Second Chances: Guilty Hearts
The murder of Ramona Simon's mother puts the whole family under suspicion, and the Simon brothers team up with their friends to find the murderer, before he strikes again.
(This is a work of fiction. No money is being made on it, and the characters are owned by Universal Studios and are only being borrowed for a little while. .)
A/N: For any new readers, "Second Chances" is my "what if?" for Rick and A.J. Simon...What if they didn't end the partnership or A.J. didn't marry Janet or Liz... What if Rick had a long-lost sweetheart who needed protection from a crazed stalker? And...what if Rick and his girl fell in love, adopted her niece and nephew, and made a home first in San Diego, then in Arizona? These "what if''s" are the basis for my continuing "Simon & Simon" as if they never went off the air. This series also includes crossovers from Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman and Dark Shadows...so feel free to read my other stories for the whys and wherefores of these three worlds meeting!
"Even in death, she brought pain."
Rick Simon looked at his friend Chief Rob, then shook his head.
"I'm sorry to say that was true…I can't believe my own son had to be questioned, then Ramona. Who else did she drive to have a motive?"
"Believe me, Rick… Ron's just starting….there's a long line for that….unfortunately, because Ramona's the one who found her, and called Robbie to report it, Ron had to question them. He's going to have to interview everyone she's come in contact." The tribal chief said, then smiled when the office door opened and Laurie Simon entered. One look at her face, then the smile dropped. There was a bruise on her cheek, and a band-aid on her wrist.
"Sweetheart, I thought you were at home with the kids, what happened to your face? Did you fall?" Rick stood up, then enfolded her in his embrace as his wife clung to him.
Laurie took a deep breath, then told him, "Rick, …Ron needs to question me. You see, " Laurie paused, then her lip trembled.
"I might have been the last one to see her, she attacked me, and I had to run out of Robbie and Ramona's house to avoid hitting her myself."
"Oh, darlin'…I'm sorry…I didn't know…I shouldn't have been out fishing…." Rick kissed her injured cheek, anger boiling up in him. Just then the door opened, and Ron came into the room.
"I'm sorry guys, Rick, Laurie…oh….." the chief of police bit back a cuss word as he saw Laurie's face.
"No…I can't do this….I'll have to have Nixon take your statement and process you…" he said, turning on his heel.
As the door closed behind him, Rick's fury boiled over. "Damn that woman…..she brought nothing but misery to everyone…."
"Oh, darling, please ….it's all right. Please calm down…I'm all right." Laurie tried to simmer her husband down. Mollified, he sat down, then pulled her into his lap as Rob managed a smile.
"Of course you're all right… This is just routine. Still.." Rob got up from his chair and went to look out the picture window.
"I'm just sorry that Angelina Torres left behind such a mess….so much hatred and grief for her family."
"You can say that again." An angry growl came from the doorway, causing Rick and Laurie to turn.
Robbie Simon stood there, his shirt wrinkled and damp, holding his wife Ramona's hand.
"Son…honey.. I thought you two were cleared." Rick asked, lifting Laurie to her feet, then getting up. The young sheriff tightened his grip on Ramona's hand.
"Someone called in anonymously to complain that Robbie should be in custody…for having no alibi." She spat, then added, "Of course he does, but Ron suggested that Robbie take paid leave until we find my mother's killer."
"I'm sorry, Ramona….we know he didn't do it…but A.J. and I will figure out who might have." Rick told her. Robbie shook his head.
"Afraid you can't help Ron or vice-versa…we've been banned from any official participation." At that Rick grinned.
"Well, nothing wrong with a little un-official participation. Okay, what do we have?"