This is the sequel to A New Friend. You don't need to read that one first, but I would recommend it. Also, this chapter is particularly long (for me, anyway), and I can't guarantee that all chapters will be this long, but I'll try.

Disclaimer: I do not own Walker Texas Ranger or any of its characters.

As always, please review. Criticism welcome!


"Your Honor, with all due respect, I really don't understand-"

"I don't see what you could possibly misunderstand, Counselor. It has recently come to my attention that much of the evidence found in Mr. Juarez's home was obtained under an illegal search. That is grounds for a mistrial. Furthermore, I am granting the request that Mr. Juarez be released from Huntsville pending a new trial."

Alex Cahill-Walker looked defiantly up at Judge Brownstein. She knew that the judge had a reputation of favoring defendants, but this was going way too far. "Your Honor, the crimes Mr. Juarez is accused of range from running a prostitution ring to drug trafficking, to attempted murder! You'll recall, Judge, that Officer Steven Jones was shot by one of Mr. Juarez's men. He left behind a wife and two children. And you're telling me that the man responsible for that tragedy deserves to go free?"

Stuart Hertzman, defense attorney to the stars, saw his opportunity to jump in. "Your Honor, my client and the other residents of his home were simply defending themselves against possible intruders. The officers did not have a search warrant, nor did they adequately identify themselves to my client before barging into his home. What happened to Officer Jones is certainly regrettable, but my client is not responsible for the negligence of the officers that stormed his home." Hertzman stole a glance at Alex, only long enough to offer a smug smile to counter her stony glare that was directed at him. He turned back to the judge to continue his speech. "My client will willingly turn over his passport to the court. He has no intention of doing anything that will jeopardize the clearing of his good name. Something he has been trying to do for the last seven years."

Judge Brownstein slammed her gavel. "So ordered." She declared, before standing and leaving the courtroom.

After she left, Raul Juarez shook his lawyers hand and walked over to where Alex was standing with Walker.

"Admirable arguments Madam Assistant District Attorney. Perhaps they were just not admirable enough."

"Just wait, Juarez, I'll bury you during your new trial. Just like I buried you in the old one." Alex said angrily.

"Ah, Counselor. You forget that you no longer have the physical evidence that was planted before my first trial. I hate to say it, but perhaps it was the evidence, and not you that secured my conviction." With that, he turned and left, presumably to go give interviews to the press that was almost certainly waiting outside.

"Walker, he's right. Without all that evidence, we really don't have a chance of getting a guilty verdict again." Alex said despondently.

"Alex, don't worry. Gage is on it." Walker said confidently. "Anything Juarez does, we'll know about it."


When the possibility of the declaration of a mistrial for Juarez had come up about a month earlier, Alex had come to Walker, asking for help. Walker, Alex, and the other Rangers had decided that the only way to get the dirt on Raul Juarez was to have someone inside his organization. Walker and Trivette were out; they had been a part of the "illegal" search of Juarez's home. That left Gage and Sydney. Though Sydney was a competent Ranger, everyone agreed that a man was more likely to be recruited for the long term, as opposed to a one night stand. Plus, Sydney had been somewhat uncomfortable when the idea of her going undercover for Juarez was broached. Walker had no intention of sending her on this mission if she didn't think she could do it. At this point, Gage had agreed to go undercover as one of Juarez's henchmen. They got him in as fast as possible, knowing that once Juarez was released, it would be unlikely that he would recruit any new men. As they Rangers have done so many times before, they staged a fight at a local bar where Juarez's number two man often hung out. Gage had won the "fight" and been accepted into Juarez's home. That was that. Now that Juarez was released, it was Gage's job to get any evidence that could be used against Juarez in his second trial.


Walker and Alex left the courthouse together, anxious to get back to Ranger Headquarters and talk with Trivette and Sydney. They were busy going through Juarez's past, combing for anything that could be used against him in his new trial. When they walked into Walker's office, the two Rangers were bent over their desks, reading file after file on Juarez and his known associates. So far, they hadn't come up with much. Witnesses tended to have accidents before they could give their statements to the police.

"Well, Juarez is a free man." Alex said.

"Don't worry Alex, we'll find something to stick him with." Trivette said reassuringly, but the lines creasing his forehead told a different story.

"Anything from Gage?" Alex asked hopefully.

"Not yet." Sydney answered, barely glancing at anyone else when she spoke. "He called earlier to check in, but he still hasn't been able to get anyone to talk without raising suspicion on his part."

"All right guys, why don't we call it a day. Everyone over to my house for dinner in an hour." Walker said, trying to raise morale. He heard muttered agreements from Trivette and Sydney, took Alex's hand, and walked out of Ranger Headquarters to the parking garage.


When Walker and Alex got back to the ranch, they found their daughter Angela, and her friend Jessica sprawled on the living room floor textbooks lying open between them. Jessica had become a semi-permanent presence in the Walker ranch after the events a few months back. She even kept some of her clothes in a guest room upstairs in case she didn't feel like going back to her apartment.

"Hi mom! Hi dad! Can Jessica stay for dinner?" Angela asked as soon as she heard the door open.

Alex laughed. "Hello to you too! Yes, she can stay; Trivette and Sydney are coming over too."

"Thanks Mrs. Walker." Jessica said with a smile.

"No problem. But since we're having company, I need the two of you to help!"

Angela and Jessica got up and went to the kitchen while Walker unloaded the rest of the groceries. When he brought the last of them in, he snaked his arms around Alex's waist.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

"Not really." She admitted.

"We're going to get him the second time around. He won't get off this time." Walker said. "I won't let it happen."


Walker was out back manning the grill while the Alex, Angela, and Jessica handled the kitchen. Sydney and Trivette arrived within minutes of each other. Before long, they were all sitting at the picnic table in the back yard, feasting on steak, potatoes, corn on the cob, and other home cooked favorites. Inevitably, the talk turned to Juarez's hearing and what was going to happen.

"I'm telling you, Alex, Gage will find something." Trivette assured her.

"Find what?" Angela asked.

"Yeah, where has Gage been anyway?" Jessica echoed.

Silence followed. The adults at the table looked at each other with sheepish expressions on their faces.

"Nothing girls, it's nothing." Alex finally managed to say.

"Yeah, right." Angela said, rolling her eyes. "Come on. It's not like we're going to tell anybody."

Walker cleared his throat. "There was a hearing today. A convicted criminal got out on a technicality. We're trying to find evidence to put him back in prison. Gage included."

Comprehension dawned as Angela and Jessica read between the lines of Walker's statement.

"Who is it?" Angela asked. When no one answered, she continued. "Come on, it's probably on the news right now. You can at least tell us his name. Please…" she begged. Beside her, Jessica laughed at her friend's outright curiosity.

"Raul Juarez." Alex finally said.

"W-What did you just say?" Jessica stuttered, a horrified look on her face.

"Raul Juarez. Jessica, what's wrong?" Walker said, concern masking his voice.

Jessica looked at Angela, the same horrified look on her face and shook her head.

"No…oh God no…please." She muttered, shaking her head and squeezing Angela's hand.

"Jessica, what is it? What's wrong?" Trivette asked.

"Juarez." Jessica finally managed. "Does that ring a bell for any of you?"

Everyone at the table except for Angela sat with confused looks on their faces.

"Juarez." Sydney spoke up. "Raul Juarez, Jessica Juarez…"

"Raul Juarez is my father." Jessica finally said softly.