Second Chances: Death Takes The Trick
Rick, Laurie and A.J. go undercover at a Bridge tournament to find out
whose killing the Bridge Masters, will they bid game before they end up slammed? (This is a work of fiction. No money is being made on it, and the characters are owned by Universal
and are only being borrowed for a little while. .)
Chapter 1
"Rick?"
"Yeah, A.J.?"
"Does Mom still play bridge?"
Rick Simon pushed his hat up, then looked over at his brother. "I guess so, why?" A.J. finished making some notes, then straightened up, saying, "Captain Ron might need our help on a case, he's short on undercover officers, and he needs someone who isn't known in the bridge community."
The older Simon snorted, "Oh, this must be a real important case, what did somebody do, steal somebody's nerd mobile, no, better yet, throw a tournament by hiding cards in their walker?"
A.J. shook his head, "Nope, two Bridge Masters have mysteriously died just days before the Regional Tournament starts up. Apparently a $25,000 prize is up for grabs, so the organizers think there's a link and want Phoenix P.D. to investigate and prevent any other "incidents".
Rick frowned, "What does Captain Ron want us to do, I barely remember the rules of the game. Doesn't he have anybody else who can do it?" "I guess not, he called this morning, he wanted to know if we could go in as the San Diego representatives, I told him I would ask you," A. J. told him. A familiar voice interrupted, "Ask Rick what, A.J.?"
"How much I love you", Rick grinned, gazing at Laurie as she stood in the office doorway. She turned to hug her brother-in-law, then crossed the room and embraced her husband. As he kissed her, she breathlessly replied, "as much as that, huh, that's a good start!" Plopping down in the chair next his desk, she brought a sack from behind her back and announced "Lunchtime!"
"All right, A.J., look at this, Pastrami Burgers!" he beamed, then leaned over for another kiss. Laughing, his wife offered the sack to A.J., who sniffed it, then pulled out a hot roast beef. "Sis, I think Rick should marry you, I really do!" he teased, as his brother snatched the bag back. Handing out sodas to the brothers, Laurie settled down with her own lunch, then asked, "Ok, I'll bite, ask Rick what?"
"If I want us to go undercover at a big bridge tournament, Captain Ron is short-staffed and needs our help, but I don't know, darlin', neither A.J. nor I really know the game", he answered, devouring his burger. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "I do." Both brothers' mouths hung open, then A.J. snapped his fingers, "I remember, Laurie, Mom and you used to play bridge at the Community Center every couple of weeks." She nodded, "That's right, and then I filled in a couple of times for Mom's regular partner. I loved being able to do that, that Shirley made me stop playing because I wouldn't mention Herman's get rich scheme to Mom's friends."
Rick reached over and squeezed her hand; he hated her having to remember the cruel things her so-called stepparents had pulled. She smiled back at her husband. "It's all right, darling, that's one of my favorite memories. I used to play bridge when I covered one of those "Jazz Revue" caravans and the guys never could figure out how I learned the game. It's a lot of fun."
Laurie glanced up at both men, "Guys, why don't I work with you on this one, I could coach you two and be an at large player." "Laurie, that's a great idea. only, "A.J. winced, "honey, you're kind of a local celebrity, I'm afraid you'd be spotted in a minute. Besides, isn't Robin home this weekend?"
"No, she's going to San Diego to see that friend of her's, she's going to be staying with Mom until Sunday. About my playing, A.J., you've got a point," she replied, then sat staring at her sandwich for a moment.
"I've got it!" she squealed. "Margaret Scott, my "cousin", can come to town. Nobody has heard of her here, maybe we can even get someone at the Bridge Center to vouch for her?" Rick groaned, Laurie's favorite disguise as a southern blonde was very believable, he always found himself ready to fight guys off of her. Plus if a murderer was loose, he was afraid he would be placing her in danger.
Laurie looked at her husband, seeing the unhappy look on his face then turned to her brother-in-law. "A.J., would you excuse us for a moment?" "Sure, I'm going to check with Linda to see if she needs anything from the store." He vanished into their small kitchen and closed the door. Rick looked at his wife, as she took his hand in hers. "Sweetheart, you didn't have to do that, you and I can talk this out in front of A.J.", he told her, embarrassed that she thought his discomfort was that important.
"Yes, I did, and no we can't, Rick. I didn't know my characterization made you uncomfortable. I'm sorry it made you feel bad. I just tried to make Margaret different from me, I used to have fun pretending I was, you know," she colored, "a flirt. Now it's just her reputation, and I 'm always afraid someone will take her seriously."
"Darlin', come here", he drew Laurie by the hand into his lap and put his arms around her. "I'm the one who's sorry, Laurie. I see the way guys look at you when you're a blonde, heck; the way they look at you anytime bothers me. I know you don't do anything to encourage it." He caressed her cheek, then told her, "I guess I 'm scared I'll put you in a situation we might not be able to handle. I want you to help us with this case, so if you want to come as Margaret, it's ok with me." She kissed him, then leaning against him, whispered, "thank you, darling, I promise I'll be careful."
Just then A.J. poked his head out of the kitchen, "Everything ok?"
Rick laughed, still holding Laurie on his lap. "Everything's fine, call Captain Ron, Cousin Margaret's coming to visit!"
Rick, Laurie and A.J. go undercover at a Bridge tournament to find out
whose killing the Bridge Masters, will they bid game before they end up slammed? (This is a work of fiction. No money is being made on it, and the characters are owned by Universal
and are only being borrowed for a little while. .)
Chapter 1
"Rick?"
"Yeah, A.J.?"
"Does Mom still play bridge?"
Rick Simon pushed his hat up, then looked over at his brother. "I guess so, why?" A.J. finished making some notes, then straightened up, saying, "Captain Ron might need our help on a case, he's short on undercover officers, and he needs someone who isn't known in the bridge community."
The older Simon snorted, "Oh, this must be a real important case, what did somebody do, steal somebody's nerd mobile, no, better yet, throw a tournament by hiding cards in their walker?"
A.J. shook his head, "Nope, two Bridge Masters have mysteriously died just days before the Regional Tournament starts up. Apparently a $25,000 prize is up for grabs, so the organizers think there's a link and want Phoenix P.D. to investigate and prevent any other "incidents".
Rick frowned, "What does Captain Ron want us to do, I barely remember the rules of the game. Doesn't he have anybody else who can do it?" "I guess not, he called this morning, he wanted to know if we could go in as the San Diego representatives, I told him I would ask you," A. J. told him. A familiar voice interrupted, "Ask Rick what, A.J.?"
"How much I love you", Rick grinned, gazing at Laurie as she stood in the office doorway. She turned to hug her brother-in-law, then crossed the room and embraced her husband. As he kissed her, she breathlessly replied, "as much as that, huh, that's a good start!" Plopping down in the chair next his desk, she brought a sack from behind her back and announced "Lunchtime!"
"All right, A.J., look at this, Pastrami Burgers!" he beamed, then leaned over for another kiss. Laughing, his wife offered the sack to A.J., who sniffed it, then pulled out a hot roast beef. "Sis, I think Rick should marry you, I really do!" he teased, as his brother snatched the bag back. Handing out sodas to the brothers, Laurie settled down with her own lunch, then asked, "Ok, I'll bite, ask Rick what?"
"If I want us to go undercover at a big bridge tournament, Captain Ron is short-staffed and needs our help, but I don't know, darlin', neither A.J. nor I really know the game", he answered, devouring his burger. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "I do." Both brothers' mouths hung open, then A.J. snapped his fingers, "I remember, Laurie, Mom and you used to play bridge at the Community Center every couple of weeks." She nodded, "That's right, and then I filled in a couple of times for Mom's regular partner. I loved being able to do that, that Shirley made me stop playing because I wouldn't mention Herman's get rich scheme to Mom's friends."
Rick reached over and squeezed her hand; he hated her having to remember the cruel things her so-called stepparents had pulled. She smiled back at her husband. "It's all right, darling, that's one of my favorite memories. I used to play bridge when I covered one of those "Jazz Revue" caravans and the guys never could figure out how I learned the game. It's a lot of fun."
Laurie glanced up at both men, "Guys, why don't I work with you on this one, I could coach you two and be an at large player." "Laurie, that's a great idea. only, "A.J. winced, "honey, you're kind of a local celebrity, I'm afraid you'd be spotted in a minute. Besides, isn't Robin home this weekend?"
"No, she's going to San Diego to see that friend of her's, she's going to be staying with Mom until Sunday. About my playing, A.J., you've got a point," she replied, then sat staring at her sandwich for a moment.
"I've got it!" she squealed. "Margaret Scott, my "cousin", can come to town. Nobody has heard of her here, maybe we can even get someone at the Bridge Center to vouch for her?" Rick groaned, Laurie's favorite disguise as a southern blonde was very believable, he always found himself ready to fight guys off of her. Plus if a murderer was loose, he was afraid he would be placing her in danger.
Laurie looked at her husband, seeing the unhappy look on his face then turned to her brother-in-law. "A.J., would you excuse us for a moment?" "Sure, I'm going to check with Linda to see if she needs anything from the store." He vanished into their small kitchen and closed the door. Rick looked at his wife, as she took his hand in hers. "Sweetheart, you didn't have to do that, you and I can talk this out in front of A.J.", he told her, embarrassed that she thought his discomfort was that important.
"Yes, I did, and no we can't, Rick. I didn't know my characterization made you uncomfortable. I'm sorry it made you feel bad. I just tried to make Margaret different from me, I used to have fun pretending I was, you know," she colored, "a flirt. Now it's just her reputation, and I 'm always afraid someone will take her seriously."
"Darlin', come here", he drew Laurie by the hand into his lap and put his arms around her. "I'm the one who's sorry, Laurie. I see the way guys look at you when you're a blonde, heck; the way they look at you anytime bothers me. I know you don't do anything to encourage it." He caressed her cheek, then told her, "I guess I 'm scared I'll put you in a situation we might not be able to handle. I want you to help us with this case, so if you want to come as Margaret, it's ok with me." She kissed him, then leaning against him, whispered, "thank you, darling, I promise I'll be careful."
Just then A.J. poked his head out of the kitchen, "Everything ok?"
Rick laughed, still holding Laurie on his lap. "Everything's fine, call Captain Ron, Cousin Margaret's coming to visit!"