CHAPTER 5

"Hi there, got anything to declare?" Roper smiled as he saw who was on the other side of the door. Matt climbed on out of the tunnel and then turned to help Jessica out.

"Yeah, I declare that I found Jessica." Roy and Hoyt were standing just outside of the room and were wearing relieved smiles.

"Matt, I was getting just a little bit worried about you. What took so long?" Roy hugged his nephew.

"Oh, I decided to do a little sightseeing while I was down there." He shook hands with Michael Hoyt. "Have either of you two seen Det. Shoemake?"

"No, why?" Hoyt had put his arm around Jessica.

"Because he's in on this operation. He told them that I was a private investigator. That's when they hit me over the head." Matt was rubbing the back of his head and looked at his hand – there was blood on it. "I don't think the foreman knew what was going on – he was the one who called the cops when I found your agent – sorry about what happened to him."

"You better get that looked at, boy." Roy led Matt out to an ambulance that had been called when the DEA team had hit the warehouse. A small gun battle had ensued and there were four of the warehouse workers injured and one DEA agent. All of the other casualties had already been transported to the hospital.

"It's no big deal, Uncle Roy, I'm fine." He was being dragged by the older man.

"Uh huh, and we're going to let them determine that." He pushed Matt into having a seat on the back bumper and one of the paramedics began to examine his injury.

Hoyt walked out of the warehouse with an arm around Jessica, who was using his phone to call her father. As she spoke to her parents, the lieutenant came over to check on Matt. "You doing okay there, PI?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Uncle Roy's just acting like an old lady." He shot his uncle a dirty look.

"Well that "Old Lady" that you're talking about is right: you need to get that x-rayed and you're going to need some stitches." The paramedic took Matt by one shoulder and Roy took him by the other and pushed him into the ambulance, much to the disappointment of the young private investigator.

"Oh come on, guys, I'm fine. Really, I don't need to go get an x-ray." Matt tried in vain to get past both of the men.

"Michael, you're in charge of the "Dream Truck" right now." Roy tossed him the keys.

"SWEEEEEET!" Hoyt smiled at Houston. "Thanks pal, I'll take REAL good care of it." He gave a devilish laugh. "Seriously though, I'm going to take Jessica to her dad's and then I'll come to the hospital – uh, which one and where is it, anyway?" He looked at Roy.

The paramedic spoke up. "He'll be at St. Vincent's, over on Denny Road."

"Okay, I can find it on the computer. Houston, do what they tell you and I'll be there as quick as I drop off Jessica, alright?"

"Hoyt, c'mon man, help me out here."

"Nope, you go get checked out. If I return you to CJ in worse shape than you were when I got there this morning we'll both be in trouble. And between you and me, I don't want the lady mad, know what I mean? See ya!" He took off before Matt had a chance to reply.

After going to the emergency room and being checked out, Matt was diagnosed with a moderate concussion and directed to get plenty of rest after he received ten stitches for the cut on his head. By the time he was finished at the hospital, Hoyt was on his way back to pick up the two Houston men.

Matt looked at his watch when his stomach rumbled. "No wonder." He and Roy went to the cafeteria and picked up a couple of burgers and ate while they waited for Hoyt. "You do realize if he messes my truck up it's going to be your responsibility, don'tcha?" Matt had just polished off his burger and fries and was eyeing his uncle's fries.

"Don't even think it, boy…either one." Roy slapped at his nephew's hand as he was about to take a fry.

"It's nice to know you're so concerned about me." Matt was sitting there sulking when Hoyt walked into the cafeteria. "Speak of the devil and there he is. You didn't tear up my truck did you?" He got up to throw away his trash and suddenly got dizzy. Hoyt and Roy both jumped to their feet as Matt braced himself on the table and eased back into the chair.

"Matt, maybe we better take you back to the ER." Roy looked over at Hoyt.

"No way. I'm going home. Give me the keys, Hoyt." He held out his hand.

"Nope, not gonna give 'em to you. But I will give them to Roy if you like." Hoyt handed them to Matt's uncle. "I'm willing to bet that they told you not to drive."

"They sure did and he's not going to be." Roy handed the keys back to Hoyt. "You two rode down here together and you can ride back together." He stood next to Matt. "Now if you're going to be stubborn and refuse to go back to the ER, we're going to get you in that truck of yours and Michael is going to take you home. End of discussion."

Matt got to his feet, slower this time, and walked on out to the parking lot grumbling the whole way. Roy and Michael just rolled their eyes. After getting his nephew into the truck and making sure that his seatbelt was on, Roy climbed into the back seat and Hoyt took him back to the DEA office to pick up his car. By the time they got there, Matt had already dozed off.

When they were almost halfway back to the ranch, Matt's phone rang. He slept through it and Hoyt picked it up. "Hi CJ. Yeah he's here with me, but he's asleep. We found her and got her back to her family safe and sound. Well we almost made it through without any problems, but Matt got hit on the head by the kidnappers and has a concussion. Uh huh, I know, he just can't seem to stay out of trouble. We'll be there in a little over an hour. Okay, see you then. 'Bye." He hung up and was about to check on Matt when the PI began snoring. Hoyt chuckled and decided that the early wake-up call might have been partly to blame for Matt being sleepy.

CJ was waiting outside by the pool when Hoyt pulled in. Matt was still asleep and it took them a couple of tries to wake him up. He began fussing about not being allowed to drive his own truck and Hoyt gave him his keys back. "Matt, I really do appreciate what you did and so do Jessica's parents."

"No big deal, Hoyt. I'm just glad we found her so quick. But somebody needs to nail Shoemake." Matt had almost forgotten about the detective. "And what about Richie? Did anybody find him?"

Roy walked up and heard what his nephew said. "Don't worry about Shoemake, they've got him. He tried to go across the border and got stopped. And Richie is dead – they found his body just outside of Tijuana. Roper called and filled me in."

"Well I'm glad they got Shoemake. What a jerk. But I hate to hear that about the kid." He gave CJ a big hug. "Where's Catey Rose?"

"She's taking a nap. Now, let's get you in here and settled in." She took Matt by the hand.

"No, I'm going to go check on the horses." He turned toward the barn but was held back by CJ.

"No sir, you're going to take your butt in the house and go to bed."

"No I'm not, CJ. Hell, I slept most of the way back. I'm not tired." Matt tried to get loose from his wife but she wasn't giving up that easy.

"Mattlock William Houston, you're getting in the house now if I have to hogtie you and drag you in there myself." Even though she was a good bit shorter than Matt, her attitude at that point was a lot bigger.

"Matt, go on in. I'll check on the horses for you, okay?" Roy took him by the arm and along with CJ, began edging him into the house. Hoyt followed along behind and made sure he couldn't turn back. Once inside he went and got in his recliner and began fussing about being treated like a child.

"When you quit acting like one then I'll quit treating you like one. Now hush before you wake your daughter up." CJ sat down on the couch and was asking Roy and Hoyt about what had happened. Both men told her about what had happened when the DEA raided the warehouse.

"But Matt will have to tell you about his part." Roy looked over CJ's head at his nephew. "But I guess you'll have to hear about it later." CJ and Hoyt turned to look and Matt was once again asleep.

"What did they say exactly about his concussion?" CJ got up and went over to check on her husband who appeared to be breathing fine.

"It's a moderate concussion; whatever that means and he got ten stitches. They prescribed plenty of rest - which he seems to be doing without too much trouble." Roy walked over and looked at his nephew and put an arm around CJ. "I tell you, I was sure worried about him."

"As hard as his head is? Really?" Hoyt was grinning. "No really – I was too. I feel bad for dragging him down there and here he sits now with a concussion."

"It's not your fault, Michael; you didn't hit him over the head." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and eased the recliner back. Matt never budged. "Maybe he'll be feeling better when he wakes up. You boys have got a bachelor party to attend Friday night you know." She grinned.

"So what have you got planned for the bachelorette party?" Roy knew that as matron of honor, CJ was in charge of the party.

"Uncle Roy! You know I can't tell you that." She gave the two men a big smile and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Bet they get into more trouble than we do." Hoyt elbowed Roy. "Guess I better get on home. I'll see you all Friday morning." He gave CJ a peck on the cheek and headed out to his car.