Ugh! This self-righteous, sanctimonious Joe is just making me sick.

Ok so I’m only on chapter 4 so maybe this will change but you’re making it seem like Joe is perfect and all the problems are all Stephanie’s fault. He was far from the perfect boyfriend. I mean, his idea of romance is showing up at her doorstep and saying “nice dress, now take it off” or looking down her shirt on the street. His cars were alway more important than her. He gets a page then it’s “gotta go cupcake.” He’s not the only detective in the city of Trenton. It took him how many years to open up to her and tell her how he really feels. It’s just as much his fault as it is hers.

Update...?

Awesome story! Please continue.

Another excellent chapter! I don't know why I didn't leave a review before!

It was interesting to start the chapter with Ranger's dream, which at first seems like reality to the reader as well as to Ranger. I think the stress of the prison plan and trying to keep Stephanie and Meg safe have all taken a toll on him as we see him so unusually off his game, even if momentarily.

It's a good thing Stephanie remembered her skip from several months past and was able to piece that part of the puzzle together! Only is it too late? You have woven such an intricate tapestry with all these plots and subplots intertwined.

I really enjoyed the scene with Joe and Tank. One can see the camaraderie and trust that has developed between them. Tank couldn't wait to boast of what Stephanie came up with. His wiseass remark about wanting independent women but being taken by the 'damsel in distress' was spot on. I wonder, however, if the wadded up note Tank found wasn't tossed there on purpose, with the guard pretending not to see him. And I hope Tad isn't one of the intended victims! I loved the conversation Joe had with Tad and getting Tad to remember the clues to when Bluto was going to make his move.

I loved the reporter's commentary on Stephanie's funeral, comparing the disruption to when Stephanie was involved with the fire at Stiva's Funeral Home a few years earlier. Well done! Of course we couldn't expect free sailing at the funeral! Yeah, the altar boys should have been hand-picked to avoid what happened.

Good scene at the bail bonds office, with Lula's targeting remark about Ranger wedging apart Steph and Joe and Connie's remark about Lula not helping. Nice repartee! And Ranger's way of helping Lula to remember Beau Peters was smooth and well executed.

I never understood why Ranger took Stephanie back to the safe house instead of to Rangeman. Other than the plot twist. It did make for a great cliff hanger, tho! And including Meg, too, for a double whammy! OK, 6 months is long enough - where's the next chapter?! ;-)

Wow! What an intense chapter. I'm glad Stephanie was able to figure out who the masked man was. Small world that they should cross paths again. If she hadn't alerted Ranger about Petko being Blutto's eldest son, who knows if they would have made the connection.

Ranger's dream was quite unusual. I can't believe his attitude after, however. I wonder if he will change his mind about groveling for Meg after recent events of her disappearance.

I loved the descriptions of the reporters. I was watching a news anchor the other day and she had so much Botox that her eyebrows never moved. Her face couldn't form any kind of an expression. Either somber or smile. They can be such wolves too. It was quite a dig bringing up the funeral home fire. Not to mention rubbing in Joe's incarceration. It really irked me how excited they got over the distress of the funeral. How does that one song go? "She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye." I think you did a fantastic job portraying the fake passive sympathy of these women.

I loved the conversation with Lula and Ranger. Ranger found his way of making her talk by making her the hero. I wonder if the painting will provide any clues as to where Steph and Meg were taken.

I can't believe Tank is still single with how well he can read women. You did a fantastic job having him explain why stekhanie didn't tell anyone about being attacked by the Petko. I love that he pointed out she that Morelli wasn't the only one left out of the loop about that.

It's a good thing Tank found the paper pushing up the timeframe of the breakout. At least they have some time to be ready. Especially now that Tad gave them an exact time. I hope Joe will really be able to keep his word and get Tad pardoned. He is like a grandfather to him after all.

The Joe/Steph telepathic conversations are always so sweet. It is so heartbreaking how much they miss each other. Hopefully you will fix this complicated mess somehow and get them back together.

Ranger must be going out of his mind right now. Having Steph on the phone while she was kidnapped and there was nothing he could do. Then to find out Meg has also been taken without a clue. I hope there will be some kind of surveillance to shed some light on what could have happened to them both.

The final conversation between Ranger and Joe was emotional. Joe is ready to throw himself to the wolves. It was all so speculative that Blutto may know that Steph is alive. Obviously someone on the bad guy team does. I wonder who the traitor might be that gave them the tip.

Fantastic writing, Julie. This was such an excellent set-up chapter of the events to come. It's all up in the air right now what could possibly happen with all of the complexities involved. I'll bet once the truth comes out, people will be a lot more forgiving than Steph is fretting about. They'll be so happy she's alive. And that there will be a wedding to plan and attend. I hope. Make it happen. - T

Oh my goodness! Anxiously waiting for update! :D

Awesome chapter! Really! You did a great job with the tenseness! Like all the other chapters this one was captivating!
I can't wait for the next chapter (ending of this story)! So looking forward :)

-Jazzy

Just read everything so far in the last couple days. Need more. Characters are spot on and you nailed the tendency in the books for freaking everything to go wrong. Are you JE in disguise, or her ghostwriter?

Chapter 43 Review

I had to type that just because I'm so in awe. Forty-three chapters, Julie...amazing!

Well, this chapter was MORE than worth the wait. Holy cow there was a lot of action going. I absolutely love how you've been building the suspense over the course of the past 10 chapters or so. Now we're at a fever pitch with the climax of the story soon to come. I'm so excited. :-)

LOVED the opening conversation between Ranger and Stephanie. That was some excellent writing on your part. One of the best scenes of the whole story, as far as I'm concerned. Great exchange:

"We captured him, Ranger. It wasn't a big deal—just another day in the life of any bounty hunter. We hauled in his sorry ass."

"Not any bounty hunter," I reminded her derisively.

So perfectly Ranger. :-)

I thought Joe's reaction when he heard the news from Tank about Stephanie's FTA/attacker/etc. was classic Joe. I could feel his frustration over her not having told him, plus the fact that his hands are so tied. Tank's line about what men want from women was perfectly timed and SO TRUE! LOL

It was pure genius on your part to allow us to be a part of the action at the memorial service via the two reporters. It was the perfect touch to get a lot of information out there in a short period of time. I love how Stephanie was munching on chocolate throughout this whole chapter. Again, it's the little details. You never forget them, including Joe's eagle tatoo, etc. LOVE that about your writing.

The Lula/Ranger scene was great, and you've given me far too much credit. Those were your ideas. I just helped to tweak them. && * * * writer's block! I've been struggling with it too again. It's so frustrating, isn't it? Glad it all came together for you, and again, it was just the right touch. Lula was hilarious with her appetite or lack there of.

GREAT mental moments between Joe and Steph. You can just feel the energy building...the anticipation between them both that this nightmare will soon be over.

And then the ending. Wow. That was just perfect. I was yelling at Stephanie to get out of the safehouse. It's not often I yell at my computer screen. Okay, that's not true. I yell at it all the time, but usually it's in frustration over my own writing. ;-) This time it was in response to the drama. You had me emotionally tied to the whole chapter.

You've left things in the best of places. I absolutely can't wait for the next chapter(s). Keep it going, Julie. You've got a winner on your hands here.

Carol

Even if you hadn't mentioned that the story was ending it read that way for me throughout this chapter. I got sad with the realization that it is almost over. This was such an intense chapter!

With Meg's only appearance being in Ranger's dream, it was still a hell of an appearance. I wonder if Ranger will take a cue from his dream and make her aware of his feelings. I was on the same page as Ranger at first with Stephanie's blurted thoughts about her attacker -I was confused until she started explaining. I am glad that everyone is becoming aware of who is behind all of Blutto's plans.

Joe's eye description gets me every time -ah! I can't wait until our favorite couple reunites. That was a punch to the heart with the news broadcast mentioning that Stephanie was linked to the now criminal Morelli saying he was a disgrace to the badge. Both Ranger and Morelli's reactions to Stephanie getting attacked by FTA Beau/Petko was classic with them wanting to protect her. She has grown within your story not to run to either of the guys for help, even if it would have helped to make the connection earlier with the case. Love Tank's line "We say we want independent women, but really that 'damsel in distress' gets us every time.". That sure was a cluster at her memorial. There's no telling how much worse it would have been if Grandma Mazur had attended. I'm glad that her family knows the truth. I hate that her friends are unaware, but I know that they'll forgive her after everything is cleared up -maybe with some reluctance.

Even with all the sadness in this chapter Lula made me lol at the part where she lost her appetite, somewhat. Lula was just perfect telling Ranger that he wasn't Batman with the way he let Stephanie die after years of interference with Morelli. I hope that the poster she remembered makes a difference in the case.

Tad helped the guys so much and he needs to keep his word and stop his sleuthing skills for his safety. I really hope that Joe can keep his word and help Tad get free. Tad really is the male version of Grandma Mazur. It would be cool if they met. His reluctance to tell Joe the nursery rhyme even though there weren't any kids around was funny.

Love Stephanie's sassiness coming out in her 9pm talk. Morelli is such a man's man with saying during his 9pm mental talk to Stephanie "enough with the mush".

I really wish that Steph was at Rangeman instead of that unsafe safe house. I hate that I was right and she wasn't out of danger. I hope that Meg ends up wherever Stephanie is headed. It worries me that "The Jackel" would pretty much make out with a corpse, what is Stephanie in for being alive? There's no telling what Blutto's going to do now that he knows Morelli didn't follow through with Stephanie's murder. He said in the last chapter that pawns will be used and that was even before he was aware of Joe's deception. A off Morelli and Ranger are on Blutto's trail, so I know it's going to get crazy.

Jessica :)

Finally, I've gotten a chance to put my thoughts down in writing!

I liked the imagery with Steph recalling her previous attacker. Her overwhelming apprehension was palpable. Joe's statement that he was going to kill her, bringing her back from her frozen state, was a nice touch. The unchoreographed struggle worked out very well! "In that moment were a million kisses and all his love." Amazing how much can be said in one look!

"He bent over Stephanie's body. To my horrified shock, he wound one curl around his finger before caressing her hair familiarly as though he'd been doing it for years. Leaning in further, he then kissed her lips passionately." the guy is a real creep! Great line, drawing us in to the scene unfolding.

What a fright to realize the masked man was Steph's previous attacker! And to know that Joe was alone and weaponless with this crazed lunatic has got to be nerve wracking to her. I liked that Ranger thought Joe was professional enough not to let his emotions get away from him enough to kill the Jackal when he figures out the man was Steph's previous attacker.

Going back to the same safe house was a great touch. Wonderful memories! Joe's gift of the web cam and telling Steph's parents was wonderful, too. That was a brilliant touch on your part, having them in a secret location to communicate with her. And having Grandma Mazur away on vacation was perfect. It would have been disastrous having her at the funeral! I liked the line, "Who knew you could actually grow up someday and realize your parents meant more than you ever imagined." So true! Jelly D - I'd almost forgotten that nickname. Good to hear it again!

I could really relate to Meg's stiff reaction to Ranger's appearance, but if she'd try to keep her emotions out of it and stop snarking at him perhaps she'd see he really does care for her so much as to want to warn her in person instead of over the phone. Sometimes when we get emotionally bound by someone and think the worst regarding their feelings for us then we miss out on the fact that they really do care and we are only pushing them away with our negative perceptions.

I really got a feel for Joe's frustration with being so close to Stephanie yet so far apart, and then coming to the realization that his 'partner' was her stalker. How frustrating! And I love when Tad tugs on his shirt to tell him what Tad has overheard. Tad is a great character! I kind of picture Leslie Jordan when I read of him. Loved the poker and chess references! So I wonder who Thaddeous Peabody really is!

I anxiously await your next chapter!

Sisterly Love! Regan does know Megan very well and the banter between them conveys the closeness they share.
Seems Meg and Ranger appear to have the relationship problem-itize that Joe and Stephanie had once upon a time which they both knew well enough to wear like a badge relationship way out on their chests! Can't Ranger & Meg figure it out? Stubborn A$$ they both are ! Swallow the pride and accept you both deserve HAPPINESS!
No compromises on the horizon?
Stephanie's discussion with Bob had me laughing as it's so plausible they understood one another (her words his actions) and that it was likely Meg would take care of them.
The bird convention cover was totally reasonable and clever for gathering all the crucial players for the upcoming impending "murder". The bird metaphor's referencing the active persons was so inventive I truly felt at times I should grab my binoculars and join in on the charade.
The use of 'j-birds' as history has referenced inmates brought a quick chuckle low in throat to my lips.
Plutto is a mastermind of evilness and one does wonder-at least I do-how far his reach really does stretch...
Ranger & Meg make a 5-alarm fire look tame with their stubbornness! Jules you write their character interaction so well I can't help but like them but wish I could shake them until their cantankerous attitudes shakes free of their body!
Stephanie calling Ranger out on Megan is simply Stephanie being Stephanie, lol. She definitely nailed it...
Okay that ending took me by surprise, guess that was the whole idea! That mask, is it Stephanie's stalker and is he related to Blutto, like a son? I'm so anxious I almost jumped ahead to read the next chapter but thought I'd post my comment on this one first.
Cheers,
Julie M

I love this story. Hopefully another chapter soon.

Jewels ur a freakin' genius! I'm absolutely enthralled by the amazing angles you're taking with your phenomenal story...
I don't know which I need more Ranger/Meg or Joe/Tad but hurry, hurry I'm on pins and needles here!
So clever how you finagled Stephanie's 'stalker' back into the picture...you're creative mind is astounding! Is the stalker the missing son? Mmmmm, can't wait to see how it unfolds.
Tad so smart, can't wait to see what you have in store to reveal his intelligence...a Nuclear Physicist perhaps?
I also agree with Kim & Tina's reviews so I won't re-iterate what has already been inked by them.

Take whatever time you require to produce chapter after chapter of brilliance...I'm patient and cued in for the duration.

Cheers,
Julie M