Chapter 13

Not mine, only playing with them – taking my first stab at something from Ranger's POV. Italics are internal thoughts.

Ranger POV

I could tell the second Babe saw Jeanne Ellen, because her entire demeanor changed. I knew I'd quickly need to make it clear that I hadn't planned this or done anything behind her back.

"Have a seat, Babe," I motioned to the empty chair to the side of my desk. "I was just about to hear why Mr. Sebring and Ms. Burrows took the liberty of booking an appointment under an alias with me. Since you're lead on the case for Jeanne's FTA, I brought you in immediately." I was definitely sucking up. Dios the guys would rag me forever if they heard this shit. Big, bad Ranger Manoso groveling in his own office. Get it together, asshat.

She sat. She had a blank face in place, which was new for me to see on her. In a way I understood why she bitched about it so much when I did it. I literally had zero measure on her mood or what she was thinking. I was also incredibly turned on that she could channel me. I took a seat behind my desk, and steepled my fingers together in front of me.

"What can we do for you?" I asked generically. I wasn't sure if Les or Jeanne Ellen was running this show. And I'd much prefer to force them to lay their cards on the table first. Let smiled and looked and Jeanne Ellen.

"Jeannie, this is your production. All the players are here so let's hear you plan," Les said.

Interesting. So Les isn't fully in the know either.

Jeanne took a breath. "I've been working undercover trying to infiltrate a group that operates all along the Eastern Seaboard. Drugs, guns, girls, you name it, they deal it. I've been trying to get a lock on the guy a few levels up from the bozos I'm dealing with. They have a man who got picked up in Georgia, and I was able to prove my worth by passing some info to a dirty guard who got it to their man in lockup."

I saw something flash in Steph's eyes. I was pretty sure she had guessed Jeanne's arrest in Atlanta was something manufactured. I'd only reviewed the file at a glance but I also didn't think it added up, knowing her history and skillset.

"So why are you here now?" Stephanie asked. "You have to know we could simply haul you over to PD; we still have the right to apprehend paperwork."

"Les has been watching these guys from a distance for years. I know we are on the brink of getting one of the big fish. It would not only solidify my place at the agency but it would be a public service to Trenton and everyone nearby to get this guy out of the mix. They don't have the leadership pipeline in place; there's no one ready to take his place. We could really cut off the head of the snake," Jeanne Ellen finished.

"But," I said. It was a question. She was obviously here because she needed something.

"But the cover I've set up has finally been called. I'm in the inner circle; there's a wedding coming up in Atlantic City, and I've been invited. Along with my spouse."

"Why should we help you?" Babe interjected, asking the question that was on my mind. "What's in it for Rangeman?" Damn Steph is a good negotiator. Balls to the wall, taking the bull by the horns, giving nothing away. Maybe I should negotiate some new ideas with her myself…

Les spoke up. "I'm ready to retire. I've been looking for someone to takeover my bonds business, and I'm willing to make it a very lucrative deal for Rangeman," he said easily.

"The wedding is a weekend affair next month. There's a lot of customs to be observed, there's a dinner Friday evening, girls time with the Bride Saturday morning, followed by the ceremony and reception that evening, and then a send-off brunch Sunday. I'm expected to attend, and I'm expected to produce the spouse I've been talking about for the last 18 months. I've tried every way I can think to get out of this," she said.

I looked at Stephanie to gauge her mood. Her face gave away nothing. I could guess how she felt, knowing she already assumed Jeanne and I had a sexual past. We hadn't slept together, but we'd worked closely on projects in the past where lines tended to easily blur. "What do you think, Steph?" I said.

"It seems risky to me," she said. "Ranger has taken steps to keep himself out of the public eye, but being so close in Atlantic City, it seems like his reputation would proceed him a bit. I'm wondering if another Rangeman might be a better choice." Stephanie screwed off the cap of a bottle of water sitting on my desk and took a drink.

Jeanne smiled. "You misunderstand. I'm expected to attend with my wife," she said, looking pointedly at Stephanie.

I struggled hard to keep my blank face in place, but Babe didn't disappoint. Water spewed from her mouth, her expression shocked. She wiped the back of her hand across her lips.

"Please excuse me," she said. "I was under the impression you'd want Ranger to accompany you for the weekend. I'm not sure I can fit this project into my schedule at the moment. I have a lot on my plate between Rangeman and skip tracing," she said diplomatically.

"Bullshit," Jeanne Ellen said. "You're not skip tracing any more." She looked at Stephanie meaningfully. The pieces all clicked in my head, and I wondered if Babe was tracking too. Jeanne Ellen had been the mystery blackmailer, threatening Vinnie. Specifically to open Steph's schedule. It was a well-thought out move, I'd give her that.

"You made Vinnie fire me?" Steph's mask slipped just a fraction, and she looked irritated. "I don't like being manipulated, Ms. Burrows." Oh how fucking well I know that!

"I apologize, Ms. Plum. It seemed like the best idea to make sure you were out of the public eye for a few weeks, so I didn't risk you getting your name in the papers again. No disrespect, I swear the reporters here have a fucking hard on for you, they'd report every time you take a piss if they knew about it. Les seemed to enjoy the idea of making sure Vinnie had no hope of recovering his FTAs with the fucker Barnhart chasing them. Les will swoop in and offer to contract his BEA services to Vinnie, which will make the deal for Ranger much more attractive if and when he buys Les out."

Les nodded. "It really was all her idea. She couldn't pass up the opportunity to fuck with Joyce, screw with Vinnie and impress Rangeman all with one plan. Ranger, since you already handle most of my skip tracing, I'm sure you can see the appeal of having first dibs of every FTA in Trenton. And it could also be a way your guys could earn extra money on their days off, going after the lower, less risky bonds on their own," he said.

"You make an interesting proposal," I said, non-committal. "Why Stephanie, specifically?"

"Christ, you're really going to make me blow her right here, aren't you?" Jeanne Ellen said, rolling her eyes. "She's tenacious and determined, that much is evident from the amount of time she's been a BEA for Vinnie. She seems to get everyone around her to like her and talk to her – your own men are an excellent case in point. She can handle herself in various situations, I wouldn't have to worry about leaving her alone if we are separated during the festivities. And she's the perfect amount of attractive – she'll keep people's attention when the situation calls for it."

Stephanie looked dumb-founded, all traces of blank face gone. "What's the punch line?" she asked.

"Unlike many around you, present company excluded, of course, I actually think you're quite capable and skilled. You may not do things the same way I would, but I'd still appreciate the chance to work with you first-hand," Jeanne said.

"Well, then, Jeanne Ellen, I'm in. Please send me the details and we can arrange an additional meeting to go over specs. Ranger can let you know if he's willing to take you up on the additional offer, Les. I'm sure he'll need to speak with his Core Team first." Steph rose. "Was there anything else?"

Jeanne Ellen and Les shook their heads and got to their feet, as did I. I wasn't sure how I felt about Steph running point on a meeting in my office, but damned if she wasn't saying exactly what I would have said. Steph extended her hand to both of them.

Jeanne Ellen shook Steph's hand gratefully. "Ms. Plum, I can't explain how thankful I am that you're willing to do this," she said. "I'll be in touch."

"Call me Stephanie or Steph," Babe said, returning the shake. "We'll talk soon."

And with that Les and Jeanne Ellen walked out of my office where they were met by Bobby who escorted them to the elevator.

I closed the door and turned to look at Steph. She slumped back onto the couch.

"I can't fucking believe it!" she exclaimed. "At least we solved the mystery of the blackmailer."

"Are you going to tell Vinnie?" I asked, joining her on the couch.

"Hell no. He can fucking stay on pins and needles for a while. Maybe it will scare him straight," she said. "Was that ok? I wasn't trying to take over, it just seemed like I should speak for myself."

I made a point to drop by blank face. "It was different, seeing someone else take charge in my office. I think the situation called for it, but we probably need to figure out how to navigate that in the future. I don't typically appreciate being the submissive, and having people speak for me when I'm behind the desk. I really did appreciate how you threw it back to me to decide if we want to take over all the FTAs for Sebring."

"When do you like being submissive?" she practically purred, molding herself against me. Dios, is my office soundproof enough to lay her over the desk and fuck her here?!

"Playing with fire, Babe," I said, realizing I had an offsite client meeting in half an hour.

She signed and stood up. "Raincheck?" she asked, pulling on her polo shirt.

"Absolutely." I said. "I'd take you right here on the desk or drag you upstairs this minute if I didn't have a client meeting with Tank in 30." I figured honesty was the best policy. There was a knock at the door. "Come in," I called.

"Ready, Boss?" he said.

"Let's roll," I said. "Tell Bobby to assemble a team for an undercover op Steph will be running next month." I kissed her on the forehead. "Babe," I said, enjoying watching the emotions play across her face while she tried to decipher what the hell I meant. Sometimes I didn't even know what I meant, but it was an easy way to make her show her cards first.

I followed Tank to the garage and got behind the wheel of my Porche Cayenne. It was one of our higher end clients, and he'd appreciate seeing the Porche over one of the fleet cars.

We pulled out of the garage on to Haywood and I used the Bluetooth on the car to call Ella. She answered immediately as always.

"Ella, Steph and I will be ready for dinner at 7pm. In addition to the meal, would you please make her Pineapple Upside Down Cake?"

"It will be my pleasure, Ranger. Will there be anything else?"

"Extra whipped cream," I said and disconnected.

"That's for your pleasure," Tank said casually, shit-eating grin on his face.

"Damn straight," I said. It's good to be me.