Watch Your Back (The Return of Latimier) Chapter 3 - 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.)
Gage sat at his desk, trying to concentrate on the computer screen, but his thoughts kept drifting to Sydney and Julie. Suddenly, he slammed his fist down hard on the desktop. "This is getting us nowhere!" He shouted.
Walker was standing in front of his desk in an instant. "Gage, I know you're upset. I know you want to find Sydney and Julie, but this is the only way to do that. You have to be patient. We don't even know where to begin to search for them. We don't know for certain who has them or where they've taken them. Now . . ."
"Walker." Trivette interrupted. "They've got Thomas Clegg and they're bringing him here for interrogation."
Walker patted Gage's shoulder. "This may be just the break we need."
Gage nodded, calming himself down somewhat. "I want in on the interrogation."
Walker shook his head in disagreement. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Walker!" Gage shouted.
"Gage, keep it up and I'll remove your from the case entirely." Walker said firmly.
Gage threw his pen down on the desk and stormed out the door.
"You want me to talk to him?" Trivette asked.
"No. Let him have some time to himself. He feels responsible for Sydney and Julie getting kidnapped."
"He had no way of knowing what was going to happen." Trivette countered.
"I know, but try to convince him of that."
Gage sat on a bench, just outside of the courthouse, his head in his hands. His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.
"Gage." He answered.
"Gage." Sydney's voice trembled. "We're OK. He said . . ."
Latimier grabbed the phone away from Sydney. "Well, well, if it isn't the man with nine lives."
Gage could feel his face turning red as his blood began to boil with anger at the sound of Latimier's voice. "Where are they? I swear Latimier, if you lay a hand on either of them, I'll . . ."
"You'll what . . . kill me? I don't think so. You see, I hold all of the cards here. I have your sister, your only living relative and your partner, or should I say girlfriend? You will do everything I say, exactly as I say, or you'll never see either of them again. Do I make myself clear?"
Gage remained silent.
Instead of speaking, Latimier grabbed Sydney by the hair, causing her to scream out.
"Yes!" Gage screamed into the phone. "You've made yourself clear, now what do you want?"
"I'll let you know in an hour or two, but if you mention to anyone that you've talked to me, you will regret it. That I promise."
Gage held the phone for a moment after the line went dead and then threw it down onto the bench, just to reach for it again to make certain that he hadn't destroyed it. He shoved it back into his pocket and then slammed his fist into the side of the building on his way back inside.
Trivette was coming out of Ranger headquarters when he saw Gage get off of the elevator. Immediately, he noticed the bloodied knuckles. "What happened to you?" He asked, nodding towards Gage's right hand.
Gage blankly looked down at his fist and rubbed his left hand over the injured knuckles. He shook his head and stared at Trivette. "I don't know."
"Come on. They just brought Clegg in and Walker's looking for you."
Gage followed Trivette into the office. "I didn't think he wanted me in on the interrogation."
"I don't know what he wants, he just said if I saw you anywhere to let you know that he was looking for you." Trivette replied and then handed Gage a box of tissues. "You may want to clean up that hand a bit before you go in there."
"Thanks." Gage replied, as he began to dab the blood from his knuckles.
"I think I have a couple of Band-Aids in my drawer here too." Trivette fumbled through his desk drawer and produced two Band-Aids.
Gage took them and quickly applied them to his knuckles and then started towards the interrogation room.
"Let me let him know that you're out here." Trivette said.
"That's OK. I'll let him know." Gage headed towards the interrogation room before Trivette could stop him.
Walker was questioning Clegg when Gage barged into the room without knocking. "Where are they Clegg? Where did he take them?" Gage had Clegg up, out of his chair and backed against the wall within seconds.
"Gage! That's enough!" Walker separated the two men and then shoved Gage towards the door. "Now get out! I'll talk with you later!"
Gage slammed his open hand against the door after Walker closed it and then stood, leaned against the door frame.
"Give him a few minutes with Clegg. If he knows anything, he'll get it out of him." Trivette said.
Walker stood in front of Clegg. "I want some answers, Clegg. Now tell me who you're working for."
"I ain't telling you nothin'." Clegg replied.
Walker bent low, until he was nose to nose with Clegg. "Let me explain something to you. Two women, very important to the Ranger that was just in here were kidnapped last night. Now, I'm angry about it, but my anger is nothing compared to what he's feeling and unless you start talking right now, I'm going to let him back in here while I step out for a cup of coffee."
"You can't do that. You're sworn to protect all citizens, even me." Clegg said.
"If you want my protection, you had better start telling me what you know about your employer." Walker replied, standing up straight. "I'll give you to the count of three. One - Two . . ."
"OK, OK. Travis Latimier. We were cellmates in Huntsville a few years ago. He pulled me in for two simple jobs. All I had to do was make him four bombs and he only needed me to plant one, he took the others."
"You planted yours at the Michaels' house. What about the other three?"
Clegg shook his head. "I don't know. Like I said, he took them and I didn't ask any questions."
Walker came out of the interrogation room just as Gage's cell phone rang. "Gage." He answered.
"I told you I'd be calling."
"Just a minute." He quickly stepped outside of the office without explanation to Trivette. "I'm here."
"Don't ever do that again!" Latimier shouted. "I hold all the dice here, not you."
"I understand that, just don't hurt them." Gage replied.
Walker stepped across the room to the door and paused, hearing pieces of Gage's conversation.
"You meet me, alone at nine o'clock at the abandoned airfield just outside of Fort Worth. And you had better come alone. Understand?"
"I understand. I'll be there, just don't hurt them." Gage hung up the phone and turned to see Walker in the door. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Was that Latimier?" Walker asked.
Gage's eyes shifted nervously. "Why would you think that?"
"Gage . . ."
He nodded. "He wants meet him alone at the abandoned airfield in Fort Worth."
"When?"
"Tonight at nine." Gage said, just above a whisper. "Geez Walker, he said not to tell anyone and to come alone, what if he's listening like last time?" He began to look down the hallway, left and then right.
"Gage, get a hold of yourself." Walker shook him slightly. "We don't have any chance of getting Julie and Sydney back if you go alone. We'll just lose all three of you."
Gage nodded, knowing that Walker was right, but still not wanting to do anything that may put Julie and Sydney in any further danger. "What's the plan then?"
"Come back inside the office and let's clue Trivette in."
"What's going on?" Trivette asked as the two Rangers approached his desk.
"Latimier contacted Gage. There's a meet at nine at the abandoned airstrip outside of Fort Worth." Walker replied.
"Gage, there's something you don't know. Clegg confessed that Latimier hired him."
"We already pretty much knew that though." Gage said.
Walker nodded. "What we didn't know is that Latimier had him make four bombs for him. He planted one at the Michaels, but Latimier took the other three."
"Do we know why?" Gage asked.
"No, but I would almost bet that at least one of them will be set to go off tonight when you show up at the airstrip."
"Well, then we had better get started on a plan." Trivette said.
*********
Latimier had Sydney and Julie tied back to back against a post in the center of a large hanger. Both wore gags and both looked scared.
He ran his hand across Sydney's cheek and then Julie's. "Don't worry my sweets, it'll be over soon enough." He paused at Julie's chin. "Your sweet, little brother Francis will be coming at nine o'clock to rescue the two damsels in distress, but what he doesn't know is that each of you will be in two different places with bombs around your necks set to go off at the same time. Poor little Francis will have to choose between his big sister or the love of his life."
Julie and Sydney both felt genuine fear rising in their throats. Fear for their own lives, but more than that, fear for what was in store for Gage.
At eight o'clock, Latimier had two men help him untie the girls. A chair had been placed in the center of the hanger they were already in and Julie was promptly placed in the chair and tied securely. "Wave goodbye to her Sydney. This is the last time you two ladies will be seeing each other." He started to lead Sydney away. "Put the bomb around her neck and set it for nine fifteen."
Sydney's legs felt heavy as she was led by Latimier across the airfield to a separate hanger. A chair was placed in the center, in much the same fashion as the one Julie had been tied to. "I'll bet you're just a little scared right now, aren't you?" Latimier asked, as he tightened his grip on Sydney's arm. "Well, I have a little surprise for you."
Latimier pulled Sydney to the side and they watched as a foam dummy with a black wig was brought out and placed in the chair. "Set the bomb." Latimier ordered and a bomb was brought out and put around the neck of the dummy.
"Same as the other one?" One of the men asked.
"Nine fifteen." Latimier replied and then looked at Sydney. "Now, imagine the thoughts that will go through Ranger Gage's head when he saves one of you, and then hears the other bomb go off." He then began to laugh hysterically as he led Sydney to a waiting airplane.
To be continued . . . End Chapter 3
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.)
Gage sat at his desk, trying to concentrate on the computer screen, but his thoughts kept drifting to Sydney and Julie. Suddenly, he slammed his fist down hard on the desktop. "This is getting us nowhere!" He shouted.
Walker was standing in front of his desk in an instant. "Gage, I know you're upset. I know you want to find Sydney and Julie, but this is the only way to do that. You have to be patient. We don't even know where to begin to search for them. We don't know for certain who has them or where they've taken them. Now . . ."
"Walker." Trivette interrupted. "They've got Thomas Clegg and they're bringing him here for interrogation."
Walker patted Gage's shoulder. "This may be just the break we need."
Gage nodded, calming himself down somewhat. "I want in on the interrogation."
Walker shook his head in disagreement. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Walker!" Gage shouted.
"Gage, keep it up and I'll remove your from the case entirely." Walker said firmly.
Gage threw his pen down on the desk and stormed out the door.
"You want me to talk to him?" Trivette asked.
"No. Let him have some time to himself. He feels responsible for Sydney and Julie getting kidnapped."
"He had no way of knowing what was going to happen." Trivette countered.
"I know, but try to convince him of that."
Gage sat on a bench, just outside of the courthouse, his head in his hands. His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.
"Gage." He answered.
"Gage." Sydney's voice trembled. "We're OK. He said . . ."
Latimier grabbed the phone away from Sydney. "Well, well, if it isn't the man with nine lives."
Gage could feel his face turning red as his blood began to boil with anger at the sound of Latimier's voice. "Where are they? I swear Latimier, if you lay a hand on either of them, I'll . . ."
"You'll what . . . kill me? I don't think so. You see, I hold all of the cards here. I have your sister, your only living relative and your partner, or should I say girlfriend? You will do everything I say, exactly as I say, or you'll never see either of them again. Do I make myself clear?"
Gage remained silent.
Instead of speaking, Latimier grabbed Sydney by the hair, causing her to scream out.
"Yes!" Gage screamed into the phone. "You've made yourself clear, now what do you want?"
"I'll let you know in an hour or two, but if you mention to anyone that you've talked to me, you will regret it. That I promise."
Gage held the phone for a moment after the line went dead and then threw it down onto the bench, just to reach for it again to make certain that he hadn't destroyed it. He shoved it back into his pocket and then slammed his fist into the side of the building on his way back inside.
Trivette was coming out of Ranger headquarters when he saw Gage get off of the elevator. Immediately, he noticed the bloodied knuckles. "What happened to you?" He asked, nodding towards Gage's right hand.
Gage blankly looked down at his fist and rubbed his left hand over the injured knuckles. He shook his head and stared at Trivette. "I don't know."
"Come on. They just brought Clegg in and Walker's looking for you."
Gage followed Trivette into the office. "I didn't think he wanted me in on the interrogation."
"I don't know what he wants, he just said if I saw you anywhere to let you know that he was looking for you." Trivette replied and then handed Gage a box of tissues. "You may want to clean up that hand a bit before you go in there."
"Thanks." Gage replied, as he began to dab the blood from his knuckles.
"I think I have a couple of Band-Aids in my drawer here too." Trivette fumbled through his desk drawer and produced two Band-Aids.
Gage took them and quickly applied them to his knuckles and then started towards the interrogation room.
"Let me let him know that you're out here." Trivette said.
"That's OK. I'll let him know." Gage headed towards the interrogation room before Trivette could stop him.
Walker was questioning Clegg when Gage barged into the room without knocking. "Where are they Clegg? Where did he take them?" Gage had Clegg up, out of his chair and backed against the wall within seconds.
"Gage! That's enough!" Walker separated the two men and then shoved Gage towards the door. "Now get out! I'll talk with you later!"
Gage slammed his open hand against the door after Walker closed it and then stood, leaned against the door frame.
"Give him a few minutes with Clegg. If he knows anything, he'll get it out of him." Trivette said.
Walker stood in front of Clegg. "I want some answers, Clegg. Now tell me who you're working for."
"I ain't telling you nothin'." Clegg replied.
Walker bent low, until he was nose to nose with Clegg. "Let me explain something to you. Two women, very important to the Ranger that was just in here were kidnapped last night. Now, I'm angry about it, but my anger is nothing compared to what he's feeling and unless you start talking right now, I'm going to let him back in here while I step out for a cup of coffee."
"You can't do that. You're sworn to protect all citizens, even me." Clegg said.
"If you want my protection, you had better start telling me what you know about your employer." Walker replied, standing up straight. "I'll give you to the count of three. One - Two . . ."
"OK, OK. Travis Latimier. We were cellmates in Huntsville a few years ago. He pulled me in for two simple jobs. All I had to do was make him four bombs and he only needed me to plant one, he took the others."
"You planted yours at the Michaels' house. What about the other three?"
Clegg shook his head. "I don't know. Like I said, he took them and I didn't ask any questions."
Walker came out of the interrogation room just as Gage's cell phone rang. "Gage." He answered.
"I told you I'd be calling."
"Just a minute." He quickly stepped outside of the office without explanation to Trivette. "I'm here."
"Don't ever do that again!" Latimier shouted. "I hold all the dice here, not you."
"I understand that, just don't hurt them." Gage replied.
Walker stepped across the room to the door and paused, hearing pieces of Gage's conversation.
"You meet me, alone at nine o'clock at the abandoned airfield just outside of Fort Worth. And you had better come alone. Understand?"
"I understand. I'll be there, just don't hurt them." Gage hung up the phone and turned to see Walker in the door. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Was that Latimier?" Walker asked.
Gage's eyes shifted nervously. "Why would you think that?"
"Gage . . ."
He nodded. "He wants meet him alone at the abandoned airfield in Fort Worth."
"When?"
"Tonight at nine." Gage said, just above a whisper. "Geez Walker, he said not to tell anyone and to come alone, what if he's listening like last time?" He began to look down the hallway, left and then right.
"Gage, get a hold of yourself." Walker shook him slightly. "We don't have any chance of getting Julie and Sydney back if you go alone. We'll just lose all three of you."
Gage nodded, knowing that Walker was right, but still not wanting to do anything that may put Julie and Sydney in any further danger. "What's the plan then?"
"Come back inside the office and let's clue Trivette in."
"What's going on?" Trivette asked as the two Rangers approached his desk.
"Latimier contacted Gage. There's a meet at nine at the abandoned airstrip outside of Fort Worth." Walker replied.
"Gage, there's something you don't know. Clegg confessed that Latimier hired him."
"We already pretty much knew that though." Gage said.
Walker nodded. "What we didn't know is that Latimier had him make four bombs for him. He planted one at the Michaels, but Latimier took the other three."
"Do we know why?" Gage asked.
"No, but I would almost bet that at least one of them will be set to go off tonight when you show up at the airstrip."
"Well, then we had better get started on a plan." Trivette said.
*********
Latimier had Sydney and Julie tied back to back against a post in the center of a large hanger. Both wore gags and both looked scared.
He ran his hand across Sydney's cheek and then Julie's. "Don't worry my sweets, it'll be over soon enough." He paused at Julie's chin. "Your sweet, little brother Francis will be coming at nine o'clock to rescue the two damsels in distress, but what he doesn't know is that each of you will be in two different places with bombs around your necks set to go off at the same time. Poor little Francis will have to choose between his big sister or the love of his life."
Julie and Sydney both felt genuine fear rising in their throats. Fear for their own lives, but more than that, fear for what was in store for Gage.
At eight o'clock, Latimier had two men help him untie the girls. A chair had been placed in the center of the hanger they were already in and Julie was promptly placed in the chair and tied securely. "Wave goodbye to her Sydney. This is the last time you two ladies will be seeing each other." He started to lead Sydney away. "Put the bomb around her neck and set it for nine fifteen."
Sydney's legs felt heavy as she was led by Latimier across the airfield to a separate hanger. A chair was placed in the center, in much the same fashion as the one Julie had been tied to. "I'll bet you're just a little scared right now, aren't you?" Latimier asked, as he tightened his grip on Sydney's arm. "Well, I have a little surprise for you."
Latimier pulled Sydney to the side and they watched as a foam dummy with a black wig was brought out and placed in the chair. "Set the bomb." Latimier ordered and a bomb was brought out and put around the neck of the dummy.
"Same as the other one?" One of the men asked.
"Nine fifteen." Latimier replied and then looked at Sydney. "Now, imagine the thoughts that will go through Ranger Gage's head when he saves one of you, and then hears the other bomb go off." He then began to laugh hysterically as he led Sydney to a waiting airplane.
To be continued . . . End Chapter 3