Chapter 2

Driving out of the garage, she pushed a curl away from her face as tears coursed down her cheeks. Vowing to get as far away as soon as she could, she gunned her little Honda Civic . Where to go, and more importantly, what would she do.

As usual, Stephanie liked to go off with only half a plan in place. All she needed to do right now was to get out of Trenton and try to put the whole mess behind her. She would miss everyone at Rangeman, and also Connie and Lula, but deep down she knew that her days as a Bounty Hunter were nearing an end. There was no more challenge rolling in garbage, or bringing in the dregs of society she had come to think of as FTA's. She was losing her compassion.

It was definitely time to move on.

Glancing down at Rex sleeping beside her on the other front seat, she noticed a game wheel that Mary Alice had forgotten in her car. Picking it up, Stephanie noticed that the four colors also had a North, South, East and West each stamped in a different colored triangle. Figuring nothing ventured, nothing gained, she spun the disk landing on East.

Wonderful. Of all the directions she could have landed on, East was the shortest of all the directions she could go unless she wanted to drive to Europe. Taking the I 95 seemed foolhardy because working in the office she knew that Rangeman could access the traffic cameras at will. Then again, if she looked like she was running, would that not spur someone to come after her?

Needing to think, she pulled into a Dunkin Donuts and ordered a coffee and 2 Boston Cremes from the drive thru.

Pulling out her new unlisted cell phone she dialed Val. Listening to the racket as her sister picked up the phone to say hello, Stephanie knew that she couldn't talk long. Knowing that her parents had already spilled the beans about her plans she quickly filled her in.

Val, bless her heart, had the information at the ready and she hung up. Now she knew what to do. People would know where she was going and why. In her mind it was not running away, it was moving in a new direction.

~~~o0o~~~

Stunned silence could be the only reason that he was still sitting. Stephanie's stuff lay on the top of the desk, haphazardly placed at best. The open little black box sat glaring in front of him. Absentmindedly, he twirled the ring between his fingers and frowned.

Could all his work to get his company up and running smoothly be the only thing in his life? He had worked so hard to get it right, hire the appropriate personnel , secure the contracts, but was it more?

Looking back, how many times had he taken the time to enjoy an evening off, meet with friends, or have a beer? And, more importantly, how many times had he left Stephanie to participate in something involving Rangeman? Heady stuff. Heaving a sigh, he gathered up everything and locked it all in his safe. After all, he had a company to run and things to do. The paperwork was not going to go away.

~~~o0o~~~

With a direction and a purpose decided, she sped out of the parking lot and into traffic. If she could beat the afternoon rush, she could make it in a couple of hours. Coffee and donuts always had a way of calming her down. The sugar rush did the opposite to her than anyone else.

With a clear head and a plan, she pulled her cell phone out again and dialed the number. Two rings later the pleasant voice she knew so well from her own childhood answered. Stephanie explained her situation and asked if the position was still available.