The following morning, Kimberly made her way downstairs to find the other former Rangers already in the breakfast room. Billy hailed her over as another round of toast arrived.
"Did everyone sleep well last night?" Kimberly asked. "I was so out of it I was in a coma the minute I hit the mattress."
"I know." Trini replied with a yawn. "You were snoring like a chainsaw all night."
"I don't snore!" She protested. "David never complains."
"You just get used to these things." Jason began, only to have Trini hold up a hand in warning.
"If you want to stay married, I suggest you reconsider getting into this conversation." She warned him.
"Well it looks like we all had a more relaxing night than Francoise." Zack remarked, pointing to the front page of the newspaper. Cassidy had obviously phoned in her story in time for the late night news. "It says that the authorities are questioning no less than 27 people in connection with the case, including an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police."
"Does it say anything about Ouvellier?" Kimberly asked. Zack read on a bit, but Kimberly could tell it was not good news as his shoulders slumped and he shook his head slowly.
"It says he was shot dead in his office." Zack informed her.
"Kim, it's ok." Trini said soothingly as her friend stared off into space, her eyes sparkling a little. "I'm sure there'll be other leads, and we saved all those other people."
"We can't question him." She breathed, her heart falling a little. "I was so close. Closer than I've ever been!"
"Something will turn up." Billy told her sympathetically. "I'm sure Cruger will turn something up."
"Who's Cruger?" Zack asked.
"He's the base commander at SPD earth." Billy answered.
"He's the one who's been helping me up until now." Kimberly breathed, sniffing back a tear as she wiped her eyes. "I'm really sorry guys; it's hard not to get like this. It always hurts when I hit a dead end like this."
"We understand." Trini whispered. "I know I'd be in bits if anything happened to Austin."
"We're all here for you." Zack chipped in. "We'll always be here."
"Thanks guys." Kimberly replied, finally managing to get some composure.
"It's just a shame we never got to see Jason break with tradition." Trini chimed in, breaking the mood with reference to Kimberly's prank. "I think he'd have looked pretty cute in pink."
"Oh yeah, you became the first male Pink Ranger." Zack laughed. "I'd have loved to see that!"
"I guess it's a good thing I'm pretty secure about my masculinity." He chuckled, finally seeing the funny side. "At least the sanctity of the Red Ranger position's still intact."
"Actually, in Tommy's last team the Red Ranger was a girl." Kimberly informed him.
"You're kidding!" Jason responded in shock.
"She's not." Zack confirmed. "I met her at the funeral for Kira's producer in Vegas. What's her name again?"
"Charisma." Kimberly reminded him. "Cruger made her the Red SPD Ranger after she helped me out in Glasgow."
"Aw man, that was a tradition!" Jason complained loudly. "How could Tommy let the side down like that? As a former Red it was his duty to preserve the sanctity of the Red Ranger position."
"I don't think he had a choice in the matter." Kimberly told him. "Like the Dino Gem powers, the Soulfire Crystal chose it's recipients, not the other way around."
"Besides, what's wrong with a girl being the leader?" Trini asked him.
"I've got to hear this!" Zack commented, leaning in with interest as he realised that Jason had once again talked himself into trouble."
"I agree with that, this should be entertaining." Billy said with a smile, also leaning in a little closer and looking at Jason.
"Look, all I'm saying is that the Red Ranger has always been a guy!" Jason responded in a panicked voice. "It's just the way of things."
"So are you saying a girl couldn't lead a team?" Trini asked him.
"No, I'm just saying that the Red Ranger's always been male." He reiterated. "I mean what if we have to go on another Red Ranger mission?"
"Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger!" Zack said in a robotic tone of voice, starting to giggle as he saw the expression on Trini's face.
"Mayday, the ship is going down!" Billy interjected, taking great amusement in his friend's ability to stick his foot in his mouth.
"What difference would that make?" Kimberly asked him.
"That's what I'd like to know." Trini pressed him, giving him a withering look.
Jason by now was really beginning to panic; he always knew he was in trouble when he raised his wife's temper. "It would affect the group dynamic, I mean one girl amongst all those guys and…"
"You're in a hole Jase." Zack said, by now unable to sit upright with laughter. "For the love of God put down the spade and stop digging!"
Billy and Kimberly contented themselves by watching and laughing as Jason collapsed further into his chair, completely defeated.
"I'm sorry honey." He muttered. Trini just smiled at him and started laughing. She always caught him with the 'I'm angry' fake out. She knew Jason was terrified of her temper when she blew her top, and found faking a temper was a good way to rein him in.
"I don't mind." She told him. "Besides, if you did do another Red only mission it's Charisma I'd feel sorry for."
"All that testosterone in one place," Kimberly sighed, imagining the scene "the poor girl wouldn't last the return trip."
"Good morning Cassidy, Devin." Billy said loudly to inform the group of their arrival in the breakfast room. With that, all Ranger talk stopped.
"Morning guys." Cassidy greeted them with a cheerful wave as she made her way to the table.
"I see your story made the late news." Jason commented.
"A whole crew will be coming down here today." Cassidy said with a broad smile. "I've just landed the scoop of the year, and it isn't over yet! No one else was investigating this."
"Who knows, maybe this will land you a Pulitzer." Zack complimented her.
"Thanks for everything you guys did." Kimberly said, taking a sip from her coffee. "If you hadn't exposed the yards, the evidence might have disappeared."
"We're just glad we could help." Devin interjected. "Katya and her mother are being taken as witnesses, so they get to stay in the country while the trial's being held, which should take a while."
"The weird thing is they got a call from immigration." Cassidy told them. "Apparently they're reviewing their case, which may end up with them being able to stay permanently."
Kimberly smiled a little. She had a feeling Cruger may have used a little of his political pull to start the ball rolling on that account.
"Until then, they're both staying here as our guests." Larry informed them, approaching with their breakfasts.
"I would have thought you wouldn't have been able to afford that." Trini said.
"With the haulage yard closing again, I'd have thought business would be pretty quiet." Kimberly agreed.
"The Government's paying for their stay." He informed them. "They've been officially sequestered here for the trial."
"I'm really glad things seem to be working out for them." Jason remarked. "Katya's a great kid; she deserves to be happy after everything that's happened."
Cassidy's cell phone ringing interrupted the conversation.
"Who could be calling at this time of the morning?" She wondered out loud. Seeing the name on caller I.D., she gave an excited yelp and answered, leaving the room to talk. "Kira, I can't believe you've finally found time to call, how are you?"
Devin watched her leave, chuckling to himself. "That's just the icing on the cake, the scoop of the year and finally getting through to Kira. She's been trying to get hold of her to line up some interviews for months."
"It's good how everything worked out." Kimberly sighed. "I just wish there was some way we could get some news about the babies sold in this area."
"Did you say something about the baby sales?" Larry asked.
"You know about that?" Kimberly asked.
"This town's seen more than it's fair share of trouble." He told them. "When news of the arrests in Las Vegas hit, the gang upped and left the haulage yard, but they didn't take everything with them."
"There's one baby unaccounted for in this area." Kimberly told him. "They never found it."
"That's because it was never sold." He told them. "When news of the arrests hit the town, the gang just abandoned the yard, and they left her there. My son Phillipe was using the yard as a shortcut and heard her crying. Dr. Oswald checked her out and made sure she had all the appropriate vaccinations."
"What happened to her?" Kimberly asked. "My daughter's still missing! Is there a chance she's mine?"
"I'm afraid not Mrs. Goodman." He sighed as he recalled the event. "Dr. Oswald contacted some of his old med school colleagues in Vegas and got them to compare her heel prick samples with the mothers. They found she belonged to one of the mothers who'd been killed. Dr. Oswald took her in and has looked after her ever since." He crossed over to her as he saw her shoulders slump, her moment of hope gone. "I really wish things were different."
"I'm just glad she ended up in a good home." Devin said, trying to alleviate the feeling in the room. "I've met Dr. Oswald, he's a good man. He really took care of Katya." He paused for a second as the thought occurred to him. "That's why he had no problem destroying her records and didn't ask questions."
"He's used to keeping secrets." Larry confirmed. "She doesn't know he's raised her as his own."
"Well at least we know one more kid's alright." Jason stated.
"That just leaves four to find." Kimberly sniffed, trying to halt her tears. "She's already six years old guys! It's killing me not knowing."
"You'll find her." Trini reassured her again. "I know it."
"Trini and I will drop you off in New Tech on our way home." Jason told her. "Thanks for the breakfast Larry, it was great."
"You're all welcome." He told the Rangers as they left. "Have a safe trip, feel free to drop in if you're ever back in the area."
"We might just do that." Jason stated. "See you guys."
As the Rangers left for their journey home, Katya and her mother entered. Katya rushed over to their table.
"Good Morning Devin." She greeted him. "How you?"
"I'm fine thanks." Devin answered. "I hear you get to stay here for a while."
She nodded excitedly. "I no have go home." She told him. "Maybe never have go home, they still to say."
"Well I hope everything works out for you." He said. "Your mother and I can join us if you like."
"We would like very much." Her mother answered. They both sat down across from Devin. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He answered. Just then, Cassidy bounded back into the room.
"Kira's set me up with a few interviews next week!" She shrieked excitedly. "She's finally got a clearing in her schedule, isn't that great?"
"It really is Cass." Devin replied, kissing his wife as she sat down.
"Awww that cute." Katya said as she began her cereal. "I hope I find husband like Devin."
"I'm sure you will." Cassidy told her. "A pretty young thing like you should have no trouble with boys."
As Katya began enthusiastically devouring her cereal, turning a little red at Cassidy's compliment, Cassidy leant in closer to her husband.
"Devin, you know that project we started talking about?" She asked him. "That thing we were talking about in the church yesterday?"
"Yeah?" He replied.
"I think we should." She told him, looking into his eyes. "I think it's a good idea."
"Do you mean that?" He asked her.
"Yes, I do." She replied. "I think it would be great."
Devin couldn't disguise his joy as a large, dopey grin crossed his face. Cassidy had given him the greatest gift she ever could.