Latimier Chapter 4- by Lorrie Ellis
Email: lorrieann@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series
"Walker, Texas Ranger". The characters belong to CBS Productions, Top Kick
Productions, Washo Brother's Entertainment, etc, but the story is ours. ALL
DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)
"Daniel, set up the TV and VCR in my room. I want Ranger Cooke to see this." Latimier ordered.
"Right away sir." Daniel quickly gathered the equipment and set it up in Latimier's bedroom.
"What's going on?" Sydney asked as Daniel entered the room.
Daniel turned to her. "You need to be quiet. He's on his way in here and has something he wants you to see, but he didn't say what."
Sydney didn't speak again, but watched Daniel hook up the equipment and stiffened as she heard Latimier's footsteps coming towards the room.
The door opened and Latimier's looming figure entered. "Finished?" He asked Daniel.
"All set." Daniel replied as he left the room.
Latimier popped in a tape of the events that he had viewed on his computer screen earlier and after picking up the remote, joined Sydney on the bed. "Are you comfortable? Can you see the screen from your position?" She didn't move. "I asked you a question and you had better answer."
"I can see it fine. What are going to watch anyway?"
"It's a new favorite movie of mine. I call it 'Death of a Ranger'." Latimier laughed as he hit the 'play' button and the VCR hummed to life.
Sydney watched as Gage's image appeared on the screen, lying in the hospital bed and she cried out in horror as she saw him begin to struggle to breath and the monitors began to alarm. "What have you done to him?" She screamed.
Latimier pulled his arm behind his head in a relaxed position. "Just watch, my love."
Sydney had to remind herself that this was real. She was watching Gage laying in a hospital bed, possibly dying. The screen went blank for a minute. "Just a slight technical difficulty." Latimier explained and watched for Sydney's reaction to the next image.
When the picture appeared again, a figure was lying on the bed with a sheet pulled over their head and Sydney was gripped with fear and grief as she saw Walker and Trivette lower their heads and heard the doctor call the time of death. "No! No, that's not him! He's not dead! I would know if he was dead! That's not him!" Sydney screamed hysterically.
Latimier began to laugh. He let the tape continue to play. "I thought you might enjoy seeing it over and over again, so I had Dobbs loop it. It will play over and over again and then rewind and play again until you admit that Ranger Gage is dead and can no longer interfere with what's between us."
"There is NOTHING between us!" Sydney screamed out, fighting against her bonds. "NOTHING!"
Latimier quietly left the room, leaving the sound up on the TV so Sydney was exposed to the same horrific scene over and over again.
*******
Meanwhile, back at St. Matthews, Walker and Trivette hurried to the ICU to check on their friend. They waited just outside the door until a petite doctor appeared. "Doctor, how is he?"
"The young Ranger?" She asked. Walker nodded his head. "He's stable. He was very lucky. We almost didn't get him back."
"But he's going to be OK?" Trivette asked.
"He needs lots of rest right now and we're going to monitor him very closely for the next few days, but at this time I'm cautiously optimistic."
"Thank you doctor. By the way, will you be handling Gage's case now?" Walker asked.
"Yes. Sorry, I'm Dr. Elizabeth Shayler." She extended her hand.
"I'm Ranger Cordell Walker and this is Ranger James Trivette."
The doctor smiled. "Pleased to meet you both. I suppose you'll want a list of everyone allowed in this room, right?"
Walker nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"Not a problem. I'll have it to you in about an hour."
"Thank you. Just give it to the guard outside his door."
The doctor stared at the two Rangers for a moment. "Would you like to see him?"
Walker nodded and the doctor led he and Trivette into the room. "He's sedated right now to keep him still and give his body time to heal from the flat line, but he has been conscious for a brief moment right after he was brought in here."
"Really?" Trivette asked, hopefully. "Did he seem OK?"
"I said that I was cautiously optimistic about his condition. We'll just have to continue to monitor his progress. We had better let him rest." Dr. Shayler said as she escorted the two Rangers out. "I take it that you won't be sticking around."
"No ma'am. We're going after the man responsible for all of this." Trivette replied.
"I thought Dr. Martin admitted to trying to kill Ranger Gage."
"Yes ma'am and he is in custody." Walker said, leaving it at that.
"We'll take good care of him. I promise." Dr. Shayler said in a comforting tone. "Does he have any family?"
"A sister, but we haven't been able to locate her." Walker replied. The doctor nodded and watched the Rangers leave.
*********
Latimier and Daniel had hiked up to the pits and were beginning to plot their trap for Walker and Trivette. "They should be here soon." Latimier said, looking at his watch. "It's nearly midnight."
"Good. Looks like everything is set." Daniel said after covering the last pit. "We'll have them follow us up here and while we know where the pits are, they won't."
Latimier looked at his young accomplice. "You had better be right Daniel, or you will pay the price." Daniel's face looked grim for a minute. Latimier didn't miss the look. "No worries. Right, young Daniel?"
"Right." Daniel replied as the two men returned to the campground.
Latimier threw his coat over the nearest chair. "I'm going to check on the girl. You keep an eye out for them."
********
Sydney had to force the sounds and images of Gage out of her head. She knew she had to work on getting her hands free before Latimier returned to stake his claim on her. She had almost wiggled her right hand loose when she heard footsteps outside the door.
Latimier opened the heavy door and stared at his captive before entering. He could see her tear-stained face even in the dimly lit room. "Ah, my poor little Sydney. Has it sunk in yet? Your boyfriend and partner, Ranger Francis Gage, is dead and you'll never see him again."
She turned her face towards Latimier. "Would you at least allow me to pay my last respects?" She asked in a humble voice.
Latimier shook his head. "No. I'm sorry dear girl, but that won't be possible. You see, once Rangers Walker and Trivette are taken care of tonight, you and I will be leaving for the French Riviera where we will begin a new life as husband and wife."
Sydney cringed as Latimier leaned close and kissed her lips. He laughed as he stared at her before leaving the room again.
Sydney fought back the tears. The last lips that had touched hers had been Gage's and now that touch was lost forever. She struggled with her wrist bonds until she managed to wiggle her right hand free. Reaching over, she quickly untied her left hand and then reached for her ankles.
Pressing her head against the door, hoping that she had enough strength to make it down the stairs. She paused for a moment and listened for footsteps. When she was certain that the coast was clear, she quietly opened the door and found herself face to face with Daniel. "What do you think you're doing?" He whispered harshly.
"Escaping. Are you going to help me or not?" She asked with determination as she practically fell into the young man's arms.
"You'll need these." He handed her the clothes she had been wearing when she and Gage had been kidnapped along with her service weapon. "Go on, get dressed. He'll be back any minute."
Sydney cautiously took her clothes from Daniel and slipped them on, tucking her gun inside her waistband. When she opened the door again, Daniel was gone. She started towards the staircase and had to grab the railing to steady herself as a wave of dizziness overtook her. "Come on Cooke. You can do this. One foot in front of the other." Taking her time and listening for any noises in the old building, she finally made it to the bottom step and realized that she had no idea where she was or which way was out.
*********
Walker checked his watch as he pulled into the empty parking lot. "Are you sure the address is right?" He asked Trivette.
"Yeah. 212 Parker's Corners." He looked at the street sign. "This is right. But where is he? It's almost midnight."
"He'll be here." Walker replied as headlights approached from behind. "We've got company."
The truck pulled up along side of Walker's RAM and the driver rolled down the window, waving a gun in Walker's face. "Get in the back and I'll take you to your missing Ranger."
"And if we refuse?" Walker asked.
"You'll have one less Ranger to worry about."
Walker and Trivette got out of the RAM and climbed into the back of the pick-up truck. When it began to bump along the gravel entrance to the campground, Trivette turned to Walker who was leaning against the cab of the truck. "What now?"
"We wait and hopefully find Sydney, unharmed." Walker replied, his eyes staring straight ahead.
The truck came to an abrupt stop. The driver and passenger got out, each training a gun on Trivette and Walker. "You'll find Latimier at the top of that ridge." Walker studied the height of the ridge, while listening to their captors. "You have twenty minutes to find him or the girl dies."
"Do we at least get a flashlight?" Trivette asked.
The man who had been driving the truck looked at the two Rangers. "I'd get going if I were you."
Walker and Trivette set out towards the ridge with nothing to light their way.
"I'll bet you $10 bucks they last no longer than five minutes." One of the men said.
The other man smiled. "I'll take that bet. They're Texas Rangers and I think they'll last the full twenty."
"But do you think they'll find Latimier before they fall into one of the pits?"
"No." Both men began to laugh. "By the way Ed, where's Daniel?"
"With the boss, I think." Ed replied.
"Good. Let's go have a little fun with the lady Ranger."
Ed waved his hands in front of him. "I don't know Mike. The boss has pretty much staked his claims on her and I don't want him gunning after me."
"I didn't mean that way, you idiot. I just meant have a little fun with her. You know, tease her about her dead boyfriend and all."
"Oh." Ed nodded. "You mean torment her?"
Mike nodded, smiling. "Yeah, torment her."
"Well now, that's different." Both men started towards the house.
Daniel had been watching the front of the building ever since Ed and Mike had come back with Walker and Trivette. "What are they up to now?" He asked aloud. Just then he heard a noise on the staircase. Turning, he found Sydney standing on the bottom step, holding the handrail. "You had better hide. Ed and Mike are headed this way. I'll try to turn them around, but in the meantime, just get out of here." He tossed her a set of keys. "My car's out back." Sydney looked to her left and then to her right. "That way." Daniel pointed. "Take the car and go as far as you can get."
Sydney reached out one hand and caught the keys. "Walker and Trivette are here, aren't they?" She stared at Daniel.
He nodded. "Mike and Ed brought them in a few minutes ago and gave them twenty minutes to climb the ridge, in the dark. What they don't know is that the whole ridge is full of mining pits. If they fall into one, they're not too likely to be coming out."
Sydney's eyes grew large. "I have to warn them."
Daniel looked out the window again. "You have to get out of here. Go on, now!"
Sydney scurried around the corner and out the back door just as Mike and Ed came in the front. "Daniel, my boy!" Ed greeted. "Where's that fine female Ranger hiding?"
"She's in Latimier's bedroom and he locked the door when he left, so I guess he plans to keep her to himself. I thought he would share her, at least for one night." Daniel replied.
"Shoot! We were hoping to have a little fun with her. You know rag her about her boyfriend's death." Mike said.
Daniel knew he was taking a big gamble with his next sentence, but it would throw off any suspicion that Sydney had escaped. "Well, you could always shoot the lock off I guess, but then you'll have to explain it all to Latimier when he comes back."
Mike and Ed looked at each other for a moment. "No. Don't' think I want to cross the boss. He's not what I would call an even tempered man." Ed said.
"Why don't we all go grab a beer?" Mike suggested, looking at Daniel.
"Thanks anyway guys, but I have to finish this paperwork for Latimier." He picked up a file.
"Maybe next time." Ed said as he and Mike left the building.
Daniel waited until the two men were in their truck and pulling out of the campground before he walked to the back door. He knew he hadn't heard his car crank up and wondered what had happened to Sydney.
Cracking the door, he whispered loudly. "Ranger Cooke?"
Sydney stepped out from behind the bushes, her gun aimed at Daniel. "Are they gone?" She asked.
Daniel nodded. "Why are you still here? If Latimier catches you, there's no telling what will happen."
"I'll take my chances. With Gage dead, I have nothing to lose." She spoke in a very unemotional voice, leading Daniel to believe that she was still in shock over Gage's death.
"Sydney, please. If you won't leave on your own, then let me take you out of here." Daniel reached for her hand. She jerked it away.
"No. I'm not going anywhere until Travis Latimier is dead." She said coldly. "He will pay for what he's done to Gage."
********
Walker and Trivette were only a quarter of the way up the ridge when they began to encounter loose dirt. Walker stopped and bent down, lifting a handful of soil to his face. "Trivette, we'll need to take it slower through here. The terrain is rougher and the dirt is looser."
"Any reason?" Trivette asked.
Walker shrugged his shoulders as he let the dirt drop back to the ground. "Could be a number of things. Right now, mining comes to mind."
"What kind of mining would be up here?"
"Possibly copper, I don't really know, but if it is, then there's a good chance that the pits have been left uncovered."
"Uncovered? How deep are we talking about Walker?" Trivette asked.
Walker stopped just at the edge of one of the pits. "Let's just say that we don't really want to find out how deep they are." He moved the branches from the top of the pit and threw a rock down. They waited several seconds before they finally heard it hit bottom.
"You're right. I don't want to know how deep it is." Trivette replied.
Latimier stood at the top of the ridge, wearing night vision goggles so he could monitor the Ranger's progress. "That's it Rangers. A little more to the left."
Trivette was walking just a step behind Walker, trying to take the exact same path he was taking when suddenly he felt the ground begin to give way beneath him. "Walker!" He called out.
Walker was on his belly in an instant, his hand outstretched to grab Trivette's wrists as he began to fall into the edge of a pit. "Hang on Trivette."
"Geeze Walker, don't let me fall." Trivette pleaded as Walker grabbed both of his partner's wrists.
A smile began to spread across Latimier's face as he watched Walker desperately try to pull Trivette to safety. "Ranger Walker." He called out. "Let your partner drop, or I'll shoot the girl!"
Trivette looked up into Walker's eyes. "Walker?" He questioned. "Sydney's been through enough."
"We don't know that he even has Sydney with him." Walker reasoned.
"But we don't know that he doesn't." Trivette argued.
"Yes you do." Sydney whispered as she took a position behind a nearby tree.
"Stay out of sight Sydney. Latimier is watching us." He continued to hold onto Trivette's wrists.
Daniel stood behind another tree, watching the Rangers. "Sydney, this is the number three. It's not that deep. The drop won't hurt him, but Latimier doesn't know that."
Sydney looked at Daniel and they both heard Walker's voice. "Sydney, who's your friend?"
"Daniel. He works for Latimier, but he helped me escape."
"Can we trust him?" Walker asked. Sydney looked into Daniel's eyes. They were pleading with her to believe in him.
"I think so." She replied, looking at Daniel.
"Trivette?" Walker asked.
"Do it." Trivette said, letting go of Walker.
"Ranger Walker, you have ten seconds to make your choice, but either Ranger Trivette or Ranger Cooke dies right her, right now."
"Trivette, we don't have to do this. We know that Sydney isn't with him." Walker hesitated.
Latimier took careful aim and fired a single shot from his rifle. The bullet whizzed by Walker's head, causing him to release Trivette's wrists. Trivette's voice could be heard screaming out until he hit the bottom of the pit.
"He had better be OK." Sydney quipped at Daniel.
"I swear to you. It's not that deep." Daniel stood beside of Sydney as they watched Walker begin to make his way up the steeper part of the ridge, towards Latimier.
Sydney followed, being careful to hide herself behind the trees and foliage, not wanting to lose the edge she had over Latimier who thought she was still securely tied to his bed. Daniel was on Sydney's heels every step of the way, making sure she didn't step near any of the other pits.
Walker's focus was incredible. He crept along the surface like a cat, very sure of where he was stepping even though he had never scaled the ridge before in his life. When he made it to the top, Latimier stood in front of him, laughing. "And then there was one." He chided.
"You may want to re-think those numbers." Sydney announced as she and Daniel approached from the other side.
Latimier turned quickly, firing the rifle and losing his balance at the same time. Daniel went down as the bullet entered his chest and Sydney and Walker looked on as Latimier teetered near the edge of one of the pits. Before either could reach him, he fell in, backwards. Neither Ranger heard him hit the bottom.
Sydney looked into Walker's eyes. "Do you think he survived?"
Walker shook his head. "We'll have someone excavate it and find the body." He looked at Sydney again. "Are you OK?"
She slowly shook her head and began to cry. "Walker, I know about Gage. Latimier made me watch a tape he had made from the hospital security camera. I saw him die and I . . ."
Walker shook his head as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "He's not dead Sydney. He had a real close call, but he's not dead."
Sydney looked at Walker in disbelief. "But, the sheet was pulled over his head and the monitor showed a flat line. Walker, what . . .?"
"We had to make Latimier think he was dead so he wouldn't kill you before we could get here."
Sydney knelt down beside of Daniel. "I wouldn't have made it without him."
"I gathered as much. I'm sorry he didn't make it." He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. "We had better go find Trivette."
To be continued . . .
"Daniel, set up the TV and VCR in my room. I want Ranger Cooke to see this." Latimier ordered.
"Right away sir." Daniel quickly gathered the equipment and set it up in Latimier's bedroom.
"What's going on?" Sydney asked as Daniel entered the room.
Daniel turned to her. "You need to be quiet. He's on his way in here and has something he wants you to see, but he didn't say what."
Sydney didn't speak again, but watched Daniel hook up the equipment and stiffened as she heard Latimier's footsteps coming towards the room.
The door opened and Latimier's looming figure entered. "Finished?" He asked Daniel.
"All set." Daniel replied as he left the room.
Latimier popped in a tape of the events that he had viewed on his computer screen earlier and after picking up the remote, joined Sydney on the bed. "Are you comfortable? Can you see the screen from your position?" She didn't move. "I asked you a question and you had better answer."
"I can see it fine. What are going to watch anyway?"
"It's a new favorite movie of mine. I call it 'Death of a Ranger'." Latimier laughed as he hit the 'play' button and the VCR hummed to life.
Sydney watched as Gage's image appeared on the screen, lying in the hospital bed and she cried out in horror as she saw him begin to struggle to breath and the monitors began to alarm. "What have you done to him?" She screamed.
Latimier pulled his arm behind his head in a relaxed position. "Just watch, my love."
Sydney had to remind herself that this was real. She was watching Gage laying in a hospital bed, possibly dying. The screen went blank for a minute. "Just a slight technical difficulty." Latimier explained and watched for Sydney's reaction to the next image.
When the picture appeared again, a figure was lying on the bed with a sheet pulled over their head and Sydney was gripped with fear and grief as she saw Walker and Trivette lower their heads and heard the doctor call the time of death. "No! No, that's not him! He's not dead! I would know if he was dead! That's not him!" Sydney screamed hysterically.
Latimier began to laugh. He let the tape continue to play. "I thought you might enjoy seeing it over and over again, so I had Dobbs loop it. It will play over and over again and then rewind and play again until you admit that Ranger Gage is dead and can no longer interfere with what's between us."
"There is NOTHING between us!" Sydney screamed out, fighting against her bonds. "NOTHING!"
Latimier quietly left the room, leaving the sound up on the TV so Sydney was exposed to the same horrific scene over and over again.
*******
Meanwhile, back at St. Matthews, Walker and Trivette hurried to the ICU to check on their friend. They waited just outside the door until a petite doctor appeared. "Doctor, how is he?"
"The young Ranger?" She asked. Walker nodded his head. "He's stable. He was very lucky. We almost didn't get him back."
"But he's going to be OK?" Trivette asked.
"He needs lots of rest right now and we're going to monitor him very closely for the next few days, but at this time I'm cautiously optimistic."
"Thank you doctor. By the way, will you be handling Gage's case now?" Walker asked.
"Yes. Sorry, I'm Dr. Elizabeth Shayler." She extended her hand.
"I'm Ranger Cordell Walker and this is Ranger James Trivette."
The doctor smiled. "Pleased to meet you both. I suppose you'll want a list of everyone allowed in this room, right?"
Walker nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"Not a problem. I'll have it to you in about an hour."
"Thank you. Just give it to the guard outside his door."
The doctor stared at the two Rangers for a moment. "Would you like to see him?"
Walker nodded and the doctor led he and Trivette into the room. "He's sedated right now to keep him still and give his body time to heal from the flat line, but he has been conscious for a brief moment right after he was brought in here."
"Really?" Trivette asked, hopefully. "Did he seem OK?"
"I said that I was cautiously optimistic about his condition. We'll just have to continue to monitor his progress. We had better let him rest." Dr. Shayler said as she escorted the two Rangers out. "I take it that you won't be sticking around."
"No ma'am. We're going after the man responsible for all of this." Trivette replied.
"I thought Dr. Martin admitted to trying to kill Ranger Gage."
"Yes ma'am and he is in custody." Walker said, leaving it at that.
"We'll take good care of him. I promise." Dr. Shayler said in a comforting tone. "Does he have any family?"
"A sister, but we haven't been able to locate her." Walker replied. The doctor nodded and watched the Rangers leave.
*********
Latimier and Daniel had hiked up to the pits and were beginning to plot their trap for Walker and Trivette. "They should be here soon." Latimier said, looking at his watch. "It's nearly midnight."
"Good. Looks like everything is set." Daniel said after covering the last pit. "We'll have them follow us up here and while we know where the pits are, they won't."
Latimier looked at his young accomplice. "You had better be right Daniel, or you will pay the price." Daniel's face looked grim for a minute. Latimier didn't miss the look. "No worries. Right, young Daniel?"
"Right." Daniel replied as the two men returned to the campground.
Latimier threw his coat over the nearest chair. "I'm going to check on the girl. You keep an eye out for them."
********
Sydney had to force the sounds and images of Gage out of her head. She knew she had to work on getting her hands free before Latimier returned to stake his claim on her. She had almost wiggled her right hand loose when she heard footsteps outside the door.
Latimier opened the heavy door and stared at his captive before entering. He could see her tear-stained face even in the dimly lit room. "Ah, my poor little Sydney. Has it sunk in yet? Your boyfriend and partner, Ranger Francis Gage, is dead and you'll never see him again."
She turned her face towards Latimier. "Would you at least allow me to pay my last respects?" She asked in a humble voice.
Latimier shook his head. "No. I'm sorry dear girl, but that won't be possible. You see, once Rangers Walker and Trivette are taken care of tonight, you and I will be leaving for the French Riviera where we will begin a new life as husband and wife."
Sydney cringed as Latimier leaned close and kissed her lips. He laughed as he stared at her before leaving the room again.
Sydney fought back the tears. The last lips that had touched hers had been Gage's and now that touch was lost forever. She struggled with her wrist bonds until she managed to wiggle her right hand free. Reaching over, she quickly untied her left hand and then reached for her ankles.
Pressing her head against the door, hoping that she had enough strength to make it down the stairs. She paused for a moment and listened for footsteps. When she was certain that the coast was clear, she quietly opened the door and found herself face to face with Daniel. "What do you think you're doing?" He whispered harshly.
"Escaping. Are you going to help me or not?" She asked with determination as she practically fell into the young man's arms.
"You'll need these." He handed her the clothes she had been wearing when she and Gage had been kidnapped along with her service weapon. "Go on, get dressed. He'll be back any minute."
Sydney cautiously took her clothes from Daniel and slipped them on, tucking her gun inside her waistband. When she opened the door again, Daniel was gone. She started towards the staircase and had to grab the railing to steady herself as a wave of dizziness overtook her. "Come on Cooke. You can do this. One foot in front of the other." Taking her time and listening for any noises in the old building, she finally made it to the bottom step and realized that she had no idea where she was or which way was out.
*********
Walker checked his watch as he pulled into the empty parking lot. "Are you sure the address is right?" He asked Trivette.
"Yeah. 212 Parker's Corners." He looked at the street sign. "This is right. But where is he? It's almost midnight."
"He'll be here." Walker replied as headlights approached from behind. "We've got company."
The truck pulled up along side of Walker's RAM and the driver rolled down the window, waving a gun in Walker's face. "Get in the back and I'll take you to your missing Ranger."
"And if we refuse?" Walker asked.
"You'll have one less Ranger to worry about."
Walker and Trivette got out of the RAM and climbed into the back of the pick-up truck. When it began to bump along the gravel entrance to the campground, Trivette turned to Walker who was leaning against the cab of the truck. "What now?"
"We wait and hopefully find Sydney, unharmed." Walker replied, his eyes staring straight ahead.
The truck came to an abrupt stop. The driver and passenger got out, each training a gun on Trivette and Walker. "You'll find Latimier at the top of that ridge." Walker studied the height of the ridge, while listening to their captors. "You have twenty minutes to find him or the girl dies."
"Do we at least get a flashlight?" Trivette asked.
The man who had been driving the truck looked at the two Rangers. "I'd get going if I were you."
Walker and Trivette set out towards the ridge with nothing to light their way.
"I'll bet you $10 bucks they last no longer than five minutes." One of the men said.
The other man smiled. "I'll take that bet. They're Texas Rangers and I think they'll last the full twenty."
"But do you think they'll find Latimier before they fall into one of the pits?"
"No." Both men began to laugh. "By the way Ed, where's Daniel?"
"With the boss, I think." Ed replied.
"Good. Let's go have a little fun with the lady Ranger."
Ed waved his hands in front of him. "I don't know Mike. The boss has pretty much staked his claims on her and I don't want him gunning after me."
"I didn't mean that way, you idiot. I just meant have a little fun with her. You know, tease her about her dead boyfriend and all."
"Oh." Ed nodded. "You mean torment her?"
Mike nodded, smiling. "Yeah, torment her."
"Well now, that's different." Both men started towards the house.
Daniel had been watching the front of the building ever since Ed and Mike had come back with Walker and Trivette. "What are they up to now?" He asked aloud. Just then he heard a noise on the staircase. Turning, he found Sydney standing on the bottom step, holding the handrail. "You had better hide. Ed and Mike are headed this way. I'll try to turn them around, but in the meantime, just get out of here." He tossed her a set of keys. "My car's out back." Sydney looked to her left and then to her right. "That way." Daniel pointed. "Take the car and go as far as you can get."
Sydney reached out one hand and caught the keys. "Walker and Trivette are here, aren't they?" She stared at Daniel.
He nodded. "Mike and Ed brought them in a few minutes ago and gave them twenty minutes to climb the ridge, in the dark. What they don't know is that the whole ridge is full of mining pits. If they fall into one, they're not too likely to be coming out."
Sydney's eyes grew large. "I have to warn them."
Daniel looked out the window again. "You have to get out of here. Go on, now!"
Sydney scurried around the corner and out the back door just as Mike and Ed came in the front. "Daniel, my boy!" Ed greeted. "Where's that fine female Ranger hiding?"
"She's in Latimier's bedroom and he locked the door when he left, so I guess he plans to keep her to himself. I thought he would share her, at least for one night." Daniel replied.
"Shoot! We were hoping to have a little fun with her. You know rag her about her boyfriend's death." Mike said.
Daniel knew he was taking a big gamble with his next sentence, but it would throw off any suspicion that Sydney had escaped. "Well, you could always shoot the lock off I guess, but then you'll have to explain it all to Latimier when he comes back."
Mike and Ed looked at each other for a moment. "No. Don't' think I want to cross the boss. He's not what I would call an even tempered man." Ed said.
"Why don't we all go grab a beer?" Mike suggested, looking at Daniel.
"Thanks anyway guys, but I have to finish this paperwork for Latimier." He picked up a file.
"Maybe next time." Ed said as he and Mike left the building.
Daniel waited until the two men were in their truck and pulling out of the campground before he walked to the back door. He knew he hadn't heard his car crank up and wondered what had happened to Sydney.
Cracking the door, he whispered loudly. "Ranger Cooke?"
Sydney stepped out from behind the bushes, her gun aimed at Daniel. "Are they gone?" She asked.
Daniel nodded. "Why are you still here? If Latimier catches you, there's no telling what will happen."
"I'll take my chances. With Gage dead, I have nothing to lose." She spoke in a very unemotional voice, leading Daniel to believe that she was still in shock over Gage's death.
"Sydney, please. If you won't leave on your own, then let me take you out of here." Daniel reached for her hand. She jerked it away.
"No. I'm not going anywhere until Travis Latimier is dead." She said coldly. "He will pay for what he's done to Gage."
********
Walker and Trivette were only a quarter of the way up the ridge when they began to encounter loose dirt. Walker stopped and bent down, lifting a handful of soil to his face. "Trivette, we'll need to take it slower through here. The terrain is rougher and the dirt is looser."
"Any reason?" Trivette asked.
Walker shrugged his shoulders as he let the dirt drop back to the ground. "Could be a number of things. Right now, mining comes to mind."
"What kind of mining would be up here?"
"Possibly copper, I don't really know, but if it is, then there's a good chance that the pits have been left uncovered."
"Uncovered? How deep are we talking about Walker?" Trivette asked.
Walker stopped just at the edge of one of the pits. "Let's just say that we don't really want to find out how deep they are." He moved the branches from the top of the pit and threw a rock down. They waited several seconds before they finally heard it hit bottom.
"You're right. I don't want to know how deep it is." Trivette replied.
Latimier stood at the top of the ridge, wearing night vision goggles so he could monitor the Ranger's progress. "That's it Rangers. A little more to the left."
Trivette was walking just a step behind Walker, trying to take the exact same path he was taking when suddenly he felt the ground begin to give way beneath him. "Walker!" He called out.
Walker was on his belly in an instant, his hand outstretched to grab Trivette's wrists as he began to fall into the edge of a pit. "Hang on Trivette."
"Geeze Walker, don't let me fall." Trivette pleaded as Walker grabbed both of his partner's wrists.
A smile began to spread across Latimier's face as he watched Walker desperately try to pull Trivette to safety. "Ranger Walker." He called out. "Let your partner drop, or I'll shoot the girl!"
Trivette looked up into Walker's eyes. "Walker?" He questioned. "Sydney's been through enough."
"We don't know that he even has Sydney with him." Walker reasoned.
"But we don't know that he doesn't." Trivette argued.
"Yes you do." Sydney whispered as she took a position behind a nearby tree.
"Stay out of sight Sydney. Latimier is watching us." He continued to hold onto Trivette's wrists.
Daniel stood behind another tree, watching the Rangers. "Sydney, this is the number three. It's not that deep. The drop won't hurt him, but Latimier doesn't know that."
Sydney looked at Daniel and they both heard Walker's voice. "Sydney, who's your friend?"
"Daniel. He works for Latimier, but he helped me escape."
"Can we trust him?" Walker asked. Sydney looked into Daniel's eyes. They were pleading with her to believe in him.
"I think so." She replied, looking at Daniel.
"Trivette?" Walker asked.
"Do it." Trivette said, letting go of Walker.
"Ranger Walker, you have ten seconds to make your choice, but either Ranger Trivette or Ranger Cooke dies right her, right now."
"Trivette, we don't have to do this. We know that Sydney isn't with him." Walker hesitated.
Latimier took careful aim and fired a single shot from his rifle. The bullet whizzed by Walker's head, causing him to release Trivette's wrists. Trivette's voice could be heard screaming out until he hit the bottom of the pit.
"He had better be OK." Sydney quipped at Daniel.
"I swear to you. It's not that deep." Daniel stood beside of Sydney as they watched Walker begin to make his way up the steeper part of the ridge, towards Latimier.
Sydney followed, being careful to hide herself behind the trees and foliage, not wanting to lose the edge she had over Latimier who thought she was still securely tied to his bed. Daniel was on Sydney's heels every step of the way, making sure she didn't step near any of the other pits.
Walker's focus was incredible. He crept along the surface like a cat, very sure of where he was stepping even though he had never scaled the ridge before in his life. When he made it to the top, Latimier stood in front of him, laughing. "And then there was one." He chided.
"You may want to re-think those numbers." Sydney announced as she and Daniel approached from the other side.
Latimier turned quickly, firing the rifle and losing his balance at the same time. Daniel went down as the bullet entered his chest and Sydney and Walker looked on as Latimier teetered near the edge of one of the pits. Before either could reach him, he fell in, backwards. Neither Ranger heard him hit the bottom.
Sydney looked into Walker's eyes. "Do you think he survived?"
Walker shook his head. "We'll have someone excavate it and find the body." He looked at Sydney again. "Are you OK?"
She slowly shook her head and began to cry. "Walker, I know about Gage. Latimier made me watch a tape he had made from the hospital security camera. I saw him die and I . . ."
Walker shook his head as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "He's not dead Sydney. He had a real close call, but he's not dead."
Sydney looked at Walker in disbelief. "But, the sheet was pulled over his head and the monitor showed a flat line. Walker, what . . .?"
"We had to make Latimier think he was dead so he wouldn't kill you before we could get here."
Sydney knelt down beside of Daniel. "I wouldn't have made it without him."
"I gathered as much. I'm sorry he didn't make it." He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. "We had better go find Trivette."
To be continued . . .