Midnight: In the Basement
He walked into the basement; Billy York. He finally gave them some food after he was certain Cheyenne got Corey conscious so he could warn the boy to never trying to fight him again. Corey was frightened but didn't show it to Cheyenne; he was the "man". He wasn't supposed to show fear; he was supposed to be the calm one, the rational one, like his father. Deep inside he wanted his mom to be there with him, but couldn't express that to Cheyenne. He was too afraid that his sister would hold it over his head when they got out; if they got out.
"Corey, it's okay to be scared you know", she explained, "You don't have to hide your feelings from me. I'm feeling the same way you do".
"I'm not scared, Cheyenne", he shot, unconvincingly.
"Yea, well I see it in your eyes. You can't hide it from, Cor", she shot back.
"Cheyenne, could you just cool it, please?", he asked.
"Are you feeling alright?", she asked after a cold silence.
"I'm fine. But my head is killing me and I'm a little tired", he said stubbornly.
Alex's Office
Alone in her office, clock ticking, time flying, still no sign of her daughter and son. The waiting was killing her, she was way past impatience, she was anxious, nervous for the news that Walker was going to bring her any moment in time. But she wanted to hear it, she had to hear it, she wanted to know what was going on with the case, she wanted some peace, she wanted her kids back.
All she could think about was the tone in her husband's voice. That tone that said; we have no time to play. She knew that, but it was killing her, the waiting. She had been patient through all this, knowing that this man and his crazed company of gangsters were bad news. He wasn't that unfamiliar to her. She helped put his brother, Donald York, in jail 10 years earlier. But why her kids? What did they do to him? That's all she thought. Why couldn't he go after her, stalk her, but not the kids? How could people be so cruel? Her thoughts were disturbed by Walker coming into the dreary office.
"Alex, when I tell you this, I don't want you to freak out", he pleaded as she stood up.
"Tell me what, Walker?", she asked, tears forming in her eyes.
"I found Cheyenne's scarf she was wearing the night she ran away", he said, "It was behind CD's".
"Oh, God", she cried collapsing into Walker's arms, "Walker, you have to find them. They're hurt, I feel it. Please, find them", she begged, crying into his muscular frame.
"I will, I promise. I'll find them and they'll be just fine", he said, trying to be as strong as he could. He knew Billy York played no games, but once he found him, he would definitely make him pay.
Walker's office
For once in this case, he found a clue. A clue that told him Cheyenne was by CD's old restaurant. Now maybe he could find some other evidence that could possibly help him find his young daughter and son. Maybe some tracks York left behind, shoe prints, finger prints, something of that sort, but he needed help… help indeed. He needed someone he could count on, someone who would be just as dedicated to this case as possible.
In all actuality, he didn't look at this as just another case. These were his kids' lives endangered here, not only Cheyenne and Corey, but Angela and Riley, too. He couldn't possibly live without his kids, it was hard enough not knowing where Cheyenne and Corey were.
"Hey man, how are you holdin up", asked Trivette interrupting Walker's thoughts.
"As best as I can man", he explained.
"Well I just got through talking to Alex. She said you found something of Cheyenne's", he said sitting parallel to Walker.
"Yea, I found her favorite red scarf", said Walker remembering when Alex gave it to her, "I sent it to the lab".
"Oh. Well listen, I know I'm no longer your partner, man, but Cheyenne and Corey mean a lot to me. I wanna help you find them and I wanna help you beat the hell out of York and his gang", Trivette explained.
"I can use all the help I can get", Walker said faking a smile.
York's place
"Those damn kids are playing with me, Bill", screamed Jazmyn Brown, "Tell me again why we have to do this."
"Jaz, baby, we're doin this for revenge. That Walker and his wife put my brother to jail where he died. You don't think I'm gonna let them get away with that do you?", he yelled making Jazmyn flinch.
"No", she said with her heavy southern accent.
"Good, now go get my brother and the gang and tell them to get their butts up here, baby, we have some major planning to do to get them other Walker kids", he explained, planting a strong kiss on her lips.
Walker Ranch
Silence swept over the Walker's Ranch. Usually, it would be full of commotion and noise. Kids would be fussing and fighting and running all over the place, but tonight it was different. The only noise heard was the television from the living room.
Angela couldn't take the silence. She wanted to scream, the silence was way too loud for her. All she could hear were the voices coming from that damn box she was watching. She could remember her sister and brother fussing over what chore to do and Cheyenne teasing Corey; it was very annoying, but now all she wanted to hear was her two younger siblings arguing and doing what they do best. She missed them so much, so bad.
"Riley, do you really wanna watch this movie", she asked remembering just how much Cheyenne loved it.
"Yes, I love this movie", she replied.
"Well, mom and dad will be home pretty soon, so I think we should do our chores", Angela explained.
"I know why you don't wanna watch it, Angela", Riley stated matter-of-factly, "Shaggy Dog is Cheyenne's favorite movie."
"Just… let's do our chores", Angela said, trying to avoid Riley's confrontation.
"Why do you guys treat me like I'm a kid or something", she asked, "I'm 13 years old you know. I can handle this, Angela and believe it or not I know how you're feeling, after all, Cheyenne and Corey are my siblings, too".
"Look, Riley, you need to take this up with mom and dad and stuff fussing at me", she screamed, walking out of the room to do her chores.
"Yea…Well… If you ask me we all need to talk about this", she screamed back, following Angela's lead.
"Just do your chores", Angela replied, calming down.
An Hour Later
As Alex walked in the house, she expected to hear her kids screaming at each other and ringing each other's necks, but then she remembered not all of her kids were there. The house was clean, no broken pictures, no kids on the floor fighting. It was weird, she was empty, a big chunk of her heart was gone and the only people who could put that chunk back was Cheyenne and Corey, but it wasn't possible at the moment.
"Hey, mom".
"Hi, Riley. Where's Chey… Angela", she asked.
"She's riding her horse", Riley explained.
"No", Alex said, throwing her things on the floor and running outside, "Angela!... Angela Elizabeth Walker!"
"Mom, what's wrong", asked Riley with a worried expression on her face.
"Angela, where are you", she screamed running to the backyard spotting Angela riding her horse. She ran to Angela's side. "Angela, what are you doing", she asked catching her breath.
"Mom", she said hopping offer her horse. "Mom, what are you doing, are you alright".
"What do you think you're doing", she asked, "Are you crazy? That man could've been out here", she yelled at her daughter.
"Mom, we've been in that house alone since 4:00", Angela replied, "I figured if he didn't come while we were here alone he wasn't here".
"Well you figured wrong. He could've been waiting out here for you, knowing that you were gonna come outside one day", she rationed, "Go put Angel back and come in right now".
"Well aren't you gonna come with me", Angela replied sarcastically.
"Yes, I am, and I'm gonna follow you when you're taking a bath and when you're falling to sleep I'll be watching you're every move, and when you're doing you're homework, I'll be sitting there making sure you're okay and if some one like Billy York comes to get you, I'll be there so he'll have to take me, too!", she yelled, tears streaming from her eyes, "You wanna know why… because I'm our mother and I love you, Angela".
"Mom, I'm…", Angela trailed off.
"Angela, just put the horse away", she cried.
Wally Daniel's van
They passed the Welcome to Louisiana sign, heading into Sulfur, Louisiana. Corey and Cheyenne were tied up in the back of the van, trying their best to do what York and his gangsters said. Earlier that day, Cheyenne was beaten by Jazmyn Brown. Cheyenne did nothing to deserve it, other than being Walker's kid. She was in pain beyond belief and she felt like she was heading for the worst. Her stomach was bruised up and her head continued to bleed. Corey did his best to keep his sister from sleeping, he was successful, but doubted if he could save her.
"My sister needs a doctor", he screamed, "She's bleeding".
"Well ain't that just too bad", Wally Daniels laughed.
"She's hurt", he yelled.
"Wally, honey, maybe you should take the girl to a hospital", said Wally's girlfriend, Sue Anne Rifkin.
"I will do no such thang, Sue. I got specific instructions. Billy said Lafayette, Louisiana, no stops, no nothin, sweetie and the man meant it", he explained with his southern accent.
"But, baby, look at her, she's hurt real bad, she needs help", Sue Anne replied, pouting at him, "If you bring her to the hospital I'll do anythang you want. Besides, you know how much I love children".
"But I promised Billy", he whined.
"I know, just tell Billy we had a little stop to make… tell him we stopped to get your van fixed", she pleaded.
"Alright, baby, I'll do it for you", he said giving her the phone to dial Billy's number.
End Chapter 2
