Disclaimer: The Characters of the Stephanie Plum Series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Table: 100_prompts, table 100B
Challenge: 002.Sway
Characters: Stephanie. Minor Lula, Tank, Ranger
Rating: suitable for people over 13
Feedback: Email TT

A Typical Apprehension
By TT

“How do I get myself into these things?” I asked no one in particular as I peered over the side of the catwalk.

Before today, I honestly didn’t think that these things existed outside of the movies, but they did and here I was, sitting on a metal catwalk in an old, abandoned warehouse with my skip unconscious next to me, my cell phone shattered on the ground below, Lula standing at the door waiting and the sections of catwalk that lead back to the stairway – the only way of this thing - sitting on the floor of the warehouse along with remains of my phone.

As I sat waiting to be rescued, I glanced over at the stunned, handcuffed man next to me.

Mark Miller was no my normal skip level. In fact, he was at the low-end of Ranger’s. But, things had been tight for me recently where my bank account was concerned and Mark was a non-violent first-time offender. He had a high bond simply because of the level of embezzlement he accomplished.

I could still feel the warm glow from Ranger’s assurance that I could catch Mr. Miller.

Glancing next to me once more, I couldn’t stop the proud little smile as I realized he was right. Today I’d made myself $5000, an amount that would go a long way toward paying my bills and getting me the new car I needed – provided, of course, I could find a legitimate car dealership willing to risk financing me. If I could, I’d be sure to insist on Gap insurance this time. With my car history, it was worth it.

What I hadn’t counted on was Miller deciding to take off running when he saw me. He actually had a job in the neighboring warehouse. It seemed to be going so well right up until I introduced myself. I could still remember it.

I stepped out of Lula’s car and closed the door quietly.

“You sure this is the place,” Lula asked skeptically.

“That’s what the file says,” I assured.

“All right. If you say so.”

We made our way into the warehouse. The lights were on, but we didn’t see anyone right away.

“This place I huge!” Lula exclaimed, her eyes large and staring.

I could only nod in agreement. Shaking off my wonder, I started looking around and spotted a small office area off to the side.

Wandering over, I knocked on the door, recognizing my skip behind the desk.

“May I help you?” Miller asked.

“I think so,” I began. “My name is Stephanie Plum. I represent Plum Bail…”

I got no further before he picked up a large stack of papers and threw them at me.

Needless to say I had mixed emotions about that – relief that it wasn’t something messy that would require a shower and a change of clothes and anger that he thought he could run.

I felt him knock into me as he dashed by and heard a grunt from Lula as she hit the floor.

In no time, I took off after him.

At the time, there was only one thing in my mind – he was not getting away.

So, without sparing much thought, I flew out the door after him, pulling my stun gun out of my utility belt.

We crossed the narrow alley between his warehouse and the one next to it.

The new warehouse was empty, but Miller seemed to know exactly where he was going.

He hit the metal stairs just beside the door and started running up them.

I hate stairs.

By the time I hit the twentieth stair, I really hated stairs, but Miller was still running and getting away from me.

Just then I Lula arrived and called out encouragement. Well, it was more like, “You go get him and bring his scrawny behind down here, and he ruined my shoes!”

Close enough.

I started running harder, skipping stairs and began gaining on him. When he hit the catwalk, I was almost with in reach. I began charging my stun gun, pushing through the pain of the stitch in my side in order to get him. After all, he represented my freedom from big blue.

As I moved further away from the staircase, over the open part of the warehouse, a small portion of my mind registered the slight swaying of the catwalk, but I dismissed it as I pounded after Miller.

Somehow, against all reason, I found myself getting closer to my FTA.

We were both running full out, but getting tired, so our feet were hitting harder and harder on the hanging walkway.

I was within five feet of him when the swaying became noticeable and began to mess with my balance.

A sickening screeching sound was followed by the section of catwalk I was on suddenly tilting to the side.

Fortunately, I was close enough to the next section that I was able to jump to it.

Hitting the walkway with the full force of my body sent this section swaying dangerously as well.

Not good!

I got to my feet faster than I thought possible and soon found myself pushing my FTA onto the next section of the walkway.

The unfortunate part of this scenario is that I pushed him with my hand that had the stun gun in it. Needless to say, he dropped quickly.

The fortunate part is that we were almost on the next section anyway, so when he fell, enough of him was on the new section of catwalk so he didn’t trip.

And, of course, being unconscious, he didn’t feel me run right over him to relative safety.

Looking up wildly, I was relieved to see the poles attaching the walkway to the ceiling seemed to be firmly in place. When I checked where they were attached to the walkway, I was relieved to see the rivets were tight and not moving.

What was even better was that the swaying that had been a part of the whole chase was no longer present.

When I determined I was relatively safe, I sat myself down and dragged Mr. Miller more securely onto the walkway.

Though he was unconscious for now, I wasn’t sure how long it would take him to recover, or how long it would take for us to be rescued, so I pulled his arms behind his back and cuffed him.

Then, being the modern girl I was, I pulled my cell phone out and prepared to dial.

That had been when Lula called out and startled me, causing me to lose my grip on my phone. We could only watch as it tumbled through the air and made a sickening crash on the floor far, far below.

When we finally snapped out of our stupor, Lula had pulled out her phone and dialed Tank, explaining the situation. If anyone could get me out of this situation without the press becoming involved it would be the Rangemen.

At least I hoped so.

So, here we sat, waiting patiently for someone to show up and get my skip and I down.

I was getting a bit anxious, not because of the height, but because Mark Miller was beginning to come around and I knew he would not be pleased when he realized we were stranded and he was cuffed.

“I see them coming!” Lula shouted up to me, breaking my little reverie.

“Thank, God,” I sighed.

It had to be less than a minute before I saw Tank and Ranger stride into the warehouse and assess the situation.

Even from where I sat, I could see the huge smiles on their faces as they spotted me way up high. Great. I was amusing them again.

They walked over to where I was standing, looking up the whole time. Without saying anything, they continued on the length of the walkway, stopping about twenty feet beyond where I was sitting.

Tank pulled a piece of paper out of somewhere and they unfolded it, looking at it closely.

I have no idea if the conversation that followed was silent or not, but after a few minutes, Tank headed out the door at a jog and Ranger moved to stand where I could see him.

“Just be a few more minutes, Babe,” he assured, unable to hide his grin. “We found a door to the roof about twenty feet down from you. Do you think you can make it there.”

“I can, but I don’t think I can drag my skip all that way,” I admitted.

“You just get yourself down there, we’ll take care of the rest,” he promised before turning and leaving the building.

With a sigh, I glanced at my skip one last time and headed down the walkway.

My previous experience had made me wary of leaving my safe little area, though. So, when I had to step onto the next section of catwalk, I very cautiously put my foot on it and looked around to make sure I wasn’t about to fall.

It seemed to be another sturdy section, so I started walking down it.

About halfway to the next section, I thought I felt it sway and froze, remembering how I’d dismissed it earlier only to have the walkway fall out from under me.

When it didn’t fall and nothing else seemed amiss, I continued on my way – slowly.

Eventually I came to the area I assumed was about twenty feet away from my skip and looked up.

Sure enough, there was the faintest outline of a hatch there. Guess I knew where he planned to go from here.

I didn’t have long to wait before there was a loud clanging sound and then, with a horrible screech, the hatchway opened up.

Squinting up at the bright sunlight, I could make out the silhouettes of two very familiar people. “Ranger. Tank,” I greeted.

“Bombshell,” Tank returned

“Babe,” Ranger said. I could hear the grin.

Their heads moved back from the skylight and I was just about to call them back, when Ranger’s legs appeared in the opening.

I took a step back to get a better view. I mean, so I wouldn’t be in the way and watched.

He landed light as a cat on the walkway and I spotted the harness he was wearing as well as the rope attached to it.

“I’m going to pass you up to Tank, Babe,” he said, stepping closer. “Then I’ll go down and get Miller.”

“But…” I began.

“The harness and rope will keep me from hitting the ground if the supports go,” he assured, answering my concern before I could voice it.

“OK,” I agreed softly.

He drew me closer to him so we were both under the hatch. Brushing a light kiss across my lips, he placed his hands at my waist and lifted me straight up as if I weighed nothing.

Looking up, I noticed Tank was there with his arms extended. I instinctively reached upward and grasped his hands.

I was on the roof beside Tank before I had a chance to think. I was impressed to say the least. I mean, I’m no lightweight, but I might as well have been a feather for all the effort they seemed to exert.

Though I spotted the ladder to the ground, I wasn’t anxious to leave. I wanted to make sure Ranger was fine first.

Fortunately for me, I didn’t have long to worry. Sooner than I would have expected, he appeared below the hatch with my still-recovering skip and passed him up to Tank.

If I had been impressed with the ease with which they passed me between the two of them, I was awed by the fact they seemed to expend the same energy in moving my larger, heavier skip.

With everyone safely on the roof, Tank quickly closed the hatchway and the four of us – well the three of us and Miller tossed carelessly over Tank’s shoulder – made our way to and down the ladder. I got myself down; Ranger carried the equipment he and Tank had been using and Tank carried down Miller.

Lula greeted us on the ground, giving me a quick hug before moving over to Tank who held the now-groaning Miller.

“Thanks for the rescue,” I offered to Ranger since Tank and Lula seemed to be off in a world of their own.

“Anytime,” he offered with a smile, putting his arm around my waist and drawing me to his chest. He presented me with a lingering kiss.

When we finally broke off, my hands were twisted in his shirt, holding on for dear life. “Wh-what?” I stammered.

“My reward for rescuing the damsel in distress,” he replied simply, offering a huge grin before stepping away.

I better be the only damsel in distress he’s rescuing, I thought to myself.

His laughter rang out and I winced, somehow knowing he was aware of exactly what I had been thinking.

His arm slipped around my waist and lead us back around to the other warehouse where Tank put the now semi-alert Miller in the back of Big Blue before the two of them headed toward the black Explorer and drove off.

“Someday,” I said aloud, not sure how I was going to finish that thought, or even if I should.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I looked over at Lula. “Let’s get him turned in and get the receipt,” I suggested. “I need to do a little car shopping.”

End.

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