I'm pretty sure I could apologize in about five languages. RL has been pretty hectic lately. Between school, work, volunteering, mini day vacations, puppy sitting and studying, my plate has been pretty full. But I haven't forgotten this story. Its just the muse decided to take a mini vacation herself. For three weeks. Go figure.

I appreciate all the people who are still reading (and reviewing!) and sticking by me as I slowly get this story out. I will warn you now, there will be another gap after this one because I have some pretty big tests to study for next week. But after that, I'm all yours! So send your good thoughts my way because I'll need them for the next week!

Please enjoy. All mistake and the general storyline are mine. The rest is JE.

And once again, life went on. Following Ranger's advice, I started to stay low regarding my investigation. If I was dead, how was I going to help him when he finally called?

If he called.

Yeah a few days later, after the mystery of the whole ordeal wore off I realized that Ranger may have just tricked me into giving up.

Man, I was easy.

Was their even a hit out on me?

The guy was good. I may not like it, but I had to give him credit. He charmed me into believing that I was going to be part of the team. First he scared me, and then he knew exactly what to say to get me to give up.

I blew out a sigh. This sucks.

"Hey girl." Sally said when he walked into our cubicle. "What's up?"

"I'm an idiot."

He turned to me. "About what?"

I shook my head. I couldn't tell anyone and risk them getting into trouble. "Nothing. I need a vacation."

"Don't we all. Look. Just go back and fix whatever it is that you did."

"If it was only that simple."

Sally shrugged. "Sure it is. Does it have to do with that sexy boyfriend of yours?"

"No."

He just stared at me, waiting me out. I sighed again. "Okay. Say I started looking into something."

"Like a crime?"

"Sure. This is hypothetical though." I added.

"Okay…"

"And I got blocked by a guy who claimed he was trying to protect me."

"Was he hot?"

"I have a boyfriend!"

"And? You have eyes too, right?"

I bit my lip. "He was very sexy."

"Ooh, sounds nice."

"Anyway, the guy said that… hypothetically… that there might be someone out there who wants to kill me and that I should stop doing what I'm doing."

"You told him no way, right?"

"Duh! But he said that he'd call me and bring me in. That was three days ago."

Sally looked thoughtful. "Well then there's only one thing to do. You need to get back out there, girl."

"Hypothetically."

"Right."

So I took Sally's advice and got back to it. He was right. No man should tell me what to do!

I went back to the basics.

I went to Lula.

"Hey girl. Long time no see."

"Hi. Where's Jackie?"

"Entertaining."

Ah.

"What's up? You haven't been coming around askin' questions about the dead kid. My johns actually stopped bitching about you."

"They were bitching about me?"

"Yeah. Now they're saying 'good riddance that brunette bitch is gone'."

Lovely. "Are they saying anything else?"

"Nope. Sorry girl."

I shrugged. "I'm here on a different matter. Have you heard of a man named Ranger?"

"Hunh. That's a funny name." She scratched her head, making the beads in her hair clack. "Sure, I've heard of Ranger."

"Do you know where I can find him?"

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you need with that man?"

"I just need to talk to him." I replied, shrugging. She didn't need to know all my secrets. I may not know Lula well, but I wanted to keep her from my problems.

"Why, he knock you up?"

"What? No!"

"The man is like smoke. He's hard to catch. You're better off trying to catch the sun."

Great.

"No ideas?"

She bit her lip and shook her head. "Naw girl. But if you do find him, I want to meet him."

"Deal."

We chatted for a few minutes until Jackie started to make her way back. I scooted out of there to avoid a confrontation. That was the last thing I wanted. I waved to Lula and motored off.

The second stop I made for the day was to my family's home. Grandma Mazur was waiting for me at the door.

"Well this is a surprise." She said when I got out of the car. "You're just in time. Helen's almost done with lunch. We're having meatloaf sandwiches and potato salad."

"I brought cake." I said, holding up the Entenmann's box. "Raspberry coffee cake."

"Yum." Grandma licked her lips. She opened the door and I gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Stephanie, hello." My mother said when I entered the kitchen. She did the regulatory scan of my left finger for a ring and my stomach for a sign of a bun in the oven.

Fortunately, the only thing in my oven is the poptarts I had for breakfast. She sighed and made the sign of the cross. "Your sister called the other day. She and the girls are coming for a visit."

"What about that husband of hers?" I asked scrunching my face.

"Why are you making that face? He has to work, but she promised next time."

"I make this face because I don't like him. He's a jerk."

"He's your sister's husband and she loves him."

"Doesn't mean I have to…" I said into my milk cup.

Grandma snickered and mom scoffed. "He's a very nice man."

I shrugged. He was Val's decision not mine. Grandma changed the subject by talking about the case I wasn't supposed to be working on. She knew nothing new, but it still rankled a little. How could he do this to me? I thought he was different from Joe. He seem pissed when I brought him up…

And that's when I knew who I should go to next. I didn't like it, but I didn't believe I had any other choice.

I had to go see Joe.

After lunch, I headed to the police station. I hadn't seen Joe since our big fight and now I had to.

The building is in the middle of town, built back in the seventies and hasn't been refurbished since. I went through the back door and waved to Robin, the desk sergeant.

"What's up?"

She raised her hand. "Three more weeks and I can get this off. Joe's in his office."

I gave her a thumbs up and went on my way.

Five minutes later, I was standing in front of his office door. I couldn't bring myself to knock.

The door opened. "Cupcake." He said, shocked.

"Hi."