Chapter 5
Ranger's POV – One Month Later
I arrived here in Trenton yesterday morning. I spent Saturday in Newark with my family, and at my mother's insistence, stayed with them that night. Finally, I was able to leave around noon. I love my mother, but she is exhausting. She spends half the time that she's with me nagging me about settling down. Doesn't she understand that my life doesn't lend itself to relationships? Besides, I met the one woman who rocked my world, but she dismissed me like I was nothing. I still don't understand what happened. Our week together was magical, one that I never anticipated. When I left her that morning, I gave her my address, well, the address of my friend, Parker. She knew I was leaving two days later. When I returned after seven months, I expected at least one letter from her, except I got nothing. I know Parker moved less than two months into our deployment, but I thought for sure I would have received at least one letter before then. We only knew each other for a week, but I know that she was the only woman with whom I ever pictured spending my life. I tried to make it work with other women, but they only saw me for my looks, and now that I'm a successful business owner, my money. They don't want me for me, and I thought Stephanie did. I thoughts she accepted me, including my checkered past, which has only gotten darker with my military experiences. I guess I'll have to continue listening to my mother's harp. At least she stopped trying to set me up with a nice Cuban girl.
I was please with the way Tia Ella decorated my apartment. It's masculine but still homey. Ella isn't my aunt by blood. In fact, she's not even related to me. She is my sister Celia's godmother. She and her husband, Luis, just relocated here from Miami and were looking for work. Luis was a contractor in Miami, but with a bad knee, can't do the job anymore. I thought that he would be perfect to be the super of our building, taking care of minor repairs and general upkeep. He knew enough about the business to find the best carpenters, electricians, and other workmen to perform any repairs that were outside his realm. Ella spent her life as a maid in a swank, five-star Miami Beach hotel. I offered her the job of building "mother." She agreed to prepare three meals a day and to clean the offices. She will also clean the apartments of our live-in employees once a week. For me, she'll clean my apartment daily, as well as take care of my laundry and basic shopping. She knows she doesn't need to do that, but she wants to. She may be Celia's godmother, but I was always her favorite Manoso child.
I spent most of my afternoon yesterday going over the reports. So far, I like what I see. Cal, Manny, and Vince have put a good team together. What impresses me the most, though, is their high percentage of fugitive apprehensions. They are at ninety-five percent with their bounty-hunting work. I'm curious as to how they manage to find so many skips. Last night, the Core Team, Bobby, Tank, Lester, and I met to discuss which areas of business we would oversee while we are here. We hope to only be in Trenton for six months to a year at most. From reviewing the paperwork, it looks like we will be back in Miami by October. Thank goodness. I hate Jersey winters. I am confused, though, as to why Manny felt the need to hire a physical therapist, and a woman, mind you. I hope she not screwing my men. That would be a disaster.
I head down to the main offices on the fifth floor. I stop in my office, gathering my papers. Today, while Cal runs the morning meeting, I'll start my informal evaluation of the men he hired. The Core Team and I walk into the conference room three minutes before 0900. Once the men see us, they quickly find a seat and settle down. I observe a look of fear on a few of their faces. Good. They should be wary of me. I sit down with Lester on my left, Tank, and Bobby on my right. We are seated so that we can see the door and clock above the door. At precisely 0900, Cal starts the meeting.
He discusses the installations planned for the week. He is just about to move on to the fugitive apprehension reports when a woman with crazy, curly hair comes flying in like a tornado, wearing purple scrubs with what appears to be Rangeman embroidered on the left pocket. One of the men, Woody, I believe, stands to give his seat to the woman. Interesting. I hope there is no fraternization going on. If that is the case, we may need to dismiss her. I check my papers to see what her name is. After all, she is fifteen minutes later. I find her name is S. Michelle Orr, and that she goes by Michelle.
Cal continues as if she didn't just walk in and begins to discuss who failed to show up for court this weekend.
"The only new skip we have today is for a Detective Joseph Morelli, TPD. He was arrested for the murder of Carmen Sanchez down on Stark Street. He claims that he didn't kill her, that there was another man there, but the cops don't buy it. He was due to show for court on Friday. The payday on Det. Morelli is a nice one. Hector, I want you to work with Hal on finding out everything you can on Det. Morelli."
I see the woman raise her hand.
"Michelle?"
"Cal, I'm sorry to interrupt, but finding Joe is going to be difficult. He has a lot of family in the Burg, and any one of them would be willing to hide him in their homes. His Grandma Bella is a scary old woman who gives the eye to anyone who tries to hurt her family, especially her favorite grandson Joseph. I know; I've been on the receiving end of her curses before. Some of his family are also rumored mobsters. The word in the Burg is that Joe was seen dating his high school girlfriend, Terry Gilman, nee Grizioli, the niece of Vito Grizioli, Trenton's number one mob boss. Finding him is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack. However, I can ask around and see what I can find out. The rumor mill is always a good place to go. It would be nice to have a hand in locking darling Joseph Morelli up in jail."
That last thought was said under her breath. As I listen to Michelle's voice, it sounds familiar, but I can't place it. I'm usually pretty good with names and faces. It's one of the skills that made me highly valuable to our government. However, her face doesn't look familiar. But then again, there is something in her entire demeanor that is tugging the deep recesses of my mind. I know that I've never met a woman named Michelle. Oh well.
"Okay, Michelle, do your thing. Now, on to employee reports. Michelle, anyone on restricted duty?"
"No, everyone is off medical leave. Binkie's leg is back to normal, but he and Zero are still on modified duty. Zero is scheduled for his follow-up today, so he could be cleared for full duty later on." Michelle replies.
"Now, I'd like to take a moment to introduce the Core Team to the Trenton team. They will be here with us for the next year to help us get on our feet. Day-to-day operations will be turned over to them for the next few months. All requests will go through the Core Team. First, we have Brown, chief medical officer. He will review your physical evaluations and work with Manny and Michelle to ensure everyone is at their peak physical conditions. Next to Brown is Tank, who is in charge of scheduling and will look over all security breaches. Santos will head the security team and will be spot checking our accounts and our installation protocols. Finally, we have Ranger, CEO, and namesake. Ranger will oversee all fugitive apprehension teams as well as determining who will graduate from probation. Ranger, do you have anything to say?"
I stand to address my men and woman, "Good morning. I would like to start by congratulating the management here in Trenton. In the three months you've been open, you are off to the best start yet. I am impressed with your apprehension percentage, and I look forward to seeing what techniques you use. If all goes well, us big wigs will be back in Miami before the fall, and you'll be left in Cal, Vince, and Manny's capable hands. As you are now part of the Rangeman family, there is one message I want to make sure you hear, loud and clear. Loyalty and trust are the two most important virtues for my employees. We do dangerous work, and we must trust all those with who we work without a doubt. Loyalty—I demand that each of you remain loyal to Rangeman, even after you are no longer employed by us. You will learn many things that cannot leave this room, this floor, or this building. If you cannot keep the confidence of those who work here, you should reconsider your employment. Otherwise, the Core Team and I look forward to meeting each of you. Cal, if you have nothing else," Cal shakes his head, "dismissed."
I watch as the men get up, all walking over to Michelle to say good morning, seeing that she seems to have a close relationship with all the men. I hope she's not sleeping her way through them. Nothing breaks trust as quickly as a woman coming between men. I'm wondering why she's not leaving with the men; instead, she's hanging back. Finally, Woody asks if she's heading down to the gym.
"No, not yet. I'll be there in a few."
"See you then."
Once Woody leaves, the only people left in the conference room are Trenton management and the Core Team.
"Cal, would you mind if I spoke to the Core Team alone?" At her request, Cal, Manny, and Vince left with my approval. "Um, Ranger, I want to apologize for my tardiness. I am rarely late, but today it couldn't be helped. The school bus never came, and I had to drive my kids to school on the other side of town. I know I didn't make a good first impression."
Michelle finally looks me in the eye, and I feel as though I've been punched in the gut. I watch as her eyes widen in recognition. Those eyes, I'd recognize those blue eyes anywhere, eyes that have been haunting my dreams for ten years. I can't help the word that comes out of my mouth.
"Babe?"
"Carlos?"
"Yeah, Babe."
"Holy shit! It's Stephanie. Damn, woman, I barely recognize you. You're even more beautiful today than you were ten years ago." Lester replies.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize you guys. I mean, I know it's been forever, but how hard is it to recognize someone larger are three men combined?"
Tank starts laughing, and my Babe starts to blush. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud."
"It's okay. You had no expectation of seeing all of us again, and as your bosses." Tank replies.
"Well, I better get downstairs. I have to reevaluate Zero after his injury."
"Wait, Babe."
"Look, Carlos, I don't think it's appropriate for you to call me 'Babe' at work. It isn't professional. You should call me Michelle or Ms. Orr."
"What about Stephanie?"
"Professionally, I'm known as Michelle Orr."
"Fine. Then I think I would be wise for you to call me Ranger, and Pierre, Tank."
"Okay. Thank you for understanding. I'll try not to be late again."
"Michelle, if you ever need anything, just let me know."
"Thank you again, Ranger. Bye guys. I'm glad that we can reconnect."
I watch her leave my office, trying to wrap my head around the cruel game that life is playing. I swore off women a long time ago after she broke my heart, and here she is in the flesh. I don't remember if she's married, though she goes by her husband's name. She has children, another man's children. Her life is too complicated to be brought into my dangerous one.
"You want me to run a search on her, Ranger?" Tank asks.
"No. I won't invade Steph's privacy. What we had together was a long time ago. A lot has changed for both of us. Stephanie got married, had children, changed her career. I did my thing in the Army. If she wants any kind of relationship with me other than employer/employee, I want her to come to me. I want to learn about her life through her, not by prying. Besides, with everything we've done, it is probably better off that she isn't with me."
"Whatever you say, Boss." Tank replies.
I grab the phone and call Cal to the conference room.
"Yes, Sir."
"How come you hired Ms. Orr? None of the other branches have a PT on staff. We typically contract out to a local office."
"Well, Sir, Manny was looking into getting a contract signed. Several of the offices we tried to hire refused to meet with us. It was proving difficult. Then, a few days after Woody joined us at the end of his training in Boston, he told us about Michelle. It seems that she treated Woody at his chiropractor's office for the last few years. He raved about her abilities. He informed us that the chiropractor she worked for was retiring, and she had yet to find a new position. When we discovered that she also had a massage therapy license, we decided to interview her."
"Do you think we have to worry about any problems with her, especially since she's the only woman here other than Ella? Considering Ella is old enough to be a mother to most of the men, there is no issue there."
"No, not at all. From the moment Michelle walked in the door, she treated us all with respect. She was not intimidated by us; in fact, she didn't even flinch at our appearances. She took us all in stride. In the few short weeks since we hired her, the guys already think of her as a "little" sister, even though some are younger than her. I do believe, though, that she and Woody are dating. They have not acted inappropriately in the office, nor do they interact more than she does with anyone else, but it seems that they are a little closer. I think a few guys know or suspect, but no one has an issue with it. If I see it causing a problem, I'll address it. Until then, though, I was going to let it work itself out."
"Okay. Do we have adequate facilities for Ms. Orr?"
"Once she was hired, Luis constructed an office for her with a small bathroom attached. That way, she could shower there if she used the gym. The bathroom has a separate door and lock from her main office."
"Now, let's look over the budget for the next month," I replied to Cal as we evaluate his effectiveness in running this branch.