Disclaimer: This was written for the soul purpose of my entertainment.
I lay no claim on Walker Texas Ranger or any of it's characters
Chapter 4
Morrison and Timins were back in the office when the Gage's got back to headquarters. They had a wealth of information to bring everyone up to date on. First was a picture of Catherine Dellaquay, her face looked almost identical to her brother's face as Syd and Gage remembered him. The same eyes that could stare right through you, Syd thought as she looked at the picture.
Next was a picture of David Moore, the patient Catherine had brought home with her so often. He had been burnt almost beyond recognition; both Sydney and Gage knew it was Robin from those blue vacant eyes.
"We were able to run some prints off some of his personal effects that had been left there," Timins was saying, "It is definitely Robin Dellaquay."
Morrison took up the story from there, "David Moore was someone who was all ready dead and cremated. Catherine gave his identification to her brother consequently burying Robin Dellaquay. Then she forged the papers so she was able to get him a bed indefinitely where she worked."
"After finding out this information we went back to Catherine's place for a complete search. There wasn't much left there with the exception of this." Morrison held up a small folder of computer printed pages, "This is a list of all the High Schools in Dallas and area with the names of girls who could possibly look and be like Sydney Cooke. We have alerted all the schools and parents, the girls on these lists are being protected."
"We still need to find the last girl," Gage reminded them.
"Her name is Diana Archer," began Trivette as he started to fill in everyone with what he had found out about her. "She was last seen yesterday afternoon as she got off the school bus. From there she only has two blocks to walk so something had to happen in those two blocks."
"And somebody had to see something," stated Walker, "let's go find that someone."
***********
"Did you want to hear her voice Robin?" Catherine asked as she feed him. Robin sat there not moving. "Of course you do don't you," she patted his hand. "We'll finish eating here then we'll have number six call again and ask for Sydney so you can hear her voice."
She spooned the last few mouthfuls into her brother and wiped his mouth. Then she went to the other room where she had Diana Archer tied up and dragged her out to join them. Diana fought her every step of the way until Catherine backhanded her and she fell to the floor at the foot of Robin's wheelchair.
"This one is the most like Sydney yet," laughed Catherine, she turned to Diana, "We are going to take the tape from your mouth, you can scream all you want because where we are no one will hear you. Of course if the noise is too much I'll be forced to do something drastic to shut you up."
Catherine reached down and ripped the tape from Diana's mouth. Diana didn't move she knew she had to pick her moment of escape.
"That's a good girl. Now we are going to call the Rangers and you are going to ask for Ranger Cooke. Once you get her on the line you will tell her that Robin needs to speak to her. Tell her she is to speak nicely to him because your life depends on it."
**********
Gage and Sydney were canvassing the streets looking for anyone who may have seen anything related to Diana's disappearance. Like everyone else, they were having no luck at all. Syd's phone rang and she answered it expecting to hear Walker or Trivette voice instead it was a young girl.
"Ranger Cooke?"
"Yes this is Ranger Cooke?" Syd began motioning to Gage who pulled out his phone and began calling for a trace.
"Okay I'll wait a minute for you to get her."
Sydney looked puzzled until she heard the girl say to someone else she didn't answer the phone they went to get her. Syd waited a couple of minutes more before she said into the phone, "Hello this is Ranger Cooke is anyone there?"
"Ranger Cooke I was told that Robin wants to speak to you and you are to speak nicely to him because my life depends on it."
"Is this Diana?"
"Yes, Robin is right here, I'll let you talk to him now."
"Robin is that really you?" began Sydney, "Why didn't you let me know that you were alive? My life would have been so different if I had only known. We could have helped you that night if you hadn't run away. Robin tell me where you are so I can come to you."
The line went dead.
"Did you get it Gage?"
"Ya it's a cell phone number, let's get moving before they move the phone."
Syd called Trivette and Morrison to let them know what was happening. They all headed for the section of the city the call had come from.
***********
The area was sealed off; a series of old abandoned warehouse buildings stood there. It didn't look as if anyone had been there for years. Sydney, Gage and the rest began the search, the first two buildings coming up empty handed. The third building their luck changed.
The third building was quiet as they cautiously made their way inside, guns drawn ready for anything. As they got to the back of the building, it was evident that someone had been staying there. There was a small cooking stove and a couple of camp cots. It looked as if they would be returning; there were still boxes of canned and dry goods. Unlike the other two buildings, the power had been turned on in this building.
Sydney began wandering around a nagging feeling had come upon her as if they were missing something. Everyone was starting to move on to the next building when she spied a door that was locked with a padlock.
"Gage come here," she called to her husband who joined her immediately, "Let's see what's in here."
Gage fired his gun and broke the lock, then swung the door wide. Huddled in one corner was Diana Archer bound and gagged once again. Sydney went right to her as Gage called to Walker and began dialling for medical aid. Gage couldn't help staring at Diana as Sydney stood with her arm around the frightened girl. This girl could have easily passed for Syd's younger sister.
**********
"Dead ringer for Syd," Trivette stated as he walked up behind Gage who was still watching his wife with Diana.
"Reminds me of when I first met Syd, she's smart like her too," said Gage as he explained how she had given them the extra time they needed to trace the call.
The ambulance doors closed and it started to move off. Syd walked over to join Gage and Trivette.
"Ready to take a look at that room," Trivette asked her.
She nodded her head and they went into the room.
The most frightening thing was the pictures; the walls were covered with pictures of Sydney and Gage. Pictures dating back as far as when they first met Robin until just a few days ago. In each case, a big red X had been drawn through Gage's image.
There was a make shift dark room at one end, and a computer.
"This is how the pictures were developed and then altered."
"They used the computer to break into school records and anything else that would help their cause."
"All this and we still don't know where they will strike next."
**********
Sydney and Gage headed for home. Gage had persuaded Syd that the reports could wait until the morning. He just wanted a little time that they could be away from this again. After speaking with Walker and getting the okay, they had left the rest to finish up and went home.
"So are you going to fix supper tonight or did you want me to cook again?"
"You are so hard done by Gage, let me change my clothes and I'll make your dinner," she reached up and gave him a kiss then slipped out of his arms and headed towards their bedroom.
As he had before he stood and watched her walk down the hall before turning to go into the living room. He had sat down, reached for the television remote and began channel surfing. After what seemed a fairly long, time Syd called to him.
"Can you come here Honey?"
Gage stood up and began walking down the hall, "What's up?"
Syd didn't answer him he was just about to open the door when he heard his cell phone ring.
"Just a minute Syd," he called as he walked back down the hall to the table where he had left it.
"Gage," he answered.
It was Walker letting him know that another envelope had arrived for him.
"Go ahead and open it."
There were pictures of both Syd and Gage coming and going from home and headquarters. Again, a big red X had been drawn through all the pictures of Gage. Walker read the note to Gage.
Francis,
I know your every move; I'm moving closer to you so I can be with my beloved Sydney. I know that is going to be what she wants too. Don't make this harder then it has to be.
Gage was about to reply, when a loud crash came from the bedroom.
"Walker I got to go something is wrong," he managed before dropping the phone.
With gun drawn Gage cautiously moved back down the hall, "Syd are you all right?" he called to her.
There was no response, he put his hand on the door and opened it, pushing it wide.
Robin Dellaquay was sitting on the bed leaning back against the pillows unmoving, staring aimlessly. Syd sat beside him; the bedside lamp was smashed on the floor. She was dressed as the murdered girls had been dressed, her feet were bound together as well as her hands bound behind her and Catherine Dellaquay held a knife to her throat.
"Put the gun down and come in Francis," smiled Catherine, "Isn't it nice to finally see them together?"
Catherine pushed the knife a little harder against Syd's throat as she spoke nicking her with it.
Gage bent slightly dropping his gun to the floor, "What do you want of me Catherine?"
"I just want you out of Sydney and Robin's lives, the same thing Robin wanted from the start. So, you and I are going to leave them here alone to get reacquainted with each other. Let's go Francis."
She picked up the gun that sat on the nightstand and pointed it at Gage as she walked towards him. In a whimsical moment of her madness, she turned and waved to her brother and Sydney telling them to enjoy themselves. Gage seized the moment to knock the gun from her hand. After a wild scuffle, Gage had her pinned to the floor.
"Gage, Syd."
"In here Walker," called Gage.
Trivette and Walker came down the hall and into the bedroom. Trivette handcuffed Catherine while Gage went to untie Syd.
"Nice outfit Syd," he whispered to her as he pulled her robe around her. Syd's face went beet red as he pulled her close.
**********
A few days later...
"Don't you just want to go home tonight instead of stopping at CD's?" Gage reached over and took her hand hoping to change her mind.
"I promised Alex. We'll make it an early night if you want," she smiled at him bringing his fingers to her lips.
"I'm holding you to that," he smiled back at her as he wheeled the car into the parking lot.
Gage parked the car and came around to Syd's side and opened the door for her. He took her hand and they walked into CD's together.
The place was in total darkness when they opened the door. All at once, Gage was met by his friends singing Happy Birthday to him. Syd lead him towards a huge birthday cake that was ablaze with candles. Gage grabbed his wife up in his arms and spun her around kissing her.
"Thank you Syd," he whispered to her as everyone started shouting, "Speech, speech."
"Thanks everyone, I really wasn't expecting anything like this. I want you to know how much Syd and I appreciated everyone standing by us this past week, it meant a lot.
"Enough with the speech, cut the cake Gage," interrupted Trivette, as everyone else cheered.
As the party dwindled down Alex and Walker came over to say good night to the two of them.
"Gage I want you and Syd to take the next few days off, you two have more then earned it."
"Thanks Walker are you sure?"
Walker smiled, "I'm sure."
**********
Gage sat in bed leaning against the pillows waiting for Syd to come join him. He didn't have long to wait, she slipped under the covers, then reaching across her husband turned off the light. Gage caught her in his arms and holding her tightly kissed her.
"So Gage would you be interested in collecting on the rest of your birthday present?"
"Oh ya Syd, I'm interested."
She gently placed her hands on either side of his face and whispered to him, "Happy Birthday Gage."
The End.
By: Janis B.