bartender's finger prints. The assault on your daughter was definitely Mr. Piras most likely to keep her from going to the liquor authorities."

"What is the maximum that could happen?"

"Fortunately the knife was recovered with his finger prints, so he will potentially be convicted of assault and maybe attempted murder. We cannot get him on the drugging unless Mr. Ouellette rolls over on him stating he was ordered to drug your daughter."

Kristen didn't say anything for a bit, so Detective Copatchek continued, "They may be thinking if your daughter can't testify and the fake bourbon plus any drugs on site magically disappeared in the fire along with the water, the charges may be reduced, even eliminated. As I said earlier, they may not know we have the bottle, bourbon, and water glass."

"Are you serious?" Kristen gasped. "Murder is an acceptable alternative?"

"Murder requires proof and a body. We are close to the Atlantic Ocean and Pine Barrens. Both are potential body dumping areas." Detective Copatchek was silently fuming. He had lost previous cases due to a missing body. Between the ocean and the Pine Barrens, he suspected more bodies had been dumped or buried than he cared to count. "The two men have the Constitutional right to have their accuser in court."

"Isn't the liquor bottle enough evidence?"

"It may be, but if it is the only tampered bottle we find then the fine could be a slap on the wrist. If we find more tampered bottles not only of Hunter's Bow but other liquors in his other establishments, then yes, the investigation would be much larger."

Detective let me simplify. Correct me if I'm wrong. Somebody tampered with the Hunter's Bow bottle, switching labels and substituting scotch. My daughter caught the deception. Either Mr. Piras or Ouelette added Rohypnol to the water. Mr. Piras stabbed my daughter. At present the best evidence on a perpetrator of any crime are the knife with Mr. Piras' finger prints and the water glass with Mr. Ouellette's prints."

Yes ma'am.

Kristen Sorenson was seething, she couldn't speak. What types of people were involved? "What has my daughter said?"

"That's the problem, ma'am. Initially she was still under the drugs' amnesia side effects. Mr. Santos is avoiding mentioning the incident so as not to influence her memory."

"And now she is in critical condition and you need to interrogate her." Kristin shook her head. She had little sympathy for Detective Copatchek right now.

"Not interrogate, ask questions."

"Do you realize she is hallucinating due to her high fever?"

"No ma'am, I'm sorry."

"So we have to make certain she lives until she can answer your questions and the investigation continues."

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"Yo," Ranger answered his phone out of habit, forgetting to look at the caller's name. He was expecting a call from the Miami office.

"Mr. Manoso, this is Kristen Sorenson," she said sharply. "Do you start all your phone calls so coarsely?"

Ranger gritted his teeth and let his breath out slowly. "My apologies Mrs. Sorenson. I was waiting for a call from my ….no, it doesn't matter. I was wrong."

"Mr. Manoso, I need to arrange for more security for Charlotte."

"Mrs. Sorenson, don't you think it is early?

"She is here, helpless. Now I have to worry about her being kidnapped and made to disappear so she can't testify. I will not have my daughter become Atlantic Ocean chum or Pine Barrens fertilizer! If it weren't for Mr. Santos and Dr. Brown, she would have no protection. The police are woefully understaffed."

"She's in critical condition in ICU."

"Exactly. Mr. Manoso. She can't defend herself. My daughter will survive. If she doesn't, I firmly believe Mr. Santos will become another Orpheus going after Eurydice in the underworld to bring her back. I need this investigation kept quiet from the media but in full cooperation with the police. Under no circumstances will my daughter's reputation and businesses as well as our family enterprise be damaged by the likes of Daryl Piras, Antoine Ouellette, and any other New Jersey mobster trash."

For a moment Ranger thought about the many times he had saved Stephanie from her adventures. He, like Orepheus, would willingly follow her into purgatory to rescue her. He wondered what relationship was developing between his cousin and Mrs. Sorenson's daughter.

Was this more than a typical Roofie case? Mrs. Sorenson was showing cojones, forcefully indicating the Sorenson's and Mrs. Williams may have a lot to lose. Was black mail part of this equation? "I understand Mrs. Sorenson. Additional security will be assigned immediately to your daughter. Also Rangeman has several excellent attorneys."

"Mr. Manoso, I can assure you my husband will have his own attorney team contact your attorneys today."

As Ranger finished calling his lead attorney, he hung up and thought about Mrs. Sorenson's reference to multiple attorneys and business enterprises. He needed more information and called his #2, Tank. "I need to learn more about Charlotte Williams and the Sorenson family as well as talk to the cop on the case."

"The cop is Detective Copatchek. We've dealt with him before, straight and competent. Bobby did a brief background to find her family. He said the family is in the liquor business."

"But what about Mrs. Williams?

Tank was ahead of Ranger. "I've already assigned Bomber do begin the backgrounds ASAP. The situation in Miami has been distracting you."

"Yeah, I'll have to go down there soon." Ranger wondered just how much he's been distracted by the personnel problems in Miami including is school friend Marco. Ranger walked into Stephanie's cubicle, "What do you have Babe?"

Stephanie blew some hair from in her face. "Her name is Charlotte Sorenson Williams, currently resides in Colts Neck, born and raised in Laurie, Kentucky. She's 30 years old, was married for three years to a Marine killed in Afghanistan three years ago. Parents are Rolf and Kristin Sorenson. The stack on the left, thirty pages is her preliminary report. The family preliminary will be twice that amount, if not more."

"Preliminary?" Ranger was surprised. Most background checks were at most six pages. He sat on the desk edge and started reading. After a minute or two he raised his eyes, "Let's keep this under wraps."

Stephanie looked confused. "From whom?"

"From everyone. This is the stuff that drives sensational new media crazy. I don't want Lester or Rangeman on National Inquirer's front page and I'm sure neither do Mrs. Williams and her family."

"You don't think the Core Team can keep secrets?"

"Lester is involved more than he knows. I'll explain to the entire Core Team the sensitive nature of our clients. It's the rest of the staff I'm worried about. One word at Pino's or Shorty's and will have the news media outside the door. In the meantime, run an in depth search on Mrs. Williams and her family. We need to be prepared, not catching up."

"I hope the printer has enough toner and paper."

"Babe."