Author's Note: Hey Guys(Girls! Y'all!)! Things have been super busy around here and I'm pretty sure things are only going to get busier, but that's okay. I like busy. Even work is busy. So busy I don't have a spare moment to write. I've been working on this chapter for a few days and have finally been able to get it on paper(computer..whatever). So here it is..

Three things I want my readers to know:

1.. I belong to God. I don't know what my reader's religions are and while I hope you follow God and believe in him, I am not here to judge. If you don't believe in him or follow him as I do, and my talk offends you... well I am not sorry for speaking about my Lord & Savior. He has saved my life in more ways than one and I am forever his servant, his child. And while I hope you continue to read this story and any others I may post, I understand if you decide not to. But just remember this.. HE is who gave me this talent of mine.

2.. Sometimes your reviews are what makes me continue to post. While I love to write and I do it all the time(lately when I can), my readers are why I continue to POST my stories online. You guys are always lifting me up. Some of them compliments you give me make my day, my week... They make me smile and keep my posting. Sometimes y'all give me more credit than I deserve. Lol! Am I really that talented? Mmmm... sometimes I wonder..

3.. This story is dark. My original story, the one I'm hoping to one day publish is dark like this one. But it will have a happily ever after. And although this story is dark, I'm a very happy person!

Now.. These characters are NOT mine and I am NOT making any money... Enjoy!

Chapter Three

Day One of Operation Follow Lester:

Steph needed a car.

She needed a dark car.

She needed an inconspicuous car.

Yes, she needed a dark, inconspicuous car. Preferably something that Lester or any of the other RangeMan wouldn't notice. At least not at first. Eventually Lester would notice someone following him. Steph just hoped he would assume it was someone from RangeMan. And when one of the Merry Men caught on that he was being followed, Steph hoped by then she would know what was going on with Lester. It would be a close call but Steph was willing to try anything. She really wanted to know what was going on with Lester. She needed to find out. Before it was too late.

Big Blue was most certainly and without a doubt out of the running. There wasn't a sane or insane person who didn't know the sight of Big Blue. Her own vehicle was out because Lester knew it by now. She usually didn't keep cars long before they got destroyed or blown up but her little red Toyota Tacoma was fast becoming her favorite thing ever and she was taking every precaution to keep it from being charred to a black mess or doused in stinky garbage or cat piss or something. So Lester knew her truck by now. Lula's firebird was out because it too was well known and she didn't want Lula involved. She refused to use any of her family's cars because they were just too nosy and she didn't want them involved either.

Ugh! She didn't know anyone else. Did she?

While munching on a peanut butter, olive, and barbecue chip sandwich, she went through her list of contacts. Most everyone she knew, Lester knew too. She didn't want them involved really either. They would probably more than likely want to get all the details of what she was doing and again, she didn't want to put their lives in danger. And well, right now, everything about Lester screamed danger.

She stopped scrolling abruptly, pausing at Mooner's name. She wasn't sure what type of car he had but he was hardly ever sober enough to drive anyway. Lester probably wouldn't recognize it either. And since again, Mooner was hardly ever sober, he wouldn't be nosy. He wouldn't ask questions. He was laidback and go with the flow. He was perfect. Well, his car would be perfect.

She put down her phone. She wouldn't call Mooner. Nope, she already knew he wouldn't care. So she was going to take a little trip.

She left her little Toyota in her parking lot and called a cab. And not the cab her father drove either. Twenty minutes later, she was knocking on Mooner's front door.

Mooner opened the door wearing a pair of jeans with holes in the knees and no shirt. He was also high as a kite. His eyes were half open and his lips were curved into a sloppy grin.

"Hey Steph! I guess I forgot again, huh?" He slapped a hand against his leg. "Let me get a shirt on and finish watching –"

Steph laughed, shaking her head. "You didn't forget anything, Mooner."

His grin widened. "I didn't! Cool." He stressed the Os in cool like he was blowing smoke.

"Yeah, I have a favor to ask."

He stepped back and motioned for her to come in. "Come watch The Love Boat with me and you can have whatever it is you want."

That made Steph laugh harder. "You don't even know what it is, Mooner. I could ask you for a kidney."

Plopping down on his couch, he shrugged. "And I would totally give it to ya, Steph."

Steph sat down next to him and touched a hand to his knee. "Thank you, Mooner. I think that's the sweetest and most oddest thing anyone has ever said to me."

That earned her another shrug from him. "You've always been good to me. No matter how high I am."

This Mooner was pulling at her heart strings and freaking her out at the same time so she did the only thing she could. She changed the subject.

"Mooner, I was wondering if I could borrow your car for a while."

His eyes focused on the television, he nodded. "Yeah I don't mind."

Steph smiled. She knew he wouldn't mind. "Are you sure you don't mind? I don't know how long I'll need it, but it could be more than a week."

Mooner picked up his bong, glancing over at her. "Yeah, I don't care. I don't go anywhere. It's too hot to do anything. So I stay indoors." He held up his bong and grinned. "Where my weed is close by."

Steph laughed. "Thanks Mooner. I appreciate it."

"No worries, dudette. The keys are on the hook by the door." He nodded towards the front door before taking a hit. Once he stopped coughing, he offered her the colorful marijuana paraphernalia. "Wanna hit?"

Steph grimaced and shook her head. "No thanks. I need all my brain cells today." She teased with a smile.

He grinned back, taking another hit. That was probably Steph's cue to leave, but instead she settled in beside him. Together they munched on three different kind of chips, skittles, candy bars, and pickles while drinking beer and watched Love Boat reunions well into the night.

Day Two of Operation Follow Lester:

Turns out Mooner's car was a van. A mini-van. She could not make this shit up. Mooner was moonlighting as a soccer mom. Steph laughed when she saw it. It was a white mini-van. Apparently it was his grandmother's. Steph laughed at that too. They had more in common she originally thought. She left late last night and headed back to her apartment with Mooner's van in tow. She parked it next to her truck before going inside and crashing in front of the television while watching the news. All that junk food made her stomach hurt and she wanted nothing more than to sleep it off. Sure enough, the news put her to sleep.

This morning was a new day. She dressed in a pair of blue jeans with a dark red t-shirt and her ass kicking boots. She then pulled her curly hair into a ponytail and then into a cap. She didn't want any of Merry Men, especially Lester to notice her.

She parked across the street from RangeMan and waited. It was over two hours later before Lester pulled out in a RangeMan vehicle. She followed a couple car lengths behind him until he came to a stop in front of a white house with yellow shutters and white picket fence in front of it. Steph kept on driving until she reached the end of the street and turned around. She barely managed to make it back just in time to see Lester enter the little white house.

She parked a few houses down and preceded to watch over the next four hours while Lester installed a security system. Steph wanted to leave. She was so bored. She hit her head against the steering wheel and groaned. Surveillance was so boring. After four hours of complete boredom, Lester finished the job. Steph watched as he talk to the homeowner, a pretty blond with a toddler on her hip. Lester was all smiles for the blond homeowner. And it made Steph's heart ached for her Lester. The one who was always smiles and teasing. The laidback playboy with an easy smile and laughing eyes.

She let out a sigh as Lester said good bye and climbed into his truck. Steph followed Lester back to RangeMan where he stayed the rest of the day and night.

Day two was a bust. Not a big deal, she went home and crashed on her couch. Watching the news until she finally fell asleep.

Day Three of Operation Follow Lester:

Day three brought rain and thunderstorms and cold. The clouds made it dark and gloomy and it almost made it look like it was evening. Steph dressed almost the same as yesterday but she added a black RangeMan hoodie. She once again parked across the street from RangeMan and waited for Lester to appear. He didn't disappoint. But this time when he left, he was in his own personal truck. A huge black Dodge Ram truck with huge tires. Someone needed to be a giant to climb in the damn truck, but Lester loved that thing.

She followed once again until he came to a stop on Stark Street. Steph did the same as she did yesterday. She continued to drive down the street and then turned around. When she got back to Lester's vehicle, he was gone. He was completely and utterly gone. Just disappeared.

She let out a curse and then a sigh and waited. She looked around her, keeping aware of her surroundings. It really was unbearably hot. So hot that Stark Street was deserted. There was a kiddie pool in one yard. It had brownish water in it with a doll floating face down. Steph shudder in horror at the sight. It was eerie for sure. Like a death omen or something. Steph knew she was being dramatic but she couldn't seem to help it.

She looked away and focused on the yard beside the one with the kiddie pool. There was a red bicycle in this yard with a bent wheel. If Steph squinted her eyes hard enough, she could almost make the wheel move.

Steph laughed out loud. Holy shit, she was bored.

Just then, Lester appeared. Yes, he just appeared like out of thin air. And he had a black case in his hand. Not like a briefcase, but like a huge case. Something like a guitar would be in but it wasn't shaped like a guitar. It was rectangle. It was black and plain. For some reason, it gave Steph chills. She watched as Lester put the case in the back of the truck and climbed in. Once again she followed him back to RangeMan where he stayed for the rest of the night.

Steph made her way back to her apartment, her mind running miles a minute. She made herself a peanut butter and banana sandwich and grabbed a handful of chips on the side. She then grabbed a beer and took a seat on her lumpy couch. Steph turned on the tv and began to flip through channels. Nothing was on, but all the news stations were running the same story.

Steph watched for a few minutes before letting out a gasp. She choked on her sandwich as she watched the scene unfold on the screen in front of her. A bunch of police cars were on Stark Street. The house with the eerie kiddie pool and the other one with the red bicycle in the back ground. There had been a murder on Stark Street earlier that day. A guy had been shot sniper style through his living room window. Police have no idea where the shot came from and so far there were no witnesses.

Steph couldn't tear her eyes away from the broadcast. A hundred thoughts were running through her head.

Was she a witness?

Did she see something that could point to the killer?

Did she already know the killer?

Was Lester the killer?