Chapter 2

Stephanie POV

I pulled up to the seven story red brick building on haywood street and parked on the street just down the block. I hope this is the right building; it's the only address that was listed on the website for Rangeman Securities LLC. I was actually pretty skeptical it was a real company but when I was searching for it so I asked my dad who asked my Uncle Joe Juniak Chief of Police in Trenton who said that they were real.

Christmas eve ended up being not so bad since my Sister, Valerie, had gone into labor with her second kid around 5 so it was only my dad when I got home. He took me to Pinos for meatball subs. I updated him on my job search. He then insisted he give me the money I needed for my rent in January and asked that I consider looking for jobs down in Trenton. I knew moving back to Trenton would mean more time spent with my crazy family but I was getting desperate.

My mom, grandma and my sister's family returned to the house early on Christmas Day and we celebrated by opening presents, a christmas feast, and watching football. My sister named her youngest Mary Alice and I was surprised by how much she resembled me even as a baby. They would be going back to California in a few days since my Sister's husband had to get back to his big law job out there.

I asked my grandma to help me whip up some treats for Hal and Hector so we spent the entire day after Christmas making chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and some fudge. Lucky for us my Mom was so busy helping Valerie that she didn't have time to check in on us and take over. It's not that I hated my mom but she had tendencies to be overbearing and smothering especially when it came to things that happened in the kitchen. We put into a few Christmas tins and tied bows around them. The next day I loaded them up in the car and headed out to the address I had pre programmed into my car.

I approached the building's front door with the boxes in hand trying to think of how I could open the door with my hand's full. I got about a foot away when the doors automatically opened. There was another large man dressed in black sitting at the desk.

"Hello Ma'am do you have an appointment?"

"Oh I um" before I could say no though another man with spiky hair with blonde tips stepped out of the elevator.

"Hey Vince, is this my 11?" He asked the man sitting at the desk. Again before Vince could answer, the man turned to address me. "You must be Jeanne Ellen Burrows. I'm Lester. We spoke on the phone. If you follow me we can go up to the conference room and begin the interview. I see you brought treats. I'm afraid those aren't gonna win you any additional brownie points here." He placed a hand on my upper back and led me to the elevator. We stood silently until we reached the fifth floor where he then led me to a medium conference room. "As you know we at Rangeman have a few openings including field agents, IT, accounting, and an office manager. You expressed interest in the field agent position correct?"

"Um I'm sorry Lester was it. I'm not Jeanne Ellen my name is Stephanie Plum and I was actually here to see Hector or Hal. I'm sorry I didn't speak up sooner." I looked down at my hands for a moment. "I'm sorry to waste your time sir… I'll just see myself out." I stood up to leave, starting to gather my tins when a hand was placed over mine.

"It's okay Stephanie. I should have waited for Vince to confirm who you were. I'll see you back downstairs. This is a secure building so I have to escort you. Vince should be able to track down Hal and Hector for you." I nodded and we moved back across the floor to the elevator.

"Are you from around here?" Lester asked.

"Yes I grew up here but now I live in Newark." I responded. Lester nodded.

"Well if you have any friends around here looking for a job let them know we're hiring."

"Well um since you brought it up I may be interested." I said keeping my head down, not daring to look in his eyes afraid of the potential rejection.

"You can pick up an application from Vince." Lester said just as the elevator doors opened. Back in the lobby stood a gorgeous woman with long straight brown hair dressed in a black suit. She definitely fit the picture of a field agent.

"Hey Vince. My mistake this is Stephanie Plum can you help her track down Hal and Hector?" Lester said emphasizing that I was not his interviewee.

"Yes I was just about to call you." Vince replied, giving Lester a small smirk.

"Goodbye Stephanie, I hope to see you again." Lester said as he led the real Jeanne Ellen into the elevator.

"So you're here to see Hal and Hector?" Vince asked.

"Yes and Lester mentioned I could get a job application from you." I smiled at him, gaining a little more confidence being around the big scary looking men.

Vince typed a few things into his computer and then picked up the phone. "Yes in the lobby" he said to the man on the other end before hanging up. "Hector will be here in a few moments. Hal is off today. By the way, what's in those boxes?" Vince asked as he rounded the desk to take them from my hands. "Oh um just a few treats to say thank you. Would you like one?" I asked.

He hesitated a moment looking up and around the room and the arrangement of treats before nodding yes and taking a brownie out of the box on top. The elevator dinged and Hector stepped out. I wanted to speak to him but then I remembered that Hector didn't speak english in fact I didn't even know what language he spoke. I looked between him and Vince hoping that Vince would get my hint that I needed help. Instead I was met with the sight of Vince in what looked like pure ecstasy as he moaned a little from the brownie he had just ate. It only took one look between me and Hector before we both started laughing.

"I'm glad you like it Vince, could you help me talk to Hector? Normally Hal communicates for me." I asked once we had all calmed down.

"Sure but only if I can get another one of those brownies." Vince said as he grabbed another one out of the box to put by the monitor on the desk.

"Have as many as you'd like. Can you please tell Hector that these are a thank you from me to him and Hal for stopping and helping me when my car ran out of gas. Also please tell him that I put some money in the envelope on top to pay Hal back."

Vince nodded and proceeded to translate to Hector what I just said. I heard him say Gracias so I now knew that Hector spoke Spanish. Once he finished Hector said a few words to Vince before stepping over to take the boxes of treats for him.

He said "It wasn't a problem at all and it was their pleasure to help a beautiful woman like you. He also said he hopes that you had a good Christmas and thank you for the treats he will make sure to pass along the message and gifts to Hal but that you do not need to repay them." Vince translated. Once he finished Hector held his hand out with the envelope.

I shook my head no and refused to take it from him. After a brief stare down Hector said something to Vince in a whisper then stepped back to kiss my cheek before taking the treats and disappearing into the elevator before I could get another word in.

"Here you go Ms. Plum." Vince said, drawing my attention back to him as he handed me an application. I took it from him and asked for a pen so I wouldn't have to come back to drop it off. I filled out the information, checked the boxes allowing them to run a background check and expressing my interest in the officer manager position before handing it back to Vince. "Thank you for your assistance. I hope to see you again."

"Me too and I hope you bring brownies!" Vince said. I smiled and left the building this turned out to be a very successful outing.