I am sorry I haven't updated till now but I have decided to take the time mostly because my loyal and trustworthy friend Alycia AKA bakared4ever has been bugging me about it. (Thank you by the way) This chapter is way longer than the rest so hopefully you like it more.

P.S. I love getting feedback even if it is criticism (good criticism) so R&R please!

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters they belong to JE. Not that I wouldn't mind having ownership of Ranger and the Merry men (that would be FUN!)

Lula and I exited the office while I rooted around my shoulder bag for my keys. I still had my head in my bag searching for the keys when I walked to the curb where I was certain I had parked my car.

I found the keys and looked up to be greeted with nothing but an empty parking spot. I figured that I had walked to the wrong space so I looked up and down the street, but I couldn't find the car. I was stunned. I stood there, staring at the space where I had earlier parked the piece o' junk Ford.

It was funny, I hated the car but it was also all that I had at the moment. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. What came out was a half-strangled choking sound. I tentatively reached out a hand and felt the air where my car should have been and surprisingly enough, all I felt was air. I guess I was hoping an alien sprayed my car with invisible spray making it unseen to the human eye. Unfortunately my theory proved wrong.

Okay I thought I'll just close my eyes and count to three then, when I open them it will be there. I'm just tired and my eyes are playing tricks on me…right?

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "Ready," I said aloud, "One, two, three…open."

I hopefully opened one eye than the other, but the only thing I saw was the building across the street from where I was.

Exasperated I sank down onto the pavement and sighed. I looked up to the sky and spread my arms wide. "Why me?" I asked and I heard Lula laugh behind me.

"Girl," she said, "You know you sound so much like your mama. I might have to come over and make sure you don't start cleaning and ironing. Or if you do you could start on my place."

"UGH." I groaned and laid back on the ground to look up at Lula, who was standing over me. I gave her my best pissy look. "I am not, I repeat NOT turning into my mother. And besides I would never iron I would much rather shoot myself in the head." I made the sign of a gun with my hand and pointed it at my head then pretended to pull the trigger.

Lula grinned. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Okay so now that I don't have a car or even a hunk of junk that resembles a car," I rolled my eyes, "I guess we will have to use yours." I looked around but couldn't find that one either. "Where is it?"

When I looked over at her she looked slightly sheepish, and -it was hard to tell because of her skin tone- but it looked like she was blushing.

"Well… you know that appointment I had the other day well we went in my car and it got a lil bumpy and one o' the tires popped. So it is in the garage right now."

The appointment she was talking about was with Tank, and if I had to guess they were trying to be quick and instead of going to either apartment they decided to do their "business" in the firebird. Then they got carried away and they popped a tire.

Great

Not only do I have no way of transportation but I also just had to listen to a really disturbing story in code. Yuck!

I was looking at my feet trying not to either laugh or throw up or both. So I just remained silent.

Lula cleared her throat. "So what are we gon' do?"

"Um… I think I am done for today things have gone wrong and I have plenty of time later to catch this skip so I think I will call Morelli to pick me up."

"Oh, in that case I think I will call Tank for a ride also he brought me over today."

"Hopefully that car survives." I mumbled under my breath then grinned.

"What?" Lula said, looking over at me suspiciously.

"Nothing." I said quickly putting on an innocent expression.

"Sure." She said and mumbled something and I caught only parts of it that sounded like "white girl…making fun…big boned."

That was it. I totally lost it.

I started laughing so hard that my sides were hurting after only a few seconds. I was lucky I was already on the ground because if I was on my feet I would have fallen over for sure, and frankly the look that Lula was giving me could probably bring a grown man to his knees.

When I got control of myself Lula gave me one final glare, huffed, then went back into the office. I knew she wouldn't be mad at me for long, she isn't capable of being mad at me for any long period of time.

I took my cell phone from my bag and dialed Morelli's number.

"Hey cupcake." He answered.

"Hey," I started, "I need a ride."

There was a pause. Then he started bombarding me with questions. "Are you okay? Was anyone inside when it blew up? Did you see who blew it up? How long ago did it happen? WHY WASN'T I TOLD?

He had to take a breath so I took the advantage to talk I was starting to get angry. "Whoa! Wait a minute! My car didn't blow up for one, for two, why does everyone assume that my car has blown up when I ask for a ride? For three, stop yelling at me I didn't DO anything." By the time I stopped yelling I was out of breath and my anger was dimming.

There was silence for a few beats. "So… then…what happened?" He asked confused.

I was trying hard to control my temper. "My car was stolen and by the way why can't you have just said 'Sure cupcake where are you?' Huh? Would that have hurt?"

I heard him sigh when he talked his voice was soft "I am sorry cupcake. Where are you I will come get you."

That's better. "I'm outside the office on the curb." Then I hung up.

I knew that I was pushing his buttons hanging up on him so much, but he seems to continually make me angry. So as I see it, it's his fault.

About ten minutes later Morelli pulled up beside me. I got into the car and saw that he had Bob with him.

"Were you at home?" I asked.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Bob. I figured you wouldn't have him if you were on duty."

"I guess you're right. Where to?"

I was feeling bummed out and I needed a pick me up so I decided to play with him, just a little. "Well… I was sort of hoping we could go back to your place. Today has started out badly." I rested my hand on his thigh and I could feel his muscles harden under my hand.

"I could fix that." He said his voice husky.

I leaned over and whispered in his ear. "I was really hoping you would say that."