Gage's phone was ringing as he and his partner entered ranger headquarters. "Find out anything?" Trivette asked Syd as Gage went to answer it.
Watching her husband Syd began explaining that it looked like the little guys like Skinny were working the place for the high rollers being held on the hook for McPherson's law firm getting them off Scott free and keeping them out of jail.
"What?" Gage utter rather loudly into the phone getting Trivette and Sumner's attention now too. Turning his back to the rest of the office he listened to what was being said while Syd moved to stand in front of him. "Okay Jules we'll be right home."
"What's going on Gage?" Syd asked her eyes studying his face as if the answer was printed there.
"I'll explain on the way home," he told her taking her by the elbow to lead her towards the door hastily calling over his shoulder, "We have some business at home to take care of."
"What was that all about?" Walker asked coming out of his office to stand beside Trivette's desk.
"I'm not really sure," Trivette truthfully told him. "What I can gather is that something is going on at home."
"I bet Piper's behind what ever it is," Sumner joined the conversation walking over to where the two senior rangers stood. Both Walker and Trivette nodded their heads in agreement.
Gage And Sydney's Place
Piper Lynn Gage sat on the edge of her bed her eyes focused straight ahead on the door her mind going over and over what exactly she was going to tell her mother and father. She didn't blame her Aunt for her predicament she knew that she had to tell her mom and dad... maybe it was for the best... Danny was going to be so upset about it though. He'd never trust her again.
Sighing she wished she could call Marcus, she knew he would be in her corner... she just wished he was there now so she wouldn't have to face this alone.
She knew she was going to have to tell her mother and father what was going on... Danny was going to be furious she had given him her word... but she knew Marcus was going to be glad he didn't like deceiving his mom and dad either.
Still if they had only had more time... Then what?
Piper's speculation was interrupted by a loud rap on her door and her father's voice. "Piper," he boomed before turning the knob and entering her mother close behind. The bag of pills were in his hand and he tossed them haphazardly at her landing them in her lap.
"I can explain Daddy," she began to say only to be cut off by Gage.
"Piper Lynn Gage you are under arrest for possession of an illegal substance. You have the right to remain silent or to have an attorney present at the time of questioning. If you give up these rights be advised anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand your rights as I've explained them to you?" Gage asked his trembling daughter.
"Mom? Daddy? she questioned her parents tears forming in her eyes.
"You do realize that if it had been anyone else besides your father or I you would be on your way to juvenile hall by now don't you?" Sydney asked.
Piper remained silent the tears trailing down her face the emotion choking her voice.
"Okay Pipe lets have it and none of this stuff about giving your word," Gage's voice had softened.
"Oh Mom I'm so sorry," Piper sobbed out as Sydney sat on the bed beside her putting her arm around her.
"Piper you have to tell us everything if you want your father and I to help you out of this," Sydney encouraged her daughter's confession.
Still Piper remained silent trying to regain her composure. Taking the back of her hand she tried unsuccessfully to wipe the tears from her face, sniffling slightly to keep her nose from running.
Reaching over Gage handed her a tissue and she took it from his hand murmuring, "Thanks Dad."
As the tears subsided Piper gulped in a breath before beginning. "Those pills aren't mine, I don't take drugs."
"Then whose are they and why did you have them in your possession?" Gage persisted.
"Danny is going to be so mad at me he'll never trust me again," Piper dramatically sobbed.
Crouching down in front of her and Syd Gage took her hands in his. "Piper you, Marcus and Danny are in over your heads here."
"I know Daddy, Marcus and I both wanted to tell you but we promised," she pleaded hoping that her father would understand.
"I know that you gave your word Pipe but this is serious. If Aunt Julie had called Uncle Robin instead of me..." Gage left the sentence unfinished for Piper to mull over the seriousness of things once again.
Finally the story began to unravel. "You know that Danny and Rebecca are seeing each other."
Gage nodded his head yes even though he wasn't up on who was seeing who. He was still getting over the fact that his daughter was an item with Marcus Trivette.
"Well Beck's sister Chloe is fifteen, she has been going to the clubs for over a year now... she's got herself involved in well... you know... The drugs are hers, she's been selling herself to get them," Piper divulged too embarrassed to look at her father when she said the words.
Syd squeezed Piper's shoulder encouraging her to go on. "Beck found that bag of pills in Chloe's math book, it was all hollowed out like you see in movies. She accidentally knocked Chloe's books on the floor and the pills fell out. Beck just grabbed them and came to school. She told the rest of us and asked us to keep them for her so Chloe couldn't take them."
"So these are Chloe's?" Gage asked watching Piper shake her head yes.
But that's not the worst of it," Piper suddenly cried continuing the story. "When Chloe couldn't find the pills she went crazy yelling and at Beck threatening her and everything. Beck was so upset that Danny told her that we would do what ever we could and we all made a pact not to tell."
"Piper why would you do that you do know how wrong this is?" Syd asked her daughter.
"Mom Becky was just so upset..."
"That doesn't explain why DPD found you at The Lone Canteen," Gage stated waiting for an answer wanting to get to the bottom of this once and for all.
"Chloe just up and disappeared," Piper replied. "Three nights ago she snuck out of the house and she never came home. We were just trying to find her. Becky blames herself for the whole thing," Piper finished hoping that they would understand.
Looking up into Syd's face Gage caught her eyes holding them for a moment before looking back at Piper asking, "And this is the whole story? You haven't left anything out have you?"
"That's it that's everything," she honestly told her father her eyes focused on the floor.
Cupping her chin Gage pulled her head up to look at him. "Your mother and I have our work cut out for us but we'll do what can to find Chloe."
"Okay Dad, thanks."
Both Syd and Gage stood up intending to go down to the kitchen to regroup and let their fellow rangers in on what they had learnt when Piper asked, "Dad, am I still under arrest?"
Inwardly smiling Gage told her, "Yes house arrest until further notice."
Coffee At The Gage's Kitchen Table
Catlin Gage stood just outside the kitchen door straining very hard to hear what was being said by the adults around the kitchen table. Right after her mom and dad had finished talking to Piper they had come into the kitchen. While her mom had conferred with Aunt Julie her dad had made a phone call, she thought to Uncle Walker. "Boy," she thought aloud to herself she had been in a lot of trouble herself but nothing compared to Piper what ever she had done. With her curiosity eating her up Cat leaned a little closer to the kitchen's entrance straining to her what her big sister had been up too.
"Cat!"
Her heart leaped to her throat being caught off guard by her brother. "Chris you scared me half to death," she hissed out her hand going to her chest where it was pounding wildly.
"That's nothing compared to what will happen if somebody catches you eaves dropping again," Chris warned putting his arm around her shoulder to lead her towards the family room.
"But don't you want to know what Piper did?" Cat persisted trying to see over her shoulder back to where the kitchen was.
"I'm sure we'll find out all in good time what Piper did or didn't do," Chris assured her pulling his pouting sister along.
Inside the kitchen Gage sat mutely with his sister while Syd went to the sink to make coffee. The silence was finally interrupted by a knock on the back door. Getting up Gage went to answer it letting in the Walkers, Jimmy Trivette and Matt Sumner.
"Finally a crack in their line of defence," Trivette commented trying to break the ice.
"But according to Piper we still have a missing girl," Gage pointed out.
"What I can't understand is why Jeannie Whelan didn't say anything to me," Syd speculated. "She and I have always been quite friendly ever since Piper and Becky became best friends.
"Something like that isn't always easy to tell a close friend let alone someone you are just friendly with," Alex offered an explanation.
Syd nodded in agreement adding, "I know but still she knows Gage and I are rangers."
"Sydney, Gage since you know the Whelans why don't you pay them a call and see what you can find out," Walker who had been sitting back listening suggested. "Trivette you and Sumner stick with the plan for tonight."
"All right," Trivette spoke up, "That will give Erica and me time to have a talk with our son."
"Ditto here," Alex agreed she and her husband standing to leave.
Closing the door behind their friends Gage put his arm around Syd leaning down to gently brush his lips against the top of her head. "At least we know they were trying to be on the side of right even if they were going about it wrong," Gage said as much for his benefit as Syd's.
"You're right, I guess its just another lesson that we all have to learn."
"Lets get over to the Whelan's place and see if we can get a handle on what's going on over there," Gage pulled her a little closer for a moment as he spoke.
Nodding her head in agreement Syd re-enforced, "The sooner this case is closed the better."
At The Home Of Rebecca Whelan
Mounting the stairs of the front porch at the Whelan home both rangers even though they had been there lots of time unconsciously kept their eyes alert for anything that might be out of place. Seeing nothing Syd stepped forward to ring the door bell.
Getting no answer she rapped on the door calling out at the same time, "Jeannie its Sydney and Gage are you there? We need to talk to you its extremely important."
They waited a few minutes more and were about to leave when they heard rustling from inside. "Jeannie everything all right?" Gage asked his hand reaching for the door handle when the door suddenly swung open.
"Sydney, Gage what brings you her?" Jeannie Whelan asked a faint show of surprise in her voice.
"Can we come in for a moment?" Syd politely asked.
"Right now really isn't a very good time I was just getting ready to go out..."
"This really won't take very long," Gage persisted, "It has to do with the girls."
"What ever it is I'm sure it can wait..."
"Jeannie we don't want to have to make this official," Syd began to say.
"All right what is it?" Jeannie demanded showing mild irritation and not giving an inch to let them inside.
Looking at one another Syd cleared her throat to repeat the story that Piper had told them. "Piper was found with a plastic bag that contained an assortment of illegal drugs. Her explanation is that she was holding them for Rebecca who took them from Chloe. When Chloe found the drugs missing she disappeared and that's why the kids were at The Lone Canteen the other night looking for Chloe."
"I always knew Piper was a real little drama queen but to make up a story like that... and for you to believe her," Jeannie sputtered out. "Aren't you better trained in this field better then that? Or is it a different story when your kids are involved? I can see that I'm going to have to definitely keep Becky away from Piper."
"So you are saying none of this is true?" Gage quizzed having found his voice before his wife.
"That's what I'm saying."
"Then we can we speak to Chloe?" Syd questioned.
"You could if she was here but she is in Houston with her Dad at the moment and I'm going to be late for an appointment... if there is nothing else..."
"Nothing for now," Gage lamely replied. "Thank you for your time."
As the door closed Gage turned to his partner, "What do you make of that?"
"If you mean do I believe our daughter the answer is yes," Syd answered dryly.
"Funny thing me too," Gage admitted both knowing they had their work cut out for them on this one.
Inside The Whelan House
"Very good Mrs. Whelan," Tommy Slick Malcolm snarled tightening his grip on Rebecca his automatic revolver at her temple.
"I did what you asked now let her go," Jeannie cried making a move for her daughter.
"Not so fast Mrs. Whelan," Tommy Slick hissed yanking Becky back with him as his cohort blocked Jeannie's path.
"They'll be back you know they're Texas Rangers," Jeannie cried out hoping to scare them into letting go of her daughter.
"I know full well who they are and I welcome them back," Tommy had begun to smile. "I have a score to settle with both of them."
TBC.