Disclaimer: The characters of Trent, Carlos, Alex, Walker, Trivette, and C.D. belong to CBS, Norris Productions, and SOT. Any other characters belong to me.
 
 
 
 

"At least we got paid for this one." Kim stated. Trent and Carlos had just finished a case and had received a bonus for a job well done.

"We told you we would." Carlos replied.

"I know you did. But I've heard that before." she replied, shaking her finger at him. "I just don't believe it until I can hold the check in my hand."

"Well, this time you've got it." Trent said. "Happy?"

"Definitely." Suddenly the phone rang. "Thunder Investigations." Kim answered. "Yes, they are. Just a minute." Putting the caller on hold, she looked up. "Some guy named Bill. Wants to talk to one of you."

"Put him on the speakerphone." Trent ordered. "Hello? This is Trent Malloy."

"Yeah. My name is Bill. I need your help."

"What kind of help?" Carlos asked him.

"I have in my possession evidence incriminating a high ranking city official of consorting with known organized crime leaders. I need your protection."

"Bill, if you have such evidence, why don't you just turn it over to the police?" Trent asked.

"No! I'd be dead in twenty-four hours. I can't trust the police. I want the two of you to confirm the evidence."

"All right, Bill. Why don't we meet somewhere?" Carlos suggested.

"Fine. How about the park three blocks away from your office? Fifteen minutes?"

"We'll be there." Trent replied. "How will we know you?"

"I'll be driving a tan Toyota Camry. Don't be late." Bill hung up.

"What do you think?" Trent asked Carlos.

"I don't know. The guy really sounded nervous." he answered.

"Do you really think he has the evidence he says he has?" Kim wanted to know.

"Well, there's only one way to find out."

"Right. Let's go and wait for him." Carlos suggested.

"We'll check back with you later, Kim." Trent told her as they left.

The detectives drove to the park and parked where they could watch the entire area. "I hope this isn't some kind of prank." Carlos stated.

"Yeah, me too. But somehow I don't think it is. Like you said, he sounded really nervous."

"True." Carlos replied looking around the park. "Wait a minute. Isn't that a Camry over there?" He pointed over to the east of the park.

"Yeah, it sure is. Think it's our guy?"

"Let's go find out." Carlos replied reaching for the door handle.

They walked over to the car, but no one was around. Trent checked the car door and found it unlocked. He searched for the registration and found it in the glove compartment. The car was registered to a Bill Travis. Handing it to Carlos, he stated "Looks like it belongs to our nervous friend. But where is he?"

"Maybe he changed his mind. But then, why didn't he take his car?" Carlos replied.

"I don't know. Let's go wait in the Vette. Maybe he'll come back." Trent suggested and Carlos agreed.

They waited forty-five minutes before giving up. "Let's go. He's not coming back." Carlos urged.

"At least we have a name to check out. Maybe Kim can come up with something." Trent replied, starting the car.

Back at the office, they put Kim to work on her computer finding out who Bill Travis was. After searching for half an hour, she came up with some information. "I've got it guys! Bill Travis. He's an accountant in the city office. He's been there for ten years. No criminal records. Great work history. At least until three days ago. He left work at lunch and never came back. He has an apartment on Ivy Lane. There's nothing else."

"Come on, let's check out his apartment." Trent suggested.

"Right behind you."

When they arrived at Bill's apartment, they found that it had been ransacked. "Guess whoever did this was looking for the evidence." Trent stated. "Wonder if they found it?"

"Good question." Carlos replied.

They reported the burglary to the police. They hung around the apartment long enough to give their statements, not telling the police everything due to client confidentiality. Afterwards, they went back to the office and told Kim what had happened.

"Kim, see if you can find anything else on Bill Travis. Friends. Hangouts. Anything." Trent directed.

"Also," Carlos added, "Find out if he has any credit cards. Maybe we can track him with them."

"I'm on it guys!" Kim replied.

Just then the door opened and Detective Kelly Cahill walked in. "Hi guys, Kim." she greeted. "Busy?"

"Very." Trent answered.

"That's too bad." Turning to Carlos, she asked, "I guess you're too busy to go to dinner, then."

"Well, actually, I am." he answered reluctantly.

"That's okay, buddy." Trent injected. "Kim and I can do this research. I'll call you if we get something."

"Okay." Carlos replied quickly. He hated doing research. "If you're sure."

"Go ahead. Just do us a favor and bring us back something to eat."

"You've got it. See you two later."

"Bye Trent. Kim." Kelly called as she and Carlos walked out the door.

"They really are a good looking couple, aren't they?" Kim observed.

"Yeah, they are." Trent replied smiling. After a pause, he then added "Come on, let's get back to work."

Carlos returned one and a half hours later with two bags of food for Trent and Kim. "Have a nice dinner?" Kim asked.

"Yes, I did." Carlos answered grinning. "Just too short. Kelly got called back to the station."

"Too bad." Trent said.

"How's it been going here?" Carlos asked.

"Not good." Kim answered. "Bill Travis is a bit of a loner. No close family. No friends we can find."

"What about his credit cards?" Carlos wanted to know.

"Not much there either. No purchases except for gasoline in the last two months." Trent replied. "This guy is going to be hard to find."

"Well, we'd better come up with something soon or the people after him will find him first." Carlos stated grimly.

After Trent and Kim finished eating, the three decided to call it a night and get a fresh start in the morning.

"Good morning, Tommy" Kelly greeted the young man as she entered Thunder Karate.

"Morning, Kelly." Tommy replied. "You're early."

"I know. I thought I'd work out a while before classes." Trent had called Kelly earlier to ask if she would help Tommy with classes that morning since he would be tied up with their current case. She had agreed. "How about a sparring match?" she asked him.

"Sure. But I don't think I'm going to be much of a challenge for you." Tommy had known Kelly for a long time but had never really considered her a friend. After all, she was older than him, really pretty and smart. Why would she want anything to do with a kid like him?

"No problem. It's just for fun. Come on."

Tommy and Kelly sparred for about thirty minutes when Tommy conceded. "Enough, enough. I give up."

"You have really improved, Tommy. I'm impressed."

"Thanks." he replied blushing. He couldn't believe that she really was impressed.

Suddenly four men dressed in black walked in carrying guns. Before Tommy and Kelly could react, two of the men fired. Both Tommy and Kelly fell to the ground unconscious from tranquilizer darts. The men carried them outside and put them in a van and then drove off.

"I hope we have better luck today than yesterday." Kim stated as she sat down at her desk. Trent, Carlos and Kim arrived early at the office to continue their search for Bill Travis. Suddenly the phone rang. "Thunder Investigations." Kim answered. "Yes, hold on a minute. Trent, it's Luke Walters." Luke was a student of Trent's.

Taking the phone from Kim, he said "Hello, Luke. How are you?" After listening for a moment, he replied "I don't know where they are. Look, go ahead and dismiss the class. We'll pick up tomorrow. Thanks for calling, Luke."

"What's wrong?" Carlos asked as Trent hung up the phone.

"Luke arrived for class this morning and neither Tommy nor Kelly were there and the door was unlocked."

"Where could they be?" Kim asked.

"I don't know. But I have a bad feeling about it." Trent answered.

The phone rang again. This time Trent hit the speaker button to answer it. "Thunder Investigations. Trent Malloy."

A deep voice answered. "Stop looking for Bill Travis!"

"Why? Who is this?" Trent asked.

"Never mind who I am. Stop looking for Bill Travis or your brother and your partner's girlfriend will pay the price."

Trent and Carlos looked at each other, shock on their faces. "What are you talking about?" Carlos asked the voice.

"We've got the boy and the lady cop. If you want to see them alive again, drop this case." the voice answered forcefully.

"How do we know they are all right?" Trent asked. "Let us speak to them."

There was a pause and then they heard Tommy's voice. "Trent?"

"Tommy! Are you all right?" Trent inquired.

"Fine."

"What about Kelly?" Carlos wanted to know.

"She's okay too."

The deep voice spoke again. "You see, they're fine. And they'll stay that way as long as you drop this case." The caller hung up.

"What are you going to do?" Kim asked them.

"What can we do? If we continue searching for Bill Travis, we risk Tommy's and Kelly's lives."

"But how do we find them? We don't have any idea who took them." Carlos argued.

"I know. Let's talk to Walker and Alex. Maybe they'll have some idea." Trent suggested.

"Okay, but I don't look forward to telling Alex about Kelly." Carlos stated.

The detectives met Walker and Alex in Alex's office thirty minutes later. Trent told them everything that had happened.

"You mean they just took Kelly and Tommy from the dojo?" Alex asked astounded.

"Apparently. I dropped Tommy off there this morning and Kelly was going there just after I called her. We came by on our way here and her car was parked outside." Trent answered.

"And you have no idea who Travis was talking about?" Walker asked.

"No. We never saw any of his evidence." Carlos told him.

"Well, I've heard his name but never met him." Alex informed them. "If he's really got that kind of evidence, it could be on anybody. He had contact with most of the city's officials."

"We've got to do something, before they kill Kelly and Tommy." Carlos stated, getting up out of his chair to pace.

"We'll find them, Carlos." Walker assured him. "Kelly and Tommy are smart and resourceful. They'll be all right."

"I hope so, Walker." Trent said. "If anything happens to either one of them....."

"Trent's right, Walker." Carlos added. "It's because of us that they are in danger. It's up to us to save them."

Kelly and Tommy were being held in a small gray room. The room consisted of two cots and a bathroom. There were no windows and only one door. They could hear movement outside but couldn't really tell what was going on.

"What do you think they're going to do with us?" Tommy asked her.

"I don't know, Tommy. Don't worry, though. Carlos and Trent will find us. I'm sure of it." She watched him a moment then got up from her cot and walked over to him and sit down beside him. "Are you all right?"

"Sure." he answered. "Maybe just a little scared. Just a little, though."

Putting her arm around his shoulders, she told him. "I'll tell you a little secret. I'm scared too. A lot."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Thanks for telling me, Kelly." he said. "I don't feel so bad now."

Suddenly the door opened and two men came in. They grabbed Kelly's arms and pulled her up. "Come on." one of the men ordered.

"Let her go! Where are you taking her?" Tommy demanded grabbing one of the men's arm.

"She'll be back soon enough, kid." he responded pushing Tommy back onto the cot.

"I'll be fine, Tommy. Don't worry." Kelly told him looking back at him as they pushed her out the door.

Tommy waited for an hour worried about Kelly. He didn't know what was happening to her and his fear was growing. He had gotten up to beat on the door for the tenth time when it opened and Kelly was shoved roughly into the room. Their captors quickly closed and locked the door. Tommy rushed over to Kelly to help her up. When he finally saw her face, he was shocked. There were bruises on her face.

"Oh my God!" he exclaimed. "They beat you! Are you all right?"

"I'm all right." she told him weakly.

"Why would they do this?" Tommy wanted to know.

"I don't know why. They just beat me and then took my picture."

"I bet they'll send it to Trent and Carlos. As a warning."

"You're probably right. Tommy, we've got to find a way out of here -- and soon."

Trent and Carlos returned to the office to see if Kim had gotten any more information. "Kim, any news?" Trent asked her as they entered.

"No, but this envelope arrived for Carlos. Special messenger."

Carlos picked up the envelope and opened it. "Those sons of..... I'll kill them!"

"Carlos, what is it?" Trent asked concerned.

"They beat Kelly!" he exclaimed handing the envelope to Trent. Inside was a photo of Kelly, bruises covering her face.

"Oh, my God." Kim stated shocked.

"There's a note here too." Trent told them "Drop the case or the next time she will die." he read.

"They have gone too far!" Carlos exclaimed, punching the wall. "They'll pay for this."

"Calm down, buddy. I'm as angry as you, but we've got to think clearly if we're going to save them."

"I know, I know. But the thought of someone hurting her....."

"She's strong. She'll be okay." Trent reassured Carlos -- and himself. "Kim, call Walker and tell him what's happened."

Just then Butch came in from downstairs followed by a stranger. Turning to the stranger, he introduced Trent and Carlos. "These are the guys you were looking for."

"Thank you." the stranger told Butch. Turning to the detectives, he said "My name is Bill Travis. I called you yesterday."

"You're Bill Travis?" Carlos couldn't believe it.

"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't wait for you in the park yesterday but they found me and I had to run. You don't know what these people are capable of."

"Yes, we do." Trent told him. "We know all too well."

"What do you mean?" Travis asked.

"When you didn't show up yesterday we started asking around about you. Someone found out. To stop us, they kidnapped Trent's brother and my girlfriend." Carlos answered him.

"Tommy and Kelly have been kidnapped?" Butch exclaimed. "When?"

"This morning." Trent answered "They just sent Carlos a picture of Kelly. She's been beaten."

"My God!" Travis exclaimed. "I never meant for anyone else to get hurt. I'm sorry I involved you."

"It's not your fault Mr. Travis." Trent assured him. "But you have to tell us who is behind this."

"District Attorney, Charles Towers, that's who."

"What? Are you sure?" Butch wanted to know.

"I'm sure. I witnessed more than one meeting between him and Sal Delvecchio."

"Delvecchio? I know him." Carlos stated. "He's the leader of the second largest organized crime family in Dallas. He's extremely dangerous."

"Then that's who kidnapped Tommy and Kelly." Butch surmised.

"Yeah, but getting them back is not going to be easy. Delvecchio could be hiding them anywhere." Carlos told them.

"Also, we've got to get protection for Mr. Travis. If we turn him over to the police, Towers will find out." Trent added.

"Butch, can you hide him?" Carlos asked. "We hate to involve you, but we don't have a choice."

"Don't worry about it. I'll protect Mr. Travis. You two just find Kelly and Tommy."

"Thanks, Butch."

"I hope you find them soon. I am really sorry for what's happened." Travis apologized.

"Don't worry, Mr. Travis. We'll find them. I promise." Carlos vowed.

There was no first aid items in their room so Tommy located a wash cloth in the bathroom. He rinsed it in cold water to clean Kelly's face. "This is the best I can do." Tommy told her. "Maybe the cold will feel good on those bruises."

"Thanks, Tommy."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine."

"I don't believe you. They worked you over pretty good. There's something you're not telling me."

"You're just as perceptive as your brother and Carlos." she answered smiling. "All right, you're right. I think they did some damage to my ribs too."

"Are they broken?"

"I don't think so. I think they're just bruised pretty badly." she answered not wanting to tell him that she feared that her injuries were more serious.

"Try to lay down and rest."

"No. We've got to figure a way out of here. I'm afraid that we don't have much time."

"Well, you can rest and think at the same time. Okay? Now lay down."

"Yes, sir. Anything you say." she replied jokingly, laying back on the cot.

Trent and Carlos knew that asking more questions would get the prisoners killed, so they decided that the best course of action would to be to follow Charles Towers. If Bill Travis' information was right, Towers would know where they were being held.

"I hate that we can't tell Alex that we've found Bill and give her the evidence he's got." Trent stated as they were watching for Towers outside his office.

"I know. But Towers knows Kelly is Alex's cousin. He'll be watching her. She might give away what she knows if she ran into him. That could be fatal for Kelly and Tommy and dangerous for Alex."

"You're right. We've got to get Towers on our own." Trent agreed. "Here he comes. Let's hope that this pays off."

Tommy watched Kelly as she slept. Her breathing had become shallow. There was definitely something wrong. He knew that if Trent and Carlos didn't find them soon, it could be too late for her.

Suddenly Kelly woke up with a start. Tommy rushed over to her. "It's okay, Kelly. Are you still in pain?"

Knowing she couldn't hide her pain, she answered "Yes. My chest hurts and I'm having trouble breathing."

"Do you know what's causing it?"

Reluctantly, she answered, "Tommy, I'm afraid that one of my ribs has punctured a lung."

"What can we do?"

"Nothing. Not here." She paused and then asked, "How are you doing?"

"I'm worried about you." he answered, concern in his voice.

"Look, don't worry about me. If you get a chance to make a break for it. Run. You hear me?"

"No way. I'm not leaving you."

"Tommy....." she began.

"No! I'm not leaving you!" he stated emphatically. "Besides, Carlos would never forgive me."

"You're as stubborn as you brother" she replied weakly. "And just as brave. Thanks."

Trent and Carlos followed Towers all over town, but nowhere out of the ordinary and nowhere that the hostages would have been held.

"How long is this going to take?" Carlos asked impatiently.

"As long as it takes." Trent answered. "Calm down."

"I'm trying. I'm just worried."

"I know. Me too. They've got my little brother, remember?"

"I remember. I just can't get that picture of Kelly out of my mind. I've got an awful feeling that she's running out of time."

"I hope your wrong. Either way, these creeps will pay for taking her and Tommy."

At that moment, Towers came out of the courthouse. "Here we go again." Trent said starting the car.

This time Towers headed for the less favorable section of Dallas. "This could be it." Carlos stated. "I'll call Walker and let him know where we are."

Towers drove several more blocks before parking in the alley of an abandoned building. Trent parked about a block away so that they wouldn't be spotted. By that time Carlos had finished his conversation with Walker.

"Walker said that this is a suspected hideout of Delvecchio. He's on the way with backup." Carlos informed Trent.

"Good. I've got a feeling that Tommy and Kelly are in there." Trent replied.

"Let's go see what we can find out." Carlos suggested reaching for the door handle.

They crept up to the building and peered in a window. They could see Towers talking to a man surrounded by four other men.

"That's Delvecchio," Carlos whispered. "Looks like Bill was right. Look, Delvecchio is handing him something."

They watched as Towers opened the envelope and pulled out a lot of money. "A payoff. " Trent said looking back at Carlos.

"Trent, look over on the other side of the room. There's two men standing in front of a door. Do you think that Kelly and Tommy could be in there?"

"Probably. What else would they be guarding? We've got to find a way of getting them out of there."

"Maybe we should wait for Walker. After all there's eight of them and two of us." Carlos suggested.

"What? Carlos Sandoval not go charging in, guns blazing?" Trent asked grinning.

"Very funny. But if Kelly's hurt badly, we'll need help getting her out of there safely."

"I was just teasing you, buddy. You're right. We can't take any chances. We'll wait for Walker."

Trent and Carlos kept watch through the window, hoping to see a sign of the hostages. Twenty minutes later Walker and Trivette joined them.

"What's happening?" Trivette asked.

"Delvecchio just gave Towers a large sum of money." Carlos informed them. "We think that Kelly and Tommy are behind that door on the other side of the room, but we haven't seen them yet."

"Walker, how are you going to explain going in there?" Trent inquired. "We have no proof that they were the kidnappers."

"No, but Delvecchio has been under investigation for some time and this building is suspected to be one of his hideouts. Alex convinced a judge to issue a warrant to search for illegal weapons."

"Good. Let's go then." Carlos urged.

Walker motioned to the waiting task force to move in. They surrounded the building and blocked off each exit. Walker, Trivette, Trent and Carlos went to the front door. Walker kicked it in. "Texas Rangers! Freeze!" he shouted.

Delvecchio came forward. "What is this all about?" he demanded. "You can't come in here without a search warrant."

"I have it right here, Delvecchio." Walker told him. "Search the building!" he directed the other officers.

Delvecchio's henchmen suddenly attacked the officers while Delvecchio and Towers made a break for it. Walker, Trivettte and the task force attempted to subdue them while Trent and Carlos took after Delvecchio and Towers. Trent quickly caught up to Towers. Towers stopped and pulled a gun on Trent. With lightning-quick reflexes, Trent kicked the gun out of Towers hand and sent another kick to Towers head, knocking him out.

Meanwhile, Carlos chased Delvecchio to a dead end. Delvecchio turned ready to fight. He threw a punch at Carlos, who ducked it easily. Carlos counterattacked with a karate kick to Delvecchio's chest. Delvecchio went down and Carlos pounced on him. Grabbing Delvecchio's collar, Carlos pulled him up where he could talk. "Where's Kelly and Tommy? he demanded. "Where are they Delvecchio?" Carlos started shaking him.

Suddenly Carlos was grabbed from behind. "That's enough, Carlos." Walker ordered. "Get up."

"He's got to tell me where they are." Carlos said.

Just then Trent came up with Towers in custody.

"Tommy and Kelly are alive. They're inside. Tommy's fine but Kelly has been injured. She has a broken rib which has punctured her lung. The ambulance is on the way." Walker told them.

Both Trent and Carlos rushed back inside. Officers were with Tommy and Kelly. When Tommy saw Trent, he came rushing out to meet him.

"Thank God you're all right" Trent said hugging him.

"I'm fine, big brother. I'm just glad you finally got here." Tommy responded smiling. Looking back into the room where he was held prisoner, he added "It's Kelly that's hurt. I was afraid she wouldn't survive."

"She's a tough lady. I'm sure she'll be fine. Come on."

Trent and Tommy walked into the room. Kelly was lying on the cot with Carlos sitting next to her holding her hand. "She's weak but alive." Carlos told Trent, relief in his voice.

Trying to smile, she looked up at Carlos and Trent. "What took you two so long? Did you stop for pizza?"

"Yeah, one with the works." Carlos answered. "Why? Did you want a piece?"

They all laughed.

A week later everyone had gathered for a party at C.D's celebrating Kelly's and Tommy's rescue and Kelly's release from the hospital. Kelly was still sore and weak but better. She had told Trent and Carlos of Tommy's bravery and how he had helped her during their captivity.

"I want to make a toast." C.D. stated standing up. "To Kelly and Tommy. Welcome home safe and sound."

"Thanks, C.D." Kelly replied. "I would like to make a toast as well. To Tommy. A very brave young man."

Tommy blushed. "Looks like I underestimated you, little brother." Trent said.

"That's okay. I underestimated myself." Tommy admitted.

"Thanks for being there for Kelly." Carlos told him. "I owe you."

"No you don't, Carlos. That's just what friends do for each other. Right?" Tommy said, grinning at Kelly.

"Right." Kelly replied.
 
 

Epilogue: Bill Travis, Kelly, Tommy, Trent and Carlos all testified against Delvecchio and Towers. Both were sentenced to long prison terms. Bill Travis returned to his job. Kelly's lung healed and she returned to work. Tommy earned Kelly's respect and gratitude. And Tommy's crush on Kelly continued.