Plum Danger

Summary: Stephanie’s just lost the most important person in her life and a new terror has entered it. Can she solve the case and save herself from the danger or will Stephanie’s bounty hunting days be over?

Author's Note: Once again, I'm sorry about how long it's been since I've updated. Work has been kicking my butt, and most days, all I have time for is sleep and work and nothing else. I'm going to try and keep chapters coming since the summer and work are almost over. Enjoy the update!

Disclaimer: All characters in this story were created by Janet Evanovich, save for the ones I’ve created for purposes of my storyline.

Chapter 16

I dried off in the bathroom and put on clean clothes, then went out to find Ranger waiting impatiently.

“Sorry, I was tired,” I said, yawning.

“It’s all right. We can be a few minutes late,” said Ranger.

We went downstairs and got into Ranger’s black Cayenne.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You’ll see.”

We pulled out of the parking garage and followed a route I knew all too well. He couldn’t be taking me to Joe’s house, could he? My thought was proved true when we pulled up in front of Joe’s house.

Strangely, Joe’s SUV was parked in front of Joe’s house as well.

“I thought that was wrecked?” I asked, confused.

“It was repaired,” said Ranger, getting out and heading towards the house.

“Why are we here? I don’t want to be here,” I said, getting out of the car, but not moving towards the house.

“You’ll see,” said Ranger.

“Fine,” I said, and walked towards the house as slowly as I could. Ranger opened the door and walked right in, without knocking or using a key. I frowned and followed him in. He stepped aside when we’d both entered and motioned for me to go into the living room.

My jaw dropped when I walked into the living room of Joe’s house. He was there, sitting on the couch as though he’d never left, although the several day old beard and rumpled clothes gave it away. I stepped backwards, running straight into Ranger.

“It--It’s not real. He’s not really there. It’s not possible,” I stammered, shaking my head, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.

“He’s really there, Stephanie,” said Ranger quietly.

Joe got up and moved towards me. “Steph, I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen, but I had to.”

I shook my head and pressed back into Ranger.

“No, you’re not real. I’m dreaming again.”

Black spots were dancing across my vision. Good, I’d pass out and when I woke up, this would have been just another one of the dreams. It was just my mind tormenting me with what I could never have again.

“Steph--”

The next thing I knew, I was laying on the couch, with my hand being tightly squeezed. I opened my eyes and looked right into Joe’s eyes.

“You’re really alive?” I asked tentatively.

Joe nodded, and that’s when I got mad. I sat up and tore my hand out of his, then I slapped him across his face.

“How could you do that to me?” I yelled, hitting him again. “How could you just leave me and pretend to be dead? You could have told me! Maybe then I wouldn’t have--”

“I’m sorry, Cupcake. I wanted to tell you, I really did, but I couldn’t risk it,” said Joe quietly. “I needed to catch the guys, and it was the only way I could do it without my life being in danger.”

But I remembered the time I swore I’d heard his voice in the hospital and when I caught a glimpse of movement when I was leaving Rangeman. And the strangely familiar man in sweats that no one would tell me the identity of.

“Were you there, in the hospital? And at Rangeman?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” said Joe and hung his head.

And then I could feel my Italian temper taking over.

“You just fucking proposed to me and you couldn’t trust me to keep that secret? You didn’t think I’d understand that you had to go into hiding to solve an important case? No, you leave me all alone and with my own life in danger. I was almost killed because of your stupid case! For once, I didn’t put myself in danger, you did. And then you snuck around and watched me.”

“It needed to seem realistic…” Joe started, but trailed off. I could tell he even knew that sounded stupid.

I threw up my hands. “Whatever, I’m leaving,” I said, and stormed out.

Too late, I realized I’d left without my purse, which contained my apartment keys and cell phone.

“Fuck.”

I’d just walk to my parents house then. I didn’t even get to the end of the block however, before Joe had caught up with me.

“Please come back to the house, Steph,” he pleaded. “I just want a chance to explain. I don’t want you to hate me. I love you.”

“Okay,” I said.

When we got back to the house, Ranger’s Cayenne was gone. Joe and I settled on his couch and he tentatively reached out to hug me. I let him hug me, feeling my anger start to melt away.

“I really am sorry,” whispered Joe as he sat back and looked me in the eyes.

“I know.”

“If I hadn’t faked my death, there’s a good chance I would have been murdered,” said Joe.

I knew that too. Those men had nearly killed me. I’d been shot without a second thought, who knew what they would have done to Joe, since he’d been hiding the information that would convict them.

“I never meant for you to have to be involved and I never meant--” Joe stopped and wrapped his arms around me tightly. “I was so worried that you weren’t going to make it, that my stupidity had gotten you killed.”

Tears pricked at my eyelids and I swallowed hard. “I’m safe now, though, and those guys are in jail and aren’t going to leave anytime soon,” I said.

“I’ll never hurt you like that again, I swear,” said Joe. “No more secrets.”