WARNING: Language. Afraid Ranger remains in the black abyss for another chapter or two. There's light, I promise. Just not yet.

Chapter 14

Thick walls muffled the voice coming from inside the cell.

"You cocksuckin' motherfuckers! I know you're watchin' me."

Everyone always said the biggest thing about Javier Velasquez was his mouth. Javier himself knew that wasn't technically true. His mouth was only the vocal manifestation of his infinitely larger attitude. When you were a slim build five foot nothin' and spent most of your time on the mean streets, you had to figure out a way to survive. The gang bangers chose to be amused. Javier became their mascot.

"So how do you like this? Huh?"

Currently, Javier's slim build five foot nothin' body occupied a RangeMan holding cell. He was clad only in a pair of boxers that he now yanked down around his knees while turning to waggle his bony ass at the one-way mirror.

"Yeah, how do you like this?"

After a moment of enthusiastic mooning, the boy looked over his shoulder, spit in the direction of the mirror and hiked up his boxers. He plopped down on the narrow cot that along with a stainless john in the corner were the cell's only accoutrements.

Ranger watched from the other side of the one way mirror. "He been like that the whole time?" he asked without taking his eyes off of Javier.

"Yep," Cal replied, "gives us a show every coupla' hours. At least that's been the case when I've been on duty."

While Ranger studied Javier, Cal studied Ranger. Grim. The Boss looked grim. Cal's attention went to the boy in the cell. God, he was young.

Ranger's voice intruded on his man's thoughts. "He eaten anything?"

"Not much," Cal replied, "Peanut butter sandwich or two. Tried to get him to eat some fruit but......"

Ranger cut him off, his voice angry. "I don't care if he's hungry. I want to know if he's going to throw up."

"Oh." Cal waited. "Boss?"

Ranger's gaze shifted focus. "What?"

"I have no doubt this kid shot Tank. He bragged about it to my face, but....but....."

Ranger's response was deliberate and deadly. "This 'kid' planned Tank's murder for ten years. You want me to let him go? Turn him over to Trenton's finest? Maybe we should throw him a party."

Cal hesitated, but finally said, "I.....I don't know, but killing him just doesn't seem right."

"Not your call," Ranger replied unlocking and opening the cell door. Loud enough for Javier to hear he said, "Get me his clothes, cuffs and shackles. I need a van -- throw away plates. Back door. Fifteen minutes." Pointedly, he went on, "You can't do it then get Junior. And, Cal," the big man froze in the face of Ranger's stare, "trust me, I'm going to do the right thing."

Shaken, and not sure whether or not he was being a party to murder, Cal mumbled, "Sure, Boss, okay."

*****

Javier wasn't worried when he heard the cell's lock click -- the musclebound guy with the technicolor forehead had brought him food a couple of times -- it was when he heard the second voice that he did a quick swallow. Shit! Cuffs. Shackles. Throw away plates. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that guy was one scary dude and he was clearly in charge. I'm dead, Javier thought, but that's okay. If he's here, that yellow no good cocksuckin' excuse for a friend must be dead. It means I nailed him, Juan. He let you down, but I nailed him. I'm ready. They won't see me sweat.

As Ranger entered, Javier stayed seated lounging against the cell wall like the cot was a chaise at the beach. "Hey, motherfucker, good to see you. I'd offer you a drink, but the service around here really sucks. Not my usual standards, ya know. Say, ya got any good news? The Big Guy buy it yet?"

What was it with this kid? Ranger wanted to wrap his hands around Javier Velasquez's throat and squeeze until that smart mouth stopped. He struggled to maintain control his face reflecting a murderous resolve. More than once that look had made battle-hardened soldiers beg for their lives, but it didn't seem to bother Javier. The mouth went on as Cal knocked and walked in.

"Look who's here! It's Flaming Skull Boy."

Cal handed the clothes and restraints to Ranger.

Javier continued, "Amigo, come on, party's just gettin' started, but your compadre here isn't much for kicks and giggles."

Silently, Cal shook his head but Javier wouldn't be warned.

"Did ya bring the dancing girls?"

"Get dressed," Ranger ordered dropping the pile of clothing in Javier's lap.

"Nah, don't think so. I'm kinda into this skin thing."

Ranger moved before Javier could react. He grabbed the boy's shoulder in one hand and his T-shirt in the other. "Did I make it sound like an option? It's not."

"Okay, okay. Jeez!" Javier craned his head around to look at Cal. "This guy always have his panties in a bunch?"

Cal gave up. "Vehicle's out back," he said sadly as he left.

Before the boy could mutiny again, Ranger issued a final warning.

"Your stichk might work where you come from, but it doesn't work with me. If you believe for one second that I won't kill you because you're a kid and funny, you are sadly mistaken. You wouldn't be the first……or the youngest."

Javier got dressed.

TBC