It was a beautiful day outside in New Jersey. It was between late sixties to early seventies. At nine – fifteen one Monday morning, Stephanie Plum walked into the bonds office.
"Good morning, Stephanie. Vinnie would like to see you immediately. He has a job for you to do," Connie told her.
"Thanks, Connie," Stephanie said.
Stephanie's friend, Lula, was putting files away as she watched Stephanie knock on her cousin's door.
Vinnie answered the door.
"It's only you," he greeted her.
Both Connie and Lula watched him slam the door behind Stephanie.
"i sure hope it's nothing bad," Lula told Connie.
Lula put two more files in the file cabinet and walked quietly to Vinnie's closed-door. She was feeling sorry she didn't get to join Stephanie and Vinnie like she usually did. It turned out Lula was wrong.
Connie stayed at her desk. She, like Lula, had no idea what Vinnie and Stephanie were talking about. It made them both curious.
"What did you want to see me for?" asked Stephanie.
"I've got a job for you. This came in last week," Vinnie told her.
"Tell me what it is."
Stephanie really needed the money. She'd spent her last dollars on a birthday present for her Grandma Mazur.
"This time your job isn't here in New Jersey. You will be in Milwaukee. You will be going with Ranger."
"Ranger? Why is he involved?" Stephanie asked.
Ranger was different from most men here. He didn't talk much and kept to himself.
"What's going on in Milwaukee?" Stephanie asked.
Connie whispered to Lula, "Well, what is he telling her?"
"She just got a new job and it doesn't involve New Jersey," Lula returned in whisper.
Lula leaned forward to hear more details.
"There's been a robbery at a local garage. I spoke to the person who reported the robbery."
Vinnie handed her the file. That's when Stephanie walked out of the door. She'd get more details in the file Vinnie just given her. He didn't tell her the whole story.
"Did he say anything?" Lula asked, pretending she didn't listen in.
"He gave me a new job. The thing is the job isn't involved here in New Jersey."
"Where is it, then?" Connie wanted to know.
"Milwaukee. I didn't get the whole story from Vinnie."
"Wow. He gave you a cliffhanger, didn't he?" Lula asked.
"He sure did."
At noon, Stephanie and Lula walked to her Firebird. They decided to go to the Clunk Bucket. On the way, Lula told Stephanie she was on a new diet.
"Another one? What is it this time?" Stephanie asked.
"I'm trying to see how long I can go without meat. I'm on an ice cream diet this time."
Every time Lula found a new diet, it usually didn't work and would end shortly.
Stephanie laughed as she and Lula ordered a takeout. Stephanie was going through Vinnie's file.
"Who is it this time? Another clown?" Lula asked.
"Not this time."
She showed Lula the robber's picture.
"He looks creepy. I sure don't want him to ask me out."
"He's not supposed to be that kind of type of person. He robbed a local garage in Milwaukee."
"That doesn't sound too good," Lula replied as she slurped her milkshake.
"I know. Vinnie said something about Ranger tagging on the trip."
"Wow. Do I get to ride shotgun?"
"I don't know," Stephanie answered.
"If I don't get to come along, I'll miss out of all the fun."
"Same with Grandma."
"True," Lula agreed.
Stephanie looked at the picture. The man in the photo didn't look familiar to her at all. Whatever he did at the local garage, he'd serve time in prison for sure.
The man had looked to be younger than his age. His file told Stephanie and Lula he was in his late thirties but he looked more in his mid – twenties. He looked like he was due for a shave. His hair also looked like it also needed work. He was wearing a baseball cap. He was also wearing braces. He also looked like he also needed a dental.
"Boy, he looks worse from the other guys we caught in the past," Lula remarked.
"I know. Clayton Morgan sure is asking for big – time trouble."
The file also mentioned Clayton didn't live in either New Jersey or Milwaukee. The file told the girls he was visiting in Milwaukee, but his hometown was in Alaska.
"I sure hope we'll catch this creep," Lula said, taking a handful of French fries.
By now, her milkshake was empty.
"So do I. I don't have anymore money left. You do remember it was spent on Grandma Mazur's birthday present."
Lula nodded and did remember what the gift was.
"Looks like I'm on a business trip in a city I've never been to," Stephanie said.
"Let me know if I can tag along."
"You'll know."
"I hope the answer is a yes."
Lula said that with another burp but again didn't volunteer to say excuse me.
As usual, Stephanie came home for supper late as she always did.
"Where have you been? Dinner is waiting but now we have to eat dinner cold!"
"Sorry, Mom. I just got started on a new job Vinnie gave me this morning," Stephanie told her mother, file still in her hand.
"I don't care what job it is this time. Take that file back to him first thing in the morning," her mother said as Stephanie put the file on the kitchen table and joined her family.
"What kind of job is it now?" Grandma Mazur asked, already interested.
"This job isn't here this time, Grandma. The FTA is in Milwaukee."
"Milwaukee! You're not going alone," her mother said.
Stephanie's father, Frank, said nothing. He was cutting a beet.
"The FTA robbed a local garage down there. He is overdue for his court date. He was to appear in court today, but never showed up."
"Wow," Grandma Mazur said.
She'd always enjoyed hearing the cases her granddaughter worked on.
"And you're not going," Stephanie's mother snapped.
"Are you going alone?" Grandma Mazur asked.
"Of course not, Grandma. Vinnie told me Ranger is coming along."
"Good thing somebody is going with you. I don't want you to get hurt," her mother replied as her anger disappeared a bit.
"I wonder who reported this robber to Vinnie."
"I think he said somebody by the name of Fonzarelli. I hope I pronounced the name right. This should be an interesting trip to Milwaukee."