AN: All familiar characters/etc. belong to Janet Evanovich. I am not making any profit from this.
Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to read, follow, favorite and review this story. I appreciate all of your feedback! And sorry for taking so long to post a new chapter, I promise it won't be as long for the next one. (I got sidetracked w/ reading fanfic stories – I'm sure you can relate!)
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SP POV
After a bit of a hurried morning because both Krista and I accidently slept in (shocking, I know), I managed to make it into work on time, barely. I quickly dropped my purse off in my office, grabbed my notebook and the file for my 8AM meeting with the Capellos and headed to the client conference room on the first floor.
"Good morning Ranger," I greeted as I took my seat next to Ranger and quickly flipped through the client file. It was all information that confirmed rumors that had surrounded the Capello family for years. They were involved in less than legal entrepreneurial endeavors, which have led to the need for expected security measures. The latest threat seems to have germinated from the recent issues their apartment (using a very loose interpretation of the word) buildings have had.
"Cutting it close Babe." Ranger replied. "I like the look though, definitely worth being a few minutes late," Ranger said, giving me a once over, lingering on the cream wraparound sweater that showed a hint of cleavage. I had paired it with a white, cream and bronze tweed pencil skirt with bronze pyramid grommet detailing at the waist and bronze 4in platform pumps.
I rolled my eyes and continued reading the file until Binkie, who was working the lobby desk walked the patriarch of the Capello family, his son and his nephew into the conference room. Mr. Capello was a lean man with salt and pepper hair and stood a little under 6ft. Both his son and nephew were around 6ft with thick black hair and the same olive toned skin as Mr. Capello. His nephew had a slightly more muscular build while his son was showing the onset of a beer gut. All three had angular facial features, pointed chins and slightly cold, calculating eyes that left no doubt in my mind that they were capable of the sinister things rumors attributed to them.
I was surprised that they didn't bring their bodyguards into the meeting, but I figured they probably left them in the car seeing as to how this meeting was for additional security and it would be disrespectful to Ranger to imply they needed bodyguards in his secured building. Even the Capellos weren't brazen enough to disrespect Ranger in his own house.
"Mr. Capello," Ranger said, rising and shaking their hands. "And may I introduce my associate Stephanie Plum," he said, gesturing to me.
I reached out to shake the elder Mr. Capello's hand. "Please, call me Giorgio, Ms. Plum, and this is my son, Franco, and my nephew, Mario," Giorgio said, raising my hand to his lips and lingering for longer than I was comfortable.
"Please, call me Stephanie." I replied, quickly shaking Franco and Mario's hands and squelching the icky feeling Giorgio's kiss left me with. I plastered a slightly forced smile on and offered them water or coffee, which they declined.
"So Giorgio, you mentioned that you had some security needs that RangeMan could help you with." Ranger said, getting the meeting started with his usual economy of speech.
"Yes, well, I'm sure you've heard of the recent tragedy that befell one of our apartment buildings. Since then, we have received a number of threatening letters and anonymous phone calls," he explained, gesturing to a large, glutted manila envelope he had laid on the conference table.
"I see," Ranger said, waiting for any of the Capellos to explain what exactly they wanted RangeMan to help with.
"We don't need help with personal security or anything like that, we already have full time security. But Dad's worried about potential protesters disrupting the benefit." Franco explained apathetically, as if the threats and this meeting were a waste of his time.
"Benefit?" I questioned.
"Yes, we are hosting a benefit for the Trenton Homeless Shelter next Saturday evening and we need everything to go smoothly. It would not do to have protesters marring our philanthropic endeavor." Giorgio elaborated.
"And in what capacity did you want to retain RangeMan services?" Ranger inquired.
"We would like to hire RangeMan to secure the benefit which will take place at our Hiltonia property." Giorgio answered.
"What all would that entail?" Ranger asked.
"We would need the entrances monitored to make sure only guests would be allowed in."
"What about your catering staff? We should probably check them to make sure no potential protesters enter via that route." I added. Ranger shot me an almost smile that I took to mean he was pleased with my suggestion.
"Absolutely. We can also provide RangeMan with the guest list so they can be vetted as well." Giorgio replied.
"This seems very doable," I said, surreptitiously checking to see if Ranger agreed, "however, I was just wondering why you wouldn't have your own personal security team handle the benefit?" I could tell from my periphery Ranger, along with Mario tensed slightly at my bold question.
"Well," Giorgio chortled, "our security is adept at bodyguarding specifically, not securing a room full of civilians or running security checks on a large number of people. Also, we have high hopes for the benefit, and I know all those in attendance would feel more comfortable with a highly reputed firm such as RangeMan handling the security needs."
"We will need all of the written, verbal and other threats made as well as a detailed schedule for the benefit, names of all those that will be present, guests and staff and blue prints for your property. Additionally, we'll have to do a walk through of the location prior to the event." Ranger explained.
"Of course. The blueprints and schedule are here," Giorgio said, indicating a second manila envelope. "We will get you the rest of the information as soon as possible. When would you be able to have a proposal ready?"
"By tomorrow," Ranger answered.
"Until tomorrow then," Giorgio said, standing and offering his hand once again for Ranger to shake. After another round of handshakes, we all moved towards the door.
"Babe, why don't you show them out," Ranger requested. I nodded in assent and led the Capellos to the front door across from the lobby where Binkie was dutifully manning the phones from behind a black wood and glass semi-circular desk which blended seamlessly with the gleaming black marble floor.
After walking the Capellos out, I headed back to my office, trying to slough off the icky feeling the meeting had left me with. I couldn't understand why Ranger even wasted time meeting with the Capellos, they were not nice people and helping them was definitely against Ranger's moral code. And the once over all three of them gave me was enough to give me goose-bumps and send my spidey sense into overdrive.
I was interrupted from my musings when I found Ranger waiting for me in my office. Perfect, just the man to explain why RangeMan is wasting time and resources on the Capellos. "So Ranger, I've been wondering, why exactly did we just spend the last thirty minutes with the Capellos. They are terrible people! I'm sure you've heard about the recent fire in one of the Capello housing slums that left 2 dead and close to a hundred people homeless. If they truly cared about the homeless they would follow proper building codes and stop cutting corners in construction." I ranted as Ranger watched from his perch, leaned against my desk with his arms crossed over his muscular chest and his ankles crossed in his black on black business casual attire. The further along I got in my diatribe the closer Ranger got to smirking at me. "Well?!" I demanded petulantly.
"Babe."
"Don't Babe me, Ranger. I want an explanation, RangeMan is better than working for the Capellos, so out with it. What's going on?" I insisted, arms akimbo and tapping one stiletto heeled foot.
After a few seconds of silence Ranger gave in and decided to share with the class. "Well, RangeMan had been approached by the FBI several months ago to help bring down the Capello family. Unfortunately, at the time we had no in. Now things have changed, we'll be able to use our access to the Capello estate to help the FBI finally nail the Capellos."
"Oh, well, I'm glad we're not actually helping the Capellos and that we're doing something to effect change" I replied lamely, Ranger having effectively eliminated my argument.
"I thought you knew me well enough to know I wouldn't help someone like Giorgio Capello." Ranger said, a slightly aggrieved look flashing across his face before his blank mask slammed firmly into place. "I have worked hard to cultivate RangeMan's reputation, and because of the company standards people like the Capellos know that there is no way our employees would turn a blind eye to corruption or illegal practices which is why they would never try to hire us for their personal security needs." Ranger explained in a clipped tone. "We have a meeting with the FBI at 1030 in the large first floor conference room."
"I'll see you there." I replied to Ranger's back as he exited my office. I plopped down in my chair and prepared to return emails and messages, thankful for the reprieve from what was looking to be a Capello filled day. Once I was done I headed down to the gun range to get in my mandatory weekly hour of target practice.
Before I knew it, it was 10:30AM and time for our meeting with the FBI. I headed down to the conference room, curious to learn what the plan was to use the RangeMan's access to the Capellos to help the FBI.
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RM POV
"All right people, let's get this meeting started," I announced, effectively ending the chatter in the conference room. I looked around the room from my position at the head of the table. Babe and my core team, Tank, Lester and Bobby, were seated on either side of me. Next to Stephanie were two FBI agents who were seated across from Morelli, the TPD liaison. "Agent Berring, would you like to get everyone up to speed." I said, addressing the senior FBI agent who was seated at the other end of the conference table.
Berring was a highly decorated agent and had made a name for himself as an honest, dogged detective who specialized in organized crime and RICO cases. He was in his early forties, maintained a lean physique and had alert eyes that were constantly assessing and calculating. I imagine it was what had kept him successful and alive despite going after some of the most notorious criminal families in the North-East.
"Well we're all here to plan the take down of the Capello crime family. The FBI, state police and TPD have had no luck in infiltrating or acquiring inside information on the Capellos. We were aware that they had been receiving threats due to the recent fire in one of their slums, which led to rumors of hiring outside security for their upcoming charity benefit. The Capellos are receiving a lot of negative press for the recent fire and they need this benefit to go smoothly to maintain their position of favor with prominent city officials. RangeMan is their top choice for outside security and the FBI's chance at planting bugs within the Capello headquarters."
"And what exactly is it that you want RangeMan to do to help?" Lester asked.
"We want you to plant recording devices that the FBI will provide within the Capello property," Agent Denison, Berring's partner expounded.
"Actually, if we agree to help, we will be using our own supplies and monitoring the feeds. If any relevant information is recorded, then we will provide the recordings to the FBI." I corrected. "Our recording devices are less conspicuous and much more reliable."
"Hey-" Berring began before being cutoff by Steph.
"Excuse me? This could be very damaging to RangeMan's reputation, colluding with law enforcement against a client. Given that, we'll be setting the terms of our… partnership." Babe interjected. Her getting heated up on behalf of RangeMan's image and integrity was definitely hot, especially since it caused a light blush to suffuse her delicate features.
"Well said. Given that you need us," I said, leveling a look at Agent Berring, "RangeMan will be using our own superior resources and supplies. How we complete our objective isn't any of your concern and is not up for debate."
"Fine Manoso, use your own toys and don't give us anything unless it's useful, but you'd better get results, especially for what we're paying you." Berring replied.
"Rest assured, we're worth every penny." Babe quipped.
"Additionally, no one outside of this room should know about RangeMan's involvement, no one. If the information gets out there will be serious repercussions, clear?" I added. There was no way I would allow RangeMan to be subjected to gossip suggesting we didn't have our clients' best interests and privacy at heart, even if most people would agree helping shut down the Capellos is the right thing to do. We've worked too hard to let our company be sullied because the FBI needed help doing its job.
Once Morelli, Berring and Denison nodded their assent the meeting ended. I gathered my notes so I could head up to the conference room on five to brief the RangeMan employees that would be a part of the operation. As I levered myself out of the comfortable office chair, I noticed Denison chatting with Babe.
"So, Stephanie, how did you get into this line of work?" Denison asked.
"Oh well, I used to be a BEA which is how I met Ranger and the guys. Turns out I'm much better at the client relations side of things here at RangeMan than actually muscling FTAs back to the pokey."
"Wow, you were a bounty hunter? I'm having a hard time picturing that" he replied, giving her a once over that lingered far to long in my opinion. Unfortunately for him, this caught the attention of the rest of the core team, all of whom tended to be a bit overprotective of Babe.
"Yeah, Bombshell here was the best. Always got her man!" Bobby added with a smirk.
"Bombshell?" Denison questioned.
"Yeah, you know, Trenton's very own Bombshell Bounty Hunter. Steph's practically a celebrity." Lester added, immune to the death glare Babe was sending his way.
"Wow, I'd love to hear about that sometime. Maybe over dinner?" Denison said hopefully.
His blatant interest must have caught Babe off-guard because she shot up off her seat and began hurriedly gathering her notes. "Oh well, thanks, but I'm not actually a fan of the moniker." Babe mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
"Well, here's my card." Denison said, thrusting a small piece of cream cardstock into Babe's hands, "give me a call sometime, I'd love to hear more about how you ended up in the security field." Well, he got points for tenacity, especially given that Morelli, Lester, Tank, Bobby and myself were eyeing him menacingly.
"Um thanks Agent Denison. Well, I'll see you guys up on five," Babe said and scuttled out of the conference room and headed down the hallway toward the sleek slate doors of the elevator.
"So, you got a thing for Cupcake?" Morelli asked Denison. "Good luck," he said before heading out of the conference room, snickering.
"You should know that here at RangeMan, we're like a family, mostly because of Little Girl, so just know that we'll be watching over her, her daughter and anyone who becomes a part of her life." Tank said leveling Denison with a glowering gaze.
"Sh-she has a daughter?" Denison asked, gulping noticeably at Tank's implied threat.
"Yeah, she does. It's new but she's pretty great at it." Bobby answered.
"Come on, its Beautiful, she's great at everything she puts her mind to." Lester added.
"Ok well, I think I'm going to head out. Agent Berring and I will be in touch." Denison said, scurrying away with averted eyes.
"I thought he was gonna piss himself when he saw the look you were shooting his way, Boss." Tank chortled as we headed to the stairwell.
"Yeah, I kinda wanted to warn him that he was moving in on you, Ranger, but then I thought it'd be more fun to watch him figure it out and flounder," Lester said.
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SP POV
"Okay, let's go over things before we pull in the guys that will be running security at the benefit for the Capellos." Ranger announced to Tank, Lester, Bobby and me.
"So, what's the plan for bugging the Capello estate for the Feds?" Tank asked, getting the meeting on track.
"We'll use the benefit as cover to plant bugs at the Capello's. RangeMan will be purchasing a table at the benefit, so the five of us will attend with dates and plant the wires throughout the house while an additional team of ten guys will be working security at the benefit." Ranger explained.
"Waiiit guys, how exactly to we plan to bug the Capello's during the benefit while we have dates and avoid getting caught. Not all of us are ninjas Ranger!" I exclaimed. Sure the plan sounded simple when he gave us the overview, but I'd learned the hard way things didn't always go according to the plan and it was best to prepare for contingencies and emergencies.
"You, Tank and Bobby will keep eyes on the Capello family members while Lester and I plant the listening devices throughout the Capello property."
"I get how we keep an eye out, but how will you surreptitiously escape a room full of people to skulk through the house? And with a date no less? People will notice, not to mention the Merry Men that will be working security that night, which I'm sure includes making sure guests remain in the approved areas of the house." I countered.
"No worries Beautiful," Lester said, winking at me, "Ranger and I will use PDA to distract people from questioning why we're skulking about, as you put it."
"Any questions?" Ranger asked.
My attention was still focused on Lester, I was stuck on the Ranger, his date and the planned PDA which caught me unaware like a sucker punch to the gut. Luckily for me Lester could tell I needed something to shock me from my mental torpor and proceeded to regale me by flexing his left then right pectoral muscles repeatedly while wiggling his eyebrows impishly. I couldn't help the laughter that came bubbling out of my mouth.
Ranger cleared his throat quite loudly, "we're almost through this meeting, Babe, please be professional."
I snorted in response. He's the one referring to his work colleague as 'Babe' and I'm the one who isn't a professional. Double standards anyone?
Ranger did his almost smile thing, "Okay, Tank and I will meet with the guys who will be tapped for security at the benefit. Remember that no one outside of the five of us can know about the mission for the Feds," Ranger said, dismissing us. "Oh and Santos, mats at 0500."
I guess he did see Lester's peck dance. Damn that peripheral vision.
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SP POV
The rest of the day went by in a flash. I had a few client meetings lined up after which I picked up Krista for a quick lunch at Pino's, which I'm sure piqued the Burg gossip mill's interest, and headed home. While Krista took a nap and then did her homework of reading and a number worksheet, I completed some paperwork and followed up with a few clients who had questions regarding their new security systems.
Krista and I fixed a dinner of salad and homemade mac and cheese (Mare was gracious enough to share her secret recipe, the secret, by the way, is a special blend of three types of cheese) and then spent the rest of the evening having a dance party in the living room and playing Wii. By 8PM we were both tuckered out. I put Krista to bed after regaling her with a story about Lady Stephanie, Sir Carlos the Brave and the Porsche chariot that both exploded and was pancaked by a garbage cart.
It's crazy how well our lives were blending together. It felt so natural to be spending time with her and I absolutely loved all of the little things we did together like fixing dinner, playing games, hearing about her day and telling her bedtime stories. It had been less than two weeks and I couldn't imagine my life without Krista. I still carried the pain of losing V and Dom, but it was dulling and being replaced by all of the memories Krista and I were making together.
I spent the rest of my evening on the phone with Becks to catch up, avoid her questions about when I planned on reading the letter V left me in her will and invite her to the RangeMan outing after she coyly asked about Lester's relationship status. I could totally see the two of them together, they were both fun-loving and laid back and would have fun together. After girl talk with Becks, I spent the next hour or so honing my fledgling Spanish skills and trying not to think about the fact that I would have to watch Ranger and a date PDA their way through the benefit and the Capello estate in a little over a week.