Chapter 4
We'll Save You…
Early The Next Morning
The hour was early but the Gage household was all ready up. Sydney was late getting home last night Chris and Piper were in bed. She had looked in on them running her fingers gently through her son's hair and gently kissing his cheek before entering the girls' room where Piper slept and Cat's bed lay empty. Sitting on the edge of Cat's little bed Syd faced Piper staring at her daughter thankful she and Chris were both safe. The tears began to cloud her eyes wishing Cat and Gage were there safe too.
Sumner had brought her home; he was taking Anna B home and bringing her back in the morning when he picked up Syd. Slowly she had gotten up and made her way to the room she and Gage shared. The bed hadn't been made because of the rush they had been in that morning. Picking her husband's shirt from the floor where he had let it drop the night before she hugged it against her chest as she fell heavily to the bed. "I know it's just a matter of time until you and Cat are back here with us but that time is killing me," she cried. Laying back in the tangle of bed sheets still clutching the shirt she wept until she fell asleep.
Chris and Piper plunked themselves down at the breakfast table just as Syd was getting up to leave. She had stood up as Sumner came in the back door with Anna B giving last minute Mom instructions as she did.
"Mommy," Piper cried out running to her mother winding her arms around her waist. "Please Mommy come home tonight," she whispered the fear of loosing Syd in her face and voice.
"Of course I will Honey…" Syd began to say.
"Just don't disappear like Daddy and Cat," she whispered Syd dropping to her knees to hold tight to her young daughter.
"Piper Daddy and Cat are going to be back here before we know it," Syd tried to assure her as she bit her own lip trying hard to keep her composure.
Piper wiped her hand across her face and nodded her head yes letting Syd pull her into another tight hug. Holding out her arm Chris joined their hug too.
Sumner gave Anna B a hug and then tapped Syd's shoulder. "We got to go Syd," he gently coaxed her. Giving each child a kiss she told them good-bye and left with Sumner.
Later At School…
"Okay guys remember I'm going to pick you up right after school today so don't get on the bus to go to the HOPE Center," Anna B called as Chris and Piper exited her car.
"Okay Anna B," Chris called.
"Bye Anna B," Piper shouted as both Angela and Danny Walker came running over to where they were followed by Marcus Trivette.
Anna B waved at the Walker children and Marcus as they waved smiling back. She put her little yellow car in gear and headed out.
"Chris I heard Daddy tell Mom that they had pictures and they are pulling out all stops to find these guys," Angela blurted out. "I think the guy your Mom and Sumner brought in gave the descriptions."
"Piper and I got a lead that I'm going to check out," Chris announced.
"By yourself?" Angela asked.
"No I'm going to go with him," Piper spoke up.
"Well if Piper is going so am I," Angela blurted out.
"Me too," Danny cried.
"And Me," Marcus jumped in.
"No it's just me going," Chris insisted
"Chris he's my Dad too and you might need help," Piper answered in no uncertain terms the rest agreeing loudly.
"Either we all go or none of us go," Angela reinforced.
"All right, all right," Chris finally conceded like his father knowing when he was beat. Grabbing Piper's arm he warned her, "You do what I say and keep out of trouble or we'll wish we never found Dad."
One by one they snuck off the playground and were headed down the street towards the bus stop before the bell sounded.
The Perron Estate
"Daddy are you awake?" Cat asked rubbing her hand across his cheek. "Your face is prickly," she told him making a face at him. Gage's hand went to his chin quickly realizing he was in bad need of a shave.
"Come here and I'll give you a whisker rub," he teased pulling her close rubbing his cheek against hers as she laughed and squealed, "No Daddy."
Without warning the door flew open admitting the grand lady of the house.
"You ever hear of knocking?" Gage asked as both he and Cat stopped what they were doing.
"For a man in your position you certainly don't know when to hold your tongue," she spat out at him.
"My position?" Gage asked undaunted. "Cat and I have each other and we aren't trying to live a lie we know what the truth is."
A wick sort of smile moved across Lillian's face and a low chuckle began within her. "We will see Ranger Gage," she smirked.
"There is one sure way to get your proof," Gage countered.
"And just what would that be?"
"A simple blood test to check the maternity of Cat," Gage responded.
Lillian didn't answer she simple stared at Gage and his daughter beginning to see what it was her grandson had liked about him.
"I'll go you one better," Gage continued. "If the test results come back that Crystal is Cat's mother then I'll divorce my present wife and marry her."
"Pretty sure of yourself aren't you Gage," again the old woman smirked. "You think I'll cave and believe this fabricated story of yours and let you go."
"On the contrary it is going to give me great pleasure to prove to you that you are wrong. I want there to be not doubt in anyone's mind that Crystal Perron did not give birth to Caitlin Anne Gage," he stated with unwavering confidence.
Lillian's eyes caught Gage's and held there for a moment before she spoke. "Get yourself cleaned up for breakfast, I'll expect you and Cat downstairs in thirty minutes." She turned and began walking to the door pausing with an after thought. "Do you think we can get through breakfast without a scene like last night's dinner?"
"I'll see what I can do but I won't promise," Gage retorted it was his turn to smirk.
Outside The Nursery
Joey Falconer once again locked the nursery door as Lillian May waited for him. "Mrs. Perron," he began knowing often the older woman had taken his advice on things. "You think maybe Crystal might be making this whole thing up?"
"Are you calling my granddaughter a liar?" Lillian May snapped back at him.
Joey cleared his throat choosing his words carefully. "I just think she sort of embellished the story a little. I think she was ashamed of what happened with Benny and afraid she had lost you in the process. I think she knows you well enough to know that the mention of a great granddaughter would melt your heart. Somehow she ran into Gage and caught sight of his daughter and well things just got out of hand…"
Lillian May thought the words over for a moment thinking about pretty little Cat and slowly shook her head. "No she's Perron," she firmly stated thinking to herself or at least she is going to be one.
ADA Alex Walker's Office
The phone rang as just as Alex was finishing her coffee and going over her notes for the trial that was about to start in about an hour.
"Alex Walker," she chimed into the phone the smile vanishing from her face as she listened to the caller. "I dropped them off myself they were both on the playground this morning… Chris and Piper Gage are missing too… and Marcus Trivette. I'll alert the other parents and we'll be there as soon as we can," Alex declared beginning to dial almost before she hung up. All she could think was who ever has Cat and Gage must have the rest of the children.
Outside The Perron Estate
"Are you sure this is the place?" Piper asked her brother as the five children stood outside the gate of the massive Perron estate looking through the bars at the long drive way.
Taking a step back Chris read the numbers once more comparing them to what he had written on the scrap of paper. "Yeah this is the place that Anna B traced Dad's cell phone to and you know she doesn't make computer mistakes," he replied.
"So how are we supposed to get in to check it out?" Marcus asked.
"Do you suppose they have ferrous guard dogs that will tear us from limb to limb?" Danny asked.
"Danny don't go borrowing trouble," Angela cut in adding, "there has to be someway we can get in there."
"I can get in," Piper who had become quiet suddenly said.
"And how are you going to do that?" Chris skeptically asked her.
"Just like this," she replied turning sideways and stepping one foot between the bars of the gate.
"Piper you'll get stuck…" Angela started to say but before she could finish Piper was inside.
"Now what we aren't all shrimps like you?" Marcus pointed out.
"There has to be some sort of button or something to push to open the gate have a look around Piper," Chris instructed her.
Piper didn't have to be told twice she made a beeline right to the little unmanned guard house at the left of the gate and finding nobody there let herself in. Inside was a phone hanging on the wall with a small panel of buttons beside it each button marked. "Alarm, lights, gate lock, gate close, gate open…" she read aloud. Taking a deep breath she reached out her hand and pushed the button that read, gate open. Slowly the gate gave way and began to open wide her brother and her friends hurrying inside. Once inside she pushed the button that read gate closed to once again watch the gates clang shut.
"Now what Chris?" Angela was asking as Piper ran back to join the rescue party.
"We have to get to the house and be careful not to be seen," he began explaining. "Then we will have to search the place and keep our eyes and ears open."
Following Chris' lead they started up towards the house keeping to the side of the driveway out of sight. Nearing the house he motioned his friends to move around the back hoping to be able to slip inside without being detected. Rounding the corner they could hear voices and all ducked for cover.
"Chris it's Cat," Piper hissed seeing her perched at the top of the slide. Forgetting everything and standing up she made for her little sister.
"Daddy look Piper," Cat cried out coming down the slide landing in Gage's arms as he turned to see his oldest daughter running towards them.
"Hey stop," one of the guards was shouting his gun aimed at Piper.
Gage's heart all but stopped as he let go of Cat jumping up to tackle Piper to the ground holding her protectively beneath him. Cat not wanting to be left out of the action went running to where her dad and sister were, jumping on Gage's back. Reaching up he quickly got hold of Cat pulling her down to his side too.
Gage could feel the guns trained on him and his girls as he slowly rose up on his elbow to look down into Piper's face. "Hi Daddy," she whispered looking up at him.
"See Daddy Piper," Cat chirped.
"Piper what are you doing here?" was all Gage could get out.
"You know this kid?" one of the guards questioned.
"That's Piper," Cat helpfully volunteered. "She's my sister."
"How did you find me? How did you get here?" Gage questioned his eight year old.
"Yeah kid how did you find your old man?"
Piper knew that she was in serious trouble looking into her father's face she began, "I called your cell phone and some man answered. I asked him who he was but some man talked to him and he put the phone down. I could hear music playing but nobody was answering when I called into the phone so I got Anna B to find out where the call was coming from. You know on the computer like she sometimes does for you and Mom."
"Who's this Anna B?" one of the guards asked.
"Our babysitter," Gage replied dryly. "Did you tell Mom?"
"No she wasn't home before I went to bed and she was gone with Sumner before I got up. So I just decided to find you myself," she told him very satisfied with her explanation. "I got my birthday money and the nice bus driver told me the buses I should take."
Gage rubbed his hand up and down his face as Piper's eyes went to the ground and she whispered, "I'm sorry Daddy I just wanted to be with you."
Taking her in his arms he hugged her tight as Cat quickly threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek too.
"Hey how did you get in here?" One of the guards suddenly asked realizing she had got in the front gate and by them.
"It wasn't that hard," she replied, "Our house is more secure then this place."
"Piper don't help," her father warned.
"We got to tell the old lady about this," the guards conferred between themselves.
"Which one of you is going to tell her about leaving the line of my phone open so my eight year daughter could trace me and her sister here?" Gage quizzed the pair of them not letting up. "And who is going to tell her that her security isn't as good as the security at my place."
"She has to know."
"How about I just take her up to the nursery for now until we can figure out the best way to handle this and keep us all out of trouble," Gage suggested.
"I think it's a good idea Frank you've seen the old lady when she's mad," the first guard agreed with Gage.
"All right Paulie but you better come up with a good plan to fix this cause I'm washing my hands of the whole affair."
Northwest Elementary School
Sumner brought the car to a screeching stop the same as Anna B brought her car to a stop at the curb. Sydney Gage was out of the car and Anna B was running to her. "I'm sorry Sydney I brought them right here and let them out. I reminded them I was picking them up Angela, Danny and Marcus came over to the car, I waved to them all and then headed for home. I left them right here," she cried.
Walker's familiar ram pulled up next to Sumner he, Alex and Trivette getting out before Syd could say anything to Anna B. Erica with Simon in her arms and Torrie right beside her were coming out the door of the school Principal Hart close behind.
"Jimmy," she cried seeing her husband. Trivette hurried ahead to pick up Torrie and put his arm around his wife and young son.
"Did any one see anything? Was anyone suspicious hanging around?" Sydney was quizzing letting her Ranger persona come through scared if she let Sydney Gage come through she would go right to pieces.
"Torrie tell Daddy what you told me," Erica addressed her daughter.
Torrie becoming the center of attention looked at her father and began, "Marcus went some place with Angela and Danny and Piper and Chris and they wouldn't let me go cause they said I was too little."
"Did they say where they were going?" Trivette questioned his daughter further. She shook her head no.
"Did you see what direction were they headed in Torrie?" Walker was asking the rest waiting for her answer.
Hanging onto Jimmy's neck with one arm she pointed down the street towards the corner. "They got on a bus," she triumphantly told them.
All the adults looked at one another having no idea where the kids could have possibly have been going. Sydney turned from the rest walking away from them Sumner and Anna B going after her. She stopped staring at the corner where the bus stop was a bus pulling up and people getting off and on. She could envision the children one by one getting on that bus and disappearing from sight.
"Syd?" Sumner questioned his hand coming to rest on her shoulder.
Reaching up to take her hand in his she softly spoke, "They're all gone, my whole family has disappeared without a trace. I'm the only one left."
"Oh Syd no they are all going to be coming home," Anna B cried. "Piper and Chris went on their own accord with the Walker kids and Marcus Trivette they have every intention of coming back here."
"The driver for this route is due in at the terminal any time they are going to keep him there until Walker and I can get there to talk to him," Trivette was explaining as he joined the three of them. "Syd you got a picture of Chris and Piper?" he asked.
Pulling herself together she quickly riffled through her things to find the latest shots of the kids and handed them to Trivette. His hand caught Syd's as he took the pictures from her quietly saying, "I know this is hard Sydney but Walker and I will look into this you and Sumner keep running down those leads on Cat and Gage."
She nodded her head yes watching as he walked back over to where Walker waited for him.
The Perron Estate
"Now what are we going to do?" Angela questioned Chris as they watched Piper being marched away with her father and Cat.
"We have to get to a phone we have to get my mom and your dads here right away," Chris reasoned speaking aloud.
"How are we supposed to do that?"
"You check out some of these buildings they must have a phone some where," again Chris reasoned. "Angela you Danny and Marcus check out that one and the garage. If you find a phone call your Dads Okay?"
"What are you going to be doing?" Angela asked.
"I'm following them to see where they are taking Dad and my sisters," Chris announced jumping up and taking off before anyone could answer.
"Chris," Angela hissed as he took off leaving her with her brother and Marcus. She watched him for a minute before turning to the other two. "You heard him we need to find a phone and fast."
~~~~~
As fast as he could Chris took after his father and sisters keeping out of sight of the two guards. He watched them enter the house and after a quick glance around ran over to take a peek in the window. Gage and the girls were being escorted upstairs by their guards, seeing that there was no one else around he went to the door letting himself in. Moving across the room he looked up, ever so slowly and quietly he began climbing upward. He could hear Cat she was talking to Piper and their father was trying to quiet them both.
Nearing the top of the stairs Chris quickly ducked into a doorway to watch the rest quickly herded back into the nursery and the door locked behind them. Both the guards turned to head back downstairs leaving Chris nowhere to go. His hand went to the doorknob and twisted opening the door he slipped inside undetected.
"Well who do we have here?" came a voice from behind him.
Chris' heart had nearly jumped into his throat as he spun around quick to face the woman who spoke to him. "I'm… um," he stumbled over his words not knowing what to say.
"I'd say by the look of you you're a Gage," the woman smiled. "Don't be afraid I'm on your Dad's side. My names Rita, I knew your Mom and Dad years ago. How did you get here?"
"My sister and I came to rescue my Dad and Cat but Piper got caught she's with Dad and Cat," Chris blurted out.
Before anything else could be said there was a loud knock on the door. "Rita are you all right in there?"
"Under the bed," Rita hissed lifting the cover allowing Chris to dive beneath.
TBC
