"Hello?…Yes, this is Samantha Baker…She's what?…Okay, I'll be right there…Thanks." Sam hung up the phone and turned to Trent. "I have to go. Sarah is in custody at Dallas PD." They were sitting at Ranger HQ, waiting to see Walker.

"Why?"

"I don't know, but she won't talk to anyone until she talks to me. You stay and talk to Walker. I'll go. Just let me know what is happening, okay?" Sam got up to go.

"Sure. Call me after you talk to Sarah. I think she probably knows more than any of us."

"You bet." Sam kissed Trent and hurried out.

"Trent?" Trent turned to see Walker coming down the hall.

"Hi. How much do you know?" They continued walking as Walker gave Trent the details of the case against Carlos. With the gun, blood evidence and witness testimony the case against Carlos looked solid. "Someone went to a lot of trouble to set him up."

"I know," Walker agreed. "That's what troubles me. Have you heard from him?"

"Not yet. I think he called Sarah but she's at Dallas PD now."

"If he calls, get him to turn himself in. This just makes things look worse for him."

"I know but he must have his reasons." Trent's phone began to ring. "It must be Sam," he said, walking away from Walker's desk as he answered it. "Malloy."

"Hey, buddy." Trent almost jumped through the phone.

"Carlos! Are you okay?"

"I've been better." Carlos sounded edgy.

"I'll bet. Ryan was at our door at 6 this morning," Trent told him

"So you know the story."

"Most of it. Look man, I know it looks bad but you gotta turn yourself in. Walker's here with me and we can help."

"Can't do that. At least not yet. Have you talked to Sarah?"

"No. She's at Dallas PD. Why?" Trent was puzzled.

"Dammit. It was the Durango, wasn't it?"

"I don't know. Sam's gone to get her."

"She's got some stuff for you. She'll tell you what you need to know. Ask Walker if I can see you in person without police interference."

"Hang on. Here he is." Trent handed the phone to Walker.

"I'm not coming in just yet, Walker but I need to talk to Trent in person. Promise me you won't follow him."

"I can't do that, Carlos." Walker's voice was even.

"My life depends on it. Just give me 24 hrs then I will turn myself in to you. Otherwise, I'm gone." Carlos tone was definite.

"Twenty-four hours from now?" Walker hesitated. "Okay. That's all I can give you and I can't promise that Dallas PD won't be tailing him."

"I'll take my chances. Give me back to Trent." Walker handed the phone back.

"Yeah?" Trent asked

"Talk to Sarah. I'll be waiting." Carlos was gone. Trent looked at Walker.

"Be careful, Trent. Get him to come in."

"I'll try but now, I've got to see Sarah." The two left for Dallas PD.

*****

"Can you give me anything to go on?" Ryan was frustrated after talking to Sarah and Sam. "He didn't say anything to you about the murder?"

"Murder?" Sarah looked shocked. "He just said he had to lie low for awhile. I just assumed it was a jealous husband or something."

"What about the Durango?"

"I asked to borrow it. If he wasn't using it I thought I could." Sam had to admit that Sarah was weaving a pretty convincing tale. If she didn't know both of them better she would swear that Carlos hadn't told Sarah anything.

"Where did you meet him?" Ryan continued his interrogation.

"Some little diner out on the interstate."

"Did anyone see you?"

"Probably not. We just met in the parking lot."

"And now he's driving your car?"

"Yes."

"What kind is it?"

"Ford Escort. Gray, 1996."

"Plates?"

"I don't know." Ryan looked up at Sarah like she was an idiot. "I just got hem last week," she told him. "I can't remember them." Again, Sam almost smiled. She knew Sarah remembered numbers from ten years ago. She knew Sarah was just stalling for time. "Can I go know or am I under arrest?"

Ryan sighed heavily. "You are not under arrest. But if he contacts you, I want to know immediately. Understand?"

"Don't worry, Detective, I'll call you." She looked him in the eye and they all knew she was lying.

"Go." Ryan got up and stomped from the room. On his way out he literally ran in to Trent. "Get him in here. He's only hurting himself."

"He must have his reasons, Ryan." Trent said. Ryan laughed.

"Yeah, he doesn't want to be caught."

"Ryan, as much as you dislike Carlos, you know he isn't a murderer." Trent turned to the girls who had followed Ryan out. "Let's go."

*****

"Okay Sarah, where is he?" They had all climbed into the 'vette and were heading home.

"He told me not to tell you," Sarah said, staring out the window.

"Yeah, well, something has changed his mind. He wants me to meet him and he told me you would tell me where."

Sarah finally turned to look at Trent. She knew they were best friends and that Trent would always be there for Carlos. "You won't turn him in, will you?"

"Sarah, you know me better than that. I'll do what Carlos wants."

Sarah knew Trent was right she just needed to hear it. She told him where he could find Carlos.

"Okay. I'm going to drop off at my Mom's place and I want you two to go back to Sarah's apartment. Dallas PD is following you so stay put. I'll call you when I know anything."

Within minutes, Trent was in his mother's garage and the girls were heading home. The sound of the motorcycle roared through the neighbourhood as Trent pulled out of the garage. After a few quick turns and trips down alleyways, he was sure he had lost the surveillance car. He smiled to himself as he headed out of Dallas.

*****

Carlos was wary when he saw the motorcycle approaching but then quickly recognized the rider. He stepped out on the porch to greet Trent.

"Man, I haven't seen that for awhile!"

"Let's just say it's easier to lose than the 'vette." Trent's tone became serious. "You okay, buddy?"

"Yeah. How's Sarah?"

"Ryan had to go through Sam first so it's hard to say who was the worse for wear," Trent said, smiling. "But she is definitely worried about you."

"Yeah, I know," Carlos said sadly as they moved into the farmhouse. "I can't turn myself in, manno. Word on the street is that Dallas PD set me up."

"Dallas PD? But why, Carlos? You haven't been a cop for over a year now." Trent was incredulous but at least he understood why Carlos had run.

"I know. I've been thinking about that. I must have seen something in my days on the force and now they have evidence or a witness to back it up." Carlos motioned for Trent to sit down at the table. "There was this cop, Dennis Murphy. Everyone knew he was dirty but they could never prove it. They were close at one point and I was to be supoened but the witness walked. If they got another witness or convinced that one to testify, it's possible that my testimony would seal the deal. You need to talk to Alex and find out if Murphy is indeed being investigated and if I was to be supoened. Talk to Henry, too. I know that little weasel knows more than he is telling me."

"You got it. Anything else?"

"Yeah. Can you bring me some food next time you come? I'm starving!"

Trent laughed heartily. "You know Carlos, it sure is nice to know that some things about you never change!" Trent got up to leave. "Seriously, you be careful and don't open your door to strangers!" Carlos followed his friend out the door.

"You got it. Can you just tell Sarah…" For once in his life, Carlos was short of words.

"I'll tell her you're doing fine. I'll see you later." Trent straddled the motorcycle and put his helmet on. With a wave, he headed down the drive and back out onto the highway.

*****

"You okay, sis?" Sam's voice showed her concern.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? My boyfriend is on the run because he is suspected of murdering some woman he picked up in a bar after he had a fight with me." Sarah was sitting at her kitchen table staring at the wall.

"Sarah…"

"How do you live like this, Sam?" she asked, turning to her sister.

"Live like what?"

"THIS! Doesn't it scare you every time Trent leaves the house?"

"You can't think like that. It'll make you crazy." Sam kept her eyes on the table.

"How can you not? How many times has Trent been shot, shot at, stabbed, kidnapped, poisoned?"

"Sarah…"

"No, I mean it Sam. I know I've been getting the abridged version of things going on down here but I didn't now how abridged. I really don't know if I can live like this."

"It wouldn't have helped having you worry about things when you weren't here." Sam took a deep breath. "What it comes down to is whether or not you love him enough to put up with his choice of profession." There was silence. "Do you love him, Sarah?"

Finally, Sarah answered. "I don't know. I love him but I don't know if I'm in love with him. Things aren't the way they were. We just fight now. And there is the little matter about him picking this woman up in the bar. Maybe I should just go back to Canada."

"Sarah, that isn't fair. Ultimately, the decision to leave is yours but I think you haven't given things a chance. After this is all over you two need to sit down and talk about things. Who knows, you might just make better friends than lovers." Just then Sam's phone rang. She answered it.

"Hi Sam."

"Hi T. How's it going?"

"Okay. I've got some things I have to check out so you might as well just stay with Sarah. Carlos says 'hi', and wants you to tell Sarah he's fine. Tell her he's complaining about being hungry so you know he can't be too bad."

Sam laughed. "Okay, T. Is there anything we can do?"

"Not really. I'll keep in touch."

"All right. See you later." Sam hung up and relayed the message about Carlos being hungry. Sarah smiled for the first time in awhile.

*****

Trent's first stop took him in to the run down part of Dallas Carlos had been in earlier. As he passed an alley, he saw someone being beaten by two thugs. Immediately, he went to help. To his surprise it was the man he was looking for, Henry. After a few moves by Trent, the two thugs took off down the alley.

"Hi Henry. Trouble?" Trent asked nonchalantly.

"Oh, man! You are going to get me killed!"

"Seems to me you're doing that on your own." Trent checked out Henry who seemed to have no worse than a couple bruised ribs. "Who were they, Henry? Were they Dennis Murphy's boys?"

Henry's eyes widened in terror. "You didn't hear anything from me! They'll kill me!"

"Easy, Henry." Trent pulled out a couple twenties from his pocket and gave them to Henry. "Here. Lay low for the next little while and things will be okay." Henry grabbed the money and headed down the alley without even looking back at Trent.

A trip to Ranger HQ confirmed what Carlos had suspected: Murphy was being investigated and Carlos was to be supoened. Walker had come up with a plan. Trent headed out to talk to Ryan while Walker went to see Carlos.