Disclaimer: See earlier chapters. I own nothing.

A/n : Hey everyone! Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 8

I had a fitful night of nightmares and waking up at just about any sounds. I woke up once in the night because I heard Rex running on his wheel. My nerves were like tightly strung strings on a guitar; I would jump at everything.

Finally after waking up because a pigeon flew past my window at around 6-ish in the morning I just gave up and got up.

I walked into the bathroom and took a long shower, hoping it would get rid of the dark circles underneath my eyes and the paleness in my complexion.

It didn't work.

I got dressed in a plain pair of jeans and a black tank top and walked into the kitchen to do something that I hadn't done for 24 years.

I baked cookies.

I only baked cookies when I had too much on my mind and I was incredibly worried.

Back when I was 16 and I had just lost my virginity to Morelli I was beyond worried. The whole town had found out about the little happening thank's to Joe's big mouth and little poem on Mario's restroom door and my family had practically disowned me. My father was threatening Joe and if he hadn't gone to the Army I was pretty sure that he would have shot him, my mother was constantly looking down at me and giving me lectures whilst my sister was always 'tut tut'-ing and telling me that it wasn't a very good idea. I practically lived with my Grandma and Grandpa Mazur for about two months because I couldn't bear to go home. Grandma was always the one I ran to when I was finding life at home bad or I had another fight with my mom.

Anyway, I bake cookies when things go really wrong and I was pretty certain that this occasion called for baking cookies.

:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:

An hour later, after I had baked enough cookies to feed a small country, I had calmed down a little, fed Rex and was ready to start the day.

I left the apartment and drove down to Trenton library only to remember it shuts on a Sunday.

Bugger.

I really needed to do some research.

Where could I go to do some research…?

I debated on whether I should go to RangeMan.
Ranger had told me I'm always welcome so I took that as a hint and made my way towards Cameron St.

I waved to the camera and parked in one of Ranger's empty parking spaces next to his Porsche and BMW.

I got out and made my way inside, smiling and waving to Hal as I walked into the lobby-ish place.

Hal smiled and turned back to the cameras.

I made my way to the lift and got it to the seventh floor, Ranger's penthouse apartment.

"Hello?" I shouted as I got inside, I just wanted to be sure that no one was going to pop out at me.

I was a little highly strung so I don't think it was advisory for me to witness any surprises.

After I had checked the apartment for people I hurried to the computer in Ranger's office and logged on.

Now to start the searching…

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Three hours later I came up with a big fat nothing, just the basis of the crime.

I printed off what I had found, in case it would be some use another time, and turned off the computer, completely stumped.

What now?

My stomach answered that question as it growled loudly, averting my attention from the Lopez case.

I made my way into Ranger's kitchen and opened the fridge.

Ranger was a bit of a health freak and didn't like anything that even resembled fat.

He had this whole 'My body is a temple' thing going on and very rarely have I seen him have days off from it.

So, as expected I didn't find anything of any real interest in his refrigerator.

A four pack of yogurts, wholemeal brown bread, low fat spread, vegetables, salad, fruit and a 4 pack of Corona.

Some how I didn't think the Corona's fitted in his healthly eating habits so, out of the goodness of my heart, I took one; making sure it balanced out a little bit.

I sipped my Corona as I searched through the cupboards for my secret stash of Steph food.

I managed to find my box of Fruit Loops and some peanut butter and a jar of jelly but I couldn't find any milk so cereal wouldn't really be any interest.

I once ate Fruit Loops dry before and I got really bad indigestion which really wouldn't help me.

So I decided on a nice, healthy, brown bread (yuck) sandwich with peanut butter and jelly.

It was okay but I preferred white bread a lot more than granary brown bread.

I made a mental note to go shopping for Ranger and I said goodbye to the apartment and made my way back into the lift.

I travelled back to the ground floor, waved to Hal and walked back to the Mini.

Now to ask Connie to a proper search.

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I phoned Connie on my way to office and told her to meet me there in 10.

Connie got a day off Sunday's and worked half the day on Saturday's.

Vinnie was an ass when it came to giving her holidays off, they would fight about it for days until Connie would threaten to tell Lucille, Vinnie's wife, about his little pervy habits with farmyard animals and he would cave and give her a week off.

It was pretty entertaining and me and Lula craved the excitement.

I got to the office and waited for Connie to come and open up.

I leaned on the hood of the Mini and looked up at the sky which seemed to be questioning itself on what the weather was going to be today. It was cloudy but the sun peeped through, sending heat and beams of light everywhere, every couple of minutes.

It was weird.

:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:

Connie soon arrived in a new outfit of a pair of black leather pants that left little to the imagination and a deep, rich, purple halter top. Her hair was cut short with light brown highlights.

I raised an eyebrow, "Been to the salon?"

She smiled and countered with - "Been to the cop station?"

I sighed but smiled despite myself, "Well played."

We got into the office and Connie started firing questions like an interviewer for a hot new scoop for the papers.

"What did it feel like?"

"What happened?"

"How did you get accused?"

"Did you murder him?"

"What are you going to do?"

I held up a hand as she slowly ran out of steam.

"Can I just ask, since when have you been sporting highlights and short hair?" I asked her with a smile.

She grinned and swivelled in her chair to turn the computer on.

"I got it done yesterday night, I thought it might help on the guy front. Do you like it?"

I grinned and nodded, "Totally chic! Guys will be knocking down your door to get a date with you. Very hot."

Connie blushed, "Thanks. Anyway back to you, start from the beginning and explain why the hell I'm hearing from just about everyone that you've murdered some guy; Jerry Lopez."

So I told her, starting with how I got sliced by Jerry, ending with this woman knocking me unconscious and telling me to keep my mouth shut including the missing answer machine messages but leaving out that I had just found out that I am completely in love with Ranger.

I think that was something that the man himself needed to find out first.

After I had finished she just stared at me, her mouth a little bit open.

I waited for some sort of reaction but when she stayed like that for a couple more minutes I started to get worried,

"Connie? Connie! Are you okay?" I asked her and calmed down when she slowly nodded her head forwards and backwards.

She swallowed and snapped herself out of her daze,

"Steph, are you serious?"

I nodded, "Yep…"

She leaned back in her chair and propped her legs up on the table,

"Honey, you are so screwed. They have enough evidence to bring you down. It sounds like this woman has really done her homework."

I sighed, "Do you think I don't know that? What am I going to do?"

Connie shrugged, "I have no idea. But we could do some research into and hope that something might come up then you'll just have to use your ways to figure it all out before you go to jail."

I rolled my eyes, if only it was that easy.

I left Connie to do a proper search, as they usually take a few hours, and made my way over to my parent's house.

I was expected for lunch which meant, if I wasn't at the table by 2.00 then I was declared dead by my family.

Tradition was big in the Burg and tardiness was just not acceptable, it was one of those unwritten laws.

I parked up at my parent's house and made my way inside.

"Hey, I'm here!" I shouted as I entered the house, I put my jacket on the coat pegs and made my way through the house, seeking some sort of activity.

My dad was in the living room watching the highlights from the Ranger's game last night, the one I missed – dammit! Luckily Mary Lou had taped it so I was going to borrow her tape and watch it some other time.

Bless Mary Lou's need to tape record everything.

"Hey dad." I shouted through the door and smiled when I heard him grunt a hello.

My father was a man of a few words and when he did speak it was usually very important…or it was to shout Italian obscenities at my grandmother.

I walked towards the dining room to see my mother and grandmother talking and setting out the table,

"Hey." I said with smile.

"Stephanie! My favourite granddaughter, how's the murder case going? Did you do it?" my grandmother leaped in straight away.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and put a finger to the twitch in my left eye.

"No, grandmother, I'm a suspect." I said sighing.

My mother crossed herself, "I thought it was just rumour; why me? Lauren Polowski's daughter doesn't go to jail! She works as a florist and lives with a nice husband and four children."

My mother…so full of hints.

I rolled my eyes, "Mom, I'm not going to go to jail."

At least I was pretty sure I wasn't…

My mother muttered stuff under her breath and disappeared into the kitchen, probably to do a little tippling.

My mother and me had made a deal a couple of months ago that we would both give up something we love because we had been accused of being addicted to them, my mother gave up alcohol and I gave up sugar.

It lasted for about a month and a bit then I couldn't put up with my hormones and had to eat a donut, for the sake of Joe's health and the sake of the 'no cheating' rule. My mother soon gave in when I let it slip that I had visited the Tasty Pastry.

I think everyone needs something they love, once in a while.

TBC

(I think…)

A/N: Anyone who is still reading this – what do you think?

To continue or not to continue? That is the question…