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SPIRIT OF THUNDER

PART ONE

She remembered that the kitchen clock had just chimed at ten in the morning when Katheryn hurried from the apartment and hopped in Carlos' Durango, settling in rather forcefully as her good mood showered her actions. She balanced an item it one hand while she reached for the seatbelt, all while Carlos sat glaring at her, his eyes narrowed in a balance of confusion and amusement.

Katheryn aimed the device straight at Carlos while keeping it at least two feet away from him as she shut the passenger side door. "Well, day one, folks. And as you can see, it's getting off to a great start. I have the most handsome chauffeur in Dallas believe it or not. And don't get jealous, ladies. He's spoken for. And I am about a few weeks out from getting my first red belt. So don't think I won't use those skills."

Finally, Carlos had reached the point of exhausting his efforts in resisting asking the question most on the forefront of his mind. "What is that?" He raised a single eyebrow as he inspected the item in Kath's hand.

Katheryn stopped short, turning to face him with a wrinkled forehead. "Um, it's a camcorder."

"Well, duh. But why are you in my Durango with it, pointing it at me?"

Grinning, Katheryn answered, "I've decide to start a video blog. Trivette's helping me set up my own web page. I'm going to document the day-to-day activities of a real PI at work."

Carlos cocked his own sly smile. "So I'm a part of your day-to-day activities?"

"Duh," Katheryn scoffed and reached to toss the camera out the window, balancing it on the window's edge. "Unless you don't want to be a part of it. I can just quit the whole thing. I mean, if you're not in it, it's no use me doing this little project."

"No no no…that's okay. I'm—honored to be a part of your project." He paused, wrinkling his forehead more as he cranked the engine. "What exactly are you doing this for anyways?"

"Oh, just an experiment," Katheryn tossed over along with a mischievous smile. "Now are we going to the dojo or not?"

With a light chortle and grin, Carlos accelerated away from the apartment parking lot in route for Thunder Karate. They had traversed several Dallas streets before he finally spoke up again. "Oh, I forgot to tell you." He reached inside his pocket and handed Katheryn a black cloth.

Katheryn accepted the item reluctantly. "What's this for?"

"You can't see anything when we arrive at the dojo. So blindfold yourself."

"Excuse me?"

"Blindfold yourself," Carlos repeated with emphasis. "And no peeking."

Although still very confused, Kath turned her camcorder around to film herself. "Well that's all for now, folks." She turned a sideways glance at Carlos. "I guess I'll pick back up with this when I figure out what this is all about." Katheryn shot a glare towards Carlos as he hit a rather large pothole, causing them to bounce rather forcefully. She caught her camera thankfully, applying a deep breath to her recovery as she looked back into the camera lens and tried to dismiss the chuckles from the other side of the vehicle. "Over and out, folks."

With that she shut the camcorder and tucked it by her purse at her feet before setting to work with the blindfold Carlos had given her. "So…no hints?"

"Nope. Now hurry up. We're almost there."

"Okay okay," Katheryn chuckled. "You better be glad I love you."

Carlos took advantage of the moment to let a broad smile show while Katheryn couldn't see him. Just then, he took the ever-familiar sharp right turn onto the street that ran in front of Thunder Karate and put the vehicle in park.

Carlos quickly turned off the engine and unbuckled, reaching for the door handle. "Hang tight." He exited the vehicle and circled the front at a brief run, stopping to open the door for Kath. "Alright." He reached for her hand and felt her grip his as she put a foot out the door and guided herself to the sidewalk. A bit of a laugh was on her lips at the mystery of this little excursion.

"You know how I am with surprises," Kath urged, as if she wanted to alleviate the blow of not quite seeing what she expected to see once the blindfold was removed.

"Of course," Carlos shrugged. "You love em."

Kath scoffed and let Carlos guide her to the entrance of the dojo. "I suppose when they come from you it can't be that bad."

"True. Except this one's not entirely mine." Carlos grinned as he opened the door. "Alright. Step on in."

Since Katheryn was well-acquainted with Thunder Karate, she could without a doubt maneuver her way around the facility with little help. Although the sensation of having to rely upon her memory for guidance through the building struck her as odd upon impact. Carefully, Kath guided her hand alongside the hall's wall as they took the sharp left turn towards the dojo.

"Careful," Carlos warned just before she collided with the payphone on the wall. He smiled a bit as he followed behind Katheryn, watching her do what she did best…be independent. He knew she'd let him know if she needed help. What Carlos would never tell her though, is that he'd never give her that luxury if ever she was to need his help and refused to ask for it.

As they entered the main dojo area, Carlos gave Trent a rather intense wink, signaling for him to step forward.

Trent then took Katheryn by the hand. "Right this way."

"Trent?" Kath jerked her head towards the voice, carefully stepping up onto the loft staircase. "Y'all are ridiculous. You do know that right?"

Trent ignored her sentiment with a smile and carefully followed her from behind as they made their way up to the loft. Carlos and Tommy were not far behind.

"Alright. Here we are." Trent slipped around in front of Kath and took her hand once more, guiding her over the middle of the loft office, facing the sun-bathed windows. He then reached up and began to slip away the blindfold from her eyes.

Trent and Carlos waited with baited breaths, their silence saying more than words ever could as they watch what Kath's reaction would be. First, she squinted against the change of light, laughing some to ease her nerves as an object before her came into focus. There along the wall beneath the windows facing the street was a brand new desk, fashioned much after Trent's own desk, just a bit smaller to fit the space.

"So…what do you think?" Tommy broke the silence, unable to stand it anymore.

Kath smiled. "I love it! But you didn't have to, Trent."

"What? Are you kidding?" Trent chuckled. "I wouldn't have it any other way. You're my partner. The least I could do is give you a desk."

Katheryn turned to finally acknowledge Trent face to face, nodding her thanks as she looked into his eyes with a tight-lipped smile on her lips. "Thanks. I appreciate it." She shot a glare to Carlos. "So that's what all the mystery about this morning was about."

Carlos dodged as Katheryn reached to swat him on the shoulder. "Hey, I thought you liked it."

"I do." Katheryn pecked a kiss on Carlos' cheek. "Just don't rub it in that you successfully tricked a PI into coming over here." Kath cocked a glance towards Tommy. "Do you realize he baited me with the promise that I could spar with him this morning?"

Tommy chortled. "Fat chance."

"Hey!" Carlos punched Tommy on the shoulder. "Remember you're talking to a cop, young man."

Tommy laughed it off and hurried back downstairs. "I'll see you guys later," he called over his shoulder, the door to the dojo opening and closing rather swiftly.

"Well," Carlos sighed, "I'd love to stick around and watch you settle in, Kath. But I've got a couple things to attend to with Teresa."

"Oh?" Katheryn frowned. "I thought you had the day off."

"I did." Carlos nearly rolled his eyes. "Tell that to the department."

"Will you be back in time to make Trivette's birthday party?"

"I should be. If not, my gift is back at my apartment. Can you get it for me?"

"I'd love to," Katheryn grinned, putting Carlos on edge with a crooked, suspicious glance. "Oh, don't worry. I won't rearrange much."

"Good." Carlos pecked a kiss on her forehead before he too turned to hurry away but was stopped as his cellular phone vibrated in the inside breast pocket of his leather coat. He reached inside, flipping it open to answer it. "Detective Sandoval."

Katheryn watched as his forehead went from intensely wrinkled to relaxed, his brows arching and surprise replacing where concern had seconds ago.

"Alright." The conversation seemed to be ending. "Keep us in the loop then." He shut the phone and let his arm fall to his side. "That was C.D."

Katheryn and Trent perked up.

"What did C.D. want?" Katheryn asked.

"Walker told him to call us. Alex and Trivette have been taken hostage."

"Oh my goodness." Katheryn's voice was low with a tempting dose of fear as she kept her eyes fastened on Carlos.

"C.D. almost got captured too," Carlos continued. "But Walker showed up in time."

Trent's eyes gleamed with determination as he glanced around, unable to sort his thoughts completely. "Does Walker know who took them?"

"Yep. Caleb Hooks."

Trent's eyes widened. "Hooks? You've got to be kidding me."

"Wait. What?" Katheryn split her glances between the two guys. "Who's Hooks?"

Carlos took a deep breath, recalling the bits and pieces Walker had relayed to them about his deadly arch-enemy. "He was nothing but a bloody-thirsty merc who wanted to get back at Walker for the death of his brother. He failed. Got sent to prison. I guess this means he's out of prison now. Revenge is most likely the only thing on his mind."

"Can we do anything to help?" Trent queried, already attempting to devise a plan of strategy in his mind.

Carlos smiled. "Walker knew you'd say that." His smile quickly faded. "So he said to lay low on this one. He wants to be the one bring him in."

Trent shook his head, a gentle scoff coming from his mouth as he paced to the other side of the loft office and set a hand against the railing. "I hate this feeling of helplessness. There's got to be something we can do instead of sitting here waiting for the worst."

"I know what you mean." Katheryn crossed her arms and offered Carlos a reassuring gaze. But nothing could reassure them as a deafening silence echoed within and filled the entire dojo.

Carlos reluctantly turned towards the stairs, smiling back quickly to Katheryn. "Well, I guess I should get going."

"Yeah," Katheryn shook off her reverie, stepping up to give Carlos a quick goodbye kiss. "Be careful."

"Will do."

Trent glanced at the wall clock behind them and also turned to leave. "I'll be back in an hour."

"Where are you going?"

"To pay my respects to someone." Trent paused as he traced a straight line to the steps and smiled. "You take your time settling in."

"Alright. You be careful too. You hear?"

"I always have. And I always will." Trent was away before Katheryn could say another word.

Katheryn listened as the noise from the Dallas streets filled the atmosphere upon Trent opening and shutting the entrance door. The sound was almost music to her ears as she heard it, followed quickly by Trent as he fired up the engine of his Stingray Corvette. Then as the pleasant sound dissipated, Katheryn turned to her belongings and her camcorder, popping open the little screen and pressing record. She then stood and walked over to the edge of the loft, capturing on film the vast place she was proud to call one of her homes.

"This is Thunder Karate," she began, her voice echoing. "Trent and Tommy run this place like a machine. Every day they teach kids and even adults the skills of a martial artists which go much deeper than kicks and punches. It's about the heart and soul of a person more than anything as they garner new skills."

Katheryn then scanned over the floor once more before she began filming the area around her in the loft. "And this is the loft office. Trent conducts his protection agency from here. And I am proud to be his partner in the efforts. When people have nowhere else to turn to, they come to Trent for help. He's helped so many people. I am proud to call him my friend. And if it's not saying too much, I like to think of him as the brother I never had. Anyways, this is my workplace. No," Katheryn shook her head, chuckling softly. "What am I kidding?! This isn't my office. Nor is it Trent's. It's just headquarters so to speak. Our office is out there on the streets, helping everyone we can. I thank God every day that I am able to be a small part in it. I truly could not imagine my life any other way."