Chapter 25 Undercover
Stephanie and Tank entered their room. "Back here again," Stephanie said as she went and laid down on the bed.
Tank walked up to her and joined her on the bed. He laid beside her and smiled when she placed her head on his shoulder. "So tell me about Jen," Tank said.
"Jen was my college roommate. She majored in Criminal Justice. We still talk once in a while. She is great, single, and happy doing what she does. Jen is a veteran and spent a few years in the Marines. She is the one who taught me how to knee a guy in the groin. I think Jen could be the female version of Ranger, except Jen has a set of twins, aged 6. A boy and girl. Her husband, who she met in the Marines, died six months ago. When she is working, her twins stay with her mom. It's the primary reason I am reluctant to set Ranger up with her," Stephanie explained as she looked at her husband.
He kissed her on the lips. She crawled into his arms, and she fell asleep for a while. Tank thought about what Stephanie said about Jen losing her husband and raising a set of twins on her own. He looked at Stephanie. "I can't let that same thing happen to you, little one. I won't. Maybe it is time for me to only work in the office at Rangeman and let the others go out into the field," Tank said to himself. He put his hand on the baby bump, silently promising his child that he would stay safe for them.
Ranger and Zack were in their room talking. "Hey, Ranger, agent Jen Summers is very good at what she does. I worked with her on a few cases and kept her away from Morelli. I have reasons for doing that, and we both know why," Zack said.
Before Ranger could from a question, there was a knock on the door. Zack checked the peephole and opened it. "Jen, always a pleasure," Butters said. "Please, come on in."
"I am going to the gym," Zack said as he left Ranger alone with agent Summers.
"So you are Special Agent, Jen Summers," Ranger said. He leaned against the couch with his arms crossed on his chest.
"I see you have done your homework," Jen said.
"I know that you did a tour in the Marines, and you have been an FBI special agent for three years. But that is all I was able to find out. How do you know, babe? Sorry, old habits. I mean Stephanie?" Ranger asked her.
"So you are the famous Ranger. I heard all about you from Stephanie," Jen said. They waited a few minutes to see who would share first.
Jen leaned against the door. "I am giving Rangeman the lead on this case. But I am letting you know now that I want Sanders in a jail cell. Just to let you know, I met Stephanie in college. We were dorm roommates for the four years we did at Douglass College. Before you ask, I am the one who taught her how to kick men in the groin," Jen said as she left Ranger's hotel room.
Ranger wisely let the woman exit the room without forcing a conversation. "Wow," Ranger said open-mouthed as he watched her leave.
A couple of hours later, Tank and Stephanie came up to the solarium. They entered the solarium and saw all the equipment from Rangeman, Trenton P.D. and the FBI.
"Hey, there," Stephanie said as she gave Jen a quick hug. "You remember my husband, Pierre Sherman?"
"Yeah, good to see you again," Jen said. She smiled at the man standing behind her friend.
"Same here," Tank said.
Ranger, Zack, and Morelli entered the solarium, followed by Thomas. "Hey there, Joe," Thomas said.
"Thomas, how are you doing?" Joe asked him.
"I am fine. How are you?" he asked.
"Good," Morelli said. Before the two men could continue the awkward conversation, Jen's children entered the room.
"Mom," the two six-year-olds came up to Jen to hug her.
"Hey, you two, look who is here," Jen said and pointed to Stephanie. The kids squealed in delight. They were happy to see Stephanie.
"Auntie Steph," Zack and Tina said.
"Hey, you two staying out of trouble?" She asked as she slapped them high-fives.
"Yeah," they replied at the same time.
"How come I don't buy that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"What are you two doing here?" Jen asked them.
"You forgot this at Grandma's house," Zack said as he handed the lunch bag to his mother.
"Listen, you two. I need you to stay with Grandma because I got to work. I don't know how long I will be. You two listen to her this time. Okay?" Jen told her set of twins.
"Promise," they simultaneously replied.
"Come here and hug me. Thanks for bringing my lunch." Jen bent down and hugged them.
"Hey, where's my hug?" Stephanie asked the twins.
"Yeah, come visit us before you leave, auntie Steph," Tina said.
"You know I will," Stephanie told the two of them as she hugged them tightly.
"Thomas, take them back to Grandma," Jen told him.
"Sure thing, Jen. Let's go, you two."
After Thomas left with Jen's children, Stephanie said, "They are growing like weeds."
"Yeah, they are. They started first grade already." Jen told them.
" I heard about Ben. I am sorry, Jen. I truly am," Stephanie told her.
"Yeah, I miss him every day," Jen said. She tamped down her emotions before saying, "All right then, now that my twins are gone, let's get to work."
Stephanie looked at Ranger out of the corner of her eye. She wondered what the man thought about Jen and her children.