AN: I don't own them, JE does. I make no profit, just having fun! This story is a little out there, I hurt my neck at Zumba, so I'm blaming the muscle relaxers. It was a fun idea, hope you like it! And the Spanish is from the internet, so I apologize if it's incorrect. Many thanks to Dee and Liz!
Knock knock knock.
"Gianna Rodriguez? I'm with Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. I need to take you to reschedule your court date. It'll only take a half hour."
The door opened revealing a nearly six foot tall woman with long silky black hair. She placed one rail-like limb on the doorway and revealed a half smile.
"Stephanie Plum, you seriously think you're gonna bring me in?"
"Gigi! I didn't recognize you from the photo. Your hair is so different now."
"Yeah, no more braids for me. So I missed my court date? My ex is quite a piece of work! This whole mess is his fault, and now I'm gonna look real guilty to the judge."
"Unfortunately both your names were on the lease. Even though you missed your date, there's always a chance the judge will still be lenient. I'll give my brother-in-law a call. He's a lawyer. If he can't help; I'm sure I may know someone who can."
Gigi was a year behind Steph at Trenton Central High. She was incredibly fast, and competed at the state level track and field finals three years in a row.
"You just have to come with me to the station right now. I'll call ahead and have someone meet us to re-bond you right out."
"Thank you. And thanks for the offer too. I'm living with my abuela right now, she's not well, so my sister and I are helping my mother to take care of her."
At that moment, the door was flung fully open and a pair of beady eyes glared at Steph. The woman was about half the size of Gigi. She was wearing a floral housecoat and had white wiry hair pulled into a tight bun. She glared at Steph and began muttering in rapid Spanish.
"Wow! I thought Briggs was short. What are you, three feet tall?!" Realizing she said that out loud, Steph slapped her hand over her mouth.
"OhMyGodIcan'tbelieveIjustsaidthat!" Steph groaned.
The woman stopped in mid rant. Steph watched as her barely there white eyebrows shot up into her hairline. The woman then turned on Gigi and began a new rant while still pointing at Steph.
"Abuela, callate. Está bien. Ella está aquí para ayudarnos. (Grandma, quiet. It's ok. She's here to help.)
The woman made a finger waving gesture at Steph.
"I know you. You trouble. You speak to me that way! My Gianna is not going with you!"
Gigi placed one hand on her abuela's arm and turned back into the house.
"Shayna! I need you!"
Gigi glared at her abuela who was now chanting in Spanish. She rolled her eyes and turned to Steph.
"I'll just have my sister take care of her, and I'll be right out behind you."
Steph only hesitated for a few seconds. Many times that was the last thing a skip told her before they ran out the back door. But she didn't think Gigi would try that. Not that it really mattered. If she wanted to run, Steph would never catch her.
"Ok, I'm going to make that call to the Bond's office. I'll tell them we'll be there in twenty minutes."
Steph dug out her cell and walked back down the stairs. She began to dial as she walked across the sidewalk. A chill went up her spine. She was glad to get away from that woman; there was something very eerie about her. As she turned towards her car, she slid and lost her balance. Her feet flew out from under her, and she heard a "whack" as her head hit the sidewalk.
She sat up immediately and began rubbing the back of her head. Gigi was in front of her, looking her up and down.
"Steph! Are you ok? Did you break anything?"
Steph felt her left arm burning near her elbow. Brush burn, she thought. She shook her head at Gigi, who then offered her hand and pulled Steph up.
"I'll be fine. You ready?" Steph gestured towards her car. "Your abuela didn't seem to like me too much."
Gigi nodded. "Yeah, but she's like that with everyone these days. Physically she's very healthy for 80, but she's been deteriorating mentally."
Gigi and Steph got into Steph's POS sedan. Steph dialed the Bond's office and asked Connie to meet them at the station. Tossing the cell into her purse, she started the car and glanced back at the house. She could see a pair of beady eyes glaring at her through the front window.
Gigi waved at her abuela. "Still chanting." She muttered.
Steph was about the put the car into gear when the door to the house opened.
"Just go, Shayna will get her." Gigi stated calmly as her abuela began waddling down the stairs. Steph pulled out and slowly drove down the block. She didn't want to leave until she was certain the old woman was safely back inside. Looking into the rear view mirror, she saw the old woman picking something up from the ground. A young woman with long black hair came up behind her and gently tugged her back to the house.
"She'll be fine Steph. Are you sure your head's ok?"
"I'm good. I have a lot of mishaps on the job. I'm pretty good at assessing my injuries now. It'll be a nice goose egg." She smiled. "As soon as we meet up with Connie, I'll go home and ice it."
Steph shivered as another cold chill ran straight up her spine, she shook it off and focused on the road.
*********************
Steph woke with a start. Tossing the blanket over the back of the couch, she began looking for her cell. After getting Gigi rebonded, she came home, iced her head and took a nap on the couch. The Batman theme was coming from her purse that she had left on the kitchen counter.
"Yo!" Steph smiled.
"That's my line, Babe."
"What can I do for you, Ranger?"
"I'll let that one pass, Babe, since I know I just woke you."
How did he know that? Steph wondered.
"I have my ways, Babe."
Damn ESP.
"Got a job for you later. Meet me at the Bond's office in twenty, we'll talk."
Why the bonds office? Well, Connie did say she has some new files for her.
"Connie has some files for you. And I have to speak with Vinnie."
How does he do that! Why can't she learn? She heard Ranger chuckle.
"Earth to Babe. See you in twenty."
Would it kill him to ask, not tell!
"Yeah, Ranger." She heard the click as he disconnected.
"Well that I knew was coming!" She grumbled as she set down her cell.
On the counter was the box of chocolates Grandma Mazur had given her on Easter Sunday. Steph smiled as she read the quote on the magnet that her Grandmother had also included with the chocolate.
"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
She placed the magnet on her fridge and smiled. She grabbed a chocolate and popped it into her mouth. She went into the bathroom to attempt to fix her crazy mane. Hmm. Her hair wasn't too bad. She just needed to add some more mascara and a little lip gloss. Wincing, she reached up and touched the back of her head. As she turned, she noticed dried blood on her left sleeve.
"Guess it was more than a brush burn."
She peeled off her shirt and went into her bedroom. She really needed to do laundry. Other than distraction clothes, she couldn't find anything clean enough to wear. There was the black T shirt she slept in last night. Being that is was Ranger's, she knew wearing it in public, least of all to the bond's office, was not a good idea. Going back into her closet she grabbed a red V neck tank. It had sparkly details along the V. If she paired it with some sandals, it wouldn't look too dressy with her curvy jeans. She would just get her files, talk to Ranger, and try to get some laundry done. Whoever the new skips were, they could wait another day.
Knowing Ranger didn't enjoy waiting, she hustled back to her bathroom to clean up her arm.
********
Steph was 3 blocks from the Bond's office. Her cell rang.
"I'm almost there."
"I can see you. I have to see Vinnie first before he slithers away."
That didn't sound good, for Vinnie. But Steph knew better than to ask.
"I'll be waiting."
"Babe." He disconnected. Steph saw him walk inside the office as she waited to turn into the lot.
She put the car in park and adjusted the strap of her tank top.
Walking into the office, she almost laughed at the tell tale signs of a Ranger sighting. Connie was rapidly fanning herself with a file, while Lula was staring open mouthed at Vinnie's office door. Figuring Connie would need another minute, Steph walked over to Lula first.
"Hey Lula." Lula was leaning against the filing cabinet, chewing on her bottom lip. She twitched a little at the sound of Steph's voice but was still focused on the door.
Steph was about to say something to try to snap Lula out of the Ranger induced trance. When she heard…
Still the finest man I've evah seen. Now my Tank is fine, more than enough for Lula. But I really have ta know, and white girl ain't sharing...not that I really blame her. Hmm, wonder if he would be into swingin'….definitely some Bondage….S&M. He only has eyes for Steph…damn she be so lucky, if only she'd get wit the program!
Steph's eyes snapped to Lula's mouth. Lula was still chewing her bottom lip. Steph shook her head.
"Lula?! Snap out of it!"
"What? You don't have to shout, girl. I can hear ya." Lula smiled at Steph and shut the file drawer. She passed by Steph.
Tho' I'm sure Batman likes it when you're loud.
Steph spun around and watched Lula plop down onto the couch. Guess ignoring that comment would be best; Vinnie probably had some new bugs planted on Connie desk.
She walked over to Connie, who was filing her nails. Steph was about to ask about the new files when Connie smiled up at her.
Well the shirt is an improvement. If only she'd do her nails once in a while, maybe try some eyeliner. She's got real beauty, she shouldn't hide it. Wonder if she'd let me make her over?
Steph just stared. Connie's mouth never moved. Not. At. All. What the hell was going on here!?
TBC?
Word count 1846