Chapter X: Gangs and Booms

Stephanie finally has names. Rocket Man strikes again...almost.

Stephanie started dancing in her chair in front of the monitor. It had been a long day, 8 hours at JJ Enterprise and now hours on the search computer. Normally she her head would be hanging and eyes crossed, but all the hours searching had paid off. She hit the intercom button on her phone, "Ranger, I have leads, "

Ranger was behind her, pulling up a chair to look at her monitor. "What do you have, Babe? "

"Bernard Soule, son of Antoine Soule, nephew of Almay Soule. Born Pass Christian. Convicted 2nd degree murder and cocaine possession with intent to sell, sentenced to 20 years Angola penitentiary, served 8 years. Cell mate Jules Paschal."

Ranger nodded and made a small grunt of approval.

"I also have Raimond Dias, Hollyberry, completed junior year high school then dropped out.

"Show me." As Stephanie scrolled through the information Ranger noted Bernard Soule left prison less than a year before Turtle Bayou. Jules was let out just a few months after Bernard. Raimond was out of school, had a Lake St. Sigo address, but not paying taxes.

"Bingo, we probably may have the three Turtle Bayou escapees."

"Turtle Bayou?"

About 18 years ago, where Tank's father was murdered. Got in a gun battle with drug runners. Officially none survived, but Lester and our cousin found a bartender who came up with names that hung with Stefan Soule, the ring leader, but were not among the dead. These are the three names.

Stephanie thought for a moment, "Another Soule. Raimond Dias mother was married to a Soule before Dias. Cousins?"

"Could be. Do you have more?"

"Back to Bernard Soule, 14 months after being released from federal Angola he was busted Laredo Texas for smuggling heroine in from Mexico. Spent 10 years in prison. Next busted Pascagoula Mississippi, assault with deadly weapon, 4 years behind bars. Final dance with jail cocaine possession, 2 years in St. Louis, MO. He hasn't seen much daylight. No known current address."

"St Louis," Ranger muttered. "Look up his arrest, see if Paul Sherman was involved in any way."

"No direct involvement. Might have heard the name in jail," Stephanie reported.

"OK, next guy..."

"Jules Paschal shows up in Memphis 4 years after Turtle Bayou. Assault spends 18 months . Then he's in Boston, second degree murder 3 years later, spends 8 years in jail. Nothing else. No known address. "

"How about our high school drop out?"

Stephanie read from the monitor, "Raimon Dias hired by Sam Bennet, also from Hollyberry, owner Bennet Sand and Gravel, north of Philly. Has been working there 16 years. Clean record."

"Bennet...Did Chet or Cal get a name on the gravel trucks involved in Mrs. Jenkins' ambush?"

"No, nor did the cameras on Mrs. Jenkins' car. The Kenworth reefer that killed the driver of the bread truck was reported stolen from a truck stop about 30 miles away. No finger prints other than the driver's were found, but plenty of smears."

Stephanie looked at Ranger, "I see your mind steaming, think out loud. It might help."

Ranger narrowed his eyes wondering how well she was getting to know him. "Why vandalize the construction sites and try to kill Paul, Tank, and Mrs. Jenkins? Is Mrs. Jenkins' thread back to the Shermans enough that JJ Enterprise is in danger? What am I missing or am I trying to tie two separate incidents together when they are separate?"

"Ranger," Stephanie counseled, "Rangeman's first priority is to secure the construction sites, stop the vandalism and protect Mrs. Jenkins. Your personal priority is to find out why Tank and Paul are under attack. Maybe you should let the FBI handle that."

"No, Babe. Tank is family."

"I know and we all want to help. I was just Maybe it's not Mrs. Jenkins'. Maybe there's another commonality."

##################

Hector's team had set up new and enhanced security systems on all construction sites and material yards. Each night, after 9 p.m. When all construction workers had left the sites, Rangeman employees knowledgeable in heavy equipment went back over all equipment looking for new leaks and signs of tampering. Ranger had a nagging feeling that some damage was occurring as workers left at the end of the shift.

His hunch paid off. One site had a front end loader drained of hydraulic fluid from a cut line. Replaying the security recordings for the end of previous day, the recording clearly showed someone slipping under the equipment and back out again before leaving the site for the day.

When the security recording was shown to the foreman he was startled, "That's Manny Garcia under that front loader. Good worker. "

Does he work on that piece. "No, he's a welder. He shouldn't be there."

##################

"The foreman said you wanted to talk to ...oh shit, you are Ranger" sighed Manny Garcia.

"You know me?"

"Yeah from the streets."

"You know why I'm here."

"Nope"

"Let me show you," and Ranger played the recording showing Manny under the front loader. "We can dance or you can save everyone time."

The welder sat down, hunched over.

Ranger stepped back and to the side not wanting to take a chance Manny was acting before launching into an attack.

"I was 27th Street. Wanted out, got jumped out, spent several days in the hospital after the beating. That was alright, I wanted a different life. Went to trade school, became a welder. Signed on with a company in Philadelphia, should have gone a lot further. Wouldn't you know, my company got a contract back here in Trenton. "

Ranger relaxed a bit but remained on guard.

"I was no sooner on this job than some of my old 27th Street companions came up to me outside the grocery store. They have pictures of my wife and baby girl. They wanted me to sabotage equipment on this project. There's someone on early shift that reports back on my work. "

"Do you know who?"

"Yeah I see him around. He uses the name Steve, but it is really Estevan Correa. He's 27th Street too. He's drives the oiler. He reports my vandalism to the foreman Baca and back to 27th Street. Baca is old school 27th."

"Do they have your wife and child?"

"No, but they are close by. They don't even try to hide. "

That night the Butler site had visitors. "Two unknowns have picked the back gate lock and are heading towards the supervisor's trailer" came the message from the man monitoring from Rangeman. Ramon and Hector were on site waiting. They watched the two approach the trailer. When the door was opened, the Rangemen moved like lightening and captured the intruders. Both burglars bore the tats of the 27th Street gang. Ramon, over 6 feet tall, all muscle didn't phase the two gang members; however, Hector was known on the street. His tear tattoo under his eye indicated gang killing. He was a knifeman, quick and quiet.

Carl Costanza and partner Big Dog arrived and tried to interview the two burglars.. The two burglars initially refused to talk, until Hector began peeling an apple with his blade. Word on the street, never let Hector to pull his knife. It was a warning, "Talk or I'll peel your flesh. The two burglars began talking. "It was our assignment. Some bitch is paying 27th Street to hit JJ Enterprise sites only. We can hit other companies too, but never Stag's Leap. All the stuff we gather 70% goes to the gang, we get to keep the other 30%. Sweet deal. Stag's Leap has shitty stuff, so they wouldn't be high on our list anyway. JJ stuff is always primo. "

"You've hit JJ sites before," Big Dog asked.

"Yeah."

################

"Brianna, mind if I sit with you," asked Stephanie as she set her coffee and cake onto the table and sat opposite the engineer.

"Please do Stella, nice to have another girl to talk to." Briana was in her late 30's, long strawberry blond hair, green eyes. Her clothing was conservative, blazer, button down shirt and pleated trousers. She had a wedding ring.

Stephanie chucked, Yeah, this company is a little man heavy, not that I mind."

"Nature of the business. You like being a personal assistant to Mrs. Jenkins?"

"I feel like I've fallen into Wonderland. People are so nice and polite. Totally unlike my last job.

"Where was that?" Brianna asked as she picked at her salad.

"Ah, I worked in law enforcement?"

Brianna's eye brows shot up, "You were a cop?"

"No, not exactly," Stephanie muttered as she popped a piece of coffee cake into her mouth.

"Did you carry a gun?"

"Noooo, I kept it in my cookie jar."

Brianna laughed, "Like Rockford?"

Stephanie also laughed, "Exactly, I love those reruns." She was happy Briana wasn't too curious about her "law enforcement" job. Stephanie sipped her coffee," I take it Mrs. Jenkins hasn't been in charge long."

"About two years. She suddenly inherited it from her husband and in-laws. They were killed in a car crash. Mrs. Jenkins had been working here for years, started at the bottom and was working her way up."

"Wow! A fast promotion. Anybody complain?"

Brianna dug around for a crouton in her salad, "After senior Jenkins' nobody in their right mind would complain. I do miss Jerald though. He was making changes, good changes. I worried what would happen after his death. But Mrs. Jenkins has continued Jerald's changes and added more off her own. "

"Like what?"

"The health care center and soon the daycare will open for all employees' kids. Maternity leave for mothers and fathers, savings plan with company input and flex hours for those of us here at JJ Central."

"JJ Central?"

"This main office. My salary and benefits are primo. The senior Jenkins were pigs and made life miserable for the workers. Stella, when you find the right place with great people, life is suddenly nicer."

"Babe, what did you say about life is suddenly nicer?" Stephanie mumbled.

"Oh, um, nothing. My mind was somewhere else. Now what were you saying?" Stephanie said as she adjusted her body in her chair.

Ranger kissed her temple and whispered, "Life IS nicer." Then backing up, "I asked if any of the workers who left when Mrs. Jenkins became head of the company, did any go to Stag's Leap Construction?"

Stephanie scrolled through the information, "Yes, a woman in accounting, Martha Nabors."

Calling up the search she did earlier on the employees, "Martha Nabors born 1974, same year as JJ Enterprises started. Mother Gwen Nabors, age 17 when she had Martha, no father listed on birth certificate. Mother Gwen joins JJ in 1980 when Martha 6 years old. Gwen dies 1995 after 15 years with JJ. Daughter Martha graduates college 1996 business from Penn State, hired by JJ Enterprise. Didn't rise much through the company before leaving 25 months ago when Mrs. Jennifer Jenkins took over. Martha is not and has never married. Currently employed by Stag's Leap Construction, accountant. "

Ranger's eyes narrowed, "Hmmm, wonder if there was something between Gwen Nabors and Jerald Sr. Maybe Martha was Jerald Senior's offspring but he never put his name on the birth certificate. Kept Gwen around as child support. She dies and daughter comes along. Possibly she was blackmailing the seniors and maybe junior. When the seniors and junior die and will is read, nothing for Martha. No DNA, no birth certificate, no acknowledgement from the family. Martha goes to another company and sets out to destroy JJ Enterprise. See if there is any connection between Bernard Soules, Raimond Dias, Jules Paschal and the Nabors, mother and daughter. "

"Oh, my poor butt will be numb."

"I'll rub it and make it better."

###########

"Babe, wake up, time to go to work, " Ranger whispered in her ear.

"Hmmm, moooor," moaned Stephanie as she rolled over and pulled the sheet up higher.

"Babe, you have to be at JJ Enterprise at 8."

"It's still dark, go away or come back to bed."

Exasperated, Ranger threw back the covers, picked up Stephanie and carried her into the shower where still holding her, he turned on the cold water.

"YEOW! AAAAHHH! RANGER!" Stephanie screeched and began flailing away. Ranger wisely set her down and retreated back to his closet where he put on dry clothes while listening to Stephanie's tirade. At least she was awake.

Steve Mars was in his 50's, middle age spread had soften him. Ginger color hair, but short. "You the one Mrs. Jenkins wants me to talk to?" He sipped his first of many cups coffee for the day and waited.

"Thank you for your time. I'm trying to piece together who might be vandalizing the work sites.

"So you aren't a personal assistant to Mrs. Jenkins, but an investigator?"

" I'm the personal assistant investigating the vandalism," Stephanie explained.

He sat staring at his coffee cup, "Coffee, my stomach and the vandalism, not a good combination especially this early in the morning." He set his cup down, "We've never had such a spate of vandalism as this past year. I don't know who is behind it."

Stephanie looked down to her note book, "I'm looking at present and past employees, though I've never met such a contented group as I'm finding here."

Mars, chuckled, "Yeah, contented cows, I'll bet the first to 'moooo'. Life is so much better here now. Working under the old Jenkins' was stressful for everyone."

Stephanie suppressed a grin, she had already heard "life is so much better" before. Maybe JJ employees were being hypnotized by aliens like in B movies long ago...resistance is futile... "How long have you worked here?"

"I'm sure you know that already," Mars snapped.

Actually she did but didn't let on, "No I don't have full records. I've only had time to do a quick review, police records and such. I'm better talking with people."

"Sorry, didn't mean to sound...what, snippy? I've been here since college, 33 years."

"That's unusual to be in one spot for so long."

" Started in accounting and worked my way up. Well, had to wait for old man Jenkins to die to get CFO, he had his own guy there. Bob retired and moved to Florida when Mrs. Jenkins the Younger assumed the company. Bob, that's Bob Stuart, said he didn't care who was running the company, he just needed to go sit on the sand some place warm. We thought he had burn out, turns out he had early stage lung cancer. Too bad, I think he would have liked working under the new regime."

"I need to ask you about certain people."

"OK,"

Sheila Haverstein.

"Good accountant and nice lady...and I mean lady. Initially the old man would try to hit on her. Even when she got married he would try to play grab ass with her. She finally gained 30 pounds just to turn him off. I saw her about a year ago and she lost all that extra weight," he said laughingly.

"So no gripes with the firm?"

"Naw, I think she just wanted peace and quiet at work."

"Bob Walters?"

"Bob wanted to up his game. Went back to school to become a CPA. Working up around Princeton now. He sends Christmas cards, nice guy."

"How about Martha Nabors?"

"Oh man, there's a name I'd rather forget. Passing a kidney stone is easier than having to deal with that woman."

"What was her problem?"

Who knew? Seemed to have a chip on her shoulder all the time and an air of entitlement. I didn't know why and didn't care. More people transferred out of accounting or out of JJ because of that...person. She pissed off at least one contractor every month.

"You mentioned the feeling of entitlement, how?"

"We have company rules and regulations we operate by, except Martha. She always insinuated she had "ties" to the top floor, the boss. When her direct supervisor tried to release her, he was the one that was released."

"Sounds like she had a guardian angel here."

Chuckling, "Yeah high flying guardian angel. I suspected it was one of two senior Jenkins. Her mother, Gwen, always had goo-goo eyes for the old man, the daughter seemed to loathe him but was more comfortable with Mrs. Jenkins, too comfortable. "

"You suspect sex?

"Probably, both husband and wife were predators. It was getting harder and harder for them though with sexual harassment laws."

"When the Jenkins family died, most of us did not mourn the old man and his wife, but Jerald Jr was different. He was an up and comer, changing JJ in a positive way. Better relationship with contractors, unions, and cared for the employees. When Jennifer Jenkins inherited the business we weren't sure what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised."

"How did Martha react?"

Mars shook his head, " Martha had a fit, saying she was more qualified to run the business. Even insinuated Mrs. Jenkins planned the car accident that killed her husband. Police dismissed that quickly as the whole accident was caught on traffic cams. Finally Martha ranted on about how unqualified Mrs. Jenkins was to run the business. Frankly I've never met anyone more qualified. Masters in architecture/construction management and business. Plus when she started here she started at the bottom working in each department. It was Jerald Jr's idea. I do not know what type of strange marriage they had, but as far as for JJ Enterprise, they were a great team."

"So you knew he was gay."

"Oh heck yes, but unlike his folks, he never hit on anyone here. He was always a gentleman. As a business man he was head and shoulders above his old man."

"So ultimately what got Martha out the door?"

"Accounting irregularities, nice way of saying she was stealing from the company. When I caught it I asked her way and she came up with some looney comment she was entitled to it."

"She was fired?"

"No, she was allowed to quit, immediately. We had a Good Bye Martha My Dear party when she left. No tears shed."

"Where did she go?"

I've heard Stag's Leap. Steve Costello said he saw her in a bar...what was it's name...Blue Bonnet.

###########

"You Costello?" Stephanie asked.

"Look lady, I'm busy," he said moving away.

"Just a moment please. I'm Stephanie Plum, personal assistant to Jennifer Jenkins. I need some information. You told Steve Mars you saw Martha Nabors in the Blue Bonnet talking with gang members. Approximately when did this happen?"

"No approximately, I remember exactly. My brother in law has a drinking problem and sometimes my sister calls and begs me to find him and bring him home. It was their son's 8th birthday and he was missing. He was at the Blue Bonnet, March 21st. So was Martha Nabors,"

"Does you brother in law belong to the gang? "

"Hell no, he was probably so drunk he didn't know where he was. He could have been killed there."

"Did Nabors see you?"

"No she was in deep conversation with guys way in the back."

"How do you know it was 27th Street?"

"It was their territory, gang signs and they are Latinos, not African."

"Do you know the names of the people she was talking to?"

"Yeah, right, I have them on speed dial. I've got to get back to work. "

#######

"Hey White Girl!"

Lula and she sounded mad. I knew why. I hadn't kept her up to date on Tank's situation.

"What's going on with Tank? Since the media hasn't positively identified the body they pulled, where is he?"

"Ranger is keeping him safe. We are trying to find who is behind this. I have a question, who is head of the 27th Street gang and where do they hang?'

"Are they the ones responsible for Tank's house?"

No, it's for another case I'm working on. Police, ATF and Ranger are investigating Tank's, Stephanie hated to fib to Lula.

"You doing more and more detective work, is Rangeman opening a new business. Maybe I could get a job?"

"You willing to wear black polo shirts and cargo pants?"

"Black is OK but I was thinking bustiers and skirts, with accessories. My legs are too short for cargo pants. Anyway, all black I don't want to look like a nun." No way Lula would ever be mistaken for a nun.

"Back to my question, the 27th Street gang?"

"Blue Bonnet, mean place, not for women, even Latino women, forget us lovely darks and you white girls."

"Don't know who runs the gang now?"

"No, they tend to have rapid turnover."

"How's Jackson?

"Yeah...that's my man. We are getting real cozy, I moved in with him, mostly. Keeping my apartment for my clothing. I have a part in a new production coming out next month. You and Batman will have to come."

"We'd love to, just let us know."

###############

Hector and Lester walked into the Blue Bonnet bar. Both were wearing tactical vests, cargo pants, their Glocks and other assorted weapons on their service belts. Before the room noise went dead an individual slipped out the back door. Ranger and Ramon were waiting for him.

"Information," was all Ranger uttered.

"Vete al inferno," the man hissed. (Go to hell)

"Martha Nabors," Ranger said, a man of few words.

"Essa perra," sneered the informant.

Ranger though, that wasn't much of an insult. Why is he protecting her?

After trading insults the conversation turned to how Martha Nabors had hired 27th Street gang to vandalize JJ Enterprise sites. In addition to every night they were vandalized she paid the gang $1000. When asked about security, they said it was easy pickings until Rangeman came on board. "We started charging the bitch $5000 per night. She got all huffy saying for that price she wanted a bigger bang."

"Do you know people with bigger bangs?" Ranger asked.

"No, but there's a guy down in Philly who has connections. We sent the bitch to him. Understand she found someone named Rocket Man."

Ranger asked about other building sites outside of Trenton. The 27th Street gang member who made extra money as an informer shrugged, "Not our jurisdiction. Rumors are Rocket Man may be going after a bigger target, like a crane, in Ewing Township. I'd like to see that."

Ranger slipped him $500. Of course they guy wouldn't insult Martha, she's been money to the gang.

####################

The crane was already on site. The apartment complex would be three stories with an interior atrium of 5 stories at the peak. The five story atrium frame was complete. Once the three story frame around the sides was complete, the crane would move else, perhaps a different construction company.

Ranger took Erik a Rangeman employee and former a former Army Engineer to the Ewing township site. "What"s the fastest way to take out this crane and do the most harm?"

"Take out the engines, disable the safety overrides and cut the cables. If the crane is under load over the structure, the whole thing will topple taking down a significant part of the building framework".

" How would you do it?"

" Bomb in the engine compartment or a rocket from that hill," ,said Erik. "Somebody well trained could easily put a rocket into the engine pod."

Hector and his team went into over time. The crane received addition sensors and was monitored continually from Rangeman. He then turned his attention to the hill overlooking the building site. Cameras both day and night were installed along with motion detectors.

After consulting with the crane's owner, a blast shield was positioned between the engine pod and the operator's cabin. The operator refused to work the crane knowing it might be attacked, Ranger couldn't blame him. Erik said he'd do it and had Hal find bomb specialist gear he could wear as back up.

Ranger called Tank, "I need you back on 5th floor," Ranger told Tank. "We believe JJ Enterprise's Ewing Township site will be hit within the next few days. We are stretched thin. You live at Rangeman, don't stick you nose outside. "

"About time," was all Tank uttered.

################

"Jules, are we ready to roll on the bitch's house? "

"Not quite yet. Raimond is finishing the explosive compartment in the truck. We'll we ready Saturday."

"I want a confirmed kill! I want to see a body, I'm coming along."

####################

"Mr. Bennet, I'm Officer Lindth with ATF, may I speak with you?"

"Huh? Sure, ma'am, what about?"

"Raimond Dias. I believe he is your cousin."

"Sorta in a round about Creole way. What has he done now?"

"What is his job here?"

Bennet leaned back in his chair, "Driver mostly. He also is a fair mechanic and repairman, especially with welding torch. When things break, he can fix them quickly. He keeps our machines working and that's money. I pay him to drive and overtime if something needs repairing."

Officer Lindth pulled out a picture of several men thought to be Rocket Man, "Recognize any of these men?"

Bennet looked carefully, "Nope."

"Never seen any with Raimond?"

"Nope, I really don't see Raimond much. He's a driver and when not driving he's repairing our equipment at our repair yard."

"How about these, she said, pulling out pictures of Bernard Soule, Jules Paschal."

Bennet took one picture to study more closely. "That could be Bernard Soule, a cousin from Pass Christian. I remember him when we were kids. Understand he's been in prison most of his adult life. He was always trouble. The other one doesn't look familiar."

"Where is Raimond currently?"

"He's been busy repairing several trucks in our other yard."

"My information says Raimond is 6'1" tall and 200 lbs."

Laughing Bennet replied, "Yeah back in high school. He's now closer to 275 lbs, most of that beer gut. "

################

The sensors on the hill over looking the 3 story apartment construction site were triggered. Cameras zoomed in and followed a 4 wheel drive truck inching it's way up the steep dirt road.

"Visitors coming up the hill, 1 truck," reported Manuel working the monitors from the Rangeman office.

Erik stopped the crane, left the operator's cabin climbing down to the ground. A Rangeman employee dressed as a construction worker stood by to help Erik into the bulky bomb protection gear. No matter how often he practiced, it was laborious. The last step before adding the helmet was to put on his head set that allowed him to hear and talk to Rangeman.

Rangeman, this is Erik, do you read?

10-4 Erik, Ranger do you copy?

10-4.

Ranger was rolling into position with Detective Davidson, ATF agent Lindth and an assortment of other police entities about 1/2 mile from the hill but not visible from the hill.

Agent Lindth grumbled, "We still don't have an identification on Rocket Man. We still aren't sure what type of projectile was used on both Sherman homes but we are pretty sure the Porsche was taken out by an old RPG7. Too many unknowns."

Erik had only limited viewing from his helmet. He had to rely on hand signals from designated workers in front as well as information coming through his ear bud from his spotter and Rangeman Manuel monitoring the surveillance cameras.

It was most likely the saboteur would wait until the crane's boom, jib and steel beam were over the structure. Of course Erik had no intention of having the crane is such a vulnerable situation when Rocket Man was spotted, but that's exactly where the crane was located, directly over the atrium.

The truck backed into the trees in the only decent parking spot. Hector had made sure to block the others allowing cameras to be concentrated on that one spot. Two people emerged from the truck. One was a 30 something man dressed in camo. The other was a lady in tan pants and green sweater, Martha Nabors.

"Hello Martha," uttered Tank watching the monitor from Rangeman. "Martha Nabors and unknown male exiting the truck."

"10-4" came a quiet Ranger voice. He was in stealth mode now.

"You can hit the crane from here?" Martha asked.

"Lady, I spent 7 years in the Middle East with this these type weapons. I've had plenty of practice. This is an easy shot."

Rangeman employees watched their monitors as the man removed the weapon from behind the truck's seats.

"Shit" Tank mumbled. "Ranger, the weapon is not an AT4 or an RPG7, it's a M72 LAWS."

The ATF agent called everyone to move to the hill. The LAWS was a rapid fire device, not much time setting it up to fire.

At first workers on the atrium were surprised the beam was being pulled back out of their grasp, but then noticed the hand signals from the supervisors to clear the area. An emergency safety plan had been hastily developed that morning for this circumstance. But booms, their jib and load can not be moved quickly. Slowly, painfully slowly Erik moved the boom back away from the building.

The man from the truck moved to edge of trees and pulled out the telescoping inner tube of the launcher that opened the two ends and also cocked the firing mechanism. Not wanting to expose himself too much the hill, he went down to one knee and rested the launcher on his right shoulder.

"Launcher is now cocked," reported Tank. "Man in firing position."

Erik wished he was not hearing Tank's broadcasts. There was no moving the boom any faster than it was presently moving. Any faster and the beam would begin to swing wildly.

"Where will you hit the crane? "Martha demanded to know.

"The area behind the operator's cabin. It is the engine pod and will severe the cables." was Rocket Man's reply.

"Will that cause enough damage to cause the crane to fall over?"

"Yes ma'am." Rocket Man said but he was clenching his teeth with her inane questions.

"Well, what are your waiting for, fire and get his over!" Martha demanded.

Rocketman glanced back over his shoulder to tell the bitch to move off. But he changed his mind, if she wanted to stand directly behind him to be hit by the back blast, that was fine with him. It would shut her up.

"Move lady," Tank mumbled. "Manuel, can you zero in on his right hand. When it appears he's ready to press the trigger, hit the horn. "

A moment before the man pulled the trigger, several air horns sounded from the trees directly behind Rocket Man. The reflex action of the sudden noise caused the launcher to tip up slightly. The rocket fired, Martha was hit by the back blast at knee level and the rocket sailed over the crane, through the atrium framework without touching any steel and impacted on the hill behind wiping out several trees.

There was no way to reload, it was a one shot weapon. "Shit" was his only comment before the hill was alive with law enforcement and Ranger, "Police, hands up."

Martha was conscious and screaming. Her legs were mangled from the rocket back blast. Two officers removed their belts and fashioned tourniquets for the legs. With luck, Martha would live though probably without legs.

As soon as Erik saw the rocket' s impact in the woods beyond, he stopped the crane and set all safety's. He did not know if there would be a second attempt. Before Rangeman issued the all clear, Erik was out the cabin.

Turning away he mumbled to himself, "Erik, you must be NUTS!"