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"Nice job guys. Great job. Thanks for all of your help. Thanks." Walker said to each of the men he passed on the way back to his truck. They'd just taken down another of Raul Juarez's drug shipments that was crossing the border. Having Gage undercover was a great help. Every kilo they found was one less kilo on the street. Walker mentally reminded himself to tell Gage to back off a little. There had been too many times that an undercover cop was killed because the police were busting every shipment. Walker didn't want that happening to Gage.

He made it back to his truck where Sydney and Trivette were waiting. They were all exhausted; this had been a huge bust. Nevertheless, Walker had something to talk to Sydney about.

"Sydney? How are you holding up? I know Gage has been gone awhile." He said.

"I know. I'm doing fine." Sydney answered. Walker took a breath.

"Sydney, I read the file on your sister."

"I figured you would."

"You said that your sister was raped and murdered, right?" Walker said hesitantly.

"Yeah."

"On her twenty – first birthday?" Walker clarified.

"Yes." Sydney didn't understand where Walker was going with this.

"Sydney, according to the file, your sister was reported missing on her twenty – first birthday. Her body wasn't found until almost a year later."

"I know that, Walker."

"Then why did you tell us that it all happened on one night?"

"Walker, you have no idea what I went through, what my parents went through that year. It's easier for me to just say that it all happened on one night because then I don't have to think about what happened to her for that year she was missing." Sydney explained.

"I can understand that." Trivette said. "I really can."

"Sydney, there's nothing in the file about Raul Juarez being involved either. What makes you think it was him?" Walker said. He was glad that Sydney had told them what was going on, but he didn't understand why she had left so much out.

"Walker, you know Juarez's record. He was at the club that night; Samantha's friends recognized his picture. But since she was missing, they didn't have anything to hold him. Even when they found her, they knew that she'd been raped; all the signs were there, but there wasn't any DNA. Walker, I know that it was him. The police knew that it was him, but we couldn't prove it." Sydney's voice was desperate.

"Okay. Sydney, calm down. I believe you. I do." Walker assured her.

"Me too, Sydney. We'll get this guy eventually. In fact, consider each bust we make a personal attack on him. It will make you feel better." Trivette said.

Sydney nodded, unable to speak. She would bring Raul Juarez down. There was no doubt about it.


"Dad, it's been almost a month. She hasn't been at school. She hasn't called. No one has heard from her. And all Gage will say about her is that she's "fine." What the hell does "fine" mean?" Angela demanded. "We have to do something. Can't we demand to see her or something? And if he won't let us, isn't that proof enough that something is wrong?"

Walker took a deep breath. "Angela, it doesn't work like that sweetheart. Jessica's father has every right to home school her and tell her who she can and can't call. And Gage wouldn't tell us that Jessica was fine if she wasn't. You need to be patient. Jessica will be eighteen in a few months and then she can leave her father."

"Dad, you don't get it. Jessica is not fine. And she'll be dead before her eighteenth birthday if we don't do something." Angela was getting more and more hysterical.

Angela, calm down. Why don't you try calling over there?" Alex reasoned.

"I have. Every day. She's "never available."" Angela mocked.

"Angela, listen sweetie. We're all worried about Jessica. But really sweetheart, if she was in trouble, Gage would tell us in a heartbeat. He wouldn't let anything happen to her." Alex tried to reason.

"Mom, you can say that all you want, but I'm not going to believe that she's okay until I see her." Angela insisted. "Will you drive me over there?"

"Absolutely not!" Walker practically yelled. "There is no way you are going anywhere near that house."

"Why not?"

"Because Raul Juarez is a dangerous man!" Walker shouted.

"Oh! So I can't go over there because it's too dangerous, but we can't do anything to get Jessica out of living there? That's ridiculous!" Angela shouted back.

"Why don't you both calm down?" Alex said soothingly. "Angela, your father is right. It is too dangerous for you to go over there. We can't get Jessica out right now. But we can keep you safe."

"God, this is insane!" Angela cried. "When you find her body, remember what I said!" With that, she turned and ran up the stairs.

Walker and Alex looked at each other. "Walker, do you really think she's okay?" Alex asked.

"Honestly? I don't know. Gage says she's fine. That's all we really have to go off of for now. His next check-in is tomorrow, so I'll ask him again." Walker said. With that, he took Alex's hand and they went up to bed.


"Walker, what do you mean you want me to back off?" Gage asked heatedly.

"Gage, you know how this works. We've busted shipments based on all of your tips. It's time to back off just a bit." Walker said.

"Alright, Walker. Whatever you say." Gage conceded.

"How's Jessica doing?"

"She's fine, Walker."

"Alright. Be careful Gage."

"I always am." Gage hung up the phone and turned off the faucet in the bathroom. He hadn't wanted to be overheard. He understood why Walker wanted him to back off. But it was really hard. The sooner they got something on Juarez, the sooner he and Jessica could get out of here. In reality, she wasn't doing fine. She was like a slave in this house; she had to cater to the every whim of everyone that worked for Juarez. He was worried about her; every time he saw her, she looked worse. He hadn't been able to talk to her much; it would look too suspicious if he did. He felt so guilty about all of this; he'd been tempted to tell Walker to come in now, but there was something in Jessica's eyes that told him that she could hang on a little longer. It was a kind of defiance, or maybe more of a stubbornness that told him that she was hanging on. As long as he saw that spark, he would hold off on talking to Walker.


"Damn it!" Raul Juarez screamed, slamming down his phone. He'd just gotten word that his latest shipment had been stopped at the border. This was the sixth consecutive shipment that had been brought down by the Texas Rangers, led by Cordell Walker. Raul knew what this meant. He'd been suspicious for awhile, but he'd hoped it was a coincidence. He had a mole. It was probably a Texas Ranger. But since he couldn't very well accuse each one of his men, he'd have to get the information he needed from someone else. Maybe from someone who had a close relationship with Texas Ranger Cordell Walker's family. And he knew exactly who that someone else would be. And if she wouldn't talk, well, what kind of Texas Ranger would stand around while an innocent child is being beaten to death?