Chapter 7
For all who have asked, some questions answered here.
Frank Plum asked Tank at Rangeman for the name of a good attorney, not trusting his son-in-law's recommendation. The choice was wise; Helen Plum was represented by Albert Kloughn's incompetent legal suggestion.
Frank Plum divorcing Helen ignited the Burg. Frank was considered a henpecked husband who bowed to his wife. He worked at the Post Office, got his pension, drove a cab for a few clients, spent his days at the lodge with other retired men and evenings in front of the television with his newspaper. The Burg was surprised he even noticed Helen anymore.
Everyone awaited a spectacle in the courtroom and they got it on the first day when Helen arrived having spent the morning with her good friend Johnny Walker. She was belligerent and disrespectful to her husband, her dissing daughter Stephanie, and her mother Edna Mazur. The later insults made no sense.
The judge called the attorneys and their clients into chambers after a particularly vicious Helen Plum outburst.
"Mr. Plum," the judge said, "Do you believe your wife is an alcoholic?"
"Yes, sir."
"I am not, I just tipple now and then," Helen shot back.
"Why have you not gotten her help?"
Helen was in fine form, "I am not an alcoholic! I am cursed by my daughter that should not have lived. She's never obeyed me, never learned to cook or sew but preferred to ride her bicycle all the time. Her marriage lasted 3 months. She now works for my husband's despicable cousin at a bail bonds office instead of getting a proper lady's job. She works with black thugs bringing other thugs back to jail. She refuses to marry a nice Burg man, a police officer, because he would force her to quit her job and have children. That's what a proper Burg woman does; she keeps her husband happy and bears him children. Now my granddaughter, Mary Alice, is misbehaving like Stephanie did. She refuses to dress appropriately, prefers boys toys to dolls, doesn't know how to sit still and it's all because of her aunt. Is it any wonder I tipple now and then. My life is ruined by my daughter!"
Frank sat patiently and when Helen unwound he answered, "Until recently I preferred to ignore her rants and rages but when I realized how badly she has hurt my daughter, Stephanie, with her derisive tirades as well as her alcohol issues, I knew I could no longer remain married to her."
"Frank, I told you I am not an alcoholic! I drink to calm my nerves and to cope with life. A life with you is like living with a deaf rock. The only things you've said to me over the last ten years is 'pass the gravy' and 'when is Valerie going to marry the clown?" Helen blasted.
Within an hour the divorce was granted. Frank gladly gave Helen the house, the furnishings and one car. He received his workshop tools, his car and most importantly, his retirement pension. Helen insisted Valerie and family move into the Plum house but in a moment of clarity Albert counted heads, divided by three bedrooms and still only 1 bathroom. He flatly refused to move.
"Mama needs help. Daddy left her with nothing." Valerie whined to Albert.
"She has a house she could sell, invest the money and live comfortably in a small apartment," Albert countered to no avail.
Albert's income barely covered his family's needs; suddenly Valerie wanted to help her mother and grandmother. Valerie took on a job leaving the children to Helen's care. That lasted a week when Angie reported Helen had dropped baby Lisa while reaching for her "ice tea" bottle in the upper cabinet.
Albert gave Valerie an ultimatum; your mother or our marriage. Valerie chose her mother and Albert left with Lisa. The next day Frank Plum filed with the courts to remove Angie and Mary Alice from a dangerous home. It took weeks but by the time social services investigated they confirmed that the girls were indeed in danger citing the tirades of Mrs. Plum. Social services insisted Mrs. Plum be evaluated before the girls would be allowed to visit her. Valerie resisted and the courts awarded the girls to the care of their grandfather. The Plum family was in ruins. The older Burg residents continued to blame the missing Stephanie for the Albert-Valerie breakup. Younger ones with clearer eyesight realized the problem was with Helen Plum after all.
Frank petitioned the courts to move to Florida to a better school district. Reluctantly the courts agreed when Valerie said she needed to spend more time with her mother than her girls. Before he and the girls moved, they went to visit Michelle at Rangeman. It was hard for Mitch to remain outside the ring of the Plum scandal but had wisely remained absent. When Michelle entered the Rangeman conference room she rushed into the arms of her two nieces.
"Aunt Stephanie, you look so different." Angie gushed.
"Yes Angie, I had problems too. I've been working to improve myself and gain confidence."
"Grandma used to say bad things about you," Mary Alice said sadly.
"Yes MA she did and it hurt me deeply. But with help from friends I've discovered I'm a good person." Looking at MA Michelle continued, "And you too Mary Alice are a good and wonderful person. You too Angie. You both deserve a life where you can be happy and not have people yell at you all the time."
Frank announced he was taking the girls far away from the Burg. "We are going to Melbourne, Florida, to a better school district."
Michelle turned her head, "You going to live with Sal, your brother?"
"Not live with him, just in the same area. He has grandchildren about the same age as these lovely girls. So there's family in place."
"Will you come and see us Aunt Stephanie," they pleaded.
"You can bet on it. You know how I love the ocean. I think I should have been born a fish," she smiled.
"I don't know why grandma hated you, you've always been my best friend," Mary Alice said.
"Grandma had hate in her heart sweetheart for anyone not like her. She didn't like people who looked different, believed or acted different. To her the world was in Chambersburg and nothing beyond. She has alcohol problems and perhaps some mental issues too. Your mother is staying behind to look after your grandmother. Your grandfather will take good care of you.
I want you to remember, love everyone. Even if you disagree with them, love them. They may look funny; be a different color, speak funny, maybe have a medical problem, or believe differently than you do or even bully you. Fill you heart with love to keep the evil away."
She then looked up at her father, "Daddy, I'm so happy you are going to take care of Angie and Mary Alice and raise them with love and understanding. I'm so proud of you. I hope Albert and you can stay in touch and you will be in Lisa's life as well."
"Thank you Pumpkin, err, Michelle. I'm proud of you too."
"Her name is Stephanie, grandpa", Mary Alice corrected.
"No Mary Alice, I'm now using my middle name, Michelle. I felt so unloved and confused that I knew I had to change me because I couldn't change others. When I became stronger, I decided to change my name to go with my new attitude. I don't let others try to change me; I don't let others talk down to me."
"Aunt ...Michelle...are you living with Ranger?" Angie asked.
The question knocked her in the heart. "Ranger is gone, he had something important he had to do overseas and he may have died. I haven't heard."
"Was he in the Army?" Mary Alice asked.
"Not quite but yes is an easier answer," Michelle said flatly.
Frank looked at his daughter with a raised eyebrow.
Michelle thought a minute, how to explain, "Old Ranger mission needed to be cleaned up."
Frank shook his head in understanding. He had been an Army Ranger in a previous life.
Looking at her father Michelle asked, "What about Grandma Mazur?"
Frank smiled, "She sold Big Blue for an obscene amount of money to a car collector in south Florida. Add in her social security and savings, she's going with us to Florida."
"You and Grandma Mazur are going to be in the same house?" Michelle gasped.
"Once I changed and really looked around, I saw Edna was funny, not a pain as Helen complained. I only hope to have her energy and outlook on life when I'm her age. She's excited about Florida. No doubt she's thinking of all the widowers down there."
"She'll have a lot of competition," Michelle laughed.
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By May's end Rangeman had purchased Vincent Plum bail bond and Hal became the manager. Michelle was offered the position of office manager, but she laughed. "No Way! What's wrong with Connie?" As a Rangeman employee Connie Rizolli would have to qualify with handguns and physical fitness. She passed the weapons part, she was from the Mob family, but the physical fitness took a few weeks. With Lula gone the bonds division had two highly efficient apprehension teams; Junior and Jamie, a new hire and on an as needed basis, Michelle and her partner Charlie the former Army MP.
For some reason those out of bail were skipping their court appointments forcing Hal to bring in Team Two Michelle and Charlie to pick up the slack. "You must have been quite a bond agent," Charlie commented while they drove to their next apprehension.
Michelle didn't laugh much but this nearly brought her to tears, "Oh yeah, that's why the called me the Bombshell Bounty Hunter. I love the other Rangeman employees for not telling you tales of my misadventures. I was indirectly responsible for burning down a funeral home….
"Indirectly?"
"Actually it was my grandmother and her .44 hitting an explosive stored illegally in the funeral home's basement. I was blamed opposed to an elderly grandmother."
"Anything else I should know?"
"My first case was to bring in a TPD detective Morelli who skipped on murder charge. I got him, proved him innocent, got shot in the ass and then killed Benito Ramierez, the boxer's agent who was trying to kill me."
Charlie just stared at her. "That was your first case?"
Good thing she was driving. "Yep, I've been shot twice, knifed, buried alive, dropped off the Delaware River bridge, kidnapped, jumped out of too many second and third story windows to remember, had my apartment fire-bombed, rocketed, had man blow himself up in my front hall, found a dead man sawn in half on my couch, Ranger get shot in the apartment, had a few missing body parts tucked into my refrigerator…"
"Whoa, whoa," Charlie held up both hands. "All that?"
"I haven't gotten to destroyed numerous cars, some my own, some belonging to Rangeman. The best one was the garbage truck rolling over onto Ranger's 911."
"Porsche?" He asked.
"Yeah, that was a classic but others met similar deaths."
"Others?"
"Mercedes, another Porsche, Jeeps, RAV 4, the list is long and that's just the Rangeman cars. I regularly had my own POSs blown up."
"One explosion is unusual, but multiple? Why?"
"I suspect leaky fuel lines, but a few were due to RPGs or other explosives."
"People actually targeted your car?"
"And me. I wasn't a good bond apprehension agent. It took me several attempts and once they knew I was after them they preferred to eliminate me. But in all fairness, some were accidents like the RPG outside the comic book store."
"You didn't accidently shoot your own car, did you?"
She shook her head, "No, that was gang war and my car was caught in the middle."
"Bad bond agents usually end up broke, or worse."
"I was broke most of the time. If it wasn't for Ranger giving me a job on backgrounds and searches, I would have been living on the street. Why I was bad? Because I was too stupid to admit I didn't know what I was doing and too brainwashed by my mother who kept telling me it wasn't a job for ladies. There was also having Ranger Manoso come and save me," she said as the turned her head and winked.
She then sighed, "But that is all in the past. I still enjoy the hunt and chase, but I promised myself and my grandfather Mazur I would do better. I like client relations, it's like doing the hunt without rolling in garbage."
"And the military?"
"Charlie, at Christmas I was literally at the end of my rope, the next stop was a homeless shelter or mental ward. I needed discipline and training. I needed to let go of my old self and let someone pound me into something better. The military was the only way I could see it happening. I never expected Tank to drop everything and start training me, then the others helped out."
"Are you happy?"
"I'm at peace with myself. I am no longer afraid, cautious yes but I use my brain not my emotions plus my training to get through."
"And Ranger?"
"That is a very dark hole in my life. He was my mentor. He was amused when I asked him to teach me how to be a bond recovery agent; Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins. I was a terrible student and he kept rescuing me. A more emotional relationship developed but due to his work for the government, he couldn't commit the way I wanted. I didn't understand why. Plus my mother kept pushing one Burg man after another in my face after my first marriage lasted about 30 seconds. I agreed to marry Morelli so Ranger left town. Christmas Day it all came crashing down, my life ended. Tank picked up the pieces."
"Morelli, the initial FTA case?"
"Yeah, he and I had history going back to childhood. Bad history but I glossed over the bad because he was handsome, had a fine ass, swagger, and he was Burg Italian so met my mother's criteria."
Michelle was driving and watching the people, "There's Silas Murphy, don't we have something on him?"
Charlie checked the files, "Yeah we do, nice bit of change. The file doesn't have much background, we are scheduled to work it this afternoon, but since he's out in the open, we might as well take him."
Michelle watched Silas turn into a bar, "Ugh, he's going into the Marigold."
"Bad?" Charlie asked.
"Bad. Going in all macho would cause problems. We could wait him out or run a distraction."
"A distraction?"
"I go in and smooze him and bring him out back, if all goes well. We need backup in case it doesn't go well. We've never done a distraction before with less than six men."
Charlie called for assistance. Junior and Jamie plus two patrols from Rangeman security arrived within 7 minutes.
"You going in dressed like that?" Charlie asked looking at the black Rangeman uniform.
"I'm not taking my vest off for the Marigold." Michelle pulled out what was once a bright pink nylon shell jacket 3 sizes too large that appeared to have been run over by winter traffic from her to-go bag and put the jacket over her vest. The boonie hat was old and greasy but covered her head and partially hid her face. When the back-up teams reported front and back, she reached down to the gutter, grabbed mud and smeared her face; her jacket and hat didn't need additional grime. Hunching over like a bag lady she dragged her to-go back behind her and went into the bar. The bartender and customers tried to ignore her. She counted out change for a beer but came up short. Looking around, she went up to Silas and said, "You got 27 cents?"
He looked down and then away. In an instant Michelle had him down and cuffed. "Bond Enforcement," she yelled which brought in Charlie and two other Rangeman through the front door and four others through the back; seven mammoth Rangeman. The bartender and patrons froze.
"Hold it guys, I just want Silas. Go back to your drinks." Michelle said calmly then backed Silas out the front door, patted him down and put him in the Rangeman vehicle, shackling his feet to the bolts on the floor.
"That was cool and efficient, but now you have a muddy face." At that moment several of Silas' friends came barreling out of the bar. Charlie and Michelle turned and like a primo tag team put the bar-brawlers down. Charlie and two other Rangeman threw them back into the bar, "We only want Silas."
Taking a cloth she wiped the mud from her face and blood off her knuckles. Removing the hat and jacket she fluffed her short hair, "Gotta look good for TPD, I used to come in smothered in garbage."
Charlie and Michelle perp-walked Silas into TPD and secured him to the bench and bolts. By now TPD knew the new Rangewoman was the old Stephanie Plum who changed her name reflecting her new found abilities. Her usual partner was a former Army MP which somewhat earned him a few kudos from the police force. Many wondered why he hadn't become a TP.
After collecting their receipt, Charlie and Michelle were heading out the door when Patrol Officer Joe Morelli started up the ramp.
"Is this your new fuck buddy?" he sneered. "I'm surprised you aren't fucking women looking the way you do."
Michelle briefly considered dropping Morelli, but knew that back ramp was well monitored. Maybe that's what Morelli wanted, egging her on to where he could press assault charges. Instead she walked away not acknowledging the insults.
"I take that wasn't a fan of yours," Charlie chuckled.
"I considered introducing the two of you, but I didn't trust my control. That was my former fiancé and giant Trenton Ass, Joseph Morelli. He used to be a detective but his mouth and prick keep getting him in trouble."
"A real gentleman," Charlie mumbled.
"Not even close."
They continued on their patrol, rounding up two more FTA before Charlie said, "Mitch, I have to leave a little early today, my daughter's preschool is having an end of year pageant."
Michelle turned her head quickly, "Daughter? You never mentioned a family."
"I would have gotten around to it. I married my high school sweet heart. We have a little girl named Dora."
"That's why you don't live a Rangeman."
He chuckled, "Don't think Tank would approve of a 5 year old riding up and down the halls on her bicycle. Plus we have a dog."
"Yep, not pet policy," she laughed. "I hope to meet your family someday." Michelle never thought of Charlie in anyway other than a work partner. He never gave off available vibes and neither did she. Michelle remained celibate.
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Michelle was cruising through a stack of background checks and searches when Lester approached, "Mitch, you and I need to make a preliminary visit to a new manufacturing company north of Lawrenceville. They want to upgrade their security."
"Which company?" she looked up some what distracted.
"Paragon Industries," Lester read from his sheet.
Michelle raised her eyebrows, "Les, that a big company."
"Yeah, we need to dress for this potential new client, suits. Appointment is for 14:00."
"You and me Les? Why not Tank?"
"He and Manny are doing a follow up on the Jefferson account and the two boutiques you signed up last week. Mitch, we are going to have to hire new employees to keep up with your new contracts." Lester wanted to hug her or squeeze her shoulder, but everybody was afraid Michelle would be offended or uncomfortable what is sexual harassment in the news.
"Lester," she said with a smile, "I miss your hugs too. In time I'll be more open but right now Hector is my hug buddy. You could hug him for me."
Lester shook his head, "Smart ass."
For a moment they both flashed in their minds, "smart ass" was what Ranger called Lester. Looking into each other's eyes they saw hurt. They both missed Ranger, but Michelle wasn't certain he was still alive and refused to ask. Believing he was alive elsewhere was far better than him being dead.
At 12:45 Michelle appeared on the 5th floor in her lady professional suit; black pencil skirt, ivory camisole and black jacket, a bit longer than a bolero jacket to hide her weapon on her back. She no longer feared carrying a weapon, but hated the way it dug into her back on long car rides. Her shoes were heels but study enough to run in if necessary. She never understood how Lula could run on spike thin heels, but then she never ran far.
Lester was in his dark grey suit, light grey pattern shirt and dark grey tie. This was his "summer" suit opposed to the usual black suits worn for the other nine months.
"Mitch you have the background on Paragon?"
"Yes sir."
Exiting the Rangeman Audie A8 at Paragon Industries Lester and Michelle were the consummate executives. The facilities manager explained the layout, their current security and what they were looking for.
Both Les and Michelle listened; she took notes and asked the questions. The manager wasn't surprised the woman was taking the lead. The reason became apparent when the CEO entered the office, a woman named Camille Lujan. Michelle's questions were spot on and soon the two Rangeman were given the tour of the facility. When the tour ended Lester and Michelle had preliminary suggestions on upgrading and the manager asked for a bid.
Leaving Paragon, Lester smiled. "Tank was right on putting you in client relations. You astound the big dogs as well as the little. I felt like eye candy for the CEO while you were conducting business."
Michelle laughed, "Time you guys get the treatment we've had to put up with since…time began." Michelle smirked, "Apparently you didn't see the facilities manager ogling my legs."
Les laughed, "That's why we want you wearing long pants in the office. You are very distracting. God help us if you still had your Stephanie hair."
She groaned, "Life is so much easier without detangler, conditioner and frizz days."
Two weeks later Paragon Industries signed a contract with Rangeman and Les, Tank and Bobby were figuring out a way to expand Rangeman's operations further northwest than before. "She keeps this up we are going to have to make her a partner," Tank shook his head.
Miami Rangeman
Ranger was looking over the third quarter reports from the four Rangeman offices. All we doing well, but the Trenton office was above and beyond. Beginning about April 1st, Tank reorganized the company and brought in several new hires. Purchasing Plum Bond Agency was Ranger's idea for supplying Stephanie with a job but also to take in more high bonds that usually went to Lee Sebring. Lee was making retirement noise and Ranger didn't want some new hot shot to come in and grab the big money. When Stephanie accepted Joe's ring and Ranger left town, he pretty much forgot about Plum Bail Bonds, but apparently Tank didn't.
Among the changes was Trenton had planned to send two of their employees to private investigator courses, but first, the apprentice program was several years in length and second, the two individuals, Mitch and Charlie, had the skills between them; business, accounting, surveillance and knowledge of law and former military police. Rangeman wouldn't be adding a PI shingle to their services, but the team was available and had already proven useful in solving crimes against Rangeman clients which in turn brought in more clients.
Ranger sat back and smiled, he was proud of Tank and Lester for leading Rangeman in such an economically depressed part of the country. By expanding their services, hiring quality employees, and setting up satellite work centers, they kept their response time down even though they had expanded beyond Trenton. The three other regional Rangeman offices were looking at Trenton's model to improve their companies.
He wanted to visit Trenton, it had been a year since he left. But the memories were too painful; just the other day he thought he saw Big Blue in Little Havana, a 1953 Buick white over blue. Fortunately it was a middle age Latino driving the car, not Babe.
He had kept himself from prying on her electronically. She made her choice, though he suspects she was coerced by her mother and the Berg. Ranger knew she loved him more than Morelli, but he couldn't take a chance Guzman would learn about her. Now Guzman was gone, she was gone and safe to raise a family. On the positive side, he and Julie had grown closer. She was great encouragement for him in rehab, but his heart still yearned for Babe. He had no interest in finding someone new.
His thoughts were interrupted by Marco, head of Rangeman Miami. "The Deacon and I are finalizing plans for Rangemaninja in Atlanta. Are you going to participate?"
"Not for overall, I'm not fully recovered, but yeah there will be some events I can do."
In the fall Rangeman offices sent representatives to Atlanta for two days day of competition. The "fun" games were a way to keep the employees in top form physically and mentally and build camaraderie between the offices.
This was the first year Ranger Manoso would not be heading up the Trenton team. After 10 months he had not quite recovered sufficiently to participate in all the sports. The greatest loss was he would not be participating in Mt. Manoso, the most difficult of all the trials and named in his honor as he won the event since its inception.
Each office could send up to fifteen employees providing the home offices were not compromised. Atlanta, Boston and Miami had women employees and had their own side competition. When word reached Atlanta that Mitch's nickname was The Bitch, Atlanta's CEO, The Deacon called to ask Tank if Mitch fit the gender classification.
"Completely," Tank chuckled.
"What's her experience; military or police?" the Atlanta boss wanted to know.
"She's a civilian, no military or police experience, just bail bonds agent," Tank replied.
"Yet she's qualified for Rangeman duty?" The Deacon was surprised.
"She is."
Do you think she'd like to compete?
Tank was about to say, hell yes, but he flashed on Ranger being there. Was it time for those two to meet back up? Now or never he decided, "Her decision, I'm not going to force her."
The early morning gym chatter was about the upcoming Rangemaninja. "You going to represent Trenton, Mitch?"
She laughed, "I'm hardly an athlete."
"Baloney," Ram spit out. "Not only could you easily do the challenge course, you are a heck of a shot and swimmer."
"Pat yourself on your back Ram," she smiled. "You keep me on the edge."
"There's also hand to hand competition, strongman, and a Ninja course, super challenge course." he hesitated and looked at Lester.
Lester looked unsure as well. What would Mitch say when she learned about Mt. Manoso?
"You mean like American Ninja on TV?" she asked.
Both men relaxed, "Yes, Atlanta builds the course each year. It's not as flashy as the one used on television but just as tough.
"Is there a Mount Midori Yama?"
"Yes, a rope climb, 75 feet. While the TV ninjas can do it in under 30 seconds, we mortals take a bit longer. I hope to win it this year but I've got to up my training."
"Spiderman needs more training? Yikes," she said. "I'll pass on that one."
Lester and Ram exhaled as did several other Rangeman also listening to the conversation. Mt. Manoso would remain anonymous for a while longer.
Turning back to Ram, "So what do you think I could do?"
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"Do you think it is a good idea she go to Atlanta, Tank? Ranger is likely to be there," Bobby asked. "There's no way they won't run into each other."
Tank sighed, "It's been a year. Hopefully both are stronger emotionally to deal with their relationship."
"If the whole thing blows up, then she is likely to leave us," Bobby said. "She's an important member of the team now."
"She's always had the option of leaving, but more and more she seems happy here. She's dynamite in client relations, she and Charlie make a good investigation team, and she still does bond apprehension to keep sharp. If she and Ranger detonate, then hopefully she will come back here and he'll stay in Miami."
"And if they click?" Bobby asked.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, there's a lot of IF's first.
My eyes are crossed tonight. I'll post this and correct tomorrow when I can see again. Eleni