Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to JE.

Warning: Adult Situations

Chapter 17: Sunday, August 21st, 1000-1400

Miami PD HQ

Prentiss' POV

We arrived at Miami PD headquarters at 0800. The first step of our investigation today was to cross-reference the names of the clients at each of our victims' workplaces. Fortunately, our unsubs were quiet last night, but unfortunately, it makes it harder for us to find a lead. As much as Garcia doesn't like it, she is digging through the victims' lives, trying to find something that could lead us to a reason for the target they had on them. We all believe that Ron Martine had the most inside knowledge of the unsubs and worked with them directly. Chances are, he would have been able to give us the most damning evidence against them, which is why they killed him.

I also asked Garcia to investigate Ranger. I know that Alvez and Matt both vouch for him, but I need to know more about him before I completely trust him. I'm hoping she has some information ready for me before Manoso and Santos arrive this morning.

"Emily, I found out some information on Ranger, and it isn't good. Not only is that man a gorgeous specimen, but he has a record that was sealed by the Army. Rossi helped me cut through the bureaucratic red tape to get you this information."

I call the team around our conference table so Garcia can share the information she uncovered with us. I glance at my watch. We have thirty minutes.

"Garcia uncovered some information on Ranger Manoso. He has a record. Depending on the information we find, our working relationship may come to a close." I tell my team.

Garcia passes out copies of her report and begins to share. "Ricardo Carlos Manoso was born on August 12, 1982, in Newark, New Jersey to a Maria and Ricardo Manoso, the second son, and third child. He got into trouble at fourteen when he was in a gang and got caught taking a car for a joy ride after boosting it. He spent a month in juvie. Upon his release, his parents sent him to Miami to live with his grandmother, Rosa Manoso. He turned his life around and graduated from high school with enough credits to make him a first-semester college sophomore. He attended Rutgers University, where he graduated after two years with a Bachelors degree in Business Management and Romance Languages. He is fluent in Spanish, Italian, French, Farsi, and Arabic. Ranger enlisted at twenty, placed on the fast-track immediately."

"After the Army, where his record is squeaky clean, he opened his security business, Rangeman, with four Army buddies, Pierre "Tank" Dupree, his cousin Lester Santos, Bobby Brown, and Marco Flores here in Miami. Once Miami was up and running, he opened two more branches, one in Trenton and the other in Boston. He, along with Dupree, Santos, and Brown run the Trenton office while Marco runs Miami."

"So far, everything seems to be in perfect order. Where is the problem, Garcia?" Rossi asks.

"I'm getting to that, oh impatient one. When Manoso was twenty, and on leave, he met Rachel Mejia. When he found out she was pregnant, they married for the sake of the baby. However, after the baby was born, Rachel went to the hospital, claiming someone raped her the night before. She had bruises on her body, and the doctors gave her a rape kit. She refused to press charges, but the DNA was Manoso's. Then, about four years ago, Ranger had an outstanding warrant against him for carrying concealed. He skipped his court date and was the prime suspect in the death of Homer Ramos, gun-runner."

"As active military personnel, he doesn't need a permit to carry a handgun. His Army credentials are enough." Alvez interrupted.

"Well, according to the arresting officer, Officer Gaspick, he didn't have his credentials on him. Anyway, Homer was found alive, and TPD dropped the murder charges. Another small time mob guy, Abruzzi, was found dead in his car of a self-inflicted gunshot after kidnapping Stephanie Plum. Ranger was once again a suspect until the coroner ruled Abruzzi's death as a suicide. I contacted Trenton PD, and one of their detectives will be flying down to talk to you about Ranger. He should be here tomorrow at noon."

"I don't buy the rape. It doesn't fit the man that I know, the man who was my commanding officer. If one of the men even joked about raping a woman, he would immediately set them in their place. He didn't tolerate anyone disrespecting a woman, regardless of who she was." Alvez responds.

"Was Stephanie given his file?" JJ asked.

"She was, along with almost all the major bounty hunters in the country. But Stephanie didn't bring him in. Instead, it seems she made friends with Alexander Ramos and helped to prove Ranger's innocence. Then, when Scrog kidnapped Julie, Ranger was the prime suspect until they realized that Scrog was involved in the situation."

"We need to question Ranger about the rape accusation. We also need to get someone from the Trenton Police Department to give us their take on Ranger. He is a multifaceted man." I tell my team.

"Emily, let me and Matt talk to Ranger about the rape. Luke is too close to him to see him clearly, and I'm not sure if a man like Ranger would open up in front of a woman, especially about something like that. Men like Ranger often discount women." Rossi says.

"That's a good idea, but if you're not getting anywhere, then let Tara and JJ give it a try. I have a feeling he's not like most other men in his position." I reply. "Garcia, if you get any hits on names, place them in a list that is as vague as possible. I want to see if Ranger recognizes any of the names."

"You got it, but you do understand I'm looking at hundreds of clients. It seems those companies worked together often with their clients." Garcia tells me.

"Reid, help Garcia sort through the information. I need you to dig deeper looking for any unusual or damaging information from anyone with ties to the Middle East."

We finish our discussion on Manoso just in time because he walks into Miami PD HQ five minutes later. I see him greet the Chief and watch the ease of their interaction. He looks more at ease today. I guess his daughter is doing better. He notices me assessing him and slams his blank face down. That man can hide his emotions better than anyone else I've ever encountered. He walks into the conference room we're working out of, greeting me directly.

"Good morning, Agent Prentiss. Are you any closer in identifying the animals who hurt my little girl?"

"Good morning, Lieutenant Colonel Manoso. We are looking at some leads, but nothing solid yet. How is your daughter this morning?"

"Please call me Ranger; we're not on base or the battlefield. Julie's doing better this morning; the doctors expect to release her tomorrow. She still hasn't dealt with losing her family. I'm afraid that will be a reality for her once I take her home."

"Ranger, would you mind talking to Simmons and me?" David asks him. I see his demeanor change, knowing that we are planning to question him.

"No problem, what do you want to know." He states, blank face still firmly in place.

"Come with us to the room over there so we can talk without any disruptions." Rossi states.

"Agent Rossi, you mean so you can interrogate me. You don't need to hide your purpose. I've worked with the FBI enough to know how you work."

Rossi leads him into the room with Simmons following. I know that Manoso is armed. I can see one gun at his hip along with a knife. I'm sure he has a clutch piece. However, even with his sketchy past, I'm not worried about my team. I watch the interview on Garcia's computer.

Rossi: "When did you meet Rachel Martine?"

Ranger: "I met her when I was nineteen at a friend's house. She was attending Seton Hall at the time. We were attracted to each other and started dating. I discovered she was originally from Miami. After dating for a year, upon completion of basic training, I proposed to Rachel. It was that night that we conceived Julie. I did not plan on having her at that time, but I was happy to be having a child, though apprehensive. I didn't talk much about Rachel, so she was a surprise to my family and friends. They thought I only married her because of Julie, but the truth is, I loved her."

Matt: "So why is there a rape accusation against you in Trenton from 2003 made by Rachel?"

Ranger: "I didn't know she made an accusation."

Matt: "You don't seem surprised, though."

Ranger sighs, his body language changing and his blank face drops.

Ranger: "When I returned from my first tour of duty after Julie's birth, I walked into my house on base to find Rachel having sex with another man. I was livid. I demanded a divorce. I was asking for visitation rights to Julie. I had no issues with Rachel being her primary custodial parent. However, sometime after the divorce proceedings began, Rachel and Ron became engaged. Rachel asked me to give up my rights to Julie. I refused. Then, she told me that she had pictures and a rape kit performed on her from after we had a night of rough sex. She threatened to press charges against me if I didn't give up Julie. Rachel showed me the pictures. I admit I was rough that night, but we'd had rough sex before. I was only home about twenty-four hours after being deployed for six weeks. If I didn't know what happened, I would think that I raped Rachel. I had gotten accepted into the Rangers only two days prior. My career and future were on the line. I wanted to give Julie the best. I was in no position to fight for the custody of Julie. Therefore, I gave in, allowing Ron to adopt Julie. After hearing what Julie's told me last night, I regret that decision."

Rossi: "So that means that if we interview other women you've dated, they would say the same thing?"

Ranger: "I haven't dated any other woman since Rachel. My life doesn't lend itself to relationships."

Rossi: "You've been celibate?"

Ranger: "No. Of course not. I've had a series of one-night stands with women. They know from the start that there is no chance for a relationship. When I need sex, I find someone to satisfy me. That's it."

Matt: "What about Ms. Plum? Is she a one-night stand or is she your hired help?"

I watch as Ranger loses some of his control when Matt insinuates that Stephanie is a whore. Interesting. She seems to mean a lot to him, though he is also keeping her at a distance. He is obviously highly protective of Stephanie Plum.

Ranger: "Watch what you say about Stephanie. She is a far better person than anyone I know. My relationship with Stephanie is complicated, to say the least."

Rossi: "But you had sex with her, didn't you? I mean, I can't imagine not tapping her at least once or twice. She is very beautiful."

Ranger: "What does my relationship with Stephanie have to do with Rachel, Julie, or Ron?"

Rossi: "We ask the questions you answer them. What we do with those answers is none of your concern."

Ranger: "Don't you dare try to drag Stephanie's name into the mud. She doesn't deserve that."

Matt: "Well, if you don't want her involved, then tell us about your relationship."

Ranger sighs sit back and contemplate what to say. He is showing emotion talking about Stephanie, which is allowing us to get a read on him. So far, I believe him.

Ranger: "Stephanie and I have a complicated friendship. I first met her when Connie, the office manager for one of the Bail Bondsmen I work for, called me up one day to cash in on a favor. She asked me to help train a new BEA. I agreed, but I had no intention of helping beyond giving the basic one-hour tutorial. I agreed to meet the BEA at a diner. I got to the diner about ten minutes early. I never like arriving after my mark when I can help it. I was expecting someone much different from the person who arrived. When Stephanie walked in, she was wearing an ill-fitting suit, pantyhose, and heels, clearly uncomfortable, as it was a hot day. I saw her pull up in a Nova that was falling apart. She sat down, introduced herself, and explained why she wanted to be a BEA. At some time, during that conversation, I decided I wanted to get to know this woman better.

"Stephanie was the first woman in a long time who looked at me and didn't try to get in my pants. She treated me as a man, not as a sex symbol or object of desire. Never once in that conversation did I feel like she was hitting on me. At first, I thought she batted for the other team, but then I realized that she was suppressing those emotions to make me take her seriously. I decided on that day to become her mentor, her Henry Higgins to her Eliza Doolittle. Yes, I saw "My Fair Lady." I do have four sisters. When she apprehended her first FTA after proving him innocent, I decided to stick around and help her some more. We developed a friendship based on trust and respect. I respect her more than I respect almost everyone else I know. I trust her more than anyone else. She was one of the only people, outside of my family and my Core team, who knew about Julie before Scrog kidnapped her. She has helped my company countless times. Stephanie is a diamond in the rough."

"Now, as to your other questions, yes, Stephanie and I have had sex. More than once. She is the only woman, other than Rachel, who have I spent the night with, and who I have had sex with for more than one night. She is dating a cop, and I poach at every opportunity. I got her from the cop's house yesterday morning to come here with me. She never even hesitated. So, how do I characterize Stephanie? Well, she's my best friend, my occasional lover, and my confidant."

I know, in my heart, that this man is not responsible for any of the break-ins or attacks. Ranger has a moral code; it's not quite due north, but, like me, he's had to make tough decisions and do things that others would not consider. I mean, I did go undercover to have a relationship with Ian Doyle for my government. I know Morgan, Reid, and Garcia never quite understood why or how I did that, but I have a feeling that Ranger would understand completely. I text Rossi, telling him that Ranger's clear. They can stop the interrogation. Once they emerge from the room, I walk over to Ranger. It's time we have a one on one chat.

"Ranger, would you mind taking a walk with me outside?" I ask.

I can tell he's confused, but he agrees. Once we get outside, it's time to talk.

"Ranger, I'm sorry we had to ask you those questions. The Chief speaks highly of you, as does Alvez. However, I needed to be sure that you weren't involved. I had you off the suspect list until Julie said that those men recognized your name. At that point, doubt started to seep into my mind. I needed to ensure that you were, in no way, involved. What I am about to tell you is classified, and I could lose my job for telling you, but I feel you need to know this about me. I worked for the CIA and Interpol. I know who you are, and I know of some of the operations you were assigned. I also know that you were on the team to take in Ian Doyle."

I pause in my story to watch as he finally recognizes me. "You're Lauren. You were the one who told us how to find him. I thought you were dead."

"I know. Lauren had to die to protect Emily. I think you understand my hesitation to trust you."

"I get it, Agent Prentiss. I'm not one to trust others easily either. It's one of the hazards of working undercover in covert operations. You never know who you can trust. Now, what are you doing to find those bastards?"

"First, call me Emily. We are equals as far as I'm concerned. We are cross-referencing all the clients of the different firms, which number in the hundreds. We are specifically looking at those individuals and companies that have ties to the Middle East. Once we get that list narrowed down, we'll let you look."

"I can tell you, most of my work was in South America. My Cuban heritage makes blending in with the cartels much easier. It also helps that I can speak several slang dialects of Spanish. I did a few in the Middle East, but most of those were rescue operations. I'm not sure if they would know who I am. However, there are some dialects spoken in South America that would appear to be something other than Spanish to most Spanish speakers."

"I'll have Garcia highlight the Latin American connections as well."

"I'll have Lester put together a list of names of people who I encountered in Latin America. He has clearance to be in the know. I can have him work with Garcia and Hector to go through the list. Garcia is going to have to go in blind, though, unless you get her clearance from the Pentagon."

I pause and look at Manoso, utterly confused by what he said. "You mean to tell me that Hector, a former gang leader has top-level security clearance?"

Ranger smirks. I feel some very unprofessional feelings in my body, sensations that I usually only feel when I'm on a date with a man. He responds to my question with a nonchalant, "of course. He can hack into any system, and often must be the one to make sure all my case files, notes, and orders are encrypted. He has the same clearance level as me."

"Well, I guess we better head inside."

"One question, Emily. How did your team take it when they found out that you and Ian Doyle were lovers? When they realized that a part of you was in love with the man, the terrorist, the gun runner because inside him, you saw that there was a good man there?"

No one had ever confronted me on my feelings for Ian, yet this man, who doesn't know me, somehow read my mind.

"Emily, when we arrested Doyle, I saw your face. You had a look of disappointment, regret, and longing. I know how difficult it can be to separate the fantasy from reality. I also know that even the most hardened criminal mastermind has people who genuinely love them."

"They understood, but I'm not sure they all accepted what I had to do. I don't think my team knows that I did love Ian and Declan."

"If the situation were different, do you think you could have married Doyle?"

"In a heartbeat, Ranger, in a heartbeat." I tell him, before adding, "look, it's none of my business, but my team can see that something is going on between you and Ms. Plum. Don't let her get away. It is hard to face what we face day in and day out without someone to help us decompress. JJ has her husband, Will and her two boys; Matt has his wife and kids. Alvez has a dog, Roxy. Penelope heads a Victim's Support group. Reid has chess and his books. Rossi has his food, wine, and lifestyle. I have a cat. Who do you have?"

"Stephanie. Just not officially."

"Well, make it official. Otherwise, someone else will."

"That's my plan. How can I take Steph's heart if I can be taken away from her at any moment?"

"Ranger, that can happen to all of us no matter our occupation. Ron was an accountant, and because of someone out there, he's dead, and Julie lost her family."

"I guess you're right. Do you need help getting Garcia clearance, permanent clearance?"

"If you're willing to help, I'll take it." I respond, amazed at this man standing before me.