And here is the surprise! This one is a bit shorter than usual, but I felt that the place I ended it was appropriate. Hopefully, the next one will be a bit longer. Thanks once again go out to my awesome beta kellymutt for her hard work in making this story presentable.
Now, remember folks, if you recognize it, I don't own it. The rich and powerful folks in Hollywood do.
Chapter 25
No one forgot that Rose Gage was still out there and quite possibly looking to finish the job she started. Did she believe that Christie was dead? Or did she know that Christie did in fact survive? It was impossible to say, but one thing was certain...the large extended family of firefighters in the conference room was not about to let this woman try to do any more damage. The question on everyone's mind right now was 'where was she?' Oh, if they only knew.
Rose Gage had managed to slip away from the collapse site and make her way back home. Given the amount of traffic on the roads, it took a little time, but she finally made it. She knew that if Christie survived her life as she knew it was effectively over. But, she also knew that with the way the structure had collapsed she didn't have to worry about things right now. She had a little wiggle room concerning what to do next. She knew she had to find the items that her so called nephew had taken from the house and destroy them. But, when she went to his apartment to retrieve them, she wasn't successful in locating them. Since she doesn't know where they are, she has to ensure that the ones that know about them do not tell anyone else. What is in those boxes could put Rose Gage away for a very long time. That was not an option in her mind.
She kept an eye on the news, hoping for some word on the collapse and find out about survivors; one in particular. She finally heard in the early morning hours that some of the last survivors had been found, including the young woman that had been struck by a vehicle and subsequently shoved into the restaurant starting the entire mess. The news said that the girl was alive. This meant that she would be taken to Rampart Emergency for treatment, as that was not only the closest but best in terms of trauma of this sort. Perfect. Rose could kill multiple birds with pretty much one stone. Now, to figure out the how and her plan would be complete.
Officer Vince Howard hadn't forgotten the two kids that described Rose Gage to a "T" as the one behind the wheel of the car that struck Christie. He managed to find them again and brought them to the station, setting them up with a sketch artist. He had to be sure it was Rose and was planning on comparing the sketch to the picture he had. About an hour later, the sketch artist was done with both boys (having done the sketches separately) and Officer Howard was able to do the comparison. There couldn't have been a closer match. This was, for him, the nail in the coffin for one Rose Gage. It really didn't take long to secure a warrant for the arrest of Mrs. Gage; though finding her would be the problem. His sources had informed him that she wasn't home and was now, effectively "in the wind". The officer, who was good friends with John Gage and the rest of the crew from Station 51, arranged for extra security at Rampart just in case Rose Gage got it in her head to try something there. It would turn out to be a really smart move on his part.
Back at Rampart, Bob Bellingham's father, Greg Bellingham, was trying to find out what he could do. He was after all a U.S. Marshall and since this looked like an attempt on the life of someone that technically was still part of the witness protection program it would be a federal case. When he noticed the extra security, he made discreet inquiries regarding this and was informed that since Rose Gage couldn't be located that the security would remain until the police deemed Ms. Evans and John Gage were no longer in danger. This served to both please Marshall Bellingham and alarm him. He knew that things could get ugly and was hoping to avoid the confrontation here at the hospital. However, he knew it would not be possible.
He caught up with his son Bob and asked about the head of ER, "Bob, I think you understand that this could get nasty quick. We need to make sure that they are all taken care and accounted for."
Bob, however, would surprise his father, "Dad, there are as of right now two guards standing outside of Christie's room and another two in the conference room where the reunion is taking place. Do we really need the Marshalls here as well?" Bob didn't want to cause any trouble, but he was thinking of the logistics of the situation. No one would have ever thought he was capable of such thought, but that was one of his many hidden talents; one he was happy to keep quiet about.
However, before anything else could be said, Officer Vince Howard walked up to them with a look on his face that did not bode well, "Bob, we just got word that Rose Gage has been spotted in the area. We need to beef up security and make sure that everyone is protected."
Bob turned to his father and asked, "Dad, do you think we should let the families know she has been spotted? With the amount of firefighters around here that know what she looks like, it couldn't hurt to have more pairs of eyes to spot her."
His dad mulled this over and decided that his son was right, "Go ahead and let the others know. Make sure that there is a guard with Christie no matter where she is; I don't care if she is using the bathroom she is NOT to be left alone. Rose will make a move; we just have to make sure she doesn't try to take out John and Christie at the same time. As a matter of fact, she knows the DeSoto family pretty well also. I want them watched as well. If she knows how close the family is to Gage, she might try to use that to her advantage, particularly the kids."
What no one knew was that Rose had no intention of harming the DeSoto family. Her only intended targets were John Gage and Christie Evans; for in her mind, they were the two that destroyed what she fought to keep safe...her secrets. And now, they were going to pay the price.