Charlene Graham, Reggie's mother wasn't yet 60 attesting to her early marriage. Her hair was still dark and styled in short curly cut. Her 5'2" body was maturely trim. She was wearing leggings and an sweater tunic. Maurice Graham, her husband and Reggie's father was in his 70's, just under six feet tall, grey haired with a short grey beard. His body wasn't rock hard like a Rangemen but he still worked out. Lula noticed his eyes, Reggie's eyes, a little almond shaped and lighter brown. Both husband and wife welcomed her with great warmth.

"My dear Tallulah, welcome to our home," Charlene gushed as she hugged Lula. Maurice also hugged her, "Welcome my dear."

Reggie easily hugged and kissed his mother and then turned and hugged and kissed his father. There was a deep love and devotion in this family.

"Come you two, Charlene said, "I have cream cake just waiting for testers."

Reggie and Lula looked at each other and only smiled, "Here we go again," Reggie said reaching down and tugging at his belt as if to indicate he might have to loosen it after yesterday and today's faire.

"Tallulah, what happened to your foot?" Charlene asked.

"I fell off my shoes," was all Lula would say.

Charlene laughed, "As much as I'd like to be taller, I'm not risking my bones to platforms and spike heels."

After the cake and general banalities Reggie turned to his father, "Dad, what new project do you have going on in the shop?" It was Reggie's way of leaving the two women together for their girl chat.

Lula pushed her half eaten cake aside, "The cake is delicious but I'm not a big sweets eater. My Achilles heel is savory items."

Charlene smiled, "Mine was sweets. I still love them but save them for very special occasions."

"Oh, is it somebody's birthday?"

"No my dear, I made it for you. Reggie has told us about you and your journey."

Lula couldn't remember anybody ever baking a cake for her.

Charlene refilled their coffee cups, "I came from the streets too Talullah. I was abused by my mother's friends at age 10. They'd drug me so I wouldn't scream. I was on the streets at 12 but I didn't want to be there. I wanted out right away. Maurice was a vice cop and found me cut up from a John when I was 14. I knew then I had to get off the streets or die. Maurice insisted I get my GED. He'd sit and help me study at the library as my foster mother looked on. He never laid a hand on me. He was the first man I trusted. We married when I turned 17. I was proud of myself for the first time in my life and I wanted more. Maurice encouraged and supported me. I started taking college classes. Our first child tried to come when I was taking a psychology final exam. That was Reginald. He must have been curious about the class. I've had six sons, but I've also earned a masters in sociology."

Lula knew about Reginald's siblings. Six boys, good thing this house is large, she thought as she looked around the kitchen.

Misinterpreting Lula's thoughts, Charlene said, "Yes, my dear it's all ours, we've worked hard for it, it wasn't handed to us. We bought a run down house and did the work ourselves. When we got it somewhat livable, I'd bring home a girl wanting off the streets. She'd live with us, I'd counsel her and, if she wanted, she'd work with us on this house. Several girls got so good they went on to work in construction. One is a house painter and the other is an interior decorator in NYC. I wish Mable would come for a visit, I need some suggestions," Charlene said with a chuckle.

Continuing her chuckle Charlene added, "All this remodeling also carved off 50 pounds. I was heavy when I married Maurice and throwing out babies wasn't helping but like this house, I've been a work in progress too; my mental health, my physical health. Dear Tallulah, I wanted something better and thought I could do it myself, but there comes a time you need to reach out and ask for help. That ladder off the streets has missing rungs and if you can't get over them you are stuck half way out."

"That's where I am, half way out," Lula said.

"Lula, stick out your hand, there are many who will help you, but you have to want it."

Lula returned to the bail bonds office the next day in somewhat more conservative clothes. It was cold outside which helped her hide flesh.

"You feeling better?" Connie asked.

"Yeah," Lula muttered. "You need me to run any errands this morning?"

"Tasty Pastry," Connie said and handed her money from petty cash.

Lula thumped out the door with a cruch under one arm. She was back from Tasty Pastry before Stephanie arrived.

Stephanie looked down trodden. "You don't look very happy this morning," Connie said.

"You would think with the cooler temperatures people would be inside, staying warm. I'm freezing my buns out there in my POS car without a heater and the FTAs are holed up someplace." With that Steph moved to the doughnut box, "You want something Lula?"

No, I'm fine." Lula thought about the warmth in Charlene and Maurice's kitchen.

With a Boston cream close to her mouth, Stephanie said, "I've got Mrs. Francisco for shoplifting and Marcus Jones for burglary. Mooner is due in court today too. We ought to go remind him so we don't have to find him later. You coming?"

"I won't be much help, but I can drive my car. It has a heater."

The three jobs went without a hitch, Stephanie had two bond receipts and Mooner was back back in front of his television. Lula bid Connie and Stephanie good by, "I have a 3:00 appointment. See you tomorrow." She was out the door, driving to Hamilton Township where she had an appointment with a career counselor at the local medical training college. Hopefully she could find something interesting that would also pay her enough to live and still put money away for retirement. She was still under 30, she had a lot of life left in her, she hoped.

She was just thumping through the door when Reggie called. "I'll pick you up for dinner, but I don't want to look for parking in your neighborhood. I'd be busting caps protecting my car." Lula appreciated his attempt at humor.

She was wearing one long boot, her othropedic boot, shirt, sweater and over jacket with a hat and gloves. She balanced herself with a large purse on the arm that didn't have the crutch.

"You leave the Glock?"

"Yes, I'm using a larger bag to hold my hat and gloves in the restaurant."

He reached over and kissed her. "Thank you."

Dinner was at an Indian restaurant in Hamilton Township. In light of their major meal with Jaques and the cream cake yesterday, Reggie did the ordering. The meal was light and vegetarian. Lula looked for the meat.

"My dear, Jaques loaded us down with enough protein to last us for a week," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "Tell me about your day, mine was just meetings talking about security, very boring."

"You sound like Ranger."

"Ranger and I are nothing alike." He nearly spat.

Lula was surprised. He had seemed happy to meet Ranger again, but let it pass. "I accompanied Stephanie on three quick apprehensions; Mrs. Francisco for shoplifting, but I think she is getting dementia. She needs help. Marcus Jones is a burglar who entered his ex girlfriend's house to get his CDs back. The third was Mooner, a friend and doper who forgets his appointments because he's fried his brain. First we had to sit with him and watch an episode of "Lost in Space" before we took him for lunch and then to court.

"Lost in Space?"

"Yeah, very appropriate isn't it," she giggled.

"And after?"

Lula smiled, "I had a appointment at the medical training college in Hamilton Township."

Reggie's eyes lit up, "I'm so proud of you."

She blushed again. This blushing was getting bothersome. "I don't know exactly what I want to study, but for sure I don't want to mess with any body fluids."

He chuckled, "So that leaves...what?" He noticed she was getting more and more excited as she spoke.

"Medical billing, therapy and pharmacy for starters. I'm hesitant about pharmacy because my mama was a junkie. I don't like drugs, period. And I can't see myself sitting at a computer all day typing in numbers. So I'm leaning towards therapy, maybe occupational therapy. That way I can help people and not have to deal with bed pans or stuff. I can start taking classes in January and they have student loans available," she said nearly bouncing out of her chair. "But I don't know about leaving..."

"Tallulah, this is your chance to live in the light," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "You will remain her friend, just you won't be working with her."

"Yeah," she said and then she looked around..."No dessert?"

The twinkle remained in his eyes. "Later."

%%%%%%%%%%%%

December morning was cold, the snow shone like diamonds and they sky was bluer than usual. A breeze from the west had blown the smog out towards the ocean. Lula kissed Reggie good bye as he talked endlessly on the phone with legislators and law enforcement throughout New England. "Be smart and be safe," he said. Lula headed towards Hamilton avenue and the bail bonds office. Today she was going to tell Stephanie, Connie and Vinnie she was leaving to go back to school.

Stephanie blew in, stomping her feet, "I hope it's warmer in here than it is in my apartment. I slept with every blanket and wore sweat pants and tops with a hat to bed and still shivered."

"You coming down with a cold?" Connie asked. "I get that way when I'm fighting some new bug."

"What's you need is a man to snuggle up with," Lula said. "They come in real handy for warming your feet, except right now I gotta keep one foot outside the bed."

"Ranger is in Miami, lucky dog." Stephanie answered. "Joe, well he's off the charts for awhile. Says he's working nights but I'm not sure that's true."

Vinnie stuck his head out from his office, "You don't have to worry about Earl Lewis. I sent that to Rangeman since you weren't getting anywhere with him."

Lula was pleased but Stephanie flustered, "Too bad, he was worth something." Turning to Connie, I still have Giff Bickerson, anybody else?

Connie tossed over several files,"There's a flasher, auto Christmas shopper, and an illegal pharmacist."

"Flasher in this weather? Can't be much to see in this cold weather," she said as she flipped through the file.

"He's moved indoors, mall flasher. His name is Orville Crumley."

"Auto Christmas shopper?"

LeVerne LeBon. He's getting his gifts from the parking lot of the mall, stealing them from cars. If both of these yahoos are working, you might get them at the same mall.

"I should be so lucky," Stephanie said.

"LeLe Bon has his mobile shop set up on Brunswick on Thursdays," Lula added. "Sometimes he'll be on Broad street on Tuesdays. You can purchase something nice and then pick him up."

"What is an illegal pharmacist?"

Connie sighed, "Drug dealer. I need new terminology from time to time. Harley Davis, usually cooks meth but will deal in anything."

"Seriously, Harley Davis?"

"Davis not Davidson," corrected Connie.

"Close enough."

The mall before Christmas should be a zoo, but it was mid day, middle of the week. It wasn't bad. Stephanie and Lula walked, or rather Lula thumped. At least she didn't need her cane anymore, but she couldn't walk far and sat often.

Stephanie made a circuit and came and sat with Lula. "We aren't going to draw in Orville if we are together. Let's trade off."

" I'll be in the food court," Lula said and went and ordered herself a bottle of water and a chicken sandwich on whole wheat. She didn't even think about what she ordered. Since being with Reggie food was no longer a high priority. Stephanie walked around awhile and then signaled Lula it was her turn to cruise and Steph would have lunch.

Lula window shopped the nicer stores thinking of the clothes Reggie had purchased for her while she watched for the mall flasher. As she passed Game Stop, a man came running out and into Lula, knocking her over. "Not you again," he gasped and took off running.

Stephanie saw the exchange, recognized Earl Lewis and started running after him towards the exit. Lula looked up and saw Stephanie on the chase and yelled out, "STOP! HE'S NOT OURS!" Stephanie stopped, turned around and shook her head. She didn't have apprehension papers.

Unfortunately Lewis heard Lula too. As Stephanie stood catching her breath, Lewis came up behind her, placed his hand gun against her back and hand over her mouth "I'm not yours, but you are now mine. Make any move to get away and I'm shooting that mother and child over there." Steph looked and saw the two less than 15 feet away. She couldn't take a chance.

Lula had just managed to get to her feet, with assistance from a mall security man, when she saw Lewis and Stephanie walking out of the mall together. "She's being kidnapped," Lula howled. The mall security was on his radio and Lula was speed dialing Rangeman.

Lewis opened the driver's side door, "Get in and scoot over. If you run, I'll shoot." Stephanie did as he told her except she kept going. The chances of being shot were less if she was out of the truck and moving versus sitting quietly like a target. She was running between cars before Earl Lewis could fire. BAM went the giant gun. The side window on an Accord exploded. Stephanie kept running, staying low. If Lewis couldn't see her, he had nothing to shoot, she hoped. A giant snow mound was just ahead and she leapt onto and over the top. Chances are Lewis would leave rather than follow her around the parking lot waving his gun.

Stephanie's heart was pounding too loudly, she couldn't hear Lewis' truck start and him peel out of the parking lot. She was curled up partially inside the backside of the snow bank, sirens were drawing near. "Ma'am, mall security, are you hurt? You can come out now," came a female voice. Stephanie crawled around the giant mound, "How did you know I was here?" Pointing to the camera mounted high on the building, "Security camera."

After talking to the local police and assuring Hank and Chet from Rangeman she was OK, she called Lula, "Where are you?"

"Inside, by the fountain. Orville Crumley stopped by."

"Did you get him?"

"No, but I got some pictures. Being indoors ain't helping his performance any."

"You took pictures? "

"Yeah, told him I ain't seen anything like that in a long time. He was flattered."

"You let him go?" Stephanie screamed.

"I can't chase no weenie waggler around the mall."

"He was right in front of you, you could have stunned him and hand cuffed him."

"I didn't have the papers plus we are far way away from the Burg. No Costanza to look the other way about our illegal tools of the trade."

"Since when are you so particular?"

"Since I realized I ain't cut out for this and don't want to be the one sent to jail."

"You aren't carrying your gun?"

"No aren't you?" Knowing full well Stephanie was unarmed as well.

On the way back to the Burg Stephanie remained quiet finally spoke, "Are you quitting?"

Lula sighed, "Yeah. I'm starting classes in January at the medical training institute."

"Yeah, right, you and blood," Stephanie scoffed

"No occupational therapy. I can help people without having to mess with body liquids."

"Reggie making you do this?"

"No, but he and his mama have been encouraging me to move on. She said sometimes one gets stuck and needs a helping hand, but I have to ask for a help. She and Reggie are my helping hands."

"When are you leaving?"

"Not until end of the month. We can still find your skips. I'll be around to drive you around, run errands or other work around the office, but my days of chasing scum are over. I've lived in darkness all my life, I want the light."

"I will miss you."

"Oh girl friend, I ain't dying. I'll always be your friend, but I won't be your side kick. We can do girl things together, Macy's shoe sales, lunch, margaritas, and such; but no more guns, explosions, dead bodies. No more johns. No more Tasty Pastry or Cluck in a Bucket. Lula is moving on."

"Moving on with Reggie?"

"Maybe. We are going to try to build something together."