OK, my muse was being naughty and wanted to post the last chapter to see what sort of reaction she could get. The following conversations in italics are in Spanish.

As usual I don't own the characters, just the plot.

RANGER'S POV

I was in the middle of a meeting with the core team and leadership, discussing business and staffing changes for the Trenton and Miami offices, when the door to the conference room burst open with such force it smashed into the wall. Chairs were toppled over as everyone leapt to their feet, guns drawn and ready to take out the intruder….it was Hector. WTF? Is he trying to get himself killed?

I opened my mouth to chew him out but the words died in my throat ….

"We found her…" Hec called out. I'd never heard three sweeter words in my entire life.

"Where?" I demanded, holstering my gun and striding for the door, meeting forgotten.

"Pahrump, Nevada"

"Shit. I should have known. The one state where I can't travel."

"Boss, wait, there's a situation." Hec was edgy, shit, I didn't like the sound of this. If we found her any road block or situation would be annihilated. I needed to get to her.

"What situation?" I demanded as Hec moved into the room and took a seat at the conference table, opening up the laptop he held.

"I found her through our news monitoring. The three fugitives on the run from Louisiana, that shot and killed the little girl they took hostage, they were heading west and are now under siege in a diner, with hostages."

My stomach plummeted as Hector typed frantically and we watched the screen over his shoulder. On a breaking news site, there was a picture that was undoubtedly Stephanie in a waitress uniform. She was being referred to as Stephanie Michaels and was identified as being a hostage along with the owner of the diner, two other staff members, and an unknown number of patrons.

The young news announcer with overly heavy makeup was doing her best to appear concerned while relishing the role of being in the spotlight to report on a major news event which had captured the attention of the nation over the last few days "….in breaking news the two fugitives wanted for kidnapping and murder of the young daughter of a prominent federal politician are under siege at a dinner in Pahrump Nevada. Police and authorities have warned the public to avoid the landmark Jake's Dinner, a popular tourist destination, until further notice. The fugitives are armed and dangerous, and the situation has been described as volatile. An unknown number of people are being held as hostages in the historic café and negotiators are on the scene trying to diffuse the situation. To repeat the warning, police are asking…"

It felt like my heart was lodged in my throat and for a split second I thought I might choke or vomit, possibly both. But my training kicked in and shoved everything aside to take charge mode. I had a mission to get to my Babe and the commander and solider in me took control.

"OK listen up …." and I started issuing orders.

Tank was placed in charge, my only focus was to get to Nevada in the quickest way possible. Hal was tasked with arranging transportation and having the Rangeman jet on standby ready to depart as soon as I arrived at the air strip, Les and Hec would accompany me to Nevada. Tanks' priority was to get my firearms violation in the state of Nevada set aside so it didn't hinder my movements. He was on the phone to our lawyers before we even left the conference room. The violation order should have been cleared up months ago except for some over eager district attorney and a technicality.

Within 15 minutes, we were in the SUV headed for the air field. In less than an hour we were in the air headed for Pahrump Nevada.

TBC.