Chapter 3
"Tell me again why we need to work with this agent, primo. Since when did we bow down to the demands of the FBI? You know they need us more than we need them." Lester said for the umpteenth time this morning.
"The Director asked that we give her a chance. He said she was the best, possibly even better than Quinn. He promised she wouldn't disappoint, but if she does not meet our standards, she may be kicked off the team," Ranger responded, feeling his headache grow exponentially.
Before Lester could respond, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," said Ranger.
Hector entered the room and quickly appraised the situation. Lester was sitting on the couch, seemingly relaxed, leaning back, leg up on the seat, with a throw pillow behind his head and body limp. But Hector knew better. He knew the best way to read Lester, and any man, was by looking at the eyes, and in Lester's green eyes, he saw a man coiled, ready for a fight. He knew his news would not be well-received by Ranger or Lester.
Though Lester and Ranger are cousins, they couldn't be more dissimilar in looks. Lester had light brown hair with blonde tips. Hector was never sure if it was from the sun or the bottle. His complexion was slightly tan, olive. He was an inch or two taller and slimmer. Ranger might have about ten pounds on Lester, but both were muscular. Lester was what Hector would consider if he wasn't so deadly, a pretty boy. Santos turned many women's heads, especially when he turned on his charm. Hector thought about the few Academy and official Bureau pictures he found of Agent Plum and knew, without a doubt, that she was Lester's type. But Hector also knew that Lester didn't want a woman. He hated them.
"What did you find out?" Ranger asked from behind his desk.
"Nada. Nothing. It is as if she never existed until she joined the Feds. I can't even find a birth certificate or high school yearbook picture. I got her driver's license and SS number after I hacked the Feds, but I couldn't get around the block she put in place. Boss, if she is the one who buried her information, she's damn good. I'm impressed."
Lester cursed and sprang to his feet. "I don't like this, Ranger. She is a setup, a trap. You know women are untrustworthy. Their only use is for our pleasure. We need to get rid of her now."
"Santos, watch it. I know you have your issues, but might I remind you that I have a wife and two daughters, and they have both proven that women can be loyal, loving, and caring? Just because you choose only to use them for their bodies doesn't mean they are useless."
Lester rolled his eyes. Of course, Ranger was right. "Ranger, Rachel is a rarity. She's a diamond in the rough. There are no other women like her out there. They are all like that viper."
"Les, unless you decide to get to know a woman, to talk to a woman, to take her out on several dates before fucking her, you won't find someone like Rachel. I think you need to let it go. It was a long time ago."
"Fuck you, Ranger."
Ranger takes a deep breath, thankful that only Hector is in his office. "Fine, I'll drop it. However, it would be best to let go of your issues and work with Agent Plum. She'll be staying in an apartment on the sixth floor. You must learn to coexist with her as you do with your sister, my sisters, Ella and Rachel."
"Fine. I'll deal, but only because it's for work. But don't expect me to spend time with the skirt off the clock."
Ranger was satisfied with Lester's response. In the worst-case scenario, he'll send Lester back down to Miami. This case is a big payday, and Ranger won't risk it for anything. Before he can say anything else, his intercom buzzes.
"Boss, Agent Meyers is five minutes out with Agent Plum. They are arriving in two separate vehicles." Ram said from the reception desk in the lobby.
"10-4," Ranger replied.
Ranger stood. Soon, he, Lester, and Hector headed to the control room. Tank and Bobby joined them a few moments later. It was apparent that they were also alerted to the imminent arrival of the feds. The team watched a shiny, new black SUV pull into the underground garage, followed by a baby blue Volkswagen Beetle. Agent Meyers exited the SUV wearing a typical black suit and white dress shirt. However, the men of Rangeman fixated on the woman leaving the Beetle. She was wearing a light purple sundress that showed a hint of cleavage from the cameras in the garage. The top of the dress was form-fitted with spaghetti straps, and the dress had a slight flare, an "A-line." At least, that is what Ranger thinks Rachel calls dresses that look like that. She was wearing a pair of silver stiletto sandals. Her hair was down, falling in curls. Ranger didn't need to look at his men to know they were mentally undressing her. Having a woman who looked and dressed like Agent Plum would not bode well.
When she reached for her bag, her skirt hiked up a bit, and Ranger realized for the first time how short the dress was. She took out an oversized purse and a pink flowered file bag. When Agents Plum and Meyers met Vince and entered the elevator, he saw the amount of cleavage the Agent was showing for the first time. She was not a well-endowed woman, but she knew how to show off what God gave her to her full potential.
"Men, get back to work. Those working on Gamma to conference room B," Tank ordered. The men quickly scattered, and Ranger saw a hint of lust and disgust on his cousin's face. Tank and Ranger shared a dark look and sent a brief prayer that everyone would still be alive at the end of the day and that Rangeman wouldn't be getting sued for sexual harassment.
Lester stomped into the conference room. Why does she have to be a brunette? Why does the skirt have to have curly hair? And why does she have to be so damn sexy? Agent Plum reminded him of her, the woman who ruined his life. God was going to continue to fuck with him. He sat down on the chair to the left of Ranger. He knows Tank sits on Ranger's right, and Bobby sits beside him. The large, round table gave the appearance of everyone being equal, but everyone knew Ranger was the one in charge. Vince, Cal, Hector, and Junior rounded out the team.
Then, Tank entered the room, heading straight for Lester. "Watch your language and your eyes. We can't afford to have issues with an alphabet agency. If you can't work with this agent, return to Miami. No one will think less of you. We all know who she looks like. Either deal with it and her professionally or go home. We have Rangeman's reputation on the line."
"I know. I'll be fine." Lester responded angrily. Why does everyone always think he can't handle himself?
A moment later, the door opened, and Lester got his first complete look at Agent Plum. Up close and personal, she was nothing like her once you got past the hair texture and color. Her eyes were a sparkling, sapphire blue, with pale skin; he could tell she would tan nicely. She was toned but still had a softness, the way a woman should have. And her smile could melt even the Grinch's heart.
"Men, this is Agent Stephanie Plum, FBI. She will take over for Agent Quinn. Could you all please introduce yourselves?" Ranger said.
Tank started the introductions, welcoming Stephanie warmly. Each man stated their name and role on the team. Steph couldn't believe the male specimens that were in front of her. Each man was muscular and good-looking in their way. She knew she would be honored to be asked out by any of them. But, when she got her glance at the last man, who introduced himself as Lester Santos, she felt thunderstruck. He was handsome and gorgeous and simultaneously exuded power, strength, and hatred. Even with the negative vibes he sent her way, she couldn't help but be slightly attracted to the man. He was everything she always wanted in a man. Stephanie shoved those thoughts aside, knowing she had a job and getting a husband was not in the cards. Hell, getting a boyfriend wasn't in the cards either.
"Agent Plum, Meyers told us we needed you on this team. There would be no way that we can pull this investigation off without you. I don't mean to be rude or condescending, but we don't need you. We have Hector. Tell us why you are better than him."
Stephanie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She knew she had to do this but also knew it could backfire. Steph opened her eyes and took her files out of her bag. She walked around the room and handed one file to each of the men from Rangeman. Inside each folder was the information she found on all of them.
"Before you open these folders and look inside, I just want to let you know I didn't read beyond the fact sheet. I printed out the rest, so you know I found it but didn't read it. If you want to share that information with me, I'll be all ears, but until then, it is still a secret from me." She sat down, hoping that she could leave this building under her fruition.
Ranger looked at her curiously, then opened his folder. He paled when he saw all the information Plum had found on him. She knew about Julie, Rachel, the twins, his stint in juvie, and so much more. He glanced at the other men and saw they had similar facial expressions. Lester looked ready to jump across the table, and Hector was…smiling.
"I think you owe us an explanation," Tank said, with a stern expression on his face.
Stephanie sighed. She knew that listening to Jeanne Ellen wasn't the right thing to do. But she did, and now she needed to explain herself. "I knew you would discount my abilities off the bat because of my age and my gender. I always do a first-level search when I work with new contractors. When I tried to do the first level on you here, I got back nothing. It made me feel uncomfortable. I don't have a pleasant history with Trenton and don't want to be here, but this case needs me. If I was going to be working with you day in and day out, if I was going to be protected by this company, I needed to know that I would be safe. So, I ran a second level, where I got the basic biographical data on you all: age, sex, DOB, family, and basic military history. Even so, some of you were enigmas. So, I did another level, off the grid, and that's when pages appeared. I saw the security clearance level, and even though I have a higher level than all of you except for Ranger, I didn't read it. I just stapled the pages together and placed them in your folder. Is it also safe to say that you asked Hector to run a search on me, and I'm sure his folder on me has one sheet of paper? Tengo razón?"
"Sí."
Lester was furious. How dare she think running a background search on him is okay? "Ranger, I think her action warrants her dismissal from the team. She is already proving untrustworthy."
"Absolutely not, Santos. She has just proven her worth." Lester glared at Ranger, which would cause a lesser man to piss his pants, but Ranger comes from sturdier stock. "Santos, no one without skills can get this much intel on us, and she has. Not just on you and me but on the entire team. In less than a week. Agent Plum, welcome to the team."
"Thank you, Mr. Manoso. I appreciate your support."
"Ranger, I think we need to,"
"Santos, not now." Ranger shot Lester a look of his own, one that said cease and desist. Ranger read the post-it note on the second page of his report, which asked him not to mention Agent Plum's past in front of everyone and told him that she would inform Ranger, the other owners, and no one else.
"Agent Plum, if you sit with Hector, he will transfer your laptop and other devices to our secure server and give you Rangeman credentials."
"Stephanie or Steph, please. Agent Plum is okay when meeting with those outside the team, but otherwise, please keep it informal."
"Then let's keep it informal all around."
"That I can agree with."
Hector and Stephanie moved over to the corner of the room. Hector gave Stephanie a folder, presumably with her credentials. Instead, though, it summarized her history. She looked at Hector and immediately understood. Hacker code. He could break through her walls but hid it from his boss. Stephanie knew Hector could be fired or disciplined for it, but he did it anyway.
"It's your story to tell, but know that we will protect you. You are one of us now." Hector said softly, in perfect English. His dossier stated he was born and raised in Newark, so there was no need to keep up the charade with Stephanie, at least not when they were alone.
"Gracias. Your secret is safe."