Chapter 9
But Before It's Over...
"Erica," Trivette all but shouted racing ahead of Sydney.
"Trivette wait," she hissed out to no avail Jimmy was charging ahead to where the sound of the scream had come from. His eyes were drawn upward to the light that was pouring from the office windows high above the sawmill below.
A second scream sounded and Trivette raced across the floor to the ladder like stairs and started up only to be stopped about the forth or fifth stair up.
"Going some where Ranger?" came a menacing voice from below.
Trivette slowly turned to see two automatic weapons aimed right on him and half a dozen men below.
"Thought I heard someone in distress up there," Trivette replied swallowing hard.
The leader smugly stood taking pleasure in telling him, "That would probably be your wife giving birth to your brat."
Loosing control Trivette leap from the step he stood on to attack the man that was talking and laughing. Sydney had leapt into action as well flying feet first at one of the men who held a gun trained on Trivette. Bullets began to riddle the air just as another loud scream filled their ears.
Upstairs In the Office
"Okay breath Erica," Gage was shouting as he began gently removing her underwear and pushing her legs into position. "The head is crowning," he told her, "the next pain you push for all you're worth."
"Gage, I can't do this, I just can't do this," Erica cried back.
"Now you sound like Sydney," Gage started to say as suddenly another pain began to over take Erica. "Push Erica come on push," he shouted as she screamed out.
Both Torrie and Marcus were standing behind Gage peering over his shoulders eyes wide watching what was going on with their mother. Neither child spoke as they stood watching the scene before them.
"You're doing great just a couple more pushes," Gage was encouraging her as another pain began and he shouted push while he helped to ease the shoulders out. A moment later he was yelling push again and with one loud scream the baby was born, the sounds of gun shots echoing below them.
"Baby boy Erica," Gage cried out to her being interrupted by the baby's wails. Quickly he placed the infant on his mother's chest and into her waiting arms. In the next instant he gathered Marcus and Torrie up pulling them behind the desk and onto the floor with Erica and the baby.
"Stay close to your Mom," Gage directed both children as he crept out from behind the desk to the window. His eyes caught sight of Sydney below as he again searched the room for a way out only confirming the locked door was the only way to escape. He glanced out the window once more in time to see Syd catch a punch in the face but never slowing gave it back double.
"Gage?" Erica was softly calling him and he crawled back to where she was with her children.
"It's okay the cavalry is here, it won't be much longer until we can get you out of here."
The words were hardly out of his mouth when he heard Sydney call his name and Trivette call for Erica. "Up here," Gage shouted going to the door, "we're locked in and we need paramedics." Within minutes the door was open and Jimmy Trivette was joining his wife, children and new son.
"You missed your calling Gage," Syd teased her arm going around him.
"Thanks but I like being a Texas Ranger just fine," he smiled.
"Gage," Erica was calling him again. With his arm around his wife they walked over to the stretcher where Erica lay with her new son Jimmy standing beside her holding the hands of his son and daughter. "I just wanted to say thank you… I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't have been here."
"Yeah man we owe you a debt of gratitude," Trivette added to his wife's thank you.
"I'm glad that I was able to help bring this little guy into this world," Gage murmured stroking the baby's cheek.
"We want you to be the first to know we are calling the baby Simon Francis Trivette," Jimmy told them.
Gage scrunched up his face hearing that they were going to use his name for the baby's name. "You aren't going to do that to this cute little guy are you?"
"And why not Francis?" Syd questioned him. "Your mother gave the name to a pretty cute guy. Not to mention our own son."
"All right you win," Gage agreed his face becoming very red.
"If you're ready?" one of the EMTs was asking.
"We'll see you at the hospital," Sydney smiled as they we wheeled Erica out to the waiting ambulance.
Walker came over to where the Gages stood. "Sydney you take Gage into your custody and drive back to headquarters with him so I can talk to Alex about having this new warrant revoked," he told the partners.
"What new warrant?" Gage asked looking at his wife and boss.
"You're just one bad boy Gage," Sumner piped up leading one of the men away.
"Me?" he exclaimed.
"Come on Gage I'll explain on the drive back," Syd told him relieving him of his keys.
~~~~~
From the back of his limousine that was perched at the side of the road above the mill Sam Clay watched his people be loaded up for transport. He watched as Walker stood with his people and he swore loudly at his associates.
"I've had enough of this nonsense you do what you have to do so I can take out Walker personally, you hear me," his gruff voice loudly rattled. "Or I'll make your lives so they ain't worth living and you know that I can."
"Yes sir we'll take care of it," one of his assistants promised.
The old man's hand shot out with more speed and accuracy then a man half his age clasping the throat of the spokesman." You see that you do or I'll hold you personally responsible."
Later Ranger Headquarters
Sumner was sitting at his desk waiting for them when the partners came in. He let them know that Walker was upstairs with Alex, "saving your bacon," he informed Gage. Then turning to Syd told her Sears and Samms were waiting for them.
"What are we waiting for?" Gage asked.
"Matt and I aren't waiting for anything but you are suspended," Syd pointed out.
"That doesn't mean I can't observe does it," he spoke with confidence walking towards the door then turning to wait for the other two.
A couple of hours later all three trooped back into the office no further ahead. Both Samms and Sears had clamed up neither taking the chance that they would live to testify if they rolled on Sam Clay.
Alex as well as Walker were waiting for them when they returned. "Nothing Walker," Syd advised him, "not even a hint that Sam Clay was involved."
"The same story with those from the lumber mill," Walker grimly told them.
"Without some sort of link Clay is going to go Scott free," Alex pointed out what they all ready knew pausing a moment before she went on. "I was able to get the new flight warrant against Gage revoked."
"Thanks Alex," Gage smiled.
"You're welcome Doctor Gage," Alex teased back watching Gage slightly redden.
"You two want to go talk to your neighbour since this murder investigation is now being investigated by this office. I want everything done by the book and you back to work," Walker told them pointing at Gage at the same time.
"We're on it," Syd added as the two of them left the office.
"Want to stop at school and pick up the kids?" Gage asked.
Glancing at her watch Syd replied, "They'll all ready be on the bus on there way to the HOPE Center. "Let's talk to Greg and then pick them up."
Agreeing with his wife the two of them headed to the parking lot.
On the Bus from School to the HOPE Center
"Angela and Chris sitting in a tree…" Piper Gage one seat behind her brother who was sitting with Angela began to chant.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Danny as well as half the bus chimed in.
"Piper Gage I hate you," Angela cried out. "Chris make her stop it," Angela wailed.
"First comes love," Piper sang undaunted.
"Shut up Piper," Chris yelled turning around in his seat trying to reach hold of his sister.
"Then comes marriage," Danny Walker continued.
"Danny stop it or I'll tell Momma," Angela cried.
"Then comes Chris…" Piper was cut off before she finished by the bus suddenly swerving recklessly out of control finally coming to a stop crossways in the street.
Before anyone had time to think six armed men were boarding the bus forcing the driver out of her seat to sit with the children. The next thing they knew the bus was underway again with one of the men telling them all to keep quiet and nobody would get hurt.
Chris shot his sister a quick glance to be quiet grabbing Angela's hand at the same time. One of the men was going up and down the isle; he had a couple of photos in his hand and was studying each child as he passed them. Stopping at Danny's seat the man's eyes went to the photo and then to Danny again
"You up front," he told the trembling child.
"You leave my brother alone," Angela shouted jumping up at the same time."
"Brother," the man smiled. "You can go join your brother," he barked roughly grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet.
"Hey don't hurt her," Chris shouted out.
"Chris don't," Piper cried.
Again the man studied the photos in his hand, "Ah the Gage children. Go and join your friends."
Neither child moved until their captor bellowed, "Now move now."
Chris grabbing Piper's hand walked defiantly to the front of the bus to where Angela and Danny were.
Sydney and Gage's
"Daddy," Cat squealed running to Gage's arms and he swung her above his head. "Where's Torrie?"
"Well," Gage began, "Aunt Erica had the baby so Torrie and Marcus went with Uncle Jimmy to be with their Mom and the new baby."
"They could bring the baby here," Cat pouted.
"They will a little later I'm sure Honey," Gage smiled.
"Sydney can I see you a minute please," it was Anna B speaking.
"Sure Honey," Syd replied following the girl into the study. Anna B stood waiting for her a folder in her hand, which she offered to Syd. "What's this?" she asked.
"Those two that broke in here left it. The one going bald tossed it on the couch when he saw Cat and me so he could come after us."
Sydney slowly opened the file and looked at the photos inside. Slowly she sank to the closest chair looking at file photos of what she had looked liked after Derek had finished with her.
"Syd are you all right?" Anna B was asking she wasn't hearing. "Gage," she could hear Anna B calling her husband but she still wasn't moving. She knew Anna B was explaining things to him then she took Cat out to the family room while Gage crouched down in front of her.
Gently pulling the folder from her hands he set it on the desk, then cupping her chin he looked into her brown eyes. "It's over Syd it's in the past. No one can ever touch you like that again ever."
"I know but it's still so very hard to face."
"I know it must be," he told her bringing his arms around her.
They stayed that way a few minutes longer before they both stood. Gage reached for the file. "Gage please don't," Syd cried out.
"Sydney it's all right I've seen them, I didn't tell you and I know maybe I should have but I pulled up the files when you first told me about Derek. I just wanted to know every thing there was to know about this monster."
Looking the other way she offered no more protest as Gage quickly thumbed through the photos. "That's interesting," he commented. "You know the notepad the kids gave me at Christmas the one that read from Dad's desk?"
Syd again nodded her head turning to see what he was talking about. He held up a piece of the notepaper to show her. On it was scrawled Derek Shaw, Texas Rose Hotel Room 104. There were also some travel brochures for Mexico City with the times and rates for single tickets.
"Think those two were just here to rattle you a little more and plant some more evidence," Gage told her handing the folder to her.
"Tell you what lets go talk to Greg and then pick up the kids," Gage suggested.
"Yeah lets do that," She agreed.
Opening the desk Gage looked the folder inside before they headed for the neighbour's.
Headquarters
Sumner sat in the almost deserted office finishing up reports. The phone rang and he reached over to pick it up without looking up from what he was writing.
"Sumner," he answered.
The caller quickly identified herself to be Josie from the HOPE center and that she needed to talk to Sydney.
"I'm sorry Ranger Cooke isn't here at the moment can I take a message? No Ranger Walker isn't here right now either."
There was a pause at the other end of the line while Josie decided what to do. "You can get hold of them right away if I tell you?" she asked.
"I can do that," Sumner assured her.
"It might be nothing but with Erica disappearing… Anyway the bus that brings the Walker kids and the Gage kids to the center is over an hour late getting here. We heard nothing at all, if there had been an accident or if they broke down we would be informed right away."
"Okay Josie I'll let everyone know and we'll find the bus," Sumner informed her.
"What bus?" Walker asked having come into the office to get the end of the conversation.
"Walker that was Josie over at the HOPE center the bus with your kids and the Gage kids is an hour late and they have got no word on it," Sumner was quick to explain.
Before Walker had time to say anything the phone began to ring again. "Sumner," Matt answered listening for a moment before saying, "just one moment," and putting the call on hold.
"For you Boss."
"Get Gage on the phone and let them know what is happening," Walker ordered as he picked up the phone.
"Ranger Walker?" a cold cruel voice on the phone questioned. Walker knew immediately that it was Sam Clay.
"What do you want?" Walker fired back.
"It's not so much what I want as to what you may want," Clay spoke in riddles.
"I'm listening," Walker told him.
"I'm sure you want the safe return of your children don't you?" he taunted Walker on.
"What do you want?" Walker asked again.
"I want you along with your wife, Rangers, Cooke and Gage to meet me. I'll exchange your children's lives for your lives. I see anyone else I'll kill all of you."
"Where?" Walker asked without hesitation.
"The Rankin farm you know where that is?"
"Yeah," Walker acknowledged.
"You have three hours and the clock is ticking," Clay laughed slamming down the phone.
"On their way," Matt told Walker as he dialled Alex with the dreaded news.
On the Bus
The bus was driven into an old barn where Angela along with her brother, Chris and Piper were ordered off. They were made to walk a short distance to a waiting van and herded inside.
The doors of the barn were closed and padlocked shut leaving the driver and the rest of the children behind as the van sped out the lane and down the road.
"What do want and where are you taking us?" Angela suddenly finding courage demanded to know.
The men ignored her so she tried again demanding the same two questions.
"Angela be quiet," Chris snapped at her.
"Listen to your friend kid," one of the men smirked, "before we have to maybe shoot your brother."
Angela's mouth opened to say something else but she thought better of it staying silent.
The van came to a halt and the four of them were ushered out and into a small shed halfway between a house and a barn at a different farm then where the bus was left. Once they were inside the door was slammed shut and a padlock snapped in place. Other then a small vent at the back of the shed at its peak there was no light and all four huddled together until Piper finally spoke, "All right Chris what do we do now?"
"I'm thinking," Chris began trying to look around him letting his eyes become accustom to the dark.
"These guys must want something from our parents," Angela was reasoning the rest nodding in agreement.
"Danny help me boost Piper up so she can look out that vent and see what is behind us," Chris was instructing. They quickly shifted around and hoisted Piper up so she could look out.
"Nothing back here Chris we're pretty close to the woods," she reported as they dropped her back to the floor.
"This is a dirt floor," Angela suddenly stated, "I bet we could…"
"Dig our way out," Chris finished the sentence.
Danny, Chris and Piper all dropped to floor pawing at the hard earth. "Angela this will go faster if you help us yeah know," Piper chided her.
"Yeah well someone has to be the brains," she came back handing Chris part of a broken shovel.
All three rolled their eyes at Angela as the set to work again.
Headquarters
"Anything knew?" Gage was all ready asking as he and Sydney came through the doors at Ranger headquarters.
Alex stood with Walker, Trivette and Sumner were both on the phones.
"Gage, Sydney," Trivette greeted them, "I have a commercial helicopter passing over the area so we should have the lay out of the farm before much longer.
"The local sheriff's office is standing by for our call," Sumner reported.
"You told them to keep way back?" Walker asked.
"They said they aren't making a move until they hear from us," Matt replied.
"Then I guess it's time to go see what Sam Clay wants."
TBC...