(taken directly from page 301 of Hard Eight, in a different perspective)

"Did you just get out of a cab?" I asked when Stephanie barreled through the door to the office.

"Maybe."

I was smiling ear to ear. She was knee deep in a trench full of crap, yet her life was as funny as stuffing 12 clowns into a volkswagon. "You went after a FTA in a cab."

I watched her hands run through her hair and then settle on her gun. "Don't give me a hard time. I'm not having a good day, and as you know, I've got two bullets left. I might end up using them on one of us."

Clearly her day was shot to hell. "Do you need a ride home?"

"Yes." She said in a sigh.

"I'm your man," I said and turned around.

I could sence Connie and Lula were fanning themselves behind me. I didn't bother to turn around.

Steph climed into the truck and started looking around. "Are you looking for someone?"

I already knew the answer. "Abrunzzi. He threatened me again."

"Do you see him?"

"No."

It wasn't long before I turned into her apartment building. I pulled into the lot and parked. Using my "super-bat" senses, I notice one more car in the lot than there should have been. "There's a man in the SUV by the Dumpster. Do you know him?"

"No. He doesn't live in the building."

We both got out of the truck. I walked over to the SUV with Stephanie close at my heel. I raped on the window.

It rolled down and a greasy haired face poped out. "Yeah?"

"Waiting for someone?" I asked calmly.

"What's it to you?"

That did it. I didn't feel like getting blood on my new jacket, but this guy was pushing it. I reached in and grasped a handful of his jacked and lifted him halfway through the window. "I'd like you to take a message to Eddie Abrunzzi, can you do that for me?"

The driver nodded and I could feel him shaking. I let go of him and stepped back. "Tell Abrunzzi he's lost the war, and that he should move on."

I didn't realize I had drawn my gun. Neither did Stephaine. I locked mine on the back tire and folowed it until it was out of sight. I changed my glance to her window. More likely than not, the SUV was a watch. "We're going to stand here for a minute to give the rest of the tem time to geet out of your apartment." I smiled. "I don't want to shoot anybody. I'm on a tight schedule today. I don't want to get hung up on police forms."

I let five minutes pass before I felt it was safe to go in. I made her take the stairs. We made our way down the hall. Hector's keypad told us that the secruity had been breached. I did a quick walkthrough and discovered the apartment was empty. I turned to leave and then the phone rang. I hit the speakerphone button and Abrunzzi's angry voice said, "Stay out of this. This is a private matter between the girl and me."

"Wrong. As of this moment, you are out of her life."

"So, you're choosing sides?"

"Yeah, I'm chosing sides."

"You leave me no choice then. I suggest you look out the window, into the parking lot." And he disconected.

I crossed the room and pulled the curtains back. The SUV rolled back into the parking lot and pitched a package into my Bug-Truck. It instantly caught on fire. Stephanie came up behind me. She was getting used to torched veichles. I was not. Police sirens got closer, and I asumed Morelli wouldn't be far behind.

"I liked that truck" I muttered.

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(written by me)

Morelli did indeed show up. I finished with the police paperwork and nodded slightly. He returned the nod and stood closer to Steph. They had their words, and she left carrying his keys and his money. He ambled over to me.

"She's going for pizza." He said when he was close enough. "That Abrunzzi's work?"

He looked past me onto the flatbed truck, with the remains of my Ford.

"Yeah. Speaking of..."

"Kill him." I usually didn't like being cut off, but Morelli's action stunned me.

"Excuse me?"

"You're a mercenary. Kill him. He's hurt too many people to deserve to live."

I smiled and leaned on remaining cars in the lot. "Never imagined hearing that from a cop."

"I'm playing the role of scared boyfriend. I'm not officially a cop until 8." He joked and leaned beside me on the rusty truck.

He called in two large pizzas, both pepproni. I dialed Tank and told him to keep a sharp eye on Stephanie.

My heart stoped when he called back. "Boss, her trucks here, but she isn't."

"WHAT!" I screamed.

Joe wigged out beside me, sliding off the hood and catching himself before he hit the ground.

"She's gone. I checked everywhere." He explained.

I disconected and pulled Morelli with me. I ran to my Mercedes, which had been brought to me courtesy of Lester, and jerked the door open. Morelli angled in next to me, his face showing every pain he ever had.

"She's missing." I said and put the car in gear.

On a good day, it takes ten minutes to get from Stephaine's apartment to Pino's. I know, I've timed it. Today, at 6:23, it took under five. I pulled into the lot and hit the brakes. The car fishtailed a little, and I stopped a good three inches from Tank's back bumper. He was sitting on the crub and looked scared. It took a lot to scare Tank.

"Sorry Ric." He said when he got up.

"Where could she be? Here's the damn truck!" Morelli had begun pacing and took a moment to kick the front tire of his truck before contiuing.

I shook my head. Lord only knew what Abrunzzi would do before he got around to killing her.

Hector pulled into the lot in a black SUV. He asked me what I wanted him to do about her door, in spanish, of course.

I told him I'd think about it later and sent him off. From out of no where came two bright headlights. A van. The van parked next to Morelli's truck. A crazy-haired Valerie was sitting behind the wheel. She jumped out of the drivers side, and lo and behold, the Bombshell Bounty Hunter fell out of the other.

"Thank god." Tank said under his breath.

(somewhat from the book)

"He's in Pennsylvania." Stephanie said catching her breath."In a house on a dirt road.He would have killed me, but Valerie drove the van into the house and somehow we got out."

I knew where she was talking about from past experience. I had dealt with Abrunzzi before. Valerie was rambling on. Hector cut the girls free.

"How do you want to do this?" Morelli asked me.

I looked at Stephanie for a minute. Would she forgive me for killing someone, even if it benefitted her? "Take Steph and Valerie home."

Morelli loaded them into his truck and headed for home. I dismissed Tank and Hector, promising to yell at Tank when all was taken care of. I headed to Pennsylvania.

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(back to pure imagination)

The trip to the dirt road was quiet. Of course it was, I was alone. I sat in the driveway for a second, and then pulled the gun from under my seat. I checked for bullets, which was unnecessary but crucial. I screwed on a silencer. I took a deep breath and headed inside.

His locks were low grade. I popped it easily and entered. He was sitting on the couch, beer bottles scattered everywhere.

"Dear lord." He said and jumped up when he saw me.

"Anything you'd like me to put in your will?" I asked calmly and raised my gun.

He shook his head and pulled a Colt from his back pocket. I fired carelessly, hitting a lamp.

"Fool." He laughed and fired.

The bullet caught me mid-chest. I stumbled backwards and knocked the gun from his grasp. I pushed him back against the wall and said a little prayer in spanish. I pulled the trigger.

Blood and...brains... shot up the wall. He gasped for air and then fell to the floor. His eyes were white and emotionless. He was dead. I called Morelli and told him the deed had been done. I packed Abrunzzi up and fished his keys out of his pocket.

I drove to a little farmers market and stranded the car there. Abrunzzi was layed on the front seat, my gun in his right hand. I scraped the guts off the wall with a butter knife, and smeared them on the roof and headrest. Morelli was going to pick me up, I was guessing as a friendly gesture. He hadn't shown up yet, so I took the time to write a suicide note.

Morelli pulled up just as I stuck the note on Mr. Abrunzzi. He hovered over my shoulder. "Nice touch with the note."

"Yeah, I know."

Morelli motioned me over to his truck. I got in, and he drove us home to Trenton.

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I let myself into the famous "Batcave." It was cold and dark, like usual. I fipped on the hallway light and drug myself to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, and looking at my reflection, decided I should go to bed.

I pulled the covers up to my waist and looked out the window. The moon shone brightly. I looked at it, amazed in all its glory. Maybe Stephanie was looking at it too.

Stephanie was looking at it too. She woke up with Morelli's phone. He said he'd be back. Stephanie lie awake eversince he left, waiting for him to come back. The moonlight brought one realization to her head. She didn't love Joe anymore. She loved Ranger, or whoever he was.

She heard Joe on the steps, and faked a sleep. He chuckled and crawled in next to her. A tear drop fell down he cheek. Did Ranger love her back?

Previous Reviews:

Lour -Very,very good. Hard Eight has been one of my favorites so far.

Atush-Interesting change from what JE wrote. Are you going to continue this one?

It's fun to try and think what happens behind the scenes, particularly with this one. Don't think the butter knife and brains thing would pass a phorensics test, but my guess is Joe would help with that. We await your next.

Zoeykitty-great job! this is fab! lol! sad... but i think ranger loves her back! lol!