***All characters belong to Janet Evanovich with the exception of a few I've added in for fun.

Thanks for all of the reviews! I love seeing responses to the story.

Stephanie's thoughts are in italics.

The First Piece of the Puzzle

Walking through the hallway that connected the plane to the gate, I ran through all of the things that I needed to do today. I had to rent a car for the trip back to Trenton, stop at Sunny's a get a new weapon for while I was here, get set up in a hotel, and check in with Don. I would be at my parent's first thing in the morning to see everyone.

I quickly made my way through the terminal and out into the baggage claim area, watching the people round me and making sure I had everything I came with. Reading through the signs of waiting cars, I noticed that there was a driver holding a sign with my new name on it. Surveying the driver, I decided that he didn't seem to be showing any "crazy" signs so I made my way over to him.

"Elizabeth Wright?" I stayed silent, just watching him.

"Don was right, you are a cautious woman. My name is John and I'm here to make sure you have everything you need for your trip."

At the mention of Don's name, I relaxed a little, extending my hand to exchange pleasantries. He reached around and took my bags while I got into the back seat of the car. Sitting on the other seat was a black briefcase with a 6 digit lock at the closure. As John got into the car and pulled out into airport traffic, I swiftly entered my true birthday and slipped the case open.

Don always knew me so well. Inside the case was a Beretta 9mm and a silencer, plus two sets of throwing knives and a stun gun. At least this cut down my to-do list for today. I quietly assembled the gun while staring out the window, watching as the familiar sights of my home state passed by. John looked a little antsy with the gun out so I slipped it into the small of my back and placed one set of knives at my ankle. The rest of the gear went back into the briefcase.

The rest of the ride to Trenton passed in silence. Me, lost in my thoughts of what was to come, and John lost in John-Land. When we passed the Trenton city-limit sign, I broke the silence and had John pull over at the first gas-station I saw. I was much happier for the rest of the trip, as I sat in the backseat with my tastycakes.

John pulled into the lot of a non-descript hotel outside the Burg. I let him grab the bags, and then we both went inside and paid for rooms for two weeks. Slipping quietly into my room, I looked around swiftly; checking for any obvious signs of danger, then made my way into the room and dropped my bags. With a great sigh I collapsed onto the bed, resuming my thinking position and drifting quickly to sleep, lulled by the sounds of the interstate not too far away.

I pried my eyes open early the next morning, grimacing when I stretched and sat up. It was 5:30, my normal waking hour and the beginning of what was probably going to be a long day. I quickly changed into my workout clothes and slipped the gun into an ankle holster that was hidden under my pants. Slipping my iPod headphones into my ears, I set out for my run.

When I first began training with the guys in the assassin network I had hated running. I usually ended up doubled over half a mile in. Now I could breeze through 5 miles and a cool down before breakfast. After breakfast was usually sparring and practicing at the range, but I would have to alter my schedule a bit while I was out of town. Setting off at a leisurely pace to warm up, I slipped into my own version of the 'zone' and didn't focus again until realized that I had made the couple mile loop around this part of town, and had ended up back at the hotel. I knocked on John's door and gave him the 45 minute warning and then went to take a shower.

As I slid my card into the reader on the hotel door, I realized that something felt off. My spidey senses were buzzing and I couldn't figure out why. I inconspicuously dropped my key card on the ground and dropped to pick it up, while carefully throwing a gaze over my shoulder. No crazed gunmen, no psycho bombers, nothing blaringly out of the ordinary. Then my eyes landed on something I should have noticed first thing this morning. A black SUV. The SUV had dark, tinted windows and was parked at the back of the lot, with a clear view of the entire hotel. My mind immediately flashed one thought:

Ranger.

I scrambled into an upright position again and jammed my key card into the reader as fast as I could, practically running into the room. What was I going to do? I wasn't ready to face him yet. What if he hated me after all this time? What if he hated who I became?

Deep breaths Steph, you've got to keep yourself calm. You've handled worse than Ranger. Besides, you've changed, and you won't let him hurt you again.

As I finished calming down my emotions, I made my way to the window and peeked out at the parking lot, seeking out his black SUV. I was surprised to see Tank ad Lester slipping on vests and arming themselves while casting glances towards my room.

Why would they be arming themselves if they were just coming to pick me up?

After my moment of confusion, it all clicked for me. They weren't after Stephanie Plum; they were after Elizabeth Wright, the assassin from Spain. Quickly realizing that this situation was going to get out of hand very quickly, I slipped the hotel desk chair under the door handle and haphazardly threw all of my belongings into my duffle bag. Running through my possible escapes, I finally landed on the window. It would be tricky and have to be timed exactly right, but I could escape in the inevitable confusion of their takedown. Placing my duffle by the window at the front of the room, I flipped over the little table that the hotel placed in the room and created a makeshift wall between the door and the window. Then it was time to wait.

Tank and Lester soon came slinking toward my door, searching the windows for signs of life. I slid my duffle over my shoulder and raised the lamp with baited breath. Eight seconds later, Lester rammed the hotel door with his shoulder and dust and wood chips splintered in all directions. At the same time, I threw the lamp through the window and hurriedly clamored out while they were searching the room through the dust and debris.

John was standing outside his room looking confused with the turn of events so I grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the car. We made it out of the parking lot just as Lester and Tank emerged from my former hotel room.

My mind was whirring. Apparently Ranger had found out the Elizabeth Wright was here and was charged with the task of "apprehending" me. How was I supposed to tell him that I was the killer he was after?

Man, can this trip can any more complicated?

I tried to let the monotony of the road lull my thoughts, but my life was getting was to messy, way too fast. I had a major assassin after crucial information, an ex-mercenary after my alias' head, and a normal life to try to lead.

A day in the life of Stephanie Plum…some things never change.

John soon pulled to the front of my parent's house where my mother and grandmother were standing by the door, pulled by their weird ability to sense company. Sucking in a deep breath, I pulled the handle on the door and stepped out of the car. Grandma Mazur immediately came outside and met me with a huge hug, whispering conspiratorially how things had been too quiet around here and that she was glad I was back to liven things up again. I found that the comments like this that had once spurred my departure, had now become comforting words that I associated with home. Grandma and I passed by my mother who was looking a little shell shocked, and made my way over to my father.

What had once been his favorite armchair in the living room was replaced by his hospital bed. The wires and tubes coming out from all directions had me immediately choked up and I slipped to my knees beside where he was laying. Grandma slid down beside me and filled me in on the doctor's latest prognosis. The cancer had spread into his blood and now it was only a matter of time before he left us. The events of the morning slipped away as I took in my dying father. This man was the only man that had ever believed that I was strong and perfect just the way I was, and now he was dying. I sat there for two hours, reliving memories and crying silently beside his still form, all the while noticing that my mother stayed in the corner, just watching.

After another half hour or so, I pulled myself together and stood to leave, promising Grandma Mazur that I'd return in the morning with doughnuts for everyone. As I made my way to the front door my mother stepped up behind me and grasped my arm in her frail hands.

"Stephanie, please, just tell me why." I looked at her for a moment, just processing what she was truly asking me.

"Because I couldn't be your kind of perfect."

She dropped my arm and I walked out the front door looking for John. The car had disappeared and he was nowhere to be seen. I scanned the street again and noticed why he wasn't here. Across the street stood Ranger, dressed head to toe in black and leaning ominously against a Bronco.

I guess the "I've had a long, shitty day" vibe didn't transmit out to everyone that wanted to harass me today. I should have bought more tastycakes.

I took off toward Ranger while sweeping the street for any sign of John. As I reached the Bronco, Ranger swept his eyes up my now toned form, finally landing on my eyes. He sighed and pulled a package from the truck's interior and handed it to me. While trying to keep my curiosity from showing on my face, I slipped open the package to find only one singular item, a puzzle piece. The small piece was unique though, in the fact that it held only a small picture of Ranger with a bright red X across his profile and a short message on the back.

Will you tell him, or shall I?

I slipped the piece back into the package and looked back into the eyes of Ranger, wincing when I realized he wasn't going to let this one go.

"Babe. We need to talk."

Longest day of my life.