I woke up the next morning in my own bed with Ranger curled around me and his breath moving my hair. I wasn't nauseous. I wasn't sore. I wasn't sated. I was just glad to be alive and in his arms. Life wasn't too bad.

"Good morning," he murmured from my hair.

"Good morning," I sighed.

"This is going to be a busy day."

"I know," I said softly.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go in to the office and be available mostly," I said seriously.

"I think that's a good plan. Manuel should be here today by noon. I told him to come on in. I think we can protect him better here. Hector's built us an arsenal."

"We need one," I sighed.

"It certainly appears that way," he agreed. "When this is over, we're taking a vacation. I need a vacation."

I laughed, "I'd like that."

"Good," he rolled to his back. "Come on Babe. Let's do this thing."

"Let's do this thing," I agreed.

Robert arrived at the office at about nine and he was alone. He didn't look happy. I had this gut feeling that he knew what was coming. I had a feeling that Robert had been suspicious of his partner for some time. He and Ranger holed up in Ranger's office for hours. When Robert emerged, he looked grim. He also looked determined.

He went to an empty office and began making phone calls. An hour later my fax machine started going ballistic. It was the federal government's full disclosure of George Melendez. It was a lot of paper.

"The money is transferred to your off shore account," Robert said to Ranger in the hall outside my office. Start moving it now."

Ranger stuck his head into Brian's office which was across the hall from mine and instructed him to begin the transfers.

"We used government lines that aren't traceable," Robert assured him. "He'll believe its you anyway."

"I know," Ranger nodded.

"Put in a lot of different accounts."

"Not a problem," Ranger nodded. "Brian and I have been setting them up in the last hour all over the US."

"Good," he clapped him on the back. "What's next?"

"We need the confession. We have to reel him in. He's smart. It won't be easy and I don't want you involved."

"In case you have to get ugly," he smiled. For the first time I could see how Robert and Ranger were alike. There was something in his eyes. It was a gleam of pure determination with a lot of steel and a little bit of fury. It was scary.

"Yea," Ranger nodded.

"It doesn't matter. This is sanctioned. It should be on your wife's fax machine."

I turned and dug through the papers and found the one he'd referenced and gasped.

Ranger stuck his head in my office and saw the paper in my hand and grinned. "Is that what I'm looking for?"

"Put it somewhere really, really safe," I blinked.

"Done," he grinned and kissed me.

"What do I need to be doing?"

"Go over his complete file with a fine tooth comb. Find a weakness Babe. Everyone has a weakness. We'll meet in the conference room at four on this floor. We'll kick around some ideas, go over our options and make a plan."

I nodded. "I'm on it."

"Do you need help? Would you like another set of eyes?"

"Yea," I sighed. "I really would. I think Fenton is the right person."

He nodded. "I'll ask him to join you."

"Okay," I agreed.

"I'm on my way to my session with Dr. Addison. You know how to get me if you need me, right?"

"Right," I nodded.

"Ditto," he winked and left my office.

"I love you," I called after him.

I turned around and scanned the file and printed a copy and reached for my phone.

"Hello," I said softly.

"Hey Steph," Terri said with a sigh.

"Hey Terri, how are you?"

"Okay…listen, the families have found the outsiders and are dealing with the situation. They're cooperating fully on it. It's like some kind of joint effort. I don't know, but this may be the first time that has ever happened. I doubt you see it on the news. It's underway. Tell your guys that this threat is being dealt with, but your doer will probably find more talent somewhere."

"Thanks Terri, I owe you."

"No you don't. The families believe you've done them the favor. They owe you."

"That's never a bad thing, is it?"

She laughed, "Definitely not."

"Take care."

"You too," she said and disconnected.

Fenton arrived in my office a few minutes later and I gave him the original and took the copy because I could view it on my computer if it wasn't clear. He sank to the sofa with a highlighter and a yellow legal pad and started poring over the file. I knew we were going to be friends then. He had his yellow legal pad and I had mine.

We worked for over an hour, and then we stopped and went to lunch in the executive dining room. We enjoyed our lunch of cold chicken salad with fruit and some light pasta salad. We chatted with Lester and Bobby about everything but the file we were reviewing. Then we left them alone and headed back to the office.

I have to tell you, by the time I was halfway through the file I was a little nauseated and I was pretty sure it had nothing to do with the bean currently gestating nicely in my womb. I was pretty sure it was because George was a very, very bad man. I saw Fenton's face tighten a few times as he read and studied. I was pretty damn sure we were on the same page.

He finally stopped and flung the papers aside and rubbed his face with both hands. "This is the kind of shit you guys normally deal with?"

"Ranger does, yea," I nodded. "Our last little jaunt into the insane was my arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt."

"Arch nemesis," his lips twitched.

"Laugh if you want to, but she murdered my ex husband, blew up my house and my car and shot at us on multiple occasions. The last time I was on stage with Ranger filming a talk show…"

"A talk show," he interrupted me with an incredulous arch of his brow.

"Yep, you've heard of Brenda?"

A smile slid over his handsome face, "oh yea. I have a little thing for her."

"Really," I grinned. "I wouldn't have thought a wild child like her would be your type."

"You'd be surprised," he chuckled.

I laughed, "anyway…she's a friend sort of and she wanted me to do it. Joyce lost her mind and starting shooting in front of the studio audience."

"What happened?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "I can't tell you all of it, but I will tell you that she was captured and now after some psychological evaluation she's spending time in a rubber room on a lot of necessary drugs."

"Why can't you tell me," he frowned.

"You wouldn't believe me if I did," I said honestly.

"Try me," he relaxed on the couch and smiled.

"Okay…Trenton is the suck zone," I said seriously. "Basically that means that there is magic here or near her and magical people or 'unmentionables' are drawn here. Unmentionables are people with extraordinary gifts. Some gifts are good, some are bad, and some are just weird. But a lot of people here are gifted. Some of them work here at Rangeman. One of them can disappear. He can't disappear completely, but sort of blend with his surroundings. He did that, got the gun out of her hand and neutralized her. She is not unmentionable or she'd have been neutralized by someone else who is sort of the Unmentionable police. They neutralize or lock the baddies up in some place like Azkaban," I rolled my eyes.

"Unmentionable police," he frowned.

"Mitch's cousin Diesel is one of them. He's probably the best if you can believe half of what he says."

He shook his head, "I was on the bench a lot of years Stephanie. It's nice to have a rational, at least to me, explanation of some of the stuff I've seen."

"You believe me," I blinked.

"Who can make that shit up," he shrugged and laughed.

"True," I nodded.

"You're unmentionable…that's the tingle. You know the good guys and the bad guys and that's how you get so many of them around you." He said the words matter-of-factly.

"Yes," I agreed.

"Good to know. If I ever date again, I'll introduce you to her first."

I laughed, "You'll date again. You're only seventy. You won't be alone forever."

"Maybe you'll even introduce me to Brenda," he waggled his brows suggestively.

"I could do that," I nodded, "but you may not appreciate it in the long run."

"You'd be surprised," he grinned. "You'd be surprised."

I have a feeling Fenton Goodman is a kinky, kinky man.

"So…do you see any weaknesses," he asked.

"The mistress is out. The wife is out. But the daughter…I might consider her as his biggest weakness. He put the money in her name and not his wife's. He's made it a point to attend all of her recitals, dance programs and sporting event. He's got a thing for his baby girl."

"That's disgusting," he grunted.

"I don't necessarily mean sexually," I shook my head. "He just has her on a pedestal. I believe she's our way in."

"But how," he frowned.

"That's the sixty-four billion dollar question," I tapped my finger nail on my front tooth. "Hopefully when we present our findings someone will have an idea. What do you think?"

"I think the daughter is a good way. I also think his ego is a good way. I should know, I have one the size of Alaska. But a combination of the two weaknesses may just work for the best. I'd like to know what his relationship with his daughter is like. I mean really before we go forward."

"Maybe we can find something out. We have about thirty minutes till our meeting. Why don't we give it one more once over? We'll present our findings and see what everyone else thinks."

He nodded, "good plan."

Thirty minutes later we were in the executive conference room. Ranger, me, Tank, Lester, Bobby, Woody, Fenton and Brian were present. Robert was also there.

"I think everyone here knows Robert except Fenton and Brian. Robert is a handler with a government division that is so far underground that the lines are fuzzy and the jobs are even fuzzier. He's George's partner. This is the black ops division that we've, maybe especially I, have been working with for the last eight to ten years. He went up through the ranks starting as an operative and moving to a desk after a life threatening injury. He's a good man. He's gotten me out of some tough situations. I trust him."

Fenton glanced over at me, "do you trust him?"

I nodded.

"Good enough for me," he nodded.

Ranger grinned. "Robert is dialed in to our situation. He's assisted us already in moving funds and setting up our issue. Now we have to decide how to take him down. You should know that the take down is up to us. We are sanctioned to do what is necessary. By any means, this threat is to be neutralized. Are we clear?"

We all nodded grimly.

"Good," he said calmly. "Stephanie and Fenton have been going through his records looking for a weakness. Do you have anything?"

Fenton looked at me, "take it."

I nodded, "it is our belief that he has two weaknesses that are vulnerable. The first weakness is his daughter Jamie. Jamie is twelve years old. She was born just prior to his deployment to Afghanistan. He put the payoff money in her name and has continued to feed money into the account ever since. He's put all of his eggs in her basket. He's made certain to attend every recital, program or event the child has been in. He has not done so with his other two children…both boys. We believe she's his favored child. He loves her unconditionally. We believe he's weak for her and will do whatever is necessary to protect her."

Bobby grimaced, "do you think the relationship is unnatural?"

"There's no evidence to suggest that," I sighed. "Fenton brought that up. I'd love to have her school records or anything else that would give us insight. At this point I can't say one way or the other."

He nodded.

"What's the other weakness," Robert asked.

"His ego," I smiled.

Robert laughed. "You're absolutely right about that one."

Fenton grinned. "I think using a combination of both would be our best bet."

"Now figure out how," I grinned.

"I think we need the Intel on the daughter first," Brian said certainly. "If there's an unnatural relationship there…it's easily exploited and gives us another toehold to hold him, at the very least, until we can prove the treason."

"How do we get the Intel?"

"Leave that one to me," Robert said grimly. "I can get it. He better not be doing anything with Jamie. You won't have to worry about killing him. I'll do it with my bare hands."

"Okay…that's settled," Lester nodded.

"Robert…we're sanctioned," Ranger said seriously, "you're not. Let us handle it."

"Someone will do it," he glared.

"I'll take him out slow," Tank assured him. "It will be painful."

I grimaced and Fenton patted my hand.

"Thank you," Robert nodded. "I'll go make some calls." He left the room.

Ranger sat back, "this is sanctioned. What George has done has literally killed thousands of men women and children and from more than just the incident we can knowingly connect him to. Brian's been tracing the money. What have you found out?"

"He's received funds from Mafia, Al Qaida, Cuba, Afghanistan, several former Soviet republics and some very ugly individuals who do some very scary brokering. I'd say George has been giving away US secrets practically from the cradle. He may be your Manchurian Candidate. He just did his dirty work behind the door. He's bad. He's really bad."

"Do you have a problem with killing him?"

"Give me a gun. I'll do it," he said seriously.

I blinked.

"Judge…what about you?"

"Happily," he grimaced. "If I find out he's been molesting his daughter, I'll fight Tank for the right to torture him."

Tank snickered and winced.

Fenton grinned at him.

"Steph…do you want to stay in the loop? I know you have killed before."

"It was a while ago," I said in a small voice.

"Could you kill him?"

I sighed, "To protect my life or someone else's yes." I took a deep breath, "but I don't think I'm a good candidate to do a hit…especially one where torture is involved."

He grinned, "I wasn't thinking you'd want to. I just want to know if you want to stay dialed in."

"Oh…sure," I nodded. "But maybe you could keep some of the details to yourself. I mean…the less of us who know the better…right?"

He nodded.

"So where do we stand," Lester asked.

"We're waiting for Robert's Intel," Ranger said. "When we get that, we'll go forward. I suspect it won't be till tomorrow at the earliest. Everyone get some sleep. It's going to get hairy."

Everyone nodded and got to their feet and left as I stayed where I was with my eyes on my husband.

Fenton rubbed my shoulder lightly when he went by. We'd done our part. It was clear that everyone thought we'd done it well. Maybe even a little too well.

When the last person was out of the conference room Ranger finally spoke. "Are you really okay with this Babe? This is a lot like my life was when I was 'in the wind'."

I nodded. "I'm not sure I want to have my eyes completely opened to all that you've done. I doubt it would change anything. I love you. I'll love you till I die. I know this is the right thing. I'd just like George to suffer. I would rather he face a public trial."

"I know," he sank down in Fenton's vacated chair and took my hand in his. "The powers that be don't want George's misdeeds brought to light. If they're out in the open, it makes them look bad. You do understand that?"

"I do," I agreed.

"If we neutralize him this way, everyone is better off."

"I don't know about everyone," I sighed.

"George's wife and children will be protected for life. Trust me."

"What happened to the money?"

"It's ours…Rangeman's. Some will go to James and Mark's families. Some will go to pay hospital bills. Some will sit and wait till we need to do something else. Fenton is in acquisitions, remember," he smiled. "Who knows what company we'll buy?"

"Like Vinnie's bond office," I grinned.

"Fenton will be looking into that as soon as we're cleared from this case."

"Seriously," I grinned.

"Yea, we're looking into that. I'm not sure we won't just start our own little bonds agency. Everyone knows we do Vinnie's big bonds. I'm not sure. I need to see what the cash flow is on that."

"Good idea," I nodded. "So…how was your session today?"

"Better," he said softly. "It's easier now that I've told you the basic of it. Dr. Addison thinks I'm about ready for a break through," he grinned sheepishly.

"Already," I blinked. "It took me months."

"I have a mission," he raised a brow at me.

"What's your mission?"

"You forever," he said softly and breathed soft kisses on my temple. "What do you want to do now?"

"Go home, make dinner, make love and sleep," I said softly.

"That sounds perfect," he smiled and leaned forward to kiss me.

"I love you."

"Ditto," he smiled against my mouth. "Take me home and show me."

"Let's go," I laughed.