Gunslinger Bink
Chapter 10: A Meeting with Tammy.
The Rangers had just completed a short early morning case. It was the usual penny-anti case. the Rangers had been having a dry spell, as far as cases go, so they headed down to the Acorn Cafe. The Acorn Cafe is a cafe and club that ranger fans have made to gather together in a common interest. Many of the fan members had become Axillary Rangers. Had this band not formed the Rangers would have been in dire straights many times. Some of the folks there specialized in what they did, others helped out with anything, some were there just to get a glimpse or perhaps talk to one of the original Rescue Rangers, while others stayed back into the shadows making the safety of everyone there their own priority.
The Rangers had been coming to the cafe since it opened. The cafe was created because Ranger ReadyHQ was too small for fans and auxliary rangers to gather as it was the Ranger's home. This would create an intrusion to their personal lives and impede on the missions at hand unless they were invited to be there or an emergency. the Rangers enjoyed the company of many of the cafe's members they hung out with and were often there during times between cases or no one wanted to cook.
Today was just a hang out day. Chip sat at the bar talking to Gadget, as they each sipped on a soda, Monty and Zipper sampled a special cheese platter made just for them to keep them out of the cooks' cheese stash, and Dale and Foxglove were watching tv in the lounge area. Other patrons sat in various locations like Fernando G., who sat in a booth drinking coffee as he read the mornings paper on his laptop; CCC, the AI bat, who was working on accelerating the cafe's wireless internet server; and Hondo I. Sackett who was usually lurking about outside away from the crowds inside the cafe as he watched to make sure none of the Rangers old enemies didn't try to attack them. These were only three among many.
Everyone in the cafe was going about their own business, nothing really exciting, when all of a sudden the Cafe's front door bursts open, and a red-haired squirrel comes running in heading right for the bar where most of the Rangers were presently sitting.
"So here is where you all are! Well, at least you left a note!", Tammy says.
"Tammy!", the Rangers and a handful of Tammyphiles express their surprise all say.
"Nice to see you back. Come on, sit down with us.", Gadget tells her.
Foxglove gets up from where she is sitting next to Dale as always, walking to the bar where Tammy is.
"Wait! Something's wrong. Her heart rate is not falling, although she isn't running anymore.", Foxglove says.
The AI bat CCC looks at foxglove curiously, "Do you have built-in medical sensors, too?"
"No, but I'm a bat, and I have got a very good hearing.", Foxglove says.
Having a hunch that a big case is coming up, Chip starts asking questions.
Chip asks, "Alright, Tammy, what's up?"
Tammy tells the Rangers the story from all she knows of her family's leaving to Italy, to the attack, to her return partly under tears.
"Mom and her new husband have been killed and Bink have been injured pretty badly. She was in hospital before being sent elsewhere.", she says as Fernando analyzes her story.
"Someone should be there and take care of her when she left the hospital. Not only because she's a little girl and an orphan, but also because we don't know anything about the attack and why it happened. Maybe they're after her, too.", Chip says.
"Bonzer idea, mate! I 'aven't been t' Italy since ferever, 'aven't tasted their fine cheeses...", Monty says.
Within a few seconds, the bar is surrounded by quite a lot of Rangerphiles who want to volunteer.
For just a moment, the AI bat seems to stop paying attention. Not for long for anyone to notice unless they had a multi-processor computer for a brain.
"I have found the records of fourteen patients with descriptions that could be a match for Bink. Nine of these were released back to their families... Of the other five, four are on record as having at least one surviving parent. The last one has a 92.95 percent chance of it being Bink - she was released from hospital into... The Social Welfare Agency. I have the address of their head office. I could email them with a query, if you'd like.", CCC says.
"I don't think so. I think it would be far better if we went there to visit Bink ourselves.", Chip says.
"That is correct, because I couldn't get anywhere dealing with the staff at the National Hospital in Italy, I had to steal a copy of Bink's hospital records.", Tammy says.
Tammy removes her copy of Bink's hospital records from her pocket, unfolds it and lays it on the bar.
Tammy explains, "Bink did sustain a lot of injuries. She was given artificial muscle tissue and some other cybernetic implants. The record does show that she was discharged to the Social Welfare Agency. When I got there, instead of a normal orphanage like I'd expected, I found a heavily guarded compound. I went to the guard at the front gate, I told him I was looking for Bink and that I am her sister. The guard immediately responds by saying there is no one here by that name. I then showed him my copy of Bink's hospital records, pointing out that she was discharged to this place. He was then at a loss for words so he gets on the phone. He explains to the person on the other end of the line what I showed him. He pauses then says to the person on the line, 'I see, so what do I tell her?' He pauses again and tells me that the hospital record I have is incorrect. The guy was so transparent, I didn't buy it for a minute. I walked away until I was out of the guard's sight and approached the grounds another way. As I got closer I heard some guns being fired. I also saw what appeared to be an out door shooting range. If it was an archery range, I could understand that. Even summer camps teach kids archery. I went in for a closer look but I was caught by several guards. As they were dragging me away, I yelled, 'My sister's in there!' 'You're trespassing!', they responded and then threatened me, 'Trespass again and we will have you in jail.' I went to the Italian branch of the International Rescue Aid Society. I could read in their faces that something is wrong when I showed then Bink's hospital records. They went into this long explanation of Italian bureaucracy and how they can't get her out through official channels. I told them, 'This is the IRAS, rescue her.' They told me how taking back Bink from the Italian government without official channels would be a diplomatic nightmare for the IRAS. I could not believe this. Since when is the IRAS not interested in rescuing someone like how they appeared in Italy?"
Tammy then refers to Bink's hospital records laying on the table.
"This is tangible evidence that Bink was discharged to the Social Welfare Agency, which as I pointed, out looks more like a military compound than a home for children.", Tammy continues to explain.
Fernando asks, "When were you in last contact with your family?"
"September of last year.", Tammy answers.
Fernando asks, "It's now June. Why come to us now?"
"As you know, I stayed behind here in New York as Bink and my parents lived in Italy.", Tammy says.
Arik interupts, "This is the first time I have ever met you but I have heard so much about you. As I understand it, your mom is single. Right?"
"Mom got remarried and moved to Italy with her new husband.", Tammy answers him.
"I see. That would explain why your sister and mom were in Italy.", Arik says.
"Exactly. When I stopped receiving calls, I called them but the line was no longer in service. I sent them many letters and when I got them back, they were marked 'return to sender.' After that I did what I could to get to Italy, figure out what's going on and get back to New York.", Tammy says.
Fernando asks, "Before we start this- What documentation do you have? You know we are going to have to research all that you have before anyone can make a move."
In Tammy's excitement to find help, she finds that what she has brought little in terms of documentation and evidence, the copy of the hospital record, is being challenged by Fernando. This upset her greatly.
"That's enough Fernando, you're upsetting her.", Jeanette Isabelle says.
"Having her upset is going to be minor if anyone of us is going to get hurt or worse in trying to find her sister.", Fernando says.
Fernando then turns to Tammy.
"Look girl, first we exhaust every legal means of getting Bink back for you. If that fails, then we may have to resort to other means in bringing her back.", Fernando says.
Tammy asks, "Would you, really?"
"No I wouldn't...", Fernando says.
"Fernando!", Jeanette Isabelle says.
"Look, Tammy... I am not making promises, but I and the others will do our best in getting Bink back. Now if you don't mind, I got a lot of work to do to start this.", Fernando says.
Fernando starts to get up to get out of the cafe, but as he does get up, Jeanette Isabelle smacks across the back of the head. Fernando looks at Jeanette Isabelle sternly through his dark glasses, as she stares at him back.
"Meanie-head...", DOS says.
Some of those gathered around snickered. Fernando did is best to leave quietly.
Arik asks, "What was that all about?"
"Mostly personal issues with him.", Jeanette Isabelle says.
Charles Sinclair opened his mouth to ask for something, but changed his mind. Instead, he turned to Tammy.
"Maybe they would not be able to do everything, but I'm not bound by political issues. If something needs doing, we do it, one way or another. Although I do not know you, the Rangers give you credibility. You have my word, I'll do anything in my power to help you.", Sinclair says.
"Th... Thank you.", Tammy says.
Sinclair asks, "Now I'd like to know everything about Bink and your family's business in Italy. Why did they went there? What happened after that? When did you loose contact? And as complete description of that 'Welfare Agency' as you can. Everything might be important."
"Our step-dad is an Italian Businessman. This is why he, Mom and Bink were living in Italy.", Tammy says.
Tammy then refers to Bink's hospital records from the National Hospital in Italy.
"As you can see here, she was operated on, replacing damaged muscle tissue with artificial muscle tissue. That in of its self is very benign. That in conjunction with her being transported to what seems like a military or research facility posing as a home for children, followed by unreal bureaucracy raises all sorts of red flags.", Tammy says.
Sinclair asks, "What do you think that means?"
Tammy appears unsure how to answer but tries.
"If it wasn't for the shooting range, I would have assumed that it is a secret research facility and that Bink is being used as a guinea pig. After being threatened by the guards, I did hang back to see what kind of traffic enters and leaves that facility. I saw mostly sports cars such as a Porsche and an Audi and I did see a pizza delivery van enter but not leave. When I went to the Italian branch of the IRAS, I knew they knew something that they were not telling. Their reaction only heightened my suspicion that it was either a research or a military facility.", Tammy says.
"This is getting interesting... Much too interesting. We need to do something and quickly.", Sinclair says..