Chapter 19: You Need to Know, Part II
Steph’s POV
Bobby speaks out
Thirty minutes later Bobby walks in, looking happy and content. He immediately hugs me, a long tight hug. Bobby and I joke around a lot but he’s more a side-hug man, so to get a big bear hug from him is really surprising and touching. I start to sniffle and he chuckles and passes me his handkerchief.
We sit down on the couch and he pulls me close.
“It occurred to me this morning, as I walked around my empty apartment and office, that I’m not going to see you very much over the next year. No seeing your smile, or watching you eat your junk, or responding to your distress calls. I realized how much I was going to miss it.” He smiles, a full on Bobby smile. I don’t spend nearly as much time with him as I do Tank and Lester, and I’m regretting it now. Bobby has a way of making you feel that everything will be OK. “Knowing you has kept my skills fresh, Bomber.” We both laugh.
“Always glad to be of service, Bobby.”
“Well, look, I know that Tank and Lester are going to spend their-one-on one time with you cramming in whatever last minute company matters they can think of, but I want to talk about you.”
Uh oh. First sign of trouble.
“No, not what you think, or should I say, not nearly as bad as you think. I know you had your first session with Sarah this morning. How did you like her?” Bobby asks.
“I don’t. She doesn’t even care if I like her.”
“Well, that’s what makes her a good trainer and therapist. Her focus is on your health and recovery. When a trainer starts worrying about whether or not their client likes them more than they are concerned about the client’s recovery, the recovery suffers. I checked her out fully, and Cal really came through; she really is one of the best.” I make a face and he chuckles. “Yeah I know, but from all her previous clients I only heard the best things. That made her acceptable for you.”
“They were probably too scared to say otherwise,” I grumble.
He laughs. “No, they were honest. Apparently she has a standard speech she gives, which I’m guessing you got, and over the weeks and months all her clients really began to like and trust her. That standard speech just gives you the freedom to feel OK about hating her at first. I am asking that you give her a chance.” I nod. “Great, Bomber, thank you. Now to the part of the conversation you won’t like.”
I knew it was coming.
“I know that you didn’t like Hal making a point about your devotion to your junk food and your reluctance to carry a gun, and I’m sorry he felt he had to make that point, but Bomber, it is a real concern. Look at me.”
I look Bobby directly in the face, and he’s completely serious. “The other XOs have all quietly said the same thing to us, that they don’t want to have rebellions in their staff because the CO is known for not meeting RangeMan standards. We’ve told them how we expect them to handle it, but Bomber, you have to be seen publicly as striving to meet standards. Anything less will cause the XOs trouble. That’s why we’ve gotten you the best trainer we can find, someone who is committed to making you better, and she knows what is required of her. We wrote the requirements into the contract and specified monthly goals for you to reach, and she’s got to ensure you meet them in order to get paid so believe me, she will push you. When you travel, she will travel with you so you don’t lose any training days.”
Oh great, my trainer has an outside incentive to try to kill me and I can’t get any breaks from her. If I don’t meet standards, she doesn’t get paid.
“Ella will take care of your diet, and she’s already been on the phone to every housekeeper in RangeMan to give them the parameters they have to work with. I know Ranger said that you had to be allowed a certain amount of sugar because of ‘jelly hormones,’ ” his eyebrow raises in question but I merely nod, “so they will take care of that. However, expect to be tested publicly. I would not be surprised to find that each staff presents you with sweets or doughnuts upon your arrival in their office and if you take it, you’ve just given them carte-blanche to ignore the rules during your visit. Be aware of the traps. The XOs will help you, but they will try not to undermine your authority so you have to stay aware.”
My shoulders droop, but I nod. I’m not exactly the best at being aware of my surroundings, so now I’m going to have to rely on spidey-sense and being suspicious.
“As far as the rest of the standards, the Trenton guys are looking forward to training you, but I told each XO to think of some men on his staff that can teach you certain skills. I know that both the Miami and NYC offices have some of the best drivers in the company, so expect driving lessons at each location.”
I’m a Jersey girl. Do I really need driving lessons?
“Yes, you do need driving lessons because the stuff they will teach you is stuff you can’t learn on the Turnpike.” He smiles. I have to stop speaking my thoughts out loud.
“Last thing. Stephanie, you mean the world to me. I love you, as my sister and my dearest friend. I don’t know when you decided that your life didn’t matter, that your loss from the world wouldn’t affect those around you, that you were expendable, but I’m here to tell you that you are not expendable.”
I tear up again. I never expected Bobby to say that. It’s like being back in my living room two weeks ago, when Lester asked me the same thing. When did the guys get this idea that I have a death wish? I feel Bobby hug me again and we sit in silence for a moment.
“I want you to know that we felt that it would be unfair to designate one XO over another to be the head of your security, so we asked Hector to become your partner and the head of your personal security.”
I look at Bobby in confusion. “I don’t get it. Why do I need personal security and why Hector? He doesn’t even speak English.”
“He’s a senior level manager within the company so it’s not inappropriate for him to be your partner. Plus, Hector is feared both within the company and without, and we know that he will take your security as a matter of personal honor. Don’t try to give him the slip; it won’t work. Please don’t remove your trackers and panic button because he’s the person monitoring them.”
I wonder who else monitors my trackers.
“If he can’t go with you when you move from place to place and office to office, Hector will coordinate your security with the XOs so that the arrangements in place meet his standards, which we feel will be higher than anything anyone else will come up with. Because of the SharePoint project, he may end up traveling with you in order to coordinate that. Trust him, Bomber. He will keep you alive.” I nod. “None of us, me, Tank, or Lester want to get a call in San Antonio that you’ve been injured. The men know that the SOPs in regards to you remain in place.”
“Why do I need personal security?” I ask.
“Until we are certain that you can handle all threats to your safety and security on your own, we want someone watching your back 24-7. It all comes back to the RangeMan standards. Every man has a partner watching his back unless he’s offline. Ranger has Tank as his partner and the person watching his back, and vice versa, and Lester watches mine, vice versa, so we needed to designate someone for you, someone neutral. That person is Hector. Hector doesn’t have a partner, mostly because of his rep, so you are the perfect person for him. He gets the joy of being partnered with his Angelita and you get the most feared man in the company, after Ranger.” Bobby grins. “We finally get Hector partnered up, and he will take your safety personally.”
So now I have a personal bodyguard, one who doesn’t speak English? Great. Where’s the gun range? I gotta get some control back over my life. These RangeMan standards will drive me up the wall.
“Wait a minute! I thought you said all RangeMen had to have a partner. Why doesn’t Hector have a partner?”
Bobby laughs quietly. “Ranger granted him a special dispensation when he hired him. Let’s just say that Ranger was well aware that no one was coming after Hector, not if they valued their life. Hector is his own Luca Brasi.”
Umm . . . if Bobby is comparing Hector to Luca Brasi then I think it’s in my best interest not to give Hector the slip.
“What about Ram, Manny, and Hal?”
“Hal’s partner is and will remain Junior. He’s designated Junior as his backup, so it’s a good move, especially as Junior took Hal’s place as the head of the security installs unit. Ram’s partner was Binkie and Manny’s partner was Caesar, so Ram and Manny will become partners and Binkie and Caesar will become partners.”
I think about this; it’s a complete partner shuffle. “It’s normal when we leave an office and the men have to resettle themselves into new partnerships and patterns. It’s healthy too. Binkie and Caesar had to work together during the week the new Core Team was running the office so they had a week to get used to each other. If they couldn’t take it, they need only tell Hal now.”
“Final thing you need to know. Tank, Lester and I will be the ones giving you the final clearance to return to the field. You will be tested with and against us, none others and we’ve told each XO, and Ram and Manny, that you are not to do any field work, not even surveillance, until we clear you. As CO, it could be argued that the XOs cleared you because you have authority over them, so our clearing you sidesteps that argument, if anyone is stupid enough to make it.”
I’d thought about that. Does that make me stupid, or just lazy? In any case, if BLT is clearing me, I’ll be chained to a desk until I meet the standards. If I ever want any control over my life over the next year, I’ll have to meet the standards and fast.
My new goal has become meeting the standards in six months. I have to. I need control over my life back.
A Night Out with Tank
Tank sent a message, via Ella, for me to be dressed and ready to go out by 6PM. Ella helped me find an appropriate outfit, a long soft knit Jersey dress in a gorgeous dark blue color and one low-heeled boot to offset the cast. I meet Tank in the garage, where he bundles me into his personal car, a bronze Cadillac Escalade with leather interior. It even smells like Tank, warm, strong, and completely in control.
“Tank?” I get a glance out of the side of his eye. “Where are we headed?” He simply smiles and we pull up in front of the bonds office. The next thing I know, Lula and Mary Lou are climbing into the back seat while Connie locks the office.
“Hi Tank! Hey Steph! Do you know where we’re going?”
I shake my head. Mary Lou looks great in her tight leather pants and cowl neck sweater. Her hair is done in soft curls and she looks happy to be out of the house.
“Well damn, White Girl! It’s about time you finally made it outta that building. Shit, me and Connie thought we was gonna have to go all Mission: Impossible to see you.”
I see Tank’s mouth twitch out of the corner of my eye, and I know he’s contemplating the probability of Lula’s success. I give her 5%. Climbing seven flights of stairs would be the first thing to stop her.
I finally notice that Lula is not dressed in Spandex. Instead, she’s in a hot pink, knee-length leather skirt and matching cable knit sweater with knee-high black stiletto boots. The sweater is scoop neck, so her rather impressive cleavage is still on display, but she’s actually wearing something appropriate for her body and the weather. Bright tropical colors, but still, it fits appropriately.
“Where we headed? Tankie wouldn’t tell Connie nuthin’.”
I can see Tank cringe slightly at that. This is great. Connie has a fresh lip wax and teased hair. She’s dressed similarly to Lula, only in black, and she greets Tank before shutting the door and locking her seatbelt. I’m suddenly grateful I’m wearing my best pushup. I still have the smallest chest here by miles, but I’m not pathetic.
Tank continues driving into Lawrenceville, a quiet suburb between Trenton and Princeton, and stops at Acacia, a restaurant my budget can never afford. Mary Lou and I exchange a glance. This is going to be a great evening. Tank made a 7PM reservation, so we’re quickly shown to our seats. Wine is ordered and we review the menus. Everything looks great (Boar? They have boar on the menu? Isn’t that just fancy pig?) but I settle on the rack of lamb with the mixed green salad and calamari for an appetizer.
“Save room for dessert, Little Girl.” Tank says. Dessert? I’m going to be allowed dessert? I know I look excited, and he smiles. “You’ve done well with the diet this week.”
I smile back. Ella’s cooking. I just have to eat.
“OK Steph, give us the scoop. What happened to your leg, and how long before you’re back at work? Vinnie is being a weasel and auditioning people for your job. I’m doing my best to slow him down, but he’s determined to get someone in there and I can’t hold him back for long,” Connie says.
“The leg is fractured, and I’m not coming back,” I reply. Connie and Lula looked shocked and Tank has a small smile on his lips. “For the next year, I’m running RangeMan.”
“Whatchu mean, you running RangeMan? We’re partners! How you gon’ make big decisions like that without saying nuthin’ to me?” Lula is upset at this news, and Tank passes her his handkerchief. She shoots him a look that promises retribution.
I feel Tank squeeze my leg slightly. Clearly he hasn’t told her he’s moving to San Antonio yet, so I need to tread carefully.
“I’m sorry Lula, but the guys asked me to run the office for a while. Ranger is going in the wind and the guys have a project going on, so I’m in charge of the office for the next year.” I’m careful not to say I’m in charge of the company. If I say that, the entire ‘Burg will know by morning.
“OK, so where you going, Tank? And when was you gon’ tell me?” Lula is livid at Tank and is having problems keeping her voice down. Tank merely stares at Lula till she calms down. It takes a while.
“San Antonio. I’m leaving tomorrow for a year. I left voicemails for you to call me.” Wow. I think Tank’s used his monthly allotment of words on that statement.
Lula sits back in shock, then stands up and walks toward the restrooms. Tank sips his water while Connie and Mary Lou look at him, and Lula’s departing back, in shock.
“Mary Lou, Connie, help me up.” Tank looks over at me in alarm, and I motion for him to sit back down. I understand where’s he’s coming from, that Lula set this mess up by not calling him back, but damn, he coulda dropped this news on her in private before he picked us all up. Has he no sensitivity?
We make our way to the restrooms, which are blocked. “Lula? Lula, it’s me. Let me in.” The pressure on the door decreases, and we walk in and lock the door. Lula is sitting on a bench in tears.
“I knew it. I knew it was too good to be true. Ain’t no man that damn good gonna stay with me. Tankie is a real man. Why would he want me?”
Connie and I sit on either side of Lula and rub her back. She’s really devastated by this.
Mary Lou squats down in front of her and rubs her hands.”Lula, Tank is angry at you right now because he wanted to tell you that in private. Doing it this way was the worst way, but you kinda didn’t leave him with much choice. Tank likes you, and he was hurt by your refusal to talk to him. Until you asked him where he was going, you hadn’t said a word to him all night.”
I think back over all the conversation in the car and realize that, yet again, Mary Lou is right. Lula’s first words to Tank tonight were angry because she was hurt.
Lula’s jaw clenches, but finally she relaxes. “You suck. You was supposed to come in here, tell me he was an asshole, and make me feel better without makin’ me feel guilty.”
Mary Lou laughs. “I’ve been told that numerous times this week.” She cuts her eyes at me, and I pretend not to notice. “Anyway, let’s get back out there. Our appetizers should have arrived, and you can take the time to calmly ask Tank about his plans. If he doesn’t want to talk, don’t push it. Just ask if you can talk to him later tonight.”
Lula nods and uses Tank’s handkerchief to dab at her eyes. We return to the table and, sure enough, the appetizers have appeared. I watch Lula take a deep breath and swallow. She doesn’t know how to start this conversation. Thank God for Connie.
“So you, Lester, and Bobby are moving to San Antonio tomorrow?” Tank nods. “Are you flying or driving?”
“Driving.”
“Anyone else going with you?”
“Yes.”
She waits, and it becomes a stand-off before Tank adds, “We’re pulling men from all over the company.”
“Who’s taking your place in Trenton?” Our meals have arrived.
“Hal.”
They look at me, and I answer before they can ask.
“Yes, Hal is the guy I stunned to go to Valerie’s shower.” Tension broken, we laugh and tuck into our meals.
Before dessert, Lula asks if they can talk later tonight. Tank nods and sits back. Clearly, he got what he wanted from tonight’s dinner.
The trip back to RangeMan is quiet. I want to rip Tank a new one for what he did, but at the same time I understand why he did it.
“Little Girl, I didn’t have much to say to you tonight. I trust you to do the job well. I really just wanted you to have a good time tonight. I’m sorry I messed that up.”
I didn’t expect an apology, so I decide to meet him halfway. “I had a great time tonight, Tank. I think you could’ve handled Lula better. There was nothing stopping you from showing up at her apartment or the Bonds Office to talk to her in person.”
Tank is quiet then nods.
“I calculated Lula and Connie’s success at a Mission: Impossible breakout at 5%. What did you calculate?” I really want to see what Tank thinks and I love when I can make Tank laugh.
“11%. I factored in the ‘Plum Curve’.”
“The Plum Curve?”
“The automatic 10% we give any plan, scenario, or situation that involves you. The stairs might stop them, but who knows what skills Connie might pull out of her bag? While Lula is distracting the men, Connie might get the elevator hot-wired.”
I consider that and we both laugh.
We finally arrive back at Haywood and Tank carries me back up to 7. He asks Ella to return in an hour, turns on the TV and brings me a beer. We stare at the TV for a while before Tank mutes it and turns to me.
“Little Girl, our lives are hard. We work from sunup to sundown and we see the worst of human nature sometimes. It’s one of the biggest reasons the men here love you; you’re like a breath of fresh air and hope in this place. Make time for your friends. That was why I called the girls together for you tonight. You’ll need to take time to be around other people just to shake off the workload and sadness you’ll see as the head. Take the girls with you when you visit other offices. Find ways to have fun. Don’t allow this job to beat you down.”
Tank holds my hand and, again, I’m surprised. Tank isn’t touchy-feely either.
“My way of handling stress is to go fishing.” He smiles. “Open water, fish don’t expect me to talk, and I get to eat my success. Lester hits the gym and goes through his katas repeatedly. Nothing scarier than that motherfucker with his blades in hand, but it calms him. Bobby would fly home to Georgia and visit his family.”
I nod. I see what Tank is saying. I need an outlet. I don’t have one besides shopping, and I need to find something I can do to keep me sane, unless I want to take an entire security team shopping. Then Tank surprises me.
“Ranger would go see you.” I blink. “If he came back calmer and more focused, every man here would thank God for you all over again.”
I smile at that thought. I could always feel Ranger’s presence in my bedroom, but Ranger’s like smoke. I could never catch him, but I guess it didn’t matter.
“What did he do when I stayed at Joe’s?” I can feel Tank tense up.
“When you stayed with the cop I spent hours cursing his existence. Ranger would run me through the paces on the mats or demolish punching bags, his old methods of coping.” Wow. . . I’ll think about this later.
“Invite Lula out to San Antonio to visit you, Tank.” He looks at me in surprise. “Seriously. Lula still expects you to walk away someday and this year long trip to San Antonio just confirmed it in her mind. If you’re serious, give her some hope to live off. Tell her you’ll bring her out when you’re more settled out there. She’ll be more interested in traveling to see you than traveling anywhere with me.”
We finish our beers and Tank takes me to the bedroom. He kisses the top of my head and smiles. “We leave at 5 AM tomorrow. The entire trip should take between 24-30 hours, so we should be there by noon Sunday, give or take an hour. Little Girl, if you need us to come back here, at any point, you need only call. Don’t hold off because you don’t want to be a bother. We’re here to back you up.”
With that, Tank leaves. In a few short hours, the last of my safety net will leave me and I’ll be all alone here in Trenton. Way too much responsibility and not enough support.
I miss Ranger.
