Stephanie's POV

My day had sucked to put it mildly, Vinnie was absolutely pissed at me for losing this latest skip. It was a low level gangster by the name of Alan Fritz, he had missed his hearing and went on the run. I had been sent after him, Connie told me that it would be easy to get him, news flash it wasn't ,My search for Mr Fritz led me to Stark street. I had just stepped onto the rotting board of the porch and had raised my fist to knock when the door flew open and I came face to face with the very man that I was looking for. Alan Fritz was 5'5 and maybe about 120 pounds soaking wet. Not what i was expecting. He barely saw me before stopping on a dime and looking at me with confusion in his muddy brown eyes.

"Who are you?' He questioned.

"My name is Stephanie Plum, you missed your court date and need to reschedule." I told him as I took a step back, man he stunk really bad.

He blinked owlish at me before looking around for an escape.

" Dont.." I started but didn't finish the sentence before he started to dart left and i followed but he quickly went right, I tripped over the moldy outdoor carpet and slammed into the unsteady railing of the porch, i freefall into the bushes on the side of the house and i felt my clothing rip in places and scratch my skin.

"Damn it." I cursed as I watched Alan run down the sidewalk and disappear around the block.

I climbed out of the bushes and groaned, I shook my head and started around the block where Alan had gone and tried to spot him among the crack houses and burnt out husks of businesses,he was not where in sight.I headed back toward my POS of a car, it was an old Honda with dents in the body and a missing tail light but she ran at least for the time being. I opened the creaky as hell door and plopped myself inside, pulling out my cell i checked for messaged and missed calls. I only had one. It was from Lula asking when i was gonna bring donuts in tomorrow, i sighed and shook my head.

"Why do i do this to myself?" I laughed at the question.

"Cause you need to pay rent and eat, you can only bum so many meals of your parents a week steph." I told my reflection then thumbed my forehead on the steering wheel. I stayed that way for several seconds before I lifted my head and tried to start the car but nothing happened.I tried again but it sputtered and wheezed before dying completely. I got out grabbing my bag and slammed the door as hard as I could. Thunder rumbled overhead as I walked up stark st toward the apartment i shared with my four legged roommate Rex the hamster. I had gotten as far as the street i lived on before the heavens opened up and I was drenched from head to foot. With my head down and water dripping from my hair I sloshed my way to the door. I took the stairs as fast as the water squashing out of my shoes would allow me. I left a watery trail in my wake, I knew i had to pay a visit to Dylan to get the mess sorted out. I finally made it to the door of my home and stuck my key in the lock, i shuffled inside and locked it behind me and began to strip out of my wet came off first and i dropped it in a wet heap in the entryway, my bra jeans underwear, socks and ruined shoes followed suit. I walked across the expanse of my apartment in the buff, everything was silent as i found my way to my room and grabbed an oversized t shirt i had stolen for ranger forever ago, it had the range man logo over my frozen left breast and still faintly smelt of the shower gel i loved so much. I heard rex began to run on his wheel, I went to the fridge and grabbed a few baby carrots for him to snack on and then dropped them in his food bowl. I had just sat down on the couch and flicked on a lamp, its soft glow casting small shadows around the room when I heard the door unlock. I knew the only person it could be was ranger, I could never figure out how he did that or how he did it. He really was batman. The minute i saw him i knew something was wrong, he had shadows under his eyes and were those tear tracks i saw? I stood and walked over to him as he closed and bolted the door behind him. Without saying a word he reached for me and drew me close, he buried his face in my hair and his shoulders began to shake. I gripped on to him for all I was worth and we sank to the floor, I ran my fingers through his hair and just let him have this. I knew something had gone terribly wrong for the strongest man I knew to break apart like fragile glass.