Connie and Lula both grinned then one of the responded, "Nothing's wrong. She's just on her way out of town."
"She's leaving?"
"Yup, that skinny white girl has done gone and decided to get a life, don't Batman feel stupid now?" smirked Lula.
Steph In The Right Direction
Chapter One
Stephanie dropped the top on her newly leased Toyota MR2 Spyder and let the wind flow through her hair. The radio was playing vintage Metallica and for the first time in months everything felt ok in Stephanie Plum's world.
She was nearly five hours into her 6 hour drive to Virginia Beach and she was already dreaming of the warm sand and the salty air. Just as she passed a sign proclaiming Virginia Beach to be 46 miles ahead, her new cell phone came to life playing a faded version of Bon Jovi's 'It's My Life'.
"Hello, you've reached the new and improved Stephanie Plum." she giggled into the phone.
"Stephanie! How's it going? Where are you?"
"Hey Mare. So far so good, I'm about an hour from the beach and the weather here is amazing. What's going on back there?"
Mary Lou sighed sarcastically and said, "Well of course all of Trenton is already talking about you."
"What! I just let a few hours ago." yelled Stephanie.
"I know, but it seems one Ricardo Manaso and Joseph Morelli caused quiet a scene a few minutes ago at the police station."
The car swerved as Stephanie listened a little too intently to the phone. She jerked the car back onto the correct path and continued down the interstate.
"What do you mean they caused a scene?"
Mary Lou was doing a poor job of hiding her snickering, "Well it seems right after you left the office this morning Connie and Lula told Ranger that you left town and they kinda forgot to mention that it was only temporary."
"What does that have to do with Joe?"
"Hang on Steph, I'm getting to that. So anyway, after Ranger left the office he went out to look for an FTA. A few hours later his curiosity must have gotten the best of him because he went to your apartment."
"Oh Lord." Steph whined.
"Exactly. So when he arrived there, he broke in as usual and was stunned when he walked into an empty apartment."
Stephanie laughed. "I'm sure he was wondering what the crap was going on. He hadn't been to my apartment in months so he had no idea I had already sold most of my belongings."
"It also didn't help that your super had already moved out most of the furniture."
"Dang that was quick, I guess the owner's didn't want me to change my mind and stay. But Mare, none of this explains what happened with Joe?"
"Stop interrupting and I'll tell you." She laughed at Steph's anticipation. "So after Ranger saw the empty apartment he assumed you had left for good. I guess that's when the realization of the situation hit him. I guess he figured he lost you for good this time. So he got mad and headed to the station to see Joe, assuming that he had done something to drive you away."
"Oh God. It gets worse doesn't it?"
"Afraid so Steph. Once Ranger reaches the station he hunts down Joe like a man on a mission. He nearly punches him before Mad Dog and Carl grab him. So right there in the middle of the station he starts accusing Joe of doing something to you and making you leave town."
"And Joe said…?" Steph asked.
"What could he say? He said he didn't have a clue what Ranger was talking about so he picks up the phone to call your cell phone…."
"And that's when he realizes I had it disconnected?"
"You got it girl. Seems like you have successfully driven both of these men nuts."
"Well what did they do after their argument? And please tell me they didn't actually fight."
"Nope, worse. They decided to team up."
"They what!"
"Yup, they decided to work together to find out what happened to you."
"What happened to me? I've only been gone five freakin hours!"
"But wait Steph, here's where it gets good. After they calm down Joe and Ranger decide they should go to your parents house figuring you had told them what happened."
"Shit, not my family."
"Yup. Seems your mom noticed them as soon as they pulled in front of their house, so by the time they reached the door your family was ready for the unsuspecting fools. Grandma Mazur was holding a gun, your mother had a rolling pin, and your dad had the remote control."
"What was he going to do with the remote?"
"I don't know Steph, he's your dad. Anyway, back to the story. Joe and Ranger immediately start asking questions. So Grandma Mazur does what she does best and starts shooting."
"Oh my god! Did she hit either of them?"
"Nope. But I guess it was a good thing she was aiming for them, because if she had wanted to miss you know they would both probably be dead by now."
Stephanie took a deep breath. "That's true."
"So Ranger and Joe both start running back to the car and Grandma Mazur is still shooting at them and shouting. Your dad nearly had to tackle her to get the gun, meanwhile your mom walks right up to the car and starts banging on the window with the rolling pin. The entire neighborhood hears her yelling about how both of them had mistreated you, and how they should be ashamed of themselves. They finally were able to drive away, but not before your mom tells them that if you don't come back soon she will personally see to it that they are never able to use their penises again."
"No! My mother did not say that!"
"Oh yes she did! Seems you aren't the only one doing a little changing."
"But it's only been 5 hours!"
Mary Lou laughed, "I know! Can't you just imagine what it's going to be like after 3 months!"
Stephanie started laughing too and said, "I don't even know if I want to find out."
Both girls were laughing when they finally said their goodbyes. By then Stephanie was nearing the city limits of Virginia Beach.
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She was looking over the directions to the hotel while stopped at a red-light when she felt like she was being stared at. She glanced over to her left and sure enough, she was. Stopped directly beside her car was a cherry red Mustang Convertible overflowing with 4 of the best looking guys she'd ever seen, each of whom were staring right back at her. She sent them a playful flicker of her eyelashes which was returned with several whistles and catcalls."
Finally, the car behind her honked letting her know the light had turned green. Stephanie gave the boys a quick wave then put the peddle to the metal and left them in her dust. So needless to say, when she pulled into the hotel parking lot she felt better than ever.
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Chapter Two
It had been the better part of two weeks since Stephanie packed up and landed in Virginia Beach. According to Mary Lou things had calmed down back home. Apparently Ranger and Joe had decided that searching for her was futile so they backed off. It probably didn't hurt that Grandma Mazur made it know she was buying bullets everyday.
The alarm clock beeped off at exactly 6:30am just as it had done for the last week and a half. Stephanie dragged herself from the bed and tossed on her running clothes and shoes. Within minutes she was jogging down the city's historic boardwalk. She was up to an hours now which was a great improvement over the first time she went running. After 20 minutes she had nearly been ready to pass out.
But even after only a week she could feel her body starting to work for her. It was no longer her mind against her body and for the first time in her life she felt them becoming one.
She continued to jog as she listened to the lapping waves roll across the beach. It was going to be another beautiful day just as all the others had been. Steph glanced at her watch and realized she had been running close to an hour and decided to turn and head back. About a two blocks before her hotel she slowed and then finally came to a stop. She was doing some cool down stretches when she heard a familiar voice.
"Morning Steph, I see you got an earlier start than me today."
Stephanie continued with the stretches. "Hey Lisa. Yeah, I decided to get out here before it got to hot."
"Good idea. It looks like it's going to be another scorcher." The woman now stood directly next to Stephanie and nearly mimicked her stretches except she was trying to warm up instead of cooling down. Lisa was a tall, leggy blonde who most women would dislike on first glance. But since meeting her a week earlier, Stephanie had liked her almost instantly.
"So are you going to be able to make class tonight?" Asked Steph as she finished her last set of stretches.
"Yup, tonight we are suppose to start groin kicks. I wouldn't miss that for the world."
Both women laughed then split and went their separate ways. Stephanie walked casually back to the hotel and made her way to her room. It was nothing fancy. Just a standard little hotel on the beach. It was clean and she felt safe and above all else that's what Stephanie wanted. It also didn't hurt that they were giving her a hell of deal for staying for three months.
After a shower and a change of clothes, Stephanie once again hit the streets. This time she decided to drive. She had heard of a great mall on the other side of town so she decided to do some major shopping.
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Stephanie returned to the hotel around four that afternoon which left her just enough time to change and head to her class. The day after she had arrived in Virginia Beach she located the local YMCA. As luck would have it, the facility had just moved into a new complex. The building was state-of-the-art and it every piece of workout equipment known to man.
She purchased a three month membership and since signing up she had spent nearly every afternoon there. She was finally feeling comfortable in a gym. At first when she saw the equipment all she really noticed was how much they resembled medieval torture devices. But with the help of Adam, one of the Y's personal trainers, she was now feeling confidant enough to actually use the equipment.
She glanced at her watch and realized she had about 20 minutes before her self-defense class began, so she decided to do the treadmill for awhile to get loosened up. She was only there a few minutes when Lisa stepped onto the machine beside her.
"You beat me again. I must getting slack." laughed Lisa.
"Nope, I'm just getting more determined." Stephanie smiled back.
They made small talk until it was time for their class to begin. As they walked towards the workout room Lisa jumped as if she was startled.
"Oh Steph! Before I forget I was wondering if you have plans tonight. A few of my girlfriends from college are coming into town and I'm taking them to a nearby club. I thought since you were vacationing alone that you might want to join us."
"That actually sounds fun. I'd enjoy that, thanks for thinking of me Lisa."
"No thanking me, I really enjoy your company Steph. You're the first woman I've met since I moved here who hasn't assumed at first glance that I'm a just a dumb, blonde bimbo."
"So I guess you don't want to hear that blonde joke I heard earlier today?"
Lisa twirled the towel that had been draped across her shoulder and popped Steph's legs with it. Steph let out a small squeal in return as they entered the training room.
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Two hours later Stephanie and Lisa emerged from the YMCA glistening in sweat.
"So, are you still on for tonight?" Lisa asked as they made their way across the parking lot.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world. So what do I need to wear?"
"Just whatever you would normally wear to a club, it's pretty casual so nothing too fancy. And of course, nothing that's going to take the spotlight away from me."
Stephanie tossed her water bottle at Lisa, who ducked just in time into her car. The pair once again went their separate ways as Stephanie returned to her hotel to get ready for a night out on the town.
To be continued…
