Part 3
Hope Center 3:15 PM.
The school buses were just pulling up to the center as Walker brought his rig to a stop. Angela immediately caught sight of her father's truck and ran to meet them.
"Mommy, Daddy," she called stopping in her tracks seeing Danny was with them.
"Hi Honey," Walker called picking her up in his arms bringing her with them as they headed up the walk to the center.
Chris and Piper along with Marcus were standing on the front porch with a group of other children who were staring at a big board that had been hammered up where the front window had been smashed out earlier.
"All right everyone," Walker started, "Let's get inside we just had a little accident here and it will be fixed tomorrow.
Erica had opened the door sending everyone to the kitchen for a snack. "Jimmy went back to headquarters," she informed Alex and Walker, "He said he wanted to check out something that Gage had told him. Which brings me to something else he also promised to get Piper and Chris home do you think I could impose on you…"
"Say no more," Alex cut in, "I'm ready to head for home very shortly with Angela and Danny while Walker goes to headquarters. So I can drop Piper and Chris off too it's right on the way."
Walker had pulled out his phone to call his partner giving Alex and Erica a minute to chat.
"So I see you were able to put a smile on a small boy's face," Erica said.
"Erica he is such a sweet little guy and he has had it so rough," Alex began, "Just any little show of affection towards him…" Alex stopped mid sentence fighting back a tear.
"I think Danny has carved a spot for himself in your heart Alex," Erica smiled at her friend.
"I think you may be right," Alex agreed as Erica squeezed her hand.
~~~~~
"So Danny where did you go with my Mom and Dad?" Angela asked emphasizing the my.
"To the mall your Mom bought me new shoes," he replied lifting his foot so everyone could see the new shoe.
"They're nice Danny," Piper was the first to speak up as Angela looked daggers at her.
"Why'd she buy you shoes?" Angela persisted.
"I don't know she just did," Danny tried to defend himself.
"Maybe she just felt sorry for you cause you haven't got a Mom of your own to buy you things," Angela continued, "Maybe cause." She didn't have a chance to finish Danny was all ready running from the room.
"Boy you can say some dumb things Angela," Piper cried having been on the receiving end of Angela's remarks before.
"She's right Angela," Chris agreed grabbing two more cookies and getting up from the table walked away Marcus following his lead.
Angela knew she had been in the wrong she stared at the doorway that Danny had disappeared out of and getting up went to find him. The little boy was sitting by himself away from the rest of the kids, taking a deep breath Angela marched over to where he sat.
"What do you want?" Danny asked wiping his tear stained face with the back of his hand
"I had no call to say what I did and I'm sorry," she quickly told him. "If my Mom bought you something then you deserve to have it. They are very nice shoes."
A smile came to Danny's little face. "It's okay Angela," he shyly told her.
Sydney and Gage's Home 4:26 PM.
Sydney opened the door to let Alex and the children in.
"Hi Mommy," Piper greeted Syd with a hug as Chris barrelled by her before she could hug him too followed by Angela and Danny.
"Hi," Alex called, "where's Gage I thought you were suppose to be resting?"
"He's taking a nap," Syd replied smiling to herself.
"Then I'd better get Angela and Danny out of here or his nap will be cut short."
"Are you kidding me Alex with our two here," Syd laughed.
Both Sydney and Alex laughed at this point before Alex asked, "Sydney if it's not too much of an imposition could I leave Angela and Danny here there are a couple of things that I want to pick up for Danny over where he lived with his mother?"
"Are you sure you want to go over there by yourself?" Syd questioned her friend.
"Sure I'm fine it'll only take me a minute," she told Sydney as she called for Danny and Angela.
"Just be careful Alex," Syd warned really wishing Alex would change her mind but staying silent. She and the kids were just waving bye when Gage stumbled out.
"What are you doing up?" he sleepily asked Syd just as Piper caught sight of him screaming Dad at the same time.
"Hi Uncle Gage," Angela's voice caught his ears next.
"Oh," he replied answering his own question. "Are you feeling all right?" was his next question to Syd catching sight of the frown on her face.
"Yeah I'm fine I'm just a little worried about Alex."
"Dad you want to see my painting?" Piper was cutting in as Chris stood there with his school work in hand.
"Yes I want to see it all as soon as I have a minute with Mom and I think you have some company to tend to," he told them taking Piper's painting from her and Chris' papers from him. The kid's returned to the family room and Gage turned back to Syd asking, "What's up?"
"Alex, she's stopping by the Hanover apartments to pick up some of Danny's things," Syd began as the same frown started over Gage's face. Neither had time to say anything before the phone rang.
"Hello," Syd answered, "Hey Jimmy, I'm fine I'll be into work tomorrow."
"Syd I just wanted to let you and Gage know that your hunch is panning out. All the blonde victims even though they were traumatically beaten they actually died of strangulation. The coroner also says that the strangulation came prior to the beating. In the case of Nancy Ross she was just plain and simply beaten to death. Something else it is very likely the guy hiding in the apartment this morning who pushed you is our guy. The victim scratched him she had skin under her fingernails."
Sydney had dropped silently into a chair her mind once again going to Alex. "Syd are you still there?"
Gage was standing directly in front of Sydney now looking into her face trying to read what was going on. He crouched down in front of her resting his hands on her waist as she began to voice her concerns about Alex to him telling him that she had left Angela and Danny there with them.
"I think I'm going to get Gage to follow her over there and make sure everything is okay. Yeah bye."
Gage was all ready standing by the time Sydney hung up. "Trivette and Walker are going to meet you over there," she told him following behind him as he walked to the bedroom to finish dressing.
"How bout you try and get her on her phone and tell her to stay put the troops are coming," Gage suggested trying to give her something to do in light of the fact she couldn't go with him.
She nodded her head yes and he kissed her telling her he'd let her know as soon as he could.
"All right," she said giving him another quick kiss.
~~~~~
Alex pulled her car up to the curb at the Hanover Apartments and taking a deep breath got out. She quickly headed for the front door hurrying past a group of kids who were loitering in the street.
Opening the front door of the building she let herself in trying to look past the filthy lobby and heading for the stairs. Shaking her head she made a promise to Danny as well as herself that he would never have to live in these conditions again.
Nancy and Trevor Ross' apartment had been on the third floor by the time Alex got to the landing of the second floor she had the feeling she was being watched even though no one was around. Her phone suddenly rang making her jump, gasping she pulled it from her purse to answer it.
"Hello," she answered her breathing shallow, "Syd you almost gave me a heart attack." She paused a moment replying, "Now why are you sending Gage all the way over here when I'm perfectly capable of getting what I came for."
"Alex, Gage didn't like the idea of you going there by yourself any more then me he wanted to come," Sydney told her. "Now go back and lock yourself in your car until he gets there."
"All right Sydney," she promised hanging up the phone and putting it back in her purse. Smiling to herself she thought I can be in and out of that apartment before Gage gets here and continued up the stairs.
Ducking under the yellow police tape that barred the door to the apartment Alex let herself in. Flicking on the light it was very evident there had been a struggle there that had ended where the blood stained the carpet. Shivering Alex quickly made her way past the crime scene and down the hall to the bedrooms.
It took Alex only a moment to collect the few items that belonged to Danny and she headed back towards the front door unaware of the hulk of a man hiding in the shadows. Rushing into the living room a fist from seemingly out of nowhere suddenly shot out pounding into the side of her head knocking her almost unconscious as she hit the floor.
~~~~~
Seeing Alex's car Gage pulled up right behind it. Quickly getting out he hurried into the apartment building and towards the stairs taking them two at a time. The feeling that something just wasn't right hanging over him.
The light was shining out from the apartment door which was slightly ajar as a loud crash came from with in. Shoving open the door with his foot he found Alex sprawled on the floor her body all but lifeless her attacker a big muscular man straddling her his hands tightening around her neck squeezing the last breath from her body.
With a spinning kick Gage struck the assailant in the side of the head and he still grasped tight to Alex. Again Gage spun in a kick again hitting his mark this time jarring the man enough that he let go. The man for his size was quickly on his feet focusing his anger on Gage. Running full force towards him he hit Gage straight on with his shoulder as any tackle in a football game would do pinning him hard against the wall. As Gage sagged against the wall the killer brought his hands around his throat lifting his feet from the floor.
The room was spinning as Gage tired in vain to break the hold. He could feel his body going limp the light was fading as if a permanent night was falling over him. Syd's face was in front of him Piper and Chris on either side of her, she was cuddling a newborn babe all wrapped in pink… The image was gone and he dropped to the floor gasping desperately for air. His eyes opened Walker and Trivette were there tackling the killer.
"Is… is Alex all… right," Gage finally got out? He tried to stay focused on what was going on. Trivette was on the phone; Walker was leaning over Alex holding her close stroking her blood streaked cheek. He was trying to pull himself up only to fall back against the wall a veil of darkness descending on him again.
"Whoa Gage lean back and take it easy." Trivette had his hands on Gage's shoulders as he spoke gently pushing his friend back against the grimy wall.
"Alex?" Gage tried again to ask.
"She's breathing Gage," Trivette quietly told him, "EMTs are on their way you try not to move."
Nodding slightly Gage let his eyes close once more as the emergency people began rushing in. "Ranger Gage, Ranger Gage," one of the EMTs was crouched down in front of him pulling his eye open flicking a pen flashlight in it.
Gage pushed the man's hand from his face proclaiming, "I'm all right." Once more he attempted to drag himself to his feet this time with some help he succeeded. Leaning heavily against the wall Trivette flanking his side Gage watched as Alex was placed on a stretcher. With Walker holding tightly to her hand they watched in silence as Alex lay lifelessly being rushed out for transport. He and Trivette walked behind helpless to do anything but follow. A large crowd of spectators had gathered police and sirens bringing them all out.
Gage's head was ringing he felt light headed and fought desperately to keep control. Finally he made it to where his car was parked allowing himself to lean heavily against the side of it.
The EMT vehicle screamed away from the curb and Gage pulled his car door open and heavily sat down watching the flashing lights disappear from sight. He pulled his phone staring at it a moment before he began dialing.
"Gage," he could hear Syd's frantic voice on the other end of the line.
"Sydney," he paused knowing no matter how he said it this wouldn't be easy. "Honey I'm on my way home," he faltered.
"Gage what is? What happened?
Again he paused rubbing his hand on his aching neck before continuing, "Alex was attacked."
"How bad?"
"Bad she's on way to the hospital. Syd I'm coming home don't do anything until I get there."
"All right Gage," her voice replied barely above a whisper.
"Syd," Gage was silent yet another moment, "I love you Honey."
"I love you too," she replied before letting the line go dead.