Chapter 5
"I take it you two know each other?" Ranger asked.
"Yes, "Ram" here is married to my sister Val."
"In the beginning Steph you would partner with me and Ram would be with Tank. When Lester and Bobby come back from Miami you will also partner with each of them for a bit. It'll be much easier to do your training that way. So would you have a problem with being partners?"
"Nope."
"None here."
"Hey Ric, where are Lester and Bobby anyway?"
"We had some problems down in Miami, they have been down there a couple of weeks. They both should be home tonight or tomorrow."
"OK then, why don't we get a training schedule together and then talk to Lula. We will try and coordinate your schedules for the gym."
"Wait what about Vinnie?" I asked.
"Vinnie won't be a problem, I will just add you to the contract. I will let him know and if he gives you any problems just let me know."
"Thanks Ranger, so when do I start?"
"Well I have to get the contracts drawn up, my lawyer will probably have them ready by Monday. In the meantime why don't I show you around and introduce you to everyone. Another thing I wanted to mention is that we have apartments here for employees, if you ever want to move into one just let me know. I will show them to you when we do the tour of the rest of the place."
So just like that I had a new job, I am so dreading telling my mother, she is going to completely freak. The entire neighborhood will be ironed. I started thinking about the training...
"So what kind of training are we talking about?"
"It will be the same training I require my guys to have. Running, weight training as well as time in the gun range."
"Running?" I managed to squeak out.
Leave it to Jack to chime in again. "What's the matter Steph, scared to get into shape or are you scared you will have to give up your cake and Ben & Jerry's obsession?"
"Jack let me ask you a question, is there a reason you are a smart ass and love to torture me?"
"Come on Steph it's been a long time since I have gotten to torture you. Besides I should be the least of your worries, your mom was not real happy when she found out about you working for Vinnie now you are going to be working with me. I am sure she will be thrilled to no end."
"Jack she needs to let me grow up and not lecture me on every choice in my life." I stopped talking and realized we were still in Ranger's office, not the best place to have a talk about my life. "Ranger I'm sorry, we should get out of here and finish this conversation later."
"Why don't we go to lunch, we could talk more about the job and what the two of you will be doing."
"Sounds good to me." I replied so did Jack and Tank.
"Is Pino's OK?" Ranger asked everyone.
Jack let out a bark of laughter and I promptly shot him the death glare.
"Are you kidding, I think Pino's is Steph's second home."
"Ha ha very funny, I can't help that they have the best pizza around."
"OK, so lunch first, then if it is OK with the two of you we can come back here and do the tour."
The four of us piled into the Bronco and made our way to Pino's. On the way over I sat quietly thinking about today's turn of events and so far so good. Now I just hope Joe isn't at Pino's, most of the cops ate lunch or dinner there and if Joe isn't there I am sure some one will call him and tell him that I am there. We finally arrived at Pino's and the four of us made our way to a table in the back. I was stopped by Eddie and Carl along the way.
"Hey Steph, Ranger, Tank. Jack good to see you, I heard you and Val moved back into town."
"Yeah Eddie, I took a job at Rangeman."
"So Steph I take it things didn't go well with Joe last night."
"Why do you say that Eddie?"
"Well he came in this morning looking pretty pissed off, only one thing makes him look that mad."
"You know what Eddie, Joe is none of my concern anymore, it's finally over...for good this time."
"Hey don't bite my head off. Good for you Steph." Eddie has been one of my best friends since I can remember, he never liked the idea of Joe and I dating.
"Yeah well it had to be done, now if you will excuse us I need some lunch."
We finally sat at our table and ordered lunch and of course as soon as we finished Jack had to start again.
"So you finally broke up with Joe, I'm glad but I am beginning to think that maybe you should avoid you mom for a little while."
"Jack I'm warning you..."
"Come on Steph lighten up."
"Jack you know how my mom is, you have been around my family long enough." I looked over at Ranger and Tank. "Guys again I am sorry for doing this in front of you. If you ever meet my mother you will understand. She wants me married. I tried it once and hated it, not to mention I came home from work early one day and found my husband screwing the town whore on our dining room table. She has never stopped to think of what I want out of life."
"What do you want?" Ranger asked me.
"I want...I want to fly."
Now it was Tanks turn. "You know Steph the more I hear you talk the more perfect I think you are for this job."
I raised an eyebrow at him in question.
Tank continued. "What makes us work is no fear. Guys who like the adrenaline rush. You seem like that type of person. Let me ask you a question."
"Shoot."
"What was your last job."
"I was a lingerie buyer for E.E. Martin, about 5 weeks ago I was laid off."
Jack snorted, figures he would have to chime in at that. "Just don't ask her to model the lingerie for you. She gets real touchy about that."
"So help me God Jack, I am gonna kill you." I told him while laughing.
"Cupcake, did you just threaten a cop in a place filled with cops?" Great, why did Joe have to show up now. I hope he isn't here to start trouble.
"Joe, don't you have something better to do than bother me?"
"Hey Jack, I heard you were back."
"Yeah. When Ric here called and asked me to come and work for him I jumped at the chance. Now I'm really glad I did. It's great to be home."
"Your working for him?" Joe asked with an angry voice.
"Yes, we've known each other for about 15 years now. I have been looking for a change and this was the perfect opportunity."
"Look Morelli if you don't mind this is a business lunch." Ranger sounded angry. Guess there is no love loss between Ranger and Joe.
"What the hell kind of business lunch could you be having with her here?"
"Excuse me! Her has a name and her is right here and for your information I belong here. Ranger hired me this morning and Jack here is going to be my partner. So fuck off Joe and let us get back to work."
I looked over at Jack and he was laughing his ass off. He turned to Joe. "Joe here is my card with my numbers on it. Give me a call and we'll get the guys together for a few beers and some catching up."
"Yeah sounds good. I gotta get back to work. Cupcake this isn't over."
"Don't call me that and it is over. You have no say in my like anymore." He finally left.
I took a minute to collect myself before speaking to the guys again.
"Look can we just forget that whole thing ever happened and get down to business. I think we all might be a little safer that way."
All three guys nodded at me so I continued.
"So the training. Explain exactly what I will be doing?"
"It was Ranger that answered me. "We start with an early morning run, then weights and sparring after breakfast. At some point in the day you will need to go down to the gun range to practice shooting. Do you have any problems with shooting a gun?"
"None. My dad used to take to the range to practice. Behind my mother's back of course. I also used to go with the smart ass sitting next to me. It has been a few years but I can manage."
"Are you OK with the rest of it?"
"Yeah, as long as someone teaches me to take this one down."
That got a good laugh out of everyone at the table.
"How about we head back to the office and I introduce you to the guys and show you around."