Chapter Two
Gatesville's Women's Correctional Facility
"Lights out Sayer we haven't parted company yet. You're still mine until Friday morning at ten AM," the prison guard barked out at her.
"And it can't come a minute too soon," Dominique retorted reaching for the light above her head. Her hand felt the switch but her eyes still trained on the pictures in front of her as she murmured aloud, "All of you Julie, Sydney and Francis all of you I only tried to help you and look what you did to me. All of you will pay and pay dearly for stealing my life away from me."
"Now Sayer," the guard barked again with Dominique snapping off the light.
The Gage Residence
"Aunt Julie did Mom tell you how long she and Daddy are going to be away?" Cat questioned as she sat at the kitchen table doing homework. Piper had just left the room to give Cody his bath and Julie was just finishing to feed Michael.
Gazing over at Cat she lifted Michael to her shoulder rubbing his back coaxing a burp. "Neither your Mom or Dad said how long this would take I know they are both hoping that things will come together fairly quickly," Julie told her niece not having a better answer.
Cat sat silent her bottom lip quivering as her eyes focused on the page of math questions. Lifting her pencil she sat motionless a moment tears escaping her brown eyes.
Catching her niece's face Julie stopped what she was doing. "Cat Honey what is it?" she asked getting to her feet her son still in her arms.
"What if they don't come home like Uncle Robin?" she sobbed.
"Mom and Dad always come home Puss," Chris who had just came into the kitchen answered for Julie who was having trouble holding her own tears back. Going to his little sister he crouched down in front of her taking her in his arms as her arms wound around his neck.
"But they are going after the guys that killed Uncle Robin I heard Daddy say so," she cried again more distraught then ever.
"And they'll get them Puss," Chris answered her. "Mom and Dad are good at what they do," he tried further to appease her fears.
"Uncle Robin was good too."
"Uncle Robin was by himself, Puss. Dad has Mom watching out for him just like he is watching out for her," He firmly told her.
"What if…"
"No what ifs Puss. What if the stars forgot to shine? What if they stopped making chocolate ice cream?" he asked taking her chin in his hand. "Mom and Dad will be home you can count on it."
Cat shook her head yes giving her brother another hug before getting up to go to the bathroom and blow her nose. Watching her disappear out the door Chris turned to where his aunt stood at the kitchen sink clutching tight to Michael her eyes fixed to the window as the tears silently fell.
"Aunt Julie," Chris had gone up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry Chris," she murmured another tear stinging her eye. "The words just wouldn't come to me… I…" she broke off into sobs letting Chris put his arms around both her and Michael.
"Aunt Julie its all right," he paused a moment before adding, "Mom and Dad are going to be all right, they'll get Uncle Robin's killers."
"I know they will Chris," Julie answered, "I'm sorry but there is just something about this whole thing…"
"You have the right to feel that way after all you've gone through," Chris agreed.
"It's not just Robin Chris," Julie cut in, "It's just something about the whole thing. I have this weird uneasy feeling that keeps haunting me, I can't explain it any other way. It's like I've felt this same fear before you know déja vu."
"What happened last time?" Chris questioned curious to know.
"You were just a baby Chris," she answered as Cat came back in the room. Her eyes met her nephew's and she murmured, "Maybe another time." Chris' eyes went to Cat and he nodded his head in understanding.
Catching her aunt and brother's exchange Cat cried out in protest, "I'm not a baby!"
"You're just a Pussy Cat," Piper had added her two cents worth as she entered the kitchen with Cody all fresh from his bath.
"You shut up Piper! You won't think its so funny when they won't tell you anything that is going on with Mom and Dad," Cat blurted out.
"You know something about Mom and Dad?" Piper had turned her attention on her brother and aunt.
"Honestly girls we haven't heard a thing, your mom and dad are safe. Chris and I were just doing some reminiscing about when he was a baby long before either of you were thought of," Julie tried to cover their tracks.
"Then why can't you tell us?" Cat questioned a glimpse of her mother's tenacity shinning through in her.
"Because it would take too long and you have to get ready for bed," Chris cut in.
"Chris come on you're just being mean," Cat whined.
"We'll talk tomorrow Cat and I'll tell you what your Dad told me about when you were born," Julie soothed.
"If that's the best offer," Cat pouted.
"It's the only offer Cat," Chris chimed in Cody giving a loud cry to agree with his brother.
"Dad isn't even here and the guys are still ganging up on us," Piper lamented. "Come on Cat lets get you ready for bed," Piper urged handing Cody over to Chris.
With out saying anything Cat stomped out of the kitchen Piper behind her.
The Room Sydney And Gage Were Sharing At The Amadee Estate
The door had barely closed when Syd spun around to face Gage. "Dominique Sayer," she hissed out at her partner who was as dumbfounded as her.
Immediately his fingers went to her lips and taking her hand he lead her into the bathroom crooning, "Let's say we wash some of that travel dust off you in a nice warm shower."
"Sounds perfect," Syd murmured her mind anywhere but on a shower. Following Gage into the bathroom she watched as he went and turned on the water full force before she said another word.
"Gage what the hell are we going to do?"
"Maybe she won't remember us."
"The two people instrumental in putting her away and you don't think she'll remember us?" Syd's eyes had opened wide in exasperation. "If what Amadee said is true that Dominique ran a profitable business from inside it wouldn't surprise me that she set the whole thing up."
Shrugging his shoulders Gage added, "Amadee never mentioned anything about an associate before today. We need to get word to Walker."
"That part isn't as hard as you think," Syd told him turning on her heel exiting the bathroom.
Going straight to the phone at the bedside table she picked it up and began to dial what appeared to be a long distance number. "Is he there?" she asked into the mouthpiece. "Put him on," she ordered. Turning to Gage she said very loudly for the benefit of anyone who may be listening in on them, "Daddy isn't going to like this for your sake you better hope he is in a good mood."
"Amber honest this is the first I've heard of an associate," Gage played along letting his sentence trail off as Syd began to speak again into the phone.
"Daddy… yes the trip was good," she paused a minute before going on. "Dad we have a problem. Amadee wants to bring an associate in on our deal," again she paused as if waiting for a reaction before continuing, "One Dominique Sayer. Okay Daddy I'll check in with you in the morning."
Looking up at her partner Syd asked, "So now what?"
"I guess we get ready for dinner," he replied taking her in his arms.
Syd let him kiss her even though her nerves were more then over wrought. She forced herself to relax smiling she answered, "Okay Teddy."
Ranger Headquarters
"That Syd and Gage checking in?" Sumner asked only catching the end of the conversation.
"Yeah," Trivette answered getting up to go to Walker's desk, Sumner in tow.
"Walker we got a big problem," he began even before getting halfway there.
Walker was just hanging up the phone and he looked up waiting for Trivette to continue. "Amadee has a business associate he wants them to meet who won't be in town until Friday. You'll never guess who that associate is."
"Dominique Sayer," Walker replied his eyes travelling to his partner just as Trivette declared, "Dominique Sayer."
"Hey who told you?" he demanded thinking he had been one up on his partner.
"Who's Dominique Sayer?" Sumner was asking not getting the significance of the name.
"Think she's behind it?" Trivette questioned both rangers conversing as it Sumner wasn't there.
Nodding yes Walker reinforced it with, "Yes I do. When is she due to get out?"
"I gave the paper work to Syd yesterday," Trivette answered heading towards her desk.
"Dominique Sayer?" Sumner tried again.
"Get the prison on the phone and see if we can delay her release in anyway," Walker continued Trivette picking up Syd's phone to make the call.
"I'll just call Anna B if she doesn't know who Dominique Sayer is I'm sure she won't mind finding out for me," Sumner mumbled out loud for the benefit of the other two.
"Sorry Sumner," Walker apologized explaining who the notorious Dominique Sayer was.
"So she wanted Gage to kill Ricky Perron for her?"
Walker nodded his head yes letting Sumner continue. "But Gage double crossed her Perron went free and she went to jail."
"Something like that," Walker smiled himself remembering how it went down.
"No go," Trivette interrupted the two of them walking back over to Walker's desk. "Dominique will be a free woman and she would have to agree to it. Are you going to pull them?"
"Gage isn't going to like that," Sumner murmured having come to know his friend pretty well.
"Gage is a big boy he's going to want to have Syd safe," Trivette began to reason even though he too knew pulling him after all these months wasn't going to make his fellow ranger happy, especially when Chafe's murder hadn't been solved.
"Are you kidding me?" Sumner jumped back in, "Those two live for this kind of action both will be pissed if they get pulled."
"We're just going to have to turn up the heat and close this before Friday," Walker cut into his friends' conversation.
"Amber's father is just going to have to come to town to get this deal moving," Walker replied all ready looking to Trivette to get working on the IDs smiles coming across both Trivette and Sumner's faces.
"You got it Walker or should I say Mr. Marston," Trivette's grin had grown wider.
Ray Amadee's Office At The Amadee Estate
"You tell Dominique I have both flys in the spider's web," Amadee who sat leaning back in his chair behind his oak desk chuckled into the phone. "They'll both be here waiting for her when she gets out. Things can't get much sweeter."
He paused a minute listening to the voice at the other end of the line. "Tell her tonight I'm setting the next part of the plan in motion, not to worry they'll all be ready for her on Friday when she gets outs out," he responded.
"Yeah night Marty," Amadee ended the conversation with Dominique's lawyer just as Jake Torreno knocked on the heavy office door.
"Come in," Amadee barked. "Everything set for tonight?" he asked.
"We're set, she's staying over at her brother's place, we'll be in and out," Jake confidently answered.
"Make sure her and the kid aren't hurt."
"And the rest?"
"You know the drill no witnesses."
Jake let a smile stretch across his face. "Of course Mr. Amadee no witnesses."
Amber And Teddy's Suite
Teddy Rankin stood behind Amber Marston slowly pulling the zipper up on her deep red coloured dress while she held her hair to the side. Amber's stomach flip flopped and not from the kisses Teddy had just planted on her neck and shoulder. Dominique Sayer her mind raced over the facts of what they knew of her. The woman was beautiful but deadly, charming but cunning, she had attended college with Julie Gage in fact they had been roommates, she had fooled her sister-in-law completely.
"You okay?" Gage prodded her.
"Fine I…" her voice drifted off as his arms went around her only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hey Teddy Mr. Amadee is waiting for you and Miss Marston."
"Thanks Joey," Gage answered, "We'll be right there."
Syd had pulled away from her husband to put the finishing touches on her make-up both listening to Joey's footsteps fade away.
Gage gave Syd another worried look to which she glared back hissing out, "I'm fine."
"Let's go then we don't want to keep our host waiting do we?"
Syd had all ready headed for the door taking two long strides Gage reached past her to pull the heavy door open so she could proceed him into the hallway. Pausing a moment Syd took his arm and they walked towards the large circular staircase that lead to the floor below. With Gage leading the way he escorted Syd into the dining room Ray Amadee standing to greet them. A young woman not much older then what Piper would be by Syd's estimate sat to the right of him.
"You look lovely tonight Amber," Amadee complemented Syd momentarily forgetting about the girl until noticing Syd's eyes on her. "This is my daughter Victoria," he introduced.
"Torrie Dad," the girl interrupted her father, "nobody calls me Victoria except maybe you," she emphasized the you. Turning away from her father she faced Syd, who she thought was glamorous in a sophisticated sort of way not like the women her father usually had hanging off his arm, and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you as well," Syd warmly answered.
"It's going to be so nice to have another woman in the house for a while instead of just Dad and his bodyguards," Torrie gushed on. "Maybe when your business is settled we could do some shopping together."
"Victoria I'm sure Amber has better things to do with her time…" Amadee cut in on his daughter.
"On the contrary Ray I'm sure that I would enjoy a day of shopping with Torrie," Syd answered using the girl's pet name, this time Amadee being cut off.
"See Dad," Torrie smugly smiled her father having been over stepped and by a woman.
"We'll see," he half agreed, "But for now lets all take a seat and enjoy dinner."
The rest of dinner was uneventful with nothing more then pleasant non-business chat with the Gages retiring early.
Meanwhile At Sydney And Gage's Home
Chris Gage tapped his fingers on the top of the steering wheel to the beat of the music coming from the CD player as he drove home. He had just dropped Angela Walker off at the ranch, the two of them had been to a movie. He smiled at how Angela had shrieked and buried her head in his shoulder as the on screen killer struck again. His father said it had always worked for him on his mother and his grin grew wider making a note that he would have to mention it to his Dad that it had worked for him too.
As his mind wandered to his parents it reminded him of the story his Aunt Julie was about to tell him that morning before they had been interrupted by Cat. Turning the corner and onto his street he hoped that maybe Julie would still be up and might finish the story.
Nearing the house he saw that the lights were all still on thinking to himself that was a good sign until he caught sight of a dark vehicle parked across the street from the house. Stopping the car in front of the neighbours he silently got out making his way in the shadows up the driveway.
Out of no where there was a loud shriek followed by a thunderous crash and gun fire.
Without hesitation Chris broke through the back door charging into the kitchen to find Cat clutching tightly to Cody while Julie held tight to her son Michael, his sister Piper delivering a spin kick to one of the men aiming his gun at them.
"Get that kid!" the other of the two men exclaimed his gun shooting wildly with a deafening blast. "Stop now or I'll put a bullet in you!"
TBC.