Standard Disclaimer: Not mine, not making money, yadda yaddacakes. I didn't put this in part one, but spoilers up through LMT.

Overheard Part 9

As Ranger drove away from Mooner's, he called Tank. "Meeting at the office in a half an hour. I want you, Bobby, Lester, Hector and Zero there. Steph is missing and we need to find her. Have Ram start pulling her list of skips to see who is out of jail. Call Connie and get a list of her current skips."

"Yes sir, right away." After a slight pause, Tank put aside business for a minute to ask "You okay man? Sounding a little rough." There was dead silence and then a sigh "I don't know Tank. I thought that she was ready to move on from Morelli but if she left on her own, it has to be because she is upset about Morelli. I just…."

Tank felt bad for his friend because he knew how much Ranger loved her. "Don't worry, we'll find her." Ranger was afraid that either way he had lost Stephanie for good. He knew the guys loved his Babe and would do anything to help find her. "I know Tank, thanks." With a snap, Ranger hung up his cell phone. Checking his watch, he knew that at least one of Stephanie's parents would be home. He decided to stop by their house to see if they knew anything. He hoped that Mrs. Mazur wasn't there since Stephanie wasn't with him to deflect her attempts to cop a feel. He didn't think Stephanie would appreciate him shooting her grandmother. On the other hand, he was pretty sure Mr. Plum would appreciate it. For the first time in hours, the faint ghost of a smile crossed his face.

At Morelli's house

With a thump, Joe set the last box of Robin's stuff on the floor of the living room. "Hey sweets, where do you want this?" Robin looked at the box and glared at Joe. "Do you not think that a box labeled kitchen stuff would go in the…oh I don't know…kitchen?" She blew a loose strand of hair out of her eye and apologized. "I'm sorry Joe. I didn't mean to snap at you. I 'm just tired, sore and grumpy. And even though you said that Stephanie would be fine with this, I am still worried. I don't want to see her hurt. She's had a lot to deal with the past couple of years."

Joe gave Robin a considering look. "And I am one of the things she has had to deal with."

Robin stepped over the box and wrapped her arms around Joe. "I know you love her. I also know you worry about her and the trouble she gets into. But Joe, that is the life she chose. It is who she is. You have to learn to let go." Joe gave a deep sigh and wrapped his arms around Robin. "I know. It's just hard knowing that I am not a part of her life anymore. And even though Ranger will be the one helping her when she needs it, it doesn't mean I will stop worrying about her."

With a snort, Robin replied. "Ranger has always been the one to help her. You were always the guy that came in at the end, hugged Steph because she was okay and then proceeded to lecture to her about her life. Worrying is okay, lecturing is no longer your job." Joe swatted Robin on the ass, kissed her senseless and let go. Stooping to pick up the box, he said "The kitchen? Are you sure?" Robin gave him a shot of her own and nodded with a grin. "Put it down and follow me upstairs stud muffin. I have something to show you in one of the boxes." Joe grabbed her, slung her over his shoulder and sprinted upstairs.

The Plum House

Ranger pulled the Turbo to the curb at the Plum house. He sat there for a minute, contemplating what he was going to say. He knew Mrs. Plum didn't approve of him or Stephanie's friendship with him. She gave no thought or consideration to the kind of person Stephanie was. The only important thing to Mrs. Plum was how Stephanie fit into the role that she had predetermined for her. I thought that part of the reason she had been pushing so hard for Stephanie to marry Joe was because she subconsciously considered Valerie a failure. Valerie had the perfect life in California according to Steph. At least until her husband ran off of the baby sitter. When Valerie moved home, her perfect life fell apart. She got pregnant out of wedlock and ended up marrying the Kloughn. He was a decent guy but Val's life was definitely not up to Burg standards. With Stephanie, she could start all over again.

With a start, Ranger started. Turning his head slightly, he observed Mrs. Plum and Mrs. Mazur standing in the doorway. They looked like they would be at home on the Kazakh Steppes-fierce Samartian Warrior Women. Ranger was pretty sure that if he wanted to breach this fortress, he would need to use all the diplomacy skills at his command. Getting out of the Turbo he tried to keep a blank look on his face. Judging by the look on Mrs. Mazur's face, he wasn't succeeding.

Mrs. Plum wondered why Stephanie's boss was here. Stephanie probably didn't tell him where she was going. That was just like her. She had probably ended up screwing up her job. Not that this was a bad thing since she was of the opinion that Stephanie needed to quit and go back to Joe. It was one more thing that Stephanie managed to screw up in her life. First divorcing Dickie Orr, then losing her job and taking on that awful bounty hunter job. If she had given that up, she could have married Joe and settled down to a respectable life as a wife and mother. But no, she had to fly or some such nonsense. She needed to grow up and be more like Val without the getting pregnant out of wedlock part. And the less than successful husband part.

"Mrs. Plum, have you seen or talked to Stephanie since yesterday?"

"I am sorry Mr. Manoso. That is just like Stephanie to be so inconsiderate as to not tell her boss she was taking the day off. I will tell Stephanie when she gets home from Newark that she is out of a job." At that, Stephanie's grandmother whacked her mother on the arm and said "Shut up Helen. Let the nice man in the house and answer his questions. He is concerned for her safety." Mrs. Plum glared at her mother for a moment. Turning with something that was supposed to be a hostess smile but looked more like a grimace, she said to Ranger "Please come in and have some coffee."

Ranger ushered the two ladies in ahead of him more out of fear of Mrs. Mazur's fingers than gentlemanly politeness. Mrs. Plum offered him a cup of coffee but he declined. "Mrs. Plum, you said something about Stephanie being in Newark? When did you talk to her and what did she say?"

Mrs. Plum looked askance at the abruptness of Ranger's words. She was used to dealing with polite gentlemen, not a thug who was too impatient to follow society conventions. "She called last night to tell me she was in Newark and was taking a vacation for a week or two. She is upset that her boyfriend dumped her and has moved another woman into his house. Joe can't wait forever and Stephanie is too stupid to realize it. If she doesn't get back here right away, she will have lost her last chance at happiness."

Ranger couldn't believe what he had heard. He knew Mrs. Plum didn't approve of Stephanie's job but he didn't realize how little her mother thought of her. No wonder Stephanie had so many issues. With a mother like this, it was a wonder that she was able to be so caring and compassionate. The lack of support would have crippled most people but Stephanie always managed to find the positive side of things. He knew he had to put stop to this, even if it meant convincing Stephanie to cut her mother out of her life. In a voice that had made many a bad guy piss themselves, Ranger snarled at Mrs. Plum. "I do not ever want to hear you denigrate Stephanie like that again. You will stop criticizing her. You will stop trying to change her and you will stop trying to send her back to Joe. Stephanie is perfect just as she is and I will not allow you to browbeat her anymore. If you chose not to comply with my directives, I will make you regret it." Pivoting on his heel, he walked out the door and headed to his car. Behind him, he left two women in polar opposite frames of mind. One was as white as a ghost and the other was smiling ear to ear.

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