~Chapter Two~

With the girls help Gage had just finished cleaning up the kitchen when the phone rang. Tossing the dish towel over his shoulder he picked it up answering, "Hey," Cat scampering past him deciding her job was done.

After listening a minute he asked, "Have you talked to Trivette? Okay Honey I'll give him a call and we'll check things out… you sit tight."

Breaking the connection Gage began to dial again getting Torrie Trivette on the phone. After some minor conversation he asked, "Can I speak with your Dad?"

"Dad Uncle Gage is on the phone," she screamed out loud enough to deafen Gage.

"Gage," Trivette came on the line, "What can I do for you?"

"What time did Sumner drop you off tonight?" he questioned.

"Some where around quarter to six… Why? What's up?" Trivette began to question.

"I just talked to Anna B he didn't make it home. She talked to him about six o'clock and he said he'd be there in fifteen minutes. She asked him to stop for milk, he said he would and she hasn't heard from since," Gage finished up.

"That's not like Matt at all," Trivette absently replied. "He's not answering his phone?"

"It's turned off."

"Know what market he would have stopped at?"

"I would think that place in the plaza right close to their place," Gage guessed.

"Want to meet me there?" Trivette asked.

"Soon as I let Sydney know what's going on."

"See you in about thirty minutes."

"Okay Trivette."

Gage hung up the phone standing a minute staring at it trying to speculate what happened.

"Who was on the phone Gage?" Sydney had come into the kitchen.

"Anna B Matt didn't make it home. Trivette and I are going to go see if we can find any trace of him," he answered matter-of-factly.

"How's Anna B?"

"Trying not to act too upset," he told her his arm going round her to kiss her forehead.

"I'm going to get the girls in bed and go over to keep her company for a little bit until you find out something," Syd told him.

"Honey?"

"Francis don't start. I need something to do since I can't go with you," she firmly stated.

"I wasn't going to say that," he started. "It's just you'll have to come with me I'll have to take your van."

"My new van…" she cried memories of her bullet ridden Jeep Cherokee coming to mind.

"Hurry up if you want to come," he answered her thinking too it would be a good idea for her to go to Anna B's.

"I'm right behind you," she told him going to inform the kids and set down the ground rules.

Derry Plaza

It was shortly before nine as they came upon the small plaza that was around the corner from Anna B and Sumner's. Gage spotted Sumner's pickup parked in front of the little mini mart even before he and Sydney pulled in Trivette right behind them. Parking right beside it both he and Sydney got out. Nothing looked out of place to Gage as he stood waiting for Syd before proceeding around to the driver's side of the truck. Coming from the other direction Trivette cautious pulled open the door all three peering inside seeing nothing.

"No blood, no sign of a struggle," Gage dryly commented.

"I'm going inside and see if anyone remembers seeing anything," Syd told the two of them having brought the latest pictures of the young couple that Anna B had sent to her via the email.

Trivette was all ready on the phone to forensics and then Walker while Gage had begun looking inside the truck a little more extensively for a clue of any sort to where Sumner had gone.

"Wait up Syd," he called out following her towards the little store. Catching up to her he pulled open the door letting her go in first. Both rangers took in their surroundings noting the surveillance cameras through out the place.

Walking up to the counter Gage identified them as Texas Rangers to the young cashier asking if he remembered seeing a friend of theirs. Syd handed the man a picture of Sumner and Anna B.

"Oh yeah I remember him he comes in with his wife all the time," the clerk answered.

"Was he in here tonight?" Sydney asked.

"Yep just before I went for my dinner break. He bought a jug of milk and some of those Carmel candies that his wife likes," he helpfully told them.

"Did you notice when he left if he was talking to anyone?" Gage asked.

"I'm sorry I really wasn't paying attention I was more worried about turning my cash over to the other clerk so that I could go for dinner," he confessed.

"Do you think we could have a look at the security tapes?" Syd questioned.

"I'll have to call Mr. Thomallin he's the owner and the only one that would have access to them."

"If you could do that we'd really appreciate it," Syd smiled.

"Sure thing Ranger," the young man smiled back picking up the phone.

Within minutes the owner was on the phone letting them know he would be right down. Trivette had come inside now too to let the partners know forensics was on the way.

"Syd why don't I take you over to Anna B's?" Gage asked and come back.

"Gage this isn't that strenuous," she answered.

"I know Honey…"

Frowning at him she sighed saying, "All right let's go."

They walked silently to the car Gage opening the door for her. "Syd I hope you're not mad," he began.

"Frustrated is more the word," she answered. "Come on let's get moving so you can get back and find him."

Smiling at his wife Gage went around the van and got in. "I do love you, you know," he told her.

"Yeah lucky thing for you," she quipped Gage starting and putting the van in gear.

Nearing the Sumner residence Syd's eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure going round the side of the house. "Gage look!" she shouted pointing the same time at the darting figure.

"Syd call for backup," Gage told her jumping out to give chase.

"What am I?" she muttered under her breath drawing her gun to follow.

Gage easily caught up to the man who had disappeared around the side of the house shouting out, "Texas Ranger, freeze!"

Instead of stopping the individual took off on a dead run around the other side of the house to come face to face with Sydney who stood gun drawn and aimed at him. "Oh my God," she exclaimed recognizing him. "How on earth did you ever get out?"

"Hands on the back of your head," Gage was barking out coming up behind the perp to handcuff him and spin him around.

"Hello Gage, Sydney long time no see," Hunter Blake smugly greeted them.

Sydney was all ready dialling walking away to leave Gage to deal with Blake. "Trivette," she hissed into the phone beginning to explain about Blake. "How in hell did he get out?"

"I don't know Syd but I'm going to have Alex find out for us," Trivette replied.

"I've got to go before Gage kills him," Syd shouted into the phone hearing her husband's voice growing louder as he argued with Hunter. Swinging around she hung up the phone without as much as good bye to Trivette.

Anna B had come outside stopping dead in her tracks at the sight of Blake in Gage's custody. Hunter's eyes had caught hers at the same precise moment and called out to her trying to shake Gage's hold on him. Gage in turn had held tight to Hunter's arm yanking him back away from Anna B slamming him against the side of the house.

"What's he doing here?" Anna B cried out to Gage. Sydney quickly put her arm around her to support her, the girl visibly shaken, tears all ready starting down her cheeks.

"Annabelle I just wanted to see you to tell you how sorry I was for what I did," Hunter was loudly pleading with her.

"Shut up Hunter," Gage barked.

Paying no attention Hunter droned on, "Please Honey we were good together it can be that way again, we can be together again."

"I said shut up," Gage shouted again pressing Hunter's face hard into the side of the house once more.

Breaking away from Sydney Anna B her mind working almost as fast as her computer began flailing her fists at Hunter her blows hitting Gage as much as they were Blake. Her voice was screaming at him, "Where is he Hunter? Where is he? I know you've done something to him… Where is he? Tell me where he is?"

With gun drawn Sydney took custody of Blake moving to the front of the house with him while Gage took a screaming crying Anna B in his arms and held tight to her.

"Anna B, Annabelle," Gage tried to take control of her but to no avail.

"Gage you know as well as I do that he had something to do with Sumner not coming home," she ranted on.

"Shh Honey I don't know what happened, you are probably right but we have to handle this carefully until we get Sumner home safe. You hear me?" he questioned as she sobbed against his chest.

Finally the sobs slowed until they were tiny gasps of air. "Are you okay for now?" Gage cautiously asked watching as she regained her composure enough to nod her head yes. "Okay then I'm going to take Hunter in and Sydney is going to stay with you." He paused a moment knowing the next part was going to be hard for her to hear. "We found Sumner's truck at the mini mart in Derry Plaza. He had all ready bought the milk it was in the truck. The clerk in the store remembers him being in right around the dinner hour, he called his boss to come down so we can get a look at the security tapes. It hasn't been that long we are going to find him," he pulled her tighter as he spoke."

"All right Gage," she whispered allowing him to lead her around to the front of the house.

Around front Trivette had all ready arrived and taken custody of Blake helping to load him into transport. Sydney was on the phone talking to Alex arranging for a restraining order knowing they didn't have anything to really hold Blake on.

"Give me the phone," Gage motioned taking it from Sydney in mid sentence. "Alex," he said into the phone. "Can you extend that restraining order to cover my wife and kids?" he asked.

"Gage," Syd yelled trying to grab the phone back from him as he held his arm up high turning out of her reach.

"Thanks a lot Alex," Gage told her handing the phone back to his wife.

"Very funny Gage," she glared at him.

"Who's being funny?" he questioned answering himself with, "When you become one person again that's when I'll stop having restraining orders issued to protect you."

"Sydney are you staying here?" Trivette was interrupting. "I think in light of all that has been going on you should and protect Anna B."

"Maybe we should have a car out front," Gage suggested eyeing Syd for a reaction luckily she seemed all right with it.

"Syd," Anna B spoke up, "Maybe we should go to your place… I mean the kids are there and I… I just don't want to be here right now without Matt."

"Of course," Sydney answered putting her arm around her friend to steer her inside. "Let's get your things together and Gage will drive us over there."

She nodded her head her eyes catching Hunter sitting in the back of the police car a new found hate coming over her as she whispered aloud at the smirking Blake, "If you did anything to hurt Matt in anyway I'll kill you myself."

With the girls disappearing inside Trivette began to ask? "Think there is a connection?"

"It's just too coincidental not to be," Gage absently answered watching as the car with Blake pulled away from the curb.

"I agree," he admitted. "Walker is going to meet us at headquarters we'll wait until you get there to see what Mr. Blake has to say," he added knowing Gage had used restraint when he last encountered Blake.

"Be there as soon as I can," Gage answered watching Trivette get in his car before he went inside to join his wife and Anna B.

Headquarters

Gage hurriedly made his way into the office when he got to headquarters what had happened that evening still on his mind. When they had gotten home Anna B had taken her stuff into the spare bedroom while Sydney quickly told him what she had learnt from Alex about Blake's release. "It seems that our boy Hunter has pull in high places. Supposedly from diminished capacity brought on by his incarceration his parole hearing was brought up early. There was no argument by anyone the board just granted him parole on his first attempt. The warden said it was like they were almost afraid to say no. Alex is going to launch an investigation into the whole affair," she had quietly said.

"All set?" Gage had cut her off seeing Anna B enter the kitchen behind Syd.

"Yeah," she tried to smile only to have tears well in her eyes again.

First giving Anna B a hug and promising that he would be in touch no matter what time of day or night he turned to Syd to pull her close. "The police guard is out front…" he began as Anna B slipped out of the kitchen to go into the study and flip on the computer. Gage waited until she was out of earshot once more before speaking to Sydney again. "Look I know you want to do as much as you can to find Matt and look after Anna B… Syd just don't do anything to put you or the baby in…"

"Gage we are my first priority I promise," she answered cutting him off before he could finish wrapping her arms around his waist.

"You have to get your sleep," he was babying her.

"No choice Gage I run out of steam and that's it I'm sleeping," she replied rubbing her tummy as the baby kicked wildly. "Your son isn't quite ready to nap," she smiled as Gage looked down at her belly feeling the strong kick too as she leaned against him.

"What makes you so sure that it is a son?" Gage asked.

"I just do and we aren't discussing it until you find Matt," she told him lifting her eyes to his face.

Giving her a quick kiss and whispering, "I'll be home as soon as I can hopefully with good news."

She had whispered, "I hope so too," letting him pull away from her.

"Gage," Walker interrupted his thoughts.

"Yeah," he answered getting his mind back to business.

"Let's you and I tackle Blake, he all ready knows you hate him let's see if I can gain his confidence," Walker told him.

"Okay Boss," Gage agreed.

Together the two rangers headed for interrogation C while Trivette went to follow up with what forensics had found out about Sumner's truck.

Interrogation C

Gage yanked open the door to the interrogation room going in a head of Walker. As the door softly closed behind the senior ranger Gage began to talk, "Mr. Hunter Blake I thought we'd seen the end of you but I guess we're just not that lucky. You must just like my wife beating the tar out of you."

"I didn't come looking for trouble I just came to try and make peace with Annabelle and get our lives back on track," Blake defensively answered.

"Anna B's life is on track she's quite happily married and doesn't need you interfering with that," Gage snapped slapping Hunter in the side of the head at the same time.

Blake ignored the slap quick to reply, "That marriage was a mistake I know she loves me. You'll see once we talk she will be forgetting this new husband like he never even existed. He is just going to up and disappear."

"He's only going to disappear if you did something to him," Gage challenged. "That isn't the case is it Hunter?" Gage asked slapping the side of his head again.

"Don't do that," Blake cried out.

"I asked you a question," Gage kept on ignoring Blake. "Did you do something to Anna B's husband? Has something happened to him Hunter?" he asked punctuating each question with another slap to the head.

"I said don't do that," Blake cried out loosing his temper jumping up his fist flying out wildly at the same time at Gage.

Gage was ready for the punch easily blocking it, turning the tables and putting Hunter in a choke hold.

"Enough Gage," Walker intervened. Gage ignored him until Walker shouted out again, "I said enough Gage."

As if finally hearing Walker Gage argued back, "He knows something about Sumner."

"Choking him to death won't get our answers now let him go."

Gage stood there a moment more his voice dropping low bringing his lips close to Blake's ear. "If it was up to me I'd snap your scrawny little neck," he told him before dropping him to the floor.

"Gage get out of here now that's an order," Walker growled.

Standing a minute more he looked down at Hunter with all the contempt he could muster before saying, "With pleasure." Turning he went to the door opening it to exit slamming it behind him.

Going into the observation room Gage was just in time to see Walker put his hand under Blake's arm and help him to his feet. Reaching over he flipped on the sound to hear Walker say, "Gage is just a bit of a hothead when he thinks he's right. He's known Annabelle a long time and is very protective of her."

"No harm done. Once Annabelle and I patch things up I'm sure Gage and I will be able to come to terms too," Hunter replied brushing himself off.

"Fat chance," Gage mumbled to himself under his breath.

"See that might just be a problem," Walker began adding, "For now anyway."

"What do you mean?" Blake asked taking a seat in the chair Walker had pulled out for him.

"Well it's just that Anna B has requested that we make sure you stay away from her for awhile. Myself I think it's wrong but it's not up to me to decide," Walker told him.

"If I could just see her…"

"It's not going to happen right away," Walker cut in. "Right now she is in an emotional turmoil. Her husband of only a couple of months has disappeared and we suspect it could be foul play. Then seeing you again… she is going to need time to know her own mind before she considers seeing you again."

"I know that she's going to want to see me… she's not really in love with him once he's out of her life…"

"I truly believe you might be right… if something has happened to Matt…" Walker left the sentence unfinished. "If I was you I'd just be giving her a little space to get over this I'm sure she'll turn to you," he continued.

"You're probably right Ranger Walker," Hunter agreed thinking over Walker's words.

"So I can trust you to obey the restraining order?"

"Yeah I'll take your advise Ranger… take it slow let her get this marriage behind her and once she sees Ranger Matt Sumner just isn't coming back she'll come running back to me," he said a grin coming across his face.

"I'm sure you're right," Walker told him resting his hand on Hunter's shoulder.

"Is there anything else?" Hunter asked.

"No you're free to go for now," Walker told him.

"Thanks Ranger Walker," Blake smiled standing to leave.

Gage waited a few moments to make sure Blake had left before he joined Walker in the corridor. "Rangers Kinsey and Dillon are picking up the tail," Walker informed him as they walked together back to the office to join Trivette.

"Hey guys they lifted a partial thumb print off the door handle," he greeted them.

"Got a name?" Gage quizzed.

"Jack Daines," Trivette replied.

"Doesn't ring any bells," Gage commented.

"Nothing in Sumner's arrest records either about a Jack Daines, he's no stranger to the law," he began telling them. "He has been in and out of trouble since he was twelve but get this he was locked up in Huntsville with our Mr. Blake up until a year ago when he got out. He's been laying low nothing at all till now."

"Got a current address on him?" Walker asked.

"Nothing he's just no where."