June 29, 2010

Chapter 3 Tank and Ranger

The terminated personnel, Stephanie, Cal, Bobby, Lester, Ella and Luis meet at Pino's to discuss this insane happening. Not much was eaten but a lot of beer disappeared quickly. Anger was and is the overriding emotion . What in hell was Ranger thinking when he brought that monstrosity back with him. Where did she come from? For Tank to know nothing made everything appear to be more sinister. The overriding thought is that Ranger was being blackmailed, but about what? Was he was tortured into this situation? Was he brainwashed? What could have threatened him enough to cave into this situation? Because this person is not Ranger. At least not the Ranger they all remembered.

Stephanie asked Tank if he could get time alone with Ranger to give him her letter. She did not think anyone else could do it. Her only concern was whether or not he agreed to read it. She could imagine that he would destroy it unread.

Tank's reply was that either Ranger would read in his presence or he would read it out loud to Ranger

at gunpoint. In Tank's opinion Ranger owed Stephanie at the very least this last courtesy.

It was decided by the group that they would stay together. They would find a safe house where neither Ranger, the wife or any new employees could find them or plant spying devices, The collective knowledge and expertise in the group would be hard to destroy for anyone. They did not discount the capabilities of Ranger. Lester would scout around for facilities. Even a rundown warehouse might be an option.

Ranger had always been generous with his pay scale and his bonuses so money probably wouldn't be a problem for a while.

Nondescript vehicles would be a requirement. New computers and software would be the most important equipment. All in all though they felt that they had enough diversified talent to not only make money but to find the answers to this puzzling situation. Such things as a courier service, maybe even pizza delivery to a very select few, first class security services as well as out of the Trenton area, bond enforcement.

Searching for everything would begin tomorrow in earnest.

The one concern was Steph's letter. Tank took it and promised it would be delivered as fast as possible. Steph reached up and gave Tank a quick peck on the cheek. If he said it would be done it would be done.

Lester would report back tomorrow night at as yet unknown place, regarding the progress of the living facilities. Until none of them could feel particularly safe

TANKS POV

I feel like a traitor. I don't know why we had all been betrayed by Ranger. I never thought there could be a situation where I would go against him But he had gone against everything I believed he stood for, his ideals, his comrades and his friends.

So help me Ranger would read Stephanie's letter tomorrow even if I had to tie him to a chair after I beat him to a pulp. All I had to do was to find way to divert the wicked witch of Trenton. Probably letting her go to one of the banks to look at the money would do it if she is as avaricious as I think she is. Or maybe she might like to go to New York to shop for suitable Trenton clothes. She better not try to shop in Trenton. In any event the plans will start tomorrow.

Bright and early the next morning everyone left at Rangeman was up and working early. As soon as Ranger arrived alone on the 5th floor I asked him if we might find a way to meet privately for a short time. He agreed. We decided a morning run might be the easiest way to handle this. It was certainly an ordinary way to start the morning. He called Lucia and told her we were going for a run. I guess she didn't object. We changed into running shoes and clothes and left the building.

After a short run we found ourselves in the nearby park. We stopped to catch our breathe. I asked Ranger to join me for a moment on a bench. As soon as we caught our breathe I told him I had something important to give him. "What is it" was his only answer. "It is a note from Stephanie" I answered.. Ranger threw his back and said there was no sense in reading it. That it was too late for any communication between them. Ranger got up and tried to run. I caught him and made him sit on the bench once more. "If he did not want to read it," I said, "I would read it to him at gunpoint or handcuffed whichever he preferred".

Ranger agreed to listen to it.

When I got to the line where Stephanie declares her thanks for all he has done for her and the fact that she loves him, Ranger put his head in his hands and softly said "Dios". He said "no more" and asked for the letter. Ranger read the last of it, he turned his face way from me, handed me the letter and asked that I keep it.

"What in hell is going on here?" I asked.

But Ranger was already gone.