Chapter Three
Where Your Loyalties Lie...
Matt Sumner had just sat down at his desk after pouring himself a cup of coffee. He leaned back in his chair flipping open a file to peruse becoming so engrossed in it that he failed to see his co-workers converge on his desk until they were in circling him.
Feeling their eyes on him he looked up scanning their faces to ask, "What?"
"He's perfect," Trivette stated unable to stop a smile coming to his face.
"The red hair and freckles," Gage added.
"The baby face," Syd joined in.
"All right you guys what gives?"
"You're just the man to keep our kids out of trouble," Walker announced to the young ranger.
"Your kids?" Sumner was questioning his eyes wide open taking in the faces of his friends.
"Our kids will be a piece of cake," Gage quipped, "Or do you forget who you are married to?"
"Funny Francis," Sumner got his own dig in at his boss.
"In all seriousness Sumner..." Walker began quickly explaining the situation to Matt.
"So we need to put this McPherson out of business along with Cromwell and anybody else we can rope in while we find out what the kids are up too," Sumner repeated as he grasped the situation.
"We start tonight?" he inquired all ready reaching for the phone to let Anna B know.
"The sooner the better," Trivette replied all four parents in agreement.
As Walker and Trivette headed for their desks Gage took hold of Syd's arm. "Feel like looking up our old pals Skinny Wilson and Slick Malcolm?"
"You were reading my mind Gage?" Syd answered all ready moving towards the door.
Downtown Dallas' Red Light District
Both Gages had their eyes focused on the street watching for Skinny Wilson suddenly Syd shouted, "There, right there," her finger pointing at the sleazy little skinflint of a man.
Screeching to a halt both rangers flung their doors open the same time as Skinny caught sight of them taking off running down the street. "Stop, Stop right now Wilson," Gage shouted as he and Syd took up pursuit.
Without looking back Skinny ducked into one of the x-rated shops Gage close behind. Syd ducked into the alley full speed sprinting over a couple of over turned trash cans coming out in back just in time to put her foot out and trip Skinny so he went head long into the dirt. "What's your hurry Skinny?" Syd panted out just as Gage caught up.
"What do you two want?" Wilson bawled out.
"Just some idle chat," Gage answered the man yanking him to his feet.
"About what?"
"Just interested in what you might know about The Lone Canteen," Syd told him both waiting for an answer.
"I don't know nothing about The Lone Canteen," Skinny adamantly sputtered.
"Come on Skinny," Gage persisted, "I bet there is lots you can tell us about the place since we all ready know that the last few of your girls are underage teens that you picked up in the place."
"Come on what do you guys want from me," he whined nervously dragging his dirty fingers through his slicked back greasy hair.
"Just the truth Skinny," Syd answered as once again the partners waited for Skinny to speak.'
"You guys just want to get me killed," the pimp whined out.
"You help us and there won't be anyone left to kill yeah," Gage insisted still holding onto the scruff of Skinny's neck.
"All right, all right, I was forced into this..."
"You want us to believe you were forced into this?" Syd questioned staring at the man in disbelief as was Gage.
"Think what you want about me but this wasn't my idea. I'm not even making a fifty percent cut on this deal."
"Okay, okay so you're not making your cut just tell us what's going on," Gage prodded.
"Cromwell runs the show..."
"That much we know," Syd impatiently butted in.
"Yeah do you know that he has runners pushing the drugs on the kids. Once they are hooked he enlists the guys to boost goods at the mall and out of homes while I take the young girls under my wing so they can learn the trade," Wilson recited.
"And you think this is all right?" Gage demanded.
"Like I told yeah they made me. McPherson got me off some pretty heavy charges, I got to pay him off I got no other choice, I'm making less then twenty percent on this," Wilson complained.
As Gage spoke again to the unpleasant little man Syd's mind began to wander to her own daughter. A shudder went through her entire body sending out a visible shiver. Clasping her arms around her she thought to herself, "this is one case we have to close."
The Offices Of Pharaoh Holdings
Bringing the car to a stop Gage looked over to where his partner sat, she hadn't uttered a word since they had gotten back in the car. "Syd you all right?"
"What was she doing there Gage? What on earth was she doing there?" she simply asked her husband.
"I don't know Syd but that's what we are going to find out one way or another," he answered her. "Come on Hon lets get this over with."
"Yeah the sooner the better," she agreed through gritted teeth swinging the car door wide.
Pulling open the door to the building Gage held it letting Syd scoot in first, together they went to the receptionist's desk. Clearing his throat Gage asked, "Tommy Malcolm here?"
"He is but do you have an appointment?" the young woman requested.
"He'll see us," Syd retorted scooting by the woman's desk and heading for Malcolm's door.
"You can't go in there," the receptionist shouted reaching for her phone.
Placing his hand over hers Gage flashed her a smile saying, "Texas Rangers Ma'am he'll see us."
Pulling her hand back the woman nodded her head allowing Gage to follow Syd who had all ready burst into Malcolm's office.
"Cook, Gage what the..." Malcolm started to say all ready reaching for his desk drawer where he had a revolver hidden.
"Uh, uh, uh," Syd snapped, "Put your hands where we can see them."
Thinking better of things Malcolm lay both hands on top of the desk in plain sight choosing to start talking instead. "Listen Gage I learned my lesson, I'm going straight here I have no intentions of going anywhere near Ranger Cooke..."
"Shut up Malcolm and just answer our questions," Syd cut him off.
"What da yeah want?"
"Information Slick," Gage answered.
"Come on Gage nobody around here calls me that any more," he moaned.
"Then you'll give us the right answers and we'll be gone and nobody will be calling you Slick again Slick," Gage smirked with contempt at the man.
"So ask then."
"We want to know what you know about The Lone Canteen," Syd informed him.
"What's to know I rented the property for my boss," Malcolm stated shrugging his shoulders.
"You rented it out five different times in six months before you landed on Denny Cromwell," Gage shot back.
"So Denny is the only one to make a go of the place," Malcolm answered with another shrug of his shoulders.
"Why would that be Slick? None of the others sell your drugs out of the place?" Syd quipped.
"I'm not in that business anymore and I have nothing to do with what goes on in that club," he shouted jumping from his seat.
"You better not have Slick cause if Cooke and I find out different we'll be back here for you," Gage told him leaning over the desk coming nose to nose with the man. "And Slick I all ready don't like you. Got it?"
"Yeah I got it," he replied sitting down in his fancy office chair.
"Coming Gage we're just wasting our time here," Syd cut back in as both rangers gave Malcolm another look over before turning to leave.
Outside The Kid's SchoolJulie Chafe sat softly humming with the car radio as she waited for her niece and goddaughter Piper Lynn to appear. Her hand suddenly went to her tummy feeling a resounding kick from her unborn child. "All in good time young man," she said aloud as she thought you are going to be your father's child.
The school bell began to sound taking her from her thoughts and looking up she caught sight of Piper coming out of the school with Marcus. Laying on the horn she wildly waved her hand almost immediately getting Piper's attention.
"Aunt Julie what are you doing here?" Piper greeted her Aunt.
"Thought maybe I would pick you and Cat up and go for some ice cream," Julie replied.
The smile vanished from Piper's face as Piper told her Aunt, "You better just take me home I'm grounded for life."
Unable to keep from laughing she retorted, "Who do you think sent me here? Come on get in."
Turning a minute she said good bye to Marcus and with a quick squeeze of his hand she whispered, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Pipe," Marcus answered he too hating to be separated from her. Reaching out he opened the car door for her closing it once she had gotten in.
"Nice seeing you Marcus," Julie called out through the open window to the boy.
"You too," Marcus smiled back standing back as Julie pulled the car away.
"So young lady tell me what you have been doing in your spare time," Julie prodded Piper. She had all ready heard Frankie's take on his daughter's antics but she was hoping that Piper might explain herself to her all the same..
"If you talked to Dad them you all ready know that Danny, Marcus and I got in a little... ah... predicament," she replied her eyes focused out the window as she spoke.
"I'd say it was a little more then a predicament," Julie inwardly smiled once again.
"If they sent you here hoping that I would spill everything to you..."
"Hey, hey I'm not the enemy here and I certainly don't want to be a go between when it comes to you and your parents," Julie began to defend herself.
"I'm sorry Aunt Julie," Piper was quick to apologize, "It's just that I can't tell anyone."
"All right Piper I'll take you at your word but you have to promise me that if you get in too deep that you ask for your Mom and Dad's help," Julie answered her distraught niece. "Is it a deal?" she coaxed.
"Yeah all right," Piper gave in just as they pulled up in front of Cat's school.
Cat was outside conversing with Torrie Trivette when they stopped the car. Probably comparing notes on the trouble she and Marcus were in Pipe grimly thought to herself. Seeing Julie's car Cat said a hasty good bye and ran to where they were stopped.
"Aunt Julie," the little blonde girl squealed in delight, "How come you're here?"
"I thought my two favourite nieces needed to be treated to ice cream," Julie responded as Cat climbed into the backseat.
"But won't we spoil our dinner?" Cat questioned.
"Maybe a little but I don't think it will hurt this once," Julie told her. "Got your seatbelt on?"
"Yep I'm all ready," Cat answered chit chatting away with her Aunt as they drove towards the ice cream store, Piper lost in thought.
Once there both Cat and Julie were out of the car and standing on the sidewalk waiting for Piper. "Come on Pipe," Cat whined impatiently shifting her weight from foot to foot.
"I'm coming," Piper snapped opening the car door and stepping out.
"Hurry up," Cat persisted making a grab for Piper's arm only to catch her purse sending the contents flying all over the ground.
"What's that?" Cat continued undaunted making a grab for a sandwich bag that was full of colourful pills.
"Give me that," Piper cried making a grab for the bag that was just out of her reach, her sister putting them in Julie's hand.
Stopping in front Julie Piper knew she was in trouble with her godmother. "Please Aunt Julie they're not mine I was just holding them for someone. Please you can't tell Mom and Dad, you just can't..."
TBC.