Chapter 1

Hi. This is my very first fanfiction story. I am new to ff, but have read Janet Evanovich for years. Love the Stephanie Plum series!

Thank you for reading my story and please let me know what you think!

Hi. My name is Helen Plum and I have two daughters, Victoria and Melanie. Victoria is more like me as that she is married and has a family. My other daughter, it is hard to explain, I think she has a screw loose. She can't seem to conform to the norm. She claims to be a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie but I think she is just spinning her wheels because I keep getting phone calls from all over town from people telling me she has been shot or her car has been blown up. I don't understand why she continues to do this. She is driving me to drink. I worry about her every minute. Then she decides to date this Cuban hoodlum, called Ranger. I don't know, what's a mother to do? My husband Frank said I shouldn't worry so, that this phase she is going through will pass. Six months ago she lost her job in a department store due to downsizing. Darn economy! When I suggested she go talk to her cousin Vinnie for a job I thought she would do some filing or computer work. Melanie has a college degree in business; I never dreamed he would make her a bounty hunter. I felt like hitting him with a brick, putting my daughter in such danger. What was he thinking?

To back up for just a moment, Vinnie owns a Bail Bond Agency. He is married to Lucille, a fine woman whose dad just happens to be the head of the local Family, if you know what I mean. Her dad financed Vinnie with the purchase of the Bail Bond Agency. In return he makes a suitable profit when the bonds are collected. This morning I received a phone call from Mrs. Morelli. Her son, Joe, is a local police officer and Melanie and Joe have an on and off again relationship. Right now it was set on off. Mrs. Morelli said she heard on the news that there was an explosion on Stark St. around 9:30 a.m. The news showed a young woman sitting on the curb covered in what looked like blood and she resembled Melanie. She continued to lecture me as to how I could allow my daughter to be in such an area of town as Stark St. and what kind of mother was I that I could not control my own child. I thanked her for the information and then told her that my daughter was grown and had every right to choose her profession. After hanging up the phone I turned on the TV, grabbed the ironing board out of the closet and started to iron. I do this when I am stressed out. It is too early to reach for a drink so ironing will just have to do. I didn't get very far; the phone was ringing off the hook with more news about my wonderful daughter. The Burg is a "flutter in the gutter". You can't sneeze where I live without the entire neighborhood hearing about it. I don't like when people criticize my abilities, especially when it comes to raising my children. After all, who do these people think they are? All they want to do is have something to talk about and believe me it is never good news they spread. The news showed an update on the report of the explosion on Stark St. and sure enough, there is my daughter sitting on the curb covered in blood. I couldn't stop shaking. I picked up the phone and call Melanie on her cell.

"Melanie are you alright? The phone has been blowing up with calls about you being in an explosion. Please tell me you are ok?"

She replied "yes mom, just a little shaken."

She said she would stop by for dinner and explain everything. She told me that Ranger was there with her and all was fine. OK, so this Ranger guy wasn't so bad after all if he had things under control and she was safe. I have to give him credit, he always watches out for her. Not like Joe Morelli, all he ever did was yell at her when something happened. I guess that is the Italian in him. I should know I am married to one. Frank is more laid back now, but I remember when we were younger, he counted to 10 many times. Frank is a retired Army Major. He spends most of his time now down at the Italian American club because my mother lives with us and likes to drive him crazy. I have to admit, my mother is not the typical old lady. At 80 years old she acts and dresses like she is 30. She also packs a 38 special in her purse. She doesn't know how to shoot it but as she would say "it sure packs a wallop when she swings her purse at someone."

At 6:00 p.m. the table was set and dinner was ready. Mom was at the door waiting for Melanie to come in. Mom announced that Melanie had company with her, that "HUNK Ranger" as she would call him. I hurried and set another plate. Frank greeted them both and we all sat down to eat a nice salad, pot roast, mashed potatoes and peas. I was looking over at Melanie seeing all the band aids she was wearing and shook my head. After waiting a bit I asked what the situation was this morning and how bad was she hurt. She told me it wasn't so bad just some scraps and cuts from glass when a window blew out of the apartment house she was leaving with a perp she had apprehended. Something about the gas being left on the stove but the pilot was out. I didn't see anyone with her on the TV so I asked what happened to the perp. She explained that Ranger already had him picked up and transported to the police station. My mother was so excited, she wanted to know all the details. Then she asked if she could ride along with Melanie on her next apprehension. She reached down to her purse and pulled out her 38 and started waving it around. We all shouted "NO" and ducked under the table. I made the sign of the cross and looked over at Ranger. He had a smile on his face and just shook his head. Dad asked if this person she picked up was someone we knew. Melanie said his name was George Barr and that he had been charged with harassment of a police officer. Barr was stopped for traffic violation and decided to give the officer a hard time. She explained that she didn't think he was as dangerous as some of the other perps she has brought in and that everything would have been just fine if the gas was turned off. Dad agreed and said the name sounded a bit familiar.

Hoped you liked it. Please let me know what you think!