Lula and Connie grilled me as soon as they came back but I do not care. I cannot get the smile off of my face. I know this is the right thing.

"about time you stopped going back to Mr fine cop, fine but stupid that one is" I nod

"well it is for the best"

Connie is giving me a look

"are you actually going to stick with it this time? How many times have we heard you are done with him but you go back after a month or two"

I sigh

"I hear what you are saying but this time is different" she nods and goes back to her computer.

I truly hope that this time is different. I shake my head. I cannot doubt myself, not this time.

"anyway Lula you want to ride shot gun to pick up this one" I asked Lula

"sure"

She and I climb into my car to go to and we hear to Jennifer Garland apartment. She living close to my old building. We try to ring her apartment but she does not answer. Luckily, we get into the building when an old man leaves.

"not having an elevator is criminal" said Lula.

I smile

"on more flight to go, we are almost there. She sighs and drags herself to the apartments.

"Mrs. Garland?" I say as I knock on the door.

It swings open and a teenage boy answers it. He is tall, short brown hair and blue eyes

"what do you want?" I look him over

"Are you Mrs Garlands son?" he snorts at me

"yeah what do you want from my mom?"

"I work for Vincent bail bonds; she missed her court date"

I hand him my card

"where is your mother now"

"work"

"where does she work?"

"The cluck bucket"

"why are you not in school?"

he raises an eyebrow

"I'm sick"

"Well that's some bull" said Lula

"tell you mama to call us" she turns and leaves with that. I face him again

"I'm sorry but what is your name?"

"Josh"

"thank you, Josh,"

I catch up with Lula

"she should go check out her work"

"and get some chicken"

"I could eat"

we drive there.

"here we go".

We wait in line

"Excuse me is Jennifer Garland here?" I ask the lady at the cash

"yeah she is on her break outside"

she points off to the dumpsters

"thank you"

Lula orders and I head outside.

"Jennifer Garland?"

I see a lady in the 40s smoking, she is pale, dark hair and blue eyes

"who is asking?"

"I am Stephanie Plum"

"no shit? You are the talk of the town, burn anymore buildings down?"

"not recently, you missed your court date Mrs. Garland"

she rolled her eyes

"you know what he did? He decided to have a midlife crisis, smoke away all of my money and spend it on some young thing. I supported us for the last 15 years with no help from him and he goes and does that? I paid for the dam car so I say lighting it up was a good thing"

"look I need you to come with me to reschedule your court date"

"can't gotta work"

"they don't know you have been arrested?"

"this is the cluck bucket; you think they care? they want hard labor for cheap"

I nod

"look it will not take long" she sighs

"I gotta call my mom to take my kid"

I nod and she heads back inside. That is easy. Lula comes back out with a bucket of chicken

"got lunch"

I nod and then Jennifer comes out with her jacket and bag.

"let's get this over with" I laugh

"it will not take long" I say walking up to my car.

I go to open the door but I hear gun fire

"Everybody duck!" Lula says and I hit the ground and cover my head. What the hell? I hear a bunch of screaming and then sirens.

"Steph!" yelled Lula crawling up to me. I lift my head up

"are you alright?"

I crawl over and I see Jennifer Garland bleeding out. I get up and go over to her

"oh no" I put my hands on the wound on the chest.

"no no no please stay with me" I say as the blood is pouring over my hands

"please please please"

"Stephanie" I hear Eddie yell, he pulls me away while a paramedic takes over.

I look at my blood covered hands.

"are you alright" he asks me.

I just nod

"yeah I am okay"

I whisper.

A/N

Hey guys, just a little update. I am very sorry that I do not update regularly. I do my best but unfortunately life has delt me not the best hand. I do my best to update when I can but I am not sure when this story will be complete. I know that is annoying to hear because this story is five years old. I am sorry again and I will do my best to keep updating.