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FAMILY REUNION

Chapter Five

The next morning as Trent traced the familiar steps to Ranger Headquarters, he noticed the door was open just barely enough that he heard raised voices and stopped walking. Carefully, he tried to take a look inside to see what all the commotion was about. He knew immediately that he probably should come back another time.

To one side of the room near Walker and Trivette's desks was a cluster of people, mostly other Rangers and a few DPD detectives, in what appeared to be a quite heated conversation. Trent didn't recognize most of the faces. But he did recognize Ranger Hunt and a few other officers that Carlos had worked with previously when he was a detective on the force. Trent was just about to turn around and leave when someone suddenly made mention of a name he had not heard in a long time. Suddenly he paused, frozen to the opening to hear more of the conversation.

"Sal, you know good and well that the Rangers work their butts off every damn day of the week to keep the streets clean! It isn't easy! And no one is to blame for this! If you'd get off of your high horse for two minutes maybe you could work together with us instead of wanting all the glory to yourself."

Detective Ochoa scoffed and rolled his eyes away and back again. "Really?! You want to blame me for wanting all the glory?! Ha! Two can play that game, Roberta."

"This isn't a game!"

"Damn right it isn't!" Sal stormed away from the scene, brushing past Trent and into the hall in a fury, leaving the rest of the people there in shock.

With his presence now revealed, Trent stepped inside cautiously and approached Ranger Hunt as the other officers began to disperse. He could tell the woman was trying to hold back tears with a very strong and valiant effort. "Are you okay? What was that all about?"

Bobbie sniffed hard and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just two officers with a history trying to fix the problems in the world." She laughed sarcastically before trying to brush the matter away from her mind, extending her hand. "I'm sorry. Trent Malloy, right?"

Trent nodded and shook Bobbie's hand. "Yes, that's right."

"Can I get you a cup of coffee or something?"

"No, I'm good. I just was hoping to get some help figuring out something. My girlfriend Molly has been worried about a kid who Alex and she has been helping out at the H.O.P.E. Center. I was hoping I could put her mind at ease. She's awful worried about the fellow being involved in gang activity."

"That makes two of us," Bobbie remarked as she sauntered over to her own desk at the other side of the room.

Trent arched a brow and followed the Ranger. "What do you mean?"

"That's what Ochoa and I were in an argument about. It seems he's convinced his nephew's old gang is trying to kill him now that he's left the gang. But we don't have any proof. He thinks I'm just being obnoxious about it." She sighed and pecked at a few keys on her computer. "Sal and I have a long history," she explained.

"I see," Trent replied simply, taking a seat in front of Bobbie's desk. "So the fellow's name is William Brent. Will for short. He does have a record from what Molly told me. She's just hoping he hasn't done anything recently that would be leading him astray."

Bobbie typed in the name and began scrolling through the search results. "This could be him. William Andrew Brent. Aged sixteen. Arrested for shoplifting a few times. Underage drinking a few times. All that was at least two years ago though. His record's clean for at least a year it seems."

"Does it list his last known address? A guardian?"

"It says he was released to a relative that lives at 3421 Elm Street about six months ago after living five months in foster care."

"Wait a second," Trent stopped her. "That's the same street Molly and Katheryn's apartment building is on. Molly said he's been coming around the apartment a lot. That would explain that. You know, she was also worried about whoever he was visiting with having been involved in something."

"Does she have proof?"

"No," Trent smiled. "But I've come to trust her instincts. She's getting about as bad as Kath or Walker."

Bobbie chuckled lightly—the first sign of humor in her eyes as she returned to searching the records. "I don't have a name on the relative. I'm sure social services or the department is keeping their grip on that one for obvious reasons. I'll try to tap a few sources and get some more info when I can."

"Yeah. And thanks. If you hear anything let me know." Trent rose to leave. "Molly will be happy to hear he's been clean for a year though. I think she's been growing rather attached to the kids at the center lately."

"Can you blame her?" Bobbie pointed out, offering a smile.

"Not one bit. Not one bit at all."

Arriving back at police headquarters, Detective Sal Ochoa tossed a file onto his desk before he made a straight line for Captain Philips' office. According to reception, he was needed right away. What could it be this time? Sal was by no means prepared for the onslaught this week had brought him. He had nearly lost his little sister and nephew. The last thing he needed was a wet-nosed wannabe female cop standing in his way of slapping the cuffs onto the punks who tried to destroy a family in one fell swoop. Now he probably had angered internal affairs for his lack of sobriety in dealing with the Rangers. It wouldn't be the first time, he concluded, making the sharp right turn into the captain's large office.

"Ochoa," Captain Philips acknowledged Sal and waved him to come in. "I heard about what happed to your sister and her son. Are they doing okay?"

Sal nodded vaguely. "Yes, sir. Amy has a good friend at Assistant DA Alex Cahill's H.O.P.E. Center. Amy and Leon will be staying there with her while the repairs are being made to their home." Sal ended his report there, fighting every urge to continue to express how unfair he felt the department was treating this case. After all, he knew who was to blame. And the burnt embers of the victimized house was evidence enough for him.

"Well, that's good," the captain relaxed in his chair and proceeded to hand Sal a file. Sal took it and immediately took to examining its contents. "I need you to take that over to Ranger Headquarters as soon as you can."

Sal's sigh sharply cut through his words. "I can't, Captain. I just came from there, and I can't say I'd be welcomed back with open arms."

"Tough," the captain replied bluntly. "Now you've been a cop long enough to know when to man up and set your differences aside. Do I have to remind you about the time I covered your tail on the Estrella case with Detective Sandoval?"

Sal thought through his words before daring to open his mouth. "No, sir. You've made your point very clear. But if I can, sir, I'd like to point out that just like Sandoval defended his family, I have every right in the books to demand my family be looked out for too. Attempted murder, Captain. That's what we're looking at here. And no one here seems to care."

"I do care, Sal. I care a hell of a lot more than you give any of us credit for. I just don't think you can see past certain difference with a fellow cop to be able to make a rational decision here. The Texas Rangers aren't our enemy here."

"Captain, I assure you that the only thing keeping me from thinking rationally is the fear that I'm going to get a call telling me to come bury my sister and nephew. That's the only thing crowding my mind. Now if you'll excuse me," Sal handed the file back to Captain Philips, "I have work to get to."

Captain Philips refused to receive the file back and pushed it back towards Ochoa. "Starting with this, Detective." He locked eyes with the officer, unmoved and able to convey his intended message.

It seemed to work. Or else Sal was not going to be kept away from the investigation longer than he had to. Taking the file back, Sal left quickly. The sooner he had this in the Ranger's hands, the sooner he could get back to securing justice as it was meant to be dealt.

SLAM! Ranger Hunt jumped at the sudden sound and turned from her computer screen to see a slightly worn manila folder gracing her office desk. She quickly turned her gaze upward and cocked a very sarcastic smile.

"Captain Philips instructed me to be sure this was dropped off at Ranger Headquarters. It's a file I believe you requested."

"Why thank you, Sal," Bobbie continued to smile, reading disdain all over Detective Ochoa's face as she began thumbing through the file in her hands. "And here I thought you missed me for some reason and had to rush over here to be in my company."

"Hardly," Sal muttered beneath his breath. "If you'll excuse me…" And he turned to leave.

"Hey, Sal," Bobbie's voice stopped him. "I do have one favor to ask. Don't worry. It won't break your back or anything."

"Yeah?" Sal urged, slipping his hands into his pockets restlessly. He clearly didn't feel the need to stay for longer than he had to and was ready to charge the moment he was able to go.

"I know it may take every effort you can muster, but if you can I would appreciate being notified of any Trey Sevens gang activity in the near future."

"Wait, why the Trey Sevens?" Suddenly Sal was intrigued. To Bobbie's surprise, he seemed as if he was actually interested in what she had to say.

"Um," Bobbie stumbled, instantly feeling uneasy at Sal interrogation. "This file you pulled for me. It's about a kid named Will that private detective Trent Malloy wanted some information about. It seems his girlfriend has been working with the kid over at Assistant DA Cahill's center. She was concerned about his welfare. Why the sudden interest?"

"I, um, no reason. I'll listen for anything. Good day, Ranger Hunt."

Sal was nearly to the door of the Company B office when it suddenly swung open in his face. In front of him was his sister Amy, stunned and her eyes stained from crying. They seemed to be dry now. But the evidence was still there.

Silently, Amy shoved her way inside, angrily bypassing her brother in search of someone else.

"Amy," Sal followed her across the room to where Ranger Walker's desk was. "Amy!" he repeated after being ignored as Amy searched for a familiar face. "Amy, Ranger Walker isn't here. What do you need? I'm sure we can talk someplace else."

"What do I need?!" Amy snapped, all eyes turning her direction. "I need to know that something is being done to catch the criminals who nearly killed me and my son and burned my house! And you're clearly not doing a thing about it!"

"Amy, I'm doing the best I can. It's not that easy."

"Oh, that's easy for you to say. Brush your sister off with cop lingo and expect her to understand? Well, I don't, Sal. I need answers. I need to know that's not going to happen again. It could be guns next time. It could be far worse!"

"Amy," Sal said gently, trying to sooth Amy as he took her by the arms and looked her in the eyes. "I love you. I don't want a thing to happen to you or Leon. Trust me! I'm doing everything I can."

Meanwhile, Bobbie watched from her desk on the far side of the room as Amy seemed to be reassured by Sal's loving words. He took her in his arms and held her for a moment, not seeming to care that anyone was looking as he let his little sister cry it out on his shoulder. Suddenly, Roberta felt remorse. But she couldn't quite figure out why. This was a side of Sal Ochoa she had never seen since their days at the academy together. It was a side she barely knew any man could have until she had met Ranger Walker nearly two years ago. Sal had always been rough and unforgiving. Perhaps it was his passion for justice that made him that way. Either way, Bobbie held that same passion. And for the first time she could see it plainly in Sal.

Ranger Hunt set aside the file she had nearly forgotten she had even been holding in the first place and stood, ambling over to where Sal and Amy were by Walker's desk. "Sal," she dared to interrupt.

"Yeah?" Sal quipped, hesitantly pulling away from his sister.

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to help you solve this case. If gang activity is involved somehow, it might help my case too."

Sal couldn't help but stare helplessly for a second. It was as if he was beginning to see a new side of Roberta Hunt that he had never seen before. "I—I guess that would be okay. I really don't see I have much of a choice. I need all the help I can get what with Walker and the other Rangers away."

"Why don't we meet up at C.D.'s later and we could discuss the case? I bet Mr. Parker could help us out too if we needed some advice."

"Yeah," Sal surprised himself by agreeing to the plan. "I get off at six. So six thirty?"

"Works for me." Bobbie was surprised to feel a smile creep up on her face and quickly got rid of it. Even though she was ready to attempt letting bygones be bygones, she wasn't quite prepared for a full commitment to civility just yet. But, she reassured herself silently, perhaps this was a step in the right direction…whatever direction that happened to be at the time.