When Cordell arrived at Ranger HQ he headed straighter for Captain James's office. Not bothering to knock he just walked in and closed the door.
"What happened?" Captain James asked the second the door was closed.
"I think Krisa is in some kinda trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I think her soon to be husband may be holding something over her."
Captain James stopped what he was doing and looked at his old partner. He know Cordell probably better than anyone and he could tell something was bugging him.
"What do you want to do?"
" I want to look into him."
"What if off the record I told you it was already being done.."
"What do you mean?"
Captain James reached into his desk and pulled out a file sitting in front of Cordell.
"A few months ago Liam and the DA got a case. A drug smuggling ring out of Dallas."
"I remember only the lawyers got the guys off right?"
"Right. The lawyer for the smugglers was the firm of Starson and Son out of Houston."
"What?!" Cordell asked, picking up and opening the file.
"Liam asked the Rangers down in Houston to do some digging."
"And?"
"Turns out Waden Starson is retainer lawyer for the largest cartels in Houston and according to our field office in Houston they're trying to make a play for Austin."
"So is Krisa?"
"No, Liam didn't even know she had ties to the Starson until she came back . Believe me had we found out before i would have told you."
Cordell ran a hand down his face. He couldn't believe it. Krisia was marrying into a family who had ties to the worst kind of people.
"Walker there is one more thing."
"What?"
"I looked into this myself. Krisa doesn't know this but they plan on something big."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean if our intel is right. Matthew Starson has had her check out . Cordell they know about you and her ties to you."
"You think they're threatening her?"
"If anything they already have."
"That explains it ."
"Explain what?"
"Tommy said Krisa has been trying to get him to move to Houston with her. What if they've threatened Tommy?"
"You think they're trying to keep her in line by threatening to her kill her dad?"
"Yeah, Starson isn't just threatening to kill Tommy. If Krisa talks they're threatening to kill me to."
Captain James eyes went wide and a look of conver crossed his face. Cordell sat down across from him as he ran a hand down his face again. If his gut was right then that was why Krisa was acting so strange. An also might explain why she was trying to convince Tommy to move to Houston. Without thinking about it. Captain James picked up the phone dialed a number.
He spoke quickly and turned back quickly to Cordell. It wasn't to long before Liam walked into the office.
"Liam."
"Cordi, I'm sorry I wish I could have told you sooner about Starson. I just had no idea Krisa was marrying Waden Starson's son."
"Liam, what do we know about Starson's son?" Captain James asked
" Well first off his name is Cade. He goes by Matthew as his actual name."
"Did he meet Kris at a party?"
"According to our intel he did but over a year ago."
"She said they'd been dating for four years."
Liam nodded in understanding. He had a feeling that Starson must have had Krisa under the radar from public view. Looking at his older brother Liam noticed the look in Cordell's eyes. The two brothers had a silent conversation between themselves. Captain James broke the silence by clearing his throat.
"Guys if Krisia knows and she is trying to protect her dad and you Walker then she has to be scared out of her mind of Starson."
"One way to find out." Liam said.
"Friday?"
"What's Friday?"
"Tommy is throwing a bbq dinner and we all were invited . He told momma and daddy that Starson would be there."
Captain James nodded. Liam pinched the bridge of his nose as Cordell clenched his jaw. The three men sat in silence for the moment. When Mickie walked into the office.
"Sorry to interrupt Cap but there is a call for you."
"Thanks Mickie."
"This is Captain James."
"Hello Captain James, this Tad Starson."
Captain James put the phone on speaker the second he heard the name.
"What can I do for you Mr. Starson?"
"I was hoping to ask if you could spare a few of your rangers to be outside the courthouse for a couple of days."
"Well Mr. Starson normally we only do that for high profile cases not private ones."
"Well you see captain this is a matter of urgency. My son's client is a witness to a very dangerous man's trail and I wouldn't want anyone to harm him."
"Well I maybe can spare two rangers but that's about it."
"Good would Ranger Walker be available?"
Cordell's head snapped up at the mention of his name.
"His busy currently. why would you ask for Ranger Walker."
"His an old friend of my future daughter in Law Krisa Chester and i was hoping he might do it as a favor to her."
"I'll speak with Ranger Walker about it."
"Thank you Captain James."
"You're welcome sir."
The second James hung up the phone. Cordell shot up and began to pace across the room.
"you have to talk to her." Liam said.
"His right Walker. They know to much about her past."
"You're right I'm going to Tommy's." Cordell said, quickly grabbing his hat and walking out of the office. Mickie stopped him in the hallway.
"Walker where are you off to."
"I have to go talk to Krisa."
"In the middle oof the day?"
"It's important .'' Cordell said walking around his partner and out of the office. Mickie stood stunned for a moment then she headed to captain James office.
"Hey Cap what's up with Walker?"
"It's kinda personal?"
"Personal?"
"Yeah an old friend of his is in trouble."
"How bad?"
"Bad enough she's trying to protect him and her dad."
"Dam . What kinda trouble?"
"The kind that if she talks she could get killed."
Walker didn't waste a minute when he pulled up at the Chesters house he walked right up and knocked on the door as he walked in.
"Cowboy? What are you doing here?" Krisa asked when she saw him walk into the kitchen.
"We need to talk."
