Chapter 2
False Hopes and Dreams
Headquarters
Glancing up at the clock Sumner realized that it was almost time for Syd to pick up Chris and Piper from the HOPE Center. "Syd?" he questioned looking over to where she still studied the files before her. Seeing Sumner's eyes glance from her back to the clock she suddenly realized the time a panicked look coming across her face.
"Why don't I have Anna B pick them up and take them home?" he asked.
"Yeah Sumner please," Syd replied her eyes expressing her thanks.
As Matt picked up the phone to dial Trivette's phone rang and he grabbed the receiver to his ear. "Trivette," he answered Walker coming into the office at the same time.
They all stood silently waiting for Trivette to hang up. "The print they found belongs to a Joey Falconer ring any bells?"
"Joey Falconer," Syd repeated the name knowing it sounded familiar but unable to place it. Trivette had sat down in front of his computer and began punching keys. In a matter of minutes Falconer's picture appeared on the screen.
"Oh my God," Syd gasped recognizing Falconer immediately. "Ricky," she said barely above a whisper.
Both Walker and Trivette were looking at her now. "Are you sure Syd?" Trivette asked.
She slowly shook her head yes her eyes still fixed on the computer screen and Falconer's picture.
"Okay I'll bite, who's Ricky?" Sumner asked looking from one ranger to another his eyes finally resting on Sydney.
"Walker… Falconer is one of Rick's people he wouldn't hurt Gage…" Syd started to say.
"Sydney that was years ago not to mention that Gage stepped on a lot of toes even if he and Rick were friends. That doesn't make him and Rick's people close," Walker answered her.
"You're right but still why would he grab Gage and Cat?" Syd questioned.
"We won't know until we pick him up will we?" Trivette answered handing Syd a piece of paper with Falconer's last known address on it. "Take Sumner with you Syd," he added.
"Come on Matt," Sydney said all ready headed for the door.
"Syd slow down," Matt called catching up with her at the elevator. "Are you going to tell me what is going on here or do I have to second guess everything?"
Sydney remained silent her mind going in a hundred directions as her memories of the Perron family came flooding back to her. "Syd?" Sumner asked again.
"You ever hear of the Perrons?" Syd quizzed Matt.
"The crime family? You don't mean Rick Perron?" Sumner asked hardly believing what was beginning to unfold. "He's dead isn't he?"
Shaking her head yes Syd softly said, "Yes he died saving Gage's life."
Sumner stopped in his tracks taking hold of Syd's arm. "That was years ago…"
She nodded her head yes as Sumner stood waiting for her to continue. "I really don't know how to explain something that Gage never understood himself," she sighed opening the car door.
Syd hardly knew where to start so jumping in with both feet she began. "It was one of the hardest times of my life. Gage and I had only been married four months when he went into deep cover in the Perron family. He was in so deep that he didn't exist anymore his death was faked as well as his funeral," she recalled the cold wind and chill of that day sending a shiver through her even now. Sydney ended the story with how Rick had helped them find Piper and his death; how he had pushed Gage out of the way being fatally shot himself.
Sumner sat there amazed by the story realizing that some of the fantastic tales he had heard about the partners, his friends were actually true. "Why did Ricky help find Piper?" he questioned as mystified as the rest of them by Perron's actions.
"Gage can't even explain it," she retorted, "It was just some sort of bond they had almost like brothers. Gage would have done the same thing for Ricky in a heartbeat. He was a long time getting over Rick's death even though I know he wouldn't have hesitated for a moment arresting him and sending him away for a long time."
Again Sumner mulled this over in his mind before asking, "So where does Joey Falconer fit into all this?"
"Joey Falconer was Rick's right hand man I never saw Rick that Joey wasn't with him. I can't believe that he would hurt Gage, I think he would stay true to his former boss," Syd was explaining as she pulled up in front of the address Trivette had given them.
Getting out of the car both Rangers preceded cautiously towards the door. Taking either side of the entrance, guns drawn, Sydney pounded loudly on the door shouting, "Joey Falconer open up Texas Rangers." There was no answer. Again she pounded her fist on the door this time shouting, "Joey open up it's Sydney Gage."
Still there was no answer putting her hand on the doorknob she turned it letting the door swing open. With weapons still drawn they moved inside scoping out the place to find no one to be there.
Taking out his phone Sumner began dialing Trivette to report in as Syd looked around the apartment for anything that might point to her husband and daughter.
"All right Trivette," Syd could hear him saying into the phone as she opened the desk drawer and began shuffling the papers inside around. Suddenly her eyes hit on a Polaroid picture, a picture of Gage holding Cat.
The HOPE Center
Chris Gage had completed his homework about an hour ago and now sat anxiously waiting for one of his parents to appear so he could find out what was going on. He could have been helping with the younger kids like he usually did but he had too much on his mind. His sister Piper sat across the room from him positioned so she could watch out the window she too anxious to know why her sister Cat had been absent from the center all day.
A bright yellow Volkswagen bug appeared pulling up to the curb a young woman getting out. "Oh no Chris something bad has happened Anna B is here," Piper cried as Chris rushed to her side to get a look out the window too. Sure enough Anna B was headed up the walk both children knowing she was coming to pick them up.
"Where's Mom and Dad?" Piper demanded the instant that the young woman came into the room.
"No hi, how you doing, are we going for ice cream," Anna B returned Piper's greeting.
"Anna B where are Mom, Dad and Cat?" Chris asked undeterred.
"Okay guys lets say we discuss things in the car," Anna B told them knowing these children almost as well as their parents did. She had thought about what she was going to say all the way over here, in fact since Sumner had called. She knew it would have to be the truth Chris and Piper would accept nothing less.
"Buckle your seatbelts guys," she told them moving behind the driver's seat.
"You're staling where are they?" Piper cut in her patience starting to dwindle much like her mother's would.
"That's because I don't have much to tell you," Anna B replied glancing to where Chris sat beside her.
"Just tell us what you know," Chris evenly said before asking, "Has one of them been hurt?"
"Chris I talked to Sumner he asked me to come by and pick you guys up. Your Mom is fine and I'm sure she will be calling you very soon so we have to get home…" Anna B hedged.
"Where's Daddy?" Piper cried tears springing to her eyes.
"Guys they don't know where your Dad and Cat are at this moment. They didn't make it to the Center this morning. Your Mom, Sumner, Uncle Jimmy and Uncle Walker are all out looking for them right now…"
"What do you mean didn't make it to the center?" Chris cut in. "Do they know anything at all?"
"Only that your Dad's car was found and they weren't in it," Anna B told them pulling into the Gages' driveway.
The car had hardly stopped that Chris was out Piper right behind him. Quickly he retrieved the key to the house that was hidden outside and was letting himself and his sister in.
"Hey wait up," Anna B called going after them.
Chris all ready had phone in hand and was dialing Piper standing right beside him. "Mom," he cried hearing her pick up and say Cooke.
"Chris Honey…" she got before her son cut her off.
"Are you all right?" he asked just like his father would. He listened a minute to her before asking, "Any leads at all?" He listened again as she explained that it looked as if his father and sister had been stopped and taken away by someone. "That red van Mom it had to be that red van!" he exclaimed repeating the first three numbers of the plate.
Turning to his sister Chris handed the phone to her saying, "Mom wants to talk to you."
"Mommy you're going to find Daddy and Cat aren't you?" She solemnly asked trying to hide how worried and scared she was. For all of Piper Gage's tough exterior she very much harboured her father's soft tender side. "Are you coming home soon?" was her next question. "I love you too Mommy," she said feeling her brother Chris' arm go around her shoulder as she hung up the phone.
Outside Falconer's Home
"I've got four names for vans from that partial plate Chris remembered," Sumner said looking over to where Syd sat behind the steering wheel of the car staring out of the windshield. "Did you want to go run them down?" he asked and still she didn't move. "Syd?" he questioned moving his hand to her shoulder, watching a tear glisten in her eye, seeing a side of her that usually only her husband saw. "Come here Syd," he whispered pulling her from behind the steering wheel and into his arms.
"I'm sorry," she softly cried, "It's just when the kids call and I don't know where he is and I can't tell them anything…"
"Sydney we are going to find Gage and Cat," Sumner tried to comfort her.
"I know," she replied pulling away from him wiping the tears from her eyes. "What's the first address on that list?"
The Nursery At Lillian May's
Brushing a blonde curl from her tiny face Gage lovingly pulled the covers around his youngest daughter. She had fallen asleep in his arms as he held her close. In spite of all the interesting toys, books and dolls Cat hadn't strayed more then a few inches from her father's reach. In fact she had spent most of her time sitting in his lap holding tight to him.
He had just leaned forward to kiss her small cheek when he heard the lock in the door once again. The door opened and a dark haired man let himself in closing the door behind him.
"Ranger Gage it's been a long time."
"You're right Joey close to eight years ago," Gage replied knowing Piper had just celebrated her eighth birthday a couple of weeks ago. "Why are we here Joey?" Gage asked wasting no time.
Ignoring Gage's question Falconer asked one of his own, "Tell me one thing Gage the little girl who's her mother?"
Gage's eyes went to Cat's sleeping face and then back to Falconer, "Joey what's going on?"
"Just answer my question Gage who's her mother?"
"Sydney is the same as the rest of my kids," he blurted out.
"Ranger Cooke is her birth mother?" Falconer asked his stare still fixed on Gage's face.
"Yes Ranger Cooke, Sydney my wife is Cat's biological mother," Gage replied staring at Falconer now.
"Did you ever have an affair with Crystal?" Falconer asked next.
"Crystal who?" Gage questioned his frustration showing through.
"Do you forget who I work for?"
"Ricky is dead," Gage bluntly replied a small pang of regret hitting him.
"But the family isn't. His grandmother isn't and I'm asking the questions here," Falconer shot back. "Crystal Perron did you ever lay your hands on her?"
"Crystal Perron?" Gage stared blankly at Falconer as he asked when all of a sudden he remembered. "Ricky's little cousin?"
"Yeah Ricky's little cousin. Now I ask you again did you have an affair with her?"
"No I didn't have an affair with her I only met her a couple of time she was a kid. I wasn't unfaithful to my wife ever," Gage stressed to him again stealing a glance at his daughter.
"Then why do you think that Crystal would tell her grandmother that you were the father of her child and that once the baby was born you had taken the child from her leaving her high and dry?"
Gage stood staring at the man in disbelief. "I've no idea why she would tell her grandmother that I hardly know her. I'm not even sure that I could pick her out of a line up. All I know for sure is she had nothing to do with either of my daughters. I haven't had anything to do with the Perrons since Rick died."
Falconer stood silent looking at Gage his mind going to his former boss. He had been one of Rick's best friends, he would have given his life for him, he understood all his idiosyncrasies and he also knew why he admired this Ranger so much. With that understanding Falconer decided that once again he would stay loyal to Ricky, he would believe Gage on this.
Turning to go Gage stopped Falconer, "Joey Cat is mine and Sydney's I'll die protecting her and Sydney will kill to get her back."
He exited the room once again locking Gage and Cat in his mind going to Ranger Cooke. She was a live wire mean as a hornet when protecting her family she was the only woman in the world that he ever saw strike Ricky and get away with it. He had as much as told her that if it had been anyone but her they'd be dead. Ricky would say, "Now that's a woman I would have liked to tame but Gage beat me to it." He had no doubt in his mind she would do what ever she had to, to get her daughter back.
~~~~~
The door closed just as Cat woke and she cried out to her father. Gage turned going to his little girl putting both his arms around her in a hug. "I love you Honey," he softly whispered to her wanting to hold her as close as he could.
"I love you too Daddy," she answered him back.
Without warning the door once again swung wide as Lillian May Perron's formidable silhouette stood looking in. With the light behind her and her dark stern features she gave Gage a start not to mention Cat who shrieked out grabbing on tighter to him.
"I hope you find the accommodations comfortable," she began as she stepped into the room walking with the help of her ornate cane towards them.
"How long do you intend to keep us here?" Gage countered standing to face the old woman still holding Cat against his chest.
"This is your home now no one is holding you here you can leave any time but you will not be taking Cat away from us again," she answered her face shifting into a cruel smile.
"When I leave it won't be without Cat," he replied pulling his little girl closer to him.
"Suit yourself Gage, but you will not break up this family you are expendable Cat is not." Her face was set as she glowered at Gage just as quickly smiling raising her hand to stroke Cat's golden curls. "You and I are going to be great friends aren't we Cat?"
"Nooo," Cat cried once again clutching tight to Gage.
"Grandmother did you want me?" A voice from the hall called as a young woman came hurrying into the room stopping short at the sight of Gage and Cat.
"Crystal darling," Lillian May spoke as she put her arm around her granddaughter, "I've brought Gage and Cat home to you. Why don't you take them outside to the playground and you can get reacquainted with your family before we sit down to dinner."
Turning back to Gage and Cat the old woman again addressed Cat, "Your Mommy is here Cat wouldn't you like to give her a hug?"
Cat brought her little head around searching for Syd as Lillian May pushed Crystal towards her. Seeing Crystal and not her mother Cat cried out, "You're not my Mommy, I want my real Mommy. Daddy I want Mommy."
Cat was sobbing now and her father pulled her close again rubbing his hand up and down her back. "Shh Sweetie it's all right, let's go outside and play for a little bit," Gage tried to comfort her and hopefully get her away from Lillian May. Cat shook her head yes anything to get away from the frightening old woman Gage figured.
The old woman looked at her granddaughter, "Crystal take them outside this is a perfect time for you Gage to start working things out."
Crystal stared a minute at Gage and Cat then at her grandmother. "What are you waiting for girl?" Lillian May asked.
"Nothing Grandma, nothing at all," she retorted moving back for Gage to go out ahead of her. She followed close behind the armed guards either side of her as they headed for the yard.
~~~~~
Rita watched quietly from her room covering her mouth to stifle a gasp as she caught sight of who was imprisoned in the nursery. She hadn't seen Gage in years what was he doing here? What did he have to do with Lillian May? Who was the little girl?
Life was just about to get interesting.
~~~~~
Outside and along a short trail was a small playground totally revamped in anticipation of Cat's arrival. Gage carried Cat down the path Crystal walking beside them while the guards walked behind them guns ready in case needed. Once at the playground Gage encouraged the little girl that it would be all right to try the swings and slides, that he would be right there and would join her shortly after he had a small talk with Crystal. She finally agreed and scampered off turning to wave to her father as she sat on a swing.
Gage waved back to Cat then turned to face Crystal Perron. "Do you want to explain to me how your grandmother got the idea that it was you and I that conceived my daughter?"
"I never thought she would bring you here," Crystal started, "But I was desperate." Her eyes had gone to the ground not daring to look at him.
"You were desperate but that doesn't explain what we're doing here," he persisted.
"I thought I was in love," Crystal began her story. "Even though Grandmother had warned me to stay away from Benito Georgi that he was below me I continued to see him. She forbade me to see him, she told me she would disown me that I would never be able to come home it I kept seeing him. That didn't stop me I ran off with Benny and the next thing I knew I was pregnant. That's when I found out that Benny wasn't in love with me he took off one night and just disappeared leaving me high and dry. I had the baby and gave her up for adoption.
I had nothing I was working the streets living in a dirty dingy apartment until one day I happened to see you. I recognized you right away Ricky had always liked you and I thought it was worth a try. I came home and told her that it was you and I who were lovers but when you found out that I was pregnant you saw me through the delivery and then took the baby away from me to raise with your wife. That I'd only been able to hold her once… and well I guess she believed me cause she let me come home like nothing had ever happened. I never guessed in my wildest dreams she would bring you here not alone your daughter."
Gage stood staring at her in disbelief that she could have put such a story together and that her grandmother would believe her.
"You are going to go to your grandmother and tell her this is all one big lie and that Cat is not her granddaughter," Gage demanded taking hold of Crystal's shoulders.
"Back off Ranger," one of the guards quickly intervened the butt of his automatic weapon connecting hard with the side of Gage's head. "You aren't the law here."
Cat shrieked out in horror seeing Gage take the hit. She jumped from the swing running full force towards him only to be scooped up and held tight by Crystal Perron. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy," she repeatedly screamed out struggling to go to him.
Crystal still held on tight trying to calm her telling her, "Shh Mommy will look after you, Mommy loves you.
TBC.
