Ranger started moving. I was pulled out of the strange dream I was having to open my eyes in a dark room. I rolled to my side, watching Ranger get dressed.

"Ranger?"

"It's early, babe."

"No kidding, where are you going?"

He kissed my head. "Tank's here."

"And you're going to work." He flashed me a grin. I leaned up to see the alarm clock. "For crissake, Ranger! It's 5:30."

"Go back to sleep." He kissed me and left. I didn't hear the two men speak to each other, they could probably read each others mind. Where's the fun in talking? Then, the apartment door closed. I tried to go back to sleep, but it was impossible. I crawled out of bed and padded into the living room to find Tank looking over one of my files. I gave him a finger wave and walked into the kitchen, fixing up two cups of coffee.

Heading back into the living room, I held the mug in front of Tank and he just smiled before taking it. I glanced at the file and found that he was reading the info on Jenna Carter.

"You have any ideas with her?" His only response was a nod. He's keeping this one pretty close to his chest. I sighed and flipped on the TV. I found some old cartoons and we sat and watched Top Cat and Tom and Jerry for a few hours. I looked up after my mental nap and Tank was absorbed in the antics of Scooby Doo and the mystery solving teenagers. I smirked. The big guy likes Scooby? Aw, how cute…

I stood up and stretched. Tank immediately took his eyes off the TV and back on the closed file. I grinned and walked to the bedroom, shaking my head. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that he was back to the classic TV show.

Hmm…What to wear when taking on a woman like Jenna Carter? I pulled out my oldest, rattiest jeans and a tank top that has definitely seen better days. Sexy? No. Practical? Heck, yes. Especially if those brats are around. I pulled on one of Ranger's black hoodies and thick-soled work boots.

I was good to go.

Tank drove in his own version of the "Zone" that those military guys are so famous for. We left Trenton proper and drove out to one of the distant suburbs. We drove down one of the streets and I realized that we must be close to the street that Ranger had pointed out one time, telling me that he had grown up there. The suburb was tidy and reminded me strongly of the 'burg. Tank stopped in front of a beautifully kept large house. It looked homey and comfortable, like the family had lived there for thirty years. He looked at it for a long beat then got out. I followed him up the walk and rang the doorbell. An older woman with Jenna's dark golden complexion came to the door. She looked up at Tank and gasped in surprise.

"Oh, dear, how are you?" She sounded so happy. She gave Tank a big hug and pulled back with a grin at me. "Are you-"

"This is Stephanie." Tank said quietly. The woman's smile never faltered. She gave me a tight squeeze.

"Come on in, honey." She gestured to me. Tank followed me. Just in case you thought I had fallen into the Twilight Zone with Tank, don't worry, I'm just as lost as you. I had never been treated like this by the family of one of my skips. I'm assuming that this is Jenna's mother and I wasn't disappointed.

"Jenna, honey, Stephanie Plum is here." She called up the stairs and she sat us down in the living room. "I'll just get you something to drink."

I nodded in slight shock. The little boys from yesterday came in the room, herded by the woman. "What do you have to say?" The woman asked in a stern voice. Both boys apologized at the same time, fidgeting.

"They get it from their sister, you know? They're trying to be big and bad, but all they end up doing is looking immature and foolish, isn't that right boys?" They nodded and she shooed them away. She handed me a drink and sat down in the chair next to me. I looked from her to Tank.

"You haven't told her?" Jenna's mother said softly, glaring slightly at Tank. The big man looked a little uncomfortable under the small woman's gaze.

We were interrupted by a footsteps. Jenna appeared in the doorway. She leaned against it and looked me up and down, then her cool green cat eyes settled on Tank.

"Pierre?" She stood up straight, looking Tank dead in the eye. What the hell? Tank stood and walked to her. He stood half a foot over her already tall frame. She was, I'm guessing, about 5'9 or 5'10. She looked him in the eye, both very serious. Suddenly, she grinned and threw her arms around him. He hugged her back and swung her a little. My jaw dropped. When Jenna was back on her feet, she turned to me with a huge grin on her face.

"My, he really hasn't told you." I nodded, completely out of the loop. She turned back to Tank. "Carlos is an idiot."

"Oh, dear, you can't say that. You don't understand the situation."

"Has he told her anything?" Jenna just kind of tossed this out. I bristled a little. I guess, I didn't like being told I didn't know my boyfriend by my skip. I know this is irrational, but I didn't really care.

"Why don't you tell me what you think is important?" I challenged, standing up. Okay, in my head, that sounded cooler. Jenna looked me over.

"Pierre is my brother." I looked between them. Jenna and the others were black, but Tank was many shades darker than the rest. Where Jenna had her mother's soft green eyes, Tank had dark brown. He looked nothing like the rest of the family. Jenna smiled when she saw my confusion. "He's my adopted brother. Mom and Papa adopted him when he was ten and I was six."

"Oh, right."

"Carlos grew up a block over and we all went to the same school. On this oaf's first day of school, he picked a fight with him. Neither of them won, but they became the best of friends. He nicknamed him Tank right away because he was sure that Tank would always be fighting kids with a name like Pierre. Carlos was the brains of the two and Tank was muscle and I," She grinned. "I was the mouth, the tagalong. The boys put up with it pretty well, considering that they thought girls were yucky and all. When we got older, they would cream any guy that messed with me that I didn't want to and most of them that I wanted to. My big brothers." She sighed.

"They joined up before they graduated. Army, of course. Rangers, eventually. I joined up later to rebel against my parents and I went Marines to rebel against Carlos and Tank."

"And we've never forgiven you." Tank added with a grin. He had sat back down beside his mother. I was still standing in front of Jenna.

"I haven't seen either of these two for years. Not since I got married to the Jack Ass. But I hear a lot."

I grinned. "I call my ex the Dick." Jenna laughed.

"So what do I have to do to get this cleared up?"

"I have to take you back to jail. I can get Vinnie to rebond you, but you might have to wait." She nodded, grabbing her jacket from the back of the couch.

"Let's get this over with. Afterwards, you have to let me buy you lunch. I'll tell you all the stories that will be sure to ward you off instantly…that is, unless you actually love that bonehead."

XxXxXxX

After the police department, Tank dropped us off at Maggio's and was commanded not to tell Ranger a word about it. We sat at a table, at first eating, then just talking. She told me quite a bit about dastardly duo. Ranger had always been quiet, not shy but quiet. He wasn't afraid of confrontation but he became amazingly good at avoiding it. He could charm the teachers into forgetting about homework and make bullies run away with their tail tucked in. And Tank, well, Tank had always been there with him. She told me about herself, too. She had been a Marine, after all. There was a lot to tell. I had to cut it short when I saw the time. It was 5:30 and I had shopping Andy. I pulled out my cell to call Tank for a ride when it rang. I jumped a foot.

"Jesus."

Jenna almost fell out of her seat laughing. It was Marcus.

"Hey." Pause.

"Same to you, cookie. What are you doing tonight?"

"Shopping with Andy. I need a Halloween costume."

"What a coincidence! I need to go shopping to buy my sister a gift for her birthday."

"When's her birthday?"

"Saturday."

"Cutting it close?"

"I just remembered…and I'm not sure what to get her? I could use a woman's opinion?" He was doing that almost begging thing.

"Alright," I sighed. "Meet me at my apartment building."

"Where are you?"

"Maggio's, waiting for my ride."

"Be right there." He hung up. I looked at Jenna.

"My friend is set on picking me up, I think it is to make sure I don't pull a slip on him."

"Go ahead, I'll get a ride home from Tank."

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all." She followed me out and called Tank. We just had to smile when Marcus pulled up. Marcus was a crazy driver. He deserved every ticket he had gotten. We jumped back and he rolled down the window.

"Sorry, Ladies!" I shook my head and ran around the Jeep. Waving to Jenna, we were off, speeding toward home. I was pressed to my seat most of the way and we made it there in record time, skidding into the parking lot and slamming to a stop. My liver switched places with my stomach. On the way to the building, I touched his arm.

"Where did you learn to drive?"

"Mario Andretti."

Smart ass.

We jogged up the steps and stopped outside Andy's door. I knocked. No answer. Again. Nada. I shook my head at Marcus. He leaned in and twisted the knob. It was unlocked. I led the way into Andy's apartment. The lights were on and his keys were on the table by the door. His sneakers (he wore sneakers with his suits, it just Andy) were kicked off next to couch and he was nowhere in the apartment.

We looked at each other. Uh oh.

My cell started buzzing. It was a blocked number.

"Hello?"

"Stephanie Plum." It was the eeriest voice I had ever heard.

"Yes? Who's this?"

"You have the most beautiful eyes, Stephanie."

"Who is this?" I demanded again.

"Andy is here with me." Ice shot down my spine.

"What have you done to him?"

"Oh, nothing. He's meeting my family. I think you should join us, Stephanie."

"Where are you? I'll be right over." To kick your butt.

"Andy is so scared here, so scared. He's shaking just being here."

"Tell me where you are!"

"You'll find us. And if you don't, then I guess you have one less friend." He hung up. I stared in shock at my phone.

"What? What is it?"

"Someone has Andy."

"Who?"

"I don't know. He said that they were somewhere that Andy was terrified." I looked up at Marcus.

"Where would he be scared?"

"Um…somewhere he didn't feel safe?" Marcus didn't understand my question. Things started clicking in my head.

"The graveyard."