Joe Juniak's POV

"Senator, what are you going to do about the rampant crime in Trenton? Businesses are starting to close, long-term residents are looking to sell. This is not good for the economy of South Jersey." A reporter from ABC News asks.

"I have been talking with the Trenton Police Chief. We have a few options to try to reel in the criminals. First, is a new gang task force. We also will be starting a new drug task force. We urge our residents to be vigilant to keep their doors locked and valuables out of their cars. We also are recommending that those who can afford it to get a quality security system for their home or business. These steps will help to deter the criminals by making it harder for them to get away with their crimes or to commit them in the first place. I have co-authored a bill that will go before Congress next week to help combat these issues in several of our mid-sized cities throughout the country. The influx of money from the federal government will help to offset the additional costs of these initiatives. Thank you."

I step away from the microphones, heading back inside to the sanctity of my office. I hate press conferences. But, as a politician, I must partake in them regularly. I know what I must do, what I should do, but this is not something that I really want to do. My goddaughter is doing great, living the life she was meant to live. I'd hate to drag her back to the cesspool known as Trenton and the Burg, especially, but I can't think of anyone else who can offer Trenton the skills that Rangeman can. They have done wonders in Miami and Boston, and I'd love to see what they could do here. I guess it won't hurt to inquire. Just because a branch opens here doesn't mean that this is where their headquarters will be. They can just as easily manage everything from Miami or Boston. Here I am, making justifications again. Joe, do what you must do and make the damned call already.

I dial the familiar number, waiting for one of the efficient ex-military employees to answer.

"Good afternoon, Rangeman Miami. This is Tom speaking; how may I address your call?"

"Tom, this is Senator Juniak. I need to speak with Ranger immediately."

"Senator, Ranger is not in the building at this time. May I take a message?"

"Is Jersey available?"

"I believe she's in the office. I'll transfer the call. Please hold."

I hear the sound cut out, then the ringing of the phone. After three rings, Stephanie picks up.

"Good afternoon. Stephanie Plum speaking. How may I help you?"

"How's my favorite goddaughter doing?"

"Uncle Joe, how are you? I'm doing great."

"I'm doing well. How's Julie? Is she reading yet?"

"Julie is good too. She is reading on a first-grade reading level already. She managed to finally convince Carlos to get her a dog."

I smile at that remark. Ranger may present the persona of a bad-ass to the outside world, he may be a fierce leader and a slightly harsh boss, but when it comes to his wife and daughter, he's a pussy cat. He aims at making sure that both Stephanie and Julie are always happy.

"I'm not surprised that Julie was able to convince him. He really is a big softie where the two of you are concerned."

"Please don't ever let him hear you say that. He'll have to go and do something macho to prove that he's a real man." Stephanie replied, laughing. "How are things in Trenton? Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine, and so is the family. I'm actually calling you about a business proposition. It's one that I really don't want to make, but I feel that I must do to try to save Trenton."

"What do you need, Uncle Joe?"

"Have you and Ranger considered opening a Rangeman branch here in Trenton? Before you reply, hear me out. The crime rate has nearly tripled in the last eighteen months. Criminals are being bonded out, skipping bail, and not getting caught. Then, they manage to commit more crimes before the cops can capture then again. Trenton doesn't have any decent Bond Enforcement Agents. Also, our businesses need a good, reliable security company to turn to. There are none here in Trenton. You could make a fortune. However, I understand if you say no. I understand that you probably don't want to be anywhere near Trenton."

"You're right, Uncle Joe, I don't want to be in Trenton. However, from a business standpoint, opening a Trenton branch could be very profitable. Besides, the core team would only need to be there until the branch gets established. We'll need to find someone, then train them, to manage the branch. Look, as much as I don't like the idea of being near the Burg, I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for you. I will run it by Carlos and the rest of the Core team and get back to you within forty-eight hours. Is that okay?"

"Stephanie, that's perfect. Thank you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help."

"I will. Bye, Uncle Joe."

"Bye, Stephanie."

I hang up the phone. That conversation went a lot better than I thought it would go. She didn't outright tell me no. I know that Ranger and his team will research the area, pull up crime stats, cost of living, and building codes. When they do call, it will be after they make a thorough assessment of their probability of being successful. I only hope that they say yes.

I start working on some of the paperwork on my desk when I come across information on a terror cell that's operating out of the Middle East. As part of the Senatorial committee that oversees the armed forces, I often get the intelligence before the mission is set up. Based on the data presented, I'm afraid that they will call Ranger to take care of this. I know he can handle it because he is the best, but I'm not sure how many more missions Steph can handle.

From some of our recent conversations, I know that she wants to expand their family. She'd like to have at least one more child, possibly two. She was pregnant again about a year and a half after Julie was born but miscarried due to stress when Ranger was away. Fortunately, she was only in her first trimester, but it took her about a year to get over it. I didn't understand at first until she told me that she had miscarried before. That was the first time I found out how Joe Morelli got Steph pregnant when he raped her.

I've tried to convince her to press charges time and time again, but she never wants to. I keep hoping that one day she will press charges since there is no statute of limitations in New Jersey for rape. She keeps telling me that Joe raping her turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her because that was the catalyst for her going to Miami. If she didn't get raped, she never would have left the Burg and would be miserable right now. I, though, am not pleased that a rapist is working as a cop for TPD.

There is a knock on my door. "Come in."

"I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, Mayor Orr is here to talk with you. He didn't have an appointment."

"It's fine, Olivia, you can show him in."

"Mayor, Senator Juniak will see you now."

"Senator."

"Mayor," we say as we shake hands. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"I want to know why you are blocking two officers from the drug enforcement task team. Both of these officers have extensive knowledge of Trenton, as well as with the Mafia players. They will be able to gather information quickly without many knowing."

"They are both well-known cops, though. Everyone knows they are cops. Besides, in my opinion, one of them shouldn't even have a badge. If I had anything to do with it, Morelli would be off the force tomorrow. But, unfortunately, I can't do anything about it right now, though I'm still working on it."

"Oh, please. You can't believe that Detective Morelli raped that little slut. Everyone knows that she was loosy-goosy. She was always hanging out with boys, especially that no-good Santos. It's a wonder she didn't get knocked up. She was always spreading her legs for someone. I told my boy, Dickie, to stay away from that Plum girl, that she wasn't Burg material."

"I still can't believe I grew up here in Trenton." I stated under my breath before continuing, "look, Mayor Orr, I have it on good, solid evidence that Stephanie Plum was raped fourteen years ago by Joseph Morelli. My goddaughter told me what happened, in detail, and her therapist confirmed her story. Fortunately, she managed to escape this toxic hellhole by going to Miami. She was able to rise above the abuse she received and is co-owner of a multi-million dollar security firm. So, I'm actually glad you mentioned her. As it is, I just hung up from talking to Stephanie, and it seems she, her husband, and their partners are considering opening a branch here in Trenton to help clean up our city. They are Bond Enforcement Agents, residential, and commercial security experts. Their presence in Boston and Miami have dropped their crime rates to all-time lows. They are also able to infiltrate the gangs, gaining trust and shaking down information. They will have our city on the right track within six months, if not sooner."

"Our police force is capable of doing just that. We don't need them."

"We do. Rangeman's response time when an alarm goes off at one of their clients is faster than the cops. They have often been cited with making citizens arrests of the people who have broken into those businesses. The TPD will be required to work with them and to allow them a certain amount of leniency. Ninety percent of the employees are either retired military or Special Ops. They are all licensed to carry various concealed firearms, and often go around with knives and other weapons. They don't use them unless necessary. In fact, they also carry stun guns. Usually, though, their sheer size and attitude are enough to have criminals going with them without too much hassle. If they choose to come here, all paperwork will be forwarded to TPD, and I expect there to be no issues between the cops and Rangeman."

"I guess I don't have a say in what happens in my city."

"No, Richard, you don't. Since you took office three years ago, the city has gotten worse. If you were less concerned with sneaking your mistresses into the Mayor's mansion and more concerned with what was happening in the community, we wouldn't be in this situation. By the way, Dickie needs to be more careful. I don't see Lisa putting up with him screwing Joyce Barnhardt. If you want him to have any chance of a future in politics, he better learn to be more subtle, or better yet, just to keep his dick in his pants. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot to do before I return to Washington in two days. I'll contact you once Ranger and Stephanie give me their answer."

I can tell that Mayor Orr is pissed. He doesn't like it when I throw my weight around. I've been watching him, along with his pervert son, for the last twenty years. I know Dickie had his eye on Stephanie. I'm glad that she managed to dodge that bullet. I don't understand why so many of my colleagues in politics find it necessary to have extramarital affairs. I know I never once thought of straying on my wife, but then again, I love my wife fully and married her because I loved her, not for her pedigree. Maybe that's the difference.

Joe fucking Morelli. The golden boy of the Burg. I can't wait to see his imperfections broadcasted for all the Burg to see. I know his Navy record wasn't as perfect as he says. I know he flunked out of SEAL training. He wasn't 'injured during a mission' like he says, but instead injured when he chose not to follow orders and got caught in a trap. He's lucky he got an honorable discharge after he was accused of cheating, even though it was unsubstantiated. If anyone can keep track of him and make the Burg see him for who he really is, it's Ranger. I know Ranger and Lester have been dying to pay him back for what he did to Stephanie, and I'd love to give them that opportunity, legally, of course. Yeah, this could be good. If I don't hear back from them by noon tomorrow, I'll call Ranger myself and apply some pressure. Dangling what I know about Morelli in front of Ranger will be enough for him to convince Stephanie to return home.

Let the games begin.


A/N: Sorry for not posting yesterday. Day 1 of online teaching was a little stressful! Besides, I had to finish binge-reading Warrior so that HermioneIncarnate could get you chapter 27 today. For those not familiar, Warrior is a fabulous story I have the honor of being the beta for. It's dark and angsty, but not unnecessarily so. It's a much different view of our favorite Stephanie Plum. Please check it out if you haven't already. The end of the story is written...it's up to me to check it so that it can be published. To HermioneIncarnate, thanks for your kind words in your author's notes, your ideas are fabulous, I just make sure they all tie in nicely. You give me too much credit. To my beta, Susan, your skill is invaluable.