Previously in Juniak's office -

Bobby said, "I'm curious about this negotiator, Tanner. Have you heard from her yet?"

There was a knock and Robin popped her head in. "Tanner is back, sir."

Juniak said, "It's about damn time. Send her in."

Chapter 10

Tank's POV

An attractive, leggy woman with curves, bright supercilious green eyes and wavy auburn hair walked in. "Chief Juniak, I understand you've had a situation here."

Juniak glared at her. "Where have you been, Tanner?"

"Sir? I actually had a doctor's appointment."

He picked up a pad and turned it toward her and slapped a pen down next to it. "Give me the details, please."

Her posture changed and she put her hands on her hips. "That is none of your business, sir."

Juniak's posture matched hers and he said, "It is damn well my business. I'm having it confirmed and you're taking the lie detector test like everyone else in this precinct. You were on the clock when you were out and it's in your contract that as negotiator you are on call 24/7 and you should always be able to be reached. Add to that, one of your team accepted a bribe and put lives in danger yesterday. Your department was the first one screened. I should write you up for not being available for two hours and not answering your damn phone. So don't give me any shit!"

Man, I saw something flash behind that woman's eyes. Chief was right and she looked like she wanted to shoot him. Hmmm…She wrote down a doctor's name and number. Juniak called it himself and asked about her appointment and that redhead was smiling now. I looked at Bobby and he nodded. He was taking it in too. Then she looked over at us and perused us both from head to toe like she was committing us to memory. Bitch made my dick shrivel like it just been dunked in an ice bath. Damn!

Juniak hung up the phone. "Come with me. I'm giving you the test myself." She nodded, reached for her blouse sleeve and flicked something and then cracked her neck and smiled at us and followed Juniak.

Bobby looked at me and said, "Man, that woman makes my balls want to retract and hibernate for winter." I burst out laughing. "I was thinkin' the same damn thing, brother. I don't trust her and what was that move with her sleeve?" I thought for a minute and pulled out my phone and called Hector. "Yo, hombre. Come in here with your gadget detector box."

Hector came in and I told him to wave it over the red-head when she came back in. Just as I finished talking, she and Juniak walked in. The red-head was wearing a smirk and a smug look on her face. Hector had shrunk behind the door and they didn't see him. He hit the button and waved it at her and smiled. When he turned the box toward us a red light was flashing.

Juniak and Bobby snapped heads to me and Hector just stood and waited. "Found anything on the computers yet, Hector?" He had the box behind his back now. "Maybe. I'll let you know soon. How nice to see you again, Ms. Tanner."

She had a surprised look on her face and turned to him. "And you, Hector. You seem to have many talents."

He gave her a wicked grin. "I am good. If I can ever help you again, I am at your service." Hector pulled the box out from behind his back and smiled and waved with it and walked out of the room. She turned to us and her eyes flashed again. I wish the little shit hadn't done that. I turned to Juniak and slowly shook my head 'no' hoping that he would get my meaning.

Juniak gave a slight nod and dismissed her and she nodded at all of us and left. I said, "Chief, I think she cheated on her test. She's wearing a gadget. Did you see the reading from Hector's scan?"

He surprised me by saying, "Fuck yes, I did. I knew it. The results were too perfect and I don't trust her either. Truth be told that woman makes me want to hide my Johnson." We burst out laughing and Bobby and I bumped on that one.

"We had that same conversation, sir. I was thinking that we don't want to alert her that we suspect her as a plant. We could use her. How would you like to proceed?"

Juniak said, "If I want to save my ass and the reputation of this station, I have to call my fed friends. I know they'll put a man on her and begin an investigation. Still, who the fuck can you trust if you can't trust your own government. Your thoughts, son?"

I said, "Well, I think we should put a tail on her and let Hector pay her a visit and use his "talents"."

He nodded. "I'm the law. I don't need to know everything. Just the black and white stuff. Get my meaning?" I grinned and nodded.

"Yes, sir."

I told him that Hector would give him the computer results and to call me after he spoke with his FBI friends and we left. We got in the SUV and Bobby looked over at me and said, "I think we need to prepare for a stateside war, man. The bad thing is, we're half blind and we don't know who the real enemy is."

Bobby looked at me and we communicated a silent agreement of understanding and I pulled the SUV out and headed back to Rangeman.

Lester's POV

The door to the house opened after a while and I pulled the car out and took an indirect route back toward Haywood and waited to see where Ranger's GPS was taking him. It looked like he was headed to the TPD so I went to Rangeman to check in. When I got to the control room and heard Tank and Les were back I headed to Tank's office and knocked. "Enter."

I walked in and he and Bobby were deep in conversation. They both finally looked up. "So, you found his safe house?"

"Yeah and it's some weird place. It's like a fucking cave. Did you talk to Hector?"

Tank shook his head. "Didn't have a chance yet. What do you know about him being there?"

I said, "Ranger evidently confided some in him and he's securing the place. That's not all."

Bobby said, "I'm afraid to ask. What?"

"We both saw him moving at superman speed, man."

Bobby sneered and said, "What the fuck does that mean, Santos. I'm not going there with you."

"Hector saw it too. He said that he thought he'd shit his pants."

Tank said, "Nothing would make Hector shit his pants aside from eating a week old burrito and chasing it with tap water in Tijuana."

I said, "Exactly. Ranger is not our Ranger any more. Something went down on that mission."

Tank said, "Damn, man. It's bad enough that Ranger wouldn't confide in us and now he's keepin' secrets. Why would he talk to Hector and not us? I ain't happy about none of this shit."

I asked, "What happened at the TPD?"

"Feds came and took the suspects and the records disappeared with them and the TPD employee they paid is dead. Juniak is mightily pissed off and he's called some FBI friends to help communicate with the CIA. None of this is good. We do suspect another TPD employee and I put a team on her already."

"Damn. I'm on Stephanie duty. Who's taking over tracking Ranger?"

Tank said, "Bobby, you take it until I get in touch with Hector. I need to have a talk with him. I gotta' trust my men."

I said, "I think he'll tell you the truth. I didn't get the impression that he was hiding anything."

Tank said, "Good. Go ahead and bring Bomber here. It's too dangerous for her to be in the apartment alone now. Brown, call Hector and send him to Tanner's address first to install listening devices and cameras on your way out. I put Ram and Hal on Tanner surveillance." We both nodded and I headed over to Steph's apartment.

Stephanie's POV

I had just gotten out of the shower when the doorbell rang. I walked out just as Lester was fist bumping Cal who winked and blew me a kiss goodbye. "Beautiful, if you don't lose the towel and put on some clothes, I might lose control and make you a very happy woman." I rolled my eyes at him. Although, I was thinking that I would sure like a little happy that not even Tastykakes and doughnuts were satisfying.

I went to the bedroom and dressed and came back out and kissed him on the cheek. He turned his head and got me on the lips and it was warm and he tasted good. "Mmm...You've been eating butterscotch candy." I stuck out my hand and he grinned and planted one in my hand. "Does anyone know you have this contraband buddy?"

"No. I'm at your mercy, oh gorgeous one." I giggled.

"Beautiful, we have to move you to Rangeman for your safety. So, let's get packing."

"Why, has something else happened? Is Ranger alright?"

"Yes. He's moved to a safe house. There was a situation at the TPD and a murder today that are related to this mess. These are major players after Ranger and they used you to get to him. You have to come, for all of us."

"He..he didn't want me where he is?"

"No. I'm sure it's for your safety. He thought you would be safer with us in the apartment." I couldn't help it. Tears welled and I turned and Lester came up behind me and put his arms around me.

He said, "Steph, he didn't even want us to know where his new safe house was. He's thinking about all of us."

I snuffled and said, "He's not the same Lester. I don't think we're even going to be friends anymore." He turned me in his arms.

"Listen to me, beautiful. He's a fool. If you were mine, I'd never let you go."

I touched his cheek. "That's sweet, Les." I turned and headed to the bedroom to pack my things. Help me. My stupid heart was still aching for Ranger.

Ranger's POV

After some maneuvering to make sure that I didn't have a tail, I had arrived at the new house earlier in the afternoon. I walked in and was pleasantly surprised. The decorator had done an excellent job and the basement had been modeled to my exact specifications.

When I had went out to get my clothes and the bags with the weapons from the car, I had smelled a human nearby and didn't feel alarmed. I figured it was Hector back to work on security. I had been thinking about Susan Tanner and decided to call her.

"Susan Tanner."

"Hello Ms. Tanner. It's Ranger Manoso."

"Thank you for returning my call. Are you coming to the station today?"

I said, "Yes. I'll be leaving soon."

"I won't be there for a couple of hours. Do you mind waiting until then?"

"Not at all. I have other things that I need to do."

"Perfect. I'll see you then." I disconnected.

After unpacking most of my gear and clothes, I checked to see how far Hector had gotten on the security system and was surprised to find that he was very far along. He must have been working all night. I knew how I could burn some time. I needed to pay a visit to the realtor and the decorator for a quick memory erase of the property and then make a domestic run to a store since I didn't have Ella to do it. I phoned both women and then got in my car and headed back the toward Trenton city limits.

Lester's POV

I helped Stephanie settle in and turned to leave the bedroom. "Les, don't leave. Would you stay with me?"

"Sure. I can stay. You okay?"

She said, "I don't want to be here alone. It doesn't feel right here now."

"Okay. Let me see if Ella can whip us up some dinner and I'll go down to my apartment and grab some movies. What do you like, besides Ghostbusters? I don't have that one."

"Okay. Right now I'm feeling like comedy might be good. No porn, Les!"

"Damn!" I hugged her and told that I'd be right back.

I headed out and knocked on Luis and Ella's door to let them know that Steph was here and asked Ella if she had something that she could put together for a quick dinner and she said sure thing and she would even make some cookies. I went down to my apartment to go through my movies and grabbed a few and a change of clothes and headed back up to seven. I was concerned about Steph's current state of mind. She wasn't quite acting like herself. Fuck, recently nobody was!

Ranger's POV

The atmosphere at the Trenton PD was tense when I arrived. I passed Eddie Gazzara on my way in and asked him if something had happened.

He gave me a puzzled look. "You out of touch with your men? They were here while we were on lock down. Feds came and took the bank suspects and erased the records and Danson was bailed out and found dead."

I furrowed my brows and said, "Thanks. I've been out of touch since earlier this morning." This is not good I thought as I headed to Susan's office.

Her door was open and I stopped and leaned against the jamb. She was bent over her desk and I admired the view until she turned and smiled at me. "Mr. Manoso. Thank you for coming. Let's get the business over with first and then move on from there. Shall we..?"

I grinned at her and nodded. She took my official statement regarding the bank hostage situation and then I asked her about the suspects. "Ms. Tanner, were you here when the Feds came to get the suspects?"

"Yes, I was. I wasn't aware that they were being taken and I'm not happy about Danson. I guess you heard about his death." I nodded.

I asked, "Did they find any additional Trenton police that might be involved?"

She said, "Not to my knowledge. Would you be interested in following me home?"

"Would I agree to that for more business or pleasure?"

Her voice changed and she purred, "Which would you prefer, Ranger?"

I gave her a slight smile. "I've had enough business for today. How about pleasure?"

"I do pleasure very well. Then meet me at my home, 1242 Prospect Street."

We arrived about the same time and she opened the door and invited me in. She dropped her suit jacket and bag in the entry way. "Can I offer you a glass of wine, Ranger?"

"No thank you." She kicked off her heels and kept walking and I followed her. She dropped her blouse as she headed through a doorway down the hall and then she stopped and turned and motioned with her pointer finger for me to come. I grinned. I'll bite.

TBC -