PLEASE NOTE: I have deleted the first part seven I wrote from this story and edited the very end of part six to make way for a different path I needed to take with this story. Therefore, the story is now different and if you read the first part seven, please disregard it entirely. Hope this edited part seven is an enjoyable ending to "New Horizons" and the entire journey thus far.

"New Horizons" PART SEVEN

(final part)

Katheryn's eyes fluttered open beneath the strains of sunlight that pushed their way through her bedroom curtains and caused her to stir slightly. She reached a hand subconsciously over to the other side of her bed only to remember she was no longer sharing her bed with anyone. It was an odd remembrance at first. The idea had begun to seem attractive in the nights that had passed since. That one night and day had felt like a lifetime. And perhaps it had been. Katie Santiago was no more. She had lived her brief life in that glamorous uptown mansion for one short night alongside her husband. And now it was over.

Katheryn tossed to her other side, leaving her back facing the empty side of the bed as she warded of a twinge of disappointed sadness that the mission had not lasted longer. She had enjoyed working alongside Carlos and Trent. Even Sydney and she were somewhat friends after the last couple of ordeals that had brought them together. But if her track record was any indication of her future, she had nothing to worry about. Another chance would no doubt come.

A knock sounded against her bedroom door, interrupting her deep thoughts.

"Come in." Katheryn groaned and forced herself to sit up. She swung her legs out and planted them on the floor, willing away the drowsiness with all her might.

Molly entered, a grin forming on her face as she crossed the room with a breakfast tray in hand. "How was your second night back home?"

"Very well." She accepted the tray from Molly and set it on the covers next to her and glanced over the spread. "Thanks. Mmm! Looks good."

Molly continued to smile her approval. Yet Katheryn's smile faded. Molly noticed this quickly and eased the breakfast tray over a few feet. She took a seat next to her best friend, searching for her eyes. She sensed she knew what Katheryn was thinking about. "They'll be okay."

Katheryn turned to Molly and half-smiled. "You read me like a book."

"That's what friends are supposed to do." Molly reached a hand and softly squeezed Katheryn's hand.

"You're right. I just wish I could have gone with them and been there when they rescued Annie." Katheryn glanced at the clock on her nightstand and sighed. "Carlos said they'd get an early start. They should be almost to Mexico City by now."

Molly nodded. "I still can't believe Mahoney was just a henchman."

"Me neither."

"Sad to think there's men even worse than him roaming the streets."

Katheryn nodded and sighed, her eyebrows raised as she thought through the truth Molly had stated. She was right. "Well," Katheryn stood and shoved a bite of oatmeal in. "I've got to get going."

"Why so soon?" Molly frowned.

"I'm working out with Bobbie at the Ranger gym this morning."

Molly nodded. "I see. You really should eat then."

"I will." Katheryn threw over her shoulder with a promising grin as she reached her bathroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed some invigorating cold water on her face. She managed to get in a few more bites of Molly's delicious cooking before dressing fully and heading out for her anticipated morning workout with Ranger Hunt.

The morning came and went before Katheryn had taken the opportunity to realize how much she had enjoyed her workout session at Ranger Headquarters. It was great to get back into a routine of things after nearly becoming a victim to Wade Mahoney's diabolical intentions. It was even more of an inviting thought that the Rangers and Carlos should be arriving in Mexico City at any moment to take down Sullivan and rescue Annie. Mexico City. It seemed so far away.

I should be down there with them, Katheryn threw aside the fleeting thought alongside some punches as she sparred with Ranger Hunt.

"What's on your mind?" The Ranger called back in between breaths after dodging the punches.

"Nothing."

Bobbie scoffed, a smiling following.

"Okay…Just wondering what's going on below the border right about now."

"I bet you're thinking of a certain detective too I bet."

Katheryn stifled a growing smile. "Maybe."

"I hear you two did a convincing performance while undercover." Bobbie stopped pivoting and took a deep breath, easing her helmet and gloves off. "What do you say we go get some lunch at C.D.'s? I'm sure that'll take your mind off of it."

"Word sure spreads fast. And I doubt it." Katheryn shook her head as she reached to take her helmet off and then her own gloves also. "But I like the idea."

The two women hit the showers and changed as quick as possible, the idea of a relaxing lunch at their favorite haunt reverberating in their minds.

Katheryn inhaled deeply, relieved as the cool breeze of C.D.'s beat against her face and neck as she entered the restaurant. She glanced over the entire dining room with a feeling of gladness to be back. It's funny how an undercover assignment could make one feel they had not been in a particular place for months. Yet it had only been days. She dismissed her reverie and followed Bobbie, planting herself on a barstool next to the ranger and propping her elbows up on the bar.

"Well, if it isn't two of my favorite customers!" C.D. beamed a smile as he rounded the edge of the counter to the other side. He grabbed the coffee and poured three ceramic mugs of the steaming liquid. "What'll it be, you two?"

Bobbie sighed sharply, thinking the question over. "Some chili sounds good, C.D."

C.D. turned to Katheryn. "And for you, young lady?"

"I'll take the same." Katheryn hid a chuckle. She couldn't help but grin at C.D.'s grandfatherly ways she enjoyed so much.

"Coming right up!" C.D. then called out the order to his cook as he aimed for the kitchen, the door falling shut behind him as he entered through it.

Street noise filtered into the little haunt just briefly before being stifled by the shutting door as another patron entered and eased up behind the two women. "Save a place for me?"

Katheryn turned around and smiled. "Trent!"

Trent eased out of his leather coat and tossed it on an empty barstool before claiming the vacant seat next to Katheryn. "Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Mahoney's hearing date has been set."

"That's great!"

"Yep. Next week. Annie's testimony should put him away for good."

"Hopefully the Rangers will be able to get her back."

"Oh you bet they will," Bobbie quickly chimed in.

It would all depend on Walker, Trivette, and Detective Sandoval to see to it that Annie was brought back safely to heal from whatever horrors she had been forced to face.

##

The grand hacienda was situated just to the northeast from a cluster of trees at the far edge of the property where almost fifteen Federales, including Rangers Walker and Trivette along with Detective Sandoval remained hidden by the brush. With guns drawn, they waited. Waited for a clear path right into the middle of the Mexican mansion.

"Looks like four guards by the front door." Carlos clasped his binoculars in both hands, leaning against a tree while focusing in on the distant structure as he glided his right index finger over the focus knob. "They keep pacing up and down the veranda at different points."

"Any sign of Sullivan?" Walker whispered as he remained secluded on Carlos' left.

Carlos shook his head. "No. Not yet."

"How about Annie?" Trivette called from his place by Walker.

Carlos shook his head a bit more forlornly this time.

"Hold the phones." Carlos stood up a bit straighter as he noticed movement on the veranda. "Think we may have something here." He passed the binoculars to Walker.

Walker raised the binoculars to his eyes and scanned over the grand house. "That's Sullivan alright."

Emerging from the grand house was a man in an all-black suit. His hair was combed back neatly and accented his tanned complexion. A grin completed his well-to-do mien while he reached for a cigarette and flicked his lighter against the deadly little stick of ambition. He chatted with one of the guards as if it were a family reunion, puffing smoke from his mouth with every word as he raised and lowered the cigarette to and from his mouth.

"Do you want to be the one to tell him?" Carlos raised an eyebrow.

Walker continued to peer through the binoculars. "What's that?"

"That smoking is bad for your health."

Walker smiled. "I'm sure he'll figure that out real soon."

"True." Carlos grinned and turned back his focus to the hacienda.

Then came the bone-chilling sound. A stomach-turning echo that filtered through the light winds and settled unwelcomingly among the gathered law enforcement there. It sounded like a young woman. The sound came incessantly…one right after the other. A scream. A cry for mercy. A slap and then another sob. Meanwhile, Sullivan still chatted up a storm with the friendly guard.

Carlos tried to keep from grimacing every time he heard the sound as it sent chills through him. Images of Annie, curled into herself beneath a thin blanket, crossed his mind. He remembered how Katheryn and he had found her in scant clothing and how deep her sobs had been when she had finally let go and let Katheryn hold her.

"We've got to go in now. He could kill her." Carlos' voice was nearly above a whisper as he presented his case.

Walker hesitated. The risk was high. But so was letting the suffering continue.

"Sullivan!" Walker had stepped from his place behind the tree and eased past Carlos and into the open. He slowly put one foot in front of the other, approaching the hacienda with eyes pointed to the man whom he had once considered reliable.

"Well well." Sullivan grinned, tossed his cigarette on the veranda floor, and blew one last smoke cloud into the morning air. "How have you been, Walker?"

"Better than you're going to be."

"Oh, is that a threat?" Sullivan chuckled.

"Nope. It's a promise. Now, hands behind your head and come down here. Move it. Same goes for you guys." He faced the guards with equal authority beaming from his eyes.

Two guards did as bid, tossing their rifle and machine gun over the railing at Ranger Walker's feet and lifting their hands in the air. Three Federales were just about to rush in and cuff the two young men when Sullivan suddenly turned, drawing out a handgun and firing off a few times in Walker's direction.

Walker ducked into a body roll and darted for cover beneath the veranda. He then crawled back from underneath the wooden structure and let a few go upward towards a retreating Sullivan.

"I got him!" Trivette called over the constant gunfire as Carlos covered him long enough for Trivette to chase after Sullivan with a Federale close by. Their figures soon disappeared as he closed in closer and closer to the goon.

Meanwhile, Walker ducked from fire yet again, easing out from his cover every other second to let off another shot. A short gun battle later was ended when the last guard threw down his empty weapon and chose the hard way. Walker did nothing less but exceed the ambitious fighter's expectations with a few punches and a roundhouse kick to the temple. About seven Federales rushed in as Walker fell back into fighting stance and watched the guard collapse cold onto the ground.

Carlos didn't hesitate, climbing the steps up to the veranda and placing his back against the wall next to the door. His gun was drawn in both hands against his chest. "El Patron! Open up! You're under arrest!" Silence pressed around him on every side.

Walker cautiously made his way up the veranda and took his place on the other side of the door, gun drawn to his chest same as Carlos. Their eyes met as Walker began counting down. Only his lips moved. Three, two, one, go!

Walker turned completely around and threw open the door with a solid forward kick. The two officers entered swiftly into the foyer side-by-side with arms and guns outstretched. There in the middle of the living space next to the stucco fireplace was El Patron himself. The boss. Or at least that was what he had deemed himself since starting communication with customers across the border.

"Hands behind your head!" Carlos shouted, his eyes narrowed and his forehead tensed as he drew nearer to the now grinning hoodlum.

"On the ground!" Walker followed suit.

El Patron didn't seem so powerful now as he failed to reach his firearm in time. He was defeated.

Carlos holstered his gun while Walker still held his at the man. Carlos reached into his back pocket for the handcuffs, cuffing the man tightly and hoisting him up to his feet forcefully. "Where's the girl?" Carlos breathed into El Patron's ear.

The boss only grinned and refused to speak.

Walker locked eyes with El Patron then, piercing into his soul with an authority only Walker could convey. "Now. Where's Annie?"

"You'll never catch up to her now." El Patron's cackle echoed against the wooden beams above them.

"What do you mean? Where is she?!" Carlos yanked on the man's collar a bit.

A scream from the far side of the vast hacienda caused Carlos to spring into action. He nodded to Walker and proceeded to race down the long hall, hearing the shout once again as he ran with his gun in hand. He paused at the edge of a turn, panting some as he caught his breath before rounding the corner swiftly, gun outstretched.

Tears streamed down the young woman's face as she crawled further down the hall, struggling to get to her feet as she clamored for freedom. Her matted hair stuck to her tear-stained face. A mascara streak ran down her cheek. Her blouse hung limply off her shoulder, nearly revealing what she had desperately tried keep hidden…her dignity.

"Annie!" Carlos called out to the young woman and holstered his weapon as he strode forward.

Annie's sobs would not be stopped. She was bound and determined to escape from Mahoney, El Patron, and anyone else who had betrayed her.

"Annie!" Carlos echoed, easing in front of the young woman and stooping low. "Annie! I'm not going to hurt you!"

The young woman beat against Carlos weakly with the balls of her fists, still crying and defending herself from the invisible monster still preying upon her mind and heart.

"Annie!" Carlos took hold of both of her shoulders. "No one's going to hurt you anymore! I'm Detective Sandoval." He tried making eye contact with her. "Do you remember me?"

Annie stopped striking towards the gentle hands that held her softly and raised her head slowly to meet the Detective's gaze. She nodded once, maybe twice. She was too weak to do anything else. Annie then took a deep breath and relaxed only to nearly collapse in Carlos' arms.

Carlos caught Annie in his arms in time and stood to his feet, hoisting her up in his arms as he traced a path back to Walker. The living area was now vacant of all criminal activity and was replaced by the studious oversight of the Federales as they gathered evidence and prepared to secure El Patron's fate.

Annie's groan stirred Carlos from his moment of observation and urged him forward, out of the house, and onto the veranda. He spotted Walker talking with a worn-out Trivette by one of the Federales' Jeep Wranglers and trudged forward down the steps and across the vast yard.

"Walker!" Carlos called out while still a few yards away.

Walker lifted his eyes from his conversation and took a step forward as Carlos ceased walking in front of him. "How is she?"

Carlos wrinkled his forehead as a looked at her pale face. "She needs to see a doctor."

Walker noticed the few lacerations and bruises before he nodded. "I agree. Let's go."

Carlos turned to Trivette. "What about Sullivan?"

Trivette stepped forward to help ease Annie into the back seat of the Jeep. "He got away."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope."

Carlos sighed. "At least we got El Patron and Mahoney."

"Yeah." Walker chimed in. "But trust me. Sullivan's day is coming. He'll be able to hide for only so long."

##

A light rain tempted the dimmed skies over Dallas as the hues of sunset ensued. A gentle wind accompanied it and blew the droplets of rain onto the windows of the Methodist hospital. Its monotonous song, although lulled, seemed to bring with it a feeling of relief and new beginnings.

The steady beep of the hospital monitors mingled with the foot traffic and voices just outside the little hospital room on the fourth floor where the door remained only slightly ajar.

Within the comfort of the room, Annie slept soundly and unmoved by the noise. It was heaven compared to what she had been through. After being treated in Mexico City, Annie was allowed to be transported to the states, having sustained only mild injuries. None of which were life-threatening. But all of which had taken quite a toll on the girl's delicate body.

Katheryn and Carlos chose to take turns checking in on Annie over the course of the following couple of days. Now it was Sunday. And after they had enjoyed a thorough afternoon with the Malloys and Pastor Jones over a wonderful spread of food, they mutually agreed to bring Annie a little bit of home she had long missed. After visiting for a while, the couple retired to the provided seats, allowing Annie some time to rest while they rested a bit themselves.

Katheryn's elbow was propped on the arm of the chair as she leaned against Carlos. She took a deep breath as she watched Annie sleep. "I'm glad she's doing better."

Carlos smiled softly as he gently wrapped his left arm around Katheryn at her shoulder. "Me too."

A soft knock sounded on the door frame. "May I come in?" Alex whispered with a grin.

"Of course!" Katheryn called back in an even whisper.

Alex crossed the room as Katheryn stood to give Alex a hug. "I called Trent. He said you guys would be here." Alex turned to Annie. "How is she doing?"

"Better." Katheryn nodded curtly, recalling the specifics the doctor had conveyed. "She's been through a lot. Too much. But she will live, thank God."

A smile eased onto Alex's face. "That's great." Her smile faded. "Abuse can leave terrible scars. It's good to know she has people like you around to help her heal."

Katheryn agreed. She would do her best to see that Annie received counseling and any other forms of healing as she returned to a new life she had yet to discover. It would be a long journey. One that would definitely need its share of shoulders to lean on along the way.

"I have some news." Alex continued with a brief nod towards Carlos.

The detective stood, looked up a little higher, and surveyed Alex's facial expression for any hints as to what the news could be.

"As it turns out, Sullivan won't be running anymore." Alex tried to keep her voice as gentle and low as possible.

Carlos leaned in closer. "Oh? Why's that?"

Alex inhaled. "It seems that Sullivan tried to board his personal jet out of a private strip just outside of Mexico City the day after you and Walker busted El Patron. The Federales shot down his plane after he had flown about a mile out. The entire plane was destroyed. A body was never found."

"Wow." Katheryn's eyes widened.

Carlos smirked. "I bet he wishes he wouldn't have ran."

Katheryn's breathy chuckle followed up Carlos' comment. "Yeah. That's the truth."

"Well," Alex laid a hand on Carlos' shoulder as she took a deep breath. "I've got a hearing to prepare for."

Carlos nodded amid his smile. "Thanks for coming, Alex." He eased in for a hug. "Now it's time we put Mahoney away for good."

##

A deepened chill could be felt across the courtroom that Tuesday morning. Light coughs and shuffling echoed around the courtroom as Alex walked up the middle aisle, eased passed the swinging gate, and took her place at the right of the courtroom.

Alex spread a few papers in front of her as she sat upright in the chair provided. The papers outlined the evidence that Walker and Trivette had confirmed in the past few days since taking down El Patron. It was just like Mahoney had confessed. El Patron would supply the drugs if the payment was innocent young women who never knew better. Mahoney was simply one of El Patron's many charmers who had climbed the ladder of the assailant's successful business of human trade below the border.

There was nothing significant about the moment as Alex waited for Mahoney and the judge to show. She had done this many times as the Assistant DA. Yet there was a sense of satisfaction that overcame her as she prepared in her mind the words for hopefully a full trial that would help but a man like Mahoney in his place for many years to come. The evidence was there. The witness would soon follow to provide the evidence if need be. Mahoney would likely be on his way to trial without a doubt.

The side door to the far left of the courtroom slowly eased open. A uniformed officer led Mahoney into the courtroom, gripping his arm as Mahoney took small steps in his shackles to his seat on the left of the courtroom in front of the judge's bench.

Alex locked eyes briefly with the man, exchanging silent thoughts of battle as the former turned back to her preparations. His haunting shadow would only try to put fear where confidence was required.

Alex turned as the courtroom door quietly eased open. Annie was there, shadowed by Katheryn by her side and Carlos just behind.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Katheryn softly squeezed Annie's hand.

Annie nodded, swallowing hard before stepping forward on her own accord. "I've got to." She glanced at Katheryn once before going ahead of them and taking her seat just behind Miss Cahill.

Katheryn lingered a bit by Carlos and sighed. She caught a glimpse of Mahoney out of the corner of her eye and jerked her head away. All of the emotions flooded over her again as images of that cold knife at her throat flashed through her mind. She was then tucked away in that gruesome closet again, huddling for warmth as she fought away the thoughts of what Mahoney had in store for her.

Carlos was tempted to slip his hand into hers briefly. He did so, giving it a soft squeeze as he felt her trembling slightly. "Are you okay?"

Katheryn nodded, willing herself into an unseen confidence she realized she did have despite what she had nearly gone through. She turned to Carlos with a smile. "I'm okay. Let's take our seats."

Carlos nodded and followed Katheryn forward. He wasn't fully convinced that Katheryn's brave face was legitimate. But he knew her enough to know she was a fighter…in way more than the physical. Nothing could keep her from making sure justice prevailed. Not even her fears. It was a part of her that Carlos fell in love with a little more every day. Too bad it was also what could overwhelm him about her.

Judge Prather's domineering presence shadowed the bench of the courtroom as his footsteps sounded against the steps leading up to the great seat of justice. He took his seat slowly and slipped on his glasses, setting a few files down in front of him. "Order in the court," The judge struck the gavel down once and firmly. It was all that was necessary as all eyes shifted to him.

"Mr. Wade Mahoney," Judge Prather focused his eyes on a rather thick file before him as he raised it a bit to get a better view through his glasses. "You are charged with multiple counts of rape, trafficking, multiple counts of illegal substance possession with intent to sell, multiple counts of attempted murder, and theft to top this broad list off. It would take far too long to outline the details." Judge Prather sighed and tossed the page down softly. He directed his eyes to the accused. "If enough evidence is presented by the prosecuting attorney, the accused faces no less than life imprisonment. I will see to that. But that is a light sentence compared to what most would want you to face. That said, no matter what common opinion is, you are still entitled to a proper trial by jury. You do have that right at least.

"Furthermore, you have a right to defense counsel." The judge peered over his glasses at Mahoney and the empty seat next to him. He smirked. "Will you be defending yourself, Mr. Mahoney?"

The double doors to the courtroom suddenly burst open softly and in strode a man out of breath as he adjusted his necktie and buttoned up the bottom button of his suit as he stopped by Mahoney. He plopped his briefcase open on the table and drew out a few documents before setting the case aside. He smoothed over his buttoned suit jacket and looked confidently towards Judge Prather. "My apologies, your honor. Traffic was a nightmare."

"You'll have real nightmares if you arrive late to my courtroom again, young man. Identify yourself."

"My name is Arthur Mahoney, Attorney at Law."

Alex's wide eyes turned to meet her enemy. Mahoney?!

"Are you of any relation to the accused?"

"Yes, sir. I am Mr. Mahoney's younger brother."

Judge Prather turned back to his papers and pushed his sliding glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "Very well. What is your plea, Mr. Mahoney?"

Wade Mahoney tugged on his brother's arm and pulled him downward to whisper a sharp comment in his ear.

The brother eased back upward seconds later and cleared his throat. "Our plea is not guilty, your honor."

"Very well." Judge Prather straightened in his high-backed chair and raised his voice. "It is the opinion of this court without the giving of evidence by the prosecuting attorney that sufficient evidence remains to warrant a proper trial. I am setting that for two weeks from today at the same time. Yet due to the plea of not guilty, I am also setting bail for Mr. Mahoney at one million dollars." The gavel struck again as the judge turned the chair to stand up. "This court is adjourned."

Shuffling of feet and hastened steps echoed inside the courtroom as the few people who had chosen to attend the hearing slowly made their way out of the courtroom.

Alex stood and turned around to face the others. "A million dollars is nothing for Mahoney." She sighed.

Carlos eased out of his seat. "Can you appeal the judge's decision to give Mahoney bail?"

Alex shook her head. "I'll try. But I doubt it would make a difference."

"At least the judge set his trial date," Katheryn inserted with a half-smile.

"Yeah." Carlos nodded.

Annie tried her best to listen to what her friends said as the gavel's bang continued to echo in her mind. The fears of days gone by still haunted her ever so softly as she scanned the room. Mahoney looked straight towards her. His eyes could almost convey the same hurt that his hands had already dealt.

Annie winced as she turned away and choked back a bit of cry. She stifled it successfully but feared more would come.

Katheryn caught a glimpse of her tears. "Are you okay, Annie?"

Annie nodded. "Yes. I—I just need to go home…wherever that is."

Alex, Carlos, and Katheryn exchanged wary glances as they remained concerned for Annie. She had spent the night at the H.O.P.E. center since being released from the hospital Monday morning. Annie was thankful, deeply thankful. Yet her heart was far from whole.

Katheryn smiled. "Come home with me, Annie. Molly and I would love to have you with us."

Alex smiled, approving of the idea. "That's a wonderful idea."

Carlos nodded. "I'll drive." He then stepped forward and led the way out of the courtroom.

"Thank you." Annie reached for Katheryn's hand and squeezed it as they exited the courtroom.

Katheryn stopped and took both of Annie's hands in hers. "You're very welcome, Annie. You deserve the very best in life. I'm just thankful God used me to help you reach the place where you can find healing. The journey's far from over. But I'm here for you, Annie. Don't ever forget that."

Annie willed away the tears with a tight-lipped smile and eased forward into an embrace as Katheryn wrapped her arms around the young woman. Annie wasn't trembling any longer.

Carlos looked behind him at the two young women as he stopped walking. He smiled as Alex stopped beside him. "Moments like this make it all worthwhile, doesn't it?"

"It does." Alex nodded but could not find the joy to smile. "Yet she's just one young woman among so many out there who have had to face abuse, Carlos."

"I guess we have to take one at a time then. Make a difference where we can." He lifted his head a bit higher.

"Indeed." Alex inhaled, finally smiling as Katheryn and Annie proceeded forward to catch up with them. "Indeed we do."

##

The entrance to Thunder Karate opened swiftly and shut as a burst of cool air greeted Alex and Walker. They made their way down the hall and rounded the corner into the vast dojo to see Trent and Katheryn engaged in quite the sparring match. Smiles laced their faces as their feet moved all over the mat. Walker and Alex smiled at the little display and continued on to where Carlos watched the whole ordeal…in street clothes, mind you. He wasn't getting involved in the action today. Not with those two at the helm.

"Phew!" Trent stopped the sparring match with a raise of his hand. "Alright, Kath. You're good. I'll give you that." He ended with a chuckle before reaching for some water and a towel at the edge of the mat. He returned to Katheryn with a spare water and towel before tracing a path to Carlos, Walker, and Alex. "Hey, guys. What brings you by the dojo?"

Alex stifled her smile. "I've got a bit of news regarding Mahoney."

"Hey, Kath!" Trent called over to Katheryn who was already nearly finished with her bottled water.

Katheryn wiped at some runaway sweat on her forehead and started towards her friends, still panting a bit as she recovered from her brutal sparring session. Yet as difficult as it was, she wouldn't trade it for the world. For she was getting better every day.

"What's up?"

Alex shifted her gaze to and from the threesome as she spoke. "Mahoney's changed his plea."

"You're kidding." Carlos was the most shocked as his eyebrows arched in surprise. He turned to Trent and Katheryn and crossed his arms. Turning back to Alex, he struggled to find the words to say. "How? What happened?"

"I have no clue. I was just as surprised as you are. I got a call from Judge Prather first thing this morning. He will be issuing a sentence later on this afternoon."

"Wow." Trent focused on Alex's words. "Do you think someone talked him into it?"

"I can't see how." Carlos shook his head.

Katheryn took a deep breath. "Me neither."

An unwarranted silence fell over the group for a second that Walker would not allow. "So, Carlos. Katheryn. How did you like being a drug family for a day?" He ended with a grin.

Carlos issued a smile as glanced toward the woman who had so willing portrayed his wife. "It was a pleasure. Although Katheryn was much better at it than I was."

"Oh?" Katheryn punched Carlos on the arm. "Was not. Whose idea was it to plant a kiss on me under the moonlight when I was trying not to think of all the wrong things that could happen?"

The rest of the group was on the verge of laughter while Carlos feigned a grimace as he rubbed on his arm where Katheryn had planted her punch.

Katheryn relinquished the playful argument with a loving smile and turned to Trent. "What do you say we get back to the mat?"

Trent let out a raspy sigh. "I don't think so." He raised a hand. "I think I've had enough for one day."

Oh, quit it." Katheryn slapped in the air towards Trent's midsection with a grin, unimpressed by Trent's excuse.

The group shared a bit more laughter before Walker and Alex bid the young crime solvers goodbye until later that afternoon when they all were sure to be together for Mahoney's surprise sentencing. Carlos also had to bid goodbye and did so reluctantly, snagging a quick kiss from Katheryn before he went back on duty.

Left to prepare for the afternoon karate class, Trent set to work straightening the dojo for the arrival of his students. Katheryn was just about to head to the back rooms to change and head home to Molly and Annie when Trent's voice stopped her.

Katheryn crossed back over the mat and didn't see Trent. She immediately shifted her gaze upward to the loft office.

"Up here." Trent smiled downward at her.

Katheryn hurried up the steps and took a seat next to Trent. "What's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something."

Concern tempted Katheryn's thoughts as she cocked her head softly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Trent quickly assured her with a smile. "Quite the opposite in fact."

"Oh?"

Trent inhaled. "I'd like to ask you to join me as a part of my protection agency. I can't promise a steady schedule by any means. But you've proven yourself to be a great asset. I know you've doubted whether or not you wanted to try out for a place in law enforcement. But helping people is something I can tell is in your heart. And if you are willing, I'd love to have you join me." Trent extended his hand towards Katheryn. "What do you say?" He smiled, hopeful for her answer.

A smile steadily crept onto Katheryn's face as she glanced around the room. She loved this place. And Trent was right. She loved helping people. "I'd love to." Katheryn took ahold of Trent's hand with her own and gave it a firm couple of shakes.

It was reaffirmed in her life and heart that day that she was home and would be helping people alongside her closest friends…her family…for the foreseeable future in an even greater way. It was perfect. And nothing could ever change her mind.