So here's chapter three.. I have some more ideas so hopefully chapter four will be up tomorrow. Thanks for all the great reviews and advice!

Bowlingforshrimp

Ranger had to go to a meeting so he said he would pick us up tonight at seven.

"We're eating at my parent's house for dinner," I said, "So pick us up there."

Ranger nodded and drove off in his Mercedes.

Jamie and I were driving across town, going after a skip by the name of Jeremy Frey. He was arrested for driving under the influence and then fortunately skipped his court date so I could pay the rent this month. We were sitting in traffic, and I looked over at Jamie. I had so many questions to ask I thought my head would explode.

"I've never seen Ranger like that," I said finally, "he was like a completely different person."

"Really?" said Jamie, raising an eyebrow, "I've never known him any other way. What's he like around you?"

I thought for a beat before answering, "Doesn't talk much. Doesn't smile much. Never laughs."

"hmmm.."

"And I can't believe he laughed at you when you stepped in that trap. That is totally not like him." I said, honking at the slowpoke in front of me.

"It wasn't that big," said Jamie, "it only bit through my boot a little. I was exaggerating when I said it almost chopped my foot off. I only fell over because it took me by surprise, and I wasn't exactly 'howling in pain'."

"Still, it's weird," I said. I was totally confused. Ranger seemed so different. He was almost like a regular ol' guy. I knew nothing about him, apart from the fact that he was Special Forces, has a daughter and an ex-wife, and is very good at what he does. I wondered what Jamie knew, and what happened between them to make Ranger so different around her.

"What kind of car did you say Frey drove?" Jamie asked, cutting into my thoughts.

"A dark red Prius. License plate EAT ME2." Responsible anddesperate-for-rentStephanie actually memorized this information so shewouldn't have to dig around in her shoulder bag to get the file.

Jamie was staring out the windshield, leaning forward, "I think that's him."

We were stuck in gridlock traffic, and Frey was three cars ahead of the guy in the lane next to us. I grabbed my bag and dug around for my cuffs. "Let's go get him,"

Jamie got out of the car and drew her gun. It was a .38 Smith and Wesson, like mine. I guess we have the same taste in weaponry, besides the fact that there was also a large knife on her belt and a blackjack in her boot. She cut her eyes over to me, "Aren't bounty hunters suppose to have guns?" she said with a grin.

I was brandishing a nail file and a can of pepper spray. "You have one, so that would be redundant, right? And someone has to hold the pepper spray and cuffs. My hands are full." Not to mention my gun was in my cookie jar and I had no bullets, anyway.

Jamie just rolled her eyes and followed me around cars. People honked, gestured in Italian, yelled, cursed, and even threw stuff at us because traffic had just moved a fraction of an inch and the cars behind my Mini couldn't go. I ignored them and made my way over the dark red prius. "I'll get the left side, and in case he tries to escape, you get theright and tackle him." I said to Jamie.

"Aye aye, cap'n!" she said, throwing me a salute.

I stepped up to the drivers side door and rapped on the window. Jeremy Frey was 5'10" and thin with a mop of golden hair on his head. He was 26 years old, and lived alone in an apartment in Hamilton Township. Frey rolled down his window and scowled at me.

"Whaddaya want?" His breath reeked of vodka and something worse. It looks like Mr. Frey had gotten an early start today.

"I work for your bail bondsman, Mr. Frey. You missed your court date today and we'd like you to come down to the station to reschedule." I could hear Jamie snickering form the other side of the car. She knew that that line never worked. But hey, I could hope, right?

"No way. I ain't goin' to no station." Said Frey. He stepped on the gas and crashed into the car in front of him. "FUCK!" he yelled, and then he passed out, his head thunking on the steering wheel.

"Well that was easy," said Jamie.

It took us another hour to get Frey to the station. I drove the Prius with Frey cuffed and shackled in the backseat, and Jamie followed behind me in the Mini. Jamie and I left the station, minus one drunk and plus one month's rent. I spotted someone leaning against my Mini. It was Joe Morelli, my on-again, off-again cop boyfriend. We were currently on-again.

"Hey isn't that Joseph Morelli?" said Jamie. After I ran him over with my father's Buick eleven years ago, Jamie bombarded me with questions as to why. I just told her she was too young to understand. After that day, Joe had been her prime target in the sniping-from-the-roof game with her bb gun.

"Hey Cupcake," Morelli said to me when we got close. He looked at Jamie and grinned, "Hey Jamie."

"Howdy," said Jamie, "Just for the record, I'm sorry I shot you so many times with my bb gun. Steph corrupted me into thinking you were an asshole."

Joe nodded, "It figures she would do that,"

"So what's up?" I asked.

"I was wondering what you were doing tonight," Joe said to me, "I haven't seen you in a while. Bob misses you."

"Who's Bob?" Jamie asked

"Joe's dog," I said, "We're having dinner at my parent's house tonight, remember?"

"I meant after," said Joe, "I was thinking you could come home with me."

God, I wanted to. I really hadn't seen him in a while. He had been swamped on a big case for about a month now and we hadn't been able to get together.

"Can't. Jamie and I are doing a job for Ranger."

Joe didn't look to happy about that so I reached around him and grabbed the door handle, "Sorry, we gotta go. I'll see you tonight."

"See ya." Joe stepped back from the Mini and watched us get in. "Nice seeing you again, Jamie."

"You too," said Jamie, "See ya tonight."

We arrived at my parent's house at precisely 6 o'clock, which was bad because that's when dinner starts, no matter what. Joe's truck was already in front of the house. Jamie and I looked at the front window, seeing my mother and Grandma Mazur standing side by side, staring at us.

"So Grandma moved in, huh?" said Jamie.

"Yeah, right after Grandpa died," I kept forgetting that Jamie had been gone these five years.

"Hmmm…I better brace myself. I haven't been this scared since I dumped a bucket of ice water on Ranger."

"You dumped a bucket of ice water on him? Why?" and why aren't you dead?

Jamie shrugged and got out of the car, "I forget, but it was revenge for something. That was most ofour relationship. We just did stuff to each other and got revenge."

At the sight of Jamie, my mother's and grandmother's eyes got as wide as dinner plates. My mom opened the door and rushed outside, grabbing Jamie in a lung-crushing hug.

"Holy Mary Mother of God! It's a miracle, you're home!" she said, tears in her eyes.

"Yeah, ow, can't exactly breathe. I missed you too, mom," said Jamie, wrapping her arms around my mother. My mom stepped back and smacked Jamie lightly on the side of head. "Where were you? It's been five years! We were so worried!"

"Yeah," said Grandma, joining the hug, "They all thought you were dead. Me, I knew you were just fine. I was thinking maybe you got abducted by aliens and then conquered their planet."

"Ah, it was something like that," said Jamie.