SECOND CHANCES
BY JTBWRITER
(A crossover story between Simon & Simon and The Six Million Dollar Man- what if they joined forces to protect Rick's long-lost sweetheart-inspired by Kanda's stories and tales imagined on a bus ride
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. .)
Rick Simon squirmed in the restaurant booth, torn between admiration of the bigger then life hero before him and the realization that he and A.J. might be in over their heads on their new assignment.
He had thought this was all somebody's cheap idea of a joke; a phone message that said Col. Steve Austin wanted to hire him and A.J. as bodyguards. But when Rick showed up at the pricey restaurant and gave his name to the host, instead of the usual sneer over his casual attire, the matre'd bowed him into the dining room and seated him opposite, well, the real deal. Rick shook hands with him, marveling at the big man's size and hastily muttered an apology for being late. "I know traffic's bad this time of day coming up from San Diego, and I appreciate your coming on short notice". Rick noticed that the colonel seemed slightly edgy and hastened to explain that his brother was wrapping up an assignment and would be available when needed. "Well, that's going to have to be tomorrow", Austin said. "I'm going to have to trust that you can travel tomorrow to Chicago, and then accompany Ms. Scott to Philadelphia and then to New York."
Rick raised his eyebrows, this Ms. Scott must really be important, to need protection across country on such short notice. "Uh, Colonel Austin, we can make the trip, but it sounds like you'll need us for more than a couple of days, and it could get expensive". Immediately the frown between the Colonel's eyes deepened and he said "Yeah, it will be at least for a week; do you think you and your brother can handle this?" It was a statement, not a question.
At this point Rick realized he had stepped in it, and quickly assured him that he and A. J. could protect their client. "Don't worry, Colonel, we can make sure Ms. Scott arrives safely to her destination".
"Good", Austin replied, and appeared at easy for the first time since Rick had been seated. "I wasn't sure about hiring unknowns, but you came highly recommended and I need to make sure Laurie, um, Ms. Scott is safe".
"Excuse me, but who is Ms. Scott, and why does she need two bodyguards", Rick asked, curious about this client who needed protection and wondering why Austin needed to go outside the government to hire someone.
Steve Austin grinned for the first time, "Laurie will get a kick out this, since she doesn't think she's all that important herself. Your client is Laurel Light Scott. She's a writer. She's had several books come out and she's getting quite a following"
Rick tried to remember where he had heard the name before, and drawing a blank, replied, " I 'm sorry I don't recognize the name, what kind of books does she write".
"Children's books, mostly, also two books about her Great-Grandmother and her adventures as a woman sheriff in the Southwest." Steve looked bemused. "She used to be a features writer for magazines and did ok until she found out about her real family, now she gets other people to look at their family backgrounds and people are crazy about her work".
"Well, if everybody loves her work, why does she need protection", Rick asked, hating to squelch a good payday, but wondering if this assignment was a good idea.
Steve grew serious. "Because some people go beyond being fans, they get obsessed by a celebrity or famous person and think that person belongs just to them. Ms. Scott has a millionaire fan that has decided she should be his personal storyteller, and you and your brother's job is to protect her from him carrying out his wishes. Of course it could get dangerous, so if you don't think you can handle this assignment." "Of course we can," Rick interrupted, "my brother and I can take care of her, don't you worry". "Good", the big man said, "I will pay you $1200 a day plus expenses and your transportation to Chicago, Philadelphia and New York".
Drawing an envelope out of his pocket, Austin handed it to Rick. "Here are two one-way tickets to Chicago, for a flight leaving at 10:00 am out of LA, and also plane tickets for Philadelphia, as well as 2 seats on the Eastern Seaport to New York". "Also", he added, "this should cover your plane fare from New York and incidentals". Rick tried to hide his surprise at the small stack of fifties in the envelope he was handed. Abruptly the big man got up from the table, signaling the meeting was over.
"I'll call you if there is any change in Ms. Scott's schedule, but I've told her she would be meeting with you in Chicago at the Hyatt around 1pm.", the big man said as he started out of the dining room. He caught the eye of their waiter and took the proffered check, leaving Rick staring at a $20 tip for 2 drinks. No wonder Steve Austin commanded such attention, he thought, hurrying to catch up with him.
Austin turned at the restaurant entrance and extended his hand to Rick, "If there are any problems or if you need any further information other then what's in the envelope, you have my number. I plan on meeting your train in New York, but if necessary, I can catch a flight to Philadelphia."
"Don't worry, sir, she'll be safe with us", Rick replied politely, feeling like Austin didn't have much confidence in him. "One thing, sir, does Ms. Scott have a description of us"
Again the slight grin. "Yes, as a matter of fact she was wondering if you would recognize her, as it seems she knew you from San Diego. As a matter of fact, she told me if you were the same Rick she grew up with, you had plenty of practice protecting her and vice versa".
Startled, Rick turned. "She knew us in San Diego?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact she says she even helped protect your brother from a bully", the colonel said, catching a set of keys from the parking valet, "You probably knew her as Laurie Scott, she says she last saw you when you were seventeen".
"Um, yes, sir, if it's the same girl, she moved away and I haven't seen her since", Rick said, struck by the realization that a part of his life, closed so long was about to reappear.
"Well, don't worry about her being a prima donna or anything like that" Austin climbed into his sports car and handed a tip to the smiling valet. "My only concern is that she may try to get out of this situation herself and I just don't want to take the risk. Remember, I'm depending on you two to protect her from this psycho, and get her thru this tour".
With a wave of his hand, Steve Austin sped away, leaving Rick to contemplate seeing a part of the past he thought was gone with his childhood.
"A.J's going have a field day with this", he thought, fishing out his keys and striding toward his truck.
"Whatsa matter, baby, your big brother not around to save your butt" the older boy sneered at A.J.
sprawled on the sidewalk, his mother's day present in pieces beside him. "Get away from him, you big jerk", came a voice from behind the big kid, and as the scruffy boy turned around, he was butted in the stomach by a small girl, pigtails flying. The little blond stared at the girl, now rolling around on the grass trying to punch the bully. Suddenly a bike screeched to a halt beside A.J., and his big brother jumped off and picked him up. "You ok, kid", Rick asked, oblivious to the scuffle still going on next to them. "Yeah, Rick, thanks to her, but, oh, he's going to hurt her", A.J. replied, staring at the girl now pinned against the curb. Quickly Rick turned and pulled the bully off the little girl and socked him in the jaw. Whimpering, the bully slunk off, only to shout back I'm going to tell my pop on you" "Do that," Rick replied, "and I'll tell how you tried to beat up a girl"! Leaning over, he lifted up the kid on the grass. "Thanks for helping my brother, Are you ok?" She looked up at him and smiled, scratches and all. "Yeah, I guess I'll live, no thanks to that bully". She turned to A. J. and frowned, looking at his busted present. "I'm sorry that guy messed up your gift, it was for Mother's Day, wasn't it". Tears filled A. J.'s eyes as he looked down at the remains of a popsicle stick frame. "Now my mom won't get anything for Mother's Day". Rick looked stricken. "Don't worry, A. J., I'll help you make another one, we have lots of ice cream bars at home and I'll even clean them for you". The little girl beamed up at him, "That's a nice thing to do, I wish I had a big brother to do things with me"! Rick looked at her and stuck out his chest with pride. "If I was your brother, I'd play with you, cus you're a good sport. What's your name?" "Laurie, Laurie Scott, I live one block over from you, and I know who you are, you're Rick and he's A. J." "Yeah, we're the Simon Brothers", A. J. boasted, imitating his brother by attempting to stick out his chest. "And our Mom's Cecilia and our Dad's Jack.". "My mother's name is Shirley, and my step pop's Herman, they aren't very nice, but", she shrugged, "at least my dad loved me".
Rick stared at her. He had never heard anything from another kid about their parents not being nice, it sounded so. sad. "What happened to your Dad?" Laurie looked at him for a moment, then replied in a tired voice, "he got shot during a robbery when I was five, and then my Mother married her friend, so she wouldn't have to go out alone". A. J. gaped at her, "Your mommy leaves you home alone?" "Yeah, and its no fun cus' there's no one to play with, so I have to pretend". She looked at the boys, and then smiled, "At least something good happened today, I met you two"!
Rick stuck out his hand and Laurie shook it, then grabbed A.J.'s hand and shook it two. "Now we're
friends, through thick and thin and no one can part us", she said. Rick grinned. "Now you can walk us home and explain what happened to A. J.'s shirt and I'll walk you home to explain about your dress!" Laughing, the two children linked arms with A.J. and skipped down the sidewalk.
"Laurie who", A.J. gaped at Rick, who was busy packing his suitcase with the clothes he had strewn around his brother's living room. It was bad enough, A.J. had decided, that Rick had accepted an assignment of over a week without consulting him first, but to discover that it was someone from their past that needed protection from a mentally unstable millionaire.
"Laurel Light Scott, must have been Laurie's real name or maybe she took it on when she started writing", Rick said, holding up a shirt and sniffing it to see if it had been in the dryer.
A.J. frowned at Rick. "Are you sure Colonel Austin said she knew us-maybe it's a friend of her's.
"I'm sure, as a matter of fact he even knew how the two of us met- she told him the two of us helped protect you from a bully", Rick sat down with a shirt in hand, concern in his eyes. "This stalker must have her and Austin running scared for them not to go to the police or for government protection.
A.J. pulled out his briefcase. "Well, fortunately for you, I was able to cancel the assignment I accepted before you sprung this surprise on me, hopefully it turns out to be just an over-eager fan."
Rick snorted. "If this is the same girl, I hope she at least has a good explanation why she never wrote Mom, you know how she felt about her".
A.J. looked at his brother. And what about you, he wanted to ask. Quietly he said, "Maybe she didn't have a choice, after all the drama with her leaving and all."
Rick looked at his brother and smiled. Leave it to A.J. to defend a girl he hadn't seen in 13 years, just because his brother had liked, no, loved her.
"Don't worry, little brother", he squeezed A.J.'s shoulder as he walked past him. "I'm not going to tumble like that again, especially with Colonel Austin peering over our shoulders".
Famous last words, A. J. thought, placing the folder with Austin's instructions inside his briefcase.
"Laurie!", Rick yelled, dropping school papers and books in his haste to get to the Scott house. The note she left said they were leaving at 3pm; it was almost that time now. He rounded the corner and saw her walking out of the house, carrying a purse and bag. "Laurie, wait!" She turned, and dropping her stuff on the ground, ran toward him. Behind her he could see the scowling faces of her stepfather and mother, standing by the overflowing car and trailer. Laurie almost knocked him over as she flung herself into his arms. "Rick, oh Rick, I thought you wouldn't get back in time, I," she broke down sobbing, "It's alright, sweetheart, don't cry, it's all right", he comforted her. He pulled away and handed her a handkerchief, "here, you can't go to Hollywood with a runny nose". She wiped her eyes and smiled at him. "You always know what to say, Rick, and I know I will see you again real soon; I'm not going to be that far away". Suddenly a harsh voice broke in, "ok, you've had your goodbyes, so clear out, Simon!" Laurie's stepfather seized her by the arm and started to pull her away. "No", she shouted, jerking away from him. She turned back to Rick and said, "I love you" and put her arms around him. He found himself kissing her and saying "I love you, too, and I will find you". The older man pulled Laurie out of his arms and this time she followed him, looking back at Rick the whole way. Rick controlled his impulse to run after them, and could only watch as Laurie picked up her things and climbed into the car.
After watching it drive out of sight, Rick turned and realized his brother and mother were standing behind him. No wonder Herman hadn't tried to stop their goodbye, he thought, as he turned to them. Cecilia put her arms around her son and he hugged her tight. He looked at A. J. and saw tears in his eyes. "Don't worry, squirt", he said half-heartedly. "She said she was going to send us her new address and we can write her". "Sure she will", Cecilia added, slipping an arm around both boys. "We won't let her disappear".
Famous last words.
Arriving in Chicago the next day, Rick wasn't so sure this would be such a simple assignment.
Already he had gotten some inkling of Laurel Scott's fame by his mother's reaction to their New client.
"Rick, she's only the most exciting writer around today, I have all of her books." Cecilia Simon bubbled over the phone. "Our book club even wants to host an appearance at Saul's for her".
Rick moaned. "Mom, don't tell me you go for this cutesy wasn't the past great stuff".
"It isn't cutesy and it certainly doesn't glorify what the West was like in the early 1900's", Cecelia's voice fairly bristled over the phone. "She only writes what it was like for a pioneer like her Grandmother and also the link between her and her Navajo heritage".
Rick hesitated telling his mother that this Laurel Scott might be the Laurie Scott she had searched for, for several months and decided to verify that it was one in the same before springing this on her . "Ok, Mom, maybe I'll ask her for an autographed copy of her new book, just to make you happy".
Cecilia's voice raised a couple of octaves. "Would you, honey, it would be wonderful".
Rick heard the same tone of adoration when he phoned the Hyatt after he and A.J. had picked up their bags and rented a car. Asking for Ms. Scott, the operator got all excited and told Rick how much more fun it was to work somewhere where there were "real" celebrities. Getting nothing but a message machine in her suite, the brothers decided to drive to the hotel and have her paged, figuring she must just be in a restaurant or maybe already in the lobby waiting for them.
Just as they drove up to the hotel parking lot, Rick glanced over and saw a woman and 2 men exiting the hotel entrance, one suit on each side. Something didn't look right, from the way the woman was being almost pushed along, so he nudged A. J. and said "what's wrong with that picture". A.J. turned slowly, and after a second said "It's got to be her". Swinging around the lot entrance, Rick let A. J. out and peeled out toward the back end of the lot, planning to cut off the apparent direction of the trio.
Suddenly the woman stumbled, and when both men tried to catch her by each arm, she elbowed one in the stomach and back handed the other in the nose. Rick gunned the motor and skidded over the curb and into the lot. By the time he stopped the car, the woman had started to run back toward the hotel only to have one of the men catch up with her and tackle her. Lifting her up, he started to throw her over his shoulder only to have Rick come at him from behind and pull her away. Pushing her to the ground, Rick turned to deal with the man, only to have him come at him, pulling a gun from a hidden holster. Before he could level the gun at Rick, A. J. came around the car and threw the other man into Rick's assailant. Both men sprawled on the ground and froze when both Simons pulled their own guns.
"Boy, talk about the cavalry", the voice to the side of them quavered.
Without looking, Rick grunted, "Are you alright, Ms. Scott".
"I've felt better" came the answer. As a security guard came running out of the hotel, Rick gave a glance at the girl on the ground and immediately dropped to her side.
She was clutching her wrist, and as the girl looked up, the grimace of pain changed to a look of almost, well, joy.
"Rick? A. J. ?, it is you!" she gasped. Rick nodded, not quite trusting his voice.
"Ms. Scott, are you alright", A. J. came up behind them. He stopped short, gazing at the girl.
"I think that jerk sprained my wrist", she answered, trying to stand up.
Rick raised her up. "I think you need to go to the hospital". He took her arm gently, and raising her sleeve, winced at the rapid swelling.
"I, it doesn't hurt that bad, don't want to go to the" "No buts", he said firmly, leading her to the hotel security guard so she could identify A.J. and him as well as her two assailants.
"Yes sir", was all she answered, then turned to the now growing crowd of security personnel and Chicago's finest who had come to take two very glum men away.
After a few minutes, Rick and A. J. were seated in a patrol car with their client and taken to the local emergency room. The three of them scarcely spoke, so wrapped up in what had just happened.
Making small talk was never Rick's forte, and now facing the girl he had loved as a teenager, he felt tongue-tied. What do you say to a memory, he wondered, watching the E.R. doctor tape her wrist and put her arm carefully thru a sling.
"You should check with your own doctor, Ms. Scott, when you return home, but that tape and icing it 20 minutes on, 20 off for the next day should keep the swelling down to a minimum", the doctor said, cautioning A. J. and Rick that she should keep movement of her wrist down to a bare minimum. "We'll make sure she doesn't move it, Doc", Rick replied, giving a glance at Laurie's face. She made a face at him, then extended her good hand to the doctor and thanked him for His care. "No problem, Ms. Scott, just sorry you had such a bad experience in Chicago", the doctor replied. He escorted the trio to the nurses station, secured her a wheelchair and sent her out to the exit, where A.J. hailed a cab and they rode back to the hotel.
On the way back Rick turned to Laurie, determined to stay on a business level with her for now. "Ok, Laurie, I know what you told the police and security, but how did those two guys get you outside?" She looked down, and replied, "I know it was stupid, but when I left my room and entered the elevator, I didn't notice it was empty except for the taller of those men. We had scarcely started down when he pushed a button and the other guy entered on the next floor. It felt funny, but you know, strange elevator, town, I don't know. Right before we stopped on the first floor, the shorter guy pulled a gun and told me he would shoot any one who got in their way, and that Mr. Willowby would resent it if I refused his, uh, invitation. Rick interrupted, "Willowby's your stalker, right?" "Yes," Laurie said "He's a millionaire with half the world on his pay; and he seems to think I should join the payroll. I have told him I am not his personal Shaherizade, but he just keeps sending these guys to talk me into becoming his "guest". As it is, I don't know his story, but the methods of persuasion they use almost didn't give me a chance to raise the alarm until I decided to stumble. I almost messed it up until you two appeared. Laurie looked up and grinned, "I hoped you guys would be available, I was scared that you would be on another assignment, I almost picked up the phone myself to ask you what I should do. "First things, first," A.J. said, ignoring Rick's grim expression. "We need to get you to your room and then Rick and I will set up your departure so there won't be any more of these surprises".
"Thanks, A.J.", she replied, and glancing at Rick's expression, put her hand on Rick's arm. Startled, he looked down as she said "If I didn't say thank you for saving me from those guys, I am now. I guess I have to tell Steve he was right again". Rick cleared his throat. "About Col. Austin, Where did you meet him, I mean he's quite a celebrity". "I've known him about 10 years, and he's been, well, a good friend." Laurie looked down again, as if collecting her thoughts. "As a matter of fact, he's saved my life more than a few times; even helped me find out about my family". "Yeah, Mom told us something about that", Rick broke in, desperate to change the subject. "Aunt Ceci, oh my gosh, how is she, did she move back to San Diego too?" Laurie looked about to bust with curiosity. Just then the cab arrived at the hotel entrance, so the conversation was dropped as the Simons helped their client from the cab and went to the check-in desk. Glancing at the disheveled appearance of all three, the clerk on duty inquired stiffly if Ms. Scott was going to need additional room for "your staff". "Yes, I'm going to need the adjoining suite for tonight, and I'd like to order Room Service as soon as we go up" she replied in a very polite tone. "The Hyatt won't have any trouble accommodating us, will they?" she added, staring the clerk in the eye.
Flustered, the clerk quickly assured her that all would be in order within the hour, so Rick and A.J handed their bags to the suddenly attentive bellhop next to the desk and headed to the elevators.
Once they arrived at Laurie's suite, she told the bellhop to have the front desk call when the suite would be ready and led Rick and A.J. inside. Closing the door behind the bellhop, Rick turned the double lock and had Laurie show him and A. J. the layout of the suite. Two bedrooms, two baths, sitting room and living room, Rick clicked off which rooms had French doors or more then one entrance and decided that he and A. J. would take turns sleeping in the suite that night.
Surprised, Laurie held up a hand. "Rick, that won't be necessary, you guys are just on the other side of my room, and I'll keep the connecting door open. I'm sure Willowby won't be stupid enough to try again today." "Laurie, this is our game now" Rick retorted, "and we're playing with our rules, capice? This loon may not come after you again until tomorrow, or the next day, but just in case, we don't take chances". Laurie opened her mouth to protest, but glancing at A.J. who just nodded his head, and back at Rick, who firmly took her by the arm and seated her on a couch, she swallowed and said "Ok, but tell me one thing". Rick looked at her "What's that?" "Why did you stop writing, and why didn't Aunt Ceci tell me you were going to move?"
"Move?" Rick looked blankly at Laurie, then to his brother. "We didn't move until I went cross country and A.J. went to Florida, and then moved back to San Diego. Mom only moved ten years ago or so, and that was just a couple of blocks".
The girl shook her head in disbelief. "You didn't move a couple of months after we left? Shirley told me you moved up north to stay with relatives and then when I went to look for you, you were gone".
"Shirley? Oh you mean your mother. She must have been trying to keep you from writing, 'cause other then the one letter I got two weeks after you moved, we didn't hear any..Rick stopped in mid-word, because Laurie had put her head back and started to laugh hysterically. "My god, I should have known", she gasped, "Shirley and that. man would have done anything to make me miserable, and I believed them". Rick went over to her and firmly taking her by the shoulders, shook her until she stopped laughing. She took a deep sobbing breath, then buried her face in his shirt and started crying. Rick felt helpless, So he just held her and said " It's ok, sweetheart, it's ok". A.J. came and sat on the other side of her, waiting until she quieted down, then offered her a handkerchief. She raised her head and gave the two of them a watery smile, then took the hankie and blew her nose very noisily.
Rick grinned at A. J. and said, "Well, one thing hasn't changed, she's still the champion nose honker". "Very funny", Laurie returned, still wiping her eyes. "Who used to sing the booger song? to make me laugh and then I would have to blow my nose again and you would start imitating me"?
"A.J.", Rick said with a straight face, reaching over and mussing his brother's hair. "Oh, that's adult", he replied, swiping Rick's hand away.
Laurie looked at the two of them, "How I have missed you guys", she said, "I didn't know you had opened a detective agency until I saw the profile Steve pulled on you." She added, as Rick stiffened at the mention of Austin's name, "he only did it to make sure you were on the up and up, he would have done the same if it was Jaime".
"Jaime, you mean Jaime Summers, the tennis player", A. J. interrupted, "I thought they broke up years ago".
She shook her head. "Jaime and Steve were married about three years ago. They had broken up but, well, they fell in love again. Steve and I were close for a while, but now we're just friends." Rick stared at her. "He sure didn't act like he was just your friend" "Rick!" A. J. stopped him, "oh, that was because he knew I kinda had a soft spot for you two and he didn't want to see me get disappointed or hurt". "And', she took a deep breath, "he figured I had had enough surprises in my life. You see, guys, the woman you thought was my mother was really my stepmother. My real mother died when I was two, and my dad thought, well, Shirley would make a good mother." Laurie looked away from Rick and A.J., until Rick put his hand on her chin and turned her back to him. "Go on, sweetheart, tell us what happened". She cleared her throat.
"I found out about my mother when I was putting stuff away after we moved, I found my birth certificate and a picture of her. When I confronted Shirley about it, she slapped me and said that was why I was nothing but trouble. I only lasted six months after that, when, well, her husband , .". "What did Herman do", A. J. asked. "He started coming on to me, and I had push him off more and more, until finally one night he came home drunk, and Shirley wouldn't have anything to do with him, so he came after me. I hit him, Rick, just like you taught me to, and he only left when I said I would scream for the police. The next day Shirley said if I didn't give him what he wanted, they would..um, make sure I never had anyone". Rick put his arms around her and held her tight, but Laurie pulled away from him, and looking him in the eye, said "He didn't get a chance, Rick, I ran away to Holy Name Convent the next day, and the nuns protected me and I never went back. They called Social Services and had me put in their custody until I graduated from High School. I kept trying to find where you had gone to in San Francisco, but I never thought to double-check if you were still in San Diego. I kept thinking, well, what if .".
"What, Laurie".
She looked at him and blurted "I saw your name on a list of former alumni who went to Vietnam when I was interning at the Times, but I was afraid to see if you weren't coming back. By the time I got up the nerve to find an address for you, I couldn't find any public records or an address." She wiped her eyes, and glancing over at A. J., said, "I should have tried harder, A. J., but I got tired of having everyone I loved taken away from me. It's only now that I feel safe about having a family and all."
"What do you mean, a family", Rick raised his voice; "I thought you and Austin weren't involved".
Laurie broke into a grin. "You weren't jealous, were you, Rick?" She shook her head and pulling a couple of pictures out of her purse, handed one to each of them. A pair of smiling brown-eyed children stared back at the camera, a dark-haired boy and a petite girl, posed in front of a horse corral. "These are my niece and nephew, guys, I found them two years ago when I received word that my father had registered me as a member of the Navajo nation and had left me a piece of land near Window Rock, Arizona. All those years that I was alone, and here I found my family". Rick finally found his voice. "They look like nice kids, Laurie, but how do you manage the traveling and the writing and taking care of them?" This is the only promotional trip I'm making without them, and after this I'm going to stay put for a while". Her expression turned serious. "Also, I'm afraid what Willowby is going to try next; so I left them in the care of a local official, Chief Joseph. He's known Robert and Robin since they were born and he will protect them. He's helped me a great deal, too, understanding why my dad never returned to the people and why he married my stepmother."
AJ. suddenly yawned, and both Rick and Laurie started laughing. "Little brother's up past his bedtime, huh", she teased. "Nope," Rick deadpanned, "Just hungry". His brother threw a sofa cushion at him just as the phone rang. Laurie automatically picked it up and after just a moment, pushed the speaker button and gestured to the boys to listen. "I'm disappointed that you turned down my invitation, Ms. Scott, I had so hoped to see you in Chicago", a voice dripping with conceit said." "I told you no, Mr. Willowby", she returned, practically spitting out the words. "What part of no don't you understand!" "I never take no for an answer, Ms. Scott, not when the prize is so valuable. The world is so borring and your stories are so interesting, that I want to be the only one who hears them". "That's not going to happen, and I have already alerted the police about your "invitation"; that restraining order goes for all your associates". Rick held up a hand as Laurie paused to gain control of herself, signaling her to wait for Willowby's response. "Legal threats mean nothing, my dear, as I do intend to see you whenever and wherever I like. Oh, perhaps not in Chicago, but we will meet in Philadephia, or even New York"."Willowby, you have been served notice that Ms. Scott wants you to leave her alone", Rick interrupted, "Now, stay the hell away from her or we will have to deal with you and your associates ourselves"."Ah, you must be one of the Simon brothers," Willowby's voice became even more sarcastic. "I owe you for the trouble you have caused me today, be sure I will remember it". "And you, my dear", he added, I will see you again, Good Night". The line went dead and AJ immediately dialed back the hotel operator and asked if they had the number of the party who had just called. When he hung up, Rick said, "Well?" "Number was blocked" he replied. Laurie just shook her head. "He's got all the bells And whistles, guys. First it was flowers and candy and notes, then invitations to ski resorts in Europe Then last month, it escalated to more of his "invitations". Now this".
Rick stood up. "This we can handle, hon., but for right now I want to get some dinner and then arrange how we're getting out of here tomorrow".
Later, Rick stretched out on the sofa outside Laurie's room and reflected on a so-far peaceful night. Dinner had been, well, fun, with AJ and Laurie reminiscing half the time about the old neighborhood and her telling about Arizona and "the kids". Regarding the work she did before her books, she was rather vague, referring to it as investigative work, but he and his brother both agreed it was probably Government work. One thing hadn't changed, though', her stubborn streak was still a mile wide and reared its head when he suggested she cut short the excursion train from Philadelphia to New York. "Oh no," she said, shaking her head vehemently, "that's what he would like, for me to cut everyone else out of my life so he could just take over. I like to finish what I start, and Willowby is not going to stop me!"
She did agree to cancel an appearance on the local morning show in Chicago and move up the time she would board the train in Philadelphia, just to throw off her schedule a bit. Rick shook his head over the layout of the next two days, the train ride with all those fans, an appearance in a bookstore and the booksellers awards dinner at the Waldorf. He didn't begrudge her the difference 3 simple books had made in her life; on the contrary, he was proud of how she never let the horror of her stepparents rule what she would become.
Only.he wondered what kind of life you would have if your spouse was the famous one and you had only a high school degree? Just then he heard a noise on the balcony outside their window. Making his way over, Rick pulled his gun from his holster and eased over to the sliding door. Hearing footsteps behind him, he assumed it was AJ and whispered "take a look from the other window?"
"Yes, it's just a couple making out", Laurie replied in his ear. Startled, he holstered his gun and turned to see her in her robe, grinning in the half-darkness. "Don't sneak up like that, I thought it was AJ". "Serves you right for not looking first", she whispered, parting the curtain just enough to show him the man and women on the balcony next door, silhouetted in the moonlight. Rick yawned and taking her arm, marched her back to her bed. "Not going to be worth anything in the morning if you don't get some shuteye". "Yes, sir", she replied, sitting on the side of the bed. Looking down at her, he found himself wanting to take her in his arms, but. no not a good idea. So he muttered a good night and retreated from the room.
Taking a deep breath, he settled himself on the sofa again. Going to be a long night, he thought
BY JTBWRITER
(A crossover story between Simon & Simon and The Six Million Dollar Man- what if they joined forces to protect Rick's long-lost sweetheart-inspired by Kanda's stories and tales imagined on a bus ride
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. .)
Rick Simon squirmed in the restaurant booth, torn between admiration of the bigger then life hero before him and the realization that he and A.J. might be in over their heads on their new assignment.
He had thought this was all somebody's cheap idea of a joke; a phone message that said Col. Steve Austin wanted to hire him and A.J. as bodyguards. But when Rick showed up at the pricey restaurant and gave his name to the host, instead of the usual sneer over his casual attire, the matre'd bowed him into the dining room and seated him opposite, well, the real deal. Rick shook hands with him, marveling at the big man's size and hastily muttered an apology for being late. "I know traffic's bad this time of day coming up from San Diego, and I appreciate your coming on short notice". Rick noticed that the colonel seemed slightly edgy and hastened to explain that his brother was wrapping up an assignment and would be available when needed. "Well, that's going to have to be tomorrow", Austin said. "I'm going to have to trust that you can travel tomorrow to Chicago, and then accompany Ms. Scott to Philadelphia and then to New York."
Rick raised his eyebrows, this Ms. Scott must really be important, to need protection across country on such short notice. "Uh, Colonel Austin, we can make the trip, but it sounds like you'll need us for more than a couple of days, and it could get expensive". Immediately the frown between the Colonel's eyes deepened and he said "Yeah, it will be at least for a week; do you think you and your brother can handle this?" It was a statement, not a question.
At this point Rick realized he had stepped in it, and quickly assured him that he and A. J. could protect their client. "Don't worry, Colonel, we can make sure Ms. Scott arrives safely to her destination".
"Good", Austin replied, and appeared at easy for the first time since Rick had been seated. "I wasn't sure about hiring unknowns, but you came highly recommended and I need to make sure Laurie, um, Ms. Scott is safe".
"Excuse me, but who is Ms. Scott, and why does she need two bodyguards", Rick asked, curious about this client who needed protection and wondering why Austin needed to go outside the government to hire someone.
Steve Austin grinned for the first time, "Laurie will get a kick out this, since she doesn't think she's all that important herself. Your client is Laurel Light Scott. She's a writer. She's had several books come out and she's getting quite a following"
Rick tried to remember where he had heard the name before, and drawing a blank, replied, " I 'm sorry I don't recognize the name, what kind of books does she write".
"Children's books, mostly, also two books about her Great-Grandmother and her adventures as a woman sheriff in the Southwest." Steve looked bemused. "She used to be a features writer for magazines and did ok until she found out about her real family, now she gets other people to look at their family backgrounds and people are crazy about her work".
"Well, if everybody loves her work, why does she need protection", Rick asked, hating to squelch a good payday, but wondering if this assignment was a good idea.
Steve grew serious. "Because some people go beyond being fans, they get obsessed by a celebrity or famous person and think that person belongs just to them. Ms. Scott has a millionaire fan that has decided she should be his personal storyteller, and you and your brother's job is to protect her from him carrying out his wishes. Of course it could get dangerous, so if you don't think you can handle this assignment." "Of course we can," Rick interrupted, "my brother and I can take care of her, don't you worry". "Good", the big man said, "I will pay you $1200 a day plus expenses and your transportation to Chicago, Philadelphia and New York".
Drawing an envelope out of his pocket, Austin handed it to Rick. "Here are two one-way tickets to Chicago, for a flight leaving at 10:00 am out of LA, and also plane tickets for Philadelphia, as well as 2 seats on the Eastern Seaport to New York". "Also", he added, "this should cover your plane fare from New York and incidentals". Rick tried to hide his surprise at the small stack of fifties in the envelope he was handed. Abruptly the big man got up from the table, signaling the meeting was over.
"I'll call you if there is any change in Ms. Scott's schedule, but I've told her she would be meeting with you in Chicago at the Hyatt around 1pm.", the big man said as he started out of the dining room. He caught the eye of their waiter and took the proffered check, leaving Rick staring at a $20 tip for 2 drinks. No wonder Steve Austin commanded such attention, he thought, hurrying to catch up with him.
Austin turned at the restaurant entrance and extended his hand to Rick, "If there are any problems or if you need any further information other then what's in the envelope, you have my number. I plan on meeting your train in New York, but if necessary, I can catch a flight to Philadelphia."
"Don't worry, sir, she'll be safe with us", Rick replied politely, feeling like Austin didn't have much confidence in him. "One thing, sir, does Ms. Scott have a description of us"
Again the slight grin. "Yes, as a matter of fact she was wondering if you would recognize her, as it seems she knew you from San Diego. As a matter of fact, she told me if you were the same Rick she grew up with, you had plenty of practice protecting her and vice versa".
Startled, Rick turned. "She knew us in San Diego?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact she says she even helped protect your brother from a bully", the colonel said, catching a set of keys from the parking valet, "You probably knew her as Laurie Scott, she says she last saw you when you were seventeen".
"Um, yes, sir, if it's the same girl, she moved away and I haven't seen her since", Rick said, struck by the realization that a part of his life, closed so long was about to reappear.
"Well, don't worry about her being a prima donna or anything like that" Austin climbed into his sports car and handed a tip to the smiling valet. "My only concern is that she may try to get out of this situation herself and I just don't want to take the risk. Remember, I'm depending on you two to protect her from this psycho, and get her thru this tour".
With a wave of his hand, Steve Austin sped away, leaving Rick to contemplate seeing a part of the past he thought was gone with his childhood.
"A.J's going have a field day with this", he thought, fishing out his keys and striding toward his truck.
"Whatsa matter, baby, your big brother not around to save your butt" the older boy sneered at A.J.
sprawled on the sidewalk, his mother's day present in pieces beside him. "Get away from him, you big jerk", came a voice from behind the big kid, and as the scruffy boy turned around, he was butted in the stomach by a small girl, pigtails flying. The little blond stared at the girl, now rolling around on the grass trying to punch the bully. Suddenly a bike screeched to a halt beside A.J., and his big brother jumped off and picked him up. "You ok, kid", Rick asked, oblivious to the scuffle still going on next to them. "Yeah, Rick, thanks to her, but, oh, he's going to hurt her", A.J. replied, staring at the girl now pinned against the curb. Quickly Rick turned and pulled the bully off the little girl and socked him in the jaw. Whimpering, the bully slunk off, only to shout back I'm going to tell my pop on you" "Do that," Rick replied, "and I'll tell how you tried to beat up a girl"! Leaning over, he lifted up the kid on the grass. "Thanks for helping my brother, Are you ok?" She looked up at him and smiled, scratches and all. "Yeah, I guess I'll live, no thanks to that bully". She turned to A. J. and frowned, looking at his busted present. "I'm sorry that guy messed up your gift, it was for Mother's Day, wasn't it". Tears filled A. J.'s eyes as he looked down at the remains of a popsicle stick frame. "Now my mom won't get anything for Mother's Day". Rick looked stricken. "Don't worry, A. J., I'll help you make another one, we have lots of ice cream bars at home and I'll even clean them for you". The little girl beamed up at him, "That's a nice thing to do, I wish I had a big brother to do things with me"! Rick looked at her and stuck out his chest with pride. "If I was your brother, I'd play with you, cus you're a good sport. What's your name?" "Laurie, Laurie Scott, I live one block over from you, and I know who you are, you're Rick and he's A. J." "Yeah, we're the Simon Brothers", A. J. boasted, imitating his brother by attempting to stick out his chest. "And our Mom's Cecilia and our Dad's Jack.". "My mother's name is Shirley, and my step pop's Herman, they aren't very nice, but", she shrugged, "at least my dad loved me".
Rick stared at her. He had never heard anything from another kid about their parents not being nice, it sounded so. sad. "What happened to your Dad?" Laurie looked at him for a moment, then replied in a tired voice, "he got shot during a robbery when I was five, and then my Mother married her friend, so she wouldn't have to go out alone". A. J. gaped at her, "Your mommy leaves you home alone?" "Yeah, and its no fun cus' there's no one to play with, so I have to pretend". She looked at the boys, and then smiled, "At least something good happened today, I met you two"!
Rick stuck out his hand and Laurie shook it, then grabbed A.J.'s hand and shook it two. "Now we're
friends, through thick and thin and no one can part us", she said. Rick grinned. "Now you can walk us home and explain what happened to A. J.'s shirt and I'll walk you home to explain about your dress!" Laughing, the two children linked arms with A.J. and skipped down the sidewalk.
"Laurie who", A.J. gaped at Rick, who was busy packing his suitcase with the clothes he had strewn around his brother's living room. It was bad enough, A.J. had decided, that Rick had accepted an assignment of over a week without consulting him first, but to discover that it was someone from their past that needed protection from a mentally unstable millionaire.
"Laurel Light Scott, must have been Laurie's real name or maybe she took it on when she started writing", Rick said, holding up a shirt and sniffing it to see if it had been in the dryer.
A.J. frowned at Rick. "Are you sure Colonel Austin said she knew us-maybe it's a friend of her's.
"I'm sure, as a matter of fact he even knew how the two of us met- she told him the two of us helped protect you from a bully", Rick sat down with a shirt in hand, concern in his eyes. "This stalker must have her and Austin running scared for them not to go to the police or for government protection.
A.J. pulled out his briefcase. "Well, fortunately for you, I was able to cancel the assignment I accepted before you sprung this surprise on me, hopefully it turns out to be just an over-eager fan."
Rick snorted. "If this is the same girl, I hope she at least has a good explanation why she never wrote Mom, you know how she felt about her".
A.J. looked at his brother. And what about you, he wanted to ask. Quietly he said, "Maybe she didn't have a choice, after all the drama with her leaving and all."
Rick looked at his brother and smiled. Leave it to A.J. to defend a girl he hadn't seen in 13 years, just because his brother had liked, no, loved her.
"Don't worry, little brother", he squeezed A.J.'s shoulder as he walked past him. "I'm not going to tumble like that again, especially with Colonel Austin peering over our shoulders".
Famous last words, A. J. thought, placing the folder with Austin's instructions inside his briefcase.
"Laurie!", Rick yelled, dropping school papers and books in his haste to get to the Scott house. The note she left said they were leaving at 3pm; it was almost that time now. He rounded the corner and saw her walking out of the house, carrying a purse and bag. "Laurie, wait!" She turned, and dropping her stuff on the ground, ran toward him. Behind her he could see the scowling faces of her stepfather and mother, standing by the overflowing car and trailer. Laurie almost knocked him over as she flung herself into his arms. "Rick, oh Rick, I thought you wouldn't get back in time, I," she broke down sobbing, "It's alright, sweetheart, don't cry, it's all right", he comforted her. He pulled away and handed her a handkerchief, "here, you can't go to Hollywood with a runny nose". She wiped her eyes and smiled at him. "You always know what to say, Rick, and I know I will see you again real soon; I'm not going to be that far away". Suddenly a harsh voice broke in, "ok, you've had your goodbyes, so clear out, Simon!" Laurie's stepfather seized her by the arm and started to pull her away. "No", she shouted, jerking away from him. She turned back to Rick and said, "I love you" and put her arms around him. He found himself kissing her and saying "I love you, too, and I will find you". The older man pulled Laurie out of his arms and this time she followed him, looking back at Rick the whole way. Rick controlled his impulse to run after them, and could only watch as Laurie picked up her things and climbed into the car.
After watching it drive out of sight, Rick turned and realized his brother and mother were standing behind him. No wonder Herman hadn't tried to stop their goodbye, he thought, as he turned to them. Cecilia put her arms around her son and he hugged her tight. He looked at A. J. and saw tears in his eyes. "Don't worry, squirt", he said half-heartedly. "She said she was going to send us her new address and we can write her". "Sure she will", Cecilia added, slipping an arm around both boys. "We won't let her disappear".
Famous last words.
Arriving in Chicago the next day, Rick wasn't so sure this would be such a simple assignment.
Already he had gotten some inkling of Laurel Scott's fame by his mother's reaction to their New client.
"Rick, she's only the most exciting writer around today, I have all of her books." Cecilia Simon bubbled over the phone. "Our book club even wants to host an appearance at Saul's for her".
Rick moaned. "Mom, don't tell me you go for this cutesy wasn't the past great stuff".
"It isn't cutesy and it certainly doesn't glorify what the West was like in the early 1900's", Cecelia's voice fairly bristled over the phone. "She only writes what it was like for a pioneer like her Grandmother and also the link between her and her Navajo heritage".
Rick hesitated telling his mother that this Laurel Scott might be the Laurie Scott she had searched for, for several months and decided to verify that it was one in the same before springing this on her . "Ok, Mom, maybe I'll ask her for an autographed copy of her new book, just to make you happy".
Cecilia's voice raised a couple of octaves. "Would you, honey, it would be wonderful".
Rick heard the same tone of adoration when he phoned the Hyatt after he and A.J. had picked up their bags and rented a car. Asking for Ms. Scott, the operator got all excited and told Rick how much more fun it was to work somewhere where there were "real" celebrities. Getting nothing but a message machine in her suite, the brothers decided to drive to the hotel and have her paged, figuring she must just be in a restaurant or maybe already in the lobby waiting for them.
Just as they drove up to the hotel parking lot, Rick glanced over and saw a woman and 2 men exiting the hotel entrance, one suit on each side. Something didn't look right, from the way the woman was being almost pushed along, so he nudged A. J. and said "what's wrong with that picture". A.J. turned slowly, and after a second said "It's got to be her". Swinging around the lot entrance, Rick let A. J. out and peeled out toward the back end of the lot, planning to cut off the apparent direction of the trio.
Suddenly the woman stumbled, and when both men tried to catch her by each arm, she elbowed one in the stomach and back handed the other in the nose. Rick gunned the motor and skidded over the curb and into the lot. By the time he stopped the car, the woman had started to run back toward the hotel only to have one of the men catch up with her and tackle her. Lifting her up, he started to throw her over his shoulder only to have Rick come at him from behind and pull her away. Pushing her to the ground, Rick turned to deal with the man, only to have him come at him, pulling a gun from a hidden holster. Before he could level the gun at Rick, A. J. came around the car and threw the other man into Rick's assailant. Both men sprawled on the ground and froze when both Simons pulled their own guns.
"Boy, talk about the cavalry", the voice to the side of them quavered.
Without looking, Rick grunted, "Are you alright, Ms. Scott".
"I've felt better" came the answer. As a security guard came running out of the hotel, Rick gave a glance at the girl on the ground and immediately dropped to her side.
She was clutching her wrist, and as the girl looked up, the grimace of pain changed to a look of almost, well, joy.
"Rick? A. J. ?, it is you!" she gasped. Rick nodded, not quite trusting his voice.
"Ms. Scott, are you alright", A. J. came up behind them. He stopped short, gazing at the girl.
"I think that jerk sprained my wrist", she answered, trying to stand up.
Rick raised her up. "I think you need to go to the hospital". He took her arm gently, and raising her sleeve, winced at the rapid swelling.
"I, it doesn't hurt that bad, don't want to go to the" "No buts", he said firmly, leading her to the hotel security guard so she could identify A.J. and him as well as her two assailants.
"Yes sir", was all she answered, then turned to the now growing crowd of security personnel and Chicago's finest who had come to take two very glum men away.
After a few minutes, Rick and A. J. were seated in a patrol car with their client and taken to the local emergency room. The three of them scarcely spoke, so wrapped up in what had just happened.
Making small talk was never Rick's forte, and now facing the girl he had loved as a teenager, he felt tongue-tied. What do you say to a memory, he wondered, watching the E.R. doctor tape her wrist and put her arm carefully thru a sling.
"You should check with your own doctor, Ms. Scott, when you return home, but that tape and icing it 20 minutes on, 20 off for the next day should keep the swelling down to a minimum", the doctor said, cautioning A. J. and Rick that she should keep movement of her wrist down to a bare minimum. "We'll make sure she doesn't move it, Doc", Rick replied, giving a glance at Laurie's face. She made a face at him, then extended her good hand to the doctor and thanked him for His care. "No problem, Ms. Scott, just sorry you had such a bad experience in Chicago", the doctor replied. He escorted the trio to the nurses station, secured her a wheelchair and sent her out to the exit, where A.J. hailed a cab and they rode back to the hotel.
On the way back Rick turned to Laurie, determined to stay on a business level with her for now. "Ok, Laurie, I know what you told the police and security, but how did those two guys get you outside?" She looked down, and replied, "I know it was stupid, but when I left my room and entered the elevator, I didn't notice it was empty except for the taller of those men. We had scarcely started down when he pushed a button and the other guy entered on the next floor. It felt funny, but you know, strange elevator, town, I don't know. Right before we stopped on the first floor, the shorter guy pulled a gun and told me he would shoot any one who got in their way, and that Mr. Willowby would resent it if I refused his, uh, invitation. Rick interrupted, "Willowby's your stalker, right?" "Yes," Laurie said "He's a millionaire with half the world on his pay; and he seems to think I should join the payroll. I have told him I am not his personal Shaherizade, but he just keeps sending these guys to talk me into becoming his "guest". As it is, I don't know his story, but the methods of persuasion they use almost didn't give me a chance to raise the alarm until I decided to stumble. I almost messed it up until you two appeared. Laurie looked up and grinned, "I hoped you guys would be available, I was scared that you would be on another assignment, I almost picked up the phone myself to ask you what I should do. "First things, first," A.J. said, ignoring Rick's grim expression. "We need to get you to your room and then Rick and I will set up your departure so there won't be any more of these surprises".
"Thanks, A.J.", she replied, and glancing at Rick's expression, put her hand on Rick's arm. Startled, he looked down as she said "If I didn't say thank you for saving me from those guys, I am now. I guess I have to tell Steve he was right again". Rick cleared his throat. "About Col. Austin, Where did you meet him, I mean he's quite a celebrity". "I've known him about 10 years, and he's been, well, a good friend." Laurie looked down again, as if collecting her thoughts. "As a matter of fact, he's saved my life more than a few times; even helped me find out about my family". "Yeah, Mom told us something about that", Rick broke in, desperate to change the subject. "Aunt Ceci, oh my gosh, how is she, did she move back to San Diego too?" Laurie looked about to bust with curiosity. Just then the cab arrived at the hotel entrance, so the conversation was dropped as the Simons helped their client from the cab and went to the check-in desk. Glancing at the disheveled appearance of all three, the clerk on duty inquired stiffly if Ms. Scott was going to need additional room for "your staff". "Yes, I'm going to need the adjoining suite for tonight, and I'd like to order Room Service as soon as we go up" she replied in a very polite tone. "The Hyatt won't have any trouble accommodating us, will they?" she added, staring the clerk in the eye.
Flustered, the clerk quickly assured her that all would be in order within the hour, so Rick and A.J handed their bags to the suddenly attentive bellhop next to the desk and headed to the elevators.
Once they arrived at Laurie's suite, she told the bellhop to have the front desk call when the suite would be ready and led Rick and A.J. inside. Closing the door behind the bellhop, Rick turned the double lock and had Laurie show him and A. J. the layout of the suite. Two bedrooms, two baths, sitting room and living room, Rick clicked off which rooms had French doors or more then one entrance and decided that he and A. J. would take turns sleeping in the suite that night.
Surprised, Laurie held up a hand. "Rick, that won't be necessary, you guys are just on the other side of my room, and I'll keep the connecting door open. I'm sure Willowby won't be stupid enough to try again today." "Laurie, this is our game now" Rick retorted, "and we're playing with our rules, capice? This loon may not come after you again until tomorrow, or the next day, but just in case, we don't take chances". Laurie opened her mouth to protest, but glancing at A.J. who just nodded his head, and back at Rick, who firmly took her by the arm and seated her on a couch, she swallowed and said "Ok, but tell me one thing". Rick looked at her "What's that?" "Why did you stop writing, and why didn't Aunt Ceci tell me you were going to move?"
"Move?" Rick looked blankly at Laurie, then to his brother. "We didn't move until I went cross country and A.J. went to Florida, and then moved back to San Diego. Mom only moved ten years ago or so, and that was just a couple of blocks".
The girl shook her head in disbelief. "You didn't move a couple of months after we left? Shirley told me you moved up north to stay with relatives and then when I went to look for you, you were gone".
"Shirley? Oh you mean your mother. She must have been trying to keep you from writing, 'cause other then the one letter I got two weeks after you moved, we didn't hear any..Rick stopped in mid-word, because Laurie had put her head back and started to laugh hysterically. "My god, I should have known", she gasped, "Shirley and that. man would have done anything to make me miserable, and I believed them". Rick went over to her and firmly taking her by the shoulders, shook her until she stopped laughing. She took a deep sobbing breath, then buried her face in his shirt and started crying. Rick felt helpless, So he just held her and said " It's ok, sweetheart, it's ok". A.J. came and sat on the other side of her, waiting until she quieted down, then offered her a handkerchief. She raised her head and gave the two of them a watery smile, then took the hankie and blew her nose very noisily.
Rick grinned at A. J. and said, "Well, one thing hasn't changed, she's still the champion nose honker". "Very funny", Laurie returned, still wiping her eyes. "Who used to sing the booger song? to make me laugh and then I would have to blow my nose again and you would start imitating me"?
"A.J.", Rick said with a straight face, reaching over and mussing his brother's hair. "Oh, that's adult", he replied, swiping Rick's hand away.
Laurie looked at the two of them, "How I have missed you guys", she said, "I didn't know you had opened a detective agency until I saw the profile Steve pulled on you." She added, as Rick stiffened at the mention of Austin's name, "he only did it to make sure you were on the up and up, he would have done the same if it was Jaime".
"Jaime, you mean Jaime Summers, the tennis player", A. J. interrupted, "I thought they broke up years ago".
She shook her head. "Jaime and Steve were married about three years ago. They had broken up but, well, they fell in love again. Steve and I were close for a while, but now we're just friends." Rick stared at her. "He sure didn't act like he was just your friend" "Rick!" A. J. stopped him, "oh, that was because he knew I kinda had a soft spot for you two and he didn't want to see me get disappointed or hurt". "And', she took a deep breath, "he figured I had had enough surprises in my life. You see, guys, the woman you thought was my mother was really my stepmother. My real mother died when I was two, and my dad thought, well, Shirley would make a good mother." Laurie looked away from Rick and A.J., until Rick put his hand on her chin and turned her back to him. "Go on, sweetheart, tell us what happened". She cleared her throat.
"I found out about my mother when I was putting stuff away after we moved, I found my birth certificate and a picture of her. When I confronted Shirley about it, she slapped me and said that was why I was nothing but trouble. I only lasted six months after that, when, well, her husband , .". "What did Herman do", A. J. asked. "He started coming on to me, and I had push him off more and more, until finally one night he came home drunk, and Shirley wouldn't have anything to do with him, so he came after me. I hit him, Rick, just like you taught me to, and he only left when I said I would scream for the police. The next day Shirley said if I didn't give him what he wanted, they would..um, make sure I never had anyone". Rick put his arms around her and held her tight, but Laurie pulled away from him, and looking him in the eye, said "He didn't get a chance, Rick, I ran away to Holy Name Convent the next day, and the nuns protected me and I never went back. They called Social Services and had me put in their custody until I graduated from High School. I kept trying to find where you had gone to in San Francisco, but I never thought to double-check if you were still in San Diego. I kept thinking, well, what if .".
"What, Laurie".
She looked at him and blurted "I saw your name on a list of former alumni who went to Vietnam when I was interning at the Times, but I was afraid to see if you weren't coming back. By the time I got up the nerve to find an address for you, I couldn't find any public records or an address." She wiped her eyes, and glancing over at A. J., said, "I should have tried harder, A. J., but I got tired of having everyone I loved taken away from me. It's only now that I feel safe about having a family and all."
"What do you mean, a family", Rick raised his voice; "I thought you and Austin weren't involved".
Laurie broke into a grin. "You weren't jealous, were you, Rick?" She shook her head and pulling a couple of pictures out of her purse, handed one to each of them. A pair of smiling brown-eyed children stared back at the camera, a dark-haired boy and a petite girl, posed in front of a horse corral. "These are my niece and nephew, guys, I found them two years ago when I received word that my father had registered me as a member of the Navajo nation and had left me a piece of land near Window Rock, Arizona. All those years that I was alone, and here I found my family". Rick finally found his voice. "They look like nice kids, Laurie, but how do you manage the traveling and the writing and taking care of them?" This is the only promotional trip I'm making without them, and after this I'm going to stay put for a while". Her expression turned serious. "Also, I'm afraid what Willowby is going to try next; so I left them in the care of a local official, Chief Joseph. He's known Robert and Robin since they were born and he will protect them. He's helped me a great deal, too, understanding why my dad never returned to the people and why he married my stepmother."
AJ. suddenly yawned, and both Rick and Laurie started laughing. "Little brother's up past his bedtime, huh", she teased. "Nope," Rick deadpanned, "Just hungry". His brother threw a sofa cushion at him just as the phone rang. Laurie automatically picked it up and after just a moment, pushed the speaker button and gestured to the boys to listen. "I'm disappointed that you turned down my invitation, Ms. Scott, I had so hoped to see you in Chicago", a voice dripping with conceit said." "I told you no, Mr. Willowby", she returned, practically spitting out the words. "What part of no don't you understand!" "I never take no for an answer, Ms. Scott, not when the prize is so valuable. The world is so borring and your stories are so interesting, that I want to be the only one who hears them". "That's not going to happen, and I have already alerted the police about your "invitation"; that restraining order goes for all your associates". Rick held up a hand as Laurie paused to gain control of herself, signaling her to wait for Willowby's response. "Legal threats mean nothing, my dear, as I do intend to see you whenever and wherever I like. Oh, perhaps not in Chicago, but we will meet in Philadephia, or even New York"."Willowby, you have been served notice that Ms. Scott wants you to leave her alone", Rick interrupted, "Now, stay the hell away from her or we will have to deal with you and your associates ourselves"."Ah, you must be one of the Simon brothers," Willowby's voice became even more sarcastic. "I owe you for the trouble you have caused me today, be sure I will remember it". "And you, my dear", he added, I will see you again, Good Night". The line went dead and AJ immediately dialed back the hotel operator and asked if they had the number of the party who had just called. When he hung up, Rick said, "Well?" "Number was blocked" he replied. Laurie just shook her head. "He's got all the bells And whistles, guys. First it was flowers and candy and notes, then invitations to ski resorts in Europe Then last month, it escalated to more of his "invitations". Now this".
Rick stood up. "This we can handle, hon., but for right now I want to get some dinner and then arrange how we're getting out of here tomorrow".
Later, Rick stretched out on the sofa outside Laurie's room and reflected on a so-far peaceful night. Dinner had been, well, fun, with AJ and Laurie reminiscing half the time about the old neighborhood and her telling about Arizona and "the kids". Regarding the work she did before her books, she was rather vague, referring to it as investigative work, but he and his brother both agreed it was probably Government work. One thing hadn't changed, though', her stubborn streak was still a mile wide and reared its head when he suggested she cut short the excursion train from Philadelphia to New York. "Oh no," she said, shaking her head vehemently, "that's what he would like, for me to cut everyone else out of my life so he could just take over. I like to finish what I start, and Willowby is not going to stop me!"
She did agree to cancel an appearance on the local morning show in Chicago and move up the time she would board the train in Philadelphia, just to throw off her schedule a bit. Rick shook his head over the layout of the next two days, the train ride with all those fans, an appearance in a bookstore and the booksellers awards dinner at the Waldorf. He didn't begrudge her the difference 3 simple books had made in her life; on the contrary, he was proud of how she never let the horror of her stepparents rule what she would become.
Only.he wondered what kind of life you would have if your spouse was the famous one and you had only a high school degree? Just then he heard a noise on the balcony outside their window. Making his way over, Rick pulled his gun from his holster and eased over to the sliding door. Hearing footsteps behind him, he assumed it was AJ and whispered "take a look from the other window?"
"Yes, it's just a couple making out", Laurie replied in his ear. Startled, he holstered his gun and turned to see her in her robe, grinning in the half-darkness. "Don't sneak up like that, I thought it was AJ". "Serves you right for not looking first", she whispered, parting the curtain just enough to show him the man and women on the balcony next door, silhouetted in the moonlight. Rick yawned and taking her arm, marched her back to her bed. "Not going to be worth anything in the morning if you don't get some shuteye". "Yes, sir", she replied, sitting on the side of the bed. Looking down at her, he found himself wanting to take her in his arms, but. no not a good idea. So he muttered a good night and retreated from the room.
Taking a deep breath, he settled himself on the sofa again. Going to be a long night, he thought