Janet Evanovich owns most of these characters. I'm just borrowing them.

Back in the Game

Ch19

A few weeks passed before the dust finally settled on the case. The DEA took possession of the recordings from my conversations with Ivan on the phone and the from the night I handed over the drugs. Ivan worked quickly after I left and the kilos of cocaine were distributed across Newark, Trenton, and Philadelphia. The DEA was able to make a bunch of arrests based on the information from the tiny little GPS trackers inside the kilos.

Ivan Milovich was arrested a few days after he distributed the cocaine. Ivan apparently put two and two together and figured out that I was part of the reason he was in jail. He was an idiot, but even idiots get the right answers sometimes. I should have known that it wouldn't end quietly after I returned his drugs. It had gone too smoothly and things never usually go smoothly for me.

Right after his arrest, I received a bunch of threatening messages. Several were voicemails left on the Ivan Phone. Some were pictures of severed hands sent as multimedia text messages on the Ivan Phone. Several were notes or photos of bloody hands left on my car when I was out and about. Once I got a picture of my head photoshopped onto a dead, bloody body. I was followed at various times by a crappy rust and white Crown Vic. It had obviously been a cop car in its former life. The two men in the car were Eastern European in appearance and both looked exceptionally menacing. They never laid a hand on me, or even said a word to me, but they really freaked me out. The constant, implied threat was almost worse than actually being physically harmed. Almost. I guess it was kinda like psychological torture. Strangely, though, nothing ever happened at my house even though it wasn't a secret where I lived.

I had Ranger or one of the Merry Men with me at all times. I spent my nights safely locked up with Ranger in his seventh floor apartment on Haywood. I was worried I'd have to testify against Ivan and then go into the Witness Protection Program or something, but my worries were for nothing. Ivan was killed in jail a week after his arrest. He'd been denied bail so he was stuck in jail. He was shanked, supposedly by a member of a rival drug cartel that Ivan's crew had several prior bloody run-ins with. I found his death suspiciously convenient, considering the threats, but didn't want to examine the circumstances too closely and I made sure to ask no questions. I wasn't sad that he was dead and the threats stopped after his death.

Anthony managed not to die. Even though he initially only lost his hand, the doctors ended up taking most of his arm. Since he didn't seek professional medical care immediately, infection set in and destroyed a lot of bone and tissue. He experienced a little brain damage from the infection spreading through his body and running a high fever unchecked for several days. He wasn't in a coma or anything, but he had some issues and he'd need to live at home so his mother could take care of him. His criminal days were over. His mom got him a job as a bag boy at the supermarket and she took him to work each day and then picked him up after his shift. I'm still not sure how he avoided going to jail. Maybe the powers that be decided that he had been punished enough with all his physical and mental problems.

/

After the Ivan and Anthony debacle was cleared up, life returned to normal. Or as normal as my life can get, anyway. With everything going on, I'd forgotten that Jimmy, Doris' grandson, had come to Trenton to interview with Rangeman. I got a call from Doris a few weeks later telling me that Jimmy got the job! I was excited to have two of my friends coming to live in Trenton in the near future.

Jeff and his crew were making excellent progress on the renovation of my house. If they continued at their current pace, they should be finished in the next few weeks. The women in my life, Mom, Grandma, Val, Mary Lou, Connie, and even Lula, were excited at the prospect of helping me decorate. They came over and brought paint samples and fabric swatches and argued the merits of their own personal choices. It was getting a little out of hand. My own plan was to pick paint colors so Jeff could get the job finished. After that, I'd tackle the decorating part one room at a time, at my own pace. There was no rush, in my mind. Hopefully my plan would win out, especially since it was my house. Who would have thought I'd be surrounded by so many strong-willed women?

One thing struck me after the Ivan investigation was over. I liked the thrill of the hunt. I wasn't too keen on the whole danger thing, but I did enjoy the chase. I didn't need to work another day in my life if I didn't want to, but I knew I'd get bored if I didn't find something to do. A plan formed in my head. I did some discreet research and I put out a few feelers. When I decided that my plan was doable, it was time to let my family and Ranger in on my idea.

I dragged Ranger to dinner at my parents' house. Val and Albert and the kids were there too, so it was kind of a zoo. After dessert, I cleared my throat and asked for everyone's attention. Mom got a hopeful, excited look on her face. I knew she was hoping I'd be announcing an engagement or something, but she was doomed to disappointment. When all eyes were on me, I started my little speech.

"I've decided to start my own business," I started. There was silence from the peanut gallery, so I continued. "I'm going to be a private investigator. I like discovering secrets and chasing down information. I'm good at it, too. In theory, it should be a lot safer than bounty hunting. For right now, I plan to work out of my garage apartment. It'll be a one woman office for now. I plan to focus my business mostly on the 'Burg, although I'll work anywhere in Trenton." I stopped talking and looked around the table. I saw a mixture of expressions on everyone's faces.

Finally, Mom spoke up. "I think that's a good idea, Stephanie. You really are good at finding things out."

Grandma added, "I bet I could be a real good detective. You sure you don't need a partner, baby granddaughter?"

This wasn't a bad idea, despite what you might be thinking. "Actually, I might. Maybe not an actual partner, Grandma, but more like an informant. You and Mom and Dad, and even Val, could keep your eyes and ears open when I have a case that might tie into your networks. Kind of like how you called me when you saw Mrs. Costello at the drug store, Mom. That was perfect!"

Mom blushed at my comment. "Oh it was nothing, dear." We discussed my business plans a little more before it was time to leave for the evening. Mom sent me home with a large paper bag of leftovers.

On the way back to my house, Ranger was in his zone. He hadn't said anything at dinner. I wasn't sure what he thought about my plan. I was pretty fidgety by the time he parked in my garage. After we got upstairs, I couldn't take it anymore. "Ranger, what do you think of my plan?"

He stared at me for a minute, then gifted me with a mega-watt smile. "I think it's a good idea. It suits you. Proud of you, Babe." We celebrated by going to bed where Ranger worked his own unique form of mind-blowing magic. As we drifted off to sleep, I whispered, "I love you Batman."

"Love you too, Wonder Woman. Or should I say, P.I. Plum?" was the sleepy reply.

The End

/

Author Note: Thank you for following along with me on this story. I had fun writing it, even if my muse did do a few disappearing acts along the way. I have a few story ideas rattling around in my head revolving around Steph's new career as a private investigator, maybe a series of shorts. Is this something that would interest you, my wonderful readers?