Usual disclaimer, I own nothing Characters belong to JE. They came to me because they had a story to tell.

All mistakes and errors are mine.

A Redecorating Job

Steph's POV

I'm sure everyone knows me by now. I 'm Stephanie Plum: aka the Bombshell Bounty Hunter or Bombshell (Bobby), aka Bomber (Tank), aka Beautiful (Lester), aka Babe (Ah, Ranger). No one uses my name, I think it to keeps the outsiders from knowing I'm here. I work full time at Rangeman, LLC. Four months ago Ranger promoted me to Head of the Research and Planning Division of the company. The next week he went in "the wind" and I haven't seen him since.

I still wonder what he was thinking. Is this a test?

Today the A-Team, Hal, Woody and I are in the conference room discussing a Redecorating Job. That's code for "getting rid of the drug dealers, pimps and user, cleaning up and then protecting the property." The guys tell me they use any means needed. Whatever that means.

This will be my second job, the first one Tank got shot and I nearly got blown to pieces. I have to say I haven't been too anxious to do another.

Here I sit at the morning meeting, making plans for Friday night.

"Bomber, Ranger is still not on his way back, but this job needs to be taken care. There's a Middle Management supplier involved in this house. We need to take him out ASAP by any means possible."

"Tank, just what is meant by any means possible?"

"Let's just say alive is nice but dead will float our boat. It's God's job to forgive; it's our job to arrange the meeting."

Woody then took my hand and in a stage whisper in my ear, "A dead enemy is a peaceful enemy. Blessed be the peacemakers."

All the guys laughed as I shook my head.

"OK, you clowns let's get on with this meeting. Who, what, when, where. If there is some big muscle in place we need to really be on our toes. I don't want to see any of our team injured."

Tank jumped right in," Where 1248 Oak street. That's about six blocks out of the 'burg. This is an old three story house. We have the floor plans." He passed out files to everyone. "It's a derelict house that someone has restored power to. The Intel is that most nights it is packed with users and hookers, but on Friday The Man comes to check the merchandise and collect his share.

The owner's of the properties in that block want the area cleaned up and safe for them to walk the street."

Lester jumped in, "Who, Joey Orlando a mid-level wise-guy for the Catallo family. He reports directly to the local boss, Lefty Pentelo.

If we take him alive, he may lead us to the boss. If we take him dead it will put a big dent in their business

As far as the local clientele, they will be rousted and shut out. Some will be taken to the local Rehab center; all will be offered a place for the night at the shelter. That's about all we can do for them. Some will accept our help, some will just leave, but they won't be coming back there.

There will also be the local dealers to take in. We could be delivering several people to the cop-shop."

"Is there any Intel on how many people we are going to be dealing with? Maybe how many may have guns?"

"Beautiful, you're getting ahead of us here."

"Sorry about that. We know Friday, do we have any other particulars. Also how good is this Intel?"

The Intel is considered accurate. Came from a CI we use frequently in the area. He's provided Intel on several takedowns. Of course we have the floor plans and have had the house under surveillance for three weeks. Confidence level is high for everything but the number of dealers present."

"Do we know any of the dealers to do some research?"

"Yes, the prelim is in the files. I'm sure your department will find more before Friday"

"When's the best time for this mission to take place? Friday night, tell us more."

Bobby started "the best we have is that the place is pretty packed and everybody wasted by 0100. For a cushion, 0200 would be best. Out by 0400"

"I guess the only thing left is what equipment we need."

Flipping his file closed Woody said "since this is a big house we can expect a lot of doors. It is an old house so they will likely be solid wood. We also have to take into account all the window exits, and is there a basement?"

"Good point, we need to check if there is a basement. Most of the windows are boarded or covered with plywood. We will need extra coverage for the windows. If it's OK with Steph, we'll call in some contract workers for the windows."

"Tank, that's a good idea. I think we'll need to leave at least four men to protect the property."

"Agreed. The only added gear we could need is night-visions, extra Kevlar and a couple of sawed off shotguns for doors."

"Ok, check on the Intel, prepare the equipment, and call the contract workers. We'll work on research. Plan to meet here Friday at 2000 for pre-stage planning. Any new Intel we'll discuss as it comes in."

We all broke for lunch and went to the break room. Ella always had sandwiches, soup and microwave meals for everyone.

After finishing lunch Hal, Woody and I went to the office to do research. Rodriguez had been busy during the meeting and our in box was full of searches. Hal and Woody started on the in box; I started researching the dealer's files.

Two hours later my ass was numb, my eyes were burning and my neck was stiff.

I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes and thought about what I could be doing. Where could I be. Lying on the beach under the blazing summer sun? I was sweaty on the heated sand. Suddenly, I'm in the shade with cold rain falling on my back and legs. I turned my head and am face to face with the most gorgeous mocha latte colored man, who happens to have a bucket of ice cubes in his hand. He is slowly dripping ice water on my back, down the crack of my butt and between my legs. He has a very evil grin on his face as he lifts an eyebrow at me.

I flip to my back holding my bikini top in place and smile back at him. Slowly he trails and ice cube across my lips, down my neck across my cleavage. Finally slipping a hand inside my top, holding the ice on my nipple cupped under his hand. With his other hand he slid an ice cube into my bottoms, across my clit and between my lips. The smile left my face and my eyes widened at the sensation.

Batman wants to play. He has on wide leg board shorts. Taking ice cubes in my hand, I slowly trail them up his thigh, along the length of his penis and ended with my hand and ice wrapped around his balls.

He tipped his head back and moaned.

"Steph, Steph, wake up. I have some new information you need to see. I hated to wake you. You sounded and looked like you were enjoying yourself."

I could tell I was flushed as I sat up to my desk. "Hit me with the information guys."

"Steph one of the dealers was investigated in the overdose on Stark Street last year. Jada was her name and the dealer was Tiny Burns. Nothing ever came of it but I'm sure he was the dealer."

"Yes I remember Jada, pretty little girl she was only 18. Heroin wasn't cut correctly and she overdosed. Dig deeper on this, maybe we can get him off the street for a bit longer."

Three days later

The rest of the week was uneventful, not much new Intel. The best information was that three dealers worked the house and were there at night. Joey showed on Friday night to collect his cut.

Friday night's meeting went over the details of the job.

Hal and I were together I was never to be alone. The rest of the teams were pared. The contract workers were to cover open windows from the outside. There would be an A-team member on each floor along with the other team members. A total of six people would cover each floor, find the dealers, and take down Joey. Then herd out the users into waiting vans.

I sat chewing on my lower lip, something felt off. Just a bad feeling that tonight wasn't going to go as planned.

"Bomber is something wrong? You look worried. "

"No Tank, just a little pre-action jitters I think. This is only my second redecorating job. I'll let you know if I have anything else."

"Ok everybody let's gear up and roll. Remember Death smiles at everyone. Rangers smile back. We are rangers."

The whole team yelled Hooah and headed to the supply room.

The gear was organized. Every man had at least three guns and a knife. Shot guns were collected along with enough ammunition to stop a coup in a third world country.

Kevlar was passed out. "Steph this is a new vest Ranger ordered for you. New model covers more of your body, fitted specially for you and it's lighter in weight. This is also a Kevlar cap to protect your head."

Tank was right the vest was much lighter than my last one, covered to my shoulders and to the top of my thighs. It moved with me and was much more flexible. The vest also contoured to my chest. Ranger thinks of everything. The cap was just like my Seals cap but made of Kevlar.

We all piled into waiting SUVs and vans along with a mountain of gear.

I was sure my feelings were just because Ranger wasn't with us. I couldn't put my finger on anything else. My mind kept working on it the entire ride and before I knew it we were at the staging area three blocks from the house.

My team was the third in to take the lower floor. There were three doors off the hall. The rooms were packed with people in all states of highs, from mostly coherent to completely out of it.

We cleared each room as we made our way down the hall. By the third room I knew something was off, there were no dealers. Just as I was reporting over the Com, a shadow filled the doorway and shot Hal in the back, propelling him into the room and into a wall. I spun around and fired a clip at the doorway. Just as I grabbed my back-up gun, Tiny stepped into the door gun leveled. Before he could turn I fired and he dropped to the floor.

I could hear the battle raging above me as I slid to Hal. His pulse was strong, his face was bloody from hitting the wall but the Kevlar had stopped the bullet.

My hands and voice were trembling as I reported over the Com.

"Bomber are you OK?"

"Yeah I'm OK just have to reload, Hal is down but alive." Tears were streaming down my face as I looked at the man I had just killed.

I sat with my hand on Hal as I listened to the yelling and gunshots over the COM. Hal finally groaned and opened his eyes. "What truck hit me?"

I couldn't speak I just shook my head.

The rest of the job went as planned the house was cleared, the users were carted off, and two dealers were battered but taken to the cop-shop.

Checking the house we found a secret doorway in the hall with an outside exit. Joey was not on the premises but could have easily slipped though the unguarded door or through a tunnel we discovered in the basement that led to a garage several houses away.

Tank announced everything was clear and the cleaning crew was at work. We would debrief at 0900.

I went with Hal to the hospital to check his injuries. Luckily, just a cracked and bruised rib and a broken nose from hitting the wall. We were back at Rangeman two hours later.

I was down from the adrenaline high, tears were streaming and I was exhausted. Hal wrapped an arm around my shoulder."Steph, Dead men don't testify, they also don't get off on a technicality."

I gave him a weak smile and walked to the elevator. I needed to get in a hot shower and wash this night away. The ride to seven seemed to take forever. I walked into the apartment dropping clothes and equipment as I went.

Sitting on the table was dinner and a bottle of wine Ella had left for me. The food was still hot so I ate and cried. I had killed a man tonight. I had looked in his eyes and pulled the trigger. In my head I knew it was self defense and protecting my partner. In my heart I had taken a life. I had looked in his dead eyes.

How could I live with this? How did the guys deal with this?

I drank a glass of wine and poured another before I walked to the shower. I turned on all of the shower jets to almost boiling and stepped in. Letting the hot water pound my body, I scrubbed my skin red with the loofa and Ranger's shower gel. Sliding down the wall to the floor I wrapped my arms around my knees and cried.

I heard Ranger say,"Proud of you Babe." I closed my eyes and let his words drift over me. The water started to cool and I stepped out of the shower, found one of Ranger's black shirts in the dressing room and a pair of black panties in the drawer. Putting them on I crawled into bed.

My tears had dried; I was wrapped in Ranger's soft shirt and his intoxicating smell.

I closed my eyes and told myself the world was better off; One less criminal, one less pusher and dealer, and one less person to destroy lives. Life would go on, the world would keep turning. Tomorrow was another day. Hal was alive and would recover. The rest of the team was unhurt. A neighborhood was safer for families. Old ladies and children could walk on the sidewalk.

I thought of Grandma Mazur and smiled. Yes life would be better.

I drifted off to sleep, to dream of the man I love. To feel his arms wrapped around me and his strength sinking into me. I drifted closer to sleep the last words I uttered, "Ranger I love you, please hurry home. We are Rangers."

In my mind I heard, "I love you Babe."

The night was spent in exhausted sleep, no dreams, no visions just blissful sleep. There would be plenty of time to relive tonight during the debriefing.

Word count excluding disclaimer 2512