Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Note: Angst
Pairing: Stephanie/Ranger
Rating: Suitable for people over 13
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Educational Opportunity - Part 4: Circus
By TT

Stephanie looked around the scene as she sat on the curb. The only word that came to mind was ‘circus’. The only thing that seemed to be missing, aside from the big top, was the cotton candy. She decided she could really go for some cotton candy right now.

On the plus side, she had successfully gotten the skip out of the bar and into the waiting arms of Tank.

On the down side, she’d managed to do that when she bumped into Dickie and they started to get into it. This time, the bar fight and fire really weren’t her fault. They were Dickie’s.

Of course, the best part of the evening involved the wire she wore. She now possessed evidence that proved this latest debacle was NOT her fault.

Unfortunately, no one seemed to be willing to accept that.

A pair of familiar shoes appeared in her line of sight. She looked up, and up, and up. “Tank,” she greeted.

Tank reached down and pulled her to her feet. He looked at her and shook his head. “Bombshell…” he began before shaking his head again and looking away at the soaked, soot-covered lawyers, the flashing lights of the police and fire vehicles and the firemen fighting their hoses to get the water to the right spot. “Looks like a circus,” he muttered.

Smiling slightly at his remark, which so closely reflected her own thoughts, Stephanie reached into her pocket and pulled out the microphone she detached earlier. “Here you go. It’s still in working order.” She felt a brief flash of pain at the fact Ranger hadn’t showed up that night, but, in a way, she expected it. Instead, Tank showed up with the microphone, the file and word that Ranger was, conveniently, “in the wind”.

She wished she could be shocked at Ranger’s suddenly being call away, but, after the words they exchanged that afternoon, she accepted it as inevitable and tried to ignore the ever-growing crack in her heart.

Still, at least she wouldn’t need to ask Ranger about a job now. Tank would be the man in charge. “So,” she began, tucking her hands in her pockets, “I don’t suppose you need a hand at the office for a while?”

Tank raised an eyebrow.

Stephanie let out a sigh, knowing he would get all of the information out of her. “Angie has a chance to go overseas, but the program costs a lot. Val asked me to help with what I can financially. We’re about $1,500 short right now. I figured I could come work at Rangeman and maybe get an advance on my salary,” she babbled hopefully.

Tank waited a moment, waiting to see if she had finished. “Rangeman has an outstanding skip. Help me bring him in tomorrow and your cut would more than cover that.”

Feeling her jaw drop in shock at this generosity, Stephanie tried to get her mind to work at finding words of thanks.

An obviously amused Tank reached out and lifted her jaw, closing her mouth. “Don’t thank me yet. It’s not going to be easy and you’re not going to like it. I’ll pick you up at 6:00 A. M. Wear your vest. Bring your gun. Loaded,” he commanded. “Hector is going to bring you home now.”

Stephanie managed to nod and smile her thanks before he disappeared. A moment later Hector appeared at her side and escorted her to the ubiquitous black Explorer.

Continued In Part 5: Climbing

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