Sorry for such a long stretch between chapters... But here's the next one.

Chapter 7

Steph POV:

Today was my first day working in Philly. As I walked to the gym there was a pep in my step; even my trainer noticed and commented. I took a shower when I got home and checked the weather.

Winter was around the corner. I layered up and made sure to place my guns in places they would be hidden but accessible. Today I was visiting the two bonds office that I was now employed by. I was officially licensed in the state of Philadelphia and had the ability to go after out of state bonds.

I would get my first files today, and I was happy. I finished my morning routine, locking the apartment behind me. I took the stairs down and walked over to the parking garage. I drove past the coffee shop on the corner of the block. Maybe one of the next steps of my new life would be taking a step in my romantic life.

I parked outside of Smith Bail Bonds. When I walked in the doors, I was greeted by Patrice, the office secretary. "Stephanie, you're early." She smiled. "Good thing I already have your files together. There are two. One is a mid-level drug dealer; we're pretty sure we have he is laying low at one of his side-chick's places. The other is a flight risk; charge is manslaughter, ran over the lover of his wife. Drug dealer will bring you 50 grand and the husband with a lead foot will bring in a cool 100 grand."

"Just jumping right into it," I chuckled.

"Everything you need should be in the files; let me know if you need anything else," she said.

I nodded and walked out the door and back to my SUV. That had been incredibly easy. I drove fifteen minutes away to Erikson Bail Bonds. David, the owner, greeted me when I walked in.

"Ready for your first day, Stephanie?"

"Yep. I think I got a pretty good layout of the city but if anything, I have GPS."

He chuckled and handed me a single file. "This one isn't too hard. It's white collar. Last I knew he was hiding out with his family. He's worth 75 grand to you."

"I'll get on it," I said. He nodded.

I walked out and slid into my SUV, driving back to my apartment. I flicked the locks behind myself and stripped off the top layer of clothes. I settled in behind my desk, opening my computer and laying the files next to it.

I entered the name of my first case into the search engine. I knew they would provide me with all the info I needed but I wanted to double check it. After all, it wouldn't hurt to verify the info. Sitting back, I decided to take action on my earlier idea.

I pulled out my phone and found Blake's number. Hey, it's Stephanie from the coffee shop. Do you want to go out for that drink tonight?

I looked at the text, was that too basic? I hadn't done this in a long time. When was the last time a man had taken me out for drinks? Every now and then Joe and I would go to Pino's together but that didn't count. Hell, I had been out more times with Jay in the past four months than any other man in my life and I'm not even dating him.

I sent it, tossing my phone face down on the desk. I didn't want to look at it. He probably wouldn't remember; I mean a guy like him probably had all sorts of women interested in him. He was attractive, smart, kind… what wasn't to like? I hadn't even known him for that long and I liked him.

Sitting back, I opened the file on the drug dealer. My phone buzzed as I got settled in. Picking it up, I smiled. He hadn't waited very long to text me back.

I was wondering if you were ever going to reach out. Tonight is good for me. Is there some place you would like to go?

I smiled. No, I'm still pretty new to the city, can I meet you somewhere? He might be nice, but I didn't know if I could trust him yet. There was no way I was letting him pick me up.

Not thirty seconds later was there another text. How about the Mile End Pub? It's about a block from the coffee shop we met at.

I know where it is. What time?

Does seven work for you? he asked, adding a smiley face.

I guess I'll see you tonight then. I replied, attaching a smiley face of my own.

I felt myself smile as I put the phone down. I turned back to the file with a smile on my face. I flipped through it; while this ran, maybe I would pick up the white-collar case. Ted Stephenson had stolen money from his clients, and he was currently out on bail.

That's how I found myself in east Philly. Stephenson wasn't as slimy as the other two, so he should be easier to catch. I was in a good mood as I climbed the steps of his mother's townhome. His family lived in Head House Square, a small block of townhouses in a waterfront section on Philly. They looked directly over the water to Camden.

The door was opened by a woman in her mid-sixties. She was almost as tall as me, her hair dyed black, and she wore an emerald-green sweater and a black pair of slacks. She folded her hands in front of her and gave me a friendly but guarded smile.

"Hi, how can I help you?"

"Mrs. Stephenson?"

"Yes, that is me."

"I'm Stephanie, from Erikson Bail Bonds. Your son Ted missed his court date yesterday. I'm here to escort him to reschedule."

"You mean to arrest him?" She asked, crossing her arms. Her demeanor changed, a look of contempt on her face as she curled her lip in disgust. I could feel my good mood being flushed down the drain.

"No, I'm not a cop. I'm a Bond Enforcement Agent. My boss, David Erikson, gave the court $750,000 to get your son out of jail, and you put up your lovely townhouse as collateral. If your son doesn't reschedule his court date in thirty days your house becomes the property of Mr. Erikson. Where is your son, Mrs. Stephenson? Would you be willing to lose your house because he won't step in front of a judge?"

"Yes, I would!" she spat, trying to slam the door.

I thanked God for steel toe boots as I put my foot in the way. The door bounced off my foot as she made a sound of outrage. I wrapped my hand around the edge of the door and pushed it open.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be. Is your son here or not?"

"No," she said, stomping her foot.

"Shanda," a man said, approaching from further back in the house. "Who is this?"

"She is a Bond Enforcement Agent from Erikson Bail Bonds," I answered.

"Bond Enforcement Agent? Are you here for my son?"

"Your son skipped his court date," I said.

"How do you know he skipped it?"

"He received multiple reminder calls and letters from Mr. Erikson. He even received a call yesterday morning in which he told Mr. Erikson he would attend his hearing. He didn't. As I was explaining to your wife, if your son doesn't come to reschedule his court date you will lose your house and your son will become a federal fugitive."

"He said it wasn't until next month," the man said, looking at his wife.

"Do you know where your son is?"

"He's upstairs," he answered. "Just, let me come with you to talk to him. He'll go willingly."

He opened the door, and I felt my hand wrap around the handle of the gun at the small of my back. I motioned for them to go ahead of me and shut the door. Gone was the Steph that didn't give a second thought to her safety. I knew a protective mom, and someone trying to take away her son was a bad spot to be in.

Shanda fled to the kitchen while the husband led me upstairs. I made sure to keep him in front of me and keep looking back to make sure the wife hadn't followed me. He stepped into the bedroom ahead of me, I stood at an angle in the doorway.

"Ted, you skipped your court date?"

"I uhhh… Who's this?" he asked as he turned from the computer.

"This is the bounty hunter that Erikson sent out here to fetch you. Do you understand that we can lose our house if you continue to be an idiot? Put some shoes on, you're going with her."

"Why did you tell her I was here?"

This man embezzled millions of dollars from his clients? He might not be a threat, but he was smart. Although he was acting like a child told he couldn't play with his favorite toys, there was a calculating look in his eyes.

"You're going to go with her and fix this," his father grumbled.

Stephenson pulled on his shoes, I pulled out a pair of cuffs and motioned for him to turn. I pulled his hands behind his back and cuffed him before motioning for his father to walk ahead of us.

I led him out of the house with his parents watching and secured him into the SUV using a set of ankle shackles. "Will he be home for dinner tonight?" His mother asked from the porch.

"That's up to the judge." I answered, before walking around the car.

I pulled out onto the street and pointed the car towards the police station. "You don't have to do this," Stephenson said from the back seat. "I'll give you twice as much as Erikson is giving you."

"No."

"Everyone has a price," he said.

I rolled my eyes and finished the drive to the station in silence. I hauled him inside; it didn't take me long to realize that all eyes were on me.

I pulled out the paperwork and handed it to the sergeant behind the desk. He motioned for two of the officers to take him to booking. "You're Erikson's new bond agent?" he mused.

"I'm also working for Smith," I answered. He raised an eyebrow but nodded.

"ID?"

I handed over my license and he made sure my name was the name on the paperwork. Chatter had picked up, but it wasn't as loud as when I walked in. He filed the paperwork and handed me the receipt.

"So, I guess we'll be seeing more of you?" one of the cops behind me asked.

I turned to find a handsome man in a dark blue uniform smiling at me. He was around six foot tall, with dark skin and dark eyes, but a bright smile.

"I guess so," I answered.

"Name's Matt." He offered me his hand.

I nodded. "Stephanie."

"Well, on behalf of us at PPD, welcome." He smiled.

"Thank you," I said, offering a friendly smile in return.

He nodded to me as I walked out the door. I took the receipt over to Erikson and he made sure to cut me a check, which I cashed it on my way home. Walking into my apartment I let out a sigh. I needed to check the reports, get something to eat and take a shower, not necessarily in that order.

I locked the door behind me and turned on the alarm before walking down the hall to the bathroom. I took a long hot shower, before wrapping my body in a towel and my hair in another.

I put on a tank top and a pair of boxer shorts and dried my hair and pulled it up in a ponytail. I roamed into the kitchen and slapped together a peanut butter and olive sandwich. Carrying my plate to the desk in the alcove, I woke the computer up and typed in the password.

Most of the info matched what I had been given. I flipped through the file that I had been given by Smith. The cops had been after the guy for a while; the lead cop on the case was Detective Victoria Carrara. She had chased him for two years, and she was still investigating him for a few other crimes.

It wouldn't hurt to go see her. That was a job for tomorrow, though. Today had been successful for a first day; I had $75,000 in the bank and a date tonight with a nice, hot guy. I smiled and finished my sandwich.

I hadn't thought getting ready would be this complicated. I hadn't been on a date in years, what should I wear? It was a pub, so nothing fancy. Did this even count as a date? He did ask me out for drinks, but I needed to make it clear I wasn't looking for a relationship.

I found a pair of jeans and a scoop neck sweater. I slipped into a pair of chucks and slipped a credit card and my phone into my pocket. I strapped a gun onto my ankle and tucked pepper spray into my front pocket. I slipped a jacket on and looked up the address for the bar.

It was right around the corner, so it wouldn't hurt me to walk. It was six forty-five, so I wouldn't be late. Stepping inside, I claimed the back corner booth. A waitress approached and took my order. I ordered hot wings and a beer, and she left to retrieve them.

As my wings were delivered ten minutes later, Blake walked in. His eyes swept over the pub and located me. He smiled, walked towards me, and stopped at the counter to place an order of his own. He slid into the booth across from me and smiled at me.

"Didn't wait for me, I see," he joked.

"Well, if you're not fifteen minutes early, you're late." I grinned.

"I thought it was five?" He laughed.

The waitress delivered his beer, and he ordered his own wings. This was already going well, but I knew I needed to get the truth out there. "Blake… Where exactly are you wanting this to go?" I asked.

He studied me for a moment. "Where do you want this to go?"

"I just don't want you to be disappointed. My last couple relationships haven't gone too well. I'm not sure I want another one right now."

"We don't have to be together romantically, but there's a spark. I won't deny that, but if you want friendship or you want more. I'm here."

I smiled, pushing my basket of wings over and he smiled. "This may be the start of a beautiful friendship."

XXXXXX

I walked into the police station, and up to the desk. "I'm looking for Detective Carrara, she works vice."

"Vice is upstairs, first door on your right as soon as you get off the elevator," she said, handing me a visitor's pass. I walked to the elevator, calling for it. I stepped inside pressing the button for the second floor.

Stepping out of the elevator, the hallway was lined with four doors. The floor was split between four units. I opened the door marked Vice and was hit with a rush of people and chatter; phones ringing, people talking, and keyboards clicking.

The officer at the desk looked up at me. "How can I help you, ma'am?"

"I'm looking for Detective Veronica Carrara," I said.

He looked around and pointed me in her direction. She had the corner desk with a view out the windows. She was setting down her phone as I approached.

"Detective Carrara?" I asked.

She looked up and eyed me for a moment. "Yeah."

"I'm the BEA that Smith assigned to Zane Brooke. You're the arresting officer. It's noted in the file you worked his case for a while. Anything I should know?"

She glanced around and stood, shrugging on her jacket. "We can talk over lunch. I'm hungry and the place with the best Philly Cheesesteaks is up the street."

"Alright," I agreed following her back through the bullpen.

"I didn't catch your name," she said as we stood at the elevator.

"Stephanie Plum," I replied. She nodded.