A/N - I try to respond to all my reviews, but I can't if you left one as a guest. I appreciate everybody taking the time to show some love!
All characters belong to J.E.
Chapter 7
The next day Steph worked on searches until about two o'clock. Deciding a break was in order, she grabbed the latest victim for Bombshell duty and took off for the bond's office.
Hal insisted on driving. He seemed to suffer from the same inability to ride in a passenger seat as the rest of the Rangemen. When Stephanie requested a stop at Tasty Pastry, Hal grinned at her. "I knew you were going to want to stop there. Tell me what you want and I'll run in to get it."
The Rangeman parking karma was still in effect as a spot opened up directly in front. Stephanie gave Hal a half-hearted glare. "I think I can manage to order some doughnuts without blowing up the store."
"It's not that Bomber. It's just safer out here in the SUV since it's got bullet-resistant glass and bomb detectors. I'd hate to be responsible for something happening to you. "
"Fine! Get an assorted dozen. That should be enough for me and the girls."
They must have been starving since Lula and Connie didn't speak a word to Steph as they snatched the box out of her hands. After she had devoured her first doughnut, Connie spared Steph a glance.
"There aren't any new files for you today, and you should be clear for a few days. Nobody has a court date coming until next week."
"Things are too quiet lately. If this keeps up my shoe budget is going to suffer."
"No kidding, White Girl! Speaking of shoes, I got a hot date tomorrow night. You wanna hit the shoe sale at Macy's and help me find something to go with my new outfit?"
Stephanie grinned when she glanced at Hal. This would be good revenge for making her sit in the truck at the Tasty Pastry and not letting her drive. "Sure. My searches are done, and I don't have any files, so I'm free the rest of the afternoon."
"We should stop at Cluck in a Bucket on the way. Shopping takes energy and you didn't pick up enough doughnuts to last very long. A voluptuous woman like me needs more than 3 measly doughnuts to be able to shop. I didn't know Halosaurus was such a sweets freak."
Hal blushed. "The only time I get to have them is when I'm with Steph. Ranger's pretty strict about banning sweets."
Once they stocked up on fried chicken and biscuits, Hal drove them to Quakerbridge Mall and parked in a space near the front. The last thing he wanted to do was follow Steph and Lula around the mall all afternoon, and it showed on his face. He stayed with them, though, and grimaced every time Lula tried to get his opinion.
"What about these? I think they scream 'throw me down and fuck me' but I need a man's opinion." Lula turned as she modeled the shoes for Hal and Steph.
Hal turned six shades of red at Lula's comment. Steph laughed and decided to help out by answering for him. "I think those will be perfect. Your date won't know what hit him."
After they paid for Lula's FMP's, Lula made a detour to Victoria's Secret. Hal turned an even deeper shade of red.
"I think I'll be safe in a store full of women, Hal. Why don't you sit on that bench over there and watch the entrance? We shouldn't be long."
Hal looked uncertain. "I'm supposed to stay with you no matter where you go. We still don't know if the stalker is a man or a woman."
"I've got my panic button, and nothing has happened yet. You're close enough I can yell if I get into trouble."
He looked like he was arguing with himself. A moment later, Hal nodded and sat down on the bench, watching every person that came within thirty feet of the entrance.
Once she got inside, Stephanie decided to do a little shopping for herself as well.
After helping Lula decided between a hot pink bra and panty set and a leopard print bustier and thong, Steph looked around for something she thought Les would like. She may have asked him to go slow, but it never hurt to be prepared….
She finally gave up trying to pick one out of the three outfits she had in her hands and decided to get all of them. She'd be covered no matter what mood struck her at the time.
With their wallets considerably lighter, Steph and Lula made their way out the store to collect Hal from his sentry on the 'husband bench'.
As they were coming out of Macy's a woman with mousey brown hair and thick glasses bumped into Steph, almost knocking her shopping bag out of her hands.
"Excuse me," she mumbled. Steph kept walking, not giving it a second thought.
When they loaded their bags into the back of the SUV, Steph's bag landed with a clunk. With a puzzled look on her face, she opened the bag and pulled out a square device with ominous looking wires coming out of the sides.
With a panicked screech, Steph threw the box as far as she could. Hal grabbed Lula and Steph and pulled them to the ground, covering them with his body. A deafening explosion ripped through the air, sending shrapnel raining over the parking lot.
Once he was sure the worst was over, Hal stood up, pulling Lula and Steph with him. "Are you two okay?"
Lula was too busy screaming to hear him. "Oh my God! White Girl, you have the worst luck with stalkers. Is my hair messed up? I just got it done, and I don't think I'd have time to get it fixed before my date. I need a doughnut. And a Big Mac. And some French fries. I eat when I get stressed out. If my hair is messed up I'm gonna find the fucker that gave you that bomb and shove my Via Spigas up his ass."
Steph rolled her eyes as Lula continued to rant and rave. "I'm fine, Hal. Are you all right?" She noticed a few shallow cuts on his shoulder as she brushed the dirt off his shirt.
"I'm fine, Bomber," Hal replied as he took out his cell phone to call Rangeman.
Ten minutes later two shiny black SUV's rolled to a stop. Les jumped out of the one in front, pushing his way through the crowd that had gathered at the scene.
Lester grabbed Steph and wrapped his arms around her. Once he was sure she was uninjured, he turned to Hal.
"What happened? You were supposed to keep her safe!"
Hal looked surprised at Les' outbreak, but before he could respond Stephanie jumped in.
"He did! Hal protected us from the blast. Speaking of which, where's Bobby? He needs to look at some cuts on Hal's shoulder."
It seemed like hours passed before Stephanie was cleared to leave the scene by the TPD. Bobby had checked her and Lula over before taking Hal back to Rangeman to clean and sew up his cuts. Lula left as soon as the first cop car showed up, giving the excuse of getting reading for her date. Les never left her side while she gave all the details she could remember to Eddie and Big Dog.
Once they got back to Haywood, Les brought her up to the conference room. Anger and worry had taken the place of the usual blank faces the guys usually wore.
Tank stood, and the quiet chatter instantly died. "Give us the rundown, Steph."
For the second time in as many hours, Steph gave as much information as she could remember. Hal added details about the appearance of the bomb.
"It was definitely a professional. It was too neatly put together to be somebody working off of something they found on YouTube."
Tank looked at Steph with concern. "I think we need to consider putting you in a safe house. Whoever this is doesn't seem to be deterred by our presence when you leave Haywood. You've been out twice since the bear was left at your apartment, and both times an attempt was made on your life."
