Ranger's POV
I'd been following paper trails and wire transfers for the last two weeks. I'd interviewed dozens of anonymous sources and informants and we had everything we needed to take these scumbags down. I was leading the multi-agency bust on E.E. Martin today, and then I could get back to running my business.
I slipped on my FBI windbreaker and checked my weapons once again before taking the stairs to the parking lot and getting in my truck. I had briefed everyone on the plan to go in, arrest the suspects, and secure evidence and felt confident that everything would go well. Then I would need to try to get a read on some employees that might have some knowledge of what was going on without actually being involved and conduct interviews with anyone who we suspected to have information.
I pulled into our rally point a few buildings down from the one we would be raiding this morning and pulled on all of my SWAT gear. Everyone was assembled in their assigned teams and we were ready. I gave the signal and we moved in just as planned. The players in the money laundering scheme were all quickly taken into custody while another team searched their offices and yet another gathered the remaining employees into their largest conference room. We had a dozen agents who would conduct quick interviews with the staff in order to determine whether or not I needed to interview them for potential information regarding their employer's illegal activities.
I was sitting in an empty conference room waiting for a sit rep on the remaining employees when one of my point men walked in and sat across from me.
"We've evaluated them all, sir. All but one seemed completely shocked by the bust and we don't think they have any information of interest to us. The last one, though – you're going to want to talk to her," Agent Watkins explained.
"What's her name? I want to see her employee file and a background check first," I instructed him.
"Already on it. They should be here in the next ten minutes. And her name is Stephanie Plum," he answered.
"Very well. In the meantime, make sure she's comfortable and see to it that she's offered something to eat and drink. It may take me some time to go through her information, depending on what's there, and we need to make sure she's still feeling friendly by the time I'm ready to talk to her," I ordered. Sure, I could scare her into giving me information, but since it was a woman, I thought it might work better to work that famous Manoso charm to get her talking. Her file arrived a few minutes later and I began to familiarize myself with one Stephanie Michelle Plum.
Steph's POV
I knew it! I freaking knew that something was going on around here. I'd followed some trails, gathered info and put in a call to the New Jersey Ethics Hotline after I left work yesterday. Everything happened so quickly this morning that I was kind of in shock, but after being questioned by several people to try to "get a read on my knowledge of the alleged illegal activity of my employer" I was taken to an empty room. I was okay at first, but as time stretched on and I was questioned by more people, I started losing my patience. My two Boston creams were long gone, and I was hungry and cranky. I lost it when Agent Watkins walked back in the room.
"When the hell are you going to let me out of here?" I demanded. "I'm tired, I'm hungry, and no one will tell me why I can't leave! Everyone else is gone."
Agent Watkins at least had the good sense to look apologetic as he handed me a Coke. I popped the top and took a long sip of the sugary, cold liquid.
"My apologies, Ms. Plum. We have one more person who needs to speak with you before we can allow you to leave," he explained. "He won't be with you for a bit longer, but I wanted to send someone out to get you some lunch from the deli next door. What would you like?"
Well, this was at least progress. "A large meatball sub on Italian bread, pasta salad, another Coke, and a brownie. If you'll walk me to go get my purse I'll give you cash," I offered.
"That's not necessary," he assured me. Dammit. I really wanted my phone and I needed to go to the ladies' room.
"Can I go to the ladies' room and get my phone?" I asked.
"I can have a female agent escort you to the ladies' room," he agreed. "I'll need to talk to my superior about your phone."
"Thanks," I replied with a sigh. At least I could go to the restroom.
A kind looking woman who introduced herself as Agent Bates came in and escorted me to the ladies room. After ensuring there was nothing lurking in there and that I didn't have anything with me, she stood outside the door and mercifully allowed me private use of the restroom. When I emerged a few minutes later she escorted me back to the conference room where my purse and lunch were waiting for me.
"You can have your phone, but only if you consent to me checking it first. You also need to know that any communications you make on it until you're released could potentially be monitored. If you can agree to those terms, then you can have it," Agent Bates explained.
I sighed and nodded. "Fine," I agreed begrudgingly. I dug my phone out of my purse, unlocked it, and put it in her hand and then turned my attention to my lunch. Might as well eat while she's invading my privacy. By the time I was finished, she seemed satisfied with whatever she had or hadn't found on my phone and set it down next to me.
"Any idea how much longer this will be?" I asked. It was already pushing 3:00 in the afternoon.
"Captain Manoso will be in to speak with you soon," she offered.
I picked up my phone and sent off a text to Cal telling him that I really missed him and needed a hug badly and then scrolled Facebook and played Tetris. Cal sent me a text back and assured me that hugs, wine, and dinner would be waiting for me when I got home. I might have swooned a little at the thought of home being more about him being there than about the actual location. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard someone walk in. I looked up to see a tall, well-built Latino man standing there looking at me assessingly. Two could play that game. My dad had taught me a thing or two.
He looked to be around 5'11" and 220 pounds of muscle. It was obvious by the way he carried himself that he thought he was God's gift to women, but I much preferred Cal's looks to his. He was trying way too hard to look trustworthy, probably in an attempt to make me feel comfortable with talking to him. I could tell instantly that he was going to underestimate me. This could be fun.
"Ms. Plum, I'm Captain Manoso. I apologize for keeping you waiting," he said as he sat down looking smug and self-assured.
"Captain Manoso, is it? Please, call me Steph. And you and I both know that you could have been in here to talk with me anytime you wanted, so let's cut the crap and get down to business. I have other places to be," I informed him.
He sat back and looked at me for a minute and then smiled. "Fine then, Steph. You can call me Carlos. Do you have any idea why we've asked you to stay here this afternoon?" he asked.
I snorted out a laugh and shifted in my chair. "I don't believe I've been asked to do much of anything, but yes, I do believe I know why I've been detained here this afternoon."
He raised one eyebrow at me and gave me a cocky look. "Then do tell, Babe."
"I'm certain that I told you that you could call me Steph, not Babe. If you can't handle that then we can go back to Ms. Plum," I snapped. "As for why we're here, I'm going to assume it has to do with the reason why I called the state business ethics hotline yesterday." His eyebrows shot up more and I instantly knew that was new information for him. He fired off a text and then sat his phone back down. He softened his facial expressions and body language, probably in an attempt to get me to relax, and sat forward in his chair.
"And why's that, Steph?" he asked.
"Because I had evidence that my employer was involved in money laundering, most likely with ties to the mob."
"Explain!" he barked.
"And I think you need to talk to me like a person instead of ordering me around. Let me just take a wild guess here - enlisted young, found out you were good at the military life, got accepted into Special Forces - maybe Rangers or SEALs, did your time, and now you contract with all the alphabet agencies? Maybe still run a few missions?" I could tell by the look on his face that I read him well. "Well, let me give you a hint, Captain Manoso. I'm not one of your men, and if you want to know what I know, then you're going to need to speak to me with some respect instead of barking out orders."
Ranger's POV
Stephanie Plum was intriguing. She was beautiful and had an amazing body I wouldn't mind spending time exploring, but right now I was more focused on the fact that she thinks her company has ties to the mob. We haven't uncovered any information that would lead us to believe that to be true. I also knew I was going to have to appear repentant and backtrack a little in order to get her cooperation. I tried to relax my posture and body language in order to diffuse the situation.
"My apologies, Steph. Let's try to start over, please. Could you please tell me what information you have regarding your employer's activities?" I never said please, but desperate times called for adapting.
"I'm glad you asked, Captain Manoso," she began. "My boss called me in his office two weeks ago to work on a project. My instincts told me that something fishy was going on so I started digging around and paying more attention to things going on around the office. I was able to get through a couple of firewalls and found what I was looking for." I was very impressed. Nothing in her file would lead me to believe she had these skills and instincts.
"What did you find?" I asked.
"Can we walk to my desk so I can get a flash drive for you?"
"Lead the way," I agreed. We stood and I placed my hand on the small of her back to lead her from the room, but she quickly stepped away a bit and walked faster. We arrived at a desk and she unlocked it and then got in a mint tin. She pulled out a flash drive and then grabbed her laptop from her docking station. I followed her back to the conference room and waited quietly as she booted up her computer and opened the files she had collected.
"I found that our invoices for lingerie that we purchase were being paid to a third party, and the checks were being cut for amounts significantly higher than the invoice totals. It took some looking, but I finally found documentation linking that third party to the mob. They were cutting a second check to the vendor and pocketing the additional amount. I kept digging and found that our CEO has been in bed with the daughter of the head of the family and trying to gain permission to marry her. I suspect this is his attempt to get approval."
She slid the laptop over to me and I clicked through the files. I don't surprise easily, but she managed to do it. Everything she had just told me was all laid out here in black and white. How had we missed this?
"How did you find the info on the mob? We hadn't come across anything that led us in that direction," I asked in awe.
"Just researching on the computer isn't enough; you need to know people and read them well. Can I leave soon?"
"Sure. I'll need to hold onto this flash drive. Do you have any other copies of the information?" I asked her.
"No, that's the only one," she replied.
"Good. I may have to call you in if I have additional questions. In fact, we could talk tonight over dinner if you're available," I proposed. She was sexy as fuck, smart, and incredibly talented. Maybe after dinner tonight I could talk her into spending the night at my place in a couple of weeks after we wrapped the investigation up.
"I'm not. Available, that is," she answered quickly.
"It is last minute. How about tomorrow night?" I asked.
"I'm very much taken," she replied. "I'm sure you can find my phone number if you have any additional questions."
"Of course. It was a pleasure meeting you, Steph," I replied, still a bit in shock that she'd turned me down. That never happened - young, old, married, single, engaged, dating - they all wanted me.
"Guess I have to find a new job now, huh?" she wondered out loud.
"That's a pretty safe bet," I chuckled. "I'm sure someone with your skills won't have a problem, though."
"Let's hope." And then she was gone. I'd make damn sure that I talked to her again, though. It wouldn't take much to wear her down and get her in my bed.
