"So …there've been five break-ins at the new office tower on 5th, mostly computers and equipment… But…the one Monday at the Blues club, that's the one that caught our attention." Ron explained, finishing his cup of coffee. As he set it down, he caught sight of Rick's upraised eyebrow. "What….?"

"Since when is there a Blues club in town? Laurie would love to go hear some good music." He asked. Ron shook his head.

"I don't know about how good it is..it just opened, seems some California musician wanted to retire here and keep his hand in the industry. They had a huge crowd, lots of press, then the next day the manager came in to discover the safe open and thousands of dollars missing."

"Yeesh….I can't remember the last time there was this much action…any clues, surveillance tape….?" Rick commented. Ron almost smiled as A.J. added, "Who's doing security for the tower?"

"That's what I was hoping for….the Tower is secured by a division of Safety, Inc. And the Blues Club by the Phoenix office…."

"of Safety, Inc.…I bet." A.J. finished. The chief nodded. "Bingo."

"So what can we do.." Rick started, only for Ron to hold up his hand.

"Back it up, Rick…we have a problem with "we" here. When did you two last renew your licenses?"

Instantly the two brothers looked at each other, a sinking feeling filling Rick's stomach.

"Uh, I think when the girls gave us our offices?" A.J. offered. Rick tried to remember how many anniversaries back the joint gift had been given.

"About 5 years ago…what's the expiration date nowadays?"

Ron let out a sigh of relief…."Four…but I think there's a grace period…let me find out."

Going to his secretary, he had her check the information out, then returned as Rick finished off his coffee.

"You guys are in luck…your grace period goes up in two weeks. So I can push through your renewal and you have 18 months to pass the ethics class. You both renewed your gun permits, I hope?"

"We did, courtesy of my nephew." A.J. exclaimed, digging out his card. Rick did the same, and the id's were duly copied and returned.

"Okay, we're in business…first off, what do the tapes show, second, who worked both at the Tower and the Blues Club, and three…." Ron stopped when Rick said, "Investigate Jules Martin and that lunkhead he employs…."

"Oh, the one who made the move on Linda, huh…" Ron couldn't resist the tease, seeing A.J.'s blue eyes turn stormy.

"Never mind, little brother, we'll uphold Linda's honor!" Rick assured him. At that A.J. had to laugh. "You got me, Ron….but I want dibs on that guy!"

The next few days found Rick checking tapes from the various businesses at the new complex, while A.J. reviewed information on the investigative firm and its security guard and video guard divisions. When the brothers had some material to show Ron, he was able to get them an office at police headquarters by clearing it with an old friend.

"I knew when I became a Police Commissioner, I'd have to bail you out!" Glen Rodriguez told the guys, watching Ron help the Simons move a desk in for A.J. to use.

"Yeah, well, you still owe me $25 from our Christmas Fair bet." The Chief retorted, then laughed as Rodriguez replied, "Then we're even….oh here, you'll throw your back out..!" The big man helped lift a filing cabinet, then easily pushed the heavy desk into place. "There you go, guys…ready for business. Now, what do you have?"

"Well, at first nothing, not even a mouse showed up on these tapes the first 3 break-ins, but someone has been taping over these, see…" A.J. ran one of the security tapes backwards, then forwards, showing shadows of three men appearing "ghost-like" over a seemingly empty corridor. "Then the fourth robbery got sloppy, look…" A.J. stopped one of the tapes where a face was clearly visible peering around a corner, then instantly disappeared.

"Okay, we have a suspect…." Ron noted the time and place the tape was at, then had it pulled and labeled. Rick immediately popped in another tape and explained, "This is from the opening night of the "Blues Club", see those three guys at the exit?"

On the tape, three men in dark suits stood close together at the back of the line to enter the club.. As soon as the tape went into the early morning hours, they were seen hiding one by one in a storage closet. At exactly 4 am, the darkened hall showed each of the robbers now wearing ski masks and stealing into the cashiers' room.

As they easily popped open a hidden safe behind a poster, Ron narrowed his eyes. "Run that back, will you , A.J.."

Suddenly Rick got what Ron was looking at…."See that hand, holding the light?"

A thin, long hand with a gaudy blue and silver ring held up a lantern as one of the robbers used a stethoscope to get the combination to the safe. Within a moment, the brothers watched as the safe was emptied out and the money and coin placed in a gym bag.

"I've seen that ring before." A.J. said abruptly, "do you remember, Rick?"

"Yeah, but I can't place who wears it….."

"That's okay, we have enough to bring these guys in once we do the face recognition program. Nice work, guys." Ron chuckled as Rick stood and stretched. "We aim to please!"

"Oh, brother…" Rodriguez groaned, then A.J. smirked, "That's right…"

Carefully putting the information together, Ron told the others, "I'm taking this to the Robbery guys, we'll take it from there. As soon as they have something, I'll call you both, and you too, Glen."

"Thanks…now let me get back to my kids….see you!" Rodriguez shook hands with the Simons, then dodged a headlock from Ron and slid out the door.

Seeing the time, A.J. whistled. "Almost five, I've got to get home if I'm to get Ceci and Mya to that movie premiere tonight. Rick?"

"I'll finish up with Ron, you go ahead." Rick waved off his brother, then laughed as he waved at both of them, then rushed out the door.

"Movie premier, huh….must have been one of those radio contests, right?" Ron asked, then snickered as Rick explained, "Yeah, Ceci and her friend Mya won tickets off KMOVE…it's the only place she'll get to go to other then school this week."

"Well, I'll be….I'm glad to know Abby and I aren't the only strict ones around….I'll have to tell Joey what he's in for if he doesn't do his homework." Ron sighed.

Parting ways at the exit to the station, Rick strode forward to his truck, only to catch sight of Jules Martin exiting his car.

"Mr. Simon…there you are!" Beaming, the silver-haired executive came over and extended his hand…on which sparkled a very distinctive ring.

Surprised, Rick shook his hand. "Mr. Martin, uh, nice to see you. Were you looking for me?"

"Yes, I wanted to see if the rumors were true, if you were helping with the investigation on those break-ins at the Tower complex." Now Rick was startled, who had leaked his and A.J.'s work?

"Well, we were just giving them a set of fresh eyes, but, how did you know?"

Smiling, the older man waved off his question. "Everyone in the law enforcement community talks, but I am happy to see you and your brother are still in the game…. I was wondering when you and your lovely wife might be available for dinner?"

"Well, I need to check with Laurie, but…" at once Rick got an idea, "Why don't I call you tonight to set something up?"

"Splendid, here's my card." Martin handed over a sleek multi-colored business card. "Please make sure your brother brings his wife, too."

"I will, Mr. Martin, thank you." Rick shook his hand, then had to say, "That's a nice ring you have there…is it from a college?"

'Oh no, it's from my fraternity, Delta Onyx. A very old and unique group.. not too many of us around…. Well, thank you again, Mr. Simon…I'll be speaking with you later." As Rick took leave of the private investigator, he could hardly wait to speak to his brother and Ron about what he had answered.

By the time he made it to A.J.'s condo, he found his niece and her friend Mya, ready to go. Mya's mother, Tasha was there, taking pictures.

"Hey, Mr. Simon, did you pass Robin on the street?" the tall Latina called out as he parked.

"No…so she should be right behind…well, there's my bird." Rick smiled as his daughter pulled in behind him. "Hey, Pop…come to see the celebs?" she grinned, giving him a big hug.

"No, just my niece and Mya and my silly daughter…" he laughed. It had been worth a chuckle when Tasha's daughter and his niece became friends. Tasha had been supportive of A.J. and Linda's discipline of Ceci, and she had levied the same punishment on Mya.

"Where's Dad…oh, there he is…" Ceci and Mya came out of the house, and Rick couldn't get over how mature they both looked in sleeveless cocktail length dresses.

"You girls look like movie stars, sure I can't have your autograph…" he teased, and the two teenagers giggled.

Just then A.J. pulled his sports car around in front of the condo, and both girls raced toward him. "Bye Uncle Rick…" Ceci called back, then Mya waved at the watching adults as they climbed in.

"Have a good time!" Linda came out onto the porch, as A.J. blew a kiss, then drove away.

While his brother was gone, Rick made a phone call to Ron Johnson, only to find he and Abby were out. Leaving a message with their son Joey, Rick came out of A.J.'s office and was waylaid by Melly and Robin.

"There you are, Uncle Rick…Mommy says you need to wash your hands, 'cause Auntie's putting supper on the table…." Robin said importantly.

Rick tried not to laugh, but failed as Laurie appeared in the doorway of the dining room.

"Sorry, darling, Linda didn't mean that literally…, come on kids, let your uncle wash up."

After a boisterous dinner, Linda put the youngest Simons to bed, as Robin and Tasha caught up on gossip. It was nearly ten when A.J.'s car pulled into the garage, and Rick opened the access door in the kitchen to a weary pair of girls and his very intense brother.

"Rick, I need to talk to you, in my office." He whispered quietly, and the older Simon immediately followed him down the hall. As they entered, A.J. quickly closed the door behind him.

"I'm glad you're still here, Rick….I saw something tonight, I think the Marquee is going to be robbed!"