As I passed the security desk, a middle-aged man approached the security guard. "I am looking for Stephanie Plum. Is this where I go? Or do I go to the building next door?"

"You can go to either", said the security guard. "I don't know where she is right now but if you want to pass on a message, I would be happy to make sure she gets it." He looked up and saw me, but he didn't admit that I was there. I was glad and thought that I'd have to mention to Ranger that Tom had done exactly what he was supposed to, what he was trained to do.

"Which building is she in right now?" said the man. He looked a little frantic.

"I have no idea. Do you want me to call her office, and I can see if she is there?" said the security guard.

"I want to see her NOW!"

"I understand that. Can I tell her your name?"

"Dr. Oscopi." My eyes opened wide, and I pulled out my phone and texted Ranger that we needed a team sent to the reception area immediately. I didn't know what was about to happen, but instinct said that it wasn't anything good.

"Can I tell her the nature of your visit?"

"That bitch put me in jail. I had to put a GIC up for collateral for the bond, and now I'll lose a million dollars if I run."

"Then don't run", said the security guard.

"I'm not going to stay and go to jail. My lawyer said that there is hard proof that I have killed people. I didn't kill people. I just gave advice and they chose to follow it. It wasn't my fault that the people died. I don't see how they can win on a manslaughter charge, but the work that Ms. Plum did makes it seem like I'm a murderer."

I judged the distance to the door. I just knew that there was going to be a fallout from Dr. Oscopi's visit, and I didn't want Tia to be caught in the blast. However, Dr. Oscopi was between me and the door, and I also didn't want to take the chance that he took me hostage.

He spotted me and walked over to me. "I'm a doctor", he said, "and I can see that your baby is sick. May I examine her?"

"I'm sorry, but no", I said. I stepped in front of the stroller so that he couldn't reach in and steal her before I could stop him. Him taking Tia hostage was an even worse situation than him taking me hostage. At least I had a fighting chance – literally. "I just heard you say that you have killed people. However, thank you for letting me know that there is a problem. I'll make an appointment with her pediatrician."

He grabbed me, spun me around and held a switchblade to my neck. "You know, I could slit your throat in such a way that you would never recover. I am, after all, a doctor."

"No, you are deluded. You are not a doctor if you keep killing people."

"Occupational hazard."

"Did you even go to med school?"

"I didn't need to. I studied the texts and know all the procedures."

"Uh-hunh. Why did you pick the name Dr. Oscopi? After all, Colin Oscopi isn't a name that I would particularly want to be associated with. When I heard it, I thought your parents just had a sick sense of humor."

"I didn't put it together until I had my appointment cards made up. They were expensive, so by then it was too late."

"I see."

"How did you know my first name was Colin?"

"Joe Morelli was your arresting detective. I know him well."

"Have you been arrested by him in the past?"

I smiled. "No. But I've been friends with him since I was in diapers."

"So if I kill you, he will let me go?"

I snorted. "Do you really think it works that way? If you kill me, he will be out for blood. The rest of the TPD will be out for blood. The judges will be out for blood. There is no one associated with the justice system in Trenton that wouldn't support your death, and if you kill me I wouldn't be surprised that you would be conveniently murdered while waiting for your trial."

"Why are you so important to the TPD?"

I smiled. "I'm a bounty hunter and am a part of the justice system. And like any justice system, the officers protect their own."

"What's your name?"

"Val."

Tia growled. "No. Mama."

I tried not to smile. "That's true, peanut. My name is Mommy."

"My knife is sharp", said the doctor.

Ranger walked through the door. "And our guns are accurate. Unfortunately for you, we all aim to kill."

"All? There's just you."

Ranger stepped forward a few steps. "Look behind you."

I could feel Dr. Oscopi swing his head around and suck in a breath, and I took advantage of his distraction. I stepped to the side, slammed my hand back and into his groin, and elbowed him hard as he bent over from the hit. As he was recovering I was able to deke down. I was not, however, able to move the knife away from my body.

However, each of the ten people on the Emergency Response Team took advantage of my sudden dropping. Guns exploded as each of the ten people did kill shots through the head. Dr. Oscopi sank to the floor, on his way cutting my arm with his knife, and collapsed, dead, on the floor. He took me down with him, and I fell onto the dead body.

"Babe!" said Ranger as he sprang forward. Tia burst into tears from the sound of the guns, and Tank removed her from her stroller to give her a cuddle. She put her thumb in her mouth and started to suck to comfort herself.

"Get me up", I said.

"Just rest a minute. This won't be good for the baby, and I don't want you to pass out."

"GET ME UP!"

"Babe, just rest."

"God damn it, Ranger, I am lying in brains and blood and am getting them all in my hair and on my coat. I am about to lose it. Get. Me. Up."

Ranger lifted me to my feet as Hal came over. He took off my coat and inspected my arm, but the coat had taken the force of the cut and the knife hadn't passed through to my flesh.

"Did I just hear that you are pregnant?" Hal said with a grin.

I groaned.

Ranger grinned. "We just found out on the weekend, but we are seeing the doctor tomorrow to confirm it." He turned to me. "I got a cancellation at nine."

"If you want to let me know when the baby is due, I'd be willing to listen", said Hal with a smile.

I laughed. "Not a chance. I think Miguel is setting up the pool."

"I'm taking offense that Miguel and Dirk knew before me. As Vice-President of Operations, I am, after all, your supervisor."

Ranger laughed. "Why do you think I was in your office just now?"

Hal laughed.

~ The End ~