Disclaimer: Anything recognizable from WTR or SOT belongs to TopKick Productions. Anything else is mine.

Girl's Night Out, Part 3

By: Samantha Baker

"Hi, T. How are you feeling?"

"Hi, Sam." Trent smiled. "I'm feeling better."

"You look a little better. I hope you don't mind but Tina Lopez' lawyer is going to come by and see you tomorrow. She needs your deposition or get a smaller divorce settlement. I said I didn't think you would mind."

"I'm not going anywhere." Trent said with a laugh. They both turned as they saw movement in the next bed.

"Hi, Sleeping Beauty," Sam said, flashing a big smile at Carlos. "Good to see you back in the land of the living."

"Someone please help me pick up my arms," Carlos said, weakly.

"Sorry, buddy. I'm having trouble with my own," Trent said, laughingly. They were all startled when the door flew open and Detective Ryan burst in.

"I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" he bellowed, pointing to Sam.

"Nice to see you, Ryan," Carlos said, almost to himself. "As pleasant as always."

"GET OUT HERE NOW!!" Ryan motioned to Sam to follow him out into the hall. Trent looked at her questioningly. Sam shrugged and followed Ryan. When they were in the hall, Ryan lit into Sam.

"I thought I told you to stay out of it!!!! I should arrest you right now!!!" Ryan was livid.

"You didn't seem this upset when I told you where Jackson was."

"That was before we found him dead!" Ryan's eyes widened with the word 'dead'.

"Dead?" Sam was taken aback.

"Very dead. His neck was broken." Ryan started to pace. "Now, we've got nothing. Just lot's of questions with no answers. Let's start with where were you this evening?"

"Am I a suspect?" Sam inquired.

"I am asking the questions." Ryan stopped pacing long enough to point his finger at Sam's chest. "Where were you?"

"I dropped off Kim, then went back to the office to call you. From there, I went home to change and then here."

"You have no one to give you an alibi?" He started pacing again.

"Ryan, this is crazy." Sam started to turn away.

"We've got your prints on a beer bottle at the scene." Sam stopped in her tracks and turned back to face Ryan.

"I've never even met the guy, let alone been to his apartment," she insisted.

"You were seen threatening a guy in a bar to get Jackson's address."

"Yeah right, Ryan. Little old me was threatening someone." Sam tried to laugh.

"Don't give me that sh**. I know Malloy has taught you that Karate stuff. Witnesses said you were fit to kill."

"C'mon Ryan. Why would I kill Jackson?"

"Those two in there," he said, pointing to the hospital room.

"Mad, yes, but mad enough to kill? That's ridiculous. Surely, you don't think I did it?"

"Right now, I don't think nuthin'." He continued to pace. "But if you don't stay out of this, I won't be able to vouch for you. Understand?" He stopped, standing almost nose to nose with Sam.

"Yes," she sighed. "The beer bottle probably came from the bar on 15^th where I met Louth. I'd check out the bartender."

"Okay, I'll work on that. But remember, I warned you. Stay out of it or I will arrest you, deport you or both!!!" Ryan turned on his heel and stomped off down the hall. Sam turned and headed back into the hospital room. Trent and Carlos were staring at her.

"What?" Sam said, innocently.

"What the hell was that about?" Trent asked.

"Nothing."

"Samantha Baker, we could hear him yelling at you in here!" Sam sat herself down on the edge of Trent's bed, deep in thought. "Sam?" Trent asked again.

"Bill Jackson is dead," she told them.

"How?" Carlos asked. Trent had filled him in on Sam's theory about Jackson and Lopez.

"His neck was broken. My prints were at the apartment and they have witnesses that saw me almost break the courier's arm." The tension in the room was palpable. Finally, Trent spoke.

"Sam, this is serious."

"I know, Trent. Someone has set me up." Sam got up and walked around the room, thinking.

"Does Ryan really think you could have done it," Carlos asked

"Physically, yes, because of the karate. However, he actually said that he and I quote 'vouched for me' He must like me better than you guys." Sam laughed.

"Sam, stop this now before something else happens. " The worry was evident in Trent's voice.

"It has to be Lopez. He knew Jackson was the only link. Now, we have to find a way to prove it." Sam's mind was working overtime.

"Samantha!!"

"Trent stop that. You sound like my mother yelling at me!"

"Well then, listen to me."

"You still sound like my mother."

"Or Sarah," Carlos threw in. Sam laughed. Trent was getting angry but Sam cut him off.

"I know, Trent; let Ryan handle it. Even if that man couldn't find his nose with a mirror."

"Oh, here she is. Just a moment." Kim handed the phone to Sam as she walked into Thunder investigations. It had not been a good night of sleep for Sam.

"Hello?'

"This is Steve Louth. I have to see you."

"Why? You set me up!" Sam tone said it all.

"It wasn't me. It was the bartender. He told them that I told you about Jackson. Now, they're after me. You have to help me." His voice was frantic

"I don't have to do anything. Go to the police."

"Yeah, right. I'd be dead sooner. Meet me over on Washington, at Jefferson. There is an old warehouse. I'll be there in an hour." There was a click and a dial tone. Sam handed the phone back to Kim.

"Kim, we've got work to do."

The warehouse appeared to be deserted. Sam pulled the door open and entered cautiously.

"Hello? Steve? It's Samantha Baker." Slowly, she walked further into the warehouse. As she rounded a corner, she saw Steve Louth's body lying on the floor. She went to him and checked for a pulse. There was none.

Dammit, thought Sam. She stood and looked around. As she turned back, she saw Jose Lopez, gun in hand, smiling at her. She had recognized him from the pictures at Tina's house.

"So, Ms Baker. We finally meet. You've been asking a lot of people a lot of questions about me."

"Hello, Mr. Lopez. Did you kill him too?" Sam asked, pointing to Louth's body.

"Yes, but they will think it was you," Lopez answered smugly.

"Why me?"

"Because you were too nosey. Between my wife and Jackson, you were a problem."

"So it was you that Jackson was supplying secrets to," Sam said, matter of factly.

"Oh yes. And he has made me a very wealthy man. We will win the race for more efficient fuel additives." Lopez smiled broadly. "And my wife won't get any of it!"

"So you poisoned Trent and Carlos to stop them?" Sam was trying to survey her surroundings while still watching Lopez.

"No, that was Jackson. He was an idiot. I knew he would have to die sooner or later. Now it is your turn to die. Do you mind if I call you Samantha?"

"Yes I do mind. Ms Baker will do." Sam tried to keep Lopez talking. "Don't you think there are an awful lot of bodies piling up around you? People knew I was meeting Steve here."

"Yes and you got angry because he set you up for Jackson's murder. You killed him, but not before he got off a fatal shot at you." Lopez walked closer to Sam. "It's a shame I have to kill a beautiful women like you, Samantha, but it is necessary." He raised the gun.

"NOW!" yelled Sam as she dove to her right and rolled toward a stack of boxes. Lopez was startled but managed to fire off a shot at Sam. She felt a burning in her left shoulder. The bullet had grazed her. "Damn! ANYTIME NOW GUYS!" she yelled. She got up and ran through the boxes.

"Nice bluff, Samantha," Lopez said, laughing. "However, I have the gun." He moved cautiously through the boxes. He noticed a streak of blood on one of them. "And you are wounded," he laughed. He continued moving, gun drawn.

Sam held her shoulder as she moved silently through the boxes. She knew the wound wasn't serious, just painful. As she doubled back, she could see Lopez in front of her.

"Kiya!" she yelled. As Lopez spun, Sam kicked the gun from his hand. She spun and kicked him in the stomach, doubling him over. She hit him on his back but as he fell he grabbed her ankle, pulling her down. She fell on her injured shoulder, letting out a yelp of pain. Lopez tried to lunge for her. Sam raised her legs and kicked him off. She got up and assumed her fighting stance. Lopez couldn't see the gun so he went for Sam with his fists up. Sam blocked the punch and kicked him in the knee. Lopez crumpled and Sam hit him again, in the face. Another spin kick hit the side of his head and he collapsed in a heap, unconscious.

Breathless, Sam sank to her knees. As she yelled, "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS??" the door to the warehouse burst open. Ryan and other members of the Dallas P.D. ran in, followed by Kim. She ran over to Sam.

"I'm sorry, " she said breathlessly. "I couldn't find Ryan, then he was late....Are you okay?" Kim noticed the blood. "AHHH! You're shot!!" She nearly fainted at the sight of Sam's blood.

"I'm okay, Kim. It just grazed me." Sam assured her. "Calm down." Slowly, Sam got to her feet, with Kim's help.

"I ought to arrest you right now and send you back to Canada! Are all you Canadians so pig headed?" Ryan almost spat the words out.

"Yes," Sam answered. "The snow gets in our ears and freezes our brains." Kim started to laugh.

"Don't get smart with me, Missy!" Sam tried to wipe the smile off her face as Ryan continue his tirade. "What ever gave you the insane idea that you could face this guy and not get yourself killed?"

"You were supposed to be listening and come in when I yelled 'NOW'. I didn't think y'all would be so slow."

"But I told you to stay out of it." As Ryan paused to catch his breath, Sam reached behind her back and pulled out a miniature tape recorder she had tucked in her waistband. She handed it to Ryan.

"You might want this. It's Lopez talking about everything, including killing Jackson and Louth."

"I still ought to deport you."

"Fine. But now I am going to the hospital to get my shoulder bandaged. Call me when the deportation hearing is set." Sam turned and walked away, with Kim at her side. Ryan motioned to an officer.

"Take them to the hospital and stay with her."

"Hi guys. How are you feeling?" Sam smiled as she walked into the hospital room. Her shoulder had been bandaged and she had made Kim get her a change of clothes. She had also threatened Kim with bodily harm if she told the guys about the bullet wound.

"Better, " Carlos said. Both he and Trent were sitting up in their beds.

"Yeah, he's complaining about the food so you know he's getting better," Trent said with a laugh. "Any news from Ryan?" Sam shot Kim a look that Trent didn't miss. "What?" he asked

"Nothing. Lopez was caught. Unfortunately, not before he killed the courier, too," Sam informed them.

"DO they have the evidence to put him away?" Carlos asked.

"Yes, thanks to ....." Sam cut Kim off with a look.

"Did Tina's lawyer come to see you, Trent?" Sam asked, trying to change the subject.

"This morning," he told her. Now it should be a done deal. C'mere." Trent motioned Sam over. He reached up and pulled her close. "I have wanted to hug you for days now." As he held her, Sam had to grit her teeth as Trent squeezed her shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked, noticing the pained look on her face.

"Yes, I'm fine,." Sam said breathing heavily. She put her hand out to brace herself on the bed. The pain killers hadn't quite kicked in yet. Trent figured it out and touched her shoulder again. This time she yelped and jumped.

"Sam..."

"I'm okay, Trent. It's only a scratch," she assured him.

"From what?" he demanded.

"A bullet." They all turned to see Detective Ryan at the door. "You said to let you know, Ms Baker."

"A bullet?" asked Carlos and Trent in unison.

"Is this to arrest me or deport me?" Sam asked, tongue in cheek.

"If it were up to me, it would be both. However, seeing as you are going to have to testify, the department thought it would look bad if you were in jail or Canada. However, if you ever do anything stupid like this again, frozen Canadian brain or not, I will arrest you for not having a PI ticket. Understand?"

"Yes Detective." Sam said with a smile.

"Or we'll shoot you ourselves," Trent and Carlos added.

"It's okay, guys. I think I've had enough. Give me the nice safe business of massage therapy any day. Besides, I don't think Kim will ever recover." Sam laughed.

"I wasn't that bad." Kim protested.

"Did you guys know that she gets queasy at the sight of blood?" Sam said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Don't tell them that!!!"

"Actually guys, I am going to see if I can break you out of here. I'll be right back." Sam headed out the door to find the doctor. Ryan looked at Trent and Carlos.

"I am holding you personally responsible for keeping her in line. Otherwise, she'll get herself killed."

"Why, Ryan, I 'd almost think you care." Carlos said.

"No I just don't need the paperwork of an international incident. Tell her she's got to come to the station to give her official statement." Ryan stomped out of the room.

"Always a pleasure, Ryan." Carlos called after him.

"So Sam, do we want to hear this story?" Trent asked when she came back into the room.

"Nope. I will tell you when you are old and grey. The doctor say y'all can leave if you have someone to stay with you. So, my dear Carlos, it seems that you will be staying with us for awhile." Trent let out a groan.

"I can't get away from him!"

"Yeah, well if either of you act up I'll have to put you in your place." Sam said with a smile.

"Geez, she takes one bullet and she thinks she's tough," Carlos complained, laughingly.

"And don't any of you forget it!" Sam said, laughing.

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