The characters belong to JE. I receive nothing from this, but it sure is fun.

Chapter 13

Joe's POV

Tank pulled me out of bed yesterday morning, at 5:05 a.m. According to Tank, I was late for my appointment on the mats. When I got down to the gym, there was a line of Manoso's employees. Tank pointed to the mat, indicating that I should take my place at the center. Once I was there I asked, "Okay, I'm here. Now what?"

"Manoso, you are hereby called to the mats for crimes against Stephanie Plum." Tank bellowed.

Half of me was excited that I would have something to use against Manoso. The other half of me was a little nervous, looking at all of the Manoso's employees that were lined up facing the mats standing at ease.

"You have been found guilty by your peers of withholding information of your true feelings from Stephanie. You have also been found guilty of committing a Morelli offense. Do you have anything to say for yourself before your punishment?" Tank asked.

"I have a couple of questions." I replied. "What's a Morelli offense?" I wasn't sure if I should be honored or insulted by Rangeman employees naming something after me.

Tank looked at me like I had lost my mind. "Woody, explain to Bossman what a Morelli offense is, since he has apparently forgotten." Tank yelled.

One of the guys snapped to attention. "Sir, Yes Sir. A Morelli offense is when someone puts their own needs before Bomber's well being, mentally or physically. In this case, Ranger is being charge with focusing on Morelli instead of Bomber at the site of the last car explosion, punishable by being called to the mats."

"At ease!" Tank said before turning to me. "Each Rangeman has called you to the mats. Each one will get their turn. You will stay in the gym until each and every employee has had their turn, starting with me." Tank began removing his shirt and shoes. I quickly did the same.

When Tank got into fighting stance, I figured out that we were going to spar. Tank is bigger than me, but I had boxed in the Navy. I should be able to handle this.

At least that's what I thought until Tank kicked me in the ribs, knocking the wind out of me. I tried to throw a couple of punches, but he was too quick for me. The match felt like it went on forever, but probably only lasted fifteen or twenty minutes. Whenever I would think that I had a chance to land a blow, Tank would sweep his leg, knocking my feet out from under me. I spent most of the time alternating between landing on my back or landing face down. Tank's final blow knocked me out cold. The worst part is that I never landed a single punch.

The strong smell of smelling salts brought me back to consciousness.

"You back?" Bobby asked, leaning over me.

"What the hell was that?" I asked.

"That was Tank teaching you a lesson. I've never seen a match between the two of you end that quick. The two of you usually go at it for a couple of hours, just for fun." Bobby said.

"Yeah, Ranger, since when do you fight like a girl?" Lester laughed. "Tank was only getting started."

I wanted to say something that would put him in his place, but my head hurt too much to think. Instead I looked around and asked, "Where did everybody go?"

"I told them to get to work. They can still call you to the mats, but it's going to have to wait until you're in better condition. I don't think you could handle any more today." Bobby said, shining a light into my eyes. "You have a concussion. Go upstairs and I'll send someone to check on you every couple of hours."

I spent the rest of the day hiding out in Manoso's apartment. I thought about calling Manoso to see how it was going for him, but I didn't want to admit that I couldn't last twenty minutes on the mats with Tank, since Bobby said that Ranger and Tank usually spar of hours. I didn't want Ranger to think I couldn't hack it.

Lester checked on me every two hours. The first time he came upstairs he brought pink nail polish that he had found in Cupcake's desk on five. The second time he came he brought a tiara and a princess wand with him.. I don't even want to know where he found those. On his third trip to check on me he brought tampons and Midol, which I threw back at his head and missed. That man had guts to go into a grocery store and buy tampons. I wouldn't do that for Cupcake if my life depended on it. Someone from the 'Burg or the precinct might see me and I would never live it down.

By Monday morning, I was almost back to normal. My ribs still hurt and I had a black eye, but at least I could use the time to look for dirt on Manoso in his apartment. Alright, to be honest, I didn't want to go downstairs to five and risk hearing comments about how I fought like a girl yesterday.

I looked around Manoso apartment and couldn't find anything I could use against him. I had been looking on and off for days and found nothing. I was to the point that I was almost ready to believe that he was the good guy that Cupcake claimed he was. Notice I said almost.

I have to admit that Manoso's life isn't half bad. A swanky apartment, a housekeeper, fancy cars, and I could definitely get used to having breakfast delivered every morning. Maybe I could convince Cupcake to take cooking lessons from my mother before we get married.

Manoso's cell phone began ringing, distracting me from my thoughts.

"What?" I answered.

"Uh…R…R..Ranger, sir?" The voice stuttered.

"Who wants to know?" I asked.

"Uh….Uh….it's Hal, sir." He responded. "We have an armed robbery in progress at the Bank of America on Hamilton Avenue."

Finally! I finally have evidence to use against Manoso. Just when I was about to give up, it drops in my lap. Rangeman must be a cover to the armed robberies they commit.

"Out with it. How much did we get?" I demanded.

Hall paused on the other end of the line. "Uh… how much did we get of what?" He asked.

"How much money are we getting off of this job?" I asked with glee.

"Uh…the bank has the elite business security package." Hal replied.

"What do you mean by 'elite business package'?" I asked, thinking that it must be some type of code to cover up the robbery.

"Sir, the Bank of America is one of our biggest security accountants in Trenton." He explained, before asking, "Are you feeling okay? Should I contact Bobby? Do you think that you're having a stroke?"

"What would make you think that I'm having a stroke?" I yelled into the phone.

"Uh...well…uh…you did take quite a beating from Tank yesterday." Hal said. I could hear him shuffling some papers. "We were able to contact one of the loan officers. He locked himself in his office as soon as he heard the gun fire. He's currently hiding under his desk. There are six men, heavily armed. There are currently fifteen employees on duty and an unknown number of hostages."

"And?" I prompted.

"The Core team and Hector are waiting for you in the parking garage. Who else would you like to send?" Hal asked.

How should I know who else to send? It's not like I've ever bothered to learn any of the Rangeman employee's names. The only reason I recognize Tank, Lester, and Bobby is because they are always with showing up with Manoso to the scene of whatever Cupcake's latest disaster, making them a constant thorn in my side.

"Call everyone off. We can let the Trenton P.D. and SWAT team handle it. We shouldn't get involved. Our presence could cause an innocent bystander to get hurt." I told him.

"B…B…But protocol states that…" Hal stammered.

"Are you questioning me, Soldier?" I yelled. Over the last few days I have witnessed Tank ask that question to a couple of different employees. At the time, I thought it was unnecessary, but now I can see why he did it. It was fun!

"N…N…No, Sir." Hal replied. I could hear someone talking to him in the background, before he continued. "Sir we have another problem. Bomber's panic button has just been activated."

"I'm sure it's nothing. She's probably just upset because she's covered in garbage again." I replied. If she would just marry me, she could quit bounty hunting and wouldn't have to get covered in garbage on a daily basis.

"Sir, Bomber's panic button was activated from inside the Bank of America building." Hal explained.

Of course she is. I need Maalox and I know for a fact that Manoso doesn't' keep that sort of thing in his apartment. I know, I checked.

"Fine, we'll go. I'll be down in a few. But...uh… could you have someone meet me in the garage with a gun. Something's wrong with my gun safe and I can't get into it to get a gun." I said, hoping he would buy my lie.

"Yes, sir. Do you want me to have Luis come take a look at it when all this is over with?" He asked.

"That would be great." I replied. I don't know who Luis is, but it couldn't hurt.

'Yes, sir." Hal said before hanging up. Cupcake's right. These guys must not know how to say good-bye at the end of a phone call.

I opened the door to Ranger's apartment and pushed the button to call the elevator. When the elevator doors opened, I saw a note taped to the back wall of the elevator. I grabbed it, quickly broke the seal, and read:

I hope that you're learning something from this experience. Be careful, if you or Manoso get killed this temporary switch will become permanent.

Diesel

The note disappeared in my hands. Creepy. I wonder if Manoso got a note from this guy.

I rode down to the parking garage in the elevator to meet the Core team. When the elevator doors opened there were at least ten men waiting with enough fire power to take down at least six third world countries.

"We were just about to leave without you." Tank commented. "The stairs would have been quicker."

"Why are so many people down here? I thought it was supposed to be only the Core team and Hector?" I asked as Tank handed me two guns and a knife and a Kevlar vest. Did they really think that I would need all of this?

"When Little Girl is involved we always double the size of the team." Tank said with a raised eyebrow. "You should know that since it is your policy."

"Of course it is." I said rolling my eyes and climbing into the passenger seat. Leave it to Manoso to go overboard when it involves Stephanie. I notice that Tank, Bobby, and Lester give each other strange looks before Tank climbs into the driver's seat of the SUV I'm in. He doesn't even take the time to fasten his seatbelt before he speeds out of the garage.

"Ever heard of a speed limit?" I asked,sarcastically, as I held onto the car's front dash for dear life.

"Speed limits are merely suggestions." He grumbled. "Since when do you care about how fast I drive?"

"Since it could cause a crash that could get me hurt!" I argued.

"Well, we're here so you can quit whining like a girl. Maybe you should sit back and let the rest of us handle this. You're not focused. You're more concerned with arguing with me that the fact that Little Girl's in that bank, in danger. You're starting to act more and more like Morelli, everyday. It's getting old fast. Get focused or you're going to get someone killed." He warned.

I was about to argue that I wasn't arguing or complaining when Ranger, in my body, walked up. Man, that never stops being weird.