Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.

Mastermind
By TT

“Sure you don’t want me to go with you, Babe?” Ranger asked, his eyes watching her carefully as she ran around gathering her things.

“No,” she said, her nervousness showing in her voice. Turning to face Ranger, she continued, “You taught me to have proper backup, and in this case, Mary Lou is who I need. She has the knowledge and skills to help me through it.”

“If you’re sure.”

Taking a deep breath, Stephanie nodded. “I’m sure,” she assured, giving him a quick kiss before leaving.

Stephanie pulled up outside the school and took a deep breath.

“You’ll be fine,” Mary Lou assured from the passenger seat, already gathering her purse.

“I have no clue what I’m getting myself into,” Stephanie muttered trying to convince herself she would be OK.

“That’s why you brought me for backup,” Mary Lou reminded, laughter evident in her voice. Opening her car door, she encouraged, “Come on. It’s not that bad.”

Stephanie reached for her bag and opened her own door. “Just in and out,” she murmured to herself, taking a deep breath. “A quick, surgical strike.” Shaking her head, she realized she’d been spending too much time around Ranger and the Merry Men. She was beginning to sound like them.

“Ready?” Mary Lou asked, slinging her purse over her shoulder.

“Sure. Why not?” Stephanie replied, her eyes locked on the door of the school.

Stepping inside the building, memories rushed back to her. Most of them weren’t all that pleasant, but Mary Lou’s presence at he side. There were children running wild all throughout the gym. A boy of about eight nearly bowled her over. He was being followed closely by a girl of about ten.

The noise was nearly deafening and it put her on edge. Mary Lou seemed right at home, though.

Grabbing her by the arm, Stephanie’s friend dragged her into the press of people, stopping to chat to various individuals and couples along the way. Stephanie did her best to smile and respond politely, wondering if she could get through this without a catastrophe.

Eventually, the two women made their way through the crowd to their goal.

There, standing beside a table, stood Angie, carefully explaining her some aspect of her science project to the man standing beside her.

While they waited for her to be free, the two women took a look at what she had done.

Both were rendered speechless.

In a subdued voice Mary Lou observed, “She’s a genius. I only hope she never turns to evil.”

Stephanie nodded dumbly. “She’d rule the world,” she replied, her voice awed.

End.

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