A/N: This is an E.E. Martin Redone Bonus Scene - it starts during the events of Chapter 2 and goes through Chapter 3. I had the whole story written before I posted the Prologue, but while I was editing and posting the early chapters Ranger really wanted to have his say. This wouldn't leave me alone, so here you go!

Disclaimer: I don't own them and I'm not making any money.

RPOV

"Vinnie wants to see you," Connie said as she handed me a check and some new files in exchange for my most recent stack of body receipts.

I wanted to grimace, but kept my face carefully blank. I was working towards opening a security company and bounty hunting was a good springboard into the industry. It didn't hurt that it was also a lucrative cash source. I'd identified Trenton as a good base of operations, but unfortunately Plum Bail Bonds was the only bonds office in need of a BEA with my skill set when I started out that wouldn't result in toes getting stepped on. And that meant that I occasionally needed to deal with Vinnie Plum.

Vinnie was actually an ideal bondsman, but some of the traits that made him such a good fit for his chosen profession made him a slimy human. And if even half of the rumors I'd heard around town were true, I didn't want to touch anything in his office.

But I drew on my training and gave Connie a short nod before making my way to his door. I rapped once and then pushed it open.

He went through the awkward shuffle I'd come to expect. Shutting down whatever he was watching before motioning me to one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked while remaining standing.

"Yeah. I bailed out my idiot cousin a few months ago and she fucking skipped her court date yesterday. I didn't have her parents put up collateral and I want her brought back fast."

I just raised an eyebrow. I wasn't seeing how his poor decision was an emergency on my end.

"I'll give you 15 percent rather than your normal 10. I just want her brought back before I'm on the hook for her bond."

"What'd she do?"

"Money laundering, criminal business shit. She was mixed up in the mess when E.E. Martin went under a while back. She should be an easy capture and she's harmless compared to the type you usually go after."

"Why not send Morty? Sounds more his speed."

"He's got a fucking busted appendix. I'd go after her myself, but she didn't tell her parents where she was going other than the beach. And I'm tracking down the low bonds for now unless you're interested."

"I'll pass. Connie have the folder on your cousin?"

"Yeah, she should have everything put together."

I gave him a brief nod and quick stepped out of the office and back into Connie's domain.

"Vinnie says you have another file for me. His cousin."

"Here you go," she said, pulling it from the pile on her desk and handing it to me.

"What can you tell me about the cousin that skipped? Vinnie was a bit worked up."

"Should have seen him yesterday," she said with an eye roll. "It's his cousin Stephanie. She's a few years younger than me so I don't know her well. As far as I know she's a normal Jersey girl. Should be easy money for you."

"Thanks," I said. It was good to have Connie's assessment since Vinnie didn't seem to want to go after her himself.

I tucked the file in with the ones she'd given me earlier and headed out of the office to my car. The Porsche Cayenne was an indulgence at this point when most of my money should be going towards RangeMan, but I'd always had a soft spot for nice cars. It's what landed me in Juvie and I guess I hadn't fully outgrown it.

Firing up the performance engine, I motored towards the little office space I'd rented to work out of for now.

Once there, I dropped the files onto my desk and booted up my computer. It took me much longer than anticipated to track Vinnie's cousin down. I even had to make a call to a contact at the FBI. Since she was technically a federal skip, they could run her credit card info and see if there had been any activity.

I was a bit shocked that there were no charges near the shore. Instead, there was a cluster of activity around Port Paulsboro.

I didn't have any alarms going off and my instincts were telling me I didn't have anything to worry about, but she certainly wasn't spending time at the beach like she'd told her family. What are you up to Stephanie?

Deciding there was no time like the present, I motored down to Port Paulsboro and parked so I could see the entrance to the hotel she had put on her card. And it seemed to be my lucky day because a few minutes later a Miata matching the description of the one registered to her pulled into the lot as well.

I saw a woman who matched the description I had for Stephanie climb out, but she rushed into the building before I could get a good look. I was betting I'd found my skip though. Giving it a few minutes, I followed her in. Without knowing what direction she went, I walked up to the desk to flash my meaningless badge and show my paperwork. Five minutes and twenty bucks later and I had her room number.

I took the stairs to the second floor and found her room almost immediately. I gave a quick knock on the door and then stepped out of view.

There was no answer and I was about to knock again when the door opened. The woman stepped through like she was on her way out, but I was able to snag her by the arm fairly easily. I felt a jolt travel through me at the contact and nearly released her only to be shocked by having a mesmerizing pair of blue eyes focused on me.

I identified myself and explained that she had missed her court date. But, she insisted she didn't. Her bright eyes blazed with fire when I told her that coming with me wasn't voluntary. It's my only excuse for being so distracted that I didn't notice her moving before her foot made contact with my shin.

"Let me go!" she said with more blue fire shooting from her eyes.

"Not voluntary. Remember?" I said again. I wasn't sure I was capable of more while she was looking at me like that. God, I must be some sort of screwed up that I was finding her anger so fascinating. Although in my defense, it wasn't the reaction women typically had to me, so maybe it was the novelty.

She pulled out her phone, fumbling it a bit, but still managing to make a call. I had to blank my face to hide my amusement when I heard her talking to Vinnie. And I nearly laughed out loud as I heard her mutter something about a 'damn duck fucking weasle' while she glared at the phone after ending the call.

"Ranger?" she asked. Obviously trying to confirm whatever Vinnie had told her.

I nodded and handed her the apprehension paperwork I had for her. I was almost disappointed to see her visibly deflate.

"So, how's this work?" she asked, seeming tired.

I gave a brief explanation and then decided there was no harm in letting her pack up her stuff. I did still keep my body between her and the exit. She didn't seem like a flight risk, but I'd learned to be wary.

Once she was done, she nearly made me crack my blank face when she dug through her oversized purse and pulled out her car keys. It looked like she thought she got to drive herself to the PD.

"Don't think you understand how this works, Babe. I take you in. Then you can come back for your car." Fuck. The nickname just slipped out, but it fit her. She was fierce and beautiful, but still had an aura of innocence about her. A true babe.

She didn't react, seeming more focused on my car and I can't say that I blame her. It was a nice car. I tried to get my focus back on the job as I got behind the wheel and fortunately for me, she stayed quiet as I motored towards the freeway.

We were nearly there when I heard a bullet impact the car. Thank fuck I'd invested in making this thing bullet resistant. That would show Tank for calling me paranoid.

I pulled a fast turn and reverted to defensive driving maneuvers. On a straight stretch, I flicked my eyes to the right and saw Steph tense and clearly biting her tongue, but she was impressively collected for a civilian. I took a second to reassure her and then got my focus back on getting our asses out of there. Certainly didn't want anything to happen to her nice ass. Shit. Focus, Manoso, I had to tell myself. This girl was going to get me in trouble.

I lost the Caddy that was trying to tail us by whipping off an exit at the last minute and then getting right back on 295. I kept an eye out, but we were clear the rest of the way into Trenton.

As I pulled into the safe house garage, I was thankful that I'd gotten it in place. It had been a recent purchase, but it was nice to have a bolt hole to go to while I tried to figure out who was shooting at me. I had a brief moment of uncertainty about bringing Steph here, but brushed it off. I'd deal with it later if necessary.

Once I got Steph settled in the house, I went back out to the car to pull the dashcam footage. A few minutes later, I had it pulled up on my laptop.

Fuck. I had a clear shot of the driver and passenger of the Caddy, but didn't recognize either. I was cursing myself for putting off investing in facial recognition software. It didn't make sense at this phase of our business plan, but it would make me feel a hell of a lot more secure to be able to identify who had me in their crosshairs.

I noticed Steph giving me a questioning look. That was something I'd learned fast over the last hour. She had questions. Luckily, most had been harmless and I was happy to answer to see the satisfied look on her face. Although it made me wonder about other satisfied looks her face could have. Focus, Manoso!

I shook myself out of that thought and told her what I was looking at and the problem. "I have an image of the guys shooting at us, but I don't recognize them."

"Mind if I take a look?" she asked.

I agreed, but couldn't make myself move out of her way, forcing her to come in close to me.

She had a soft floral scent and my arm was itching to wrap around her waist. Her figure was nearly my idea of perfect. Slim with just the right amount of curve.

"Fuck," she swore, shaking me out of my thoughts.

"Know them?"

She did and her answer put me on edge for a minute. Vinnie, Connie and my own intuition had told me she was harmless. How the hell did she know the names and jobs of mob players? Fortunately, she had an answer even though it was one that managed to shock me.

This little girl had been investigating the mob. Alone. Without any training.

"You know that's what the FBI is for?" I asked, covering up my shock with a playful grin that seemed to distract her.

"I haven't had the best run of luck the last few years. I didn't want to gamble a stay in prison on the system working in my favor."

That actually startled a laugh out of me. Sound reasoning, even if her reaction was a bit extreme.

We bantered back and forth a bit after that. I could tell she was nervous and very obviously a nervous talker. It wasn't my normal reaction, but I played along with her. There was just something about this girl that put me at ease and made me want to let my guard down.

Then she shocked me again.

I figured that she'd been made by attempting to follow the wrong person while playing investigator. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Yeah, she'd been made. But she'd also put all of the pieces together first. The pieces to a federal investigation into a human trafficking ring that had been going on for close to a year. And she didn't even seem to realize what she'd found.

She had done it all on raw instinct. Skills like that didn't come along every day and I was suddenly intrigued by a lot more than her bright, blue eyes and inviting curves. I wanted to know what she was capable of.

This may be the beginning of a very interesting relationship.

—-

A/N: Thank you to everyone who is taking time to read this story and to everyone sharing their feedback!

There is a good chance I won't get the second bonus scene posted for about a week because A) work is going to be crazy this week and B) certain Merry Men aren't cooperating so it's only about half done.