Chapter 2: Finding Ranger

After 15 minutes, the Uber pulled into a big building that looked to be 6 or 7 stories. There was a garage that housed nice expensive cars and a gate that let you in after they found out who you were and who you were there to see.

When I walked into the building, a guy that was about 6'1 around 200lbs with a flaming skull on his forehead was standing in front of a circular desk. I was in a lobby that had 4 seats to the left of the door as you come in and elevators to the right. The flaming skull guy had a monitor and a phone in front of him. Behind him were several flags representing the US, New Jersey, and religious flags. Along the wall on the left facing the elevators were several potted plants that you could tell were fake, but they were the high-dollar plants that looked real, but they weren't.

"Hi, I'm Cal. How can I help you?" The flaming skull guy said as he handed me a visitor sticker to put on my jacket.

"Hi Cal, I'm Stephanie and I have an interview with Mr. Manoso at 9 am this morning." I shook his hand as I told him who I was there to see.

"Sure, one moment, I will get someone to come down and escort you up to see the boss." He picked up the phone and placed a call.

Before I could even sit down in one of the chairs, the elevator swished open, and a very tall black man emerged from the elevator and extended his hand to shake mine.

"Hi, I'm Tank. You must be Stephanie." It was a statement, not a question. The name Tank fits this man to a capital T. That was the perfect name for him. He was built like a tank.

Damn, this man was huge. Trying to make sure I didn't make a fool of myself, I took the outstretched hand, "Yes, I'm Stephanie. Nice to meet you."

"Follow me Stephanie and we will go and see Mr. Manoso." He held the elevator open for me while I stepped inside. He pressed the number 5 to take us to our destination.

When the doors opened to 5 there was a bustle of activity. Some men were seated around monitors watching them but also laughing and joking. There were several office doors closed. Several of the guys were walking around and collectively doing things.

However, once everyone realized that Tank had a guest with him all noise came to a halt, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. This good-looking guy with blond hair and green eyes and caramel skin came walking up looking me up and down. "Hello Beautiful, my name is Les, and anything you need you just let me know." He took my hand and kissed the back of it.

Tank looked at me and rolled his eyes. "Santos, will you please leave Stephanie alone. I don't need her running away before she even has her interview. Stop scaring her and quit trying to make a pass at her. Come on Stephanie, the boss is right this way."

Les feigned like he was hurt, but you could tell he was just kidding. I gave a little finger wave as I followed Tank to a closed door. He knocked one time, and someone said "ENTER"

Tank opened the door with me following behind him. Behind a desk of rich dark oak was the sexiest man I have ever laid eyes on. He had black hair, chocolate brown eyes, and his skin was the color of a mocha latte drink. His face had a 5-o'clock shadow and luscious lips, and he was wearing a beautiful 1000-watt smile.

"Ric, this is Stephanie. She is your 9 am interview. Stephanie, this is Mr. Manoso." The very sexy man extended his hand to shake mine. As our hands touched, an electric spark shot through me from my hand down my spine and back up. It was like I was being electrocuted. But in a good way. I wonder if he felt the same way.

"Hi, Stephanie, it's nice to meet you. Please have a seat." He motioned for me to sit in the chair in front of the desk. The office was an office of a man with power. He had a computer with double monitors and a phone with a lot of paperwork on his desk. Next to his desk was a mini-fridge. He opened it and offered me a bottle of water, which I declined. I didn't need anything to distract me from this interview. Knowing my luck, I would spill the drink either on his desk or in my lap and that wouldn't be good. Then to my left was another chair and then across from it was a door that led to somewhere. Behind me was a black leather sofa about 6 feet long and next to that on the right side of the sofa were 3 filing cabinets. The office had an expensive feel to it and looked like it was decorated to suit the man in front of me.

Okay, this was very discerning he was watching me like he knew what I was thinking. He also had a look on his face, like he knew me but couldn't place where he knew me from. Maybe I was being paranoid after everything that I've been through with Joe. "Hello, sir. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for allowing me to interview for your company." I sat down and crossed my legs as I said this.

"So, Stephanie, tell me about your job history and why you would like to work for my company." He leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Well, I was a bounty hunter in the Miami area for 5 years. I also researched the skips that I picked up. I have a 100% capture rate. I can usually find anybody. There's only been one person I have not been able to find. I have precision target accuracy as far as shooting a gun goes. I work out at least 5 times a week. I run 5 to 10 miles a day. I'm in a not-so-good situation right now as far as where I live, and I would like to get out of it, and to do that I need a job so I can get myself an apartment. I can work with a partner when it comes to skip tracing. My street name in Miami was Bombshell. I became friends with the leader of Perros De Sangre (Blood Dogs)" I said all of this without taking a breath then leaned back in my chair because I didn't realize I had been sitting up and motioning with my hands. Hey, that's what I do. I'm part Hungarian and Italian so we tend to speak with our hands and I'm from Jersey.

Tank looked at his boss and Mr. Manoso looked at Tank.

Laughing Tank bellowed out, "Dang, Little Girl, you said all that in one breath. That was impressive."

"Sorry gentlemen. When I start talking about something I tend to get on a roll and forget when to be quiet." I did a little laugh to show that I was trying to make light of the situation.

"Stephanie, I'm curious to know how you became friends with the leader of a very deadly gang in Miami." Mr. Manoso asked as he leaned forward with his elbows resting on his desk.

"One of the skips I had to retrieve was a child trafficker and he was picking up kids to try to sell them on the black market. When I captured him, he had a truckful of kids. After I handed him off to the PD, I started helping the FBI to find where the kids lived and one of them, I had to look up was T-Dog's young daughter. When I realized who she was, I was the one that took her to him and he at that time told me that anything I ever needed was mine and I had his protection on the streets. I figured it was good to have his protection because you never know when I'm going to need it. Besides, he always gave me free tamales from his grandma's restaurant. They are the best I've ever had."

I could tell that Tank was impressed by what I said "To have T-Dog's protection on the streets that's impressive. He is highly respected on the streets of Miami and anyone that he gives protection to is respected also."

Mr. Manoso leaned back again in his chair, "So tell us why you moved back to Trenton if you enjoyed bounty hunting in Miami."

"My brother Jack died of cancer a little over a year ago and we were stationed in Miami at the base because my brother was in the Army. I lived with him because my parents, who live here, disowned me after I wouldn't conform to what they wanted me to do with my life. They kicked me out of the house, so I moved in with Jack. Before he died, he told me that he had a friend that lived here in Trenton that I could call that would help me with whatever I needed. At the time he died I was 3 months pregnant due to being raped by someone on his unit. When I called his friend, he bought me a ticket to come here to Trenton and I've been living with him ever since. But I need to get out of that situation because it's not a good one. That's why I've been trying to find a job so I can try to get an apartment."

Both men seem to be pondering the information that I gave to them. Tank then spoke up and asked the one question I was hoping neither one would ask, "Who will be watching your baby while you work?"

Without looking at either one of them, "Um… No One. My daughter is… gone." I said the last part as a tear rolled down my cheek. SHIT! I didn't want to cry. Every time I talk about Abby I start crying. Well, I guess I just blew this interview.

Tank, who had been sitting in the chair next to me this whole time, placed his right hand on my left arm, "We are sorry Stephanie about your daughter, how long has it been since she passed?"

Not able to still look at either one of them "She didn't die. The guy I'm living with took her and got rid of her and I've been looking for her and I can't find her. Hence, she is the one person I've never been able to find." Heart retching sobs broke out. I couldn't control them. I put my face in my hands and cried.

Tank guided me over to the leather sofa and Mr. Manoso came from behind his desk and sat next to me on the sofa. He gathered me in his arms and spoke to me in Spanish as he tried to calm me down.

Realizing that I'm still in the interview and this does not look good for my chances of getting the job, "Oh My Gosh I'm so sorry I didn't mean to cry. I know this looks bad interview-wise. I'll leave now, I know I didn't get this job. Thanks anyway for your time."

I tried to pull away from Mr. Manoso, but he wouldn't let me. "Stephanie, the job is yours. You had it the minute you told us about your experience. What we want to know is who this person you are living with and why did he got rid of your baby."

Before I could say anything, Lester came in "Ranger, you have a meeting at 11 am. Just came in to remind you."

I moved out of Ranger's arms. "You're Ranger? Like Army Special Ops Ranger?"

He looked a bit startled that I knew that he was an Army Ranger. "Yes, I'm Ranger Manoso, why do I know you?" He gave me a look again as he knew me from somewhere but he couldn't remember from where.

I fell to my knees in front of him and grabbed his hands in mine. "Ranger, my brother was Jack. His name in your unit was Stealth. He was Alpha 3 on your team. He told me to find you if I ever needed your help."

He looked stunned. "Wait, your Jack's Stephanie?" He pushed a curl back behind my ear and held my face with his palm. Tank seemed startled that Ranger knew who I was. He was looking back and forth between the two of us.

"Yes, Jack was my brother. Please, Ranger, I need your help. I need you to help me find my daughter. Please." I looked at him with pleading eyes as tears rolled down my cheeks. "Please, will you help me?"

He wiped the tears away with his thumb, "Yes, Babe. I'll help you."

Finally, I found Ranger…