"Day of Regret" PART FIVE

(final part)

"Momma!" Bree Anna's voice filled the entire corridor of the hospital as she rushed forward, turning into the single-bed room without stopping for breath. She rather haphazardly threw herself on the bed, wrapping her arms around Donna's neck before she could get a word in edgewise.

Officer Cooke and Katheryn looked on the scene with a broad smile gracing each of their faces as they slowly caught up to the girl, allowing her a quiet moment with her mother before they intruded into the space. It wasn't very private. So every moment alone they could spare the child with her mother was a blessing for the twosome.

Donna's free hand securely held her child's head to her chest as tears fell freely from her now reddened face. She sniffed hard as a silent breath of thanks to God came from her mouth. "Oh, dear God, I'm so glad you're safe." She pulled Bree Anna away to look into her eyes which also contained their share of flowing tears. "Let me look at you. Did he hurt you?" A flare of anger edge those last words.

Bree Anna couldn't speak through the tears but simply shook her head, hoping to ease her mother's worries.

Katheryn arrived in the doorway first followed by Officer Cooke as they strode in, still beaming from seeing Bree Anna light up so quickly at the sight of her mother.

Donna turned a tear-filled gaze toward the two ladies. "Thank you so much! You'll never know how thankful I am." She clasped Bree Anna a bit closer to herself as she spoke.

Katheryn exchanged a glance of understanding with Officer Cooke. "I think I can understand somewhat. Although…I know I'll never quite understand until I am a mother myself."

Donna smiled. "Yes. I think you'll be an excellent mother one day."

Katheryn's dry chuckle hid her doubt. "I don't know. I hope so."

"You have a good heart." Donna insisted, looking Katheryn in her hazel eyes intently.

Katheryn accepted her gesture with a brief smile, turning to Officer Cooke shortly after. "I should call Carlos. Let him know what I found. Trent told me to let him know if I found out anything."

"Carlos…" Officer Cooke's forehead was creased as she settled into a brief moment of thought. "Carlos Sandoval?"

Katheryn nodded, another smile of different meaning easing onto her face as she turned back to Donna and Bree Anna. "I'll see you both later," she whispered amid her happiness and turned to leave.

Officer Cooke nodded her goodbyes and stated briefly that she would stay behind and see to it that Bree Anna was kept safe and given a ride home…Home would be the H.O.P.E. center for the night, as Katheryn had insisted.

Hints of darkness shaded her surroundings as Katheryn made her way to the pay phone situated just outside the hospital's entrance. She quickly looked away from the lawn as she turned, unable to bring herself to look at the same place where Molly had been so ruefully attacked a short time ago. Katheryn swallowed hard and picked up the phone, slipping a couple of coins in before crossing her arm into her occupied arm and leaning gently against the metal box that housed the phone. She was forced to look out on that same lawn as she waited for Carlos to pick up. Visions of the other night swept of her with such a force, almost letting her forget she was on the phone. It was night again. That notorious van screeching around the corner and the sea of bullets from the automatic gun paraded against the side of the hospital with the same fervor as the night before as the scene replayed in Katheryn's mind.

"Detective Sandoval."

Katheryn jerked out of her little reverie and blurted out something inaudible before backtracking, remembering why she was even talking to Carlos in the first place. She attempted a smile. But it was hard in coming. "Carlos."

"Katheryn," Carlos beamed as he pressed the gas pedal to the floorboard, aiming for Dallas in his police issue. "It's good to talk to you again. Sorry I haven't called since leaving for Mournful."

"No…no…That's okay." Katheryn still had a hard time shaking away her reverie as she pushed some rebellious hair out of her face. "Um, Trent sent me on a bit of a sleuthing mission today and told me to call you if I found out anything."

"Oh? Where did Trent go? Seems like he would be doing that."

"I'm not sure. He gave me an address and sped away without another word. I haven't heard from him since."

"Hmm." Carlos' forehead was creased as he thought through Katheryn's words. "So what did you find?"

"Well, to make a long story short, Bree Anna was kidnapped by her father we think. He's up to no good. He put Donna in the hospital. She'll be okay though. And Molly…" Katheryn choked up a bit and had to stop for fear Carlos would hear her.

Carlos waiting a moment, trying to listen for her voice. "What? What about Molly?"

"She—she was shot too."

Concern overwhelmed Carlos. He slowed down a bit as he drove, sensing he wasn't paying very much attention to the road as he was to Katheryn's words. "Is she okay?"

Katheryn nodded as she spoke. "Yeah."

"What did you find out?"

Carlos' words brought Katheryn back to the moment. "Um, we found Bree Anna…that is…Officer Sydney Cooke. She was by herself at the address Trent gave."

"Why didn't he go with you?"

"I don't know. He must have had a lead on Brian."

Carlos shook his head with a sharp sigh.

Katheryn sensed worry in Carlos' tone; his silence told her more than his words. "Trent will be okay," she reassured. "You know him. He can handle himself."

Carlos grinned a bit, realizing the girl he was falling for these days had just read his thoughts. "I know. Still…I wish I knew what he was up to."

"I know." Katheryn smiled. "Are you headed back home?"

"Yup. Should be there any moment."

"I'll call again if I find out anything more."

"You do that," Carlos couldn't hide his smile. It faded some as he was tempted to add an additional requiem to end the phone conversation but stopped himself before the words could come out of his mouth. He instead ended with a goodbye and drove a bit faster in search for that familiar Dallas exit sign that wasn't too much farther away from him.

Katheryn hung up the phone and stood there for a minute, arms crossed as she gazed at the fiery orange sunset before her. A slow smile eased to the surface of her face as she exhaled through her nose. She slowly stifled the growing smile as she thought about Trent. Why hadn't he said where he was going? It wasn't like him to withhold information. But if he did, he had to have a good reason. She quickly picked up the payphone again and inserted another coin. Katheryn dialed the dojo just to be sure. No answer. She dialed the Malloy home. Still no answer. She even tried dialing Butch McMann over at Uppercuts. Although she still had no luck with locating Trent, Butch did tell her that he had passed on to Trent a passel of information he had received…including the address for on old hideout that used to have been used by an old acquaintance a few years ago. After taking Butch's warning against her finding Trent alone, Katheryn said goodbye with a smile and hurried away from the hospital, boarding her Stingray and punching the gas before ever giving a thought to telling Carlos what she had heard.

##

A touch of wind blew at Katheryn's straight blonde locks that rested gently on her chest and swayed this way and that as she eased out of her Stingray. She swiftly found her footing on the stray dirt path beneath her and proceeded to investigate the property. Bending a bit low, she hurried quickly across an opening in some bushes that was exposed to a rather large building that she could just barely see beyond her meager view. It was then that she noticed Trent's bike off on its own in a cluster of trees. Katheryn quickly scurried to it, inspecting it quickly and found it in perfect condition. For a moment she glanced up and around herself, wondering if Trent would suddenly show himself and greet her with that knowing smile of his. Yet that was not the case as Katheryn sighed, surrendering to her failed hopes and backtracking a few feet to trace the path leading to the large building up ahead.

The rather intimidating brick structure seemed to stare down at her. Its broken and dilapidated state made her question if approaching the building was even the best of ideas. Yet something seemed to tell her she was in the right place while a whole other part of her questioned if she was doing the right thing.

Her first once-over of the place brought her searching eyes to an industrial ladder situated on the far right and extended all the way up to the roof. Katheryn carefully considered her next move. It wouldn't hurt to look, she concluded, using her newly-attained upper body strength to pull herself up the ladder. She reached the top out of breath but full of determination as she spotted a trapdoor and hurried to its edge. She gave it a tug…and another…before a click behind brought her to a standstill. Her eyes widened. Her palms became full of perspiration.

"Get up!" The voice was sharp and degrading as its source eased the barrel of some gun into her back.

Without turning around, Katheryn slowly eased to her feet. She half-lifted her hands in the air to show an amount of surrender.

"Turn around!" The voice seemed to bark at her again.

Katheryn did as bid, making a full circle as slowly as she dared turn. To her surprise, Bree Anna's father seemed to be the man who favored the one before her. He had the same disheveled brown hair and unkempt facial hair. His hands and arms were feeble-looking, causing his voice to be the only defense he held in his favor.

"Why are you doing this?" Seemed to be the only thing Katheryn could come up with to say. She knew it was a dare to speak up. But she longed to know why a man would suddenly stop caring for a little girl who had a heart to take the world by storm. It was something Katheryn couldn't quite comprehend.

Brian wrinkled up his forehead, s stream of tobacco leaving his mouth with a force at Katheryn's feet. "What do you mean?"

Katheryn wanted to cringe as she glanced at her feet before turning back to face the barrel of Brian's weapon. "Bree Anne." She breathed the little girl's name ever so softly; it mingled with the winds and seemed to echo between the short space that separated the two.

"Because…" Brian's voice almost softened as his eyes lost a bit of fervor. It was short-lived and disappeared as quickly as it had come. "They don't mean nothing to me anymore!"

It wasn't what she had hoped to hear. Katheryn lowered her gaze to the concrete roof, biting her tongue and pursing her lips sarcastically as anger rose up in her. She suppressed it long enough to look back at the enemy before her. "What have you done to Trent?"

"Trent?" Hutchinson threw back her words with a sting.

"My friend." Katheryn's teeth were nearly clenched together as she spoke…this time with a touch of harsh determination. "I know he's here."

Brian rolled his eyes. "Oh, him." He laughed a bit before briefly pointing to the trapdoor with his gun. "He's down there. And there's no way out."

Katheryn's breathy chuckle hid the bit of sarcasm that rose to her already shaken attitude. Yet holding a firm focus on the moment at hand, she turned her gaze back to Brian in a split second, diving forward and clasping one hand atop the semi-automatic pistol and another on the man's wrist. She gave the weapon a hard tug while her loud kiais covered her as she drove her knee into Brian's mid-section. Hutchinson finally doubled over, allowing for one final uppercut to his lowered face dealt by Katheryn's strong right hand.

Once Hutchinson had been successfully contained, Katheryn took a step back and ran a hand through her hair at her scalp as she caught her breath. She had taken a big chance just now. But it had paid off.

Hurrying back over to the trapdoor, Katheryn stepped back, planting one foot firmly in front of the other as she clasped the goon's pistol in both hands and aimed for the lock at the base of the door. A light whistling of the wind and an eagle overhead added a measure of focus as she squinted, aiming for the lock with a hard-pressed focus. One shot was all it took and sent the pestering lock flying into the air to the other side of the trapdoor.

Katheryn let an unashamed grin cross her lips as she tucked the weapon into the base of the shirt at her lumbar and quickly swung the door open with all her might. She eased over the open and cupped her hands around her mouth to funnel her voice downward. "Trent? Are you there?"

Katheryn's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness below to see Trent smiling from below. He quickly gathered up something from the floor and began his quick ascent up the trifling ladder to meet her.

"Boy are you a sight for sore eyes." Trent stated as he found his footing on the roof. He quickly noticed Brian lying unconscious before him. "So that's what I heard up here." He flashed a grin Katheryn's way of which she hesitantly returned.

"Only did what I had to."

"Without waiting for help?" Trent searched for her eyes as he issued the little reprimand.

Katheryn laughed softly, a level of sarcasm in her tone. "I seem to recall that you did the same thing just now, and look where it got you."

"Point taken." Trent sighed and used the rope he had brought from below to secure Brian's hands tightly behind his back.

Katheryn could hear the goon groaning a bit behind her as she searched the ground below. "You think that's all of them?"

Trent shook his head. "No. There's at least one more I think. At least he was here at some point. Here…"

Katheryn turned around just in time as Trent tossed a rolled-up up piece of paper towards her. She caught it just in time nearly smashing it against her chest. "What is it?"

"Insurance."

"What?" Katheryn worked at unraveling the stubborn wad in her hands so that she could eliminate the confusion.

"Came across it while I was down there. It's a map to another hideout. Plus evidence that our man here has been involved in some arms dealing."

"You think there could be more guys there?"

Trent nodded and hoisted the man before him up by the collar. "Yeah. Let's get Hutchinson here to Ranger headquarters."

Suddenly, Katheryn ducked behind the wall, jerking around and motioning to Trent to get down. "They're down there!" Her whisper was sharp and pointed. She slowly eased back into view, scanning the ground below with only her eyes above the roof wall.

Trent left Hutchinson in place and stooped low as he made his way over to Katheryn's side and also raised his eyes above the short wall to view the activity on the ground.

One camo-clad man emerged from the shabby main entrance with rifle in hand, uttering some useless words inaudible to Trent and Katheryn. He seemed to be looking for something…or someone…and almost gave up the search and returned back inside when a second man appeared from around the corner of the building. He seemed flustered and furious. His voice was significantly louder as he hurried to tell the other man something.

Trent knew immediately what he was saying as he swiftly moved away from the wall. "They know Hutchinson's gone. Let's go."

Katheryn did as told, heeling Trent as he made his way across the roof to another ladder that led down the back side of the structure. It was opposite the front entrance and would not be noticed by the other two goons.

Trent's boots made a soft thud against the dirt below him not to be long-lived by Katheryn's arrival off of the ladder right above him. Once Trent was sure she had made it off safely, he hurried alongside the building, tracing a path parallel to the time-worn bricks as he sought out the two men out front.

He stopped at the first corner and pressed his back against the wall, catching his breath while Katheryn caught up to him and also pressed herself against the wall. Her knees were bent only slightly as she rested a bit before readying herself behind Trent, erect and ready to fight if need be.

Trent waved his hand towards himself as he faced the turn as if to say, "This way. Follow me." He rounded the corner quickly with Katheryn not very far behind. By near reflex, the twosome simultaneously ducked behind a pile of garbage as one of the two men appeared around the next corner. He had just barely missed them.

The soft pounding of Katheryn's heart against her chest prompted her to close her eyes and take a deep breath as she waited, crouched down low with Trent while they waited for the other man to make his next move.

Trent then eased forward slowly and confirmed it was clear by another waiving of his hand. They made it to the next corner only to hear footsteps approaching. Trent put up his hand rigidly. Katheryn came to a stop at his signal and ducked against the wall behind Trent as the sound of the enemies boots grew louder and louder by the second. Yet as soon as his face appeared before her, the entire body dropped helplessly to the ground thanks to Trent's stellar high punch.

Only one more goon remained…but not for long. Trent stepped out into the open and was met with a helpless young man's gaze.

His eyes showed feared and his hands shot up in the air in surrender once he threw his rifle down.

"Good choice." Trent nodded resolutely, kicking the gun away a few feet before securing the man's hands behind his back with a spare sliver of rope he had kept.

Katheryn finally exhaled, all stress leaving her body as the adrenaline of the chase slowly came to a victorious halt. Trent too was relieved. And although he greatly wished Katheryn would have waited for Walker or Carlos, he secretly admired the girl's bravery and tenacity that had helped him greatly. She was definitely an asset to him as still a novice private investigator. But he would still be having a brief talk with her soon regarding her hasty decision to go rogue without anyone's knowledge.

##

Trent's motorcycle engine roared to a stop alongside the grassy edge of the road leading into the cemetery. Soft hints of morning sunlight filtered through the trees overhead and highlighted Trent's path as he removed his helmet and traced that familiar walk to Thunder's grave. Trent came to a stop stood silently for a brief moment.

"Hey, Thunder. Dad. It's me again." His words seemed to fail him. He glanced upward and sighed. "It's been a while since we spoke." Trent looked back down towards the grave. "But I needed to talk to you. We're doing alright so far. Mom's getting by. Tandy and Ty are growing up way too fast. And Tommy…He's a changed young man for the better. You'd be proud of him, Thunder.

"I'm doing okay too. So many things seemed to have happened since you left us. But I know I'm doing the right thing…helping people…like I told you I would. Being a karate teacher and private investigator definitely wasn't in my plans when I left seminary for the Army. But I wouldn't give it up for the world." Trent paused and glanced at his watch briefly. It was almost eleven o'clock. He had promised to meet Carlos and Katheryn at the dojo ahead of time. "I've got a promise to keep, Thunder. I just wanted to let you know I love you…I miss you…And you still encourage me every day to be the man that you was. I'm not there yet. But I hope to be."

Trent's words seemed to come to a standstill. He took one step back and turned, facing his motorcycle with his back turned to the grave. He walked about half the distance before turning around to face the grave again. After looking it over briefly, his thoughts raging, he turned back around and zipped up his leather jacket a portion of the way. He then reached for his helmet, climbing over the bike as he secured it on himself before starting the thunderous engine and heading for Thunder Karate.

Carlos, Katheryn, and Tommy were already there when he arrived. Even Miss Cahill and the Rangers were there.

"What's up?" Trent's forehead was creased intently as he neared his friends.

"Good news." Alex's radiant smile lit up the dojo floor. "Brian Hutchinson and the others were indicted today for multiple charges due to that evidence you found Trent. They'll be behind bars for a long time."

Trent beamed. "That great. Sorry it had to happen to Donna and Bree Anna. But at least they're safe now." He glanced toward the door. "Any sign of him?"

Carlos shook his head sarcastically. "First he insults you. Then he challenges you. Geez, the least he could do is be on time to the fight he's so confident he can win."

"Well," Trent sighed and eased out of his leather jacket, tossing it across a nearby chair. "I'm sort of glad he's late. Gives me a chance to get warmed up some." He grinned from across the distance to Carlos. "You up for it?"

"Up for what?" Carlos was a failure at trying to act oblivious.

Trent simply chuckled and retreated down the hall to change into his instructor's uniform and returned a short while later.

Carlos glared at Tommy and Katheryn as he took his place on the mat. "You two set me up. Didn't you?"

The two never said a word while exchanging gleeful smiles. Trivette, Alex, and Walker had a hard time hiding a chuckle also. Yet noisome footsteps in the nearby hall alerted them all, stealing the brief moment of joy as Jake Lyons' demanding presence seemed to drown out the joy.

"Not exactly how I planned on getting out this," Sandoval uttered under his breath as he looked onward at Lyons.

"Well well…Looks like the gang's all here." Lyons' hearty laugh echoed against the broad walls of the dojo. He clapped his hands together in front of his all-black karategi. "Shall we begin? Or—or are we just going to stare at the walls of this no good institution?" He stifled another oncoming laugh as he spoke.

Carlos had no problem with vacating the dojo floor, finding his place next to Tommy and Katheryn on the wall beneath the loft office.

"Well?" Lyons pressed, glaring into Trent's steadfast eyes.

"I'm ready when you are," Trent peacefully returned. His fists were clenched intensely at his sides as he stifled the growing anger within him.

Jake Lyons' cocky stride brought him onto the mat seconds later.

Both competitors faced each other in fighting stance, feet planted on the broad blue surface and hands fisted and raised. With no warning, Lyons was the first strike, triggering cringes from all bystanders as Trent doubled back and placed a hand to his jaw. He rebounded just as Lyons laughed a bit under his breath and pivoted on the surface before him.

"Come on, Lyons. This isn't a boxing match." Trent tried a level of reason that was clearly not in the intentions of the so-called karate teacher.

"What?" Lyons responded in a shrill whisper. "You getting tired already?"

"Nope. Just getting started." With that in mind, Trent sparred a bit, fooling the prideful fighter before foot sweeping Lyons right onto his back and placing his heel firmly in Lyons' middle before rolling backwards and springing back up to his feet.

Lyons too sprang back upward, a light panting on his lips as he recovered from the blow and began to be impressed by Trent's skill…but was far from letting on about the fact.

"Come on, Trent." Tommy whispered through clenched teeth from his place by the others.

"You can do it," Alex and Walker encouraged from afar.

It was a game of cat and mouse for almost three straight minutes as they exchanged punches and kicks of equal skill…neither tiring out to let the other get an edge passed the other one. One thing was for certain. There was only one fighter on the mat who was using his head to truly give his craft a good name. The other opponent was simply testing the other, hoping he'd give in to his haphazard aggression of will he had since dubbed karate and taught to countless others under his tutelage.

Trivette leaned in to Walker as the two fighters paused and rested in fighting stance. "You think Trent's got a chance, Walker?"

Walker's eye remained fixed on his protégé. "Yes. As long as he doesn't get too confident. Then Lyons will take him if he's not careful."

Trivette returned his gaze to the fight just as it recommenced with Lyons issuing a blow which Trent blocked and sent over his head along with Lyons himself. Trent circled and landed Lyons in a mock chokehold. Lyons grunted and heaved and slapped the blue mat more than three time. Trent knew he should let him go and did so reluctantly. That would be his third point...He had won according to the rules of competition. There was no need for another punch or kick to be thrown; for the fight itself had served its purpose and proven who the better of the two masters was.

All those gathered around the room applauded Trent and cheered for him, sending Lyons into a silent rage as he huffed and tugged at the hem of his shirt upon gathering himself off of the mat. He coughed a bit from the chokehold and pointed his finger in Trent's smiling face as he backed up and out of the room. "This isn't over, Malloy! Not by a long shot!" With that said and done for, Lyons disappeared around the corner and out into the street, piling into his open-top, shiny red Cadillac and speeding away as streams of exhaust spilled from the car's end in the wake of his hasty yet gladly anticipated departure.

##

Both Carlos and Katheryn were equally tired from the previous events that had transpired in the several days past yet appreciated the quiet moment together in the welcoming atmosphere of the Malloys' living room. Everyone had since gone their separate ways. Tommy tossed around the ole pigskin with Tandy and Ty in the backyard while Mrs. Malloy worked steadily on dinner. And Trent would be home soon to rest after visiting Molly in the hospital once more. She was doing much better according to the doctors and would be able to go home within a couple of short days.

A silence fell between them as Katheryn hesitated to look Carlos in the eyes. Katheryn glanced at her hand instead as she drew unseen lines on her jeans with the tip of her index finger. "What happened to Donna has me thinking lately."

Carlos raised his eyes higher, looking toward her face with unashamed interest.

"When I thought about how her family was separated…it—it caused me to realize just what was important to me. Who…is important to me." She finally gave in to the urge, turning her head slowly to see Carlos' eyes upon her. "I know you're nothing like Brian was. But…seeing how much it tore up Donna to have had something so valuable torn from her life because of the problems Brian hid…I realized how valuable those we love really are. And…" She swallowed hard, hoping Carlos had not seen it. "…I promised myself that I'd never miss a chance at telling someone how I truly felt. We don't know what may happen next in life. Who knows…Perhaps if Brian could have told Donna what he was going through, they could have kept their family together. I never want something like that to happen to me." A breathy chuckle escaped her shaky lips. "So…Carlos Sandoval…I want to tell you the truth. And that is…I think I'm starting to love you…More than I ought to be allowed I think." She cleared her throat nervously as she turned away. "There. I said it," Katheryn mumbled.

A slow, pensive smile eased onto the detective's face and the silence caused Katheryn even more undue tension. "Well…I guess there's just one way to answer that…"

Katheryn willed herself to look back into his loving, brown eyes.

Carlos ran his finger ever so gently along the side of Katheryn's face as he slowly eased closer to her. Katheryn breathed in a shallow breath as he neared her, tempted to shut her eyes. As she did, she felt his lips touch hers. It was soft…gentle…brief…pure…all while being perfect as she gently returned his kiss. It was over as quickly as it had started but left a flood of emotions racing between them in its wake.

Drawing away from each other, they both couldn't help but smile and both wished their cheeks would relax from the tension the smiles caused them both.

"I suppose I should get going." Katheryn hesitated to move from her spot on the sofa as she remained affixed on Carlos' convincing smile.

"So soon? Aren't you staying for dinner?" He queried.

"If not, Molly'll send out a posse for sure if I don't call her from home." The twosome shared a brief chuckle.

"Alright. I'll walk you to your car."

Katheryn nodded and rose with Carlos nearly in unison, falling into step next to each other once they had reached the veranda outside. Almost without thinking, Carlos slowed his step to Katheryn's speed and tried slipping his hand into hers…successfully. Neither looked towards one another as they walked…but a sly smile crept back onto Sandoval's face the moment he felt a soft squeeze surrounding his own hand as it seemed more than just their physical steps had fallen into sync that very afternoon.