Disclaimer: This was written for the soul purpose of our entertainment. I lay no claim on Walker Texas Ranger or any of its characters.
"Deadly Connections"
Janis Boisclair
jboisclair@rogers.com
Chapter 1
The Confrontation
Northwest Elementary School
Alex Walker brought her car to a stop outside the children's elementary school opening the door to head for the office where she had been summoned.
"Alex?"
She turned around to see Erica Trivette running to catch up to her. "What are you doing here?"
"Got a phone call, you?" Erica questioned.
"Ladies." They both turned to see Gage standing there reaching for the door to open it for them.
"Piper?" they both asked at the same time.
"Sydney got a phone call…"
"As did we," Alex confirmed.
"Then I guess we had better go and see what the three musketeers have been up to this time," Erica sighed turning to lead the way to the principal's office.
Danny Walker and Marcus Trivette sat side by side waiting for their mothers to appear. Both jumped up running to them when they came in the office door both talking non-stop at the same time. Gage side stepped the four of them and walked over to the secretary's desk.
"Hi Pat where is she?" he asked the secretary who smiled nodding towards the closed door.
Principal Hart's door opened and his daughter stood in the doorway looking at her shoes.
"Piper?" Gage questioned.
"Daddy," she replied keeping her head down.
"You want to tell me why I had to leave work and come down to school today?"
"It wasn't my fault Daddy," she cried out looking up at him at the same time displaying one of the best shiners Gage had seen in a long time.
"Honey what happened?" Gage asked her crouching down in front of her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"If I could have everyone step into my office," Principal Hart said stepping back so everyone could go inside. Gage had picked up his daughter and carried her inside while Alex and Erica followed with their sons.
There were two more mothers in the office with their boys waiting for the rest to arrive. Principal Hart began making the introductions but before he could finish Mattie Davis cut in directing her anger at Gage. "Texas Ranger you should know better did you teach your daughter that martial arts stuff so she could pick on who ever she wants."
"Excuse me Mrs. Davis is it?" Gage cut back in. "We teach our children self defence, I instruct our son and my wife instructs our daughter we certainly don't teach them to beat up on people for the fun of it."
"Besides Leon jumped Piper," Marcus spoke up in Piper's defence.
"Did not!" Leon exclaimed
"Did too! Danny came back just as loud.
"That's quite enough children," Principal Hart called out above the din that was rising. "We have zero tolerance in this school for fighting," he continued on so I suggest that you all impress upon your children that fighting is not allowed in school. They will all have three days at home to have time to think it over while they serve suspension."
The principal was interrupted by a sharp knocking on the door followed by the door swinging open and John Stewart admitting himself uninvited into the room. He directed himself at Gage, Erica and Alex, "That isn't good enough I want charges laid," he demanded. He had just come from the nurse's office where his son David lay resting after being hit hard in the nose.
"You people know the law I'm sure or do you think yourself above the law where your children are concerned?" Stewart continued on.
"Mr…"
"Stewart," Principal Hart filled in for Alex.
"Mr. Stewart," Alex began again. "From what I have gathered from my son and daughter in the last few weeks you would have a hard time making any charges against our children stick. Your son is a bully and I'm surprised that someone hasn't knocked the stuffing out of him before now."
Stewart's face turned almost purple with anger and he took a step towards Alex. Gage quickly set Piper down and put himself between Alex and Stewart.
"My ruling stands," Principal Hart interjected, "and I'll see a full investigation is launched into these allegations."
"Maybe it is the parents I should be pressing the charges against," Stewart shouted trying to side step Gage to get in Alex's face once more.
Erica had stood up beside Alex as Gage began to speak to irate man, "Mr. Stewart this was a school ground fight and I'm sure that if we all take the proper steps at home we can prevent this from happening again. I hope you will empress upon your son that it is not right to strike a girl just like we'll be impressing on our children why they shouldn't be fighting in the school yard or anywhere else."
Gage didn't have time to say any more before Erica Trivette swayed and crumpled to the floor her son crying, "Mom," at the same time.
Alex dropped down beside her friend; Principal Hart picked up the phone and was calling the nurse's office. Gage was on the floor beside Alex pulling his phone to get Erica's husband Jimmy on the line.
Mrs. Anderson the school nurse rushed into the office just as Erica was opening her eyes and tried to sit up. "If I could get everyone to clear the room…" she began kneeling down beside Erica too.
"Danny, Marcus come with Piper and me," Gage was instructing the children as he usher them out of the office along with the other parents and children.
"Uncle Gage what's wrong with my Mom?" Marcus asked clutching hold of Gage's hand as Gage led them to the few chairs that lined the office wall. Crouching down in front of the boy Gage tried to put aside his fears with what little he knew. "She's just not feeling well Marcus but I talked to your Dad and he is on his way here. He'll probably take your Mom to the doctor and then you will find out what is wrong with her. So you just have to be patient okay?"
Marcus nodded his head agreeing with Gage. "Hey Dad," Piper chirped in, "Remember the last time Mom fainted?" Gage thought back a moment to that time… they had been at the park all day with Chris and Piper and had just gotten home. Syd had been hurrying to get the kids bathed and into bed while he brought the picnic hamper and stuff out of the car. Suddenly he had both kids running to him to come quick that there was something wrong with Mommy. Syd had past out in the hallway. He had picked her up carrying her to their bed where she had slowly come to. He had wanted to take her to emergency but she wouldn't hear tell of it. Two days later they had found out…
"Gage where is she?" Jimmy Trivette cried out as he came racing into the office.
"Inside with Alex and the school nurse," Gage replied standing up to face his friend who made a beeline to the door.
Erica was sitting up in a chair as Jimmy burst through the door. "Erica?" he questioned.
She looked up hearing his voice her face was ashen and he could see it as he went to her. Even though she was glad he had come for her she bravely told him, "Jimmy I'm fine you didn't have to come all the way down here."
"Yeah where else would I be when Gage calls to tell me you passed out?" her husband quizzed her.
She weakly smiled back at him, "Gage over reacted."
"Erica Honey you passed out can you just humour Gage and I? Let me take you to get it checked out?" Jimmy smoothly talked Erica into a trip to the doctor's office.
"And when we find out that nothing is wrong you two will stop worrying?"
"When we find out nothing is wrong we'll stop worrying."
"All right but that is the only reason I'm letting you talk me into this James Trivette."
"I know that Erica," Jimmy readily agreed helping her to stand up.
Alex opened the door for Jimmy and Erica to exit.
"Don't worry about Marcus," Gage volunteered standing up as his friends came out of the principal's office.
"Thanks Gage," Trivette told him adding they'd call as soon as they knew something.
"Gage would you mind taking Danny to Walker?" Alex was asking as Trivette and Erica headed down the corridor. "I've got to be in court in thirty minutes."
"No problem Alex I'm on my way back to headquarters from here," Gage told her.
"Now wait a minute you two matters aren't settled here." John Stewart had stood up blocking the doorway so Alex couldn't pass.
"Mr. Stewart I think we are finished here…" Alex began to say only to be cut off.
"You two are not above the law you will be hearing from my lawyer," Stewart bellowed as Gage once again got between him and Alex.
"If you feel that it is necessary to involve your lawyer Mr. Stewart feel free to do so, but for now I suggest you let Mrs. Walker pass," Gage told him in no uncertain terms.
Stewart glared at Gage backing up at the same time to let Alex pass.
Later On The Way to Ranger Headquarters
Gage loaded the three children into the car and wheeled out of the school parking lot.
"Where are we going Dad?" Piper asked noticing that they were heading downtown.
"I thought I might buy you little thugs some lunch and then you could possibly tell me what happened at school today," Gage explained to the kids as he turned into one of the many fast food restaurants.
Once everyone was eating Gage began, "So who is going to tell me what happened?"
All three looked at each other then all three began talking at once. "One at a time, one at a time," Gage shouted above them. "Marcus you start."
"David Stewart started it when we were getting off the buses this morning. He punched Tyler Blackcrow and made him cry. That's when he told him he had no business coming to our school. Then Piper told him to leave Tyler alone that he could come to our school if he wanted. Then the bell rang," Marcus recited.
"David told Piper he was going to make her shut up before the bell rang," Danny added to the story.
Gage shook his head in acknowledgment before asking, "So then what happened?"
"When we came outside for recess David and his friends jumped me Dad," Piper declared. "They were punching me and Marcus and Danny jumped in to help me. But I still kicked David in the nose just like Mommy taught me," she proudly told her father.
Gage's eyes rolled to the ceiling imagining the look on his wife's face when she heard this story.
"When David's nose started to bleed that's when Mrs. Avery came running over," Danny took up the story and she sent Marsha to go and get Mr. Hart. He came running out with Mr. Goldberg and they took us all to the office except David Mrs. Avery took him to the nurse's room."
"Okay guys I think I got this straight and we had better finish up so I can get back to work," Gage told them as they started gathering up the napkins and containers left from their meals.
Ranger Headquarters
Gage let the children troop in ahead of him when he got to headquarters. "Hi Mommy," Piper sang out to Sydney.
Both Walker and Sydney looked up at the sound of Piper's voice. "Piper your eye," Syd immediately cried out seeing her daughter's face. The next thing she cried was, "Gage!"
"It's not that bad Syd…" Gage tried to say before she cut him off.
"Not that bad? Gage what happened?" Syd was firing the questions at him.
"It seems that some bullies that Piper told off earlier jumped her. Marcus and Danny were just defending her," Gage was explaining. "They're okay except maybe for David Stewart the head bully. Piper sent him to the nurse's office with a bloody nose after she gave him a kick that Mom taught her." Gage was grinning at Sydney as he threw in the last statement.
"Has anyone heard from Erica and Jimmy?" Alex was asking as she made her way inside the office and over to her husband's desk.
"Not a word," Walker told her putting his arm around her and kissing her cheek.
"You know it wouldn't surprise me…" Gage had begun to say just as a deliveryman interrupted them.
"I'm looking for Rangers Gage, Trivette and Walker and ADA Alex Walker," the man announced.
"You've found us," Walker told him stepping forward except for Ranger Trivette he's not here."
"I'm here now," Trivette interrupted coming into the office with Erica. He was holding his wife close and smiling from ear to ear.
"Well then these are for you," the deliveryman told them handing each of them an envelope. He tipped his hat saying, "Have a good day," and was gone.
Ripping open the letter they had received they all began to read Alex being the first to utter, "I don't believe this."
Followed by Gage asking, "Is this guy nuts?" Syd took the letter from his hand to read for herself.
"What went on at the school today? And why am I being sued?" Trivette asked looking from Alex to Gage and back to Alex.
"Look Daddy," Piper suddenly cut in.
"Not right now Honey," Gage replied trying to quiet her interruption while Alex was explaining to the rest what had gone on at the school.
"But look Daddy," she persisted, "David's Dad in on Mom's computer."
Gage was just about to say something more to his daughter to hush her when the words caught his ears. Turning from the rest he walked over to his wife's desk where Piper and the boys were looking at the screen. Standing behind Piper Gage leaned over her like he did with Syd when they were working on a case. Big as life John Stewart's face was plastered on the screen.
"Hey Syd what are you working on here?" he questioned his partner as she walked over to her desk followed by the rest. As everyone gazed at the screen Gage announced, "This is the man who is suing us."
"Danny could you take Marcus and Piper into my office so us grown ups can have a minute before we talk with you three," Walker told his son.
"Yes Dad," Danny replied knowing it wasn't going to be as easy getting past his father as it had been Uncle Gage."
The three children marched into Walker's office and he closed the door behind them before anything else was said.
"Samuel Clay," Walker said looking for a reaction from the group.
"I'll bite," Gage responded, "Who's Samuel Clay?"
"Wait a minute," Trivette cut in, "From up Abilene way? Has a big spread up there thinks he owns everything including the law up around that neck of the woods. Big Dog told me a little about him they had a run in one time or another."
"Sam Clay, CD and Sally Stewart were childhood friends." Gage couldn't help but glance over at the three children sitting in Walker's office before focusing back on what his boss was saying. Both of them were sweet on Sally, CD went off in pursuit of a career as a Ranger and Sam married Sally.
Although CD tried to be happy for them he just couldn't bear seeing them together and just plain stayed away. That is until Sam started having a few run ins with the law. CD overlooked some of it for Sally's sake but the operation he was running the people he was hurting. He and his people were pressuring the smaller ranches into selling off their land and if they didn't comply they met with an accident of sorts. Barns burned to the ground, herds were destroyed and even murder was committed, CD couldn't turn his back on it any more. He ran Sam in and Sam never forgave him. He made sure that his hatred of CD, me and all Texas Rangers was instilled in his son John Stewart Clay," Walker finished up the story.
"Now Sam is out of prison and back running things with John as his right hand man. That's why his picture is up on my computer screen," Sydney told them. "They aren't in land acquisitions any more per say but while Sam was in jail lets just say John has gotten his hands into quite a few business prostitution, gambling, drugs. He has an accounting firm, which we think is a front to move all the money from his illegal activities through. He stays in the background trying to look as squeaky clean as possible but according to a witness John can get pretty volatile when provoked."
"He also knows the Rangers are keeping a close watch on him since Sam got out of prison," Walker finished up the briefing.
"And that is why John jumped at the chance to bring charges against us over a school yard fight," Alex added.
Suddenly Sydney caught sight of Erica she had leaned against the desk her eyes closing, "Erica are you all right? Jimmy get her sitting down. What did the doctor say?"
Hearing Syd's voice everyone had jumped into action Jimmy had his arm around his wife letting Walker help him to ease her into a chair gently pushing her head down between her knees. Syd and Alex were both kneeling down in front of their friend while Gage went for some water.
"Please everyone stop fussing," Erica finally got out.
"Erica you should know people always fuss over expectant mothers," Trivette teased her.
"Erica!" Alex and Sydney both exclaimed at the same time while Walker and Gage slapped Trivette on the back in congratulations.
"How far along are you?" Alex asked
"Six weeks," Erica told her friends just as Walker's door opened and her son poked his head out.
"Can we come out now?"
"You sure can," Jimmy told his son.
"Are you okay now Mom?" he asked Erica.
"Yeah we'll tell you all about it tonight at home Honey," she told him putting his arms around him and kissing his cheek.
"Mom everyone is watching," he complained completely mortified by the kiss causing everyone to chuckle.
TBC
