Characters not mine, credit to JE

Steph POV

I didn't think my day was going to be good the moment I woke up today. I just had this feeling. My name is Stephanie Plum and I am a bounty hunter in Trenton NJ, although not the most graceful nor professional in terms of skill, I do have a 98% capture rate thanks to my persistence and willingness to never live with my parents again. I live in a crappy apartment but it's mine, ugly bathroom, mismatched furniture and all. I went to bed early last night after a long day in the rain.

My car for once did not explode, get stolen, shot up or catch fire, instead it just died while I drove down Route 1 to Quaker Bridge mall. Luckily it was after lunch and no one was behind me. I was going a good 65 mph and all of a sudden it slowed down until I was at a complete stop. I got myself mostly into the side lane and got out to look under the hood. It wasn't smoking or making any noises. It was only a month old but what did I expect for $200. It didn't help that my rent was due next week, I had one Pop Tart left in my cabinet and an FTA at the mall just waiting for me to grab him.

I kicked my tire a few times and smacked the hood. I just couldn't get a break today. My phone started ringing the Batman theme song so I jumped on the hood to sit and answer.

"Yo!"

"Babe" He said amused. "Any reason you're hanging out on the side of the road on Route 1 for the last 10 minutes?" "UGGGH... My car died and I'm not sure it can be saved but at least it's in one piece and not on fire."

"Progress." I could feel his lips twitch in amusement. "See you in ten."

No goodbye. But that was Ranger. He didn't like to waste time with words. He was a man of action and my own personal Batman. It helped he put multiple trackers on me and my car to keep tabs on my safety. That use to annoy me but Ranger does what Ranger wants. If I'm being honest, he has saved me more times then I can count so I ignore them.

Its nice knowing someone has my back. I usually bring Lula to be my partner but today she had a date and needed a new leopard spandex dress 3 sizes to small and a wax. We are more like Thelma and Louise but it's comforting that she carries a gun when I don't.

As I sat on my hood with my head in my hands, I felt a tingle on my neck and got a whiff of Bvlgari shower gel. Only one man I knew smelled that good and he looked even better. Six feet tall, muscular, all in black with an aura of bad boy.

"Babe" Ranger gave me that full 1000 watt smile.

"I said that out loud didn't I. Damn." He lifted my chin with his finger and gave me a whisper of a kiss.

"Come on Babe. I'll take you wherever you need to go. My men will take care of the car." As I slid into the sleek Porsche Cayenne I moaned. The leather was like butter so soft and nice on my skin. All of Ranger's cars were nice, new, black, and sexy. My cars were the cheapest that I could find, that would run.

"Where to?"

"The Mall. My FTA Louie the Toes, 26 years old, hangs out at the mall to hit on women and play with their feet."

I handed Ranger the file once we parked. "Wanted for two counts of assault after he hit on the wrong woman pretending to be a shoe salesman as he played with her toes. He tried to suck on them and the woman screamed. Her boyfriend came over to help and Louie hit the guy and ran. The boyfriend hit the display and got a concussion.

Unfortunately he dropped his wallet as he was running and the cops grabbed him later that night at home. No priors and not very dangerous just gross. I tried to catch him all week and anytime he see's me, he turns into the Flash."

"What makes you think he's here today?"

"Grandma Mazur talked to his cousin Sharon at a viewing and told her he needed new sneakers because his were worn down from running from me. The mall would give him the most options for shoes and women."

We started in the smaller shoe stores working our way to the larger department stores. Ranger put his hand on my lower back to guide me through the mall. We had just entered Macy's when I had a feeling I might get lucky.

"Bingo." I pointed him out to Ranger. Louie was pretending to size a woman's foot and admiring her new pedicure. I walked up behind him and slipped one cuff on his wrist while Ranger grabbed his other arm. Louie the Toes Fieldman, I represent your bail bondsman Vincent Plum and I am here to take you to be rescheduled for your court appearance you missed last week." He tried to wiggly out of our grasp but when Ranger growled "stop." Louie looked like he would pee himself.

Ranger drove us to the police station silently while Louie wouldn't shut up about how he was innocent and it was all a big misunderstanding. I walked Louie into the station; Big Dog and Eddie were drinking coffee by the door. They both smiled at me.

"Whoa Steph looking clean!" I gave them the finger as I walked by. I waited for the new guy to fill out my slip. Triple checking his work which was really annoying me at the moment. I stood tapping my nails on the table. He got the hint after my third sigh. When I walked out Ranger was leaning against his car with his arms and legs crossed. He tossed me his keys.

"Take the Porsche till you get a replacement." He kissed my forehead and jumped into the Black SUV with Tank.

Joe Morelli appeared in his red Ducati, parking in front of the Porsche.

"Cupcake where's your car?" he said exasperated

"Dead."

Although Joe looked annoyed, he was looking pretty good in his leather jacket and dark jeans. He was my on again off again boyfriend and we had definitely been off the last month. We had a stupid fight over me cooking when I decided to make peanut butter sandwiches for dinner with a side of potato chips instead of anything else.

Joe wanted a home cooked meal and made a comment about me maybe getting a few lessons from my mother. Well that conversation ended up with a lot of yelling and him walking out. It's not that I didn't want to be an awesome cook, I did. I liked watching the Food Network but I was not skilled.

No matter how much I tried, it usually came out burned and disgusting unless it was a freezer meal and those only have so much taste. My mother tried for years to mold me into an awesome cook like her and Valerie with no luck.

Joe frowned. "Huh that's a first. I was picking up some files but I need to talk to you. Early dinner at Pino's in an hour?"

"Sure Morelli." I jumped into the Porsche on my way to the bond's office. Connie was reading her latest romance novel when I heard a lot of moaning coming from Vinnie's office.

"Hey Connie, who's he with?"

"Just himself and the internet. At least it doesn't sound like National Geographic in here anymore." I shivered.

"My receipt, any new files?"

"Yeah one mid level, Anthony Brunswick, owns Brunswick's Gym 2 blocks over. Caught his wife with one of his employees at home doing the full Monty. Snapped and grabbed her clothes, purses, pictures and made a huge bond fire on his front lawn after he tried to kill his employee who escaped out the bathroom window naked."

"Lovely. Hopefully I can get him today. Later." I still had 50 minutes until dinner with Joe and I was only few blocks away from Anthony. First time offenders usually come along quietly when I asked them to reschedule if I don't mention the increase to the bond or the time it takes for them to sit until Vinnie comes for them again.

I parked in the lot for Brunswick Gym, left my purse in the car and took my cuffs, pepper spray and stun gun. My .38 special was home in my cookie jar, I didn't have any bullets for it anyway. I walked into the small gym and asked the receptionist for Anthony. She pointed to a large man 5'9, 250 pounds punching the crap out of a punching bag. Great! I checked my stun gun and hooked it on my belt in the back of my pants.

"Anthony Brunswick?" He turned his head slightly. "Who wants to know?"

"Stephanie Plum. I work for your bail bondsman and you missed your court date I am here to take you to be rescheduled."

"NO. Go away before I make you go away. I'm not in the mood today."

I put my hand on my hip. "I understand but it will be quick. I know you're upset about what happened. Trust me, I get it. I did something very similar to my cheating ex husband when I caught him with my nemesis but this situation won't go away. You missed your court appearance."

" I said leave me alone!"

Anthony turned and pushed me hard to the ground. Son of a bitch that's gonna leave a bruise. He started to walk away so I chased after him with my pepper spray. He tried to grab it as I sprayed. I kneed him in the balls and we tumbled down. We were rolling on the ground until I finally got on top and stunned his arm. I rolled him over and cuffed his hands and checked myself out. Ripped shirt, torn belt, bruised check, bruised arms and chest. Damn. He started to wake saying he was blind.

"Then get up right now or I will stun you again. I tried to be nice but you did this to yourself. Now MOVE!" I got him in the Porsche and placed the ankle cuffs on him. I parked right in front of the drop off point. I checked myself in the mirror. I grabbed my make up bag to try and cover my bruises. I gave up after a few minutes and couldn't listen to Anthony moan anymore. Robin was at the desk this time so I was in and out to get to dinner. I didn't have time to stop home and change, I was going to be five minutes late as is but at least I had food and rent money this month.

Pino's lot was packed, I was forced to park in the back near the dumpster. I was walking towards the door when I heard a car screeching with multiple rapid fire gun shots. I threw myself to the ground. I looked up a moment later. Four Trenton cops and Morelli's had their guns drawn. The cop cars had bullet holes and gasoline spilling all over the ground. I heard a familiar whoosh and the cars were in flames along with Morelli's red Ducati.

Everyone took cover immediately as the explosion hit. Pino's started evacuating to the other side of the street as the cops started moving to control the scene. You could hear the sirens in the distance. I heard my phone with the Batman theme song.

"Babe you ok? Police band said a drive by shooting and car explosion at Pino's. Are you hurt?"

"I'm safe. Three cop cars and Morelli's Ducati took the hit. I wasn't even the target."

"Morelli's Ducati?" I could feel Ranger smirking on the phone. "Babe" and like that he was gone.

I walked over to Morelli who was still on his knees staring at the blast.

"My motorcycle... My motorcycle." Joe looked heart broken.

"That's what insurance is for. Are you ok at least?"

"No I'm not ok! I loved that bike! Why is it wherever you go disaster strikes!" What!

"I had nothing to do with this! I was on the other side of the lot. No one shot at me! They shot at the cars. I can't believe you're blaming me for this!"

Joe was bright red. "I need a Rolaid." Joe took out the bottle from his pocket, chewing four tablets. "You're going to give me an ulcer or heart attack one of these days."

Eddie Gazzara walked over, to make us move away from the cars to let the fire department in. He took both of our statements and asked if Joe needed a ride home.

"I'll take him." We got into the car and rode silently. I parked on his street in front of his house. "You said you needed to talk to me. Do you want to order dinner and discuss it?"

Joe rubbed his neck. "No I lost my appetite. Listen I wanted to talk to you because I'm going out of town on an under cover assignment for a few months. Bob will stay with my mom and Grandma Bella. I.. I requested it because I can't keep stressing out over you and your job. I need some space to figure things out. These stunts are affecting my health and my job. I'm so stressed over what may happen to you, I can't think straight. It's also all the going back and forth.

I think time away and seeing other people for awhile will give us both perspective. I'm not saying we can't be friends or work together but relationship wise we need to take time separately. I'm not ready to settle down this second but that is my end game. I don't know what your end game is. I think the next few months will help you figure that out."

I think I was in shock. Never in a million years did I expect this conversation today and especially out of his mouth, without any yelling or Italian hand gestures.

"Cupcake say something."

"You're going out of town and you want to see other women?"

"Yeah."

"So I will be able to see other men?" Joe grimaced. "Yeah. I love you but I think it will be the best for both of us to be apart for a while. I can't keep getting 12 calls every time something is going on with you."

Joe wasn't looking at me anymore. He continued to stare out the window.

"Ok Joe. Have a good trip."

I kissed his lips one last time lightly before he got out of the car. I watched him walk into his house not looking back. I sat for a few minutes, letting a tear fall. I took a few deep breaths and drove myself back to my apartment. I let myself in and listened to the calming sounds of Rex's wheel in the kitchen. I wasn't very hungry so I gave Rex a piece of my last Pop Tart and jumped into the shower to cry over my shitty day.

After the water ran cold, I took some Ibuprofen for my sore body and pulled on some cotton panties and one of Ranger's shirts I stole from his apartment when I Goldilocks his bed awhile back.

I woke up sometime in the night when I felt someone in the room. Usually when Ranger broke in I could feel or smell him, this was someone else. He smelled like a woodsy aftershave. I opened my eyes, the man was over my body with a needle in hand. I tried to roll away but he had a friend in the room who grabbed me while I kicked and screamed. I felt the needle prick my arm and suddenly darkness took me.

"She made some noise check the hallway before moving out. Take the stairs." The two men moved quickly to re lock the apartment after throwing her purse into her kitchen garbage can. They jumped into the waiting black Explorer moving quickly through the quiet streets of Trenton as they handcuffed Steph's hands and feet together.

"How long will she be out?"

"Few hours. Enough to get her secured and out of Jersey. She got you in the face."

The man touched the spot. "Yeah I wasn't expecting her to be so feisty. I wonder why we had to take her and sedate her. Who do you think she is?"

"Not our job to know. We follow orders. We'll be at the safe house in 2 hours. Secure her over night then transport her for delivery tomorrow evening." The men drove silently for the rest of the night until they reached a house in the woods. They gave Steph another injection and secured her to the bed before they went to sleep themselves.