Chapter 6

No One's Untouchable

Anna B McMurtrie's Home

Anna B's fingers clicked across her keyboard to put the finishing touches on the email she had been composing to Matt Sumner. They had hit things off perfectly the night before. She made a mental note to give Gage what-for for not introducing them earlier. I will get even Gage she laughed to herself letting her face melt into a smile Matt's face coming to mind again.

As she hit the key to send the new mail signal sounded about three times and she watched the messages pop up in her inbox. All were from the name, the Black Knight, the subject being your rangers are falling one by one.

Cautiously she opened the first one to reveal a picture of Gage, Sydney and the kids. The words beneath the picture held an eerie presence. Your hero, your champion is about to fall, was all it said. Anna B read the words again not knowing what they meant. She glanced up at the picture it was nothing special just everyone getting in the car.

She opened the next one was herself with Sumner coming out of the coffee shop the night before. The caption under it read, you've signed his death warrant. Anna B gasped out reaching for the phone at the same time to call Gage. She was opening the last letter as she dialled. There were no pictures just the words, and then there were none.

It was late and Sydney sounded as if she had been sleeping when she picked up the phone in reality she had been snuggled against her husband on the couch. Anna B began talking a mile a minute Syd only catching parts of it. "Just a sec Anna B you take a deep breath while I get the other phone so Gage can hear too."

"What is it?" Gage asked as Syd pulled herself away from him to grab the phone in the kitchen.

"Anna B and she sounds upset," Syd told him ducking out the door to return a minute later with the other phone.

Taking it from her Gage put the phone to his ear and began to speak, "Anna B what's the problem Sumner not treating you nice cause I could…"

"Gage someone is going to kill you and him," she shouted into the phone.

Both Syd and Gage were sitting at attention now listening to the girl as she explained about the email that had just appeared in her computer.

"Forward it here," Gage was saying to her as he motioned Syd to get Sumner on the line.

Sydney had grabbed her cell phone and was hitting Sumner's number as Gage started towards the study where the computer was, Sydney followed close behind.

"Sumner," came his voice over the phone.

"Any news?" Syd asked hearing his voice.

"Not yet," he told her quickly explaining what had happened in regards to Erica and they were just about to head out to the accident scene.

"Oh God no," Syd softly cried.

"Syd if there is nothing else I got to go…"

"Sumner," she began again. "There is Anna B just received a death threat against you and Gage. It looks like it is in association with her. She's being watched there was a picture of you and her coming out of the coffee shop together last night."

"Think there is anything to it?" he asked.

"When Anna B is concerned…" Syd hesitated before saying, "it spells trouble."

"Sumner are you coming?" Syd could hear Walker's voice.

"Run it by him Matt see what he says," Syd urged.

"Okay just a minute Syd," he responded.

While Sumner spoke to Walker Syd began to explain to Gage what was going on with Erica which was not good news. "They are just heading out to the accident scene…" she was saying as Matt came back on the line.

"I'm going to pick up Anna B and be right over can you let her know I'm on my way?"

"Yeah Gage has her on the other line."

"Syd Walker wants to talk to Gage," he told her handing the phone to their boss.

"Walker for you," Syd smiled handing her phone to Gage.

"Gage," Walker's voice came over the line, "If there is a lead Sydney goes with Sumner you stay with the kids." Gage was silent the murder charge slapping him in the face again.

"Got you Walker," he replied.

"Think that the threat is valid?" Walker asked.

"Anna B just sent them over they look pretty authentic," he confirmed.

"Have Anna B see if she can find the sender's computer," Walker told him.

"She's working on it as we speak," Gage retorted. "Walker… Erica?"

"There's just nothing concrete, hopefully we'll be able to pick up on something out where the car is."

"I wish we could be out there…" Gage's voice trailed off.

"Just look after things at that end Gage," Walker said hanging up the phone.

Route Ninety-three

Trivette had hardly said two words as Walker headed the truck out to where Josie's car was. Fred had stayed at the house, he tried to assure Jimmy that it was good that no one was in the car. "At least they weren't hurt or worse," he said looking away from his son-in-law to keep the tears from falling.

Walker pulled to the side of the road where half a dozen cars were parked. The tow trucks had just got there but they were waiting for the rangers to get there before moving anything.

Trivette still remained silent going through the motions his worry for his family becoming stronger and harder to deal with each time a new discovery that was made.

After Walker scrutinized everything he then gave the sign to have the car pulled from the water. As the car began to be dragged out on to the river bank the water began to pour from beneath the doors. The right back door gave way with a splash carrying a little pink jacket out with the water.

"Dear Lord Walker," Trivette exclaimed seeing it, "It's Torrie's jacket."

Walker put his hand on his friend's shoulder to help steady him glad it was only her jacket and not his daughter.

Walker Ranch

Alex awoke to find it to be just slightly past midnight. Throwing back the covers she sat up hanging her feet over the edge of the bed trying to find her slipper with her toe. Finally she was standing wrapping her robe around her.

Going into the hall she pushed open Danny's door and went in. He was soundly sleeping the covers kicked off him as usual. Alex reached down and pulled them around him tucking them in tightly. She leaned forward gently kissing his cheek before letting her fingers ruffle his blonde hair. He stirred slightly but didn't wake.

Her next stop was Angela's room. Her daughter lay sleeping the covers pulled up tight her old beat up Teddy that Jimmy had given his goddaughter under the covers with her. She would deny it emphatically that she cared about that stupid bear but she still couldn't sleep without it. Alex bestowed a kiss on her forehead before going back out to the hall.

Quietly she crept down the stairs to the kitchen intent on getting a glass of juice. Her mind went to their friends as she walked slowly down the stairs. She knew that Erica was still missing or Walker would be home by now. She wondered where she was, if she was safe, if the kids were all right. She swallowed hard having no answers. Her mind wandered to Sydney and Gage, the murder charge Gage was facing… shivering slightly she reached up to flick the light on above the stove.

She stood there a minute letting her eyes become used to the light before reaching for a glass and turning to the refrigerator for her drink. The glass she was holding slipped from her hand smashing on the floor as her eyes took in the pictures and words plastered to the fridge door beneath the brightly coloured magnets.

The first picture was that of a black knight in silhouette that read message from the Black Knight. The second was a picture of the Trivettes a red X through everyone but Jimmy. The words read and he will perish as one.

The last picture was of Walker the words reading, Captain Ranger Walker will fall hardest of all.

Alex stood paralyzed for a few moments just staring at the display on the fridge door. Grabbing up her cell phone she began to dial her husband.

"Walker," his voice came over the phone.

"Walker somebody was here, they broke in they were here," Alex was talking hysterically into the phone.

"Alex calm down and tell me what you are talking about," Walker commanded while Trivette stood in front of him hoping all this had something to do with Erica.

"Someone came in after I went to bed. They left pictures on the fridge door one of Erica, Jimmy and the kids. There are red Xs through everyone one but Jimmy. Then there is one of you and it says, Captain Ranger Walker will fall hardest of all. The last is a picture of a Knight and it is signed the Black Knight," she got out grasping the phone tighter.

"Alex are they gone?" Walker was asking knowing this Black Knight who ever he might be was dangerous and now he had been in his house.

"I think so I don't see anyone," she told him wandering through the darkened house peering out the windows.

"I want you to go into the Gages with Angela and Danny. I'll let Sydney know you are on your way. Trivette and I are just finishing up here and we'll drive out to meet you to make sure you get there," Walker instructed.

After quickly explaining the latest development to Trivette he alerted Sydney and Gage. Then he and Trivette headed for the Walker ranch. About half way there he caught sight of his wife's car and pulled in behind her following her the rest of the way.

Sydney met Alex at the door she held Danny in her arms and Angela walked beside her. They quickly shuffled the kids into bed as Walker and Trivette joined the rest in the study.

Syd tucked the covers around Cat kissing her little daughter as Alex said good-night to Angela. Sydney sat a moment more gazing at both Cat and Piper before getting up and joining Alex at the door. Turning again to look at the girls she could feel Alex's hand come to gently rest on her shoulder. Suddenly the last twenty-four hours began to crowd in on Syd and with tears in her eyes she headed for the room she shared with her husband closing the door behind her.

A few minutes later Syd heard the door softly click open, she was standing at the window looking out not having to turn around to know it was her husband. He stood behind her his arms going around her waist pulling her back against him.

"I'm sorry Gage I should be supporting you here you are the one…" she turned in his arms not finishing her thoughts feeling his strength surge through her as it had so many times before.

"Oh Syd," he softly spoke, "we support each other."

"Gage this is all my fault all of it… if I hadn't been so stupid and headstrong all those years ago… there wouldn't have been a Derek Shaw to come back now. This wouldn't be happening to you or our friends…"

Her voice faltered Derek's face flashed before her, his voice rang in her ears, "You're mine and no one else will have you, I'll always control your life, you'll always do as I say."

"No, no…" she cried out trying to pull out of Gage's grasp as he held firm.

"Sydney Honey stop, Derek's gone he's not the one hurting us," Gage tried to impress on her.

"But if I…"

"No buts Syd. Derek was an evil, cruel man perfect for the job of getting to both you and me. He was a threat to you. After threatening you and the girls they knew he had made himself a target for me. Derek just wasn't smart enough to realize this was going to be his undoing. We have a bigger enemy out there then Derek Shaw. Walker has a feeling it is someone more then Hunter Blake."

The moments passed between them until Syd asked her husband, "How do you do it Gage?"

"What's that Syd?" he questioned.

She leaned back to look in his face a small smile coming to her lips. "For all the times you put your foot in your mouth there are twice as many of these times when you know exactly what to say to the kids and me."

Thinking a moment he truthfully answered, "I just let my heart take over Syd that's all."

They held each other a few more minutes before Syd went to wash her face and they rejoined the rest.

~~~~~

Anna B still sat in front of the computer working furiously. Where the emails had come from was a dead end, the source was an internet coffee shop in Seattle. "That is definitely the place of origin," she had professed. She was now bringing up photos of relatives and associates of Hunter Blake along with his past history.

Jonas Blake's picture popped up on the screen just as Gage and Sydney walked back into the room. "I know that man," Gage stated as everyone's attention turned to him.

"I should say I've seen him before," Gage reiterated. "It was at John Stewart's trial, he was sitting near the back. After sentence was pronounced Sam Clay got up and began to walk out. He stopped long enough to have a few words with this man. Then this man got up and followed Clay out of the courtroom. At the time I thought I should know who he was but it escaped me until I saw his picture here. He was at Hunter Blake's trial too.

"Oh my God Walker, Sam Clay," Alex gasped out.

TBC...