Stephanie pushed open the door of the bond office to be met by Lula.
"Hey, girl! We got something going?" Lula sometimes helped Stephanie with skips.
"Not yet. I just delivered my last skip and I'm still short on my rent so I thought I'd see if Connie had anything for me." Stephanie said.
"Nothing here," Lula said, sadly. "Damn shame when everyone goes straight and shows up like they're supposed to. I could make the extra money but what's a girl like you gonna do?"
"You're not…." Stephanie began but stopped when Lula snorted a laugh.
"You don't think I have ways to make money other than selling my body? Not that it isn't a damn fine body." Lula put her hands on her ample hips, brightly covered in spandex and struck a pose. Stephanie smiled.
"No, I know you've got it going on." Stephanie assured her as the phone rang.
"Bond Office," Lula said in her best business voice. She grabbed a piece of paper. "You gonna fax over the paperwork? Okay." She hung up the phone.
"Is that a skip?" Stephanie asked. Lula nodded.
"More of a big hitter kind of guy though. I can call Ranger." She said, continuing after a pause. "You know I love calling Ranger."
"I can do it," Stephanie said. Lula looked doubtful.
"This guy is violent crime." She said seriously, "You sure you want to take him on? I can help you but I'm only so badass."
"We can do it and the bounty will keep me paid up for a while. Let me take it." Stephanie pleaded.
"Connie's gonna kill me for this but okay. You need to take me and your gun and maybe your Grandma too after this guy. I know I wouldn't want to mess with your Grandma." Lula said.
"She's calling herself 'The Big G' now," Stephanie said.
"I heard she went to that rap concert. That is one happening lady," Lula said with reverence.
"Soon she'll be dressing Gangsta," Stephanie said.
"She could pull it off," Lula said. "Give me a call when you want to start on this guy." She pulled the papers from the fax machine and photocopied them, handing them to Stephanie. "Anytime you think it's too much, let me know and I'll call Ranger." The bell over the door rang.
"Did I hear my name?" the man himself asked.
"Stephanie's trying out her first high dollar skip. I said there's no shame in asking you for help," Lula said, Stephanie shot her friend a look of betrayal.
"Gotta be careful with those big hitters, Babe," he said. "Who we got?"
Stephanie hung back not speaking. Her insides melted when Ranger was in the room. Her anger was edging to the surface. How dare Lula intimate to this man that she needed his help picking up the skip. Lula was studying the papers.
"Violent crime. They're trying him for murder," she said. She read down the page. "Lester Santos."
Stephanie could have sworn that Ranger turned a little green.
"I'll take it," he said. How dare he? She needed this skip. No one was stealing from her!
"I was here first, you can get the next one." She snapped. Lula stared at her wide eyed while Ranger lifted an eyebrow. Oh darn, that was hot. He could go turn someone else on, this skip was hers!
"This guy is up on murder, Babe." Ranger said calmly enough to make her angrier.
"So? I've got this. This Lester Santos will be in police custody in no time, you just watch me." She snapped, grabbing the papers from Lula's hand and marching out the door. She was aware all the way to the car that their eyes were on her and that was fine with her. She was going to show them!