The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Walker, Texas Ranger". The characters belong to CBS Productions, Top Kick Productions, etc., but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)
NOTE: I had Joe Penny in mind for the role of Gino Martinelli when I wrote this.
"Deep Cover" Chapter 3
by Lorrie
"What do you mean I'm not going?" Joey yelled as Tony explained how the deal was to go down Friday night.
"Mr. Martinelli doesn't think you're ready for this Joey." Tony explained.
"But he is." Joey pointed at Gage. "Who do you think you are anyway, Mr. Ricky Manns? You're introduced to Gino Martinelli on a chance meeting at a club and manage to impress him so greatly with your muscle and finesse that he hires you as a bodyguard on the spot. I find that a little hard to believe."
Joey walked across the room and stopped in front of Gage, poking his finger into his chest. "How is it that you've been able to get in so tight with Gino in less than a week?"
"I don't know Joey, I like the guy. I respect him." Gage was careful not to choke on these words.
"You know what I think?" Joey asked.
Gage cocked his head to the side. "No Joey, what do you think?"
"I think you're a cop. I think you knew where Gino would be the day you met him. I think you also knew what Gino looked for in a girl and you provided the perfect match, one that he couldn't resist." Joey poked Gage in the chest again. "So how about it Ricky? Are you a cop?"
"Oh yeah Joey, I'm a regular Texas Ranger." Gage replied sarcastically as he poked his finger into Joey's chest.
Joey started backing up as Gage retaliated. "First of all, Gena responded to an ad in the newspaper for open auditions at 'The Men's Club'. Neither of us knew who Gino Martinelli was, let alone that he would be there that night or what kind of girl he liked."
Gage stared into Joey's eyes coldly. "Gino sent Tony over to tell me that he wanted Gena. I told Tony that if he got Gena, he got me too because we were a package deal. Gino had Tony throw a punch at me to see if I could handle myself and once he'd seen enough, he wanted to hire me."
Joey backed into a chair and sat down. Gage leaned in, inches away from Joey's face. "The next time you want to accuse someone of being a cop, I suggest that you gather stronger evidence." Gage stormed out of the room.
"Joey, Joey, Joey. When are you going to learn?" Tony scolded.
"I swear to you Tony, that guy is a cop. I'm sure I've seen him somewhere, only with a badge." Joey replied.
"You get me proof Joey. Right now, Ricky's done nothing to make me think he's a cop."
"And you call yourself protecting Gino?"
"Joey, I know Gino's your half brother and believe it or not, that's why he keeps you out of the loop sometimes; to protect you."
"Yeah right." Joey turned his back on Tony and left.
*****
Sydney put her morning without Gino to good use. After breakfast, she changed into a dark pair of pants and shirt and started exploring the 22-room mansion.
As she was exploring, she stumbled upon Gino's office, the door had been left slightly ajar, an invitation that she couldn't ignore.
Sydney pulled a mini-camera from her pants pocket as she entered the office. She glanced around the ceiling and walls until she was satisfied that there was no surveillance equipment keeping a watchful eye over Gino's secrets.
Immediately the files on the desk caught her attention. She opened the manila folders and snapped pictures of the documents, showing dollar figures and quantities and weights of guns coming into Texas form New York.
She opened another folder and found an overseas shipping bill labeled as 'Perishable Goods', but weighing the same as the gun shipment.
Sydney quickly closed the folders and placed them exactly as she had found them on Gino's desk, she left the office, leaving the door ajar as she had found it.
Once back in her room, she removed the small film from the camera and placed it in the lining of her purse for safekeeping.
*****
Gino knocked on Sydney's door around 4:00. "Gena, are you in there? I've got something for you."
Sydney opened the door. "Gino. Did you have a good day?"
"I had a nice day, but it would have been better if I could have started this morning all over again. I am sorry Gena. I didn't hurt your wrist, did I?" Gino gently looked at her wrist.
"No, I'm fine." Sydney smiled.
"How would you like to go on a picnic by the lake?" Gino produced a picnic basket from behind his back and smiled.
Sydney returned the smile. "A picnic sounds lovely, just let me know."
*****
"Ricky, are you ready for tonight?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, I guess. What time is this thing going down?"
"Gino said be ready to leave at 10:00."
"I'll be ready."
*****
"Tony, you stick with Ricky. I hate to say it, but I think Joey may have been right about him and Gena too."
"What makes you think so, Gino?"
"I checked the camera in my office while ago, you know the one I keep hidden in the bookcase? Gena's been busy this afternoon taking pictures of the files." Gino replied, obviously upset.
"What do you want to do about her?" Tony asked.
"I'm taking her to the lake for a picnic, while we're gone, go through her stuff until you find the film. I'll deal with her after the deal goes down tonight."
"What about Ricky?" Tony asked.
"Joey's trying to remember where he's seen him before. Ricky's probably going to meet with an accident tonight."
*****
"So, what did you do today Gena?" Gino asked as they drove to the lake.
"Not much. I explored the grounds. I love your flower garden."
"Thank you, it's one of my favorite spots to sit and think." Gino pulled up to a spot under a tree. "What about here for our picnic?"
"Perfect." Sydney replied.
*****
"Tony, have you seen Gino lately?" Gage asked when he realized that Gino and Sydney were missing.
Tony stared coldly at Gage. "They're out on a picnic by the lake."
"Oh, that sounds nice." Gage was puzzled by Tony's coldness. He started to leave, then turned and face Tony again. "Tony, is everything OK?"
"You tell me, Ricky?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it." Tony replied.
After Gage left, Tony ran upstairs to Sydney's room and began the search for the film. An hour later, he emerged empty handed.
Gage saw Tony lock Sydney's door as he left. He immediately pulled out his cell phone and called Walker. "Walker, it's me. We're in trouble. I think my cover's blown and I'm not sure about Syd."
"Gage, where is Sydney?" Walker asked.
"On a picnic with Gino." Gage said quietly. "Walker, there's a big deal going down at dock #12 tonight at midnight."
"We'll be there. Gage, you and Sydney be careful." Walker hung up the phone and filled Trivette in on the conversation.
*****
Gino and Sydney returned to the house, laughing about their picnic. "Why don't you go on upstairs Gena. I've got business to attend to."
"Thanks for the picnic Gino." Sydney went upstairs and gasped when she saw her room disheveled and heard the lock on the door click into place behind her.
"Gino! What is the meaning of this?" She screamed.
"I'll deal with you later Gena, when I get back. By the way, Ricky's going with me and I don't plan to bring him back." Gino paused. "Not alive, anyway."
"Gino!" Sydney screamed as she sank to the floor in front of the locked door.
Gino lingered by the door. "I know you're a copy Gena, or at least working for them and I can only assume that Ricky's a cop too. Why did you betray me Gena? Haven't I been good to you?"
"Gino, you've been wonderful to me and Ricky. Won't you give us a chance to explain?"
Sydney pleaded.
"Gena, in my business, there's no such thing as second chances. I'll deal with you when I get back."
*****
Joey met Gino at the door downstairs. "I found it. I knew I had seen this guy somewhere." Gino took the newspaper from Joey, the headlines read; 'Texas Ranger looses his hearing as a result of an explosion.'
"His name's Francis Gage, he's a Texas Ranger." Joey explained.
Gino bawled up the newspaper as his rage spread across his face. "Joey, you ride with me and Allen. Tony, you and Marty take this cop out, painfully." Gino stepped into his car, as did Joey. "Joey, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you earlier. Next time I'll trust your instincts."
"Hey Ricky." Tony shouted towards Gage. "You ride with me and Marty."
"Sure." Gage got into the front seat of the car beside of Tony.
As soon as he buckled his seatbelt, he felt the cold barrel of Marty's .45 against the base of his neck. "What's this all about Tony?"
"It's about Joey being right about you being a cop, Ranger Gage."
End Chapter 3
NOTE: I had Joe Penny in mind for the role of Gino Martinelli when I wrote this.
"Deep Cover" Chapter 3
by Lorrie
"What do you mean I'm not going?" Joey yelled as Tony explained how the deal was to go down Friday night.
"Mr. Martinelli doesn't think you're ready for this Joey." Tony explained.
"But he is." Joey pointed at Gage. "Who do you think you are anyway, Mr. Ricky Manns? You're introduced to Gino Martinelli on a chance meeting at a club and manage to impress him so greatly with your muscle and finesse that he hires you as a bodyguard on the spot. I find that a little hard to believe."
Joey walked across the room and stopped in front of Gage, poking his finger into his chest. "How is it that you've been able to get in so tight with Gino in less than a week?"
"I don't know Joey, I like the guy. I respect him." Gage was careful not to choke on these words.
"You know what I think?" Joey asked.
Gage cocked his head to the side. "No Joey, what do you think?"
"I think you're a cop. I think you knew where Gino would be the day you met him. I think you also knew what Gino looked for in a girl and you provided the perfect match, one that he couldn't resist." Joey poked Gage in the chest again. "So how about it Ricky? Are you a cop?"
"Oh yeah Joey, I'm a regular Texas Ranger." Gage replied sarcastically as he poked his finger into Joey's chest.
Joey started backing up as Gage retaliated. "First of all, Gena responded to an ad in the newspaper for open auditions at 'The Men's Club'. Neither of us knew who Gino Martinelli was, let alone that he would be there that night or what kind of girl he liked."
Gage stared into Joey's eyes coldly. "Gino sent Tony over to tell me that he wanted Gena. I told Tony that if he got Gena, he got me too because we were a package deal. Gino had Tony throw a punch at me to see if I could handle myself and once he'd seen enough, he wanted to hire me."
Joey backed into a chair and sat down. Gage leaned in, inches away from Joey's face. "The next time you want to accuse someone of being a cop, I suggest that you gather stronger evidence." Gage stormed out of the room.
"Joey, Joey, Joey. When are you going to learn?" Tony scolded.
"I swear to you Tony, that guy is a cop. I'm sure I've seen him somewhere, only with a badge." Joey replied.
"You get me proof Joey. Right now, Ricky's done nothing to make me think he's a cop."
"And you call yourself protecting Gino?"
"Joey, I know Gino's your half brother and believe it or not, that's why he keeps you out of the loop sometimes; to protect you."
"Yeah right." Joey turned his back on Tony and left.
*****
Sydney put her morning without Gino to good use. After breakfast, she changed into a dark pair of pants and shirt and started exploring the 22-room mansion.
As she was exploring, she stumbled upon Gino's office, the door had been left slightly ajar, an invitation that she couldn't ignore.
Sydney pulled a mini-camera from her pants pocket as she entered the office. She glanced around the ceiling and walls until she was satisfied that there was no surveillance equipment keeping a watchful eye over Gino's secrets.
Immediately the files on the desk caught her attention. She opened the manila folders and snapped pictures of the documents, showing dollar figures and quantities and weights of guns coming into Texas form New York.
She opened another folder and found an overseas shipping bill labeled as 'Perishable Goods', but weighing the same as the gun shipment.
Sydney quickly closed the folders and placed them exactly as she had found them on Gino's desk, she left the office, leaving the door ajar as she had found it.
Once back in her room, she removed the small film from the camera and placed it in the lining of her purse for safekeeping.
*****
Gino knocked on Sydney's door around 4:00. "Gena, are you in there? I've got something for you."
Sydney opened the door. "Gino. Did you have a good day?"
"I had a nice day, but it would have been better if I could have started this morning all over again. I am sorry Gena. I didn't hurt your wrist, did I?" Gino gently looked at her wrist.
"No, I'm fine." Sydney smiled.
"How would you like to go on a picnic by the lake?" Gino produced a picnic basket from behind his back and smiled.
Sydney returned the smile. "A picnic sounds lovely, just let me know."
*****
"Ricky, are you ready for tonight?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, I guess. What time is this thing going down?"
"Gino said be ready to leave at 10:00."
"I'll be ready."
*****
"Tony, you stick with Ricky. I hate to say it, but I think Joey may have been right about him and Gena too."
"What makes you think so, Gino?"
"I checked the camera in my office while ago, you know the one I keep hidden in the bookcase? Gena's been busy this afternoon taking pictures of the files." Gino replied, obviously upset.
"What do you want to do about her?" Tony asked.
"I'm taking her to the lake for a picnic, while we're gone, go through her stuff until you find the film. I'll deal with her after the deal goes down tonight."
"What about Ricky?" Tony asked.
"Joey's trying to remember where he's seen him before. Ricky's probably going to meet with an accident tonight."
*****
"So, what did you do today Gena?" Gino asked as they drove to the lake.
"Not much. I explored the grounds. I love your flower garden."
"Thank you, it's one of my favorite spots to sit and think." Gino pulled up to a spot under a tree. "What about here for our picnic?"
"Perfect." Sydney replied.
*****
"Tony, have you seen Gino lately?" Gage asked when he realized that Gino and Sydney were missing.
Tony stared coldly at Gage. "They're out on a picnic by the lake."
"Oh, that sounds nice." Gage was puzzled by Tony's coldness. He started to leave, then turned and face Tony again. "Tony, is everything OK?"
"You tell me, Ricky?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it." Tony replied.
After Gage left, Tony ran upstairs to Sydney's room and began the search for the film. An hour later, he emerged empty handed.
Gage saw Tony lock Sydney's door as he left. He immediately pulled out his cell phone and called Walker. "Walker, it's me. We're in trouble. I think my cover's blown and I'm not sure about Syd."
"Gage, where is Sydney?" Walker asked.
"On a picnic with Gino." Gage said quietly. "Walker, there's a big deal going down at dock #12 tonight at midnight."
"We'll be there. Gage, you and Sydney be careful." Walker hung up the phone and filled Trivette in on the conversation.
*****
Gino and Sydney returned to the house, laughing about their picnic. "Why don't you go on upstairs Gena. I've got business to attend to."
"Thanks for the picnic Gino." Sydney went upstairs and gasped when she saw her room disheveled and heard the lock on the door click into place behind her.
"Gino! What is the meaning of this?" She screamed.
"I'll deal with you later Gena, when I get back. By the way, Ricky's going with me and I don't plan to bring him back." Gino paused. "Not alive, anyway."
"Gino!" Sydney screamed as she sank to the floor in front of the locked door.
Gino lingered by the door. "I know you're a copy Gena, or at least working for them and I can only assume that Ricky's a cop too. Why did you betray me Gena? Haven't I been good to you?"
"Gino, you've been wonderful to me and Ricky. Won't you give us a chance to explain?"
Sydney pleaded.
"Gena, in my business, there's no such thing as second chances. I'll deal with you when I get back."
*****
Joey met Gino at the door downstairs. "I found it. I knew I had seen this guy somewhere." Gino took the newspaper from Joey, the headlines read; 'Texas Ranger looses his hearing as a result of an explosion.'
"His name's Francis Gage, he's a Texas Ranger." Joey explained.
Gino bawled up the newspaper as his rage spread across his face. "Joey, you ride with me and Allen. Tony, you and Marty take this cop out, painfully." Gino stepped into his car, as did Joey. "Joey, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you earlier. Next time I'll trust your instincts."
"Hey Ricky." Tony shouted towards Gage. "You ride with me and Marty."
"Sure." Gage got into the front seat of the car beside of Tony.
As soon as he buckled his seatbelt, he felt the cold barrel of Marty's .45 against the base of his neck. "What's this all about Tony?"
"It's about Joey being right about you being a cop, Ranger Gage."
End Chapter 3