OK, I'll give you the last chapter tonight, as well. This way I can work on older stories not yet published. Still scratching my head for a Christmas story.

This was a trial balloon to see if you like the premise. Apparently, you do. No way Marine Plum can sub for low-esteem, bumbling Plum, but...I'll weave the other books into future stories...someday. The famous shower bar scene will appear. Thank you all for your encouragement and criticism.

Chapter 6: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

It was closer to 75 minutes when I reached a road barricade a block from TPD. Night had fallen, and traffic was heavier than I remembered. Rolling towards downtown on Mercer, traffic stopped. Officers were ahead diverting vehicles away from TPD. Was this because of me? Was there a live shooter situation?

I took out my phone and called, "This is Sergeant Stephanie Plum, I'm in the large box truck outside the barricade on Mercer with Joe Morelli. Where do you want him delivered?"

The dispatcher said to wait while the call was being transferred. "Steph, it's Eddie. Hold on, we are opening up a path to let you through. I'll be there in a minute."

I saw Eddie and another officer in SWAT gear come towards me. I rolled down the window, "It's kinda stinky here and in back. You might want to change to storm gear."

Eddie looked in a caught a whiff of the truck cab, eau de vomit, and rotten animal fat. Wincing, he said, "Where is Joe?"

"I've got Otto Kuleski here with me. Joe is in the back and mad as a bear who tipped over the hornet's nest. Have your biggest and strongest men to corral him when he emerges. There are blood, guts and dead bodies back there, have the guys in storm gear."

I backed into the parking lot while the security gate was closed, sealing off the public's view. More than a dozen people formed the welcoming committee. Most were in police uniforms, others in suits. Eddie came up to the cab, "Are you coming out?"

"Not until Joe is inside. He's a bit pissed off at me."

Sure enough, as soon as the cargo door was raised, Joe burst forth from the box with bodies, blood, and rotting animal carcass waste. He was covered in Benito's blood and the slop on the floor. It took four burly policemen to subdue him as he was wildly cursing and threatening me for locking him in the box. When it was deemed Joe-safe, someone rapped on the door. I opened up to see an Air Force captain. "Are you my JAG rep?"

"Yes, Sargeant, I'm Captain Nelson, from McGuire Dix. I'll be your rep until the Marines send someone from Quantico."

As I stepped down from the truck cab, every cop not wrestling Joe wanted to see me. I saw a few DEA and Homeland jackets in the crowd. Only Eddie spoke, "You said you weren't going to capture him."

"I didn't. He, found me." Before I could say more, my JAG rep reminded me not to speak.

As I walked towards the TPD loading dock, a cop emerged from the back of the box, and heaved splattering my shoes. Apparently, he found Carmen. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"Too late, I've already slid through the slop in there, and Otto anointed me. I'm going to have to burn these clothes and scrub with lemons for the next two weeks to get rid of the vomit and rotting animal stench."

"Does that really work?" he asked, wiping his mouth.

"I hope so," I answered.

Eddie Gazarra and the Air Force captain escaped the spew. Another man in a DEA jacket came up and identified himself as Derrick Murphy, DEA. Captain Nelson jumped in, "I need to interview her first before you speak with her." Oh boy, it's going to be a long night.

I was right, it was a long night. After telling my story to my JAG rep, the Marine JAG rep. He must have had a jet pack strapped to his back to arrive so quickly. But it took only one hour before my ripe personal smell got to everyone, and I was allowed to shower and change clothes. TPD sweats and socks were supplied. My shoes were history. It was 22:00 before I started telling my story to the Trenton Police and DEA.

It was after 04:00 when I left TPD. Eddie drove me to a motel after first stopping at a 24-hour grocery to purchase a dozen lemons. When the lemon cut surface and the juice were rubbed over the skin and through the hair, the smell of rotting fat is displaced. I needed a long shower and didn't want to tie up my parent's only bathroom. Eddie had called my father. Dad brought the last of my fresh clothes and boots to the motel.

It was time for Dad to begin his cab runs, so I accompanied him. Afterward, we went to the Waffle House, where I could fill up. I called Al from the Waffle House and told him where my car was, and he was welcome to reclaim it. We were even.

Next, Dad took me to Sunny's, where I picked up the Colt .38 Ranger had purchased for me as well as the gun permit. I also had Dad pick out a new defensive knife as his old one was now police evidence. Sunny would not let me leave until I told her the scam I was running on Ranger. Well, I couldn't tell her the truth, but my cover story caused her to bark out a hoarse laugh, "Sweetie, nobody pulls nothing over Ranger, but you sure have. You remind me a lot of him. You sure you never served together?"

"Never. I have enough trouble with fellow Jarheads who consider themselves cocks of the walk. I sure as hell don't need an Army Ranger in my life."

Dad pulled into the visitor parking at a nondescript building. It was small and rundown, but cameras covered the outside. "Welcome to Rangeman. May I ask your name and who you wish to see?" said the voice through the intercom.

"I am Marine Staff Sergeant Stephanie Plum returning Mr. Manoso's handgun."

"Ma'am, aside from the handgun, do you have any other weapons?"

"No, sir."

"Please have your identification in hand when I release the door. One man will take your box. Then stop to the desk and present your identification."

"Yes, sir," I answered. Talk about paranoid, Rangeman may be more than a simple single story business in a nondescript building in downtown Trenton. This security was nearly equal to trying to get into the Pentagon.

The door was buzzed open, and a lovely hunk of a man stood inside. He had to be 6'2" with significant muscle mass in the chest, shoulders, and arms but a tight waist. His black cargo pants strained over the muscular thighs. His coloring was similar to Ranger's, but his eyes were green. The man behind the desk was standing. He was huge. I thought of the black obelisk in the movie "2001." I could understand why a security company would hire above size employees. Personally, I was male review. Most of the Marines I served with were average height though very fit, not heavily muscled.

The man behind the desk took my identification and started typing on his keyboard. While he was tapping, he paused and listened to his earbud. "Ranger would like to talk to you, sergeant, but he's in the midst of a long-distance phone call. He will be available in 25 minutes."

"Extend my apologies to Mr. Manoso, I have other obligations, but I can meet him at the diner at 16:00." My other obligations concerned a bed and pillow. I was exhausted.

The big man was surprised. I refused Manoso. I extended my hand for my identification and turned back to the front door. When I heard the buzzer release, I said smartly, "Thank you, sirs." And walked out to where my father was waiting.

The two Rangemen inside exchanged raised eyebrows. What just happened? Now they were going to have to tell Ranger the lady sergeant disregarded his order. Well, it wasn't exactly an order, Ranger did say "ask the sergeant." The big man chuckled, "She's got balls."

Angling into the car, Dad asked, "Where to now, Pumpkin?"

I stifled a yawn, "Bed. Wake me at 15:00. I have an appointment downtown at 16:00."

I woke up to knocking, "Pumpkin, it's 15:00." Four hours of sleep wasn't enough judging from the headache, pounding my brain. It would have to do. I redressed in the black wool pants, black turtleneck sweater, and my military boots. I pulled the legs down as far as I could to hide the tan color. Burg dress codes would snicker at desert tan boots under black clothing. I needed to replace my ruined shoes. Pulling my hair into a tight military bun, I dashed to the bathroom, attended to nature, my teeth, and washed my face from sleep. Adding a bit of mascara and lip gloss, I finished dressing in a black hoodie with USMC on the upper chest. "I can take a bus downtown, Dad. I don't know how long the meeting will last. From there, I'll go to the mall for new shoes."

"Call me from the mall, he said. "I'll come to get you, and we can have dinner." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his new knife. "Here, I'd feel better knowing you were armed."

I appreciated the jester and took it. My stun gun needed a charge, but I still had pepper spray in my pocket. The baseball bat was left in the Toyota.

The walk from the bus stop to the diner was a block and a half. I spied a black woman, an enhanced size, wrapped in an old coat step towards me. One hand was down at her side, empty. The second was holding the coat closed. "Remember me?"

"Yeah, Lula from Stark. How did you know I'd be here?"

"You've been meetin' with Ranger at this here diner. Not much goes on here, this close to the Burg, that ain't known. I asked around."

Damn Burg grapevine! "OK, now why are you here?"

"I came to thank you for what you did. Word is you killed Alpha and Benito. We girls gonna be safer, but you need to be careful. Alpha owed a lot of money to people."

"First, I only killed Rameriz, Joe killed Alpha. These people Alpha owed money, are they going to be upset?"

"The word on the street is Alpha's bankers were threatening to kill Benito to cash in on the life insurance. They will take advantage of his death to get their money."

"Who had the contract on Joe?"

"Alpha and Ziggy. Joe was getting too close to the heroin supply."

"Did you know Alpha and Ziggy were behind it?"

"I suspected such, but was still gathering proof."

"Should I worry about the supply train being derailed?"

"It's only temporary. Somebody else will take over."

I noticed Lula's speech was improving. Less gutter English. "What's your true story, Lula?"

She chuckled, "You are quick. I'm an informant for the government. I've been working for them for four years now. They say I'm free now. I want to do something else, but all I've ever been is a ho."

"Contact Vincent Plum bail bonds. He needs a new bounty hunter. You can start with the low bonds and learn the trade. Just stay away from Vinnie..."

"I know Vinnie. His perversions are well known on Stark. I've never touched him," she said with a shiver. "What about you? What you gonna do?"

Pointing to my sweatshirt, I said, "I'm a Marine, on leave to see my family. Vinnie is my cousin. I was just helping him out."

"Too bad, you gotta leave. We could use you around here. You've got balls."

"Nope, they haven't sprouted yet. Take care, Lula, but watch your language. You need to keep your cover."

"Yo bet yo ass, White Girl," she smiled.

I was mentally preparing myself for the confrontation with Ranger Manoso, born Ricardo Carlos Manoso. Yes, I know who he is. If he wanted to know why I presented myself to him as a Burg woman, I couldn't tell him. I had to stick with my cover.

I walked into the diner fifteen minutes early. It was open until 20:00. I would have thought the bars would be filling up with downtown workers, not the diner. Then I noticed people at the check stand picking up carry-out bags. People were stopping and taking home dinner.

Manoso was sitting in the back booth watching me. His granite face showed nothing. I was surprised he showed at all. He walked out on me several days before, and I refused to see him in his tiny fortress today.

"Ranger," I said succinctly as I stepped up to the table. Steeling myself for a tongue lashing, I sat down.

"Steph, or do you prefer Staff Sergeant Plum?" he sneered.

"Stephanie when here in Trenton." Only my friends called me Steph, and he was not my friend.

"I was talking to Captain MacIntosh when you stopped by earlier."

The captain was my group leader, but not my CO. Manoso has creds with the Pentagon, curious. I didn't respond to his statement.

He sat for a moment and said, "Ziggy's gun was found in the container with Carmen."

I said nothing. It seemed early to come up with a positive identification unless Otto was talking. He was not a good criminal, flaunting this money the way he was. How did I feel about Joe probably getting off the hook? I could not be too disappointed, justice for Carmen would be served. My justice for Morelli would have to wait. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

"Preliminary findings for you will be no fault. You can return to Quantico."

How did he know about Quantico? My assignment was kept low key. "You seem sure of the investigation's outcome." I was challenging him.

Ranger sat quietly, observing me. I showed nothing, I hoped. He had a strong military leadership presence. I have encountered individual officers who could stare down a marble statue. I suspected Manoso was another. I had my granite face on to match his. It was a war of wills to see who would break first. He was waiting for me to ask a question. Did he want me to ask how he got his information? I wasn't going to cave. I'm very, very good at this game. I honed it listening to my mother's tirades, the Burg gossip, and backstabbing. My father helped me with my granite face, the Marines enhanced my control.

I waited for him to ask why I pretended to be a bounty hunter trainee. He didn't speak. We sat staring at each other for close to 10 minutes, saying nothing. I broke first. "With your permission, sir. I have a bus to catch." I started to stand and saw irritation in his eyes. I was a lowly sergeant, I should not have been the one to break our "meeting." But this was not a military situation. He was not my commander.

With barely moving his lips, he uttered, "If you decide or are forced to pull the pin at the end of your contract and need a job, you've got one at Rangeman."

"Thank you, sir, but it would have to be one hell of a job to get me back here."

"It would be."

"I'll take it under advisement." I had been warned, Ranger Manoso was an enigma. No, Churchill said it best, Ranger Manoso is a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. I was going to have to find the key.

As I began to open the diner's front door, three large men dressed like Ranger stood back. Was this why he didn't speak? He was waiting for others, but I was early? I recognized two. The green-eyed Latino and the giant black obelisk, but the third was equal in size to the Latino but was brown-skinned with cornrows for his hair. All three were sex statues. Man, I wanted to rub my hands up and down those abs. Geez, I needed to get laid or go on a thirty-mile run in full gear. Then I noted the Glocks on their hips like Ranger's and said, "That idiot thought I needed a girly .38 revolver with a 2" barrel."

The three laughed as I walked away. I had gotten only several yards away when I heard a loud voice, "Staff Sergeant Plum, attention!"

I stopped and spun around at attention. All three men were saluting me. "Good job, Sergeant," said the very tall, massive black man. I snapped a salute, spun, and continued on my way.

Ranger came out of the door and watched my retreating figure. The Latino said, "That was one fast meeting. Either she turned down your offer to work for us, or you pissed her off."

Shaking his head, Ranger said, "Never, ever play poker with her. She played me from the start. It's like I just met myself in a white woman's body."

"Another Jean Ellen?" the Latino asked.

Ranger huffed. "I take that as an insult, Santos. Plum's CO briefed me. Marine Plum would chew up Jean Ellen and spit her out in small pieces."

"That I would pay to watch," Santos replied.

-0-

I had walked two blocks carefully watching for surveillance from the street or from one of Rangeman's big black vehicles. When I deemed it safe, I stepped into a doorway and pulled out my phone.

"Report, Sergeant," came the voice.

"Mission accomplished, sir."

"Excellent. Any problems?"

"No, sir. I established myself back here as we discussed. Manoso is confused and upset. He contacted MacIntosh like you suspected. Sir. I apologize for the blood."

"Couldn't be helped. Trenton Police are in a hurry to bury the whole thing. There will be no charges against you."

"Manoso said as such. Manoso got his info from TPD. I'm impressed with the rapid inter-agency JAG team arriving on the scene."

"No, I had both men on standby. They were activated before you reached Trenton."

"Thank you, sir."

"Did Manoso offer you a position in Rangeman?"

"Yes, sir. I told him I would take it under advisement."

"Excellent. Report back to Quantico in seven days. Step two will commence when you return. In the meantime, give my regards to your father, Hawkeye."

"Thank you, General."