Thanks to all of you who reads, reviews and marks this story or me as a favourite! And some of the reviews has got me thinking of a part IV, but if that ever happens, it won't be for a while. Right now I'm working and studying part time on the University, plus have a family.
X
Chapter 12. Moving on
The following week was a quiet one. Steph did well at work, and could help with finding two FTAs. None of them were worth much moneywise, but Sebring said that he had heard that the news on the street said not to mess with the bond's office.
"I even heard someone say that they chose Plum's bail bonds instead."
"Oh," Stephanie said in a small voice. "I never wanted you to lose any business."
"Please. This shows that we have a professional approach. The losers going to Vinnie instead, when he doesn't have a decent bond enforcement agent? I believe that you and I will both get more money and the last laugh."
He looked serious.
"Steph, you're doing a very good job, even though you've only been working here a couple of weeks. I believe next week that we will begin to train you to write the bonds as well. This will of course mean more work and some odd hours, which will reflect in your paycheck."
He smiled.
"The only thing I've found that you can't do is tending to the plants, and since I like that I believe we have found a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"I totally agree, Les."
X
On Thursday Steph went to the solicitor's office, and signed her will. She spoke in passing about her mother and family, stressing that they had behaved themselves, and hadn't talked about the will.
Mrs. Clifford hesitated.
"Maybe you should mention that you've written a will, but not tell them about who will inherit. Claim that the women's shelter or something else will get the lot."
Steph looked pensieve.
"I get what you're saying, Mrs. Clifford. I'll think about it. And thank you for your help."
"You're a paying customer. I wish you good luck with the rest of your hopefully long life."
They shook hands, and Steph went to her car. On a whim she decided to go by Haywood for a brief visit.
This time the sign at 'her' parking lot made her smile, not cry. When she stepped out of the elevator on the fifth floor she still saw only black - all the men working seemed to come and greet her. After a round of hugs, Tank again asked her to step into his office.
"Only after I get my hug," she said cheekily.
He laughed and hugged her.
In the office he asked her to sit down in the visitor's chair.
"I hear you've started at a new job," he said.
"Yes. I'll tell you why soon, but first I want to explain that I thought about your job offer. It's just that if Ranger and I ever get together, I think it might be too much working at the same place. And if we don't get together…"
"Don't even think it, Little Girl. I honestly think you've both finally pulled your heads out of your asses. And Ranger will be back in a couple of months. But I get what you're saying. Now tell me what happened at Plum's Bail Bonds."
And so Steph told him about not getting enough skips to be able to feed herself after paying the rent, finding out that Vinnie had given the skips to Joyce Barnyard, and how neither Connie nor Lula had said anything about it.
She heard something snap, and when she looked over at Tank, he had broken the pen he had been fidgeting with.
"The only good thing in this mess is that Les Sebring at least seems to appreciate you," he finally said.
He was quiet for a while.
"I've heard from some of the guys that Vinnie's seemed more stressed lately, but I don't think they knew that Joyce has been getting the low range bonds. Fact is, Rangeman's been thinking of quitting the BEA work for Plum's Bail Bonds. We don't really need the money, and the security part has been stretched thin for a while. We've got a good reputation in security, and the really big bonds don't come from Vinnie, anyway."
Steph wasn't stupid, she could read between the lines, and realized that Rangeman had kept up with the skips to be able to back her up. And if she didn't work for Vinnie, well, then Rangeman didn't feel obliged to. She tried to feel bad about her cousin's business, but her empathy seemed out of order. She suspected that Vinnie should be expecting a business talk from his father-in-law Harry the Hammer soon. And since Harry was family, Vinnie had better shape up, or he would find himself wearing concrete boots at the bottom of the Delaware.
Tank then suggested some coffee with the other Rangemen, and she happily complied. A group of the Rangemen getting off work even persuaded her to come with them to Shorty's for pizza. She had a fun evening, and felt happy going home.
X
A short while after getting home she got a call from her mother.
"I hear you were eating out tonight, Stephanie," Helen said.
"That's correct," Stephanie said. "I must congratulate you on having a network of informers rivalling anything the TPD has."
"I'm just worried that you will get a reputation," Helen said. "Considering that you're seen with a lot of men."
"They are my friends," Stephanie said. And bit her tongue before she volunteered information about her and Mary Lou going out.
"I just mean that you're not getting any younger," Helen said. "And most men would think twice before they started dating a woman with a lot of male friends."
She managed to make the male friends part sound really dirty and suspect, Stephanie thought.
"Well, since I'm not looking for a man right now, I don't think that is a problem."
Steph didn't say a word about the fact that she wasn't looking for a man right now, because she hoped she'd found him.
"How is your new job?" Helen asked.
"Oh, I really like it."
"Is your new boss married?"
Here we go again, Steph thought.
"I'm not sure," she said. "I do believe he's in a committed relationship, though."
She didn't mention that the committed relationship was with Bruce, a very nice pediatrician. Bruce had come in to say hi, and they had tentatively talked about scheduling her bond writing around when he was off work, so that he and Les could have some more time together.
Helen then gave her the news on some of their neighbours, before inviting her to Sunday dinner. Steph said she would be there.
