Thank you for all the reviews; you guys are amazing:) If you recognize them, they're not mine :)

Thank you Margaret for reading ahead as my beta once again.

Chapter 35—Using the right tool for the job

Ranger's POV

My phone rang non-stop after Ella shooed me out of Steph's room and I presently had to leave to return to Trenton and Governor Christie's mansion. Hector, Manny and Raphael had successfully picked up Sotolongo and I'd convinced him to let Hector blindfold him. I told him he was headed to a private estate whose location was classified. Not really a lie, but I'd apologize for my 'oversight' later anyway. I just hoped this wouldn't turn into a full-scale war and if it did, I hoped we could get Sotolongo the additional manpower he'd need to keep the Marielitas from certain death.

Hector and Rafe were going to meet with Tater later tonight and as much as Sotolongo would never ask the Kings to come to his aid, Hec had no such problem.

It looked like Ella and Ashley were still showcasing dresses and shoes for Steph…but I had to go.

"Ladies," I said sticking my head in the door, "can I have a minute with Steph?"

Both nodded and picked up their bags to go out into the hall. I closed the door behind them, more for my comfort than for the chance of them overhearing anything classified. And if anything I had to say were truly classified, I wouldn't be able to tell it to Steph either.

"Babe, I have to leave for a few hours. Are you ok here?"

"Will you be back tonight?" she asked.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," I told her as truthfully as I could. "I hope to be here when you wake up later."

"Carlos?"

"Babe," I answered softly as I reached for her hand, hoping it would work to ease her worry. I really had no idea if I'd be back tonight or not. And I just hoped we'd see each other tomorrow.

"It pays to tell the truth Carlos," she said and I could tell she wasn't buying my nonchalant attitude.

"I've told you what I can. We believe the Asian gang, the Chongos are here to start a war with the Marielitas. My job as emissary is to make sure the right people are aware of what's happening and then I plan to step aside. I have no intention of joining in this 'war'. But as you know, even the best-laid plans often need to be improvised," I told her, slightly talking in circles.

"So you're saying that if they pay you enough or can convince you it's in your best interest, you'll get Rangeman involved?"

"No. I can't speak for my men. I can only speak for myself."

"Carlos, our wedding's in two weeks, please don't do anything stupid."

"I try never to do anything stupid and I'll have Hector, Manny and Raphael with me as a sanity check. I should be back here by the morning."

"Don't get shot," she said with tears in her eyes.

"Don't go crazy Babe," I replied pulling her close and kissing her. A hospital bed was never intended for the way I wanted to kiss her but she was injured and I'd need to restrain myself too. "I love you Steph, and I'll try to be here when you wake up."

"I love you too, Batman."

With that I pulled away from her before the tears in the back of my eyes became obvious. I never intended to fall so head over hees in love with this woman as to question my actions. Dios, I must be getting soft.

I let Ella and Ashley back into the room. I hoped they could lighten her mood or at least momentarily cheer her up. I had to get back to Trenton asap. I wanted to be there when Hector removed Sotolongo's blindfold.

Stephanie's POV

After Ranger left, Ashley tried on the last dress. It was apparent to me right away that the slip dress was going to be 'the one' but I promised myself to be open-minded.

"I have another treat for you Stephanie," Ella said, bringing over a large plastic Tupperware. "I'll be right back, I just need to re-heat a few of these in the nurses' microwave."

"Food?"

"Better than food. Eula's been making appetizers for your party and I brought some for us to sample."

There were warm won ton cups with a spinach and artichoke filling, gorgonzola and caramelized onion stuffed mini potatoes and a cold strawberry gazpacho shooter that was topped with a compote of fresh strawberries and mint. Everything was really good.

Ella and Ashley left after the tasting. Ashley had work to do tonight and Ella needed to pull ingredients together for the morning's breakfast at Rangeman.

They'd left me some fashion magazines and a Cosmo, so I was sitting up reading when there was a knock on my door.

"Stephanie Plum?" some kind of orderly or male nurse with a stretcher asked.

"Yes?"

"I'm here to take you for X-rays."

"Now?"

"Yes. Imaging is open 24/7."

"I was just getting comfortable. Can't we do this tomorrow?"

"Afraid not," he said looking down at the papers in his hand. "They have you booked for now."

Something about the way he said that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention.

"Let me see that paperwork?" I asked.

He reached over to show me his orders. They looked fine to me, but what would I really know anyway?

"Erik? Brett?" I called into the hall. Sal and Vince came running in. I guessed we'd had a changing of the guard.

"This guy says I have to go for X-rays. Did you take a look his ID and the paperwork?" I asked, suddenly feeling quite suspicious of the Asian man in scrubs standing in front of me. Especially since Manny had said the Chongos were in town looking to fuck with Carlos before heading to Newark.

"Let me see your ID again," Sal responded, most-likely picking up on the same thing I did.

The 'orderly' shoved his stretcher into the doorway, giving him a chance to escape the room and us, which he did. After Sal and Vince pushed the stretcher aside and made sure I was ok, they took off after him.

I was craning my neck trying to peer into the hall when some movement on the other side of my door caught my attention. Suddenly two men in white coats came into the room. One of them had a hypodermic in his hand. I felt him prick me with it and that's the last thing I remembered.

I woke up disoriented and desperately needing water to quench my parched mouth. Where was I? How did I get here? And most pressing, would Carlos be able to find me? Having just been through surgery and told to keep off my leg, I was afraid to get up and investigate. I had no trackers on me, but I had been chipped about a month back. I hoped more than anything that my chip was still in place and broadcasting my position back to Rangeman.

It was awfully quiet wherever I was and I realized I was shivering. Wearing a hospital gown with my ass sticking out was probably partially responsible for that, but this place was cold. And dark. The hospital gown gave me another pause for worry. Did someone do something to me while I was out? You know, like rape me, or worse? I didn't feel like I'd just had sex, consensual or not, so I guessed I was ok.

I wondered where my captors were and what they were going to do with me? Hold me for ransom? Carlos would probably agree to any amount to get me back but then pull some trick to turn the tables on these guys. Good. Ransom my ass off.

I heard a beeping somewhere in the distance; it sounded like a truck backing up. I really hoped it wasn't them, coming back to hurt me. That was when I realized I wasn't tied up or restrained in any manner. What the fuck kind of an abduction was this? Now I was getting angry. I wasn't an abduction after all; I was a planned distraction and I hoped I wasn't going to screw things up for the task force Carlos was heading up.

"Stephanie?" I heard my name. The voice sounded like Lester.

"Les? I'm in here but watch out I think this is some kind of a trap. I'm not restrained."

"Stay where you are. Don't try to walk. The room you're in is wired with explosives. Hal and Ramon are on their way here to disarm the place but until they do, it's not safe to try to get to you. Are you ok?"

"Just cold."

"Is it bearable? I don't want to risk throwing in a blanket unless we have no other choice. I'm not sure what will trigger a reaction."

"I'm ok for now but think about a way to get me a blanket. This hospital gown is awfully thin."

"Hal and Ramon just pulled up. Let's give them a few minutes to look the situation over."

"Ok. Does Carlos know?"

"He's in a meeting and not answering his phone. I left a voice message and sent him a text. He'll be here as soon as he can."

I was going to ask about Hector next but I knew he was in the same meeting and they needed to do what they do to keep New Jersey safe.

Hal's POV

I could see the trip wires as I pulled up to the abandoned warehouse. Jace and Sybo were standing guard outside and told me that Lester and Bobby had carefully made their way back to the coordinates where Steph was being held.

Until I looked closer I couldn't tell if the explosives were on a timer, controlled manually or just set up for show. I had to assume timer and that time was of the essence here. Ramon and I donned our EOD suits, took some tools with us and made our way past the first trip wires to find the source. Thankfully Santos and Brown lit the place well; the wires were thin and without good illumination could easily be missed. This was not going to be an easy job.

Ramon was on his hands and knees. "Get down. Eye beam," he said, pointing out the tiniest sliver of light. Thank God neither Bobby or Les broke its line of sight. It seemed like the guys who set this place up knew what they were doing.

"Bobby," I said through the microphones in my suit, "be careful, there are lasers set up among the trip wires."

"We saw them. Stay close to the wall until you get over by the large pillar. There seems to be another room off to the left. Santos thinks that's probably where the explosives are located. They aren't in this room although they could be in the room with Steph."

"Is she ok?"

"Cold but we don't dare throw her a blanket until we're sure it won't trip anything."

"This looks like a professional job. I'd say Army. They were very thorough," I told him making my way right while Ramon went left.

"Found it," Ramon spoke to me. "And you're not going to be happy. Liquid nitro as the propellant."

"Shit. The shock state will turn it back into its two components: Oxygen and Nitrogen. The oxygen is harmless but the nitrogen dioxide gas is deadly and will kill us all if the explosion doesn't."

"Exactly," he reiterated my worst fear.

I needed to think this one through.

"Ramon I'm coming over. I think I may have an idea. Let's try to use it against itself."

"I was just thinking the same thing. The liquid nitrogen can freeze the battery that's powering the trigger so we can get it out of here. We'll need a refillable spray can and some kind of containment capsule. I know we can freeze the battery but I don't know how long it will remain frozen and if it thaws it will explode."

"That's a chance we'll have to take. Getting a containment vessel in here while avoiding the trip lines isn't going to happen."

"Unless we freeze it first; render it useless, then bring in a containment vessel."

"I'm not feeling too good about Steph being in here while we do this. What if the bomb goes off?"

"Well we can't get her out. Les just said that there are trip lines surrounding that room. There's no way in."

I used the microphone in my suit to talk to Les and Bobby. I told them of our plan. It would take at least twenty-five minutes for someone from Rangeman to get here with the things we needed and in the meantime Bobby said Steph was starting to shiver uncontrollably. We had to work fast.