Chapter 79: Orders and Reprieves
Steph’s POV
Diego’s jaw is tight. He keeps swallowing hard and he hasn’t taken his eyes off the road.
“Diego?” I speak softly. I recognize this face. This is the ‘I fucked up beyond all comprehension’ face. “Diego?” He looks over at me and I smile. “This is not your fault. This is not Maria’s fault. This is my crap luck coming back to bite us all.”
He gives me a tight smile and we pull into the garage. Maria’s there, in tears.
“Stephanie!” she rushes forward and hugs me tight. “Oh, Stephanie! I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” She’s sobbing and hugging me so tightly I can’t breathe. I pat her back awkwardly.
“Maria, it’s OK. Let’s get inside. It’s been a long night.” I take her hand and we all walk to the entrance. Antonio is waiting there, frowning.
“Ms. Plum, as head of the bodyguard group, I’d like to discuss your security arrangements in the morning. Clearly we’ll need to supply you with full protection.”
My shoulders slump. “Yes, we will need to talk about it. In the morning. I’m beat.” I look at Maria. “Stay with me?” She nods, eyes still watering, and I turn to Diego. “Not your fault. I’ll talk to Hector tonight.” I grin. “After all, it’s not like you could follow me into the restroom.”
Another tight smile but he nods and I take Maria’s hand and walk to the elevator.
I’m exhausted and I’m not looking forward to the security discussion tomorrow.
Diego’s POV
I’m a dead man. I’ve already gotten a furious call from Hector and I’m already facing mat time with him.
And Tank.
And Lester.
And Bobby.
And Hal.
I hope to god Ranger hasn’t found out. I’m dead otherwise.
“How did my partner get kidnapped?”
I’m standing in the control room at the club. Half of RangeMan Miami is with me and we’re trying to identify the assholes on this tape. Maria’s been transported back to the office and Jackson is preparing to run a full set of diagnostics on her to determine why she’s out cold. I’m worried about Maria and desperate to find the CO.
I had my eyes on them the entire time and would have preferred to walk over there with them, but Steph said that she and Maria were partners. They would have each other’s back. So I swallowed my protest and nodded. The CO had spoken, so I watched from my vantage point. I started breathing easier when Maria walked out, but when she fell to the ground minutes later, seemingly knocked out cold, I immediately ran over and gave her first aid. When Thomas arrived seconds later, I asked him to check the bathroom. He came out shaking. There was a separate point of egress. The CO was gone.
Hector’s call is very unwelcome right now.
“We’re not sure. We’re still trying to determine what happened.”
“And you didn’t call me immediately because …?”
“We’re still trying to determine what happened. Maria’s out cold; the CO disappeared into thin air; I’ve been trying to establish what in the hell is going on, sir .”
Furious silence, then, “What are the Bombshell SOPs, Diego?”
“The what?”
Another furious silence. “The SOPs in regards to the CO. You have read them, correct?”
“No. No idea there were any, Hector. You know me. I don’t slip on basic shit.” Every man looks over at me, terrified. Our fuckup is now known.
“You have slipped on basic shit. I’ll give you the fact that you didn’t know the CO has SOPs. You know her security was paramount. Why didn’t you call me immediately?”
Am I allowed to say I was fucking panicked? Every man with us tonight was doing checks. We turned the club upside down looking for her. We were sick at finding Maria drugged, out cold, and Steph missing. It wasn’t until we got the security tape that we verified that she’d been abducted.
“We just confirmed that she’d been abducted an hour ago. We combed the club and the surrounding ten blocks looking for her. After that, we started a branch SOS for her. Standard SOPs for a missing client, Hector. I was focused on getting her back.” I swallow hard and sit. Thomas looks down at his phone and swallows hard. It’s vibrating. He answers, pales, and leaves the room.
I can hear Hector’s teeth grinding. “If you’d called me immediately, I could have told you that I have trackers on her. I could have given you her exact coordinates.”
I lean back and swallow hard. Shit! I should have assumed that. My phone beeps and I look. An email from Hal with the CO’s SOPs. And a promise of mat time. He’s also in charge of the CO’s security and he’s not taking my lapse lightly. He also had her coordinates.
“I just received the CO’s SOPs. I’ll memorize them.”
Heavy breathing, then, “Danilo has her.” Shit! Well, at least it’s a friendly. “Go to the airport short term parking lot. He’ll be there in 45 minutes. Let Maria know I’m praying for her recovery.” Click.
I look up. Every man in the room is silent and terrified. “The CO has been recovered. I’m headed to go get her.” I look at Antonio, gritting my teeth. “We’ll need to discuss her security tomorrow.” He smiles smugly. “The CO has special SOPs.” I look at every man. “Get them memorized.”
Everyone leaves. I thank the owner and the head of security for their assistance and head to the airport. I pull my iPad from under the seat and pull the attachment. I forward it to the entire branch then start reading. I’m on page four of the SOPs when I see a car pull in next to me. Danilo’s in the driver seat and Steph pops out.
I’m so fucking happy to see her that I pick her up in a hug. She wiggles and smiles then waves at Danilo. I nod in his direction and he waves and takes off.
“Hey!” As dead as I am, I’m still happy to see her. “Good to see you. Decided to have a little adventure?”
She laughs and I open her door. She climbs in and I get in and start the car. “Thought I might go sightseeing without you guys. You know, nothing like middle of the night munchies.”
I laugh and hit the streets back to RangeMan. Steph notices the iPad on my lap and pulls it. She starts reading the SOPs and sighs.
“I’m about to be under house arrest, huh?”
I snort. “Let’s just say that you aren’t going to get much farther than an arm’s length away from me for a while.”
She chuckles, then switches to my email. I see her jaw tighten.
“Who hasn’t threatened you?”
“I don’t think the news has made it to Boston yet.”
“Wrong. Mark’s wondering if you need help. ‘Since, clearly, you’ll be in traction for a while. Sorry man. Let me know if I can help’.” I shake my head while she scrolls. “Impressive. Every XO, every strategist, and nearly every liaison. Most of Trenton. Mack’s promising shanks in your future.” I cringe. Steph puts the iPad down and sighs. “I’ll get everyone to back off.”
I know you have power, Steph, but that won’t happen. We love you. My phone rings and I hit the answer button on my headset.
“Yo.”
“Yo.” Lester. I feel two tons of weight slam onto my shoulders. “Disappointed.”
Forget all the threats I’ve gotten tonight. That hurts most. Lester is disappointed.
“Sir.”
“I assume you’re having a security meeting tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hector and Hal dictate. Until one of them arrives, the CO goes nowhere outside the building without you. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“She does not enter any locations without a security sweep having been done.”
“Yes, sir.” I clench my jaw and memorize instructions. Lester sounds as if he’s holding his fury.
“That includes restrooms, dressing rooms, Victoria’s Secret, I don’t give a fuck. Sweep it for possible unfriendlies and points of egress. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Silence, then, “I know you aren’t stupid, Diego, but we’ve been through this in Trenton. It will be repeated tomorrow all over again. The CO is a magnet for crazies and kidnappers and this situation is making it worse.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve heard from her rescuer. Law enforcement in his opinion. He sprayed; they took cover like cops. You had FBI at the office today, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Watch for them. All law enforcement is suspect right now. They tried to bug this branch a month ago.” He’s quiet. “The entire LC knows. Prepare for pain.”
Click.
Steph looks at me. “Les?” I nod. She calls him.
“Yo!”
“You know, I’m in the car with Diego. Mind repeating those orders to me?” I listen closely but the CO merely clenches her jaw and frowns. “Thanks, Les. Yet another person treating me like a fucking child lately. I didn’t do anything to lead to my kid—”
I hear angry mutters on the other end of the phone. Les and Steph really get into that argument and only Tank’s quiet reassurance ends it. The CO was getting redder and madder by the second. “That’s all? I can still go where I want as long as the guard is with me?” She exhales. “OK, I’ll work out the particulars with Hal. Thanks, Tank,” she says in a quiet voice. Click.
We both stare out of the windshield before she mutters, “I hate having a guard all the time.”
“We’ve heard. We’ll try to be discreet.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what’s the point?”
She looks at me. “The point is that I don’t even get a chance to say whether or not I want one. One has been ordered for me and I’m just supposed to accept it.” She exhales and frowns.
I consider this. “Steph?”
“Hmm?”
“Would you have ordered a guard for yourself?” She looks at me but my face is blank. I raise an eyebrow and she slumps in the seat. “When would you ever order a guard for yourself?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Correct. You should be allowed to determine whether or not you need a guard but here’s the deal: Every RangeMan with any history with you knows you’ll never call for a guard, even when you really should have one. Instead, you’ve made a game of slipping guards. It makes us all nervous. You’ll shock everyone shitless the moment you actually call for a guard on your own.”
“The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it’s still on my list. Now shut up and drive.”
I grin and head back to the building.
Saturday
0700 and I’m in my office with the CO, Thomas, Maria, and Antonio. As head of the bodyguard group, he’s thrilled. He thinks he’ll get to dictate the CO’s security.
I haven’t told him he’ll be taking orders from Hal and Hector. He needs more humbling.
“I thought about this all night, Steph, and what I’ve decided is this. We’ll establish a full guard for you, four man minimum, with a two car escort.” Steph is yawning and looking extremely amused. She also has frosting or glaze in the corner of her mouth. I make a quick motion and she wipes discreetly. “We’re also hiring additional guards, female, who can do security sweeps in sensitive areas.”
Steph looks at me and smiles. Thomas and I smile back. She’s about to get him.
“Antonio?”
He looks up. “Yes?”
“What’s rule one of the Bombshell SOPs?”
He looks at her for a moment then smiles. “Do not fail.”
“Rule two?”
“Discuss the CO’s security arrangements with her.”
“Rule three?”
“If there’s confusion, Hector Gutierrez and Henry Linden will mediate.”
Steph sits back and sips her orange juice. “Which rule are you failing right now?”
He sits back in surprise. “Well, we’ve all failed rule one.” He looks over at me and smirks. “I’m determined not to allow it to happen again.”
“Well, the branch as a whole may have failed rule one, but at the moment you are failing rule two.”
His forehead scrunches in confusion and he reviews the SOPs. “We are having a discussion about your security right now.” He looks up. “How am I failing?”
“We aren’t having a discussion. You are attempting to dictate my security to me. You haven’t asked me my opinion or what I feel is appropriate. You told me you ‘decided’ on security. If you know anything about me then you’d know that I’ll slip that security team, regardless of how good they are, if I don’t get to have some say in my security.”
Antonio sits back and gives her a condescending smile. Thomas and I are hiding grins. “I’m pulling our best men off their current assignments in order to guard you. You won’t slip this team.”
“If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.” Thomas and I break. That shit was hilarious. “I’ve slipped Ranger.”
Tony’s smile drops and he looks at her in disbelief. “No one has ever done that.”
“I have. I did it a few times until he learned to discuss security with me. I’ve slipped him twice in person. I slip trackers all the time. I slipped Hector once.”
We all sit back, stunned. She’s fucking brilliant if that really happened.
“Ranger and Hector both caught me pretty quickly, but the point is if I want to, I’ll get away.” She leans forward and stares at him. “Let me show you how this conversation should have gone.”
She dials a number on the phone and we listen to it ring. Thomas and I grin at each other.
“Yo!”
“Sis?”
“Hey. How’s Trenton?”
“Miami is full of dead men.”
“Not their fault. Maria and I were drugged and I was abducted from a bathroom. Miami club bathrooms are dense places.”
Hal is quiet for a moment. “Let Maria know that all of Trenton is unhappy at hearing she was harmed. We’ll send her a bouquet today.” Steph smiles at the phone. Hal sounded unhappy about that.
“Thank you, Hal,” Maria says.
“Maria! How are you? Feeling OK?” He sounds much happier to actually hear her.
“I’m fine. A little groggy, that’s all. A bouquet is sweet but unnecessary—”
“It’s very necessary, Maria. Relax today, OK? I’m sure Diego already told you that, but please take it easy. You too, Sis.”
Maria is smiling. “Thank you, Hal,” she says softly. She gives Tony a very pointed look.
“Anyway, Sis, we gave Miami a pass on the fact you were abducted. That we understood. They should have called immediately.” I cringe mentally. “SOPs were very clear about that.”
“They didn’t have the Bombshell SOPs.”
“Common sense should have told them to call Hector immediately. He’s your partner.”
I raise a hand and Steph looks over. I nod. He’s right.
“OK. I’ll give you that one. Anyway, need to discuss security.”
“OK. I assume you have ideas.”
Steph gives Antonio a pointed look. “Well, I’ll be in the office for the next few weeks doing the review, working on admin stuff, you know.”
“Right. I’m headed there Monday. Pat too.”
“Great. So I’m thinking about the out of office security levels.”
“OK.”
“What would you suggest?”
“Who is head of personal security there?”
“Antonio.”
“He have suggestions?”
“Yeah.” Steph waves Antonio to the phone and Antonio details his suggestions.
It’s quiet before Hal says, “One moment. I’d like you to repeat that.” We listen and Hal says, “OK, Antonio. Repeat that.”
Antonio details his suggestions again. We hear raucous laughter.
“What an idiot!”
“Clearly he thinks he can dictate to Steph. Dumbass.”
“Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes our CO to slip that guard?” We hear everything from one hour to three days. Antonio is getting red and angry. Thomas and I are biting our lips trying not to laugh.
The laughter dies down and Hal speaks, sounding amused. “Thanks, Antonio. That’s the best laugh we’ve had in the past eight hours. Here’s a hint. Scrap that plan. No way on earth the CO goes for it.”
“It’s appropriate for this city.”
“Who are you protecting, the city or the client?” More laughs in Trenton. Steph flips a finger at the phone.
“You know, I didn’t become head of this department off my good looks.” Unfortunately, I have to give the asshole that. He earned it and it killed us to have to give it to him.
“That may be, but if you approach all your customers like that, I’m surprised you have any. Here, write this down: ‘Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad’. Understand the difference?” Thomas and I are ready to crawl under the table in laughter and Steph and Maria have tears streaming down their faces. Damn, Trenton is raw with the sarcasm. “This is how the conversation should go. Steph?”
“Yes?” She’s wiping her eyes, amused at Hal.
“What are your plans over the next few weeks? Outside of the office?”
“Shopping. Beach. Sightseeing. I’d like to meet up with Julie if I can.”
“OK, so beach. I’m assuming we can get away with a light guard there.”
“Only if they dress down. I don’t want to be followed by heavily armed mercenaries everywhere.”
“OK, so Antonio, three man guard at the beach. One man point on the car, two men on the body. No more than three unless it’s a group outing to the beach. Everyone needs to dress down.”
I start taking notes. Antonio is stunned and offended.
“Excuse me? I’m head of personal security here, not you. You don’t get to dictate my job to me.”
Silence, then, “Did you read the SOPs?”
“Yes,” Antonio replies tightly.
“What’s rule three?” Antonio’s jaw tightens. “You have a plan. It sucks. The CO objects. I’m mediating. Ultimately, responsibility for her security falls on me and Hector in the event of disagreements. So I’m dictating security in coordination with the CO. We’ll come up with a plan she agrees with. You execute it. Understood? If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can always have this conversation with Hector.”
Antonio shuts his mouth.
Steph and Hal dictated the CO’s security in the event of damn near every situation, which made Steph laugh.
“Leaving nothing to chance, Hal?”
“Trying not to.”
He finished up with “In the event that the CO is kidnapped, abducted, or you lose sight of her, call me or Hector immediately. We can find her and get you her coordinates.”
“Yeah, we know now.” Thomas snorts. “Would have been helpful yesterday.”
The line is quiet. “Yeah,” I hear Hal say quietly. “I’m due mat time with Tank for failure to inform.”
Steph gasps. “No!”
Hal snorts. “Yeah. I didn’t provide Diego with the sum of my knowledge and experience, knowing that you would be in house with him for the next few days without anyone else from Trenton. Failure to communicate on my end. Diego?”
“Yeah?” I’m stunned. Hal has mat time with Tank?
“I’ve sent you a document outlining just about everything I could think of that you need to be aware of. Yes, Steph, you were CC’d.” She sits back, nodding, eyes narrowed at the phone. “In short, until someone from Trenton arrives, Steph, it would be really helpful if you stay in the building. You weren’t the only kidnapping yesterday.”
Her eyes widen. “Who else?”
“Hector Manuel and Juana were nearly kidnapped.” I look at Thomas, shocked as shit. Steph’s white. So is Maria. “Hector is not a happy man. The entire LC is uptight. Manny’s in hiding. Bobby may leave and join you in Miami for a while. Les is on the hunt. The threat is not just high. It’s there.”
“Right,” Steph says softly. “OK. I’ll stay in the building until you arrive, Hal.”
I hear a quiet exhale. “Thanks, Sis.” Click.
Steph looks over at us. She’s still white. “I’m not leaving the building. If they attempted to kidnap a child, I’m not going anywhere.” She swallows hard and Thomas passes her a handkerchief. “I need to go. I need to call Atlanta and make sure Nikki and Hector Manuel are safe. And I need to find Manny.”
She stands and leaves. Thomas and I look at each other and nod. The heightened security measures for RangeMan Miami are going into effect. I look at my watch. Nearly time for the 0800 XO call.
Ten minutes before the XO call, Armando calls.
“Yo.”
“Yo.” I sit. Mando doesn’t bust my ass often, but I feel this shit coming.
“I’m sorry.” I look at my phone. What? “I called Hector. I got your mat time reduced in half. I’m taking the other half.”
“Why?” I’m stunned.
“Because I told him that fault was mine. I received a copy of the Bombshell SOPs during the skip tracing workshop months ago, when she first took over. I memorized them but I didn’t pass them to you. They’re in my office, bottom drawer, in the ‘RangeMan SOPs’ folder. They’re part of the protocols we were supposed to discuss today.” Mando snorts. “I didn’t anticipate the CO getting kidnapped in less than 24 hours. I should have known better and prepared you. That’s why I tried to take your mat time with Hector, but the best I could do was take half. Anyway, I’m sorry, Diggy. Read those and the rest of the protocols I sent you for today’s meeting.”
“Thanks, Mando.” Yeah, this is why I follow my XO. It was my fuckup but he took responsibility for it. I go to his office and look and yeah, full copy, including Trenton SOPs for her. I immediately stand and head to the copy room. I’m never fucking up again.
“Got ’em.”
“Make sure everyone knows. She’s going to be in Miami for weeks. Every man needs to know the SOPs. Memorize or die.”
“Agreed. Hal sent me a copy last night. I forwarded those to the entire branch.”
Mando chuckles. I’m glad Steph sent him to Charlotte. I see the man he once was coming back and I’m happy. Mando was ‘take-no prisoners’ before that asshole joined our office.
“I hear you have visitors.”
“Yeah.”
“They good?”
“Yeah. One’s going stir-crazy and the other is desperate for sex.”
“Remind him she’s still healing.”
“Wrong way around.” Click.
I lean against the copier and laugh. Man, the women are ON. I love it. I dial into the XO call.
“Yo!” Tank. That means he’ll lead, not me.
“Yo!” we respond, times six. Six?
We complete roll call and wait.
“Everyone has the CO’s SOPs memorized?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” we chorus. We’re running this meeting in Spanish? Hector must be on the line.
“The CIO is an extremely unhappy man, but his anger is minor compared to another’s.” I swallow hard. “Miami?”
“Sir?”
“Fuck up noted.” I sit and clench my jaw. “Never let it happen again.”
“No, sir.”
“He won’t.” Hector. “He values his limbs, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Click.
“Trenton?”
“Sir?”
“Fallen Plum. Make arrangements.”
“Yes, sir.” Hal sounds amused. What’s that mean?
“Trenton will arrive Monday. CIO will be unavoidably delayed. Security in place, Miami?”
“Yes, sir. Worked with Trenton and the head of the department on it this morning, sir.”
“CO agreed?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Men, threat is DEFCON 2 until further notice. CO’s family is under guard. CEO’s family is under guard. Miami, place Level 4 protection around the child.”
I make a note to call Rachel and make sure Julie’s guard is stepped up. I’ll also need to call Piman and let him know so that Reyes in Miami are on the lookout.
“The threat has been identified. No cooperation with law enforcement unless they have a warrant. A formal complaint is being filed in DC at this very moment but, as this entire situation revolves around rogue elements, expect increased scrutiny. Keep notes on everything you see and hear. Expect multiple strikes in multiple places. As of this moment, pulse check will be hourly from 0700 to 1900 and every three hours from 1900 to 0700. XO call twice a day. 0800 and 2000. Understood?”
“HUA!” We’ve never gone DEFCON 2 before but based on last night, I’m not surprised.
“Report.”
Miami starts, as always. “I was informed that the CO’s kidnappers were law enforcement.” I hear a few quick breaths on the line. “We had two show up yesterday on a fishing expedition.”
“CIO has run multiple scans of our network,” Tank says, “but as of this moment, each man needs to be scanned as he enters or exits buildings. Especially Miami. They’re attempting to bug us during any interaction. No discussion of company business outside the building.”
I make a note to announce that and back it up with email.
“Everything you do needs to be encrypted. Network is pushing out patches and high level security. Inform the men.”
“HUA!“
“Anything else, Miami?”
“No, sir.”
“CL may join you in Miami. Depends on whether his partner decides he would be more helpful on his assignment or not. You’ll be notified in advance. Atlanta?”
“Mijo has a pseudonym. CS’s middle name, CEO’s middle name, CL’s last name. Do not refer to him otherwise.” I write the possibles out and frown. The last name is off. I wonder which word they used for the last name. “His mother is also living here and under guard. All wives and girlfriends have been informed that the threat level is high and they should be prepared. Advising all offices to do the same.”
I make another note. I’ll need Mariela’s help for this. I add a reminder to ask Maria to help too.
“Anything else?”
“The news reports are screaming. We’re under heavy watch here but our RangeMan has an ironclad alibi and lots of witnesses. That’s all.”
I’m sure everyone is clenching their jaws. I heard about Hector’s moves last night. He’s always been known as ruthless, but ten dead bodies and six more severely injured made the point.
Do not fuck with Hector Manuel Gutierrez or his son.
“Charlotte?”
“Our RangeMan is fine. My wife is taking point. Also, I suggest adding the Miami XO to the XO community in RangeWorld. Right now, Miami is at a disadvantage. He doesn’t have the institutional knowledge we’ve all gained. We’re highlighting failures in communication as they involve the CO.” Thanks, Mando.
“Agreed, sir.” Mark in Boston. “We had one here during her visit. Miami is at a disadvantage. We could all talk Miami’s ear off with stuff, but he needs info he can refer back to.”
Wow, CO’s beatdown did some good. First time I’ve heard Mark talk and not give a fucking order.
“I’ll speak to the CIO. Anything else, Charlotte?”
“High level of activity in the area. The office is being watched closely by friendlies and unfriendlies.”
“Noted. Trenton?”
“Leaving Monday for Miami. My partner is taking backup as interim XO. He’s on the line. Evan Lawrence AKA Junior.”
“Yo!” times five.
“Thanks.” New voice.
“Junior. Report.”
“We’ve informed the CO’s family. We took Edna’s gun.” I hear a snicker, then a laugh, then multiple laughs.
“Good job, Trenton.”
“Thank you, sir. CO’s family is cooperative but worried. Miami? She needs to call ASAP. Tell her her mother is ironing toilet paper.”
What? “OK.” I make a note.
“NYC?”
“Quiet here. RangeMan is not known for moves around this office so I can feel we’re being watched, but not heavily.”
“Good. You may see a transfer there soon. We need our man moving around.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Boston?”
“Quiet here also, sir. They know the CO is no longer in house here, so we’re also being watched, but not heavily.”
“Noted.”
“Change in procedure, gentlemen.” Ranger. The line goes silent. “Charlotte’s RangeMan will move to Boston until further notice. They will travel under pseudonym and stay on site. Miami, inform the CO in case she has something she needs him to do while there. The XO assignments as of this moment will stay until I change them. Trenton?”
“Yes, sir?” Junior.
“Good. Linden, you are the CO’s personal bodyguard until I dismiss. Let nothing happen.”
“Yes, sir.”
“CIO will be detained for quite a while. He’s gained ‘Teflon Don’ status so he can’t guard the CO’s back right now. Too much interest in him. Miami?”
“Sir?”
“Not happy with last night’s lapse.” I clench my jaw then loosen it. “However, I’m giving you a gift. Your first time out, first time as XO, first time with her in house. Don’t let it happen again. The entire branch can fall, I don’t give a fuck, but something happens to her, no one will find your body.”
“Yes, sir. I admire the CO. It will not happen again, sir.”
“Good. The CS and CL are joining the hunt from Texas. I’ve identified the perpetrators. Expect heavy FBI and ICE scrutiny. No cooperation with law enforcement without warrants, and contact the lawyers to be ready to show at a moment’s notice. Buildings are strictly off-limits to all federal personnel. No talking in public.”
“Yes, sir,” we chorus.
“Head of Security Administration from NYC will travel to Miami. He insisted and the CXO and CIO agreed. Men, we need to keep things as normal as possible. DEFCON 2, no man moves without his partner. Miami, the CO will partner with Mack. Linden is her bodyguard. The three of them move in tandem. Join her as often as possible and ensure she has a guard surrounding her. Got it?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Hal and I chime.
“Let me be clear.” We’re silent. “She’s still the CO. Her authority should not be damaged in any way. However, Linden and the CIO have authority over her security. The CO can still go where she wants, do as she pleases, as long as there is adequate security around her. If there are any disputes over her security, Linden, you are onsite to mediate with her. Understood?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Hal chimes again.
We have our orders. Thomas is gonna be thrilled.
Lester’s POV
I’m sitting at the FBI Office in DC, trying to calm down.
Beautiful was kidnapped.
Drugged, kidnapped and held. Ranger? Ranger’s fucking furious. He raged and cursed for at least an hour last night. I’ve never known him to lose control like that, and only the fact that she’d already been recovered calmed him down.
Eventually.
Piman called me and told me that his soldiers were watching Julie. The rogue agents are desperate to find her and Piman’s assigned two of his men to watch her, discreetly. One of the few times I’ve ever been thankful for baby gangsters in my entire damn life. There are three BGs in Julie’s school. She’ll be watched from the moment she leaves her house to the moment she goes home and even after.
Hector’s sick to his stomach over the threat to Nikki and Mijo. He has Mijo under watch and he escorts Nikki to work to ensure she’s safe. Manny’s scared to let Juana out of his sight.
Ranger’s feeling the pressure now. He has to wrap this one up fast. He’s been so fucking successful its bit him in the ass.
“Mr. Santos? The Attorney General does not have time to speak to you today. He’s schedule is extremely full. It is a Saturday, after all.”
I smile. “Tell him I have a message from David Cisneros.”
He looks at me oddly but walks off. Five minutes later, “Mr. Santos? The AG will see you now.”
Thought so. David Cisneros is one of four identities Ranger has with the government. I follow the agent to the AG’s office and shake his hand. He’s dressed in golf gear and has a full set of clubs leaning against the table. Yeah, he’s desperate not to miss his tee time. He motions to a chair and sighs.
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
I smile. “No.”
“What happened?”
“Where should I start? With the FBI agents who attempted to bug our new San Antonio branch last month? Or the FBI agent in Boston who approached our Managing Director without cause? The two FBI agents who came to RangeMan Miami to question her? Clearly on a fishing expedition. Or the ICE agents we believe kidnapped her last night?”
The AG closes his eyes and shakes his head. I slide the piece of paper containing the five names forward.
“Carlos Mañoso is, of course, on assignment for the military, so all this interest in our organization is not only unwelcome but unwarranted. I intend to speak to the Director of Homeland Security about the ICE Agent, but if there is another incident RangeMan is prepared to sever its consulting contracts with the agencies under your supervision.”
“I don’t believe that’s necessary—”
“I do.” I stare hard. “We are accustomed to a high level of cooperation between our organizations. Quite frankly, this new attention is surprising.” I sit back and pretend confusion. “Is there a reason why RangeMan is suddenly the target of new scrutiny? I checked our contracts and reports before I left Texas. It appeared that we were current with all our contracts and were meeting all guidelines and targets.”
The AG smiles at me and I smile back. We both know I’m lying my ass off. “Of course not. I’m surprised to hear that you’ve been the focus of unwelcome attention. I will send an order out today asking for a review—”
“We would prefer you take action, not call for a review. A review is another way of stalling for time and getting some bullshit report that will say nothing at all. We’re under scrutiny by your agents right now. We are taking action within our organization right now. We’d like to see our partners do the same.”
The AG stares at me. “I’d like to check these names first.”
I wave. “Please do.”
The AG leaves and returns ten minutes later. He sits in the chair and says nothing for a long moment. “I’ve checked the names.”
“All active agents?”
“Yes.”
“RangeMan will never come to your offices without substantive proof, unlike what your agents did yesterday. What they did last night?” I lean forward. “If we’d caught them at it, they would be dead agents right now.” I lean back and stare hard at him. I love lawyer face. I wish Bobby were here. He’d have a field day looking for signs of twitching. “As it is, we’re celebrating our Managing Director’s quick thinking in spraying all of them with pepper spray.”
We both share a laugh before sobering again. I stand. “I know you’re a busy man and you have a tee time you’re dying to get to”—another shared laugh—”so I’ll leave you to investigate the investigators. However, I will reiterate: we do not appreciate the attention. Moreover, we’re aware that our Managing Director is under fire because she’s the CEO’s girlfriend and they want leverage.” I stand and lean forward. “To kidnap, harass, or further importune Ms. Plum would be a massive mistake. Mr. Mañoso would certainly not be happy to learn she’s been placed in danger, but our entire company would devote the entirety of our skills and resources to not only retrieve her but utterly destroy those individuals who took her.”
The AG stops smiling. “That’s sounds suspiciously like a threat, Mr. Santos.”
I straighten. “It’s a solemn promise. Ms. Plum is beloved within our organization. Our men would mobilize to retrieve her and strike back even before the official order came down to do so. I tell you this so you understand the stakes. We will not hesitate to do whatever is necessary to protect her. We hope that your agents are not the focus of that single-minded determination.”
I nod and leave the room. The ‘promise’ is repeated a few blocks away at the Department of Homeland Security before I board a plane to New Jersey.
“OK, what do you have so far?”
Ranger and I are reviewing his info. I’m looking for anything he might have missed, anything he’s overlooking, and I agree with him: This is insane. There has to be a justification for this that we’re missing. Ranger checks the fridge and grabs some water and hummus. I’m starting to get cross-eyed. I prefer to spend my time at the Jersey Shore in the sun, not inside looking at paperwork.
“I don’t get it. What’s the reason to do this?” I’m stumped. Am I losing my edge?
“I don’t know,” Ranger replies. I start with the info he has on James White, starting from childhood and moving forward. No dead relatives killed in shoot-outs, no thwarted career plans, nothing. Served, with distinction, in the military, joined the FBI, moved up the ranks steadily. No clue but something’s niggling. I finally figure it out.
“This shit’s personal.” Ranger looks up. I look at him. “Scan that picture to Tank. Ask him if he recognizes him.”
Tank calls ten minutes later. “He applied to Trenton back when the FBI was investigating Hector. I rejected him.”
Ranger and I look at each other and nod. Personal. Now we have the nexus to us. Ranger sends off a request for a list of White’s cases while I email Junior to send me White’s entire application file. I’m betting the issue is Hector.
Hector. Our brother is the one who’s truly under attack.
