Chapter 24
Danny went to Rangemen the next day, and he met Tank who was outside waiting for him.
"Hi, I am Tank," Tank said.
"Hi, I am Danny," Danny said.
Tank looked Danny over and noticed that he was broad shouldered like Lester, but had longer brown hair and blue eyes.
"Okay Danny, let's start by getting your physical done." They walked inside Rangemen and then into the medical room. "This is Bobby. He will do your physical," Tank said. "After he is done send him to me so I can do the security check on him," Tank said.
"Got it," Bobby said.
"Okay let's go we have some work to do," Bobby said and then they walked over to the treadmill to start.
Meanwhile, at the Manoso house, Ranger was fighting with Michelle, because she did not want to go to school.
"Michelle, why don't you want to go to school today?" Carlos asked his daughter.
"Because I don't want a man to come and shoot up the place," Michelle said.
"Listen baby girl nobody is going to shoot up your school. That was just some nut job who did that because he thought he could use you against me and I got him right?" Carlos said to Michelle.
"Yeah," Michelle said.
"So there is nothing to worry about," Carlos told her while he was holding her in his arms.
"I still don't want to go," Michelle said.
"What if I go with you and stayed with you for a while? Would that be okay?" her father asked her.
"Sure I'd like that," Michelle said.
"Okay, then let's get dressed and go. We are running late," Carlos said and he left her to get changed.
Ranger came out in his Black Rangemen t shirt and his cargo pants. "All right who is ready to go to school?" Carlos asked.
"We are," the twins said.
"Good then let's go," Carlos said.
"Tricia we are leaving for school. If Tank calls tell him I will be a little late," Ranger said to her.
"Got it," Tricia said and Ranger left with the twins for preschool.
Meanwhile Steph was at her classes. She had met a lot of interesting people at the college, and she was really enjoying her time there. Lester noticed her studying and came by her table and joined her with some food.
"Here you go. You need to eat too," Lester said.
"Thanks." And then she pushed her books aside and started to eat her omelet.
Ranger was sitting with Michelle and reading her a book when Mrs. Alice came up to them and asked, "Mr. Manoso can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure thing. Michelle, I am going to talk with Mrs. Alice. I'll be back," Carlos said. And then he left Michelle and went to talk to her teacher.
"What is going on with Michelle this morning?" Mrs. Alice said.
"The gunman on Tuesday really scared her. She slept with me and my wife last night. And this morning she did not want to come to school," Carlos said.
"The only way I could convince her to come was if I came with her," Carlos continued.
"We don't want her to get too clingy to you so we have to get her to feel safe here again," Mrs. Alice said.
"I don't know how to do that. I would love some ideas," Ranger said to her.
"Well let's take her on a tour of the school and show her all the safety precautions that we have here. Maybe that will help," Mrs. Alice said.
"Hi there Michelle, how about we go for a walk with your Dad?" Mrs. Alice said.
"Okay," she said.
"Martin, I will be right back," Michelle told him.
"Okay Sis," Martin said. Then Michelle, Ranger and Mrs. Alice went out in the hall.
"Michelle, you see that camera there in the hallway?" Mrs. Alice said. "That camera sends a signal to Rangemen where your Dad works so that he will come if there is a problem here," she said to Michelle.
"So he is watching us?" she asked Mrs. Alice.
"Yes, he is. He and his friends are watching us and if there is trouble again like on Tuesday then he will come here and fix the trouble if I can't handle it," Mrs. Alice said.
"I knew that you were in trouble on Tuesday thanks to Uncle Tank, he saw the monitor on the Rangemen control room. Then he called me and then I came and got the bad guy. Now if that ever happens again I will come and catch the bad guy for you. I promise," Carlos said as he bent down to get to his daughter's level.
She wrapped her arms around him and started to cry.
"It is okay, baby girl, I am right here, and I will always be here for you," Ranger said as he held her.
"Now I really need to go to work and you need to be strong and go back into that classroom okay Michelle? And remember that if you need me I am always watching over you with the camera right there." Ranger pointed to the camera and said "We have a trip alarm right here see?" Ranger pointed to the trip alarm. "So if someone comes and is not welcome here he will trigger an alarm to Rangemen and they will come and I will be there too," Ranger said.
"Okay Daddy, you can go back to work and I will go to class," she said as she wiped her arm across her face to stop the tears.
"Good girl," Ranger said and then gave her a hug and then left the school.
Michelle waved bye to her father.
He waved back and then got in the SUV and went to Rangemen.
He got to Rangemen and went into the building. "Hey Boss, you're late."
"I know that Hal," Ranger said.
"I had a problem with Michelle, she did not want to go to school today because of what happened on Tuesday. For the past two days she has been sleeping with me and Stephanie. I don't know what to do," Ranger said to Hal.
"Everybody works out these types of situations differently boss. It's especially hard when they are so young like Michelle. She has been through so much already," Hal said to him.
"I know. Maybe I should have her speak to someone here like our psychiatrist," Ranger said.
"It might help. It is something to think about," Hal said.
Meanwhile at the school, Helen Plum's car pulled up in the parking lot.
"Mom, you just cannot take the kids out of school like this," Valerie said.
"This is no school not with Rangemen watching over the kids like this," Helen said.
"Mom, if you try this you will be putting the restraining order back in effect. Do you really want that?" Valerie asked.
"No, but I want them close to me and this is the only way to do it. Now are you coming in or not," Helen said.
"No! I am not coming this is a totally bad idea mom," Valerie said.
"Fine, I will get them myself!" Then Helen left and walked inside the building tripping over the trip wire and setting off a Rangemen alarm.
The alarm started to buzz at Rangemen. Ranger got the call.
"Yo," Ranger said.
"Your mother-in-law is trying to take the kids out of school," Hal said.
"Got it. I am on my way," Ranger said.
"Tank, I need you," Ranger said in his cell phone. Then he bumped into Hal. "You too Hal let's go before the parents are warned about this. Call Morelli. I want a Restraining order on Helen again and put one on Valerie. I know she is with her mother too. I can see her sitting in Helen's car," Ranger said.
Then they left for Happy Zone Preschool.
"Hi, can I help you?" Mrs. Alice said to Helen Plum.
"Yes, I would like to pick up my grandchildren," Helen said to her.
"And they are?" Mrs. Alice asked.
"Michelle and Martin Manoso. I am Ranger's mother- in-law. He did not tell you I was picking them up today?" Helen asked.
"No, he did not and he spent a good deal of the day here," Mrs. Alice said.
"Oh well, this is all a misunderstanding, but I am here now," Helen said.
Then she saw the twins and said, "Hi babies. Grandma Plum is here to pick you up."
The twins huddled close with Sam. Michelle started to cry again.
Sam said, "Don't cry Michelle it makes me sad when you cry."
"I am sorry but unless we have written consent that you are here picking them up we cannot let them go. And you have to leave you are upsetting the children," Mrs. Alice said.
"I sorry I don't mean to upset them I just want to take my grandchildren," Helen said.
Then she walked in and picked Michelle up and took Martin's hand.
All of a sudden the door opened and Ranger, Hal and Tank came in and saw Helen holding the kids.
"Daddy!" Michelle said and then she wiggled out of Grandma's arms and went running to him.
He picked her up and said, "It is okay, baby girl, I am here just like I said I was going to be. I brought Uncle Tank and Uncle Hal here too see."
"I see," she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Now why don't you and your brother go with Uncle Tank," Ranger said to them.
"Come on Martin let's go," Michelle said.
Martin looked at Grandma Plum very confused.
"I sorry Grandma Plum but I have to go with my Daddy and Sister." Then he kissed her hand and walked over to Michelle where Uncle Tank was.
"Tank, take them outside and wait for Morelli to come," Ranger said.
"Okay Boss," Tank said.
"Helen come here. I am very disappointed in you. I thought you learned something after the Restraining order expired. But I guess you didn't so I have to put the restraining order back into effect for both you and Valerie," Ranger said.
"Please not Valerie. This was not her fault. It was my idea. She tried to tell me not to do it. Don't take the kids away from her too," Helen said.
"Too late she has tried to reunite the twins and Ashley with you before so this time she gets one too!" Ranger yelled at Helen.
All of a sudden Morelli came in with the restraining orders. "Here you go Manoso," Morelli said and then handed one to Helen. "You are in violation of the restraining order, Helen. If you leave now you won't be arrested," Morelli said.
All of a sudden Valerie came in and said, "Nice going mom now I have one too. Let's go I don't want to call Albert from jail," Valerie said.
"Hi, Aunt Valerie," Martin said.
"Hi sweetie. You be good for your Dad and Mom." Then Valerie and Helen left.
Michelle went running up to her Dad again.
"Hi, there Baby girl, you are okay," Ranger said.
"Come here Martin," Ranger told his son.
"Dad, why did Grandma Plum and Aunt Valerie want to take us out of school?" Martin asked.
"She probably wanted you someplace close to her that is all," Ranger said.
"Dad, can you stay with us for a little while?" Michelle asked.
"I would appreciate it too actually," Mrs. Alice said.
"All right I will stay with you for a little while but I have to have Uncle Tank and Uncle Hal go back to the office okay so I will be right back," Ranger said.
"Hey guys I am going to stay here for a while. If you two could bring my SUV back here that would be great. The twins and Mrs. Alice are pretty badly shaken," Ranger said.
"Okay no problem Boss," Tank said and then they left back for Rangemen.
Hal and Tank got back to Rangemen and Danny was there waiting for Tank.
"Sorry, Danny, we had a problem at the preschool but it is all taken care of now. Everything is fine," Tank said.
"Was it Sam?" Danny asked.
"No, it was not. It was the Manoso twins. Grandmother tried to pick them up without permission. But we took care of it," Tank said.
"Now how about you fill out the Security Check forms and then by the time I get back you will be all set to pick your son up from school," Tank said.
"Sure thing," Danny said.
"Great," Tank said. Then he led the way to the conference room and Danny filled out the forms while Tank and Hal drove Ranger's SUV to him.
By the time they got the SUV to Ranger school was over. The kids ran up to Uncle Tank and Uncle Hal and gave them a hug.
"Here you go Boss, sorry it took so long." Tank said as he was holding Michelle.
"No problem, how are things at Rangemen?" Ranger asked.
"Good. Danny is working on the security check right now so we have to get back. I am putting you off grid today Boss so I will see you tomorrow," Tank said.
"Thanks Tank," Ranger said.
Then he saw Danny drive up. "Hi, Danny. Finished the paperwork?"
"Yes, I did. Thanks again I hope it works out," Danny said.
"So do I. You would be a great addition to the team." Then Ranger took the kids home.
They saw Lester's car and knew that mommy was home.
"Hi, Mommy, guess what? Daddy spent the day with us at preschool. We saw Grandma Plum there too. She wanted to take us out of school but Daddy came like he said he would and stopped her," Michelle said. And then she went into the living room to play.
"Okay so what else did I miss?" Stephanie asked as she kissed her husband.
"I had to put a restraining order back on her and one on Valerie. Babe, I am sorry about that," Ranger said.
"It is okay. I thought it was too good to be true," Stephanie said. "I am just glad that you three came home today." Then she kissed Carlos on the lips.
"Aww gross stop that," Martin said.
Both Ranger and Stephanie laughed and then went to talk to the kids about their day.