Chapter Five
On A Ranch Outside Of Dallas…
Trivette had just hung up his phone from requesting backup and giving coordinates as they pulled up in front of the rambling ranch house that was heavily guarded. As Sumner pulled to a stop behind Joey's car both rangers took a deep breath momentarily holding it before opening the car doors to get out.
Heading for the ranch's front porch Joey paused to talk to the sentinel who seemed to be in charge. Once Trivette and Sumner had been cleared for entrance he called over his shoulder, "This way."
Following Joey's lead both rangers climbed the porch stairs entering the posh house behind the man. "We got him upstairs," Joey explained, "Kept him kind of doped up so he wouldn't be trying to escape or nothing."
Trivette and Sumner exchanged glances before Trivette spoke, "Lead on and for your sakes you better hope that Billy makes a full recovery from his ordeal."
Joey didn't answer instead he turned leading them up the staircase and down the hallway where there was a locked door. Stopping he turned to Sumner and Trivette, "We were just following orders you know what that's like," he was almost pleading his case.
"Just open the door," Trivette demanded keeping all emotion in check.
Turning the key in the lock Joey pushed the door open allowing the rangers a glimpse inside the darkened room where Robin Chafe lay lifeless on the bed. Chafe was in pretty rough shape, he was unshaven and dirty having taken quite a few beatings over the duration of his captivity. Dried blood crusted his swollen bloated face, his eyes barely slits from the abuse they had taken. He had been striped of his shirt showing raw marks that crisscrossed his torso indicating that he had been whipped mercilessly. Both men tried to hide their shock at the condition of their friend. Trivette recovering first nudged Sumner saying, "Check if he's alive."
Going to Chafe Sumner placed his fingers on his neck checking for a pulse and finding a weak one answered back, "He's alive but just barely."
Trivette all ready had his phone to his ear, "John," he addressed Walker as his friend answered, "We got him, he's alive and we need to transport him for medical attention." Listening a minute more Trivette said goodbye turning back to face Sumner and Chafe as once more he began to dial. They could all hear the sirens, people shouting, and guns firing as Trivette made the connection. "This is Ranger James Trivette we need immediate emergency assistance at our location we have an officer down."
Joey went for his gun but Sumner was faster, in a few quick moves he had Amadee's man in custody. It was just a matter of moments before the whole ranch was taken over by law enforcement.
The Amadee Estate
Walker broke the connection with Trivette pausing for a moment to give consideration to his next move his thoughts being broken by Gage. "Did they find him?"
"They got him and are arranging transport for emergency treatment."
Gage nodded the acknowledgement as Amadee butted in, "So get my daughter I kept my end of the deal."
"Your end of the deal isn't finished," Walker interrupted turning to face the man. "Your end of the deal is to bring down Dominique Sayer to the custody of the Texas Rangers."
"What the hell…" Amadee left the sentence unfinished as the realization of his situation began to sink in.
"Gage you want to read Ray his rights?" Walker continued on.
"My rights? Where's my daughter?"
"Your daughter Torrie is spending a pleasant day at the Walker ranch by invitation of the ADA and her daughter," Walker informed the man. "You on the other hand are going to be spending the day being booked and processed. Then you are going to do what it takes to help bring Dominique to justice either that or face kidnapping, assault and unlawful confinement of a federal officer to name just a few of the charges."
Amadee's eyes were all but bugging out of his head in disbelief of what was happening as Gage stepped up behind him to take him into custody.
"Now wait a minute," Amadee sputtered out.
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute for what?" Gage shouted spinning the man around. "Did you wait a minute when you gave the orders to abduct Robin Chafe, to kill our kids, to kidnap my sister and her son?"
"Gage he's going to get his," Walker spoke, "But not until giving us what we want."
"I'm giving you nothing."
Gage tightened the cuffs as Syd spoke up, "You take the fall for everything yourself then. Let Dominique go free while she laughs at you. Think she's going to give you a second thought? She'll be laughing all the way until she picks up some other stooge to do her dirty work and take the blame when things get screwed up."
"You little…" Amadee directed his anger at Syd wishing he could tighten his hands around her throat and squeeze the life out of her.
"Be nice to my wife," Gage told him grabbing hold of the front of his shirt yanking him forward letting a smile come across his face. "Or I might just have to let her wipe the floor with you."
"What's it going to be Amadee?" Walker questioned from behind him.
Swallowing hard in defeat Amadee asked, "What do ya want me to do?"
"That's more like it," Walker smiled nodding to Gage who slammed Amadee in a chair.
"Now this is what we are going to do…" Walker smiled his voice trailing off.
The Gage Residence
Anna B's minivan pulled in the driveway at Sydney and Gage's, Chris was waiting on the front porch for her to help her inside with the twins. Both Katie and David were excited to be at the Gage's that meant they had a chance to play with Cat and Cody.
"Hey Anna B, guys," Chris greeted them. "Thanks for coming at such short notice."
"Like you wouldn't do the same," Anna B grinned.
"Thanks all the same," Chris replied holding the door open for them. "Julie is just getting Michael settled."
"Can you believe it Robin alive after all these months we thought he was dead," Anna B chatted.
"I have to see him before I can believe it," Julie had joined them she was visibly shaken by the news that her husband wasn't dead. "I just can't get my hopes up until I know he's really…" Julie broke down a tear clouding her eyes.
"Aunt Julie Jimmy and Matt both saw him…" Chris tried to comfort her.
"I'm here," Anna B cut in, "You and Chris get going," she urged.
Shaking her head yes Julie gave Anna B a quick hug telling her she had given all the last minute instructions about Michael to Piper. Turning she and Chris loaded into Syd's van to head for the hospital.
"They gone?" Piper asked coming to the door.
"Yep," Anna B answered noting Piper seemed annoyed with what was transpiring. "Something up Pipe?" she questioned the teen.
"Nothing except maybe nobody trusts me," she blurted out.
"Nobody trusts you?" Anna B quizzed, "What are you talking about?"
"Just what I said nobody trusts me or they wouldn't have called you to come over and babysit us. I can look after Cody and Michael I don't need help, after all I do have Cat here to help me," she pouted.
Trying to conceal a smile Anna B cleared her throat before answering. "It isn't that you aren't trusted and under most circumstances I'm sure I wouldn't have been asked to come over."
"What circumstances?"
"Only that you were attacked the other night and the people behind it are still at large. Only that even though you were instrumental in capturing your attackers you at least had Julie and then Chris to back you up."
"Well I guess," Piper agreed as she thought about what Anna B was saying.
"Besides you need me to protect the kids while you're protecting me," she laughed getting a smile from Piper too.
Memorial Hospital
With her nephew Chris by her side Julie Gage hurried to the emergency desk her voice failing her as the nurse looked up to ask if she could help her. "I… I… I…" was all that came out.
"We're looking for DEA agent Robin Chafe he was brought in earlier," Chris took over the conversation. "This is his wife Julie Gage-Chafe."
"Julie Chris," they both turned to see Sumner coming towards them.
"Matt," Julie cried going towards him letting him take her in an embrace. "It's really him?"
"Yeah Honey its Robin, he's had it pretty rough this past couple of months…" Matt answered.
"Oh Matt," Julie cried longing desperately for the man she loved with all her heart, the man she thought had been lost to her.
"Ranger," a young doctor had come from one of the exam rooms to address Sumner.
"Yes," Sumner replied turning to face the young man and introduce Julie to him.
"Mrs. Chafe," the doctor offered his hand to Julie and she grasped tightly. "Your husband's condition considering what he has been through isn't that bad, but he's not out of the woods by any means."
Julie held her tongue at the doctor's remarks wanting him to just get to what he had to say and let her see Robin.
"He is unconscious right now and there is no telling how long he will remain that way. His tox-screen came back showing he has been heavily laden with a cocktail of drugs for a fair period of time, not to mention the physical abuse he has been put through…"
"But he's going to be all right?"
"He'll heal physically only time will tell if he will make a complete recovery," Doctor Hotte answered truthfully.
Swallowing hard Julie nodded her head in understanding, and with that stubborn Gage will pushing through, her voice strong she asked, "May I see him?"
"Of course," Hotte replied, "Right this way."
With Chris by her side and Sumner a pace behind they followed the doctor to where Robin was. "Just speak to him and let him know you're here that will be the best medicine for him now," Doctor Hotte explained to them, to Julie who smiled in determination. He held the door open stepping back so they could enter.
"You go ahead Aunt Julie," Chris urged knowing his aunt would like the quiet time alone to just be with her husband who she thought she had lost.
Julie smiled at Chris giving his hand a squeeze of appreciation before heading into Robin's room. Walking half way across the room she stopped listening to the door swishing shut behind her as eyes focused on the man who lay motionless in the bed in front of her. Biting her lip tears began to well up in her eyes as she whispered, "Robin," in recognition of her husband. "Oh Robin,' she cried going to him grasping his hand in hers and holding on for dear life in fear he would evaporate once again into thin air.
