~ Chapter Eight ~
"You hear?" Gage was questioning as he and Syd came into the hallway Walker and Trivette waiting for them.
"I've called Alex at home she's all ready getting the warrants together for both the plant and the residence, I have to meet her upstairs," he confirmed. "Sydney you had better hang back."
"Are you kidding me Walker!" she exclaimed all ready wiggling her arm out of the sling. "If you're fit enough for this then so am I," she told her boss who was favouring his broken ribs.
"Gage talk some sense into your partner," Walker grinned giving him a quick look before heading upstairs with Trivette.
As the elevator doors closed Syd turned to Gage. "I'm seeing this through to the end Gage," she told him not letting him open his mouth.
"I'd have been surprised if you didn't want to see it through," he anxiously told her. "Just make me a promise."
"If I can," she returned.
"No heroics Cooke. I haven't got the patience to break in a new partner," he told her reaching out to cup her chin. "I just don't want you to get hurt all right Honey."
"I'll be careful Gage," she smiled slightly softly adding, "I promise."
The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside to meet up with Walker and Trivette at Benton Pharmaceuticals. The doors closed and the elevator headed downward just missing the shots that went up in interrogation C.
Sydney and Gage had left Cyrano with one of the younger officers to get him back to the holding cells. The young man had called for a second man to assist him but becoming impatient had opened the interrogation room door stepping outside to look up and down the hall. That is all it took that one minute for Cyrano to move into position as the door opened he got the drop on the officer. Getting him in a chokehold the officer struggled with Cyrano who easily got his gun, which went off wounding the young man.
Letting the officer slide to the floor Cyrano shoved the gun in his belt and stepped into the hall. "In here," he shouted two officers running past him as he took off the opposite direction into the stairwell disappearing from sight.
The Benton Estate
"Will do Walker," Sydney said into the phone just as she hung up. Her eyes still on the road as she spoke to her partner. "Walker wants us to go to the house he and Trivette are going to the lab. He's all ready sending a team there to meet us they'll have the search warrant.'
Gage nodded turning to head towards the Benton Estate.
"There's one more thing Gage," Sydney began to say pausing a moment.
Waiting for her to continue he stole a sideways glance. "What is it," he finally asked.
"Cyrano is loose. He got the drop on Stevens and shot him with his own gun. He's in surgery and Cyrano disappeared," she finished.
"He must be heading out of the country, the state at the very least," Gage tried to reason out knowing full well there was every possibility that they could run into him.
"Yeah," Syd agreed saying, "Walker just wanted us to be on guard for him."
There were all ready half a dozen police cars outside the walls of the Benton estate when Gage pulled up beside the lead car.
"Here's your warrant," the ranger told Gage handing it through the window to him.
"Spread the word," Gage began to bark back, "We don't expect trouble but to be on your guard for Cyrano."
"You got it Gage," the ranger agreed.
"All right let's do it!" Gage exclaimed leading the way through the gates.
Inside The Walls Of the Benton House
Benton opened the door to his study to face Cyrano. "What in hell did you come here for?" he snarled clicking the lock so not to be disturbed before walking into the room to face the man. "You're going to have every law enforcement agent in Texas down on us and then some."
"Will you relax I just came to get what you owe me and then I'll be on my way," Cyrano drawled.
"What I owe you?" he questioned his eyes bugging out astounded by the man's nerve. "You never finished either of your last assignments. That uppity little Texas Ranger and her partner are still alive and so is Otto Philips," he spat back.
"For your information Marshall that uppity Texas Ranger didn't have a clue who fathered Sally's baby. In fact if you had left her out of this they would have just naturally thought her husband was the father," Cyrano laughed.
"I wasn't willing to take that chance," he answered. "Sally as much as threw it in my face that she had told Ranger Cooke everything and it would take one hundred thousand dollars to make it all go away."
"And well worth every dime I'd say," Cyrano laughed again shouting out, "She was bluffing Marshal."
Benton made a move towards Cyrano only to be stopped short by Cyrano raising Officer Steven's gun up to aim at his chest again laughing. "The Philips job is just finished. I talked with my people over at the lab he was just downloading the last of his research into the computers… once that's done he is going to meet with a very untimely accident.
So as you can see everything is under control and it's time you paid up," his grin turning evil as his lies double-crossed his almost former boss.
Seeing no other choice for now Benton went to his wall safe and began to open it pulling out some of the bundles of money inside.
"All of it Marshall," Cyrano interrupted him.
"There's over three hundred thousand dollars in here," Benton sputtered out.
"Not any more," Cyrano laughed coming forward with a small bag to begin stuffing the money inside.
They were almost finished when Harmon, Benton's butler, pounded on the door. "Sir there are Texas Ranger's here with a search warrant," he shouted through the heavy oak door.
"I told you this would happen," Benton hissed starting for the door only to be stopped by the hard butt of Cyrano's gun coming down on his head.
As Benton slowly sank to the floor Cyrano grabbed up the bag with the money heading to a side entrance to make his second escape of the day.
Outside Marshal Benton's Study
"He's inside Rangers and there's no answer," Harmon cried out as both Sydney and Gage approached the man.
"Stand back," Gage warned the butler as he and Sydney took a stand either side of the door guns in hand.
"Texas Rangers Benton open the door," Gage shouted banging his hand on the door, as he spoke still getting no answer.
"That Cyrano fellow is in there with Mr. Benton," Harmon called out protected by a doorway only to peer out at what was happening.
With one glance to Syd Gage shouted, "Get back," lowering his gun he fired at the lock. The door swung slightly open assisted the rest of the way with Gage's foot.
A quick glance around the room they saw that Benton was unconscious on the floor and the door to the grounds was open.
"Call for medical help," Gage was again shouting barely able to catch up to Syd as she darted out the open door catching up with her just outside the estate garage.
"He just ducked inside," she hissed. Not waiting for Gage to answer she too slipped inside.
"Syd," Gage hoarsely called out in a whisper to her. Getting no answer without hesitating a second he followed inside.
It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dark garage. Hearing a small clatter to the left of him he jerked his head in that direction catching sight of what looked like two figures just up ahead. He fought the urge not to call out to his partner not wanting to give his position away as he crept silently along. That was until he heard an ensuing scuffle, a loud crash and Cyrano shout out, "Gage I got your partner."
"Cyrano let her go," Gage shouted back his eyes straining to get a glimpse of where Cyrano's voice came from.
"Or what Gage? I'm all ready on my way to death row what's another dead ranger?" he smirked.
"Let her go or I won't afford you all those years of life on death row I'll execute you right here and now," Gage answered him back edging his way towards Cyrano's voice finally getting a glimpse of two dark figures one holding the other around the neck.
"That's if I don't kill you first," again Cyrano laughed his over confidence coming through.
Gage remained silent trying to circle behind the two of them so he could get the drop of Cyrano and free his partner.
The silence was beginning to wear on Cyrano and he shouted out again, "Gage I'm going take out Sydney first then you."
Still Gage didn't answer and Cyrano backed another step back dragging Syd with him the gun pressed to her temple. They were in front of him by just a few steps Gage could hear Sydney start to talk. "He'll kill you Cyrano, you can count on it just like you can count on the sun coming up. He'll strike and you won't even know it."
"Shut up, shut up," Cyrano snarled back at her taking another step back yanking her back with him not counting on her stumbling against him throwing him off balance to stumble slightly too his hand with the gun going in the air. That gave Syd the opportunity to drive her elbow into Cyrano's stomach.
As Cyrano fought to keep his balance he lost his gripe on Syd dropping the gun to floor at the same time Gage stepping in at that moment, with a hard punch. Going to the ground he tried to grab at Gage's leg only to meet with a blow to the side from Gage's foot as he delivered a kick. By now Syd had the gun and was standing over Cyrano poised to shoot, the officers pouring into the garage the lights coming on.
Going behind his partner Gage rubbed his hand up her back using the other hand to take the gun from her allowing their back up to take Cyrano into custody and her in his arms.
"I'm all right Gage," she mumbled against him her body still trembling knowing how easy it would have been to pull that trigger and end Cyrano's life.
"You're not all right you've broke out your stitches and your shoulder is bleeding," he told her leading her out of the garage towards the car, stopping for a moment as Walker pulled in to tell him he was taking Syd to the hospital.
Later At Home…
Gage stood in the bedroom doorway leaning against the frame quietly watching Syd sleep. She had been exhausted when he had tucked the covers around her even though she protested she was fine. She had been asleep in his arms within moments of him laying down with her. He had got his full eight hours getting up leaving her to sleep a little longer while he squared things with Walker and Trivette.
The senior rangers had gotten to Benton Pharmaceuticals just as Doctor Philips was being brought out. They had easily been able to stop them and once they knew that Philips was safe they headed over to Marshal Benton's estate to help finish things up there.
Dwight Benton had been found upstairs and thanks to the family butler a lot of the details had been filled in. Once Dwight had found out what his father had done to his wife Marshal drugged him up. The plan was to have him committed, diminished capacity because of Sally's murder.
All the research that had supposedly been done over the last few years by Benton's people was being reviewed with many more questionable acquisitions coming to light.
"Gage," Syd murmured her eyes slowly opening.
"Hey sleepy how you feeling?" Gage smiled sitting on the edge of the bed taking her hands.
"What time is it?"
"Late afternoon. I didn't think you were ever going to wake up Honey. You've been out for almost twelve hours," he told her leaning down to kiss her.
"Cyrano?"
"Locked up he isn't getting away this time," Gage tried to assure her helping her as she tried to sit up.
"I wanted to kill him, I wanted to pull that trigger and end his life right then and there. My mind kept screaming the world will be such a better place without him in it…"
"Shh Syd it's all right I've had those feeling myself. It wasn't easy for me not to put a bullet in that high tech carjacker. He killed Marilyn and her fiancée, took my hearing and was trying to kill me. When I had him down the gun pointing at his head… I just wanted him to pay…"
"But you didn't kill him," Syd interjected.
"And you didn't kill Cyrano either," he told her carefully bringing her to his chest to rest there.
"I don't know that I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't been there to stop me," she confessed pushing herself closer to him.
"You would have realized that killing him would make you no better then him," Gage confidently told. "I know you pretty well Sydney that is the kind of mistake you wouldn't have made."
"How can you be so sure Gage?" she questioned leaning back to look in his face.
Letting his hand go to her face he gently held her to whisper, "My heart knows Syd that's how I know."
"Francis you really are my lucky charm you know," she smiled letting her own hand caress his cheek. "I just never want to loose you," she murmured pulling him forward so her lips could reach his letting him press her back against the pillows.
"Umm," Gage muttered suddenly remembering, "I have something I've been wanting to give you since the other day."
"What?" she asked still not letting go.
"Give me a second I have to go get it," he answered untangling himself from her and going to his dresser. A moment later he was back with a black jewellery case which he handed to her as he sat down beside her again.
"Gage?" she questioned her hand trembling slightly.
Leaning forward he kissed her forehead saying at the same time, "Open it."
Lifting the lid she found a silver key nestled on the velvet folds inside the box. "A key?" she questioned trying not to show her surprise, bewilderment and maybe a little disappointment.
"To your new domain," he smiled waving his hand around as he spoke noticing she wasn't that enthusiastic. "Syd are you all right?"
"Yeah Gage fine," she smiled putting her good arm around him. "I was just looking for a little of that tender loving care you were promising me," she told him pulling him down on top of her drawing a passionate kiss from him. "I love you so much Gage…"
"But?" he had pulled back to look in her face something was bothering her that he knew what that something was, was the question.
"Why do you think there always is a but?"
"I don't know Syd maybe because there usually always is," he replied his finger teasing her cheek. "I will find out you know."
"Good then you will know the right thing to say to me won't you?" she smiled.
"Syd I want to know the right thing to say to you now…"
"When the time is right you'll know what to say Gage," she smiled again pulling him back down on top of her.
"When the time is right," he mumbled between kisses knowing she wasn't about to say anything more. He loved her what more could there be…
The phone rang and she reached out to grab it answering, "Cooke and Gage residence."
He smiled the words, "Cooke and Gage residence," sounding not quite perfect to him but he let it pass giving into what she had said, "When the time was right he would know the right words to say to her."
The End
