And he was a hard worker. Johnny looked out the window and saw Barnett, coming with several men. All dressed like feds or worse yet thugs!
They were all very interested in what Terry was telling them. That he saw, Johnny Smith. "He's going, by the name of Stephan Moore." The foreman thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. I saw the web site, and I decided to watch him until I was sure. But I never saw him do anything weird, but I figured he has to be the guy so I got my brother ask my cousin to run the guys prints. But he, kept his work gloves on that's when I was sure." Barnett told them. "He knew I was onto him." "what Makes you think he's still here?" one of the thugs asked. "He's here Jake who works security told me he thinks Stephan is hiding out in the boat house." Johnny watched as Barnett, pointed at the boat house, He had to escape But a boat engine would be heard. He ran for the door to the water side of the Boat house when he saw no other but Greg Stillson himself arriving. At the docks below. "Smith's here?" He asked. "That's what I hear." A man with him said. There was an army landing here! "Our source, says he's in the boat house." Came a voice over the radio. Stillson Smiled. "Then we have him trapped. Bring him to me unhurt gentle men." Stillson ordered The goons leaped out of the boat and Johnny looked at the door behind him as he heard others coming behind him. There was no where to go. He looked at the boat still in the water two men were tying up at the dock. The only other escape was covered. The current was too fast to swim. And there was no way to get past the goons behind him either. He had to think fast. As the goons were coming in fast. Stillson thought he had his prize but Johnny, was looking into the darkness. He suddenly found himself looking into the boat loft and He made a careful step into the Shadows and to the loft door Then took shelter under a canoe that lay beside the door. "The boat house is clear." came a voice, over the radio. Greg looked at the man next to him. The two men both sighed " Smith's flown." They thought And Stillson's goons got back into the boat. And left Barnett was also left behind. Johnny watched them leave Barnett stood on the dock. As the thugs left him behind. He paced anger twisted his face as he thought about how Smith had escaped him. "I'll get him! I'll get that son of a …" Johnny looked at the canoes and, then noticed the huge ship, that was sailing by.
He looked at saw a flag, that was on the back. "Denver International"
He took the canoe and soon was out of Barnett's reach. He kept himself Going rowing for everything he was worth. He had often wondered if the therapy with Bruce had really been all that good for him. He was soon along side The Lady Caroline. There was a rope dangling along the side He climbed up the rope That dangled along side the huge galleon styled Ship.
He reached the deck and stood there his limbs shaking. There was no one on deck and He had to wonder if he had made the right choice coming aboard the way he had. He looked out into the night. At least for now he was safer than he was back at the boat house. A young man came up on deck and acted as if Johnny had been there when the ship had set sail from Where ever. "Nice night." He said cordially. As he leaned on the rail. Johnny looked at him. "Yeah." Johnny replied afraid he was about to be pitched over the side. He could make out a lot of details about this guy He was blonde blue eyed and looked very tan. He was lean and muscular. His voice was smooth with that western or rather southwestern accent that told Johnny the new comer was Texan. "We've been expecting you Mr. Smith. My name is Trent Malloy. I'm a friend of your niece." He said. Johnny relaxed visibly. "Can you come below deck?" He asked as he looked at The face of The psychic. "We missed you in Buffalo." Trent added. "Seems this guy Stillson was one step ahead because of some reward he put out for your capture." He said, as he looked out at the scenery Trent looked at the man before him. And he looked at the shore line again Johnny hadn't turned from the rail. "Pat's moving in to Silver Pines. Your friends and family are going to be safe." Trent told him. "We have plenty of help waiting in the wings." Johnny nodded and finally followed Trent below deck. The Lady Caroline sailed away into the night. Stillson had missed his prize.
It was clear to anyone that Pat Riley and Johnny Smith were kin but there was more to the tall lean and very tan woman than just her relatives. Stillson's goons soon found out how much more. Riley looked at the three men who had entered the barn, she knew what they were there for and came out of the house and before they could do any of her new herd harm she made them regret coming out into her domain. Walt arrived to find them tied and hauled out to the curb. He smiled This new comer might not be psychic, but she didn't have to be with the Skills she had learned god only knew where. But he had heard of Pat from another Texas Ranger he'd worked with when they were teamed up on the Chairman case. A nation wide slap in organized Crime's face set up by the justice department. When Johnny had heard about Ranger Gage knowing his niece he actually came out to see the man and they talked for a long time. It seemed a comfort to the psychic to know that his niece, was safely back from Mexico.
It was a good thing that Pat and he were close and that she understood the situation. This would make things easier for him. There was way too much going on for him and his small team alone to handle. Having a secret weapon like Riley who was right now playing at more of a Zorro meets jack Sparrow, introduced by Xena, type of character. It had Stillson chasing a ghost a ninja called Knight Shade! Though he thought it was Pat herself The fact that he saw the pair actually in combat and saw the ninja retreat. Though Pat didn't take it that way He looked at it that Pat had indeed made Stillson look like a fool. Who ever the Knight Shade was if it were Riley or someone else, they seemed to be on the same page as his future deputy. "I didn't win ." She said. As she stood there her lip bleeding as she stood watching where Knight Shade had been. Only moments before, Stillson looked at her. "If you aren't Knight Shade, who is?" He asked.
Pat looked at him. "I've had my battles with that creep before and it appears that your former girl friend and Knight Shade knew each other….. Very well." She said. "Did she ever say anything about a former boy friend who was an assassin for hire?" It was then that She checked her left side there was a deep wound there. "Cuss!" She managed as she started for the building nearest to her and fell. Stillson was in shock. Knight Shade, had been at that inn where Johnny and Miranda had been? This black clad assassin Japanese, who had been in the room with Miranda The night she spent with Johnny Smith! Knight Shade, had been there! But if he had been there then that freak had never….. Nothing carnal had happened in that room!" Stillson thought. "I let Janus, take her away from me I trusted him"
The ambulance took Pat away Stillson was left to think. He had to find Knight Shade himself. After the Finding of that journal a few months before, and what he had read he needed some one to verify what Smith had told Miranda Ellis. He looked at the blood on the grass from what he had seen of Pat's fight with Knight Shade the other had to be hurt just as badly
It would take one hell of a warrior to hold their own against the Dark Ranger. His own people and even Janus' own people had been left in the orthopedics ward because of her and fighting skills and feral nature. Pat Riley was far more dangerous than Johnny Smith. So anyone who could hold their own against her must be a dangerous sort themselves. But if they knew whatever it was that Johnny Smith had told Miranda. Then he would risk whatever this assassin had in mind. Catching Smith hadn't been going well Stillson hadn't been able to get past what that psion Robbins had told him. Janus had made short work of so many of the rest of those Who had been in that room. The rest were all dead. He hadn't even known who they were.
