Chapter 11 Breaking & Entering

RPOV - Miami

The plane touched down in Miami and I quickly made my way over to my men who were standing by with two of the fleet SUV's. I took the keys for one of them and watched the men get in the other and head out. I drove to Rachel and Ron's house and knocked on the door. There was no answer and the lights to the house were dark. I pulled out my phone, replied to Stephanie letting her know I made it safely, and then called Julie. She picked up after a few rings.

"Hey Jules. I'm outside your house, where are you?"

"Oh Hi Dad! I'll be right out, I didn't realize it was you." She hung up and a few moments later the door was open and Julie was launching herself into my arms. "Thanks for coming Dad"

"Mija, Where is everyone else?"

"They already left for the cruise earlier this morning. Didn't Mom tell you their schedule?"

"We talked but she said they would be here until noon today. It's 8 am when did they leave?"

"Around 6" She took my hand and led me into the living room, which was furnished with expensive furniture and mostly white. There was a gallery wall of photos behind the couch and in the hallway but I noticed for every 10 pictures of the other children there was only one of Julie. We went upstairs so Julie could show me around the rest of the house. There were 4 bedrooms and an office on the second floor. One was the master suite. Two of the bedrooms were for Julie's siblings. I thought the fourth bedroom would be Julie's but it already seemed to be set up as a nursery for the new baby that wasn't due for another 6 months. We got to the office that was also half Julie's room. There were no teenage girl items; it was white and neat with the only personal touches being on Julie's bed. The office side had some book shelves and a desk. While Julie packed her bag I snooped around the desk and found a ledger that seemed to have all of their bank transactions and statements. I took photos of those for evidence.

"Mija, how long have you been sleeping in this office?"

"Only a few weeks. Mom said I needed to move in here because they needed to get the nursery ready. They said eventually they'll move the office stuff but for now I have to share it with Ron." I nodded then took out my phone to take some pictures of the room. I went back and took pictures of the other rooms as well as the first floor. We gathered up Julie's duffle bag for the week and drove to a restaurant to get some breakfast before heading to my Miami house. I had several houses but this is the only one I regularly visited because having Julie at Rangeman Miami wasn't high on my priority list. Not that I was trying to hide her but I wanted her to feel comfortable with me and a building full of men she didn't know, really fit that goal.

At the restaurant Julie told me more about the situation at home. She noted that Rachel and Ron often forgot to pick her up from school and her Rangeman bodyguards would see her walking the 4 miles home and offer her a ride. She also wasn't allowed to hang out with her friends unless their parents picked her up so many of her friends had stopped hanging out with her. Her soccer season was over but Rachel had told her that she wouldn't be able to play in the summer or fall league because there wouldn't be time to shuffle her around and all the extra money would be going toward the baby. I was seeing red the more she listed the issues. I sent Ron and Rachel $7000 a month to cover Julie's expenses and tuition for all three of the children but it seems they have been taking advantage of all of my generosity.

I told Julie everything I told Stephanie in terms of my concerns about being a father, me and Stephanie potentially having kids in the future, and the potential of Julie feeling neglected again. I also told her for the first time some stories about me growing up and my siblings and how I ended up with Abuela Rosa in Miami. She surprised me with her emotional maturity and appreciated me being open with her and I promised her that no matter what happened I love her.

After we made it to the house Julie said she was gonna spend some time in the pool so I went to my office and started making some calls. First I called Stephanie.

"Yo" She answered.

"That's my line Babe"

"I know. How is our Girl? Is everything as bad as it seems?"

"It's worse. They've been taking advantage of everything I've given them and Julie has been getting the short end. I think I'm gonna have to fight for custody. Are you sure you're okay if I bring Julie home with me?"

"Yes absolutely Carlos. I'll get working with Ella and Luis on setting up a space for her in your apartment. How long do you think until you'll be home? Do you need me to come down?"

"Thank you Babe. My office is fine and it's our apartment. I know I never officially asked you to move in and I never expected to do it over the phone but I'm doing that now so please say yes."

"You know I can't resist the word please. Besides pretty much everything I actually like is already here so I'll get some of the guys to help me move out. Maybe I'll see if Grandma Mazur wants to move in."

"That's a great idea. As for when I'll be home I'm not sure at least a week for them to get back and then another to start working out the details of the custody arrangements with the courts but if they challenge me for custody it could be longer. Julie also has school so we will have to figure that out. I'll get my lawyer working on it now though while they're on the cruise. If I'm gonna be here longer than 2 weeks I'd love for you to come and join us even if it's for a weekend."

"Okay Carlos. Keep me updated and let Julie know I'm excited to see her again."

"Bye Babe." I hung up the phone and went to my contacts to find the contact for the Rangemand Family Lawyer.

"Thompson" Justin Thompson was in basic with me before being honorably discharged from active duty after one tour where he lost most of his right leg. He then decided to get into the family business going to law school at Harvard, graduating at the top of his class, and then joining the law firm Thompson and Sons which Rangeman utilized as a contractor for family law.

"Ranger! Long time no speak"

"Long time indeed. Listen, I have a situation where I need your legal services. My daughter is being neglected by my ex-wife and her husband. I also would like to have their finances looked at. I suspect that they have been using the money I have been sending them inappropriately which would violate the contract I had Rachel signed when I agreed to still send them payments despite giving up my custody. I'd like to resume custody of my daughter Julie Martine. I'd also like information on how we can change Julie's name back to Manoso."

"Awh man. I'm sorry that you have to contact me. I will get our team going on this and collecting the data. Please let me know if there is anything you'd like to add to the case. Do you have a time frame you'd like to see this done? Normally custody battles take months but I can at least get you temporary custody by the end of the week if you think this is an emergency."

"Please go for temporary custody. I have several photos that I can send you, including photos of Martine's financial ledger and Julie's living accommodations. The fastest we can wrap all of this up would be great. I need to be back in Trenton as soon as possible."

"Sounds good. I will call you with updates as we go."

I hung up the phone and called Tank. I updated him on the situation and informed him that my stay would be longer than expected but after this vacation with Julie I would work from the Miami office or my home office so not to worry too much but he was in charge and can update the core team and other branches that I will be in Miami for the next few weeks. After all of my phone calls I went outside to spend some time with Julie. After all, despite the results of this custody issue I am still here getting to spend time with my daughter.

SPOV

It was the end of my second month working for Rangeman and I was beyond excited to participate in my competency exams next week. The guys pushed our exams back a week so I could have a week to do some additional training after the stitches in my hands were taken out. As much as I wish I could have joined Ranger and go spend time with Julie and help out with the custody issues I was happy that they were getting to spend time together and Julie might be coming to live with us. I still needed to visit my parents and Grandma and move out of my apartment but thought it could wait a little longer. Currently I was sitting in the gym stretching before I jumped onto the mats for some sparring.

After my first month the guys decided that i was capable enough to do my training on my own schedule so I worked out a new schedule with my guys that worked for them. Now I only did instructed training with Hal, shooting with Ram, and B&E with Cal three times a week. The other days were on my own and could be done anytime I was free. My sessions with Tank had now turned into just me taking over the work and sending it to Tank or Ranger to review before finalizing it.

We had implemented the most expensive employee management software so I had been busy getting all of the guys profiles set up including their pay rates and emergency contact information. We didn't fully utilize the profile features since some of the files Ranger had on the guys were top secret military profiles which he kept under lock and key in his office. We also utilized the program to generate the weekly schedules, keep track of shift changes, and keep track of the types of work each guy did so they could be adequately compensated for overtime.

I still did daily exercise on my own but if I ever wanted to learn something new Bobby would come down and show me. Lester was still in charge of my self defense training but now he mostly just scheduled my sparring partners and met with me on Monday's to go over what type of fighting style I would be focusing on that week. When I wasn't doing any of that I went out on client visits to assist in sales pitches and installs. I had managed to pull in 5 major clients in the last month. Mr. Miata had signed a probationary contract with us as long as I could promise him my solution of remote monitoring within 6 months. If I didn't he would get a 25% discount on his current installs and service fees but would still have to complete the minimum 3 years before terminating the contract.

Today I was sparring with Fish. We had become fast friends over the last couple weeks. I learned that Cal saved his life because he was distracted after learning his brother had died in the line of duty. Cal had actually helped keep him from becoming depressed about his brother's passing and has since become like a surrogate brother to him. I had told him about my bounty hunting days and we bonded over our love for Boston Creme donuts. As for his training he's already made major improvements. Bobby helped him tap into his physicality more stating that he was approaching everything in a brute strength way and he wasn't built for that. He also joined me in my B&E and shooting sessions, greatly improving his scores by learning how not to get so caught up in his head under the time pressure.

Fish came bursting through the doors walking over quickly toward my position on the mats. Hector and Lester were standing by the ring and also turned their attention to him.

"I have something I need to tell you guys but it needs to be done in private." Fish said urgently. Lester took out his key fob and scrambled the cameras while Hector went over and locked the doors. There was no one else in the gym since it was the middle of the afternoon.

"Continue" Lester said.

"Well I went out to lunch with Tag and Jace today because Tag said he had something to talk to us about. Apparently one of his friends who lived on some of the same bases as him when they were younger, they were both army brats. Served with a cop named Joseph Morelli. Tag's buddy said Joe contacted him asking if he knew anyone who worked at Rangeman. He wanted a favor to be done. So Joe was given Tag's contact information. They met up and apparently Joe wants to break up Stephanie and Ranger and take him for himself and Tag is willing to help because he's jealous that his talent is being overlooked by Stephanie despite him having better scores and more military knowledge and connections. Tag asked us to help at lunch. I said I'd have to think about it and Jace said the same. He decided to tell us their plans anyway." He walked us through Morelli and Tag's plan. Lester and Hector were furious. We skipped sparring for the afternoon and met up with the rest of the core team to explain the issue. Fish decided to not to join us so he could continue playing the middleman if needed.

"We have to tell Ranger to come home." Tank stated after we were done complaining.

"No, we can handle this on our own. We need him to focus on Julie. I will be okay Joe and Tag can't break us up and I will not go down without a fight. I stated. The men nodded understanding the determination behind my statement.

"We have to do something to protect you, Sparky. I could go to the cops house and cut off his balls. Then we fire Tag." Hector said.

"No I don't think we've reached that point" Bobby said calmly.

"Besides, we can't just fire Tag. Unfortunately until he's actually done something we don't have just cause to do so and we don't need the General coming down on us." Lester said.

"Well then how are we gonna resolve this? It's not like we can just tie them up and get them to admit their plans on tape for everyone to see." Ram asked.

"We need to come up with a trap." Cal added.

"Yes I agree a trap maybe something like this." Hal jumped in and then explained his plan. I was surprised given Hal never spoke very much unless we are alone but it turns out he's a great strategist. Putting it together it's probably why he'd been assigned as my driving instructor. This was going to be good.

JPOV - The Forest outside the exam Warehouse.

My contacts had come through and I was able to get in contact with a man named Tag who worked at the Trenton Rangeman office. We met up for coffee and he told me that Ranger was out of town dealing with his daughter. The brat probably got caught committing a crime like her father. He explained that Stephanie was still in town so if we wanted to get them apart now was the time to do so. He explained that they would be doing some type of exams today so we utilized that knowledge to get time alone with her. Now I was sitting outside the warehouse waiting for my cue to enter the building.

According to Tag the exam consisted of several parts. The best time for me to get to Steph would be during the first portion of the exams. According to Tag they were going to be taken to a separate cabin where they would be locked up as some kind of B&E shit. I knew they did crazy things at Rangeman but I didn't think they actually locked up their own employees. Well apparently unlike the last time this time they would be locked up in the same room then they had to somehow fight each other to be able to win keys to trucks that magically appeared. They would then use the trucks to navigate themselves to Rangeman to complete their other tests. Apparently they would be competing against each other and he had talked the other two recruits into assisting us.

At the cabin they would each beat Steph in the sparring rounds with Tag leaving first since he had to keep up the appearance of being the best, arrogant fool at least he was on my side. Then a man named Jace would win, then finally a man named Fish who has spent the past month working with the computer team and would kill the cameras on his way out. That would give me about 20 minutes to get to Steph and get her out of the cabin. The cabin was about 45 minutes from where the other Rangeman would be but when they noticed the camera's were cut they would immediately send someone to check on Steph and since they were supposed to be ditching tails and practicing defensive driving on their way back to Rangeman they would no doubt have someone closer.

I had already watched the group of people who must be the examiners leave then about 45 minutes after that Tag left. Almost an hour and a half after that the other two men left and the last guy held his thumb up to the light outside the door so I could see the single that I was good to go. I was immediately out of my car and breaking and entering into the cabin. I found Stephanie sitting on a chair with her hands tied up in ropes. We didn't account for having to untie her in the plan. This was gonna add time to the already short time frame I had to get her out.

"Joe?" Steph called my name when she could see my face when I stepped out from the shadows.

"Hi Cupcake. Did you miss me? The boys surely missed you."

"What are you doing here? And no I certainly didn't miss you or your boys in fact I'd rather never think about them or you again."

"Geez Harsh much. As much as seeing you tied up is giving me the urge to show you how much the buys have missed you, we have to get going." I walked over to start untying her. She tried to jerk away as I approached, not making it far since the chair only moved slightly.

"I'm perfectly capable of getting out of this myself, in fact you're just delaying the process."

"You can't get out of this yourself. You're just as incompetent as you've always been. You need to give up on this dream of actually being good at anything and come back to me. Why can't you just believe me when I say we are meant to be! I was your first in that garage and again in the tasty pastry and I plan on being your last. I mean you and Manoso only lasted a month before he ran off to Miami. So let me get you out of here and then we can go start the life we were always meant to have, you know three kids, white picket fence and you as my wife available for me whenever I want." I was getting more frustrated and the ropes on her weren't budging. I stood back to try and see if any of the lights were detachable so I could see the knots better.

"Why can't you understand that I'm happy now, I'm good at my job, and the only person I ever want to have kids with or be married to is Ranger who didn't run away to Miami he just had important business to attend to." I knew time was ticking down but I couldn't resist continuing this discussion.

"Because I want to win." I mumble to myself. "Just mark my words Stephanie whether you come with me now or if I have to get you later I will win and you will be mine. I will take out Manoso myself if I have to. He may have contacts all over the country but so do I and I can make sure that the next time he goes on a mission he doesn't come home. I will make you mine, Cupcake for now. I'll let you choose if it's by choice but my patience won't be here forever and I will take you by force. Plus I'm a cop so I can guarantee that I get away with it and you, Manoso, and Rangeman will be the ones that take the blame."

Suddenly I feel a fist to my jaw and I'm laying face first on the ground with Steph standing above me. Crap how did she get out of those ropes.

"I will never be yours Joseph Morelli and I hope you enjoy prison by the way, wave hi to everyone you know this is being live streamed." She placed a boot on my back while lifting my head by my hair to direct my attention to a small camera. A few seconds later Big Dog and Carl were putting my hands into handcuffs and reading me my rights.

Once I was back at the station the Police Chief came into the interrogation room and told me I was no longer a cop. He also told me that I was being charged with conspiracy of murder and kidnapping, which I just confessed to and I was also being charged for my nefarious dealings as a cop by internal affairs who apparently searched my house this afternoon while I was out from an anonymous tip and found my black book. My life was effectively over. I just hope someone took care of Bob.

SPOV - Conference Room 3

"Wow I can't believe everything worked as planned!" Hal exclaimed.

"It was a great plan Hal and the livestreaming was a stroke of genius. Now everyone knows exactly what happened and no one can claim that Joseph Morelli is a good guy or a good cop." I replied.

"Si, Estephania. I also recorded it and sent copies of everything to Ranger and the Cops." Hector confirmed.

"Thank god Jace and Fish were on our side for this too and helped us pull it off but what are we gonna do about Tag?" I asked.

"Well I think a certain General might want to know what his son has been up to. Hector, do you have the recordings of Jace and Fish going over the plans with Tag?" Tank asked.

"Si" Hector replied.

"Good. Package up copies of everything including Morelli's confession and send it to me. I will make sure that General Schaler gets it. Hopefully he will do what's right and take care of his son but I will also make sure that General Miller gets a copy so he can confirm." Tank directed.

"How did the search of Morelli's house go?" Bobby asked.

"Everything was perfect. The cops found evidence of everything the cop was doing illegally in his home office. How did you know where everything was going to be Steph?"

"I didn't but I had a hunch that it would be somewhere in his house or they would at least find a key or something that would lead them to the location of the things they would need. Did you drop Bob off? I'd hate for Bob to have to live with any of the Morelli's." I stated.

"Yes he is with Binkie now. The plan is to train him and then he will be Rangeman's dog. He will live on sight and be a support dog for all the men. The men who live on four have agreed to watch over him. He will also get to spend his days with Rosie." Lester updated me with the finalized plan.

"Perfect and if I haven't said it already thank you for looking out for me today guys. I'mloving being part of the Rangeman family more and more everyday. Now what do you say we go finish up this exam?!"

We all made our way down to the gun range where Fish and Jace were waiting with Blaze. The men took Tag and put him in one of the holding cells once he made it back to Rangeman and would continue to hold him there until his father came for him. We went through the shooting exercises with me taking first, Jace second, and Fish a close second. Then we headed to the gym where we took our places on the mat and went through the physical fitness exam and we all passed with flying colors. The guys decided to give us a pass on the sparring exam for the month since after Tag left they helped me prepare for the confrontation with Joe. After we celebrated at Pino's with pizza and beer I finally made it home and double checked the bag Ella packed for me. I would be joining Ranger and Julie in Miami tomorrow.