As always they aren't mine and I'm not making any money.

Chapter 8

Steph POV:

I followed Carrara to a hole in the wall sandwich shop. I raised an eyebrow as she opened the door for me. The smell hit me and I almost moaned; it smelt wonderful. I hadn't originally planned to get anything to eat, but I was reconsidering my stance. I set a goal to figure out the best Cheesesteak place in Philly, so I shouldn't let this opportunity go to waste.

She ordered hers to go and I followed suit. We waited, neither of us talking. It was clear she didn't want to talk here. Our orders were called, and we retrieved them. I walked next to her as she walked briskly down the street. We soon found ourselves at a park with a gorgeous lake and a path around it. She parked us at a table under a tree, glancing around and taking a bite of her sandwich.

"I didn't want to talk at the station, there's a dirty cop in the Vice task force. That's why it took two years to catch Brooke," she said.

I felt my eyebrow arch. "Why are you telling me?"

"You're new here," she said. "Bounty hunters and cops don't normally get along. Be careful with dealing with any cops. There's more than one on the take with Brooke's bosses."

"Do you know who it is?" I asked, taking another bite.

"No but I have my eyes on a few of them," she answered cryptically. I didn't blame her for playing it close to her chest. Dirty cops were a big deal.

"So, Brooke?"

"Slimy bastard. He's got his girl and then he's got some side chicks. He's probably bouncing around between their places. I'll dig up the list I have," she said, and I nodded my thanks.

Glancing over her shoulder, I heard a loud squawk sound as a goose roamed on the path in front of some joggers. Most of them were gathered at the edge of the lake. I felt my eyes narrow.

"What is it?" Carrara asked, turning to glance at the flock of geese.

"You can't trust those birds," I informed her.

"What?" she asked, eyes wide with shock and her face clearly showed she couldn't believe me right now.

"I once had some geese try and steal my cracker jacks. Can't trust them with their beady little eyes. Satan's bird," I muttered.

She laughed and shook her head. "You're a rare one, Plum." She grinned.

XXXXXX

Until now, I'd managed to avoid going to Philly's seedier areas. In this area of the city, the buildings were old, some run down. Graffiti stained the walls of most buildings. The only buildings that were semi-new were the chain gas stations. Older vehicles lined the streets. There were a few people walking down the street. It was easy to pick out the drug dealers and prostitutes on the corners by the way they were dressed.

I parked my car at the curb and strapped my gun to my thigh. I was wearing three: one in my shoulder holster, one on my thigh, and one on my ankle. I had two knives on me, also; you never knew what you were going to need. Armed with my weapons and a picture of Brooke, I steeled myself before getting out.

I felt my newly mastered blank face slip into place. I locked the SUV, making sure to turn on the alarm before heading into the four-story apartment building. Stepping out of the stairwell on the second floor, I knocked on 2G. It overlooked the street I just parked on.

A woman answered. Her were braids tied up in a bun on her head, and she was wearing fluffy flannel pants and a thin white tank top. She popped her gun as she chewed it. "Whatcha want?" she asked, her accent Jamaican.

"I'm looking for Zane Brooke," I said. She raised an eyebrow.

"Whatcha want him for?" she asked, leaning against the door.

"He got my girlfriend pregnant," I answered. Her eyes widened and filled with rage.

"Well why dontcha come in?" she asked. "I'll get the man here and we's can take care of him."

I nodded and stepped inside, scanning the apartment. I walked towards her window. She sat on the couch finding her phone.

"You don't look like a lesbian," she said offhandedly.

"I'm bi," I answered, the lie slipping easily off my tongue.

Glancing down at my SUV, I could see some punks eyeing it and working up the nerve to walk up to it.

"You mind?" I asked motioning to her window.

She shrugged and I opened the window. As the first boy's hand came into contact with my car, I fired off a shot two feet from him. He yelped and they jumped, scrambling away. She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"So, Zane gotcha girl pregnant?" she asked.

"Twins," I said. "Turns out he's got quite a few side chicks. She was one of them, cheating on me behind my back. Found a pregnancy test in the bathroom trash can, and she finally told me it was him that she cheated on me with."

She whistled lowly. "Well, I'm texting him," she said, while I closed the window. After a few more taps, she said, "Done."

Her phone went off not a minute later. "He's on his way. I'm gonna rip him a new one when he gets here."

"You and me both, sister," I said.

"So whatcha do for a living?" she asked. "I ain't never seen a woman walking around with a gun on her thigh."

I smiled. "I'm from Jersey," I said. "And I'm Italian."

Her eyes widened slightly, and she nodded wordlessly. I almost smirked. I let her fill in the blanks, even if she was coming to the wrong conclusions. We didn't talk much as we waited. I stepped into the kitchen when she got a text telling her he was downstairs.

He opened the door and stepped inside, a smile on his face. "Tasha, baby girl! I've been missing you," he said.

"You son of a bitch!" she yelled. I didn't know from where, but she pulled a high heel shoe. She rushed him and began to hit him with it. "Cheating on me! Who the fuck do you think you are?"

As she was hitting him, he backed himself into a corner. I stepped in aiming my gun at Brooke. His eyes widened, looking at me.

"I appreciate it," I said, smiling at the woman. "Tasha, was it? Thank you."

I pulled out a pair of cuffs and pushed Brooke's chest against the wall. He tried to struggle but a firm kick to the back of his knee ceased that. I cuffed him as Tasha frowned.

"Who are you?"

"She's a fucking bond enforcement agent! I skipped my court date," he growled at her. She raised an eyebrow and turned to me.

"So, he didn't get your girlfriend pregnant?" she asked.

"No, but you should know you're not the only woman he's got. I got a list of side chicks to his main woman," I told her. A fire lit in her eyes, and I knew I needed to get Brooke out of here before she killed him. I opened the door and shoved him out of it.

"Dontcha come back here!" she yelled at him. I laughed softly shoving him down the hall towards the stairwell.

I led him down the stairs and across the street to the SUV. I pushed him into the back seat and secured his shackles into the o-rings. Every few minutes he was rattling them, like the outcome was going to change from when he tried it the first time.

Parking in the lot at the police station, I walked around hearing him rattle his cuffs to see if he could get out. When I opened the door, he tried to move away from me, farther into the car, at least as much as possible.

He moved maybe two inches. "Don't fucking touch me!" he snarled.

I sighed. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked.

"Fuck you!"

I pulled out my taser and pushed the button, letting the crackle carry over to him. He jumped and I hadn't touched him yet. "I'm going to take you out. If you struggle or fight, I won't hesitate to tase you in the balls."

His hands went to cover himself, but he couldn't. I smiled and found my keys. Releasing the leg shackles and wrapping a hand around his arm, I pulled him from the car and pushed him towards the door. I opened it, shoving him through.

Once again, the room went quiet. Brooke started to struggle when the two cops came to haul him into the back. I rolled my eyes and handed over the paperwork. While I was waiting for him to be processed the two cops I was familiar with walked in; Matt, the uniformed officer, and Detective Carrara.

Carrara nodded to me, and Matt walked over with a smile. I saw Carrara's eyebrow rise. "Stephanie, right?" he asked with a charming smile.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Two captures in two days. Not bad," he commented. I shrugged.

"Not much of a procrastinator," I said, causing him to chuckle.

"No, you don't seem to be. How long have you been bounty hunting?" he asked, leaning against the counter across from me. I could still see Carrara over his shoulder. She was talking to another officer, but she was watching us out of the corner of her eye. For what reason, I didn't know.

"Not too long," I answered.

"For someone who hasn't been doing it for long, you're sure good at it." He smiled softly. His brown eyes softened like melted chocolate, and I felt my Spidey Senses start to tingle.

"You're awfully nosey," I replied. The duty sergeant handed me my paperwork.

He laughed softly, eyes sharpening slightly. "Just trying to get to know the mysterious bounty hunter and maybe ask her out on a date."

I felt the corner of my mouth tip up as the tingling at the back of my neck grew stronger. "I don't go on dates with LEOs," I said.

His smirk dropped before a cocky smile filled its place. "Maybe I'm the one that will get you to break your rule."

I'm sure the man didn't get denied often. He was hot, charming and wore a uniform but there was something that put me off slightly. "It would take a lot of convincing. Might not be worth it," I told him.

"Hmm, well don't hate a man for trying." He grinned.

"You can try," I said. I stepped around him. He shot me one last smile as the desk sergeant handed me my paperwork. I walked through the door and scanned the lot. I found Carrara leaning against my SUV.

She must have made her way out here while I was getting my paperwork. I walked over with a raised eyebrow. "When did you meet Officer Johnson?"

"A few days ago, when I brought my first bond in. Why?"

She glanced around. "How do you feel about going for drinks tonight? We need somewhere more private to talk about why."

I schooled my expression and dug a card from my pocket. I handed it to her. "Text me with a place. Six work for you?"

She nodded. I watched her walk away before getting into my SUV. I was done for the day, and it was only one o'clock. I walked into my apartment, disabling the alarm and doing a quick walk through. Locking the door behind me, I hung my jacket and bag in the closet. I sighed, falling onto the couch.

Over the past four months, I have been so occupied, mentally and physically. I had gotten so used to having something to do from the time I got up in the morning, until the time I went to sleep I didn't know what to do with my extra time during the day. I was getting good at catching skips, not taking nearly as long as it used to, and I was making a lot more money. I had gotten good at my job, but now I had too much free time.

I glanced around. There must be something to occupy my time. Even though I was working as a full time BEA for two Bond Agencies, I was working higher bonds which meant less skips.

There wasn't anything to do around the apartment and I didn't feel like watching TV. I could take up reading, I mused to myself. Maybe I should get a cat. I had decided to give Rex to my nieces since I wasn't sure what the situation would be once I moved to Philly. Between my apartment being firebombed and broken into, it was better for him to be with them. My phone beeped, pulling me from my musings. I opened a message from Blake.

Hey, are you busy tonight?

I have a meeting but other than that I'm free. Why?

Just rented a movie, was wondering if you wanted to watch it with me?

Sounds like fun. How does seven thirty sound?

Perfect. I'll bring dinner.

See you at seven thirty.

I closed out my messages with Blake and called Jay. "Steph!" Jay answered after the first ring. "Long time since you've called."

"I talked to you on the phone two days ago. We texted this morning." I rolled my eyes with a smile. Even though he couldn't see me I had no doubt he knew what my face was doing when he laughed.

"What's up?"

"How do you feel about coming out sometime this week and having the best Philly cheesesteak in the city?"

"You found the best?" He asked.

"I think so. At least out of all the places I've tried, it's the best."

"When are you free this week?"

"Probably the whole week," I grunted.

"Slow at work?"

"No, there is no work. I already captured all the skips."

"Damn. You must be bored as hell."

I snorted. "Well, I'm contemplating a cat."

He laughed. "Yeah, you're bored. Have you thought about getting your PI's license and doing both? It would take up your time and give you something to do between skips," he suggested.

"That's not a bad idea, I'm just not sure I want to chase around cheating spouses and taking pictures."

"You'd get to choose your cases. If you didn't want to do those, you wouldn't have too."

"I'll think about it."

"So how does Friday sound?"

"Sounds fine. I'll see you, then?

"See you then."

We hung up and I tossed my head back to stare at the ceiling. A lot has happened over the past four and a half months. I had healed myself mentally after Ranger's rejection and my relationship with Joe. Maybe it was time to put myself back out there. Blake was the first man that had asked me out since I left Trenton, and I couldn't deny there was a spark. We saw each other a few times a week. It was usually going out for drinks or coffee, but there were a few dinner and movie non-dates, too.

There was an underlying sexual tension between us, and it had been a long time since I had a social orgasm. The last time I had attempted one any sort of relationship he took off out of the country to get away from me. Maybe I should just leave it alone. I was attracted to Blake, but he was also a great friend and the first one I had gotten in Philly.

I sighed and rubbed my temples as a headache came on. I would deal with those thoughts later. I found myself pulling out my yoga mat before heading into the bedroom to change. Maybe I could clear my head before my meeting with Carrara and then break in my new shower massager to keep myself from jumping Blake tonight.

A few developments in this chapter... More to come soon.