If you recognize them, I can't take the credit. :) And a big thanks to Margaret once again for reading ahead and pointing out my typos. Thank you Maragret :)

And thank you all who read and reviewed last chapter. It's hard for me to send individual thank yous during the week (I sold in a huge campaign and will be shooting 20+ videos over the summer plus a kick-ass interactive experience), but I promise to get on it tomorrow. I hope you know I cherish each and every one; it's what keeps me going.

Chapter 15—Things that go bump in the night

Ranger's POV

Once Steph fell asleep, I got up and got to work. First I called Lolo Sotolongo, the Newark head of the Marielitos, the Cuban gang aligned with the ALKNs. We'd had some conversations recently so I knew he'd level with me.

"Mañoso," he answered obviously having my cell on his list of contacts, "I figured I'd hear from you tonight. Was it really one of your men that killed 'Nandez?"

More like my sister, but I wasn't giving her up. "'Nandez broke into the house of one of my men looking to trade his wife for Tank. It didn't work out the way he planned."

"Word is one of your men stabbed him."

"The wife of one of my men put a saber through his heart. He threatened her and her child. What's the mood within the LKN?

"You have two of their men in custody. They make it out alive, you stand a chance."

"I have no beef with them, they were just doing their job. A couple of my men are talking to them now; as long as they are not going to turn around and declare war on Rangeman, they're free to go. We didn't kill their boss."

"That's not what's going around...so I suppose you want me to spread the truth?"

"Yes. What do you need from me to make that happen?"

"About fifty untraceables to start."

"So you can use them against us. I don't think so."

"You can get them to us after I fix this then. Some ops have been aggressing us. It's war season and we don't need Newark PD fingering us any more than they already are. The untraceables would come in handy."

"Ten is all I have..."

"I know you can get more. Twenty."

As much as I didn't want to be the one supplying them with illegal firepower, they'd get their hands on some anyway. It was the least I could do to make a pact that would allow Tank and Lauren and Brett to come home.

"Ten is all I can get without jeopardizing my sources."

"Ok, ten. I'll talk to Moreno and get back to you."

Tater Moreno is currently the second crown, Fernandez' right hand man, much like Tank is to me. At this point people are probably taking bets as to whether he will become the next Inca. He's trustworthy but not as bright as Pedro Vasquez, the current Warlord. Thanks to Hector and Raphael we have an agreement of sorts with both of these key players. They know we are not interested in their turf wars and do not take sides but if they need some information that we have, we don't mind sharing. It's helped us co-exist in the past and most likely will continue to in the future.

I also had ten to twelve untraceable guns in my personal gun safe in Belmar. Key people in government knew I had them and why. I'd hand them over and slowly build my arsenal again. It was always prudent to keep a few untraceable weapons around.

Hector's POV

I'd just gotten off the phone with Bobby, he was checking up on my cut and at the same time taking my temperature as to whether or not I'd be comfortable in the repeat role of mediator between Rangeman and the Newark ALKN faction. Raphael and I had just been through this and look where that got me? And of course you know I'd do it again. It just meant heading back to Trenton a couple of days early and not being able to spend Friday with Argo. But this was my job and that came first. Bobby was arranging a NetJets flight for me out of MIA day after tomorrow; maybe Argo would be called in as one of the pilots although I was pretty sure no one but Steph, possibly Ranger, knew we were dating and I hoped to keep it that way.

Steph and Ranger hadn't come back from dinner yet. Not that I'm a mother hen or anything but it was after eleven. I supposed they could have gone to an after hours club, but knowing Estefania's alcohol limit I assumed they'd made other arrangements for the night. I took the opportunity of a quiet house to hack into the FBIs database. I wanted to see for myself what, if anything, they had on Tater Moreno and Pedro Vasquez. Last I looked it took 28 calendar days to get a legal Identity History Summary from the feds; it was faster my way. And actually their database held a lot of information.

Both bangers had been incarcerated, no shit, and both were tops on the FBI's list of 'go to suspects' for any crime in the Newark area. Another interesting nugget — neither of them had ever held a legitimate job, although it said Vasquez had an IQ of around 160. I'd have to look that up, but I was pretty sure that bordered on genius. No matter what, I would not underestimate that man and he would be my pick for the next Inca. Tater was good for thinking on his feet but Pedro was a fucking Einstein.

I read down further and there was some additional background on Vasquez. He'd graduated from high school and enrolled in college all while becoming more and more immersed in his banger lifestyle. Between the ages of 17 and 20 he'd killed 15 people becoming by law enforcements definition, a serial killer. Yet his double life remained unknown to his mother, whose home he was still living in until he was 'given up' by an anonymous tip. He was convicted of killing a rival gang member and sent to the Auburn Correctional Facility in upstate New York. It was there that he unremorsefully told a psychologist about the 14 other killings he was never fingered for. During his time behind bars he also took advantage of a Pell grant and applied to Cornell's Prison Education Program where he graduated with a 4.0 in psychology and business.

A Cornell graduate? Yep, I'd be very afraid of this man...and he was someone we'd need in our court.

I screen-snapped the page and emailed it to Raphael before covering up my electronic footprint and shutting down for the night. I'd snoop around some more another time.

I took out my phone and texted Estefania.

HECTOR: 'I hope you're someplace safe. Text me back and let me know you're ok when you have a chance.'

I figured the chances of hearing from her tonight were slim but she had me a little worried. She always seemed to attract the wrong kind of attention. I knew Ranger was with her, but what can I say, I worry.

Ranger's POV

I heard the ding of a new text message and checked my phone. It wasn't mine. Steph's phone was sitting out on the dresser and when it dinged again, I glanced over. I would never snoop into her business but text messages aren't exactly password protected and it was sitting open on her phone, so I glanced at it. It was from Hector; he was worried about her.

That brought a smile to my face. If she only knew the Hector I did she'd probably find his worry amusing too. He was a heartless killer; a master with a garrote, a man with unrivaled knife and stars skills and before I brought him on board he was just steps away from a probable prison sentence. I knew about his hacking abilities and grew to appreciate his technological genius, but the man I hired was a banger with anger issues. And he was worried about my woman.

I picked up my phone and sent him a quick text.

MANOSO: 'Go to sleep. She's safe, she's with me'

HECTOR: 'Thank U. Where R U?'

MANOSO: 'Casa Tua. We stayed over. Steph's sleeping'

HECTOR: 'And UR working?'

MANOSO: 'Yeah, spoke to Sotolongo. He wants untraceables'

HECTOR: 'He'll work with us?'

MANOSO: 'Yeah.'

HECTOR: 'I got something 2 :) From the FBI, I'll email it to U'

MANOSO: 'Send it to Bobby as well. Steph and I are going to Siesta Key for a few days. The place is yours'

HECTOR: 'Thank U but I'm heading back to Trenton day after tomorrow. Raphael and I need to talk to Tater and Vasquez'

MANOSO: 'Be careful'

HECTOR: 'Check the email I just sent you. Vasquez has an IQ of 160, he's capable of anything'

So did Hector. We run IQ tests on all the men when we onboard them and that was one of the things that stood out with him. He was brilliant and unstoppable. And if Vasquez truly had an IQ up there too, I wondered what it would take to hire him for Rangeman? As soon as I thought it, I knew that wasn't a good idea. It would put too many eyes on my company and we had a pretty solid reputation at the moment; but the thought was tempting. And I could only imagine what the two of them could come up with if they ever joined forces.

"Carlos?" I heard from the bed, "what are you doing?"

"I was just checking emails and doing some work, go back to sleep. I'll be in in a few minutes."

"You were mumbling something about Hector's IQ."

"Go back to sleep, I'll tell you in the morning."

"Ok but it's cold in the bed without you."

"I'll turn down the AC, go back to sleep and I'll be in soon."

"K."

I hoped she wouldn't remember my mumbling about Hector's IQ. Even Hector doesn't know how high it is; we don't share those details with the men, it only makes for a big head.

I got up and raised the temperature in the room. Steph smiled at me and then I saw her close her eyes. She'd be back to sleep in a few minutes and I really needed to do some more research before I went to bed.

I read the email that Hector sent. I didn't know Vasquez graduated from Cornell with a 4.0 grade average. Maybe Hector would like to go to a prestigious school too? I knew he'd taken a lot of technology courses, he read constantly and aced his English as a second language class but I was pretty sure his impressive IQ could get him into Princeton at night with a letter from us. I wondered what he'd say if we broached that subject with him and lessened his load so he'd be able to study. I knew chances were good he wouldn't want his load lessened even if he'd been thinking of finally finishing school at some point.

I guessed I was tired after all since I didn't get any further than the email he sent before going off on a lot of 'what ifs', so I closed down my computer, stripped and joined Stephanie in the bed.

I tossed and turned for the next 30 minutes before I gave up on sleep and got up to see if the hotel had a gym. I put on shorts and sneakers, took a card key, my phone and another pair of shorts and headed out. I went down to the main desk and was pointed in the direction of the gym. Chances were good I'd have it all to myself too; it was almost 2 am.

I was wrong, there was one other maniac in there pounding away on a treadmill. I nodded to him while I stretched out, then got on the only other treadmill, which was situated right next to him.

I started out at a light run and then increased my speed to match his. We were both running a 6-minute mile and it felt good to have someone to keep pace with. We were still going strong an hour later when he raised his hand and pointed to the cool down button to let me know he was done. I could have kept going but he intrigued me. Not a lot of people could keep up the 6-minute-mile pace for over an hour, so I hit my cool down button as well. At least we could talk now.

"Jason Williams," he said extending his hand. "I'm impressed."

"Carlos Manoso," I said, "and ditto."

"Firefighter," he said, "couldn't sleep."

"Ex-Army Ranger. Me neither."

"Wait. I just made the connection. Rangeman?"

"Yes?"

"I'm interviewing with Ernesto tomorrow. I've been on the waiting list for six months."

"Well as you guessed, Rangeman is my company. I'd say stop by after your interview but I'll be in Siesta Key for a few days. I can put in a good word for you though, not too many people can keep that pace for over an hour."

"I started maybe five minutes before you and, well not to toot my own horn but I'm used to this. We train rigorously. Got to keep in shape or someone might get killed. Possibly you."

"So what makes you want to join Rangeman?"

"It's been my goal for a while. I'm ex-military too, thought it'd be a good fit."

"You here by yourself?"

"No, my wife is with me. Yes I know most of the men in the organization are single, it's a lifestyle thing but Tasha's used to it. Fires aren't nine-to-five and we rotate days at the firehouse as it is."

"Well if you're staying in a hotel for an interview you must be from out of town; may I ask where?"

"Sorry. This is also my honeymoon. I could never afford to stay in a place this expensive if I didn't want to give my wife some memories. We're from Austin. Well she's from Austin; I'm from Panama, Germany, North Carolina. Army brat, moved around a lot."

"So you're looking for something stable. You want to stay in one place for a while."

"Bingo."

I liked him. I'd text Ernesto as soon as I got back upstairs. Not that I really had any say in the hiring for the Miami office, but Ernesto had been with me from the beginning and he'd at least give it a little extra thought.

We were both done with our cool down at this point and we headed over to the showers together.

"I was actually hoping for an opening in your Trenton office since my wife has family nearby," he said over the roar of the running water.

Oh? Hmmm. I thought we had an opening…two in fact.

"What's your specialty? What were you hoping to come in as?"

"I'll do anything. I expected to start on the street checking out alarms, but my background is in tech. Yeah, I know you're wondering with an in-demand tech background how I ended up with the fire department. Simple, tech jobs are highly competitive and don't pay as well in Austin as they do in Dallas and Houston. And if we were going to leave the city we wanted the east coast."

He sounded like someone Hector might want to meet and Hector was in Miami for the next day and a half. I might be able to arrange something.

"I can't promise anything, but I'd like you to meet our technology director. His name is Hector Santiago and I can try to get you in to see him after your interview with Ernesto. He happens to be in Miami right now although he runs his operation out of Trenton. And if I know him he's still awake, I'll text him after we dry off. What time is your appointment?"

"Eleven."

I grabbed the other shorts I'd brought down with me and while I toweled off and got dressed I texted Hector.

Two minutes later I got a reply, 'I'd like to meet him'