Stephanie was clipping her wristwatch and hooking her earrings to finish dressing for her interview. "Carlos, are you almost ready to leave?"

He stormed out of the master bathroom like yesterday morning, "What's this?" His black pants lowered showing a well defined sculpted ass to her. On his opposite cheek was another tattoo. It read "Property of Stephanie."

"A tattoo, Silly. You would have felt me actually branding you." She licked her lips and smacked them, "We don't have time for any more sex."

"YOU. ARE. TROUBLE!"

At that moment they could hear Frank's muffled voice telling Bobby, Lester, and Tank to come in downstairs. Ranger didn't have time to scrub it off so he zipped up his black cargo pants and hooked his belt all the while staring at Stephanie. He couldn't believe he slept through her tattooing him twice. The man was trained to be alert even as he slept, but he has never been so contended lying next to any woman like he was with Stephanie. That fact right there told him how much he loved and trusted her. Well, maybe after this he needed to sleep with one eye open.

"What a perfect ass," Stephanie scraped her painted fingernails over the tattoo through his cargos and slipped out of the room so he could tie his boots.

"Babe!" Ranger had a bigger problem than words on his ass, it was the bulge in the front of his pants. "Damn Woman!"

"Mommy, the big car is here!" Paulo was at the front storm door with Tiana taking in the limousine on the street. She heard their excited calls coming down the steps. "Hurry!"

"Ain't this a pip," Grandma was drooling. "Take a picture," handing her cell phone to Lester. "Come on, Kiddies, we need pictures." Edna Mazur took her great-grandchildren's hands heading out ahead of anyone else to the shiny black limousine.

Movie Star Edna in a wide brimmed pink hat to match her hot pink rhinestone encrusted sweatsuit and her big white sunglasses reclined on the fender with her head propped up on her fist and sneakered foot barely touching the ground for balance. The children were leaning into her smiling. The Plum family and Rangemen were all laughing at the impromptu photo shoot.

A maroon mini-van screeches to a halt with Mary Lou jumping out. "Don't forget me!" just as Stephanie was locking her front door.

Tank was on the far side next to Frank Plum and away from Grandma. Mary Lou took the side seat leaving Ranger, Stephanie, Paulo, and Tiana the rear seat.

"Ready?" Chauffer Lester called turning around to show his hat with 'Limo Kings' embroidered on it. Bobby had one to match. Stephanie just buckled her children in with the seat belts avoiding the seething glare their boss was giving.

"Go," Paulo instructed.

Ranger bellowed, "Santos, where did you get those?"

"We want to look professional in our side business. Down at 'Big Ed's Used Cars', he has a '49 Fleetwood Cadillac Rangeman could buy for the skip pick-up service. It needs a little work, but it runs. Vintage is hot now."

"Why should Rangeman buy it? This is yours and his endeavor." Ranger nodded in Bobby's direction.

"You have all the money. We're pee-ons in the company."

The boss appeared ready to lunge at his throat, "Think about it!" The glass partition went up before Lester lost his life.

Ranger muttered more to himself, "The Dumber Brothers." He came back to reality from the insanity dimension feeling the tenseness in Stephanie's hand he was holding, "You'll be great, Babe."

"Carlos, this is like a whole sixty minute show. What if Donna starts to ask questions about us like that other reporter?"

"Answer honestly or tell her that's private. She's been instructed not to ask any questions regarding your mother and sister's case. It will be fine. Discuss the fund raiser and questions about your new books. If she tries to get off the subject, direct her back to the topic."

She nodded, "I don't want to discuss one syllable about Mom and Valerie."

His eyebrow raised smirking at her, "We'll be there if we need a diversion backstage."

She just looked at Ranger with a quizzical expression of her face. They had her Grandma Mazur to moon the cameras or someone if necessary.

Lester pulled right in front of 'KTRN'. Ranger exited and held out a hand to Stephanie. "You're beautiful." She had on the same long denim dress as she did in Boston. Her hair was up with tendrils around her face and he couldn't help admire her grace and beauty.

"You're good for a girl's confidence, Cuban Man."

"It's the truth, Babe."

A security guard opened the front glass doors for the group. Grandma walked in first in her wide brimmed hat and flashy sunglasses, "No thanks. We brought our own security."

"Stephanie Plum," the children's author told the midget of a man next to her own security force.

Showing Ross the Security Guard a card in his wallet. "Carlos Manoso, Head of Security for Miss Plum and her family."

Ross read it, then scanned the small arsenal on the hips of the four Rangemen, "Go ahead," he stumbled. He was outmanned and totally out gunned.

"Stephanie, I'm Carson Pinkerton, Donna Jones' producer, this way." He gave a nervous glance at her security force. "Do you always travel with this much security?" he whispered to her.

"No," shaking his hand. "It is a little overboard," sneaking a peek at the man beside her.

"Carlos Manoso, Rangeman Security," Ranger shook his hand, "we're here to make sure everything goes as planned."

The producer was shaking his hand in the air that was squeezed a little too tight. "We expect everything to run smoothly," his voice was slightly higher because of his pain.

Stephanie jabbed Ranger in the ribs.

"Let's make a stop in make-up," he turned the knob of the first door they came to in the hallway.

"Joe," Frank Plum let out, "have you neglected to tell me something?" Seeing the Mayor of Trenton and his friend in a chair. A woman just finished dusting his face with powder to remove any shininess.

"I'll never tell, Frank. How have you been feeling? I heard about you getting sick at the courthouse," Joe Juniak gave his friend a pat on the back.

"Actually, really good. Stephanie's house is calm. I walk the puppy, work in the yard, and have my own suite at her house with my big screen TV. Look," Stephanie's father held out his waistband of his khaki pants, "I lost a few."

"Good for you. Stephanie will make sure you're taken care of. Hi, Edna, that was some job you did on Ellen's car."

"It was worth me losing all those vibrators and dildos. I got a big 'O' from that," Grandma was looking in the jars and make-up trays as she talked. "I think this is right for me." She had a deep violet eye shadow in her hand.

"Let's go, Crazy Old Bat, so Stephanie can get ready," following Mr. Pinkerton out of the room. Only Ranger, Paulo, and Tiana stayed with her.

The door opened and Donna Jones came sweeping in, "Stephanie, how nice to meet you!" She stopped suddenly as if her high heels were stuck in the La Brea Tar Pits seeing the tall, dark handsome man next to her guest. The 'AM Trenton' hostess was about forty, but was dressed as if she was out of the 1940's.

"Donna, this is Carlos Manoso of Rangeman Security." Stephanie introduced from the make-up chair, "and my children, Paulo and Tiana."

"Hello," she gushed over Ranger and gave the young children quick, 'Hi's'. "You're that famous bounty hunter around Trenton. My viewers would just love to hear what it takes to do your job as would I. I could schedule an interview, maybe a series, and even show you picking up those dregs of society."

Stephanie saw Nobel Prize and high sweeps week ratings in her ideas and off the early morning show for Donna.

"No." Ranger cut her off and turned his attention to Stephanie, "Babe, I'm going to check out the security." He was just at the door, his intense dark eyes on the morning show hostess in her forties style polka dotted dress and tight updo. "Stick to the script," and never waited for a reply closing the door after him.

"Oh my God, that is a hunk of maleness!"

"Mommy's boyfriend is Cuban," Paulo and Tiana were giving her their impression of Macho.

Stephanie couldn't help her giggles at her children.

Donna Jones was interviewing the Mayor of Trenton about the city budget. "I understand there is a benefit being held at a local restaurant, Pino's, for the remodeling of the children's library."

"Yes, Donna, a family evening with all the ticket proceeds going toward the project. Trenton's own Children's Author of the Year, Stephanie Plum, has been instrumental in organizing the evening."

"And she is here with us today. Let's congratulate the American Library Association's Children's Author of the Year."

Stephanie came walking out from behind a backdrop of Trenton's skyline shaking hands with her hostess, mayor, and quick wave to the audience.

"So, Stephanie, tell us what does it feel like to be chosen as the Children's Author of the Year?"

"Wow!" she settled between Donna Jones and Joe Juniak trying to be calm. "It hasn't quite settled in yet. When I wrote a story based upon some doodles I had done one night for something to do, I remembered why enjoyed my creative writing class in college and read it to my best friend, Mary Lou, and her young sons, they liked 'Sam', I never expected the envelopes I dropped in a mailbox would lead to this. I'm extremely honored parents, grandparents, and caregivers purchase my storybooks for the young children in their lives. Without them, I would still be a lingerie buyer probably."

"How did you become involved in this benefit for the children's library?" The morning show hostess asked with a flat tone in her voice.

"Well," she was trying to choose her words carefully.

Joe Juniak touched her arm, "Be honest, Stephanie."

"Mary Lou and I talked regularly with me living in Chicago and she complained a little how dingy the children's section was and her sons used it a lot for school."

Making conversation with her new guest, "How long have you and this Mary Lou been friends?"

"Since birth. We were next to each other in the nursery. She came with me today for support. Do you want to meet her?" Stephanie inquired.

People in the audience were saying 'Yes' and what could Donna Jones do but agree, "OK."

The author jumped up and disappeared around the partition coming back with her best friend by the arm. "This is Mary Lou Stankovic," Stephanie introduced and the audience greeted her. The show became very animated with the two women and the mayor discussing next week's benefit.

"The extra tickets were sold out," Joe Juniak informed them. "The children and their families benefit the most from the library so we've made it a fun family night with pizza at Pino's. We have raffle tickets for various prizes and games. All the money raised goes directly to the library remodel."

"It will be great. Lenny, the boys, and I can't wait!" Mary Lou hugged her best friend, "It's so good you're home."

The Mayor greeted, "Hi, Mary Lou."

"Hi, how's the Mayor's office?"

"Busy and budget stuff."

Stephanie asked the audience, "Has anyone bought a ticket for the Family Pizza Night at Pino's?"

There were about 6 hands that went up in the crowd of about fifty.

"We'll see you there," Stephanie waved to them.

In the back row eight old women stood up, "We want Edna!"

"Hi," she waved to them, "you're her friends from 'Cut n'Curl'. Hi, friends of Grandma! Uncle Joe, wave to Grandma's friends."

"Hi. How are you?" the Mayor greeted the back row.

They replied back, "My arthritis is acting up." "I got a bunion." "We want Edna!"

"Who's Edna?" Donna Jones yelled over the commotion on the set. It was like 'Burg' catching up over coffee, but without the coffee.

Out comes Grandma Mazur holding a smiling Paulo and Tiana's hands, "Me. I'm Edna Mazur. I'm her grandmother. This Tiana and Paulo, Stephanie's cuties."

Ranger was back stage laughing at the out-of-control show, the full moon must still be working it's lunacy in the daylight. Stephanie had nothing to worry about. She seemed right at home.

Donna Jones was forgotten in the 'Burg' chatter now that Edna and her great-grandchildren joined the show. She was so far down on the set she was almost off camera.

"Betty, is that you?" Edna spotted her friend, Betty Swartz, when she cupped her hand above her eyes.

"Yeah, Edna," Betty was still standing, "Fedora is still talking about the send-off with the famous people for Aunt Ethelene. It was the best viewing the funeral home ever had."

"Really? That good?" Grandma said back to her. "Stephanie's boyfriend with the good package is here, but he won't come out. He's a behind the scenes kinda guy."

"He's Cuban," Paulo and Tiana were caught on camera in their Ranger stance.

"Here, get a look at this," Grandma Mazur indicated to a cameraman. She held up her cell phone showing a picture of all of them at the funeral home with dead Aunt Ethlene in the background. "He is a looker and Ethelene does look nice, too."

"Steph, that is a good picture," Mary Lou commented.

"What do you think?" Grandma was pointing to the audience. "Pretty damn good for a bounty hunter."

"Wow!" "Yeah!" "He got a single brother!" The audience was yelling back.

An idea came to Edna, "He has two good looking employees, Lester and Bobby. The big guy, Tank, is seeing someone. Call them out here so they can strut their stuff," she encouraged the people sitting watching the show.

The women and a few men were clapping and stomping "Lester! "Bobby!"

Out steps the two Rangemen posing to show off their defined muscles, then they sit down in the last chairs. The hostess got bumped off since there were no more chairs until a cameraman brought her a folding one.

"Next question," Grandma went on, "Hey, speaking of behind, who has done it doggie style recently? Show of hands."

Donna Jones appeared about to go into cardiac arrest from her new seat.

Carson Pinkerton's voice came over the loud system, "Stephanie, we got thirty-two, no, correction, thirty-eight viewer calls agreeing your boyfriend is a hunk."

"Thank you, Carson," Stephanie acknowledged knowing she was blushing and her Cuban Man had to be hitting the ceiling or punching someone from where ever he was standing.

Backstage watching the show, Tank and Frank were laughing how Ranger was acknowledged as a hunk.

Joe Juniak asked the children sitting on his lap, "Do you like Trenton?"

"We have a nice house and Sam, our puppy," Paulo told him speaking clearly not intimidated by the cameras, lights, or audience.

Tiana threw her hands up, "We went bowling and I got an '11'!"

"That's Tee's favorite number now."

The crazy 'AM Trenton' show ended when Donna Jones could get in a word asking Stephanie to read an excerpt from her new 'Sam the Patchwork Puppy' book as the two Rangemen were collecting telephone numbers from the single females attending the show.

IN NEWARK:

A very happy Ana Manoso was watching the credits run right before 'AM Trenton' went off the air showing the audience and show guests mingling together and right beside Stephanie and her children was her son all in black with 'SECURITY' printed on his back.

"Look, Reggie, that's your big brother Carlos right there," she told the brown and white puppy in her arms.

BACK IN TRENTON:

"Carlos, was it really that out of control?" Stephanie asked walking to the TV station lobby after 'AM Trenton' was over. 'Donna Jones didn't look to happy with us. We'll never be asked back."

Chuckling, Ranger reassured her, "It was, Babe, but you looked like you were having fun."

"And, Trenton, didn't have to tell me you were a hunk," she nuzzled his neck.

"Stephanie! Stephanie, wait!" The show's producer was running after her little group. "That was great!"

"It was?"

"Yes. Donna is planning a vacation," he told them but his hands were cupped by his chest as if he was bouncing breasts, "and we were going to maybe tape a couple extra shows or run reruns. We had a total of fifty one calls for the 'hunk'. Actually, more, but a woman in Newark kept calling. I recognized her voice. And so far 110 calls saying they liked the new fast pace of Donna's show. That's 100 more than we usually get in a week. Would you, Mary Lou, and your Grandma like to fill in when Donna's on vacation? Even the Mayor was more fun today than the other times he was on the show."

"I'm a children's writer! The show was purely crazy out-of-control!"

"I know and Trenton loved it."

Ranger muttered under his breath, "Crazy town."

"Let's do it," Mary Lou and Grandma Mazur were nodding their heads vigorously with the biggest puppy dog eyes.

"You must be desperate for ratings if you're willing to put a crazy old bat like that on the show," Frank figured the man must have snorted something.

Seeing the sad faces in front of her, Stephanie gave Carson a "We need to discuss this over a lot of beers."

"Woo Hoo! I may get this show out of the ratings dumper yet!" The producer leaped in the air and gave poor unsuspecting Ross a high five.

Going out the glass doors, Stephanie saw all four men in black drawing their weapons. "Stay put," Ranger instructed as they approached the limousine with caution. Over his shoulder she could see a man drinking a cup of coffee in faded khakis and an old man thin strapped undershirt. Lester and Bobby turned him around and padded him down. When she saw the pistols lowered, she, Mary Lou, Grandma, Frank, Paulo, and Tiana walked to the vehicle.

"Hey, that's Paulie Lapinski!" Grandma told them.

"I got your note and when the Limo King told me he was at the TV station I decided to grab my coffee, get some exercise since I don't live too far away, and get a nice ride to jail."

Stephanie began massaging the tight broad shoulders, "Police station again, Cuban Man?"

He gave his friends an evil eyebrow, "He's up front between you two," opening the backdoor for all the non-skips he arrived with this morning.

"Can I blow the horn when we pull up to the station?" Paulie asked sliding between the 'Limo Kings'.

Grandma Mazur was impressed, "All this and the scenic ride home."

Ranger's head was spinning with questions. "What was the chance the skip would call or show up? When was his next vacation? When did Trenton pass the insanity test? And would he consider this 'Laffy Daffy Dandelion' or 'After Moon Glow Madness'?"

His day had only just begun.