Chapter Four

Dallas' Red Light District

Samantha and Sydney stood side by side on the street corner, Jimmy Trivette but a few doors down, Gage and Sumner sat together in Sumner's pickup watching all three. Gage scrutinized both Sam and Syd, Sam was some hot looking girl all the parts were put together in just the right places yet she really didn't entice him like Syd did. There was just something about his wife… he sat silently grim wondering again how he could have been so stupid.

They had gathered both Cat and Piper around the kitchen table to try and explain what had transpired the night before and assure them that they had nothing to worry about. "We are both going to be here for you," Syd had stated Gage whole heartedly agreeing.

"So you're not getting divorced like Summer's parents and we have to live with Mom and visit you on the weekends?" Cat anxiously asked.

"Not a chance," Gage replied.

"That's right Cat," Chris had added, "We're stuck with them both so remember if Dad doesn't see what you're up to Mom will. You aren't going to get away with nothing!"

They had all laughed Gage and Syd alike had been glad Chris was there.

"Hey Gage look at that," Sumner nodded his head at a green vintage charger coming towards Sam and Syd.

Gage was ahead of Sumner, "Syd our car is coming your way," he spoke into the surveillance radio.

"I see it coming Gage," she answered back nodding to Sam who nodded her acknowledgement back. On Syd's signal both rangers sauntered towards the street and to the green charger that was pulling to the curb. Trivette had begun to walk up to where the two female rangers were.

"Hey there looking for some lady company?" Sam asked leaning in the passenger window of the car.

"I just might be at that," the driver answered leaning across the seat. "Interested in being that company pretty lady?"

"I might be," Sam smiled back.

"Maybe he'd like to double his pleasure," Syd teased coming up beside Sam to lean in the window too.

"Do I get a discount for two?" he grinned back at the two of them.

"Funny guy," Sydney laughed giving Sam a slight poke. "You can have him."

"Now, now Honey I was just joking with ya. Two lovely ladies one blonde one brunette I think this can be a real treat. Why don't you both get on in here?" he drawled out sliding across the seat reaching for the door handle to push open the door.

With the door open Sam moved in closer reaching in to run her hand across the man's face. "Not so fast there Tiger we ain't talked money yet," Sam sweetly smiled at him. Before she knew what hit the driver grabbed her wrist twisting her arm behind to yank her into the car with him pressing a jagged edged knife against her throat.

With his eyes not leaving Sydney his voice became low and menacing, "Now nice and easy you slide into the seat beside us," he ordered her.

"Don't do it Syd," she could hear Gage's voice in her ear, seeing their back up moving towards them.

"Do it now or I slit her throat," the man hollered pressing the knife harder into Sam's neck drawing blood.

"Take it easy nobody wants their throat slit," Syd tried to calm the man as she slipped slowly into the seat her eyes moving behind the guy to where Gage was coming up behind them on the opposite side of the car.

"Shut the door we're got ourselves a party here," the driver was ordering again turning slightly to put the car in gear. That was all the opportunity Sydney needed, lunging forward she grabbed the knife and the man's wrist yanking the weapon away from Sam's throat.

As she wrestled with the man Gage's arm suddenly came in the driver's door window his arm fiercely going round the guy's neck. With Sumner and Trivette at the front of the car guns pointed shouting drop it and Gage's choke hold around his neck it was only a moment before he stopped struggling with Syd to let the knife fall to the floor of the car.

"You two all right Syd?" Gage called out to his partner.

"Cut my hand a little but I'll live," Syd retorted backing out of the car wrapping the scarf that had been around her neck around her hand.

"A little?" Trivette cut in, "Gage you better get her to emergency."

"I'll take him Gage," Sumner cut in front of him to take the suspect into custody.

"Let me see Syd," Gage insisted coming around the car.

"It's not that bad Gage," Syd reinforced her eyes on Ranger Webb she hadn't moved she sat perfectly still staring out the windshield of the car. "Sam, Sam are you all right?" Syd questioned her. "Are you hurt?"

"No, no I'm fine," she quickly answered Sydney's words seeming to bring her out of the daze she was in. Sliding to the edge of the car seat she remained sitting.

"You sure?" Gage asked seeing what had concerned his wife.

"Yeah just a little unnerved," she answered standing up to reach out for Gage only to be intercepted by Trivette.

"You okay Sam?"

"Yeah fine Trivette," she sullenly replied.

Gage had turned back to his partner taking her wrist to pull the make-shift scarf bandage a little tighter. "That's bad Syd we better go get you stitched up," he told her taking charge.

"Come on Gage we need to question the suspect," she insisted.

"Sam and Sumner can do that and fill us in later. I'll pull rank if I have to Syd," Gage told her his hand all ready under her elbow leading towards the car.

"All right, all right you win," Syd reluctantly gave in giving way to Gage putting his arm around her letting him support her.

Sam's eyes narrowed as the Gages walked away suddenly she smiled sweetly and called out to Ranger Cooke, "Hey Syd thanks for saving my neck literally."

Her smile just as wide Syd answered, "You'd have done the same for me."

"Thanks anyway," Sam called back wanting to get the last word in still staring after the partners.

St. Mathews' Emergency Room

"What are you talking about," Gage shouted into the phone.

"Ranger you'll have to keep your voice down," the stern desk nurse admonished him.

"Sorry," Gage answered her putting his hand over the mouth piece before returning to his conversation with Trivette.

"What do you mean this isn't the guy?" Gage asked again.

"Just what I said," Trivette replied. "He claims to have sexually assaulted all of them. With each victim we questioned him on the story got bigger and bigger. As you know from the files none of the girls were sexually assaulted only murdered. The clincher though is the fact that one of the girls scratched her assailant. The DNA from the scrapings under her fingernails doesn't match our guy."

"So all we have him on is assault with a deadly weapon and attempted kidnapping?" Gage asked again laying the facts out.

"Afraid so," Trivette glumly told him. "You and Syd might as well head for home, Sumner and Sam can finish up here with this guy."

"Yeah all right," Gage agreed seeing Syd coming through the emergency doors towards him. "We'll see you tomorrow," he hastily said hanging up the phone.

"Okay Syd?" he asked going to her.

"I'll live, let's just get out of here," she answered. "What did they find out?"

"Only that Horace Jamison isn't our guy, even though he's confessed to everything the proof says otherwise," he sighed.

"Gage you've got to be kidding," Syd answered disappointment in her voice.

"That's what I said to Trivette,'' he told her quickly explaining what they had found out.

"So now what?" Syd questioned.

"We go home for a good nights sleep," he smiled down at her.

"What about this Jamison?"

"Sam and Sumner are booking him and filling out the reports," Gage told her draping an arm around her. "I think you've done enough for your first day back and I'm going to take you home and give you a little TLC. How's the hand feeling?"

"Not too bad but then it's still frozen. It's actually the tetanus shot that is hurting," she shot back catching the smile crossing his face. "And don't you dare laugh at me!"

"This would be the perfect time to laugh you laid up with your hand and all…" With that Syd's other hand came up punching him the shoulder. "…or not," he relented.

Much Later Outside Sydney and Gage's Place

A dark blue blazer sat parked outside the Gage residence a lone figure inside staring at the outside of the house. Her temper had cooled somewhat from earlier but it certainly didn't make it any easier to swallow.

She had been steamed there was no denying that when Trivette had announced to her and Sumner that Gage wasn't coming back to headquarters that he was just taking Sydney home. "Bitch," she mumbled under her breath at the thought of it.

Once again she counted to ten pulling her temper back into check. This would never do she thought to herself she needed a clear head if she wanted to achieve her goal. She had never failed yet and she didn't intend to fail this time either. She had set her sights on Francis Gage.

With that thought she shoved her vehicle in drive squealing away from the curb.

TBC.