Chapter Two
And Trouble Follows...
"Come on Puss," Chris had Cat by the hand trying to steer her back to her room the young girl now wide awake and wanting to know what was going on.
"Chris how come Danny's here?" she questioned her brother. "Is Angela here too? I want to go see," she was insisting.
Chris put both hands on her shoulders to forcefully turn her back to bed answering her questions as they went. "Seems that way. I don't think so. And you are suppose to be sleeping so you can't go see you can see in the morning."
"Come on Chris," she pleaded with her brother her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I think Mom and Dad are mad enough at Danny and Piper you want them mad at you too?" he asked trying to reason with his sister.
She shook her head no having just gotten out of the last mess she had found herself in less then a week ago.
"Then lets say you climb back in bed and let me cover you up," Chris told her all ready holding up the covers to tuck around her.
"But don't you want to know why Danny is here and Mom and Dad are mad?" she quizzed her brother.
"Sure and I bet we find out tomorrow so for now close your eyes," he smiled down at his sister. She not only looked like Aunt Julie but she asked as many questions as their aunt did.
"But I'm dying to know," she insisted.
"I'm sure you can hang on until the morning it's only about an hour away," Chris told her kissing her forehead before he stood up.
"All right," she sulked her lower lip hanging out in a pout.
By the time Chris had turned off the light and stepped into the hallway he nearly bumped into his mother who was gently closing the door to Cody's room. "He back asleep?" Chris asked nodding towards his brother's door.
Before Syd could answer a loud squeal went up indicating Cody was ready to get up for the day. Putting his hand on his mother's Chris whispered, "I'll look after him you go help Dad with Piper and Danny."
"Thanks Chris," Syd whispered standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek much like she had to do to kiss her husband's cheek. "I'll get a bottle for him and be right back."
"No problem," Chris replied turning the knob to Cody's bedroom door. "Hey partner," he greeted his brother to be rewarded with another squeal of delight as Cody's eyes caught sight of Chris.
Pulling the door closed Syd took a deep breath to head down the hall to the kitchen table where Gage had ushered the other two. She was greeted by Danny's plea to Gage as he dialled the phone, "Please Uncle Gage my Dad will kill me."
"That I very highly doubt Danny," Sydney cut in going to the fridge for a bottle of juice for Cody and a glass for Chris. "He isn't going to be happy but I doubt he's going to kill you."
"I may as well be dead," the young boy sighed.
"That statement I'll believe," Gage retorted as the phone was picked up at the other end. "Alex its Gage is Walker there? You may want to stay on the line too," he added waiting for her to put his boss on the phone.
"Gage what is it?" Walker's voice came over the wire.
"Was Danny suppose to be staying over at a friend's house tonight?" he asked.
When the answer was yes Gage continued, "Well he's not there seems he decided to go looking for trouble with Piper and Marcus. As far as I can tell he some how eluded DPD who brought Piper and Marcus home. Instead he decided to sneak in here after the fact but he was definitely with the other two."
After a few more minutes of conversation Walker told Gage he and Alex were on their way in. "Coffee will be ready when you get here," Gage told him watching Syd all ready back in the kitchen at the sink rinsing the pot.
"So are you two ready to come clean?" Gage asked the pair of them.
"We take the fifth Uncle Gage," Danny spoke up getting a look that said this was no time to mess with her father from Piper.
"Do you now then maybe since you two know so much about law and court and civil rights you should be found for contempt as well as obstructing justice," Gage answered looking from one to the other.
"I'm sorry Uncle Gage its just that... well we sort of made... a promise. We gave our word and we just can't go back on our word," Danny tried to explain.
"I'm afraid that won't wash this time," Gage told them again looking from one to the other. "What you did, no matter what ever you promised was dangerous," Gage tried to stress as both teens stared knowingly at the table. "The risk you were taking by just being there..."
"Dad you and Mom take risks every day," Piper interjected her head snapping up to let her blue eyes lock with her father's. "And you take those risks for people you don't even know."
"That's different Piper," her mother answered even though she knew the answer seemed hollow.
"How's it different Aunt Sydney? "You guys, Uncle Jimmy, Sumner, my Dad you all put your lives in jeopardy every day," Danny butted in taking up Piper's cause.
"The difference is we went through school and some pretty intensive training before we were ever let out in the field," Syd informed them. "We have the support of the Texas Rangers along with every law enforcement agency in Texas and the country if need be," she explained further neither child speaking.
"Not only that we have our experience behind us," Gage added to the conversation.
"But how are we suppose to get experience if we can't..." Piper stopped speaking as both her parents shot their eyes to her face.
"Life experience Piper," Gage retorted becoming more and more aggravated with his young daughter.
"I get it Dad," Piper answered averting her eyes away from both parents.
"Do you Piper? Do you really understand?" Sydney asked staring at the young girl in front of her. It was almost as she didn't know her daughter.
Nobody had time to say anything more being interrupted by knocking on the side door as the Walkers entered the house Alex leading the way. "Daniel Gordon Walker," she cried not knowing if she should be angry or relieved. "What on earth did you think you were doing?"
"Mom I was..."
"You've got a lot of explaining to do young man so start talking," Alex rattled on her attorney instincts mixed with motherhood kicking in.
"Mom it isn't that bad..."
"Isn't that bad, I beg to differ with you Daniel," Alex cut back in not letting up for a second. "You lied to your father and me so you could go to some after hours party where there was drinking and drugs. Then to make matters worse you try to sneak into the house here, that's break and entry. Is that what it was? Answer me Danny."
"Mom I was..."
"Looking for fun Danny, a little excitement maybe just tell us what you think you were doing?"
"Alex maybe if Danny could get a word in edgewise he could tell us what he was doing," Walker interjected putting his arm around his wife. With his eyes focused on his son Walker asked, "Would you like to explain your actions young man?"
Looking away from his parents Danny answered, "Dad I just can't I made a pact, I gave my word." He hoped his father could understand.
"Danny as important as it is to keep your word some times it is important to make a judgement call," Walker replied eyeing Piper as well as Danny.
"Dad I just can't go back on my word," Danny answered as closed mouthed as Piper.
Silence filled the air both sets of parents focused on their children trying to understand what was going on with the two of them and Marcus Trivette. Finally clearing his throat Gage spoke. "Mike Connelly brought Piper home and informed us that they were picked up at The Lone Canteen."
"The Lone Canteen!" Alex exclaimed interrupting once again.
"That's not the worst of it," Gage continued. "There are plenty of drugs, lots of under age drinking and Skinny Wilson has been trolling for recruits. Dallas PD has been keeping close watch on the place. We're meeting Trivette there first thing in the morning."
"I'll be there," Walker confirmed looking towards Danny. "You young man go and get in the truck we'll discuss things at home."
"I think that is your cue to head back to bed Piper," Sydney added her eyes going from her daughter to the hallway.
"Yes ma'am," she answered scooting out without looking back.
Sydney and Gage talked with Walker and Alex a few minutes more before saying good-bye. As the Walkers pulled out of the driveway Gage draped his arm over Syd's shoulder taking another gulp of his coffee. The last thing Walker had said was, "If Dallas PD is keeping an eye on The Lone Canteen then I guess the Texas Rangers best do the same thing."
All had been in agreement.
Outside The Lone Canteen
Trivette's SUV was all ready parked outside the front of The Lone Canteen when the Gages pulled up Walker's ram right behind them. Seeing his friends and colleagues pull up he was all ready opening the door and setting his foot out.
"Get any more out of them?" he questioned.
"Nothing," Syd acknowledged, "You?"
"Marcus isn't saying anything but he gave his word," Jimmy replied the rest nodding having the same frustration with their kids.
"I pulled up what I could on this place but I've only begun to scratch the surface," Trivette began explaining. "It seems that the place is owned by a Drew McPherson of the law firm Bennett, McPherson and O'Neill."
"The same law firm that gets all those low lives out of jail?" Syd quizzed.
"One in the same," Trivette confirmed. "It took me a while to get to the owner of the club cause it is leased out and released out to a bunch of dummy companies starting right at the top."
"So who has it right now?" Gage questioned wanting to get on with it, wanting to avoid all the mundane details.
"McPherson," Trivette answered coming full circle.
All three rangers looked at Trivette waiting for an explanation that made sense. "Drew McPherson owns the leasing company Pharaoh Holdings which is run by Tommy Malcolm."
"Tommy Slick Malcolm?" Gage questioned a picture of the greasy man coming to mind.
"One in the same, you know him Gage?" It was Trivette's turn to ask a question.
"We've had a run in or two," Gage absently answered his mind going to their last encounter. He and Syd had been running an undercover operation in a club he was managing. Malcolm had taken an over zealous liking to Syd who had popped him in the eye when he tried to take liberties with her. In retaliation the little weasel had two of his boys spike her drink with Roofies and make off with her once she had passed out. When he had caught up with them Malcolm had been in the process of removing Syd's top. Even now Gage's hand clenched in a fist at the thought of it.
"It seems," Trivette's voice brought him back to the present, "that McPherson has gone to a lot of trouble to set up the companies and the leases so things don't easily filter back to him. Most everyone involved with The Lone Canteen is some how in debt to McPherson for getting them a get out of jail free card. So in return they use their expertise to make a big profit for themselves and their lawyer," Jimmy finished up the story.
"And they are zoning in on kids, drugs and teen prostitution to do it," Walker spoke saying what the rest were thinking.
"But that still doesn't answer why our kids were here and who they have made a vow of silence to," Syd voiced her thoughts aloud.
"That's true," her husband agreed. "Lets get inside and see what the fascination is with the place."
"Gage you and Sydney going around back in case somebody tries to make a speedy escape while Trivette and I go in the front," Walker instructed not wanting anyone to slip past them.
Waiting until the partners slipped out of sight down the side alley Trivette pulled the door wide open to let he and Walker inside. The place was dark and dank an eerie quiet enveloping the place the two rangers headed inside their senses alert ready for anything.
Making their way through the lobby to the bar area they paused a moment Trivette calling out, "Texas Rangers anyone here?" His voice seemly echoing through the deserted room. "Hey!" he repeated himself to more silence, when suddenly the clamour and purr of the lighting board came alive the house lights coming on.
"Rangers what can I do for you?" a smooth voice questioned.
Both men squinted letting their eyes come into focus before Trivette answered. "We're looking for the proprietor of this establishment," he told the man.
"Then you are in luck Rangers," the man answered, "You've found me. I'm Denny Cromwell and what can I do for you?"
"Well Mr. Cromwell we're here checking out a few complaints," Trivette began.
"Complaints! We aren't doing anything here that would warrant a visit from the Texas Rangers," he smugly smiled.
"How bout serving underage kids? Or forcing them into prostitution to pay for the illegal drugs you get them hooked on," Walker retorted.
"I have no idea what you're referring to Ranger," Cromwell replied the smile evaporating from his face to be replaced by a slow burning anger. "And I don't like your accusations."
Taking a few steps forward Walker looked directly into Cromwell's eyes. "You have nothing to worry about if its just accusations, but if I find out differently I'll be back after you with both barrels."
"Is that a threat?"
"Just a friendly warning." That being said Trivette and Walker turned leaving Denny Cromwell staring after them.
Outside on the street the Gages were waiting for them. "Find out anything?" Gage asked.
"Nothing," Trivette answered, "Nothing other then the club's manager takes offence to our accusations, but nothing to why our kids were here. We need to get someone inside who can mix with the crowd..."
As all at once they all answered with, "Sumner."
Glancing at this watch Gage smiled, "He should just about be getting to the office now too."
Outside In The Schoolyard Of The Kid's School
Piper stood with Marcus waiting for Danny to get out of Alex's car. A minute later he got out and closed the door standing to watch his mother drive away. The moment her car rounded the corner he made a beeline to where his two friends stood.
"Where's Becky?" he asked without saying hello to either of his friends.
"She's not here yet," Marcus supplied.
"You guys didn't say anything did you?"
"No Danny we gave you our word," Piper answered.
"You still got the stuff Piper?"
"Yeah but I've got to get rid of it. If my mom or dad find it..." she left the sentence unfinished.
"I know, I know. I really appreciate everything you've done..." Danny started to say just as the bell rang ending their conversation.