Chapter Four
Inside Marie and Donnie Mason's Home
Cat stormed out of the room her father close behind her only to have the bedroom door at the end of the hall slammed shut in his face. "Come on Cat," Gage pleaded from the other side.
"You promised," Cat's crest fallen voice cried from the behind the door.
"If I could buy the tickets any where I would, there just aren't any to be had," Gage tried to reason with his youngest daughter.
"Just go away Dad you've ruined everything," Cat adamantly shouted.
As Gage's hand reached the door knob he felt his wife's hand cover his preventing him from opening the door. "Let her cool off Gage then we'll talk to her," Syd interjected.
Nodding his head in reluctant agreement Gage retreated down the hall with Syd.
"I take it no luck finding tickets?" It was Terry Williams, Paige's father, asking the question.
"None," Gage admitted.
"There will be other concerts," Terry tried to make Gage feel better.
"You're right," Syd piped up adding, "but really we hate to see Paige miss the concert just because we're here." Gage nodded his head in agreement.
"Don't let it bother you," Terry replied, "Paige needs to learn that we can't always have things our own way, like I told her there will always be other concerts."
"But still she was looking so forward to going…" Syd persisted.
"Well lets just say that the little outburst of temper that Paige displayed at the suggestion of missing the concert far out weighed Cat's tantrum making mine and Lindsay's decision on who was going and who wasn't a lot easier," Terry confessed. "I'm sure we'll suffer greatly for this but in the end they'll come around."
"I just hope I'm not too old and senile to see it," Gage remarked still not finding things any easier being the push over he was when it came to his daughters.
Terry slapping Gage on the shoulder smiled at his wit the same time inviting them to the kitchen to join the rest for some coffee while the girls cooled off.
Inside The Guest Bedroom With Cat and Paige
"I just can't believe that my Dad lied to me," Cat fumed to her cousin Paige. "Dad always comes through, my mother must have had something to do with it."
"I'm betting my Dad was the one who said we didn't need to go, he probably told your Dad not to bother looking for tickets because there weren't any," Paige added fuel to the fire.
"It's just not fair, it's Faith Hill, they expect us to miss Faith Hill!" Cat was almost beside herself.
"We aren't going to miss this concert no matter what they say," Paige insisted.
"Just how are we suppose to get in with no tickets and no way to get there?" Cat smirked out the question.
Reaching into her purse Paige let a sly grin cross over her face. "It just so happens I have two tickets. My Dad left our tickets sitting on top of the buffet and since he won't be using them…"
"You have the tickets?"
"Right here," Paige retorted, "and if we leave right now we should be able to take the subway all the way down to where the concert is."
Both girls were now dancing excitedly up and down until it dawned on Cat, "My parents will never agree to this."
"What they don't know won't hurt them, we'll just leave them a note that we went to the movies with a couple of my friends from school and we're staying over," Paige began to explain.
"I don't know Paige," Cat began to falter, "My Mom and Dad are pretty strict when it comes to things like that…"
"Are you kidding me," Paige cut her off seeing that Cat was beginning to waver. "Cat it's Faith Hill, we'll never get another chance like this. Even if we end up grounded it will be so worth it."
Hesitating only a moment Cat suddenly jumped up, "You're right lets do it."
With that the girls began to put their plan in motion.
Outside The Mason Home
"Give me a light," Grangus demanded of his companion Bolger as they sat in a beat up old pickup truck watching the Mason house.
"Are you sure they're here?" Bolger questioned tossing a lighter to his pal watching him light the tipped cigar that he chomped between his teeth.
"Oh they're here all right, Ronnie, Nail and all the little wannabe Rangers," he answered his eyes never leaving the door of the house.
Bolger nodded slightly letting his eyes wander, this was becoming tedious why Derek couldn't just shoot them and be done with it…
"Now what have we here?" It was Grangus asking the question not really expecting a reply. "Looks like some of the little chicks are flying the coop, that just might be the leverage we need to get to those two Rangers."
"Might be," Bolger agreed as Grangus turned the key in the ignition bringing the old truck to life and putting her in gear he began to follow the girls down the street.
The HOPE Center Dallas Texas
Erika and Jimmy Trivette climbed the stairs of the front porch at the HOPE house each step being harder to mount then the last. Erika felt as if a great big rock was tied around each ankle pulling her back with each step forward. Standing squarely in front of the door Jimmy reached for the door handle only to be stopped by his wife.
"Jimmy I can't go in there this is ridiculous, everyone knows me, you're making me out to be some kind of a drunk when you know full well that I only take a couple of quick ones to steady my nerves…"
"Erika come on you promised me and the kids," Trivette tried to squelch any excuses Erika put forth.
"Yes but I… well I was upset… and just not thinking clearly…" she stammered out.
"So it was the booze talking not you?" Trivette tried undaunted by her stall tactics.
"No it wasn't," Erika's defence mechanism firing up. "I just think that its ridiculous to waste everyone's time over nothing."
"Erika honey you work here, you see this kind of thing all the time, you have to know that most people when they first come here feel the same way as you do." Erika remained silent so Trivette took it as a sign that he was getting through to her. "You also know that after a few times that they change their minds and begin to heal."
Erika was only half listening to her husband as she nodded her head yes, she had made her mind up and that was that. All right then she thought to herself, I'll go in this once just to make everyone happy including that nosey Alex Walker, but this was the only time. If it was healing they wanted it was healing they would get, only on her terms and not at some absurd group therapy.
"Are you ready?" Trivette questioned once again reaching for the door.
Erika simply nodded her head letting Jimmy guide her inside. As they moved into the main room she quickly turned towards her partner claiming, "I'm just so nervous I've got to make a trip to the ladies room." Without waiting for a response she scampered out of Jimmy's reach and headed for the bathroom slipping the lock behind her. Without a second thought she opened up her purse, dug in it for a moment until her hand hit the shiny metal of the new full flask that was hidden within. Almost dropping her handbag she unscrewed the top and putting the open container to her lips drank deeply. As she brought the flask from her lips she sighed before raising it for a second swig.
"Are you all right Erika?" Trivette's voice and loud rapping could be heard from the other side of the door.
"Just fine Jimmy," Erika quickly responded as she gulp another drink before replacing the cap to stow the vessel back in her bag and pop a breath mint in her mouth. Turning towards the door she was stopped short catching her reflection in the mirror, she smiled missing the obvious. That had been her fourth and fifth shots of the morning, her smile broadened as she slurred aloud to herself, "I don't know what… all the fuss is bout… I' m perf…fect…tly fine."
Brushing her hand through her hair she opened the door to face Jimmy. "I'm right here," she announced adding, "Let's say we get this show on the road."
Eyeing her Trivette quizzed her, "You sure you're okay Erika?"
"Fine," she snapped straightening her shoulders to walk back down to where the meeting was about to begin. Taking a step she stumbled slightly Jimmy grasping her elbow to steady her.
"Erika have you been drinking?" he rasped in her ear the apparent smell of alcohol on her.
"I have not," she angrily answered ripping out of his grasp to stagger and fall against the wall.
"Maybe we should do this another time…" Jimmy began only to be interrupted by his wife.
"This was your idea," Erika's voice rang out getting louder to almost the point of a rant. "You badgered me into coming here and I'm here. You think I have a problem well take a look at yourself, I'm at least dealing with things, it's you who can't get over Marcus dying."
With the realization that her son was gone hitting her in the face again Erika began to cry. Jimmy tried to put his arms around her but she would have no part of it. Giving him a shove with all the strength she could muster Erika made a beeline for the door not stopping to look back, running to the car she slipped into the driver's seat of Trivette's vintage mustang locking the doors. Fumbling for a minute she pulled out her set of keys to quickly start the engine. Trivette was running towards the car calling her name to no avail, she had slammed the car into reverse and was screeching out of the driveway narrowly missing a parked car before putting it in drive to charge out of sight down the street.
"Erika," Jimmy called after her in vain realizing it would be impossible to catch her on foot. Gasping for breath after his chase he pulled his cell phone out to dial his old partner.
The phone rang at Walker's desk and he picked it up. After listening a few minutes he finely got a word in, "You sure you want an all points?" Listening a minute more he answered, "I'm on it Trivette, I'll stop and get you, we'll find her." With that he was all ready standing and reaching for his hat as he hung up the phone to head out.
The Mason's Kitchen
"Then there was the time you brought home that hornet nest and they got loose in the house," Julie was relating the story.
"Well if you hadn't screamed I wouldn't have dropped the darn thing and it wouldn't have busted all over the kitchen," Gage retaliated.
"What did you expect I'd do?" Julie questioned her brother. "You came waltzing into the house with that hornet nest and when it hit the floor… man we were lucky to get out with as few stings as we got. When Dad got home we were all sitting outside on the front porch afraid to go inside," Julie finished up the story.
"As I recall Mom was as mad as one of those hornets," Gage reminisced that far away look coming across his face that always did when he recalled his mother.
"Francis," it was Sydney interrupting his thoughts, "maybe you should go see if Cat has stopped being mad with you."
"Yes I should," Gage agreed letting his hand cover hers for a moment before pushing his chair back to go see to his daughter.
"I'm glad I'm not in his shoes," Chafe piped up knowing how disappointed Cat must be over the whole Faith Hill concert.
"Dad will charm his way out, he always does," Chris joined the conversation adding, "doesn't he Mom."
"Oh he does have a way about him," Syd agreed a cheesy grin coming to her face.
Away about him or not Gage was not looking forward to speaking with his youngest daughter. He knew it was his own fault he shouldn't have been so quick to promise her those tickets, now he was going to have to beg her forgiveness. He sighed deeply his hand poised to knock when suddenly Cody appeared.
"Cat not there Daddy," the youngster matter-of-factly divulged.
"And where is she since you seem to know so much?" Gage quizzed lifting the child in his arms.
"Gone with Paige."
"Where did she go with Paige?" Gage played the game with his son.
Cody shrugged his shoulders indicating he didn't know.
"Didn't she say where she was going?" Gage tried to coax an answer from his youngest.
"She's going to see… going to see…"
With sinking heart Gage finished the sentence with, "Faith Hill."
"It's a secret Daddy? I didn't really tell you?"
"Syd, Syd," Gage's voice rose louder as the reality and panic sank in, with Cody still in his arms, he had pushed open Paige's door to find that Cody was right the girls were MIA.
"Dad what is it?" Piper hearing her father and recognizing the tone of his voice knew something was up and it wasn't good.
"Cat and Paige have snuck off to the Faith Hill concert," Gage answered hastily shoving Cody into Piper's arms as Sydney and the rest joined him.
"Oh Cat," murmured Piper as she clutched Cody close to her barely hearing him as he whispered, "I didn't tell."
"Of course you didn't," Piper assured her little brother her eyes still fixed on her Mom and Dad watching them move into high gear doing what they did best.
"I in trouble?" the child persisted.
"No Cody you're not in trouble," Piper focused her attention on the child. "Let me tell you a little story," she told him trying to sooth his fears. "It was when Chris and I were little like you" she began, "Angela and Chris had decided to run away and swore Marcus," her voice faltered slightly, "and I to secrecy. Dad and Uncle Jimmy made us tell and it was a good thing they did because Chris and Angela got in all kinds of trouble. Some promises you can't always keep, we have to look at all the sides and make sure no one will get hurt by keeping our promises," she explained.
"Cat hurt?"
"Not until Dad catches up to her," Chris chimed in as he passed by the two of them on his way out to go with their parents.
"Chris knock it off," Piper chastised her brother before turning back to her younger sibling. "Nobody is going to get hurt Mom and Dad will see to that," she told Cody even as the worry and fear crept through her.
Ranger Headquarters Dallas
"Come on Sumner," Walker's no nonsense words brought the young man to attention.
"Where to?" He asked falling in step with his boss.
"We have to pick up Trivette at the HOPE Center and track down his car," Walker explained saying no more.
Stopping in front of the elevators Sumner questioned again, "Are you going to tell me what's going on or just leave me to fill in the pieces?"
The doors opened and Walker stepped in Sumner following suit waiting for them to close and without looking at Sumner he began to explain what had happened.
"Man why is it I'm just hearing about this now?" His own pride bruised a little that his partner and friend couldn't confide in him.
"Think about it Sumner if Anna B was hitting the bottle no matter what the reason how would you be able to tell your friends," Walker came back.
"You're right, you're right," Sumner replied admitting to himself his feelings were unfounded. His thoughts went back to the problem at hand, "How are we going to find her?"
"There's an all points…"
"An all points? She's not a criminal," Sumner butted in.
"It's what Trivette wants," Walker cut back in softening when he added, "He wants her to come to terms with this, a reality check. He wants her to know yes she is in crisis."
Sumner nodded his head remaining silent his eyes fixed out the window searching his mind wondering how he had missed this…
"There he is," Walkers' voice cut in as they approached the HOPE center where their friend stood waiting for them.
Trivette was all ready talking as the silver ram came to a stop. "I've got the GPS up on my phone so I can see where she's headed it looks like out of Dallas towards Fortworth."
"Any idea why Fortworth?" Walker questioned.
"None," Trivette answered his eyes not leaving the screen. "What's she doing she's picking up speed?"
Before anyone could comment the police radio came to life… "In pursuit of a ford mustang wanted in connection with an all points… suspect has refused to pull over and we are in pursuit…"
"Erika pull over, pull over," Jimmy was yelling as if his wife would listen to him even if she could hear him.
"Walker cut through here we might be able to cut her off," Sumner was instructing but Walker was all ready ahead of him cutting through traffic to make the turn.
Within minutes the trio was coming to the corner where the two streets intersected just in time to see Trivette's car streak erratically by them Dallas PD right behind her. Both vehicles were accelerating wildly until suddenly Erika lost control and to everyone's horror the mustang swerved head long into a traffic light post.
New York City
"Our best plan of attack is to get down to the concert and look for them," it was Robin Chafe taking charge. "There is enough of us to cover the entrances and search the crowds. Even if we don't get them on the way in we should be able to get them after the concert."
"Shouldn't we call the police?" Lindsay Williams frantically spoke up.
"They've only been gone a couple of hours the police aren't going to do anything," Syd answered knowing all to well the protocol for this sort of thing.
"Sydney's right we have to get organized and get down there," Gage agreed wishing that they had the resources here that they had at home.
"Yes but…" Terry began to protest only to be cut off by Piper who had rushed into the room.
"Dad your phone it's Cat's number," she announced handing the ringing phone to her father.
Grabbing up the cell and without any thought Gage barked into it, "Cat so help me…," only to be cut off by a voice he recognized instantly.
"Hello Nail you and Ronnie loose something? Or should I say Ranger Gage and Ranger Cooke? Doesn't really matter I guess what you call you're selves these days now does it? Looks like we have some unfinished business here and these two young ladies are going to make sure you and Ronnie attend to business."
"Where are you and what do you want?" Gage demanded, "If you hurt either one of them…"
"Nail, Nail, Nail what happens to these two is going to depend solely on you and Ronnie. We'll be in touch." The line went dead.
"Grangus," Gage shouted his eyes focused on his wife just in time to see the colour drain from her face.
"He's got them Gage?" were her only words as her husband nodded his head yes.