Chapter 8
A Time For Justice
"Cynthia Masters is her name sir," John Stewart's associate, Mike Hill, was filling the boss in on the new employees. "According to her bio she graduated third in her class…" he continued looking up to find that Stewart was paying him no attention instead he had his eyes fixed on Miss Masters.
"I want to meet her," Stewart smiled to himself wondering how far Cynthia Masters was willing to go to climb up the company ladder.
"Right away John," Hill replied watching for a moment as Stewart walked down the hall to his office. Turning he called out to the petite dark haired woman who was picking up a bunch of file folders. "Miss Masters could you set that down for a moment and come this way? Mr. Stewart would like to meet you."
Setting the folders down Cynthia whispered softly for her wire to pick up, "Show time."
"No chances Syd," she heard Gage's voice come back over the earpiece.
"Yes Sir," Gage heard her reply knowing it was to Hill not him. He thought about that morning as she fussed with the kids at breakfast smiling slightly remembering how great her legs looked in that short skirt she was wearing. He was jolted out of his thoughts as he heard Stewart ask her, "Cynthia is it?"
"Yes Cynthia," Syd smiled stretching out her hand to shake her new boss' hand.
"That will be all Mike," Stewart dismissed Hill without taking his eyes off of Sydney. Mike Hill took his leave thinking to himself he would be running this company by now if he wore a skirt.
"Your bio is pretty impressive Cynthia," Stewart continued still holding her hand.
"Thank you Mr. Stewa…"
"John is fine."
"John," Gage heard Syd correct herself. "I really hope that I can have a chance to prove myself to you and the firm."
"I'm sure that is not going to be a problem. I was wondering I have a business lunch today that I would like you to sit in on see how we handle some of our clients, be my guest and maybe we'll get to know each other a little better."
"Sounds like Stewart has the hots for Ranger Cooke," Ranger Matt Sumner on loan from Company C commented as he too listened in on the wiretap. He sat beside Gage in Sydney's spot in the car.
"Yeah," Gage grunted not interested in small talk.
Sumner sat silently listening once more; his mind began to wander to what he knew about the Company B Rangers. He knew they were a tight knit group who had worked together for years under the direction of Ranger Cordell Walker who had become quite a legend for his work as a Ranger. His partner Ranger James Trivette, they had been together close to twenty years, loyal, as the day was long and just as capable. Then there was Ranger Gage, his partner and wife Ranger Cooke. Their reputation preceded them as well. Gage was hand picked by Walker to become part of his team and he brought his partner Ranger Cooke with him. Both had received commendations for their undercover work. Matt Sumner thought himself pretty lucky to have the chance to work with Cooke and Gage to be able to see first hand how they got things done.
Gage's cell phone rang and he quickly answered it. "Trivette, not much yet Syd got herself invited to lunch with Stewart." He paused for a moment listening before answering, "Keep us posted and I'll do the same."
"Any news on Ranger Walker's daughter?" Sumner asked.
"Nothing yet," was Gage's short reply as he concentrated on his wife again.
Once more Sumner fell silent thinking to himself probably his wife was the only one who could stand to work with him.
"Gage," Syd's voice came across the wire, "I'm going to check out the rest of the office a little."
"All right Syd," he briefly answered her as well.
Ranger Headquarters
Walker sat at his desk willing himself not to pick up the phone and call Alex. Trivette was down getting the report on the SUV that had been reported stolen just hours before Angela and Melissa were taken. A patrol car had come across the vehicle the front end smashed up and abandoned not far from where Melissa had been tossed out. Forensics had worked over time to see what they could find out.
Again his mind went to Alex and Danny. Alex was putting on a brave front a lesser woman would have crumbled under the circumstances. He had gotten up early this morning unable to sleep. Their son was curled up between them restlessly sleeping from exhaustion. He had gently kissed the boy's head, and then reached to caress his wife's cheek. She had opened her eyes and caught his hand in hers holding tightly hoping to hear, "it's a dream go back to sleep." Instead he had told her he had to go moving to get out of the bed.
"Walker," she softly called throwing back the covers and coming round to his side of the bed. "I know you will find her," she whispered her arms going around him to pull herself against his hard frame. "I need you to come back safe too."
He had bent his head slightly crushing his lips against hers, holding her, never loving anyone more. He whispered too, "I love you Alex, look after our son." He moved out of her embrace and left without looking back.
"Walker she was in the SUV. They got a definite thumb print," Trivette's words jarred him to attention.
"And it was definitely Stewart's SUV stolen or not?"
"Most definitely," Trivette replied.
Walker reached for his hat with every intention of paying a call on John Stewart only stopped by his phone ringing. He stared down at it for a moment watching as his partner set the trace in motion. Trivette nodded his head and he picked up the phone. "Walker," he growled.
"When you have that gravestone carved make sure your name is on it cause you'll want to die when you find out what I have in store for your daughter." The phone went dead he looked to Trivette knowing that they didn't have time to trace it but having to be sure all the same. With all the fury that possessed him he slammed the phone down.
"We have to get to Angela now Trivette before something happens to her," Walker's voice had become low as he spoke through gritted teeth.
He was half way down the hall before Trivette caught his arm, "Walker you better then anyone know this isn't the way."
"When it's one of your children Trivette then you can tell me this isn't the way."
Trivette stood his ground his hand still around the hard muscle of Walker's arm holding tight. "Walker charging into John Stewart's offices and beating him until he is black and blue isn't going to get Angela back. It will just end up with her father in jail not out looking for her where he belongs."
"Damn it Trivette I've never been at such a loss… when this is over I'm really considering calling it quits."
"There'll be lots of time for those kind of decisions when Angela is home and Stewart is in jail," Trivette told his old friend putting an arm around his shoulder. "Come on let's get back at it."
Offices of the Stewart Accounting Firm
Sydney moved down the hallway under the guise of needing a few office supplies when suddenly there was a commotion at the reception area. Syd stepped back into a doorway to watch what was going on immediately recognizing the older gentleman causing the excitement. "Gage," she hissed into the wire, "Sam Clay just came in and is demanding to see John."
"Syd be careful what you do.
"Francis you aren't worried about me after all this time are you?" she sweetly asked hearing the new ranger chuckling in the background.
"Sydney."
"He's going into Stewart's office," she stated walking down the hall to where the door hadn't been closed completely.
"You take that Walker brat out to his ranch and hang her off the front porch where he can see her when he comes tearing up to save her," Clay was ordering his son. "Do it yourself John I want no slip ups."
"Can I help you with something?" Mike Hill asked coming up behind her.
Turning she smiled sweetly and retorted, "Just wondering if that was going to be who was joining us for lunch."
"The boss may have eyes for you Miss Masters but you still need to pull your weight around here," Hill warned her.
"And what makes you think I'm not?" She asked dismissing him and walking back down the hall.
"She's good," Sumner commented as he and Gage listened to her.
"Yeah she's good," Gage half smiled he knew she had made the recovery but something just wasn't sitting right with him. He pulled his phone and began dialing Trivette's number.
Syd had moved away from Stewart's office and Mike Hill. If he hadn't interrupted her she would have heard Stewart's phone ring and she would have heard enough of the conversation to know that the call was informing him that she was a Texas Ranger.
Stepping out of his office he looked down the hall just in time to catch Syd retreating into her office. "Cynthia can I see you for a moment?"
"Certainly John," Gage could hear his wife speaking once more.
"Can you walk with me?"
"Sure what is it I can do for you?" Syd questioned.
"Where's he taking you Syd?" She could hear Gage asking her saying to Trivette at the same time, "I got to go something is up with Syd." In the same breath he ordered his rookie partner, "Be ready to move."
"I've got something to show you right in here," John smiled opening the door to a vacant office moving back so Sydney could see inside.
"Aunt Sydney," came the distinct little voice of Angela Walker. Gage recognized her immediately followed by a loud thud the butt end of Stewart's gun being brought down on the back of Syd's head and her falling forward to the floor.
"Call it in," Gage was shouting as he jumped from the car and headed inside.
Headquarters
"He hung up I think Syd has been made," Trivette relayed to his partner. Walker was all ready standing heading to the door. "Wait up," Trivette called going after him. "Walker we have to let Gage handle this we have to get to the ranch they are taking Angela out to the ranch. Sydney heard them planning it before they caught her.
Knowing he had to go to his daughter's aid, that Sydney and Gage would want it that way he nodded his head he and Trivette heading to his truck. "Trivette was repeating the words that Gage had told him, "You take that Walker brat out to his ranch and hang her off the front porch where he can see her when he comes tearing up to save her."
Walker's foot leaned a little harder on the gas peddle with each word that Trivette told him fear for his daughter's life welling up from within. He closed his eyes, as he pulled in the lane to open them a moment later and sigh in relief that Angela wasn't hanging there dead.
"Trivette open the barn door and I'll move this out of sight," Walker ordered Trivette jumping out to do as he was asked.
With that done both men took up positions to wait.
Stewart Accounting Firm
Officer Tom Hamilton was rushing towards the doors of the building that housed Stewart Accounting. "Gage what's up the call just came over the radio?"
"Syd's inside at Stewart Accounting with Angela Walker and we need to get them out," Gage called back over his shoulder catching sight of Sumner and beckoning him to a side entrance.
As the elevator carried them to the sixteenth floor Gage's phone began to ring. "Yeah," he loudly called into the receiver his mind fixed only on finding Syd and Angela.
"Big mistake getting involved with Ranger Walker's affairs now your pretty little Ranger wife is going to have to suffer the same fate as Walker's daughter."
"If you hurt…" the line had gone dead and Gage cussed under his breath.
The elevator doors opened and Gage went right to reception. Flashing his badge he demanded to see John Stewart.
"Mr. Stewart isn't in his office right at the moment if you would like to leave your name…" Gage was all ready heading down the hall towards Stewart's office while Tom Hamilton headed the opposite direction down the hall. "Sir you can't go in there," the receptionist was calling as she chased after him.
"My badge says different," Gage told her Ranger Sumner joining him. Pushing open the doors to his office Gage came face to face with Sam Clay.
"What is the meaning of this?" Clay demanded coming to his feet.
"Texas Rangers and we're looking for John Stewart," Gage announced standing right in front of the old man whose body guards had now stood as well.
"He stepped out for a minute," Clay told him his stare even with Gage's. "He won't be long he knows better then to keep me waiting."
"He'd better know not to mess with the Rangers either," Gage told him his stare just as even.
"Nothing down here Gage," Tom Hamilton told him coming to the office door. "No sign of Sydney, Angela or John Stewart."
"I want a complete search of this building," Gage was giving orders, "Ranger Cooke was in this building and these offices before I lost communication with her." Taking Tom aside Gage added, "Keep an eye on Sam Clay and make sure it doesn't go to far."
"You think the old man is involved?" Tom asked.
"I'll know better when I talk to Syd," he simply replied.
Tom nodded his head and moved off. Gage grabbed his phone from his pocket the same time calling for Sumner. "I want you to watch Office Hamilton I want to know what he is really up too."
"You got it Ranger Gage," Sumner agreed.
Gage heard his phone connect and he directed his attention to Trivette, "They aren't here Trivette I'm doing a sweep of the whole building but my bet is they are coming towards you guys." He then told Trivette about the phone call he had gotten threatening that Syd was going to be killed like Angela cause they were helping Walker."
"Thanks for the tip Gage I'll alert Walker and we'll be ready for them," Trivette told him.
Trivette had hardly hung up that Gage's phone was ringing again. "Gage," he said.
"Ranger Gage, I'm in the parking garage. Hamilton is helping Sam Clay into his car and sending him on his way. John Stewart is down here talking to them do you want me to stop him?"
"No I'm on my way down wait till I get there understand Sumner."
"Yes Ranger," Sumner agreed disappointed thinking that Gage didn't trust him. The three men talked for a few minutes more before Hamilton closed the door of Clay's car and his driver began to pull out.
Turning both Stewart and Hamilton walked over to the service elevator and waited for it to open. Four more men emerged with Sydney and Angela. One of the men was holding tightly to Angela, while a second held tight to Sydney a gun pointing at her head.
"Ranger Cooke," Tom Hamilton smiled at her, "Not as smart a Ranger as you thought you were. In fact you and your not so smart Ranger husband couldn't even prevent your son from a not so random beating."
Flames of hate began to smolder in Sydney's eyes as the pieces began to fall into place. A fellow officer had betrayed them, someone they had called friend had their son intentionally hurt. Now he was going to be party to her and Angela's death."
"Enough get them in the van before someone sees them," Stewart was taking charge. They were ushered over to a black van and told to get in.
"Where are you taking us?" Angela suddenly cried out.
Stewart was loosing patience this was the last thing he wanted to be involved in. Coming up to Angela he yelled at her to shut up striking her hard across the face and she cried out in pain. "We're giving you back to your Daddy."
"Leave her alone," Sydney screamed out trying to pull away and go to the child. The man holding her tightened his arm around her neck almost choking her his gun pressing up under her chin.
"You want some of that too Ranger?" Stewart asked walking right in front of her. Sydney said nothing she just stared coldly at the man. "Now get in the van," Stewart ordered again and everyone complied. Stewart got behind the wheel and started the vehicle.
"Come on Ranger Gage where are you?" Sumner was mumbling to himself feeling helpless to do anything the van starting to move out.
"Get in," Gage shouted coming up behind the rookie in his car barely stopping for him to do so.
"They've got Ranger Cooke and Angela," Sumner shouted back as he jumped in and Gage took off after them.
"I saw," Gage interrupted his mind solely on his wife and Angela, "Get Trivette on the phone and tell him we are heading their way and are about thirty minutes out. Let him know about Tom Hamilton."
Walker Ranch
The van boldly drove in the lane at the ranch as close to the house as possible before pulling to a stop. Gage had pulled off at the side of the road both he and Sumner getting out making their way on foot.
Angela and Sydney had been made to climb out of the van and a noose placed around each of their necks. "Get up to the front porch," Stewart was barking orders again. Sydney took Angela's hand and walked with her to the porch and up the stairs. The ropes that were around their necks were strung through the fretwork at the porches ceiling. Syd knew what they were doing having eaves dropped on them earlier she looked frantically around for a means of escape. Being out numbered six men with guns to her and Angela she knew it was next to impossible.
One of the men grabbed up Angela and set her on the railing leaving her teetering up there while Hamilton turned to Syd. "Climb up there and join her Sydney," he told her leveling his gun at Angela. Grabbing the post Syd pulled herself up on the rail to teeter there with Angela.
"Stewart let her go she's just a kid," Sydney tried to plead with the man, maybe buy them a little more time. She turned sideways to be able to face him a little better.
"You know Mrs. Gage I'm going to enjoy watching you hang by your neck until you die," Stewart laughed the same time as Syd caught sight of Gage.
"You think so?" she asked bringing her foot up to kick Stewart square in the face.
"Push her off there," Stewart screamed his hand going to his bloody nose.
Before Syd could react Tom Hamilton had given her a shove and she now dangled feet kicking at the end of the rope her hands clawing frantically trying to yank the noose from her neck. She could hear Angela frantically screaming out to her over and over, "Aunt Sydney, Aunt Sydney" and then Stewart's words again, "The brat too."
Her eyes were closing her struggling less and less as she whispered out, "Gage."
"Hang on Syd," Gage shouted out racing to her leaving Sumner to use his fighting skills. Putting both of his arms around her legs he lifted her up relieving some of the pressure that was cutting off her airflow.
"Gage," she was trying to speak once more grabbing at the rope around her neck pulling it loose and over her head.
"Shh, take it easy," Gage was telling her.
"Gage… Tom Hamilton… had Chris… beaten… don't let him get away," she gasped out. "I'm fine go."
Her feet were both on the ground and she leaned against the porch's post. Angela had gotten the rope from around her neck and scrambled down to where Sydney was. Syd put both arms around the sobbing child and held her tight. She felt Gage's lips brush her cheek before going to do his job.
Stewart had made a dash towards the van he had arrived in Walker swooped down on him before he got half way across the yard. He got a few punches off that Walker easily blocked. Two moves later Walker had the man on the ground relentless pounding on him wanting to beat the life out of him.
"Walker, Walker," he could hear Trivette yelling at him but it didn't matter his fists kept hammering there mark. "Walker don't do this," Trivette tried again pulling on his arm trying to make him stop, "Walker don't do this Angela is here she needs you Walker."
Trivette finally got through to him and he pulled himself up leaving John Stewart to his partner. Turning he went to find Angela she was standing with Sydney, when she saw her Dad walking towards her she ran to his waiting arms.
Syd turned to give chase after Hamilton Sumner a step behind her. Tom had headed on foot towards the road hoping to be able to take Gage's car. Gage was too quick for him and had tackled him half way down the laneway. Both men were pretty evenly matched and both had come up ready for a fight. Hamilton had just delivered a blow to Gage's face as Syd and Sumner made it to where they were. Feeling pretty cocky Hamilton called out, "What's the matter Gage need Syd and the new Ranger to fight your fights.
Syd's foot came up into Hamilton's gut, "We just want you to know how Chris felt when you set three on him," she spat out at him. Coming behind him Sumner easily pinned Tom's arms behind him while Gage's fist shot out into his face. He slumped forward and Sumner dropped him to the ground to put the cuffs on him
Grabbing hold of his hair Sydney pulled Tom's face up so she could they could look into his eyes. "Sumner you may not want to see what is going to happen here," Gage warned the new ranger.
"I'm not scared of you two," Hamilton began to laugh even in his predicament.
"I'm staying," Sumner replied, "I want to be part of this team.
"Suit yourself," Sydney calmly told him returning her focus to Hamilton. "You know Tom it's not bad enough that you thought you could hang me, but you were going to hang a little girl too."
Gage had yanked him to his feet taking his turn to look into his face. "You've been in our house, you know our kids, you know Chris yet you still thought it was all right to have him beaten unconscious and have his arm broken." Gage drove his fist into Hamilton's middle as he spoke.
Hamilton sagged forward gasping for breath allowing Syd to grab his hair again yanking his head up. "But you are going to make it up to Chris right now," Sydney added, "Or so help me I'll beat what we want out of you myself."
"You don't scare me Cooke," he slurred out.
"Give me your gun Gage," Syd asked holding out her hand for him to lay it in.
"Syd…"
"Gage," Syd insisted as Sumner shifted his weight from leg to leg.
Pulling his gun from its hollister he handed it to his wife and she flipped the safety off and addressed Hamilton, "Tom you are going to tell us why you betrayed us aren't you?"
"Always the high and mighty aren't you Syd?" Hamilton hollered back at her, "The standings were close but you had that edge you knew they were looking to bring in a few women to the rangers and you took the opportunity to beat out who was really deserving. It's your fault I washed out. You let me out of these cuffs and I'll show you who should have been cut."
"Take the cuffs off him Gage," Sydney stared at Hamilton as she spoke handing Gage back his gun.
"Syd you have nothing to prove to him," Gage started to say.
"No just to myself cut him loose."
Gage looked at his wife for a moment and then Hamilton who had let a grin come across his face. He nodded at Sumner who took a step forward and fumbling slightly with the keys unlocked the cuffs.
Hamilton rubbed his wrists the grin on his face widening before he spoke, "I'm going to enjoy this Ranger Cooke I've wanted to whip your butt for a very long time."
Standing slightly behind his wife Gage softly spoke, "I've sparred with him before he's a lefty."
Sydney nodded in acknowledgement taking a step forward.
"I'm going to enjoy this," Hamilton chided her throwing a punch at her that she easily blocked. He laughed jeering at her, "Oh you're good Ranger Cooke."
Her foot came up catching him in the chest knocking him slightly back. Angered Hamilton came charging at her his fist plowing into her face. She shook it off quickly spinning and once again hitting her opponent with her foot square in the back sending him sprawling.
Hamilton was up again fast once more charging Syd catching her in the middle taking her to the ground with him. Gage made a move towards the two of them catching himself and stopping short. Again her legs went into action vaulting herself sideways she threw Hamilton off her quickly turning the tables, driving her fist into his face before getting back on her feet.
"You little…" Hamilton mumbled he was loosing his cool as he pulled himself to his feet but not fast enough. Syd had brought her foot up hard into his face not once but twice and he lay unmoving sprawled on his back.
"Look after him Sumner," Gage called going to Syd who was bent slightly her hands resting against her legs as she caught her breath. "Good fight Honey," her partner praised her.
Sumner had the cuffs back on Hamilton and was dragging him to his feet. Syd caught sight of him and with Gage by her side walked over to him. "That's just one of the reasons you washed out Hamilton," she told him before giving him warning. "Go near my family again and you won't be as lucky."
They watched as Sumner dragged Tom Hamilton away before Gage took her in his arms to pull her against him. "All right tough ranger lets go find some ice for your eye," he teased her.
"Yeah I just want to finish this up and go hug our kids," she whispered a tear running down her cheek her arms hugging Gage to her. Remaining silent Gage held his wife close for a few moments more before heading back. A quiet relief was washing over them knowing that this case was coming to an end.
The Safehouse
Even though Walker had called to tell her that he had found Angela Alex still stood anxiously at the window waiting for them.
"Are Dad and Angela almost here?" Danny asked he too stood at the window holding his mother's hand.
"Almost Dad told me they were on there way when he called," she was telling him as suddenly she caught sight of the familiar truck that belonged to her husband. Danny was all ready racing to the door shouting, "they're here, they're here." Alex stood motionless a lump forming in her throat tears springing to her eyes.
The truck came to a stop and she walked to the door pushing it open, coming out on the front porch watching as her husband helped their little girl out and her brother ran to her hugging her. Angela's eyes caught sight of her mother and began running to her. Alex opened her arms wide to catch her daughter in her arms tightly holding her as both she and Angela cried.
Walker had his arm around Danny as they walked to the where the girls were. Helping Alex to her feet he embraced them all softly saying to his wife, "lets go home."
Jimmy and Erica Trivette's Home
Gage pulled their car in behind Jimmy's as they followed him to his house to pick up their children. It had taken a couple of hours more to question and process everyone before the Gages and Trivette could head home to their families.
Walker had put in for an immediate leave of absence wanting to be with his family to help them heal and to consider a few decisions he felt he needed to make. In his absence Jimmy Trivette would be taking on the role of senior ranger. After a short discussion with Gage and Sydney on Matt Sumner's performance he had been asked to stay on with Company B.
Smiling to himself Gage thought about Sumner who had pulled him aside to ask what his partner had intended to do with that gun. He had with a straight face replied, "usually she just threatens the suspect but today she was pretty mad he tried to hang her. Today she may have just shot him." Gage's smile grew a little wider thinking of the expression on Matt's face as he had turned and left him standing there.
"What's so funny Francis?"
"Nothing Syd I was just helping build up that tough ranger reputation that you like so much."
"I don't even want to know," Syd replied thinking it was probably better she didn't know. Instead she opened the car door and went looking for the kids.
Three Months Later a Dallas Courtroom.
The Gages waited anxiously to hear the sentence that was to be handed down to John Stewart. Tom Hamilton had been sentenced a couple of weeks earlier to fifteen to twenty years for the part he had played in all of this.
Tammy Eastman had slipped in beside Sydney and Gage, two months earlier custody for David had been given back to her and she had moved back to her parents home in Austin to give them all a new start. She had only come back today to make sure that John Stewart wouldn't be out anytime soon.
Alex sat with Walker up front his arm around his wife as they waited too for the punishment to be fall John Stewart for the murder of her father Gordon Cahill and the police escort.
The judge had entered the courtroom and Stewart was asked to rise. He had never pleaded guilty to any of the charges but instead had stood quietly by as he was accused and found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of kidnapping and attempted murder against Angela Walker and Ranger Sydney Cooke.
"Mr. Stewart," the judge was saying, "It is felt that there may have been other co-conspirators but since you insist that you acted alone I have no choice but to hand down a sentence of life imprisonment."
A loud murmur went up over the courtroom and the judge banged his gavel. Everyone one had been expecting the death penalty but the judge had felt that John Stewart was nothing more then the scapegoat.
Sydney and Gage made their way up to where Alex, Walker and Trivette stood. "I'm just so glad it is over," Alex was saying as Walker's eyes met in a hard stare with Sam Clay's.
"I felt the same way two weeks ago at Tom Hamilton's trial," Syd was agreeing.
Clay had gotten up and Gage's eyes along with Trivette's were following him out of the courtroom. He stopped to speak to another man who Gage knew he recognized but wasn't sure from where.
A moment later Sam Clay continued out of the courtroom and Jonas Blake, the man he had stopped to talk to, the man Gage thought he recognized stood and followed him out.
The End