"Day of Regret" PART THREE

Katheryn gripped the mug of hot, steaming green tea to herself securely in both hands the following day, a smile tempting her lips as she gazed out of her bedroom window onto the grounds below in front of the apartment complex. In the distance was the ever-familiar downtown Dallas skylines, slowly becoming shelter to the sinking ball of pink sunlight behind it.

An engine below sparked her interest out of her daydream. It was Molly. Katheryn's browed furrowed as Molly seemed in quite the hurry, leaving her car door ajar as she traced the path into the building rather swiftly.

Katheryn crossed to the other side of her bedroom, setting her mug on the coaster that rested on the dresser before hurrying cautiously into the living area to meet Molly as she arrived.

"Katheryn!" Molly's voice could be heard before she had even reached the apartment.

Katheryn moved quickly, opening the apartment door just as Molly appeared at the doorway. Their wide eyes met each other swiftly. "What is it, Molly?"

Molly panted hard, catching her breath with each bob of her head. She ceased the little scene, taking in a single large breath once and for all. "It's Donna."

"What about Donna?!"

"Well…While I was filling in at the daycare center today since Miss Cahill is away, she took a moment to introduce herself to me." Molly smiled. "She's such a nice lady. Anyways, while we were talking, she got a call from her daughter Bree Anna." Katheryn nodded, urging Molly to continue. "The girl on the other end seemed very upset. Donna hung up soon after and said she had to go. That it was an emergency."

"I see…What happened then?"

A single tear slid down Molly's controlled demeanor as she willed away the emotions stirring within her. "I heard a gunshot. When I ran outside to see what had happened, I found—I found Donna lying on the ground. She was still conscious. But she was shocked. I called an ambulance and they took her away." Molly reached in her pocket and drew out a crinkled piece of notebook paper, unfolding it as she extended it towards Katheryn. "I also found this near Donna when I found her."

Katheryn took the note in hand, reading it eagerly. This is just a warning. I have Bree now. Let it go, and I'll let you live. "Some note," Katheryn stated with every bit of sarcasm intended. She then turned her attention back to Molly with a slight dose of confusion. "Why didn't you call instead of coming here? It would have been much quicker."

Molly tossed a bit of disdain along with her words. "The line was cut at the H.O.P.E. center. Josie let me use her cell to call an ambulance and rode along with Donna to the hospital."

Katheryn's thoughts drifted as Molly stood before her. Walker, Trivette, and Alex had headed to Mournful this morning to help Mrs. Rialto. Walker had since called upon Carlos to follow and help with the case. Trent was busy looking after his siblings while Mrs. Malloy held a Bible study at the church. And yet a would-be killer and kidnapper was at large.

"What should we do?" Molly inserted, easing her way passed Katheryn into the apartment.

Katheryn pulled herself out of her reverie long enough to shut the apartment door and follow Molly into the kitchen. She stopped at the sink and placed her hands at each corner, leaning ever so gently against its edge. "Maybe I should call Ranger Hunt. She might be able to help."

A swift phone call later, it was revealed the Ranger Hunt too was unable to transfer from the current case she had been handed by Walker when he and Trivette left.

Molly sighed. "Looks like we'll just have to call the police directly."

"Yeah." Katheryn admitted defeat, resting the phone back into its cradle on the kitchen counter. "Unless…" Katheryn's eyes widened with a spark of an idea.

"What?"

"Maybe we can find her ourselves."

"No!" Molly was insistent and firm in her tone. "We can't. I know you have good fighting skills. But we need someone like Trent or Carlos or the Rangers with us. We can go at it alone." She stopped pacing, her eyes meeting with those of her close friend.

Katheryn knew Molly was right. They'd be risking their lives. But what about Bree Anna and her life? Her life was just as important as any of theirs. Still…She could hear what Carlos what say. That man's crazy. I wouldn't think of letting you near that man. Stay away from him. But she tried to push his voice out of her head this one time, reasoning over and over that this was the right thing to do. But she had a hard time convincing herself of this fact.

Katheryn caught a glimpse of her handbag from the corner of her eye as it rested by the edge of the counter and dove forward, grasping it in hand and securing it against her shoulder. "C'mon, Molly. Let's go."

Molly rushed forward, taking hold of her friend's hand. "Wait! Where are we going?"

Katheryn stumbled to a stop and turned around. "To the hospital to talk with Donna. Then we'll decide what to do from there."

Molly nodded in agreement before glancing listlessly around the room with a deep exhale. She truly hoped they could reach one of the guys or the Rangers soon. She had a feeling Katheryn would try to handle the matter herself. And for that reason, Molly could not help but feel concerned…Not because Katheryn lacked the ability. But because of the danger of the situation at hand. Molly then remembered she could still reach Trent by phone now that she was home. She glanced toward the open apartment door, very much aware of Katheryn's quick footsteps sounding upon the hall as she approached the elevator lift. She knew her friend was bound and determined. Again she glanced at the phone…and then back at the doorway. She had to at least try calling. Hoping with all her heart that Katheryn would not leave without her, Molly dropped her purse onto the floor and rushed over to the phone, scooting the little slip of paper that listed the girls' most used numbers from under the phone's base.

Molly eased her finger across the page, scanning downward as she search for the Malloys' number. Smiling slightly from the victory of finally finding the number, she dialed it quickly and placed the phone to her ear. Pacing a short distance as it continued to ring, Molly noticed the intense silence that surrounded her. But thankfully she had not heard the drastic thud of the elevator lift. Perhaps she still had time.

"Malloy residence. This is Trent speaking."

"Trent!" Molly ceased walking and called his name without thinking.

"Molly?"

"Yeah. It's Molly. Are you busy?"

"No, not all. What's up?"

Molly could hear Tandy's voice in the background as the little girl jovially argued with whom she assumed was Tommy by the sound of it. "Um…A lady was shot at the H.O.P.E. center. She's okay. But we think her husband kidnapped her daughter. I told Katheryn…" Molly's eyes surveyed the doorway yet again. "…and I could tell by the look in her eye that she might try to handle the situation on her own. That guy seems dangerous, Trent. Katheryn shouldn't handle it on her own. I—I know you're busy…what with that fight coming up and all…."

"Nonsense…" Trent stopped Molly before she could finish. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I'm at the apartment right now. But Katheryn insists we go to the hospital first to see Donna."

"Alright. Which hospital? I'll meet you both there."

"Methodist."

"Gotcha…Stay safe." Trent hung up a short second later, directing the duties of childcare to Tommy before he headed into the spring sunset outside, slipping into his black, leather coat before reaching the attached garage, removing the tarp from his since unused iron horse. A fleeting thought had crossed his mind that it might come in handy.

##

"How you feeling?" Katheryn offered a crooked smile as she surveyed Donna who lay helpless and groggy against the drugs that were still working their way through her system. Her left arm was in a sling now, and a decent layer of thick bandaging secured her shoulder.

"Alright," Donna made an effort to answer. She smiled, "A little woozy. But I suppose that's normal."

Katheryn chuckled lightly before slipping into every bit of seriousness. Molly stood on the other side of the hospital bed and remained alert to every changing look in her friend's eyes.

"Donna…We'll get her back." Katheryn gently squeezed Donna's unrestrained hand.

Donna stifled the tears that welled up in her eyes, contemplating Katheryn's words. "You know…Brian was not like this a couple years ago. Something changed…We stopped talking. It's like we were strangers. Sometimes if I think we could have told each other what we were feeling or going through on the inside, we…I could have avoided losing him."

"What happened?" Molly inserted.

"Brian…He, uh, got hooked on alcohol at first. He hid it well. Never smelt in on his breath when he came home. And he never let it affect him hardly. Then after he lost his dad a few years ago, he sunk down deeper. He hid it less. And I smelt it more and more.

"One day I asked him about it. It was a mistake." Donna lifted her head to reveal a small scar on her collarbone. She then lowered her head back down. "I barely dodged the knife. I knew me and Bree Anna had to leave. But before I could do so, Brian left us for Texas. Used the excuse that he was going to look for a job and we could come later on."

"I'm so sorry," Katheryn bowed her head. "I regret ever asking you to come here. I shouldn't have asked."

"No," Donna was quick to reassure Katheryn that it wasn't her fault. "I wanted to come. I did. And this job at the H.O.P.E. center was a godsend after I filed for divorce. Trust me, Katheryn. You helped me greatly."

Katheryn's tear-filled gaze lingered upon her friend as she nodded softly, nearly convinced of what Donna had insisted.

A soft knock sounded on the hospital room's doorframe.

Molly was the first to glance upward towards the sound. "Trent." She smiled.

Katheryn turned completely to see Trent entering the room and easing up behind her next to the hospital bed.

"Mrs. Hutchinson…How are you feeling?" Trent issued a cordial smile to the woman.

Donna sighed. "Groggy."

Trent continued to smile. "That means the medicine's doing its job."

"I suppose you're right."

"Katheryn," Trent laid his hand softly on Katheryn's shoulder. "Can I speak to you outside?"

Katheryn nodded. "Sure." She slipped her hand into her jeans' pocket as she followed Trent out of the little hospital room and down the hall just a bit until they were out of view.

"Don't go after Donna's husband alone." Trent began immediately, not waiting a breath as he looked Katheryn straight in her eyes, knowing very well what she was thinking.

Katheryn sighed. "Trent…Bree Anna is with him."

"I know." Trent nodded and shifted his weight to his other foot, relaxing ever so slightly as he pondered what he should say next. "We can get this done together…but under no circumstances do I want you going alone. It's not because I doubt your abilities. Trust me on that. I don't. But even an expert like Walker can bite off more than he can chew if they're not careful. Do you remember what happened to Carlos when he went a little farther than he should?"

Katheryn turned away. She didn't want to think about that. They had told her the story before…how Carlos was nearly killed while undercover to capture the same men that had murdered his older brother when Carlos was only twelve. The story had been a bitter one to hear.

"I know," seemed to be all Katheryn could say in response. "But he's just one man, Trent. Not a drug cartel."

"Even so…You won't be alone when you go after him."

"What about Tandy and Ty? I know Tommy's old enough. But they shouldn't be left alone for long."

"I can go," a voice alerted them from behind. Molly slowly stepped towards them, a sullen expression over her face as she approached the twosome with arms crossed against her chest.

Trent stood back to attention as Molly neared them. "Are you sure?"

Molly nodded, communicating all she needed to Trent with her pleasing eyes.

"Then I guess it's settled." Trent clasped his lips together, nodding pensively, before moving past the ladies to lead the way.

Katheryn and Molly fell into sync as they walked beside each other not far behind Trent as they left the hospital. It was a rather cool and windy night atmosphere that met them as they exited through the automatic hospital doors, rounding the corner in the parking lot up ahead only to stopped by the sound of screeching tires that sped around the hospital building in route straight for them as the approached the edge where the sidewalk and asphalt pavement met.

Trent turned, eyeing the oncoming vehicle in a flash second as it sped forward in front of them. "Get down!" Trent doubled back and overcame Katheryn and Molly the best he could, bringing them all down onto the sidewalk just before a sea of bullets soared over them from the open window of the large van that had disappeared from sight almost as quick as it had appeared.

Hysterical shouts and cries were heard from various others who entered and exited the hospital as the aftermath of the chaos descended upon the entrance of the hospital.

A nurse rushed forward, her hand extended as she offered help to Trent and the girls. "Are you okay, young man?"

Trent slowly lifted his body away from Molly and Katheryn, almost not even hearing the nurse as he helped the girls back to their feet and prayed silently that no harm had come to them.

Both girls simultaneously worked at gathering their composure and catching their breaths.

"Trent!" Molly whispered loudly a brief second later, noticing a small bloodstain on his sleeve.

Yet before Trent could even find what Molly had seen, the girl became limp…slowly easing to ground helplessly before their eyes.

"Molly!" Trent rushed in, taking Molly into his arms as she finally collapsed. He looked her over as she slowly slipped away from him. "Hang in there, Molly!"

Molly's eyes flickered open and surveyed Trent's face. His brows were furrowed…his cheeks were red…his lips were pursed from stress as he applied as much pressure as he could to Molly's wounded shoulder with the now useless sweater Katheryn had carried at her side not moments ago. She wanted to smile as she saw the care in his eyes. But feeling weakness overcome her, she fought the urge to sleep as her shoulder throbbed. The last thing she remembered was Trent's reassuring voice and Katheryn's tear-filled urgings before she finally gave in…and slipped into unconscious sleep.

##

"I'm forfeiting the fight. And that's all there is to it." Trent worked passed Tommy, pressing beyond his brother as he crossed to the other side of the Malloy home.

"Trent, you can't be serious." Tommy scoffed and heeled his brother from behind, not letting his older brother get a moment's peace as Trent stopped at the foot of the stairs. Tommy ceased his swift step as Trent turned around to face him.

"Tommy, I can't fight Lyons. Not now. I've promised to help find the Hutchinson girl with Katheryn. Molly is in the hospital. The Rangers are in Mournful. And Carlos just left to help them. There will be other chances. But now isn't it." Trent considered the talk to be over and continued up the stairs to the second floor…only to hear Tommy coming from behind.

"Jake Lyons won't let you go so easily." Tommy's voice was edged with concern as they landed on the second floor.

Trent tried to ignore his own concerns he wrestled with as he entered his bedroom, reaching for the karate supplies he had stashed away in his closet. He set the said duffle of supplies just outside his door and faced a waiting Tommy who currently had his arms crossed and his displeased attitude written plainly across his face. Trent took one look at Tommy and wanted to chuckle but chose not to. He passed his younger brother and traced a path back downstairs and into the dining room.

"Tommy, you and I both know that threats from Lyons is meaningless." Trent stopped and turned to face Tommy once more who was still following him silently. He placed his hand on Tommy's shoulder. "Our friends are far more important."

Tommy's regret was not easily suppressed by the wall of insistence he had built around his emotions. He knew his brother was right…like most of the time. He sighed. "You're right, Trent. But what will you do if Lyons forces you?"

Trent did chuckle this time as he returned to his task of relocating Tandy's wayward toys back to their rightful place in the living room bin. "No one can force another into anything."

Tommy sighed remember the day he had stated, "How come I have the feeling there's going to times I'm going to love this?" right after Lyons and his goons had spilled their first empty threats right in front of the barely blossomed Thunder Karate. Trent's words had seemed to quiet them then. But they had both known since that day that a moment of reckoning would not be avoidable. Yet it seemed it would have to be postponed yet again.

##

Katheryn's mouth drooped against her chest, her arms crossed, and her head using the hospital wall as a pillow. The monitor's slow beeping gently kept her fast asleep. Exhaustion had since overcame her already weary body. For she had forced herself to remain awake until Molly came out of the stupor of the rather easy surgery to remove the bullet from her left shoulder. The doctor had been pleased and called the whole ordeal quite textbook. She would recover with no complications to be had as far as he was concerned. Katheryn was tempted to be angry at the doctor's coldness regarding the whole situation. But she couldn't convince herself to be angry while her dear friend had managed to avoid such a close tragedy.

Katheryn wiggled a bit in her sleep, adjusting to the agitation caused by the remembrance of what had happened as it replayed in her dreams. Or was she slowly waking? A gentle knock sounded upon the open doorway's frame. The three consecutive calls drew Katheryn from her sleep. Her eyes adjusted to the light coming from the window as she glanced at a sleeping Molly. She stifled a yawn as her eyes refocused on the figure standing in the doorway.

"Hi." A voice drew her from the side. The rather short figure with medium-length jet black hair and darkened skin slowly took a step forward into the cool room.

Katheryn blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't still dreaming before she forced herself to get her act together and greet the stranger properly. She rose from the seat and extended her hand…perhaps a bit early…as she approached the woman. "Hi. I'm Katheryn. And you are?"

The kind demeanor of the young woman was clear as her infectious smile lit up the room. She accepted Katheryn's hand with a gentle shake and made eye contact with the fellow stranger. "My name is Sydney. Officer Sydney Cooke."