Wow, thanks for the amazing response to the first chapter. Glad there's interest. As a thank you, here's the continuation told from a different POV;)
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.
"Stephanie!" A familiar voice called my name.
"Mary Lou!" I stood to great my best-friend with a hug and kiss.
"I thought you weren't going to make it." She said when we broke apart and sat down.
"Tell me about it." I grimaced. I'd missed my flight and barely managed to make it with enough time to spare to get ready before the ceremony. Up to a couple of years ago my sister Valerie was living in California before she decided to divorce her cheating husband. She readied her two daughters, Angie and Mary Alice, and move back to Trenton to live with my parents. Valerie got a receptionist-type job working for a lawyer and I'm not sure how it happened, but soon I was told they were expecting a baby. My sister gave birth to a baby girl, Lisa, a little over a year ago. A few weeks ago I got the scoop that she was pregnant again and that she was getting married.
"It doesn't matter." Mary Lou shot me a conspiratorial smile. "Tell me everything!" She thinks I live a glamorous life in Florida.
I shrugged, the movement causing the thin strap of my dress to slide down my shoulder. As I gave her the gist of the latest news in my life, I adjusted the fallen strap.
"What?" Mary Lou looked disappointed. "No man?" She thought I'd snagged a speedo-clad hunk at the beach by now.
"No, there's no man." I shook my head at her, taking a sip of my drink.
"That can be arranged." A hand came to rest on my left shoulder. I shot a look back only to find my sister standing behind me.
"No set ups." I groaned, shaking my head. "Did mom get you into this?"
"No." Valerie grinned down at me, saying she had a few candidates in mind.
"Why not?" Mary Lou said I should give it a shot.
"I don't live here anymore. The long distance thing isn't gonna work." I thought I did pretty good offering up excuses. It's been a while since I've been back and the last thing I want to do is spend my weekend here sitting through awkward first dates.
"Oh, I think it could work." Valerie winked. Thankfully for me, Val's husband, Albert, chose that moment to sweep his wife away.
Mary Lou and I were engulfed in comfortable conversation when her eyes widen. "Three o'clock." She nodded discretely and I chanced a look. A man I knew since we were kids was approaching. He was movie-star handsome, but in a suit he looks like a mob boss.
"Looking good, Cupcake." Joe Morelli is a plainclothes cop with TPD and his smile can charm the pants off many women. Growing up, I admit I may have been intrigued with him. In retrospect, I guess what appealed to me had to do with the idea of forbidden more than the guy itself.
"Joe." I gave him a polite nod. We've never been romantically involved, though I'm sure more than one's thought otherwise.
"Glad you made it after all." He flashed me a charming smile, one designed to ensure he gets what he wants. "Got a little thank you gift for you."
Mary Lou gave me a discrete tap under the table with her foot. It was designed to say 'don't fall for that'. "It's not necessary." Last time I was here the pet shop on Hamilton Av was held up and the owner unfortunately perished in the struggle. Rumor had it the motive had been an exotic snake kept in the shop. Since it is unlawful in the state of New Jersey to have potentially dangerous species as pets, the accusation was a big deal. I was called in to do a thorough search of the store to look for said snake.
"Of course it is." Morelli turned serious, his cop face making an appearance. "If you hadn't of found and captured that Cobra, someone could have been seriously hurt."
While listening to Morelli I got the feeling that someone was watching me. A shiver ran down my spine as I searched my surroundings. It looked like people where having a good time in the reception, talking and drinking amiably.
And then, from across the room, I made eye-contact with a mysterious looking man in black. He was sitting by the corner of the hall, his back to the wall, and there was no doubt that he was staring at me. I searched my mind, trying to remember where I'd seen him before…
I was on my way back to the station when I got the call. Someone had spotted a big snake in their backyard. "Any further description given?" People don't understand that 'big' is very subjective. Last week 'big' turned out to be a harmless, non-venomous snake no bigger than my pinky. Hooking a U-turn, I made my way to the address given.
As I approached my destination my attention momentarily wandered to my surroundings. On my left was a seemingly vast vegetated area and a canal running parallel to the road. Animal suburbia. On my right, a net of streets housing multiple homes. Human suburbia. Every day the boundaries blur more and more.
I pulled up to the gate and waved at the guard. The guy nodded, opening the gate for me. I knew him from previous visits. He's a muscular man with a tattoo on his forehead that's never spoken a single word to me, but I know he works for Rangeman because his shirt said so. From what I knew Rangeman specialized in security and based on the number of times I've bumped into them when I'm on duty, the company is expanding rapidly.
My destination was at the end of a row of houses in a cul de sac. I parked on the curb and angled out to make my way to the back to get my gear. I grabbed my snake hook, my most essential tool, and just in case the snake really was big I also got the large plastic cage. With my hip I slammed the door to the back closed.
As I walked towards the house I spotted a man waiting on the bottom step. He was a tall and muscular Latino with a mocha latte skin complexion. Based on the fit of his clothes, he's got a to die for body. His dark eyes tracked my every move, making a quick assessment I suppose. "Lester?" I wanted to know if he reported the sighting.
"Uh…" He shook his head in the negative.
"That would me." Another man appeared, offering me his hand. He, too, was a good looking Latino and his eyes were a dark green, the color of a new dollar bill.
"Lieutenant Stephanie Plum." I introduced myself before asking him for more information. "Can you tell me what you saw?" From the corner of my eye, I noticed that the other man was still staring at me. "Okay." I nodded at Lester's vague description of the culprit. "Backyard then?"
"Yeah." Lester nodded, but remained still. "You know, I should stay here to protect her." He moved to stand next to a teenage girl and puffed out his chest in a practiced motion to impress. "Just in case."
"Right." Although I worked hard not to laugh, a small smile still escaped.
"This way." Mr. Previously Silent cocked his head to the side, leading me to the side gate. Effortlessly, he opened the gate and motioned for me to go first.
"Thanks." I moved past him, catching a faint waft of his scent. It was a unique citrusy aroma that had me wanting to take another whiff. I took a deep breath and concentrated, because I've got a job to do. I walked down the narrow walkway along the side of the house until I emerged onto the backyard.
"I didn't see anything." He said, breaking the silence.
I flashed him a smile for the information. "Sometimes people catch a glimpse out of the corner of their eye and jump to the conclusion that it's a snake." He stepped aside, getting out of the way.
I started my search, using my hook to check the plants at my feet. As I worked my way to the back of the property, methodically checking the plants at my feet, I was thankful this place wasn't cluttered. The organization made my job a lot easier.
By the time I reached the corner, I was well aware that he'd yet to take his eyes off of me. And to be honest, his heated gaze didn't make me uncomfortable in the least bit. Before I got too carried away thinking about the man behind me, the sweep of my hook found something in the vines surrounding the trunk of the lone tree at the back of the property. "Oh!"
"What is it?" I could hear the apprehension in his voice.
"There's definitely a snake…" A breathless laugh escaped me as I abandoned my hook. I spotted the tip of a tail, so I reached in to grab a hold of it with both hands. I caught it, planted my feet on the ground and pulled. "Burmese python." I checked my surrounding quickly, making sure I had enough space to maneuver without the risk of slipping into the pool. With a firm grip, I kept at it, pulling and pulling until I managed to get the constrictor out into the open. I grunted with the effort, realizing that big was definitely the right term.
"Ah!" The loud yelp sounded somewhere behind me, but I didn't have time to look for the source. "Get it!" The horrified shriek came from Lester.
It took me almost an hour to corral the snake, avoiding many strikes meant for my hands. The Burmese even tried to wrap itself on my left leg, but I managed to get out of that situation before it even started. When I finally had the snake in the locked cage, I lunged the heavy cargo back to the SUV and drove away.
Recognition dawned on me, leaving me surprised. Who'd have thought I'd bump into this man after almost two weeks and at my sister's wedding!
"Stephanie?" Morelli touched my arm, making me tear my gaze away from the man in black.
"What?"
"Are you okay?" He studied my face, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "You zoned out."
"It's getting late…" I mumbled, returned my gaze towards the corner table. The seat was empty and my disappointment must have shown because Joe was getting ready to say something else.
"Bailamos?" A large, strong hand came into my line of vision in open invitation. I looked up, finding the man in black at my side. If I thought he looked good in T-shirt and jeans, in a suit he looks delicious.
My Spanish is very basic, but I understood. "Si." I nodded, accepting the offer. He took my and lead the way to the dance floor.