I am very sorry for the delay, but work has been hectic, a new promotion means longer hours. I will assuredly try to update more often then I have been. As always, this is cross posted to the Plum Fan Fiction group on Yahoo and my writing" Live Journal" as well as being posted here.

Constructive Criticism is always welcome, flames however…well, flames don't bother me. Comment if you would. If not, please enjoy.

Obviously, Janet Evanovich owns the characters you recognise.

"We were one of the primary teams. We were sanctioned by the government, and worked under their approval. When the administration changed, we were released from our contracts and Rangeman was born. We had a lot of skills, legal and legitimate as well as the darker side of our world, and we figured we may as well utilize the legitimate ones we'd learnt."

I was glad I was sitting down. I have to admit that.

"That was the most I think I've ever heard you speak."

"Babe." He offered me a faint smile, and the boys couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

"Six months ago. Everything changed."

Now why didn't that shock me?

"Six months ago, a man by the name of Abraham Daily was killed, executed really, and our former commander began talks to have our unit reactivated. But nothing moves quickly in the military. Due to the sensitive nature of our work, only certain people were informed, but, obviously, people have spoken out of turn. Abraham Daily was Albert Kloughn's handler.

Albert Kloughn" A quiet sigh. "Albert Kloughn is, was" he corrected "actually a man by the name of David Cooper. David was an expert in International law and when our unit disbanded he figured he'd deserved a break. He changed his name, moved to New York, where he met your sister and ended up settling here. It was pure coincidence that we ended up in the same city, though it did allow us to keep a close relationship going, and allowed us to keep a better eye on the people we loved. We began making arrangements for your sister and the kids to be moved out of the country to safety. A safe house, a safe life would have been set up for them wherever they wanted to go. We take care of our own, and we wouldn't needlessly risk anyone's life. I wouldn't risk anyone's life needlessly, especially someone who meant so much to you."

I felt sick. Like I might throw up, and I must have said something out loud because Bobby took a step backwards and Tank moved closer to rub soothing circles on my back.

"So it was all part of some sick perverted game?" I questioned indignantly. "Some part of your sick world where you play on people's emotions? Is my…was it all fake? Did he actually…"

"Love your sister?" Ranger interrupted quietly. "Yes. He did. Very much. She's a good woman Babe. And Albert…David really did love her. And she'll be well provided for. Our line of work, well…getting out, is always harder then getting in, and getting close to someone is hardest still. But he did love your sister Babe, and those girls. He wasn't pretending. It wasn't all a lie. Didn't you ever wonder where the money came from? He certainly never had any clients…"

"Then you?" I questioned quietly. "You aren't really Ricardo Carlos Manoso?"

A quiet shake of his head.

"No Babe, I'm not. There is no Ricardo Carlos Manoso. Just like Albert-David, we set up new lives for ourselves. New identities, it's why we live in the shadows. My real name is Carlos López Marcos, but, everyone has always called me Rico. It was my father's name."

"What about Joe and Terry?"

If the boys were shocked by the sudden change in topic, and my seeming disinterest in the news that Ranger wasn't who I thought he was they were polite enough not to comment.

"We're not sure yet Babe." Ranger said. "We're just not sure. But there's no way this isn't connected. I don't believe in coincidence. And there is some connection that we're obviously missing."

"I want to go home." I whimpered. "Mom will be worrying about me. I just want to go home."

"You can't Stephanie." Lester spoke quietly, and with a graveness that I hadn't ever heard from him.

"They found your prints on the murder weapon, and well…Terry and Joe were found naked in his bed. The police called to shots fired. There was sign of sexual intercourse…It looks…it looks like a crime of passion."

Now that? That really did have me throwing up.