Disclaimer: not mine, no money, no glory, no fame.
Caught! Prologue, A day in the life…
By Annie
This has been a pretty good day. Actually, it's been a pretty good week. No explosions, no garbage, no shootings, and no dead bodies. I think I'm going for a record here.
Hi, my name is Stephanie Plum, and I'm a bounty hunter. Or, at least, I try to be a bounty hunter. Most days I bumble my way through it. But I must be getting better at it; my capture rate is 100. Anyways…..
Like I said, great day, great week. I was feeling on top of the world, nothing could go wrong now. Huh, famous last words right?
Oh yeah. I brought in two, count them, two middle range skips today. And didn't have to call in Batman for backup either. Go me!
So, now I'm on my way to the office to turn in my body receipts and get my money. Like I said, on top of the world. That is until I walk through the door, and see the un-holy grin that is spread across my cousin Vinnie's face. Uh-oh.
"Just the person I wanted to see." I know this can't be good. The only reason Vinnie wants to see anyone is if they have a connection to the barnyard, or a way to make him money. I know the first reason is out, so it must be the second. Wonder what he's got up his sleeve this time? Only one way to find out.
"Hello Vinnie, girls. What's up?" That's it, play it cool. Don't show him any reaction. That'll take the wind right out of his sails.
"Hey Steph, got a new file for you. It came in this morning. I was going to give it to some one else, but Vinnie insisted that you have it. I tried Steph, sorry." Well that sounded ominous. And the look on Connie's face was even more so.
"What's the charge?" Hello spidey sense, long time no tingle. Wait, was that? Yes it was, Vinnie was giggling! I mean, giggling. Like a school girl with her first crush giggling. Damn, I think I've entered the twilight zone.
"Hehe… sexual assault of a police officer… Haha… resisting arrest… Hoho… vehicular theft… humhum… assault with a deadly weapon… snicker snicker." Ummmm, ok, I don't think I've ever seen Vinnie this amused. In respect of keeping with the plan, no reaction, I put on my version of the blank face and silently hold out my hand for the file.
I swear time slowed to a crawl and ominous (there's that word again, I'm sensing a theme here) music filled the back ground. Connie reaches forward little by little, and timidly places the file in my open palm. Just as slowly I reach my other hand up and inch by inch open the cover. I start reading. Blah blah blah… charges… blah… Officer Picky arresting officer… no surprise there. Oh, what's this? A name. Holy ham sandwiches Batman!!
Black dots start dancing across my vision. My head is suddenly light and fuzzy. As my vision tunnels out I am dimly aware of Vinnie falling to the floor and literally rolling in hysterics. Huh, there goes my plan I guess.