I wasn't sure how long Ranger and I were honeymooning in 2C. There were no windows, so that glorious night just seemed to stretch on and on. A luxurious king sized bed covered with Ranger's glorious white sheets and a down comforter had been positioned ten feet behind me, right in the middle of what appeared to be the intersection of Hamilton and Broad. We made love right there under the blinking of the traffic lights, just out of rage of the mist machine, with the heart pounding sound of New Jersey traffic echoing all around us. The door was secure, the cameras were off line, and the fridge had been stocked with food and water. Ella had even left me cake. We had our own shower and restroom with plenty of clean towels, and we each had a bag packed with toiletries and sweats. We lounged and loved and ate and slept and talked and loved and played. We didn't come out until we were more than satisfied with our time together.

By the time we emerged, Connie and Lula had the company established and the office furnished. The letterhead read "Stephanie Plum Male Bonds". And we already had a customer. Connie had made an executive decision to have Kevin Barnhardt hard-wired at the bar and at home. Rangeman was recording his every word. If anyone could spot a gold digger, it was Kevin, and he was a notorious gossip. He couldn't help commenting, just like Joyce. So, a few keywords programmed to the watch list, and Kevin was scouting for us for free.

Brandon Sykes was an investment banker who was unaware that the voluptuous, dark eyed brunette he was seeing had formerly been attached to Dickie's late partner, Peter Smullen. Her name was Rita, and we'd met before. She had a lot in common with Joyce, but in truth, I think I liked Rita better. She was more talkative and she certainly had better fashion sense. Anyway, Brandon's mother was delighted to sign our contract for services. And with Lula and Connie assisting with clothes and makeup, my own mother wouldn't have recognized me. Rita sure didn't. Let's just say, Brandon's developed a case of cold feet, possibly due to some perceived body odor issues, and Rita's begun suggesting that they start seeing other people. Thanks to Connie's chemical sabotage, they never even knew what hit them.

Bunchy was still working mall security at Potomac Mills, when he noticed he'd been given a counterfeit $20 as change for his falafel at the food court. A store by store inspection revealed that the mall was rife with counterfeit $20's. He called Ranger and within a few days, Stephanie Plum Male Bonds had been called to duty. Bunchy briefed us on how to spot the funny money, and we were wired for sound. Rangeman was scouting possible targets, and we ladies got up-close and personal with the suspects. It only took three days to ID the criminals and follow them to their apartment. Bunchy called it in to his former boss at the Treasury Department. Agent Boris Bronfman was subsequently reinstated, and the whole misappropriation of resources issue was brushed under the rug, as if his boss had the foresight to place Agent Bronfman at the mall for the very purpose of busting this counterfeit ring. Upon hearing this, Bunchy requested his back pay, and he got it. Now he's got enough money for a top quality eyebrow and back wax once a week, which he's finding greatly increases his dating success, just like Lula promised it would.

Joyce and Grant Lawrence were both sentenced to the same anger management class. During the course of their sessions, they discovered to their dismay that they had something in common - an intense hatred of Stephanie Plum. Joyce gave Grant the confidence to give up his enhanced hair piece and go bald. He looked a lot edgier. I hated to admit it wasn't a bad look for him. Grant got a new job as bounty hunter for Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. He was in good physical shape, and could provide backup for Joyce as needed. They found it was a lucrative partnership. Everyone was happy. Joyce and Lawrence were bringing in the high bond skips, Vinnie was making money again, and I was delighted to be sleeping in the security and comfort of the seventh floor, where the dastardly duo couldn't reach me.

Lawrence was required to pay restitution for the damage to my apartment. I delivered the check plus two cases of beer to Dillon when I picked up the few possessions he'd managed to salvage from my apartment. I had let my lease go, and Dillon and I actually cried when we said farewell. We had bonded over a lot of beer and blood stains over the years. I knew he would think of me everytime he steam cleaned the hallway in front of my apartment.

Not surprisingly, Morelli recovered fairly quickly from my marriage news. Connie tried to break it to me gently that Morelli had been seen around town with Angie Bono, who you might remember helped Carol Zabo tie Joyce naked to a tree one time. I had to say, of all the people he could have chosen to date, I was glad it was Angie Bono. Anyone who could ruin Joyce's day like that was okay in my book.

I took Randy Greenberg with me to visit Hal. They hit it off right away, spending some time bonding in the rehab gym. They compared injuries, and started pumping iron. I snuck out before they were done. I feared there might be towel snapping next, and I didn't want to risk being a target. Randy picked Hal up once he was released, and gave him a place to stay until he could get back on his feet. Hal tried out for the linebacker position, and was signed on the spot, with the help of Randy's agent, who was now Hal's agent too. Hal had a new team, and a new career. All Randy really had to teach him was to smile while signing autographs. It took a while for Hal to realize it was okay to stop being scary. He made a couple of little kids cry before he figured it out, but it was all downhill for Hal after that.

Hank was back on the racing circuit on the weekends thanks to Connie's cousin, Manny Rosolli. He gave permission for them to take whatever they needed from his salvage yard, as long as Hank put his company logo on his car, jumpsuit, and helmet. With "Rosolli Salvage" on his back and "Qwikie Mart" on his chest, Hank was winning races and Connie was waiving the checkered flag. They were having the time of their lives.

Tank and Lula got married. They didn't talk about marriage. It happened a lot like their previous engagement. They got drunk in Atlantic City and woke up married. Connie was still scouring Atlantic City for anyone who may have wedding photos, because rumor had it that Lula was not wearing sequins and Tank was not wearing Rangeman black. Rumor had it that they weren't wearing anything at all. I wasn't too sure I wanted to see those photos, and I was pretty sure Connie wasn't going to be able to find those photos before Ranger managed to have them erased. In fact, I suspected that every cell phone in the Atlantic City area code had probably been wiped overnight. Anyway, the Wedded Bliss Chapel of Love had completed the necessary paperwork, and the State of New Jersey concurred that the wedding actually took place. So, Lula put her ring back on, and life went on pretty much as before with the exception of the living arrangements on the fourth floor. Lula moved in with Tank, which was fine, except that her wardrobe didn't fit. If Tank thought Lula agreeing to Rangeman black in the building meant she was going to part with her extensive collection of lingerie and star spangled spandex, he was gravely mistaken. In the end, she took over the entire apartment next door as her own personal closet. Tank put in a connecting door for easy access. It wasn't long before the whispering started about Tank being pussy whipped. Lester was brave enough to tease Tank within ear shot of Lula a few days later. Lula disappeared, only to return a minute later with her riding crop. She chased Lester from one end of the building to the other, showing him what a real whipping felt like. Tank stood stoically at his post in the control room. I wasn't sure, but I thought for a minute that I saw him staring longingly at a photograph in his wallet. I was pretty sure it was of Celia's cats.

That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed the ride.