Disclaimer: Chuck Norris, Aaron Norris, CBS and others own the characters of "Walker Texas Ranger". Any new characters and story lines that come into play are of my own creation and no copyright infringement is intended. This is a fan fiction intended for entertainment purposes only and I am not making any money from it.

Chapter 15: Tattoo

Darryl studied Sophie Lake through the window between the interrogation room and the observation room. She was sitting at the table, tapping her left foot erratically as her eyes bounced around the room like a bird tapped inside trying to find a way out.

"So, what do you think?" Lucy asked.

He turned his head toward his partner. "About the case?"

"No, the girl," she replied her lip tightening in one corner.

He sighed, knowing that his partner had an idea and he wasn't sure he was going to like it.

He turned back toward the girl sitting on the other side of the glass. "She's scared. Vulnerable. I think we can get her to talk," Darryl said, his eyes looking towards the girl wondering how she could have gotten involved with a man like Nicholas Kingly.

Lucy pointed from him to Sophie. "I think it would be better if you talk to her alone. I tend to frighten people."

"You are intimidating," he agreed.

The door opened which had the two detectives look toward the door. "Hey, what are two doing? Planning a strategy?" Gage asked as he stepped into the room, with Sydney coming in behind him.

"Yes. Darryl is going to talk to her. Alone."

"Really? You aren't going in," Gage asked in surprise and disappointment. "I wanted to see you interrogate someone."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Gee, Gage. This is just a scared little girl. It's far more entertaining to watch me interrogate a psychotic killer or a drug dealer."

Gage rubbed his hands together. "So, when that happens, do I get a ticket to come and see it? Maybe I could sell some tickets."

"Sure," Lucy replied.

Sydney rolled her eyes. "Anyway, let's focus here. Sophie turned eighteen four weeks ago. Her parents have been divorced for five years. She lives with her mother who is a teacher. Her father is a marine and is on his fourth tour."

"Tough for a kid," Gage commented his grin fading away.

Darryl nodded his head in agreement. "I should get in there before she clams up for good."

Darryl's partner replied with a firm nod of her head. "I'll be watching."

"Are you worried about my interrogation techniques?"

She shook her head. "Of course not. I just want to watch you in action."

He grinned as went to the door and he stepped out of the room.

"Are you sure he can do this without you?" Gage joked.

"I have complete faith in my partner, Gage. Complete faith."

His smile widened as he shut the door to the observation room and went to the room next door that had Sophie Lake impatiently waiting inside.

As he stood outside the interrogation room, he erased his smile and put on a worried and sympathetic face. He put his hand on the door handle, reminded himself that this girl could give them a lead to bringing in Nicholas Kingly.

He turned the knob, pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Hello, Sophie. Do you remember me?" He shut the door and when she nodded her head in reply, he sat down. "My name is Darryl. I just have a few questions for you."

She slouched in her seat and crossed her arms protectively over her chest. "I don't know anything."

Darryl nodded somberly as he placed his arms on the table and clasped his hands together. He locked his gaze onto Sophie's hazel eyes but he made sure the look was non-threatening.

He didn't look away or blink. "I only want to ask you about Nicholas Kingly."

She shook her head, some locks of hair falling over her fear-filled and defiant eyes. "No, I won't tell you anything about him."

He had anticipated that reaction as he casually leaned back, waiting for her to continue.

"He loves me," she said softly. "I know he loves me."

She looked around the room, brushing the hair out of her eyes before she returned her gaze to him.

He saw something in her eyes and knew that he had to say and do the right thing or else he would lose the opportunity to gleam any information from her. He waited silently and patiently for her to speak even though he wanted to talk.

"He pushed me aside like I was nothing. I thought he loved me."

"He did do that," Darryl said as he nodded his head giving her an empathetic look. "What do you know about him?"

She scoffed. "What do I know about him? What does it matter?"

He decided that he had better say something that would push her to give him information about Nicholas. "He killed a woman a few days ago."

"What?" "I don't believe it," she shook her head fervently.

He locked eyes with Sophie hoping that she wouldn't pull away. "She was his high school girlfriend."

"He would never do anything like that." She shook her head repeatedly, causing her hoop earrings to bounce off her red cheeks. "No, you're wrong!"

"He's not prince charming. He pushed you onto the floor and he ran away. Leaving you to defend for yourself," he reminded her.

"He cares about me. I know he cares about me."

"If he did, he wouldn't have left you behind." He tapped his pointer finger on the table to emphasize his point.

She bit her lip as her eyes filled with tears. "He told me that he would be coming into a lot of money. He has a friend."

"What's this friend's name?" Darryl asked, starting to get a good feeling.

"I don't know his name, but he's creepy. He has a tattoo. It's on his left arm. It's of a rabid wolf attacking a mermaid."

His face-hardened as he nodded his head. "Thank you, for telling me about all of this. I'll have an officer take you home." He bore a smile that he didn't feel but Sophie didn't seem to notice.

She didn't answer but nodded her head as she bit her lip and looked down at her hands.

He placed his hand over hers, which had her looking up at him. "You'll be ok. Just stay away from people like Nicholas."

The door opened, revealing Lucy standing outside the door with a uniformed officer. Darryl signaled for Sophie to go, which she stood up and rushed to the door.

He stood up and walked to the door. He could feel his partner studying his face.

"You recognize the tattoo?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, his name is Jason Vice," he replied darkly.

Her eyebrows rose at his tone. "History with him?"

"Yeah, you could say that."

She seemed to sense that he wasn't in the mood to discuss it. She just nodded her head. "Let's go get him."

He nodded his head in response as Sydney and Gage joined them. He peered around Gage and watched Sophie step onto the elevator. His eyes locked with hers and he knew that she wasn't finished with Nicholas. He hoped he was wrong.