"Here is the file that you requested, everything on that lady ranger and lady D.A."
"Excellent, everything is falling into place. Of course I can't get my handsdirty on this one. Send for El Pantera."
The lieutenant nodded leaving the room. El Pantera – The Panther, is an assassin for hire who served the Ruiz family for years past. He is practically a ghost, the best in the business. Vasquez chuckled to himself with his newfound confidence in his plot to secure his freedom was so engrossed in the pile of papers on his desk he almost didn't hear his lieutenant enter the room.
"Excuse me señor, El Pantera is here."
"Wonderful, send him in."
Standing and walking in front of the desk The Panther walked in and greeted Vasquez with a mutual embrace and a kiss on the cheek which is custom in their culture.
"Glad to see you out Hector, any problems?"
Glancing at his lieutenant with a look that implied he wanted privacy, his lieutenant took the hint and left closing the door behind him.
"With the bust out? Not at all. I do need you to do me a small favor, however. I need you to handle a few flies in my ointment." Vasquez sneered as he handed the file on Sydney and Alex to The Panther.
"First take care of the ranger. Then the lady D.A. I assume your fee is the same as always?"
"Anything for an old friend, consider your flies exterminated." With that, The Panther walked out of the room. Immediately his lieutenant came back into the room.
"What's next?" Asked his lieutenant.
"I think I'll pay a visit to Ruiz. I plan on using their resources to escalate my position. I have big plans to go into distribution of heroin. I have a few connections in Mexico that once they know I'm out they'd sell their mothers to the highest bidder. I could use people like that for suppliers. For the kind of cash to buy those favors, I'll need Ruiz."
Walking into Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport Gage hears over the loudspeaker "flight 1826 from Houston arriving at gate number 4. Flight 1826 from Houston arriving at gate number 4."
Smiling inwardly at his timing Gage makes his way toward gate 4. He's so excited that his partner has come back that he didn't notice a person leering at him from behind a potted plant. The Panther has found his prey, now to strike. Double checking the picture he took from the file he walked out the door to the building adjacent to the parking lot. The Panther climbed the fire escape to the roof. Quickly and expertly assembling his sniper rifle he squatted down, took the picture out one more time and used the site on the rifle to locate Gage's car. Noting the license plate from the file he found the red mustang and waited patiently.
"Hiya Shorty. Have a good time in Houston?" Gage asked as Sydney exited the terminal.
"Who wouldn't enjoy a week away from you partner?" Sydney jokingly snickered as she jabbed Gage in the ribs with her elbow.
Gage shot her a look and replied with a "very funny Syd. We have to talk though. There's trouble."
"Well let's talk while I get my bags. I'm also starving so do you think we have time to stop for a bite to eat before we go back to the office?"
"Better get it to go. This is top priority."
"What's going on Gage?"
"Do you remember Hector Vasquez?"
Sydney nodded in affirmative as Gage continued.
"He's escaped. Alex said that several guards and prisoners were killed in the process. Walker's got the feeling that he'll be out to get you since your testimony was the key in putting him away."
"Do we have a lead on his whereabouts?" Sydney asked as she grabbed her bags.
"Walker is on his way to Huntsville to check out the break and Trivette is checking some possibilities."
"Do we think that he's going to get back with the Ruiz family?"
"That's what Trivette is checking. There is no way Vasquez can hide for long without help from a higher power like Ruiz."
"Anything else I need to know?"
"Yeah, be careful. So it looks like you and I will be spending much more time together, after all, what are partners for? Besides, I owe you."
"You owe me?" Sydney replied with a questioning look.
"We'll talk later, let's get you something to eat and get back to ranger headquarters."
"Fine with me. Race you to the car."