Chapter Six

At Sydney And Gage's

Angela Walker stood at the Gage's kitchen sink looking out the window into the yard her mind focused on Chris, his father and mother. Sydney and Gage had been Aunt and Uncle since forever… Chris, she and Chris had been friends since they were babies, they'd had a rough spot or two but in the end there was no one besides her family that she trusted or loved more then Chris. This just wasn't fair, what did she or Chris ever do to deserve this?

"What is taking so long?" a frustrated Angela suddenly cried out slamming her hands on edge of the sink before twirling around to face the rest. "Why hasn't Dad called? Why haven't they been found? Where are they?"

The questions poured from her while the rest remained in silent empathy for her. Finally and unexpectedly it was Piper who spoke up. "Angela knock it off," she bluntly commanded. "Everything possible is being done to find them and you know it. The best team possible is looking for them, your Dad, Uncle Jimmy, Sumner and Uncle Robin. Anna B is working the computer and everyone is here for moral support, everyone… everyone…" Piper's voice faltered soundless tears escaping down her cheeks. Cat with Cody's hand in hers went to where her sister stood; Piper bent to pick up her little brother and then hugged both.

By now Julie had handed Michael off to Erica to go to the children she too engulfing them in a family hug.

"Piper," it was Angela addressing her Alex by her side. "Piper, I'm sorry I know we are all in this together it's just that… it's so hard… I'm sorry."

"I know you are," Piper retorted breaking away from the rest to hug Angela. "They'll find them Angela; they are all coming home safe to us."

Outside Ranger Headquarters

"Walker I'm all right," Chafe shouted gun drawn; "Can you see where the shots came from?"

"Somewhere up there," Walker answered his eyes going to the rooftops above them.

"Walker, Chafe," Trivette shouted from the top of the steps where he and Sumner had appeared they too guns drawn ready for anything.

"Trivette we're fine, get someone on the roof," Walker called back.

"All ready done," Trivette answered cautiously moving towards his friends, still at the ready, Sumner covering him. "What happened?" he questioned making it to the safety of the ram.

"They fired on us when we pulled up," Chafe answered his eyes still scanning the roof tops.

"I think though Chafe they were aiming at you," Walker voiced his observations.

"Considering what's been going on around here with the Gages I have to agree," Chafe admitted.

"You guys come up with anything?" Walker questioned.

"A few interesting facts that point to the Sayers and Talos, Anna B is delving more deeply into things as we speak," Trivette supplied as the group headed inside.

A moment later the men having left the shooting scene to forensics had crowded around Trivette's desk to see what new lead had been found. "It seems that the Talos family all owned property just outside Dallas at one time or another. Old Amos, John and Joseph sold most of theirs off to pay for lawyers but their sister Connie didn't. When she married Sayer the property was abandon but kept in the family so she had something to fall back on if things didn't turn out well with Sayer or at least that is what the general consensus was. Over the years the family has acquired other pieces of property all of it in Connie's name. Anna B is looking into the rest of the properties in and around Dallas and Austin but the one that stands out is the property her father, old Amos, bought for her, the property he refused to sell to help pay for his defence.

With his eyes on the computer screen Walker listened to what Trivette was saying as he scanned the map indicating the location of the old homestead. As his friend finished reciting what he knew Walker addressed them in his always same calm demeanour, "Lets go, lets check it out."

Inside The Abandon Cellar…

"Come back here!"

"Let us out. You're crazy!" Father and son alike were shouting at their captor but to no avail.

"Guys, guys," Syd shouted over the pair, "It's no use they're gone, besides you're giving them just what they want."

"You're right Syd," Gage sullenly answered trying hard to pen up his frustration and anger.

"Sorry Mom," Chris mumbled he to trying to mask his true angry feelings.

"Help me pick up some of this stuff they threw down," Syd continued as she gathered the papers together hoping to get some insight to what was going on and why they were being held.

Both Chris and Gage began helping Gage stopping as he picked up an old folded newspaper noting it was the New York Times (1). "Trial of the decade ends in guilty verdict," he read aloud. Skimming over the article an all too familiar name jumped out at him. "Hey Syd listen to this," he called to his wife before beginning to read aloud once again. "Amos and son John Talos were both convicted for conspiracy and first degree murder charges. The judge showed very little mercy sentencing both men to life in prison. The arrests and convictions are attributed to the courage of Daniel and Mary Jane Rollins who came forward as eye witnesses to the crimes. The couple and their family are said to have moved out of the city possibly under assumed names in fear of repercussions from the Talos crime family.

"Look at this Dad," it was Chris' turn to speak. "Pictures of Grandma and Grandpa's car wreck," he announced handing the clipped out article to his father.

Gage could feel his heart pounding wildly in his chest as he forced his hand out to take the clipping from his son. In all that time he had never really looked at any of the pictures of the wreckage that had killed Colleen and Mathew Gage, he fell heavily against the dirt wall sinking slowly to the ground.

"Are you all right Gage?" It was his wife who questioned him; she had looked up from a file that had been marked highly confidential when she heard Chris' proclamation. Scrambling on hands and knees she made her way to Gage.

Kneeling beside she reached out letting her hand caress his cheek. "Gage?" she softly questioned again.

"I'm all right Syd," he choked out as he cleared his throat taking hold of his emotions at the same time his eyes scanning the picture. An uneasy silence took hold Gage squeezing his eyes shut in defiance of tears. Once again he cleared his throat asking, "What did you find?"

"Some sort of confidential file," she answered sitting down beside him and opening it so both could see. Chris took his place beside his mother craning his neck so he could see in the file too. All three began to read, all three sat with their mouths agape as the jest of the file began to sink in.

"This is nuts!" Gage finally spoke what he was reading seeming to be the craziest thing he had ever seen in his life. "I've been Francis Gage since I was born; my mother was Colleen Gage, my father Mathew Gage. Julie for God's sake Julie is or was Julie Gage until she got married…" his voice trailed off in exasperation and defeat.

"So this nut case is right?" Chris questioned, "We aren't really Gages were Rollins?"

"Our name is Gage," Gage fanatically shouted out not wanting to admit other wise. "We would have known other wise, Julie would have known…"

"Gage listen to me," Syd had clutched tightly to his hand now she looked into his face. "Let's just suppose for a minute that it's true."

"It's not," Gage adamantly answered.

"Let's pretend it is," Syd insisted.

Gage remained silent and Syd took it as a sign that he would let her finish. "Let's say all those years ago this Daniel Rollins did witness that murder and went on to testify about it. The first thing he would have to do is change his name and his family's name to keep them alive. If he became Mathew Gage who moved to a small community outside of Austin it's obvious that some how the Talos must have found out, hence the accident."

"But Syd for neither Julie nor I to know…"

"Gage you would have been to small to know, in fact according to this Julie would have been a baby and well you wouldn't have even been born yet. Even at the time of the accident you would have been too young to devolve the secret to you," Syd reasoned.

Swallowing hard Gage had to agree adding, "I know it is a possibility it's just that it is so surreal."

Chris had taken the file from his mother continuing to read as his parents talked. "Oh man," he muttered as he came to the end.

"What is it?" Syd questioned.

"It's true," he quietly replied, "Our name is Rollins." With that said he handed the papers back to his mother.

Reading aloud Syd repeated what Chris had been reading to Gage. "October sixteenth an explosive device was found attached to the undercarriage of Mathew Gage's car causing the accident that took the lives of Colleen Gage\Mary Jane Rollins and Mathew Gage\Daniel Rollins. With their deaths this file is officially closed and sealed to protect their family."

"Let me see that," Gage cried grabbing the file from Syd's hands to read it for himself. "Oh that protected us all right. The fact that we never knew who we were so we could prevent what has happened now. Man the girls, Cody," his imagination was getting the better of him.

"Gage calm down," Syd tried to appease him.

"Don't tell me to calm down you didn't just have your life ripped out from under you. And don't call me Gage evidently that isn't my name either," he snapped out.

"All right Francis," Syd cut back in. "Your life as you knew it has changed but the fact that I'm your wife and this is your son hasn't. We have three other children out there to worry about not to mention the fact that we have to find someway out of here. So snap out of it, get your mind on what we do best and once we are safe we can get through this.

His wife's words hit home and he took her in his arms motioning Chris to them at the same time. Embracing them both he whispered, "You're right Syd, lets find away out of here."

Connie Sayer's Ranch Outside Of Dallas

All looked quiet at the gates of the old Sayer ranch when Walker and Chafe pulled up Trivette and Sumner right behind them. To the untrained eye things looked as if they hadn't been disturbed in years. Coming up behind his old partner Trivette knew he saw something amiss even if the rest of them were blind to it.

"What is it Walker?" Trivette asked.

"Someone has been here the vines at the gateway have been trampled," he replied making for the old gate post. "Keep your eyes peeled for anything no matter how small," he warned as the other three followed.

"Walker," Chafe called seeing a crumpled paper lying on the ground almost hidden with the undergrowth. Reaching down he picked up the scrap of paper to read the words scrawled on it. Handing it to Walker he looked up the laneway muttering, "Damn it," under his breath.

"Walker?"

He in turn handed the note to Trivette who read it aloud, "Finally a Gage that can follow instructions. Leave your car at the road and walk in. There is an old barn go inside if you want to see your mother and father again."

"Let's get up there and check out that barn," Walker barked taking the lead.

The three rangers plus the DEA agent made their way up the drive and to the barn. With Trivette and Sumner each flanking the door Walker stood his ground bringing his booted foot forward breaking in the door. With guns at the ready they pushed their way inside only to find the place empty, Chris' car parked in the center of the structure.

"Now what?" Chafe growled impatiently.

"We get back to headquarters and figure out where they've taken them," Sumner answered for his counterparts.

Before anyone could respond Trivette's phone began to ring. "Trivette," he answered. "Erica slow down… Honey are you sure… I'll catch up with him… I'll find him."

Breaking the connection Trivette stood motionless for a moment until Sumner asked, "Well what is it?"

"Erica… she got a phone call asking if she knew where Marcus was; now she can't find him."

TBC

(1) Special Note: Just a reminder that this is fiction and that at no time did a story of this nature appear published in the New York Times.