Cal's POV

Our mission was successful. We'd gone in to take out the target a few hours ago and everything had gone exactly according to plan. We'd verified intel and carried out our objective with no complications and now all I had to do was endure the flight back to DC, the debrief, and say no to their attempts to get me to sign another contract. With Steph in my life, there was no way I'd sign on again. These couple of weeks away from her had been torture, and I couldn't imagine how hard it would be if I were to leave a wife and baby at home down the road. There's no doubt in my mind that's where we're headed.

I found myself constantly thinking about the minute I would have Steph back in my arms again. Her smell, her touch, her crazy curls, her beautiful blue eyes – I missed every single part of her. One thing I knew for sure – I wasn't not going to stop myself from telling her how I felt now that I was going back home. She may not have said the words either, but I knew that she felt the same just from the way she treated me.

Steph's POV

I sat at home after dinner with Les and looked through all the information I'd gathered about Big Dog on my own. I knew I had to be missing something that would lead me to him, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. As I read through the file for the twentieth time, I tried to pick out additional details, but nothing jumped out at me. Nothing seemed right here. Carl had been accused of solicitation and assault, but the timeline didn't quite work out. I went with my gut and picked up my phone, quickly dialing the number that I'd jotted down in the file. I began to speak after it went to voicemail.

"Hey, Carl. This is Stephanie Plum from high school. Listen, I work for your bail bondsman and am supposed to bring you back into the system, but the information in your file just doesn't make sense to me. My gut keeps telling me that you were set up. If that's the case, I'm willing to help you clear your name. Just call me at this number."

I was well into my peanut butter and olive sandwich when my phone rang, scaring the crap out of me and almost making me fall out of my chair. The caller ID just said private.

"Hello?" I answered uncertainly.

"This is Carl," I heard on the other end. "You're really willing to help clear my name? Because I can stay hidden long enough to do it myself if I need to."

Holy crap on a cracker. He called me back.

"Hey, Carl. Of course I meant it. Something just seems off," I answered in hopes of getting him talking.

"That's because I was set up. I just went to talk to the girl about some reports of an officer using his influence to bribe working ladies for favors. And the next thing I know, there are witnesses to me being the last person to see her before she was assaulted and I'm being hauled in. I think the cop who roughed her up set me up."

Wow, that was a lot to digest. "Who set you up, Carl?" I asked.

"Can we meet somewhere? I'd prefer to talk in person."

"Sure, name the place and I'll be there," I agreed.

"I'll send the address to your phone number. Come alone," he instructed me.

"Of course. See you soon." And the line went dead.

My phone beeped a minute later with the address and instructions to meet in an hour, so I didn't have any time to waste. I changed into skinny jeans and a stretchy top in an attempt not to look like the bounty hunter I'm trying to be and then loaded up my gear to ensure I could keep myself safe. Fifty-three minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot of a seedy motel and drove around back to find the room number I'd been given.

I wished with everything that I had Cal or Les with me, but I needed to pull up my big girl panties and do this myself. I watched my surroundings for a couple of minutes in order to let my eyes adjust and ensure that I was safe and then looked up at the room just in time to see Carl peeking out the curtains.

The room door opened as I got out and locked the car doors and Carl stepped out just enough to see me. It was obvious from his stance and the way his eyes darted around the parking lot that he was trying to ensure I'd come alone and also that I was safe. This is Carl. I've known him forever. I can do this.

"Steph," he greeted quietly as I approached the door. He stood to the side to allow me entrance and then closed and locked the door behind me.

"Carl," I returned. "Thank you for talking to me. I'm giving you my word that I won't take you in; I really am here to help."

"Pretty sure that's not how Ranger does his bounty hunting gig," he joked, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Let's just say that Ranger and I have some very different ideas on how to get the job done and our moral compasses don't align," I returned.

"Thank god for that. Rumor has it you've been seen around with him a lot though," he replied.

"Yeah, Vinnie won't let me out on my own until Ranger clears me, and the Man in Black seems unwilling to cut me loose," I explained.

"He always has loved beautiful women," replied Carl. "Now, I'm sure you didn't come here to talk about Ranger Manoso."

"No, I came here to talk about you. Can you tell me what happened so I can help you?" I asked.

"Yeah, have a seat."

Carl and I sat in the old chairs at the tiny table in his room and he began his story.

"There had been rumors of an officer trading personal favors with the working ladies to get them out of charges or arrests. I was assigned to the case by the chief, but things got out of hand. I was getting close to all of the evidence and information that I needed when I went to see Patty. She told me what I needed to know, but got an unpleasant visit after I left. The dirty cop roughed her up in retaliation for talking and gave her a warning she won't forget about opening her mouth again. Someone had footage of me going into the room and leaving, and that combined with her account got me arrested. I know that the rat put her up to naming me in the assault to get me out of the way," he explained. Whoa.

"Who's the dirty cop, Carl?" I asked.

"Joe Morelli."