Enjoy.

Lester's POV

Crap! I can't believe the General did this. He has arrested Fiona and Ranger for treason of all things. The General refused to explain what they did to warrant such treatment, but Polanski said something about sharing classified information about Díaz with individuals who are not cleared to know those details.

After they dragged Ranger away, the General ordered me out of his office and his building. I refused to go until I got a better explanation about what was going on, but when the guards showed up to drag me away, I realised I was never going to get my answer.

The last thing Ranger said before he was dragged away was to contact his lawyer. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. I wasn't surprised that I didn't have the direct number for our lawyer, so I called Tank. I got Tank's voice mail and didn't bother with a message. Next, I called the control room and got Woody.

I hurriedly greeted Woody and told him that I needed the number to our criminal lawyer. He asked me what I needed it for but I snapped and said, "Just get it."

Woody disappeared for few minutes and came back with the number. I wrote it down, thanked him and then called the lawyer. I honestly don't know how Ranger gets so lucky sometimes. When I finally managed to talk to the RangeMan lawyer, it was to find out that he was already in D.C. I gave him a very brief explanation of the circumstances and he arranged to meet me at the hotel. He didn't want to discuss any details over the phone.

My next task was to contact Tank and explain the situation, but I didn't see the point in briefing Tank before I had anything to tell him. Hopefully meeting with the lawyer would give me some good news to share along with the bad.

Ranger had handed me the keys to the van as he was dragged away so at least I had transportation. I headed back to the hotel and returned to pacing the lobby as I waited for the RangeMan lawyer, a guy names George Creswell.

Creswell walked in and recognised me immediately. We had only met a few times, but I guess the black gave me away. We shook hands and I told him that Ranger was arrested for treason along with an Agent that we were working with.

"Lester, please start from the beginning. I have a feeling that there's a lot more to this story."

I looked around the lobby and said, "Perhaps we should take this upstairs. We can use Ranger's suite."

When we were both sitting, I started the story with Ranger's last mission and his discovery that Ramon Díaz was dying. I then went on to tell him about General Matthews' attempts to get Ranger to reconsider his retirement and culminated the story with my own kidnapping and Ranger and Fiona's subsequent arrest.

"That's an incredible story. Do you know what exactly Ranger was supposed to have done to justify the treason charge?"

"The General said that Ranger shared classified military intelligence with people who were not cleared to know said information. I figure he's talking about sharing the fact that Díaz is probably dead but I'm not sure."

"OK. I will contact the Department of Justice and find out what's going on. I need to find out what the formal charges are and then I'll contact you. I will come back here after I've finished my enquiries and take a room so we can work together until we figure out what's going on."

"I will ask the front desk to make up the suite Ranger was using for a new guest. RangeMan has already paid for it for Ranger, so there's no point letting it go to waste."

I shook hands with George and told him I'd see him later. As soon as George was out of sight, I went to arrange for Ranger's belongings to be moved to my room and for the room to be cleaned for a new Guest. I explained the situation without disclosing the fact that Ranger had been arrested. I just said he was called away urgently and was unable to collect his belongings. I would hold on to Ranger's things and get them back to him when I saw him next.

The room would be sorted within the hour so I headed to my own room to call Tank and fill him in as best I could. It was just after 1PM so I ordered a sandwich from room service and called tank while I waited. He answered with the typical RangeMan 'Yo.'

"Hey Tank."

"Les, how did it go with the General today?"

"Not so great. He's still in office and he managed to come up with some sort of evidence to arrest Fiona and Ranger for treason."

"That bastard!"

"I know. George Creswell is already looking into it. He was already in D.C. and we lucked out. He's gone to the Department of Justice to try and figure out what's going on."

"Does he know the full story?"

"I filled him in on everything I know. If he needs more information, I may call you when he gets back. For now, there's not much we can do other than wait."

"No Les, that's not all we can do. We can plan our revenge on Matthews, Williams and Polanski. Those two agents are little shits. I can't believe they backstabbed Ranger of all people. They must know who he is and what he's capable of doing to them."

"If they don't now, they will surely find out. Ranger isn't going to let this one go very easily."

Tank was silent for a moment and then he gasped. "Les, what time was it when Ranger was arrested?"

I thought back and looked at my watch. "I guess around 10:30 or there about. Why?"

"I was with Stephanie in the gun range. I was showing her how to disassemble and reassemble a Glock 19 when she sort of fainted. When she recovered she told me that her spidey sense had just gone off and that something had happened. She went off to contact her family and when she returned without any bad news, she seemed a little better."

"Wow. She sensed that something bad happened to Ranger all the way from Trenton. That's freaking awesome."

Tank grunted and said, "It won't be awesome to tell her when she gets back. Promise me you'll call as soon as you hear from George. I don't want to tell bomber anything until we have some good news to tell her."

I laughed and said, "That was the same logic I used to put off calling you. I could have called you as soon as it happened, but I chose to wait to talk to George first."

"You made the right call. It's not like I was or am in a position to do anything. Just keep me in the loop so I know what to tell the guys if need be."

"No problem. I'll call as soon as George fills me in when he returns. It probably won't be until around 5PM though, so take your phone with you to the gym if you're going to be involved in Beautiful and Lula's training. Also, tell them that I'm sorry to not be there. I was supposed to work on some stuff with them but that will just have to wait until I get back."

"Don't worry about it Les. There's plenty enough for them to learn without you here. You'll really be pleased with how well they're getting on already. You might not even recognise them by the time you get back, especially if you're down there a while."

"I'm staying for as long as it takes. I'll take an apartment if it looks like things are going to take a while. I owe it to both Ranger and Fiona to fight to get them released. Neither of them would be in this mess if they didn't come and rescue me."

"You're wrong Les. This is all on the General. I wouldn't be surprised if he offers to drop the charges if Ranger signs back with him. He's a devious man and I hope George is able to call Matthew's bluff."

I agreed, but for some reason, I wasn't holding out much hope of that. General Matthews was a very powerful man in this city and it would take a lot to get him out of power. It didn't matter, one way or another, we'd get Ranger and Fiona released, even if that meant the General has to stay in power for a little while longer.

We're staying in Washington for the next chapter as well... what will happen next?