Disclaimer: I do not own Lester (the character) or the Stephanie Plum series. This short-story is only inspired by the Plum world, out of canon. Please note I do not have a beta reader (I would love to have one). Thanks for reading, and I hope you guys enjoy it.

Murder

RangeMan headquarters in Trenton, New Jersey, has always evoked memories of my time interning at the Pentagon. The building saw a constant stream of military men, including a few ex-convicts, politicians, and high-profile businesspeople. However, the type of job was usually less complicated and not always law-abiding. Tank waited for us in the garage. I took in the stern expression on his face. He appeared freshly showered, sporting a bandage on his left cheek and scratches on his fingers. I walked out of the car, into his arms, and hugged him with all my might.

"My doll-baby," he said. I punched his bicep in response to the horrendous endearment. The squad had taken it upon themselves to use all types of sisterly or semi-sisterly endearments with me. He caught my hand on the second punch and chuckled. "Let me see you real quick."

"What do you think?" I stepped back and gave him a view of my navy blue maternity dress. The item had a decorative knot under my breasts, which I layered with a black blazer. Tank's big arms reached out, and his hands hovered over my belly. I nodded in approval, and he allowed his fingertips to grace my bulging stomach. I put my hands over his and pressed them against my tummy. The baby kicked, as if sensing what was happening. "It's a xenomorph."

Tank's sudden laughter boomed in my ears. "You've been watching too many Alien movies, but yes, probably. That's a strong kicker."

"Hey, that's my child you're talking about," Lester called out. My mate stood leaning against the hood of the car. I rushed to him and threw his arm over my shoulders to help him walk to the door. Tank patted my husband's back and ushered us inside.

"Brief me," I ordered once we were inside, in Ranger's office, and out of earshot. Lester sat on the chair next to mine and propped up his casted leg on my lap. I tickled the exposed skin on his leg.

"Our Stephanie has been accused of the first-degree murder of a federal agent." Tank said, and the brawny man's voice quivered at the last two words. Lester's jaw dropped. "We don't know how to respond."

"Stephanie would never murder anyone." Lester straightened in his seat. Tank and I both stared at him in response.

"Well, at least not purposely," he amended.

"She was found at the scene of the crime two weeks ago." Tank pushed a file across the table, where I found two pictures and medical reports. "The coroner assigned to the case placed the time of death around 14:45. Stephanie was seen entering the building only 15 minutes earlier."

"Why wasn't I called earlier?" Ranger and Tank knew the gravity of this case. A prompt response would have been the best form of action.

"We didn't know he was FBI. Stephanie was only picked up from her parents' home this morning." Tank picked up a newspaper and dropped it over the file in front of me. The Trenton Times's headline read "Heroin Lord Suspect On the Loose." "Mark Pond was assigned to a case relating to heroin. He went under the name Sean Paul."

"Are you serious? Does no one have any creativity?" Tank shrugged before focusing his eyes on me. He obviously didn't find the situation funny. Lester, on the other hand, stifled a laugh.

"Emma, I understand if you can't do this job." Tank was trying to give me an out, but the expression on his face worried me. I never liked seeing my friends and family suffer. He waved a hand in Lester's general direction and stared pointedly at my belly. Lester tried to swipe at Tank's hand but failed. "You have a lot on your plate right now."

"Yes, we are sure to have similar challenges in the future." The task of raising a child while working for RangeMan, occasionally being call to train military members, and attending to personal duties wasn't going to be easy. "We might as well get used to it now."

"Let me know if there's anything you need, sweetheart," Tank rose and appraised me carefully. "You probably shouldn't be around Stephanie without Ranger nearby. She tends to attract explosions."

"The woman has a reputation," I acknowledged. The men escorted me to the garage, where my favorite black Porsche waited for me. I slid into the driver's seat with a mischievous grin on my face and waved at my audience. Lester stood with tight lips and an arched brow, piercing me with his eyes. I drove slowly out of the garage, a measure that was meant to reassure them, but stomped on the accelerator once their faces were out of view. The baby inside me kicked. "Yes, I know you like it, too."

-rs-

Thanks for reading. I would love some feedback.