"All right, now let me get this straight." Rick said, frowning. He was slouched in a
chair facing Ron Johnson, A.J. next to him. "Stinson's attorney says we can't refer to past crimes, only the ones he's in for?"
"Yes..but the Judge and panel may ask you about them then you can speak about San Diego." The chief of police explained, his face stern.
"I don't get it, Ron. Now how come he gets to set the scope of our testimony?" A.J. added, his expression nervous. At that Ron pulled out a folder.
"I asked that too, this Ted Maddox seems to think it might prejudice the panel.. At least it can be brought up." He sighed, then glanced at the two men.
"I know this isn't something you guys are looking forward to, are you sure you want Laurie to speak at the hearing?"
"I don't, but she insists she's okay with going ..I think she's afraid they'll ask about her premonition at the cultural center." Rick answered worriedly.
"No, they won't..it wasn't in the report at the time, so they won't ask, Rick. By the way, what time were she and Abby getting back from Carnival Land? " Ron looked at his watch.
"Right now..and I thought my ears were burning." Laurie Simon came in, followed by Abby Johnson. Each woman promptly took a seat in her husband's lap, as A.J. grinned.
"Hey, Sis, I take it you guys had fun?"
"What do you think, look what I won!" Laurie beamed, flashing a watch and chain. Abby just laughed. "I don't know how my buddy does it with that claw game, she grabbed a watch for me and a video game for Joey."
"Uh, honey, you shouldn't be playing those things, you know they're rigged." Ron told Abby in a serious voice. Annoyed, she scooted off her perch.
"Oh, come on, Ron, don't be such a killjoy. Carnival Land is on the up and up, it's mostly geared towards adults anyway. Why do you think they have a 4 prize limit per hour on the stuffed animals, Laurie cleaned them out last month!"
"And she scored 2000 tickets at the same time, got the kids a whole pile of party favors." Rick added, thinking his friend was teasing.
"No, I didn't know, but still, guys, it's a real waste of money on that stuff, it's such a chance." Ron began, then blanched when Abby rounded on him.
"Don't give me that "waste of money" bit, Chief Johnson..We had fun, okay? Sorry, guys." she took a deep breath then picked up her purse. "Buddy, I'll call you later, I'm going home before I waste some more money on my husband and son! Oh, here.." she paused, then pulled a small football figurine out of her bag and set it on the desk.
"I had a good time trying to win that for you..someday maybe you'll appreciate it..and me!" she said abruptly, then turned on her heel and left the office.
As one, the three Simons stared after her, then Rick recovered and glared at Ron.
"What the..what was that all about? The girls just had some fun, and you were a.."
"Wet blanket." Laurie finished, standing up, an upset look on her face. "Shame on you, Ron. Abby maybe doesn't earn as much as you, but that .oh, I'm going to lose my temper. I'd better go outside. Rick, I'll wait for you in the truck."
Before she reached the door, Ron stood up. "Laurie, please, I'm sorry .come back We need to talk about next week." Reluctantly Rick added his voice to his friend's.
"Sweetheart."
Instantly she turned around, then Rick held out his hand to her and pulled her back to sit with him. "All right, Ron. What's the procedure?"
After going over with the three of them what to expect with the parole board, Ron stood up. "I'm going to arrange for your passes now, guys.so I'll call you with any changes."
"Wait a minute, Ron.." Laurie broke in. "I need to know what the problem is with Abby and I going to Carnival Land .. I didn't know you had something against your wife having fun!"
For a moment Rick wanted to laugh, seeing the sparks flying out of his wife's eyes. She was so rarely angry with any of their friends, it was surprising. But then he worried about how upset she was.
"Laurie, uh, this is something ." Ron started to say, then Rick cut him off.
"Yeah, it's something, remember Ron, Abby 's my friend too. I hate to see her and Laurie upset for no reason."
For a moment Rick thought Ron was going to turn away, then he spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Laurie, Rick..I just..I was jealous that you guys.have such fun on simple things. I heard one of the commissioners laughing about what a "cheap wife" I have, since she's willing to settle on what I give her. I felt so embarrassed."
"Oh, Ron, no.." Laurie had tears in her eyes, then Rick put an arm around her. "Listen, pal. I'm sorry we jumped to conclusions. I don't know who would say such a thing.but fun doesn't have to cost a lot. Abby and Joey have always been happy with what you give them because you give them yourself."
"That's right, Ron..besides, anyone can spend money on things, but you and Abby.you spend time with each other." A.J. spoke up.
Unashamedly Ron wiped his eyes. "Thanks, guys, honey. I guess I was feeling sorry for myself and didn't stop to give my sweetie credit. I'm going to call her right now."
Suddenly Laurie stiffened, grabbing Rick's hand. "Darling..something's wrong...no.." At once Rick put his arms around her, then mouthed "Call Rudy" to A.J..
"Laurie..breathe, just breathe..hold on." He said, then froze as she started moaning, "No, not him, please ..don't hurt him.please..." Her eyes were staring straight ahead, then she opened her mouth as if to scream.
"Laurie, darlin'..please, stay with me, just breathe, please, sweetheart!" Rick pleaded, tightening his embrace. Just then she looked at him, then started to cry, "Rick..don't let them take you, please God" He rocked her in his arms, trying to soothe her as A.J. knelt beside them and Ron poured a glass of water and put it in Rick's hand.
"Here, Laurie, drink this." Rick told her, holding the glass to her lips. Tears were streaming down her face but obediently she took a sip, then leaned against his chest. "I don't want to lose you, darling."
"It's all right, my sweet girl, it's all right." He comforted her, his own heart beating rapidly. There was a knock on the chief's door, then Rudy Wells came in.
"What happened, Ron? Oh, Missy, don't cry….it's okay." Ron fetched another chair so Rick could hold her and put her feet up. Rick took a handkerchief from Ron and wiped Laurie's tears from her face as the old doctor pulled out his stethoscope and listened to her heart, then took her pulse.
"Okay, that's a little high, Missy. You need to tell us, slowly, what did you see?"
Despairingly, Laurie took a deep breath, then said, "Stinson, it was Stinson again.he had two men with him. They had Rick between them, beating him. Like last time. I was begging them to stop, then, oh no!" she put her face in his shoulder. Rick gently raised her face. "Angel, please tell us."
She gulped. "Stinson grabbed me, he was .touching me all over, saying he wanted you to see what you were missing. He pulled out a gun, and I saw him fire at you, I saw you fall …...he killed you!"
"God, no." It was Rick's turn to be upset, he wrapped his arms around Laurie and said,
"I won't let them touch you, I won't let anyone do that..no."
"Of course we won't let anyone get Laurie, or you Rick." Ron said emphatically, then hit his speaker phone. "Cancel my appointments for the rest of the day, I've got an emergency."
"Oh, Ron.no, .I'm sorry." Laurie choked, then subsided as he replied, "Honey, I'm not Chief of Police for nothing. I'm going to follow you guys home, after I call and apologize to Abby. Rudy?" he looked at the doctor, who had taken another reading of Laurie.
"That's better, Missy, just breathe nice and slow." He encouraged her, then after a moment, she managed a smile.
"I'm okay, guys..it was one of the worst things ..so vivid. Rick, can you take me home, I need to change."
"Of course, Laurie." He smoothed her hair back, then groaned as she nuzzled his neck. "My Rock, thank you for not letting go."
"Sweetheart, I won't ever...now let's take you home." He helped her to her feet, then was startled when Abby barreled back into the office.
"Ron, I just heard that Michaels was ragging you about me being a "cheap wife".is that what set you off?" She stopped as she took in the worried looks on A.J., Ron and Rudy's faces. "What happened? Laurie, honey?"
"She had a premonition, Abby. She's okay now, but ..Ron has something to say to you." Rick explained, then they watched as Ron stepped forward.
"Honey, I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you, or Laurie. Michaels was making cracks, and I was thinking…."
"Too much thinking from my husband, if you ask me!" Abby interrupted him, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him. Laurie and Rick smiled as Ron happily returned her kiss, then said, "Yes, ma'am...I promise not to listen to idiots again! You and Laurie can go to Carnival Land anytime you want, I'll even go with you!"
"That's my man. Now let's take my buddy home so we can make sure she's all right." Abby told him sternly.
A.J. rode with Rudy as Rick drove Laurie in his truck and the Johnsons followed. As they arrived at the ranch, they were surprised to see an anxious Ian come running out of the house.
"Mom, Pop, hurry..something's wrong with Robin..."
