I do not own anything from Janet Evanovich. This idea came to me while I was going thru what Stephanie is going thru in the story.
The Merry Men had a secret. It had started two weeks ago when Hal had overnight monitor duty. He came back from going to the bathroom and getting a cup of coffee to the sounds of sobbing coming from one of the monitors. Dropping his coffee he picked his cell off his belt and called Tank.
"WHAT" Tank growled his voice think with sleep
"We have a situation sir on one of the monitors" Hal told him
"Call the men on duty together then. I'm off till in the morning" he told him
"Sir it's not that kind of situation, really I think you should come and see this"
"This better be good or its mat time" Tank barked and hung up
Tank slid out of his nice warm bed and slipped his cargos that he had worn the previous day on; pulling on a shirt over his head he headed out the door. When he arrived on five he stalked right over to Hal.
"Explain" he barked
"Listen sir" Hal asked him as Sobbing filled their ears
"You got me out of bed in the middle of the night because some girl is crying?" Tank growled grabbing Hal by the shirt
"Sir it's her" he said
Tank let Hal go and turned to the monitors. Finding hers he watched with his dark eyes, she sat in her pajamas on the end of her couch and hand her hands over her face sobbing hard into them.
"What do we do Sir?" Hal asked
"Nothing" Tank replied hanging his head
"But sir"
"Our rules are we watch for crimes what we see that's personal we don't get involved. We look away" Tank told him
"But it's her" He painfully said listening to her cries
"Do your job" Tank told him as he hurried out of the room "and keep it to yourself"
The next morning Stephanie bounced into RangeMan saying morning to the men. She came over to Hal who was briefing Lester on the night's activities.
"Heyyy Guys" she cheerfully said
"uhhhh hi" Hal said looking at her strangely
"What do I have something on my face?" she asked her hand coming to touch it
""uhhh no" Hal said
"What the big oaf meant Bombshell is you're beautiful as ever" Lester said stroking her cheek
"Awwww thanks Guys" she said and cheerfully bounced on down to her desk with Lester smiling like a Cheshire cat and Hal in utter shock and confusion.
More to come soon!! -Karren