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Chapter 10

I cruised down stark street looking for the mob boss in question. I knew he would be around here somewhere so I just parked up at the weaponary range and decided I would have a little practice while I was here.

I paid up and collected my shells taking them to the gun range. I walked to end and I was well aware of all eyes on me as I did so. The only people here were guys from the ghetto and gang members. I was the only female here and they were all looking at me like a was a piece of meat. I smiled at them sweetly before I loaded up the gun and started shooting.

Damn, I was good.

Straight between the eyes, then groin, then heart, then chest of the little target dude. I reloaded and watched as the people who had been looking at me slowly turned away wincing slightly when I had my second shot. I rolled my eyes and continued in complete content, talking to the person next to me half heartedly.

"You're pretty good for a woman." The guy said, next to me. My eyes widened at the voice and I jumped forward and embraced him.

"Damn, not so tight." He said in a slightly strangled voice. I pulled away from him, a huge grin on my face, "Sorry, Rip, missed your black ass, is all." i winked at him.

He gave a flirty grin, "Right back at ya, Plum. Since when you been back in Trenton, thought you were out with my sister protecting her skinny naïve ass from all those grabby Spaniards."

I grinned, "You know she's good so why you be trippin' with her?" I frowned.

He shrugged, "She's ma lil sis, whacha ya 'cpect."

I sighed, "I got a bond down on ya t'day. Wanna do old Plum a favor and come down t' reschedule you're ass?"

He rubbed his head slightly, "Ya playin' me? You're bonding me? Thought ya gave up all tha' shit."

I shrugged, "I'm doin' my cousin a favor. No one else would take ya Rip, boost your ego any?"

He let out a toothy grin, "K, I'll go with ya, but only 'cause you're my girl." He said kissing me on the cheek and I rolled my eyes but blushed.

Ten minutes later we were in the car and Rip was telling me what he's got up to now.

"So I did none of the stuff that's on my record, it was all Twitchy, he set me up. Man, I knew his nigger ass was trippin' ever since I met 'im. But it's all good, I got myself a good lawyer and a solid alibi. So's all good."

I let out a small sigh of relief, "Thas good then Rip." And I pulled up at the cop shop. I opened the door and got out raising an eyebrow to stares I was getting from every cop near by. They looked slightly worried when they saw Rip in the back and I rolled my eyes. He got out and slammed the door looking at me with a grin. I gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before I pulled away.

"Now, you best be out from those bars by the time I go back to see your sis. Or I'll bust a cap in you're here ass. Got it?"

He grinned and nodded, "I got it. Bye Plum."

I grinned and lead him inside and handed him to one of the cops and collected my receipt. I waved bye to Rip before going back to the car and driving away.

I drove back to the office and entered only to see Xena there screaming at Connie.

"Whatcha mean I ain't got no skips?" she said loudly. I opened the door and silently slid inside catching the eyes of Lula who looked at me shocked and dropped her jaw.

"I mean, that there aren't any skips available at this present moment in time, so back off." Connie said narrowing her eyes at her.

"ARGH! This is bullshit, just give me one of Ranger's. I can handle it, jeez I didn't do the police core for nothing." She said and snatched the file outta Connie's hands.

She turned and saw me, stopping and narrowing her eyes to slits.

"Xena, when Connie says there aren't any files, there aren't. She doesn't need to be yelled at or nothing. Her job is to give out the files not to bond them. Got a complaint? Tell Vinnie, not Connie. It's not you place to say shit to her." I said frowning at her.

Xena rolled her eyes, "Move, Plum. It ain't your place to get into other people's business so just keep your big ole nose out of it, before I do it for you." She finished shoving past me and through the door.

I ground my teeth together and let her go, it wouldn't be fair to fight her.

I let out a long breath and handed the receipt to Connie who was looking at me with a raised eyebrow, "Thanks Steph."

"No problem-

"Holy shit, is that the receipt for Rippami?" Lula screamed at me and I winced but nodded. Connie scanned it and looked at me with wide eyes.

"You move quickly." She said before giving me the check.

"Vinnie is gonna be heartbroken. He thought you'd give up after a couple of days. Hell, even I thought you would." Lula said grinning, "How the hell did you do it?"

I let out an enigmatic grin and shrugged before saying my goodbyes and walking out of the office and back into the car park. It was starting to get dark so I decided to head home now. I still needed to find out where Cammy could sleep when she came over to Trenton. There was barely enough room for me at my sister's.

I got back into my sister's apartment to see them still there, Kloughn had his feet up and was watching tv while my sister was doing cooking in the kitchen.

"Honey, I'm home…" I shouted grinning.

Albert looked up from the couch, "Hey, Stephanie. How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks. Valerie!" I shouted to her as I walked into the kitchen. She was stirring a pot of something over the hob and humming tunelessly to herself.

"Hey, Steph." She said smiling at me, "Good day?"

I nodded, "Yeah, Mary Lou is moving back in with Lenny."

Val looked up suddenly eyes wide, grin forming, "Really? Man, Steph, you really do work quickly."

I let out a small laugh, "Well, you know me. But I've got more news. My friend, Cammy is coming down into to Trenton and hasn't got any where to stay so…"

Val raised an eyebrow, "Steph, I can barely fit you here, this apartment is just not big enough to…"

"I know that's why I've come up with a plan. I got a lot of money today, from getting a skip and I'm gonna pay for you to have a nice long holiday. So only thing is, where'd you wanna go?"

Val crossed her arms and stared me down, "Stephanie Plum, you cannot give me charity. I don't want a holiday. I want to stay home and go to work…" she stopped suddenly and narrowed her eyes taking in what she was saying to me, "Actually screw the apartment, you can stay as long as you want, just give me some tickets to go Greece and I'll be happy."

I grinned, "I knew we could come to some kind of agreement."