Part 2 ~ Reality

Alex answered the door and did a double-take when she saw Walker. "Walker," she said in a surprised tone.

"Expecting someone else?" Walker teased.

"No," Alex quickly answered. "I just thought you'd be longer."

"This was right where you left it," Walker said as he handed her the planner and kissed her.

"Thanks," she said with a smile. "Gonna be here awhile?"

Walker looked confused, "I thought you wanted me to help set up for the party."

"Of course," Alex quickly said. "I'm sorry. I don't know which end is up right now. It's been a crazy couple of days. How about we start over?" Alex kissed him on the lips and said, "Hi, honey."

"Hi," Walker responded before he kissed her in return and gave her an extra long hug.

Alex pulled away, "Something's wrong. What is it?"

Walker sighed and walked with Alex into the living room where they sat on the sofa. "An e-mail message I got."

"Walker, it wasn't supposed to depress you."

Walker smiled, "Not your message which you'll find a response for when you get in tomorrow."

"Really?" she asked with a sly smile as she placed her arms around his shoulders and leaned forward for a kiss. "Want to give me a hint as to what it says?"

"You'll have to read it to find out," Walker teased before giving her a light kiss.

Alex pulled away in mock frustration and was about to say something when she noticed Walker's suddenly somber disposition. Taking his hand she asked, "What did the message say?"

"There wasn't anything in the message itself."

"What do you mean?"

"I opened the message and the screen was blank when suddenly a little girl appeared asking me to help her."

"A little girl? And she just appeared?"

Walker nodded, "She was about six years old. Native American. Brave Doe Heart and she was crying. Said that he hurt her, she was scared, and wanted to go home." Alex paled and he quickly asked, "Hon, are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you."

"No, I'm okay," she said as she wondered about Jimmy's prank. She added, "It's just so strange. What do you think it means?"

"I don't know," Walker admitted. "Gage was there and he's looking into the clues she gave."

"What did he say when he saw it?"

"He didn't see it," Walker frowned. "As soon as she finished speaking, she disappeared. Gage couldn't bring her back. All he got was the empty message box."

"I'm sorry," Alex said rubbing his arm.

"It's not your fault," Walker said tenderly. "I told Gage I'd be here if he found out anything."

As if on cue, Walker's cell phone rang and, as he answered it, Alex murmured, "Jimmy"

"Thanks, Gage. I'm on my way." Walker put his phone away and turned to Alex, "He found the building and I'm going to meet him." Alex nodded and he added, "I can call Trivette if you'd rather I didn't go."

Alex shook her head as she stood with him. "You should go."

"What was that you said before about Trivette?" Walker asked as they reached the front door.

"Huh? Oh, I was thinking that maybe I should call him."

"Good idea. He can help you until I get back," Walker said before kissing her on the cheek. "Hopefully, he'll make sure you stay out of the candy bowls," he teased before leaving.

With a mock frown, Alex requested, "Just be careful."

Jimmy moved the couch to the wall. "He'll be fine, Alex."

"I don't know, Jimmy. Maybe CD was right about this. You didn't see him. The girl really got to him. And now Gage is involved."

"Well, I didn't plan on that. Still, the more the merrier. Gage'll appreciate the fun. You'll see."

"I'm not so sure," Alex said as she picked up some balloons and handed one to Jimmy.

"What I want to know is why he needed Gage's help. Lisa gave him the exact address," Jimmy said as he watched Alex blow up the orange balloon.

"Lisa?" she breathlessly asked as she tied the end of the balloon in a knot.

"The ghost."

Alex shook her head and stated, "Brave Doe Heart."

"Who's that?"

"That's what Walker said her name was."

"Alex, I should know the name I createdLisa Dupris."

"I'm sorry, Jimmy. Her name was Brave Doe Heart. Walker said she was a six year old Native American."

Jimmy frowned, "Lisa Dupris appeared to be in her mid-twenties and was a red-head."

"Maybe Dan changed the program."

"I saw the demo the other day. He couldn't have changed it on such short notice. Besides, he wouldn't have changed anything without running it by me first."

"Jimmy," Alex asked in a worried tone, "What's going on?"

"That's a good question and --" Jimmy was interrupted by his ringing cell phone. Answering it, he said, "TrivetteAlex told meI'll be right there." As he grabbed his jacket from the sofa, he said to Alex, "I'm meeting them at a warehouse down in the district."

"Warehouse? I thought you sent him to your friend's apartment," Alex commented as they reached the front door.

"Don't worry," Jimmy said touching her shoulder, "I'll find out what's going on."

"Be careful," she said but Jimmy was already down the walk.

Jimmy found Walker and Gage waiting for him near the front of the warehouse. "What's going on?" he asked as he followed them inside.

"You're not going to believe it," Gage answered.

"You haven't been around Walker long enough," Jimmy commented. "Tell me."

"A little girl, Brave Doe Heart, appeared and asked for my help," Walker said.

"Your help or someone's help?" Jimmy asked knowing that his Lisa was to have referred to Walker directly by name.

"She called me by name," Walker answered. "She said he hurt me' and that she was stuck."

"Stuck? Where?"

"We're not sure," Gage responded. "Walker mentioned a clown building and a Mr. Happy and this warehouse was what I came up with."

"I saw the clown mural outside, I'd say this was the right place," Jimmy said.

"It's owned by The Friendly Toys' company. Mr. Happy is one of their productsa stuffed teddy bear that tells bedtime stories."

Jimmy looked around at the area filled with empty cartons strewn with litter and Styrofoam peanuts. "Doesn't look like the place has been used in a while."

Gage answered, "The company's having financial problems and shut down this location. I guess they never completely cleaned out."

Jimmy looked at Walker who was quieter than usual. "You think she's dead, don't you?" Walker nodded and Jimmy continued, "That her ghost contacted you and we'll find her body here."

"I told you you wouldn't believe it," Gage said.

"You don't know Walker's history with ghosts and spirits," Jimmy half-teased.

Walker let the tease pass and suggested, "Let's search the next level."

"We've already searched this level. Came up empty," Gage explained.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Jimmy asked as he followed Walker and Gage to the freight elevator.

Two hours later, on the fourth level of the warehouse, Gage, looking in some cartons, somberly called Walker and Jimmy over, "You'd better come here."

Both men came over and peered down into the carton and Jimmy quietly said, "Oh, my God."

Walker reached down and slowly lifted out the small body. Gently laying her on the floor, he noted the torn shirt, the blood stains on her jeans, the bruises on her face and neck. Wrapping her hands around the Mr. Happy bear she had been clutching, he stood up and quietly ordered to Jimmy and Gage, "Get Sydney down here with a team and start a --"

A scream interrupted him and all three men quickly reached for their guns.

"Can you tell where it came from?" Gage asked as they hurried toward the freight elevator.

Another scream pierced the air "Floor above," Jimmy suggested and saw Walker nod in agreement.

"Think they've been here the whole time?" Gage wondered.

Before anyone could comment, another panicky scream filled the air.

"A little girl," Walker commented.

The three men carefully stepped out of the elevator and into the fifth level. It appeared exactly as the other levels they had seen. Cartons piled high in areas, litter strewn about the floor, and broken toys in piles. The men moved silently and, as Walker motioned for them to split up and search separately, a small blur ran by them and Walker reached out to grab it. What he grabbed was a trembling little girl with long dark hair wearing a torn shirt and jeans. Blood trickled from a cut on her upper arm near Walker's hand. She appeared to be about six years old and when she quickly turned to see who grabbed her, she screamed.

"It's okay," Walker tried to reassure her as he knelt before her while still keeping her in his grasp. "We're not going to hurt you."

The girl whimpered and struggled to get away.

"We're Texas Rangers," Gage said as he knelt down next to the girl. "That's like being a policeman."

The girl stopped struggling and looked, with tear-filled eyes, at the two men.

"How'd you get here, sweetheart?" Walker quietly asked as he loosened his grip.

"He took me," was the quiet reply.

"Who?" Jimmy asked.

The girl shrugged and just as quietly repeated, "He took me."

"From where?"

"Home."

Walker turned to Jimmy and said, "Check for any reports."

"He said he'd give me toys while he got my mommy. But he hurt me," she said indicating to her arm, "and he wouldn't take me home."

"Where is he now?" Gage questioned while Jimmy moved to the side to use his phone. "We're going to find him and make sure he doesn't hurt you again."

"We were on the roof and he tore my shirt," she sniffled. "He wanted to hurt me and I was scared."

"What happened then?" Walker gently prodded.

"I almost got away. I ran down the stairs but he grabbed me. And then"

"Then what?" Gage asked.

"I bit him and he let me go and I ran through the door but he caught me again. And then"

"And then?" Gage patiently urged.

"Some boxes fell on him and I ran away. I ran down the stairs again and went through the door and now I don't know how to get out," she said as fresh tears started flowing from her eyes.

Walker quietly asked, "What's your name?"

"Sarah Jean Williams. I want my mommy," she sobbed.

Jimmy returned, "A Brenda Williams reported her daughter's kidnapping four hours ago. An officer's on the way to pick her up."

Walker nodded and said, "Sarah Jean, this is Ranger Gage. He's going to take care of you and make sure you stay safe while we get your mommy. Okay?"

Sarah Jean gave a small nod and allowed Gage to sweep her up into his arms, "Come on, honey, we'll go downstairs and I'll tell you all about being a Texas Ranger. Would you like that?" Sarah Jean slowly nodded and he smiled.

After the elevator had been out-of-sight for a few moments, Walker and Jimmy heard a loud yell. With guns drawn, they moved near the stairwell door and stood behind some piles of cartons though they still had a clear view to the door.

"You think he'll stop here?" Jimmy asked.

Walker nodded, "He'll realize she'd be confused. He's going to check every level."

The door suddenly flew open and a large, older, disheveled man, carrying a bloody knife in one hand pounced into the room, screaming, "Where are you, you little bitch?"

Jimmy and Walker moved into the open and confronted him. "Texas Rangers," Jimmy said. "Hold it right there."

Unfortunately, the sight of the two rangers only enraged the man and he lunged at Walker. Walker expected the move and darted to the side rolling out of the way while the man fell to the ground. Jimmy moved in as Walker recovered and stood up. As the man was getting to his knees to stand, Walker kicked his hand causing the man to lose his grip on the knife. Walker kicked it out of reach.

"I'm gonna kill you!" the man screamed as he leaped to his feet. He shoved the surprised Jimmy back into some cartons and Walker tackled the man.

Jimmy quickly recovered but, because of the men's struggle, he couldn't get a clear shot on the suspect. He stood ready as the two men exchanged blows. Walker and the man fought near a high pile of cartons and Jimmy felt instinctively that his moment was coming and he raised his gun.

Unexpectedly, the man caught Walker in a chokehold so Jimmy put his gun away and leapt onto the man breaking the man's hold. Walker was momentarily dazed and Jimmy continued pounding the man. The man still pushed Jimmy off him and, as he stood alone in front of the pile, Jimmy watched as the entire pile cartons suddenly toppled down on him, knocking him out.

Walker and Jimmy quickly rose to their feet and began clearing away the cartons. "Nice work with the boxes," Walker complimented as Jimmy handcuffed the guy.

"Thanks, but it wasn't me," Jimmy admitted. "Your fight must've unbalanced them and they fell."

"Must've," Walker doubtfully repeated.

The man groaned and started to come to. Jimmy and Walker yanked him to his feet. When the man realized his situation, he began to struggle and was about to yell when Walker hit him with an upper right cut. The man went down.