I do not own these characters! No money just fun!

Miami! Sweet, sweet Miami!

Taking my first steps out the door of my trusty Honda Civic I can't help the ecstatic expression that plasters across my face. I made it. I traveled 1,230 miles, just my Honda Civic and me…and I guess in a way Lester too, seems he called me practically every one-hundred of those miles. But, anyway I finally made it and I couldn't be more proud of myself.

I must admit it was a tiring journey, physically and emotionally, and there were times where I almost broke down and turned around but through Les' over the phone coaching's and my resolved purpose I made it!

Stretching my arms up over my head; I close my eyes and take a deep, purifying breath. As much as I have come to realize the support and love I do in fact have in Trenton, there was still so much holding me back from moving on with my life while there. I need to grow as a woman and I need to be able to stand on my own two feet without the constant aid of someone else. I need to get myself in check emotionally and I need and want to strengthen my abilities physically. Some of these goals could in fact have been accomplished in Trenton, but the greatest one of all, moving on and growing in a life without Ranger, could not.

Miami is where I need and want to be, at least for now. Miami is where I will succeed in discovering who Stephanie Plum really is and what she wants out of life. Miami may not always be my permanent home forever, hell maybe it will, but I am not concerned with that as of now. What I do know is that I am ready for a change and Miami presents me with the opportunity for introspection and the ability to make improvements as I go.

"Baby granddaughter!" A familiar voice rings out in merriment; stirring me from my musings.

Dropping my arms and briskly opening my eyes I find that, that familiar voice has come from a very loving and caring familiar face.

"Grandma!" I shout without holding back the excitement in my tone.

Taking off in a jog I reach grandma and wrap my exhausted arms around her shoulders and we embrace in a hug for a good minute without saying a word. Finally, grandma breaks our silence. "Baby granddaughter, it is so good to see you and I am so happy that you are here with me but I know that something drastic has changed in your life in order for you to up and leave everything familiar in Trenton to travel down here to live and on only a moments notice. Come, we will talk over lunch, you must be starved."

With a slight nod grandma grasps my hand and guides me up the sidewalk and to a flamingo pink door with a gold plated C3 in the upper center of it. Only in Miami could a flamingo pink door on the front of your home fly.

As soon as I step inside grandma's condo a familiar childhood smell wafts through the air and intrigues my sense of smell and from there transmits to my brain and I realize grandma has been baking. Not only has she been baking but she has been baking my all time favorite cookie, Double Chocolate Mint Chip. Yum! Instantly a stream of drool forms in the corner of my mouth and a low moan escapes my lips.

"Oh, Baby Granddaughter, I am happy to see hear whatever is eating at you personally, is not affecting your appreciation for food." Grandma says with a big smile.

"Now, how about we head into the kitchen. I have sandwiches made up for lunch and I am sure you want to get those little fingers of yours on some of those fresh baked cookies that I only bake for my favorite girl. What your comfort cookies won't fix time will my dear and in between now and then you have me to lean on, ok."

Grandma's words warmed my heart and as we walked to the kitchen I let a few stray tears fall but did it with a smile on my face. At that moment I knew I made the right decision and that I will heal and become a much stronger woman.

Grandma gestured for me to have a seat at the island bar where our sandwiches and kettle chips waited our arrival. I closed my eyes to take a deep relaxing breath and when I opened them my lunch plate was replaced with my cookies that grandma loves to bake me. As she was setting a glass of milk in front of me I looked up at her and the bewilderment I felt must have shown through because grandma quickly explained that this is exactly the occasion where we should eat our desert first. I instantly agreed and reached for my first cookie, broke it in half and dunked it in my milk. Grandma was watching me intently, waiting for my seal of approval. As soon as I took my first bite the flavor explosion that erupted in my mouth set off a series of moans that must have satisfied grandma and she went about eating her first cookie with the same preparation as I did.

I finished three cookies before reaching for my sandwich. Grandma and I ate in silence for the next ten minutes. I pushed my plate forward when I was finished with my lunch. Grandma took this as her cue to begin the discussion that I knew was coming sooner or later, but probably sooner than I would have hoped. I mean, denial has been my friend for quite some time now and it is a difficult habit to break.

"So, what really brings you all the way down here and I want the truth, Baby Granddaughter, and nothing but it."

For the next few hours I told grandma everything from my relationship with Ranger to our discussion in my apartment and he leaving. I told her how deeply in love with him I am but that I couldn't continue to put myself through the heartache of not having him completely. I told her about why I needed to get away and it wasn't until I made the decision to do so that I found out that about all the support and love I have in Trenton, but that I still needed to get out of there. I couldn't take the memories haunting me. I told her about Tank and Lula and Connie and the guys at Rangeman. I especially told her about Lester and our interesting night a few days before I left Trenton. This is where she really chimed in and said she wouldn't mind getting Lester in her bed half naked. She also questioned me about his "package" and as to if I got a good look at it or not before he could fully cover himself. I chose to answer her with a scolding, "Grandma!" and left her in the dark on that one.

When we finished our discussion it was late afternoon and I was exhausted. I decided to head to the spare bedroom for a little nap. The drive mixed with the emotional and tear filled conversation had really gotten to me and I decided to forgo retrieving my belongings from my car and unpacking and opted for a full sized bed in the room opposite of grandma's.

Before relaxing into the bed I grabbed my phone and hit speed dial two. Speed dial one was still home to Ranger's number and though I don't for see myself using it anytime soon I was not ready to remove it just yet.

"Yo!" Came the greeting from a very sexy voice on the other end of the line.

"Yo yourself, Les, what's up?" I replied

"Oh, Beautiful, nothing really just missing my best friend is all. You ready to come home yet?"

I laughed.

"Sorry, Les, but I think I will stick it out a little while longer down here. I mean I did just get here" looking at my watch "oh, three hours ago."

"Yeah, Yeah I know but you can't blame me for asking. I am very happy you made it safely. What's on your agenda?"

"Um, not much today. I am actually really tired and was just about to take a nap when I realized I never called to let you know I made it."

"I know, I was starting to worry and had to force myself not to call you. I told myself you would call when you got a chance, but to tell you the truth I was only giving you until the end of my shift and if you hadn't called by then I was going to break down and call to make sure you were ok."

"Thanks, Les, it means a lot that you care and I am sorry to have worried you." I said with tinge of guilt seeping through my voice.

"No worries, Beautiful, and of course I care. Steph, you are very important to me. Please do not ever forget that, ok?"

"I promise, Les, I won't. And, just so you know you too are very important to me. Your friendship means more to me than you can possibly imagine. I don't know if I will ever be able to repay you for your kindness through my drive down here. Seriously, you talked me off the ledge a few times."

"Beautiful, there is nothing to repay. You are my friend and you needed someone to talk to. I will always be here for you, no matter what. I am just a phone call away so never hesitate on dialing, got it? Oh, and I can imagine because I feel the same way about your friendship." Les replied and in the brief moments between the end of his declaration and him asking "Beautiful?" a tear escaped my salty water filled eyes and my heart swelled with love for my newly found friendship with Les.

"Yeah, Les, I am hear. Just trying to grasp onto what I did to deserve such an amazing friend as I have in you." I said and meant it.

"You were just yourself, Steph, and that is enough." He said and I nodded my head knowing that he was being honest.

"Well, Beautiful, why don't you take that nap now? I am sure you are exhausted from your travels. Call me later if you have the time but if not I will for sure talk to you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Beautiful."

"Ok, sounds good. Bye, Les, and thank you."

After disconnecting with Les I snuggled down into my new but temporary bed and quickly drifted off to sleep with thoughts of my new life in Miami floating through mind.

It has been five weeks since I moved to Miami and so for so good. I found a small one bedroom beach front apartment about a week and a half after arriving here and moved in two days after signing my lease. The price was a bit steeper than what I paid for my apartment back in Trenton, but with my new job and a steady paycheck I am able to afford it.

I love my new apartment. The building itself is only two years old and the apartment has a fresh and modern feel to it. I never loved my apartment back in Trenton. In fact, it was quite depressing actually. My new apartment helps me to feel a bit revived. My living room and bedroom floor have been covered in a light beige carpet. The walls in the living room are beige and light blue and my bedroom is a light grey color. I was told I could paint if I preferred different colors, but I was happy with the current ones so I opted not to spend the unnecessary time and just decorate around these ones.

My kitchen, of which I am trying to spend more time in, is small but beautiful. The floor is stone colored ceramic tile and the cabinets are white to match a modern beach house look. To the right of the kitchen is a small dining room that houses a small four person white table to match the cabinets. There are French doors that open to a decent size balcony that overlooks the beach and ocean. I tend to sit out on the balcony nightly, occasionally with a glass of wine, and do some deep thinking. Ok, ok, not occasionally, most nights I tend to sit with a glass of wine, but that is neither here nor there.

My favorite room in my new apartment is actually what my least favorite room in my old apartment was…the bathroom. I despised my old apartment's bathroom. It was ugly and run down and aside from my shower massager there was no enjoyment found in it. My new bathroom is the epitome of enjoyment and for just a one bedroom apartment the contraction team really outdid themselves while contracting the bathrooms in this building…well at least mine anyways.

There is a ceramic tiled stand up shower with what has to be the most amazing shower head known to man…well, maybe Ranger's is the most amazing shower head known to man, but mine is a close second. The tub is a Jacuzzi style and you better believe I have used it a few times already. I have a single granite vanity sink with amazing storage space underneath and lights that frame the mirror so that I have no problem applying my makeup in the morning, as apposed t the drabby lighting in my old apartment.

All in all, I have found a great place to live.

I lock up my apartment and run down the stairs to my Honda which is parked in front of my building. I am a few minutes behind this morning as I decided to stretch out my morning run a little longer this time. I started running the morning after arriving at Grandma Mazur's to try to clear my head. I know that Ranger uses exercise to clear his head through deep thinking and exerting built up energy so I figured I would give it a shot and have come to find out that it really does help. Believe it or not, I like to run.

Les about had a heart attach when I informed him that I had taken up running. In fact, last night I mentioned to him that I had to get off the phone and get around for bed seems I was getting up a little early for my run the next morning in order to still be able to get one in before work and I have to be to work an hour earlier than normal. Les decided to poke a little fun at me saying that he still can't believe I had taken up running and he keeps waiting to see pigs flying through the air and reports on Hell freezing over. He might be one hot, sexy man but he is such a dork at heart.

Anyway, I have been working at J.P. Investigations for one month now and I really like it. Tank was right when he said that I would be good in this line of work. Like I said, I have only been with the company for a month and I have already turned up some important findings that no one there had noticed about some very important cases.

Joshua Powers, or JP as most people call him, is in his late 30's and is built like your typical Rangeman guy with similar bad ass qualities. He has known Tank for quite some time too. Apparently they have collaborated together in some investigations and on certain cases here in Miami and elsewhere, but that is all I really know about their relationship. I can't help but wonder if he knows Ranger and has worked with Rangeman Miami too, but I refrain from asking.

JP had dropped off a file to me and asked that I take a look at it and feel free to do an additional search on it if I felt one was needed. He said that Tank had mentioned that I had the best instincts of anyone he knows and that JP would be a smart man to involve me in as many cases as possible…especially the ones that he and the others guys were finding difficult to solve. Oh, did I mention I am the only female that works at J.P. Investigations?

Anyway, the other guys and he had been through the file many times over and are continuously coming up empty handed. He said that they work alongside another company doing searches and investigations with them and that this particular case is very important and they are running out of time to come up with something worth investigating but they feel something is there.

I was very happy to accept the challenge JP was offering me and determined to come up with something useful. I had been at J.P. Investigations for nineteen days at that point and though everyone, aside from one guy they called Diaz, had been accepting of me I felt like they didn't really take me all that seriously.

I buried myself in that file for two days straight. I knew something was there. My spidy senses were on high alert and if I could only pin point what it is that is off with Mr. Nathan Flanko and his business dealings I knew I not only would prove myself to JP and the guys, but something told me I would be doing society a favor as well. Something about this Nathan Flanko, CEO of Flanko Product Distribution, mogul of Miami, FL, is extremely fishy and I was bound and determined to find it.

I ran search after search on Flanko, his family, his business and business partners and so on and I read and re-read and then re-read again.

I was spread out on my living room floor with the file JP gave me on Flanko and all of my additional works scattered around me and on the verge of giving up when I reached my hand out and grasped what ever piece of paper it landed on. I pulled it to my face and went about reading.

My investigative technique may have been a bit unorthodox at this point but since when do I go about doing things by the norm anyway.

I shot straight up with the greatest shocked expression on my face. I screamed in excitement and nearly fell over from the head rush I got from jumping up to my feet so quickly. Running around my apartment like a mad woman I chanted, "I got it, I got it, I got it!"

Finally, after I ran out of breath and the initial adrenaline wore off from my discovery I plopped down into my new comfy couch and red over the single piece of evidence that I needed all this time. How I missed it before is beyond me but I have it now and I couldn't wait to meet with JP in the morning to inform him of my findings.

I gathered up the documents littering my living room floor and added them back in there respective files. Once finished I headed out to my balcony with my phone. I needed to come down from the excitement of my discovery and I figured the best way for me to do that is to share it with someone…someone I trusted so I hit that button on my phone and waited for that ever familiar voice to fill my ear.

"Beautiful!" Les said and by the sounds of his voice I knew he hadn't been sleeping yet.

"Les, I am sorry to call so late but I needed to talk to you."

Instantly Les' excitement of my phone call turned to worry and he said, "Beautiful, what's wrong?" Apparently I should learn to start conversations off a little les dramatic.

"Oh, no Les nothing is wrong. I am sorry to have given you that impression. I just needed to talk to you about my case. You know the one I told you that JP gave me because no one could figure it out."

"Yeah, I know the one. What's up, Steph?" He asked

"I did it, Les! I figured it out and I was just so excited and proud of myself that I needed to share it with you."

"Oh, Steph, I am so happy. I know how driven you have been to crack this case and you did it. I am so proud of you!"

Hearing Les say those words never gets old. I love him…in a brotherly sort of way that is.

Les and I talked for a good half hour. I explained everything to him, even how I made my discovery and he laughed saying, "Only you, Beautiful, only you."

The next morning I went through my ritual and arrived at work a half hour early. I couldn't contain my enthusiasm over my discovery any longer and had to see JP as soon as possible.

He was in his office with the door open so I knocked twice on the frame and tried to wait for him to invite me in before doing so myself but could not wait those few seconds, I was too thrilled.

"Steph?" JP said in the way of a question

"JP, uh sorry for just walking in but I have to share something with you." I said with what I imagine to be a huge grin on my face.

"It's no problem, Steph. So, what do you have to share with me?" He asked a bit perplexed.

I couldn't help my elated state and in being so I began rambling about my findings and how crazy it was that it just kind of eventually came to me in a moment of frustration after reading through the file several times over. I hadn't even realized I was pacing back and forth and before I knew it JP was standing in front of me and had a hand on either side of my shoulders.

"Steph, why don't we have a seat on the couch and you can explain everything that you have found to me then. Now, have a seat and I am going to grab a bottle of water. Would you care for one?" JP said in a calm tone of voice. I nodded my head to his offer and sat down on the black leather couch.

After taking a quick drink of the ice cold water that JP presented me with I started at the beginning.

"JP, I found it. I found the information you were looking for on Nathan Flanko. You said that the company you work with doing searches and investigations had a feeling that their client was into something bad and they offered this file to you to figure it out. Well they were right, he is into something bad. Though I do not know exactly what that is I do know that what I found will more than likely give us the answer."

I paused to gauge JP's reaction and noticed that he was quite intrigued. He made a go on gesture with his hand and so I took another quick sip from my water bottle and continued.

"While reading through the file you gave me and the initial search Diaz ran I noticed that Flanko utilizes the port here in Miami to ship out products. At first I found this a bit odd, because well let's face it we are in the 21st Century and most multi million dollar companies are shipping via air these days. Through further investigation I realized that Flanko does ship via air, but when sending out shipments to Central and South America they go by water. I thought that maybe it was more cost affective this way, but at the same time it would be less time affective and from what I have discovered is Flanko is a modern day business man and has quite the sense of urgency about him. This just didn't fit his character."

Pulling out the file that holds all the secrets and laying it open on the coffee table in front of us I begin to present JP with the evidence to back up my claim.

"Ok, take a look at this docking log that I obtained while running a search on his business. Flanko exports goods through the port, right, well the port keeps docking logs of every ship coming in and out and in doing so I was able to hack into their system and obtain copies of their logs."

JP cut me off by raising his hand in a halting motion and said, "Steph, how do you know how to hack into virtual places? Did you learn that here?"

I had to laugh at JP's question. Of course I didn't learn that trick here.

"JP, I am pretty talented with a computer. Plus, before moving to Miami I completed some skip tracing with the top of the line programs, much like the ones here. You can hack into just about any network with the right program and the proper knowledge."

He seemed satisfied with my explanation and allowed me to finish.

"Anyway, take a look at this docking log. It is the log for ship number 13579 for the past month. What do you see here, here and here?" I ask while pointing out the three different dates on the log.

"I see a time, a company name and persons name and a destination." JP responds and I finally realize that Tank is right and I have a greater attention to detail than most people.

"JP, look at this. Ship number 13579 left from the port at 12:43 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2. The company name is?"

"Flanko Production Distribution." JP says

"And the name of the person departing on the ship is?"

"Nathan Flanko." JP replies

"JP, Flanko is a millionaire many, many, many times over so why is he manning his own ship to" I pause to glance back at the docket "Columbia?"

"That's a good question, Steph."

"I know, that is why after glancing at this one example I continued to look into it a bit more and found three other dates in the last month with ship number 13579 and Flanko's name, all leaving the port after midnight. The one thing that I found to be really odd is," pulling out the remainder docket logs on Flanko's other six ships "the logs for the other ships all have departure and return dates but ship 13579 only has departure dates. Throughout the past month, at least, there is no return date. Ship 13579 has been logged at departing the port four times in the past two months, and always on a Wednesday after midnight but there is no return date or time. And, another fishy piece of evidence is that ship 13579 only ever goes to Columbia, no where else."

"So, what do you think?"

"Steph, I think you are onto something huge here. Do you mind if I take this information and present it to the company that requested it?"

"Oh, absolutely JP! I only hope that it helps. I will get out of your hair so that you can get back to work. I will be at my desk if you need anything."

"Steph." JP says halting my departure.

"Yeah?"

"You have done really good, sweetheart. I have to admit that I was skeptical about all of Tank's praises of you but he was one hundred percent correct. You are very special and I am very, very happy to have you on board here. This information you turned up" he said while raising the file "I know it is going to be key in some monumental discoveries of Nathan Flanko and you should be proud of yourself…I know that I am. You found pieces of evidence missed by my entire team. I almost can't believe it, but I am very grateful."

With a small smile and the nod of my head I turned and walked out JP's office door. I was and still am so proud of my discoveries and couldn't wait to here what happened after he presented and handed the information over to who I expected to be Rangeman Miami but never voiced my question.

Now, exactly eleven days after giving the information to JP, I am on my way to work an hour earlier than normal for a meeting with JP, a few of the guys from my work and some people from the mystery company in which I found the pertinent information on Nathan Flanko.

I am so excited to hear if the information I discovered turned out to be of any assistance and if it turned up what I think it might have then I know that I am very proud of my role in putting an end to Nathan Flanko's activities.

Author's Notes: Ok, so Steph's keen spidy senses, instincts and attention to detail come in handy once again. Next chapter will reveal exactly what she aided in discovering about Nathan Flanko and will also be a pivotal chapter in this story for her. Hope you enjoyed.