In Hard Eight , Stephanie Plum picks up a case a little nastier than anything the wisecracking bounty hunters seen before. Evelyn Soder and her young daughter have gone on the run, leaving an angry ex-husband whos planning to collect on a child custody bond that will leave Evelyns grandmother homeless. Stephanies first clue that theres more to it than that comes in the form of Eddie Abruzzi, a shady local businessman who warns her to butt out of the case. Stephanie doesnt scare easily, but when Abruzzis henchmen leave a bag of snakes on her doorknob and tarantulas in her car, she has no choice but to call Ranger, the hunky man of mystery whom she already owes too many favors. Steph knows that Ranger will soon be calling in his marker, but with her ex- fiancé Joe Morelli out of the picture, that should be OK--shouldnt it? In the meantime, shes got other fugitives to catch, aided by the usual band of misfits, plus a bumbling correspondence-school lawyer whos developed the hots for Stephanies sister, Valerie. And Stephs in for a surprise from her mother, who proves shes not above wielding a dangerous weapon to save her daughters life.