Chapter 4
Just then they pulled abreast of the chain link fence surrounding the runways, and waited until the other cars arrived. Rick handed Steve a case containing a power reader, as well as special pliers that would clip any electrified fence without breaking the circuit of power.
Using special infrared lights, Steve cut the wires on two sections of fence, finding that sensors indicated no electricity was run on that area of the base.
Leading the caravan onto the property through the cut wires, A.J. drove to the area Steve indicated was the most likely entry point. As they approached a
barren hill of dirt, the colonel had A.J. stop, seeing fresh tire tracks on the ground. As the others watched, Steve approached the mound and forced open a hidden door, covered with dust. Just then a mini-van approached, and stopping some distance away, let Rudy and Robert out. Steve waved for the driver to move it a short distance away, as Rick went to meet the two. Rudy looked at the terrain, then shook his head and remarked "Only Wainwright would be crazy enough to bring her here, isn't this where Laurie found out about her father?" Steve nodded. Rick turned to his son, "Rob, I want you to stay with Rudy, we may need some help with your mom and Oscar, so I want you as back up."
Rob started to argue, but saw the firm expression on his dad's face, so he simply nodded and went back to the van with Rudy. Just then Steve grimaced, then said, "Laurie's being taken to Oscar, we've got to hurry." Rick and A.J. joined him and they went through the door and entered a tunnel.
As the three men made their way into the maze of corridors, Wainwright was dragging a wet and shivering Laurie, maliciously saying, "I think I'll have better luck with your friend Oscar. He'll be glad to let me know what secrets the OSI has kept under Security 1 status about you."
As he stopped to unlock a door, she realized he had placed his gun inside his waistband, and decided this would be the best chance to grab it, as soon as they reached Oscar.
Opening the door, he called into the bright light, "Come here, Goldman, I have a friend who wants to see you." Laurie saw a figure rise from the floor, and saw a bloodied and bruised Oscar coming toward them. She caught his eye, and after the first look of anger crossed his face, she mouthed the word, "Faint". Imperceptibly, he nodded, and as Wainwright's hand went towards the gun, she moaned, "I feel faint," and fell onto the general.
Startled, he went to catch her, only for Oscar to raise his hand and punch him, as Laurie kneed him in the groin. Oscar then grabbed the gun, as she helped push Wainwright down the stairs.
Oscar slammed the door, then turned and took Laurie in his arms as she started to sob. "Honey, it's ok, you're safe. Let's get out of here.", he comforted her, then took off his jacket and put it on her.
Sniffing, she swallowed her tears as Oscar held on to her arm and led her quickly down the hall. "I don't know how long that door will hold, Laurie." "It's all right." she told Oscar, "I hear Steve, he and Rick and A.J. are in one of the corridors, we should catch up with them in a minute."
As if on cue, they heard a door open, then Oscar realized that it came from behind them. Quickening his pace, the OSI chief pulled her along toward the sound of Rick calling their names.
"This way, Oscar," they heard, so Oscar headed toward a darkened hall and as he started to turn, Laurie felt an arm wrap itself around her and pull her from his grasp.
"No!" she screamed, finding herself with a knife to her throat, Wainwright's voice saying, "Oscar, if you move, she dies. You wouldn't want your girl here to suffer, would you?" Laurie heard Steve coming, and seeing Oscar turn, gun in his hand, she decided to give him a clear shot. As Oscar started to lower his weapon, she stamped on the generals foot with all her might, then karate chopped his arm away from her neck.
Throwing herself away from him, Laurie slid against the opposite wall, only to see Wainwright, enraged, throw the knife at her.
Laurie saw as if in slow motion the weapon coming at her, She had less than a second to dive towards the floor, then she felt something nick her arm, and she was frozen in one position, the blade impaling her jacket and blouse to the wall. Suddenly the air was filled with the noise of gun fire, and then the madman slumped to the floor.
Rick holstered his gun, then rushed to Laurie's side, gently trying to hold her before he realizing that she was pinned like a butterfly. "Laurie, honey, don't move, just look at me," he said, trying to keep her calm. As Oscar and A.J. sat down next to her, Steve carefully tried to pull the knife straight out of the wall. In one motion, he extracted it, and she fell into Rick's arms.
"Sweetheart, thank God," he choked, holding her shaking form tight. He raised her face, kissing her, and she drew a deep breath, saying "Rick, I'm so cold, please get me home." Oscar helped lift her, then saw blood on the sleeve of her jacket. "Rick, she's hurt, hold her up." He lifted the sleeve up to reveal a large cut on her arm, then took a handkerchief from A.J., and fashioned a makeshift bandage. Putting the jacket back over her, Rick cradled her in his arms as she looked at Goldman and said, "Thank you, Oscar." She looked over at the figure on the floor, then shuddering, added, "he's dead, isn't he?" Oscar leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, saying "He'll never hurt you or anyone again, honey. We'll get you to the hospital as quick as we can."
Motioning to Steve and A.J. to lead the way out, Rick carried her through the maze of hallways as Oscar used Steve's transmitter to alert the OSI agents to the location of Wainwright's body.
As they made their way to ground level, Laurie asked Rick where they were. "About 30 miles from Tempe, sweetheart, it's an old air force base. We were able to track you and Oscar by your watch transmitter and when you came to, Steve was able to pinpoint which building. Rudy's waiting for us, darling, he'll be able to get you warmed up."
She buried her head in his shoulder, saying "That Wainwright wanted me to be cold, he said it would force me to talk. I didn't, Rick, I wouldn't have. When I had hysterics, he threw a bucket of ice water on me, to make sure I'd be conscious to watch him torture Oscar." Rick seethed with anger at the horrors the general had forced on his wife, then he looked in her eyes, and replied, "My brave girl, I know you wouldn't have endangered anyone else."
He comforted her as they exited the tunnel leading out of the base, then sighting Rudy standing outside one of the OSI fleet, said, "There's Rudy now, and Rob's with him, darlin'. I had to bring him, he risked his life trying to stop the General."
Shocked, she gazed up at Rick, "Rick, no, I thought I heard his voice, I was so out of it, I was sure I was dreaming. What happened?" He told her how Rob had grabbed the van's door and only at the point of a gun would he give up. Laurie gasped, "Rick, thank God you stopped him, that maniac would have killed him." Suddenly she looked down at her torn clothing, and moaned, "Please, darling, don't let him see me like this."
Rick caught A.J.'s eye as he reached the cars, but Rudy had already gotten the message and came running up to them with blankets. Wrapping her up gently as he embraced her, the doctor whispered, "It's ok, we'll get you warmed up, honey." Smiling her thanks, Laurie turned her head to see her son rush to her side.
"Mom, Mom!", he cried as they brought her to one of the cars. She put her hand out to him, "Robbie, I'm all right, you're so brave. Your dad told me what you tried to do. I'm sorry that madman scared you like that."
Rob kissed her on the cheek, then helped lift her into the mini-van before getting in. Rudy and Rick climbed in on each side of her, as A.J. took the wheel and Oscar and Steve got into the side seats.
Once they were on the road, Rudy gave Laurie some water, then insisted on cleaning and rebandaging her arm. Once she was more comfortable, she looked at Oscar, and said, "I, I'm sorry, this was my fault. I was stupid. I was the bait to catch you"
Taken aback, Goldman shook his head. "No, honey, you didn't do anything to be sorry about, if Wainwright hadn't tricked you here, he would have grabbed you another time. He had a long time to think this scheme up, you had only seconds to react. What did he say to you to get you outside?"
She looked down, then replied, "He said he knew my father, that he had been wanting to meet me for sometime. I thought he was some nice man who could tell me something about my dad, so I went outside and he told me he had something to show me. I had a funny feeling, Steve, I think you were trying to reach me. I asked him who he was and he said my father had been under his command and told me who he was. I remembered what you said about him, Oscar, and I tried to walk away from him, but that's when he pulled me into the alley and drugged me." She stopped, tears running down her cheeks, then whispered, "I was so scared when I came to, but then I heard your voice, Oscar and I knew I wasn't alone." Goldman was silent for a moment, then took a tissue from Rudy and gently wiped her eyes.
When Laurie calmed down, she drew a ragged breath then told him, " I know now I don't need to keep looking for information about my father, you've had his place in my heart for years." Oscar reached over and hugged her, then helped her settle back against her husband's shoulder.
He cleared his throat, then said, "I have something to tell you, I thought I was the one who caused you to be in danger." "Oh, no, Oscar,"she interrupted, trying to sit up. Rudy urged her to lay back down, as she continued, "The General was going to torture you to force me to talk, not the other way around! When he put me in a electric chair, I didn't know how much I could stand, so I started crying and having hysterics. That's when he decided to take me to you, then force me to watch you hurt."
She closed her eyes, not seeing the look of horror on the men's faces. Rudy leaned over and taking her hand quietly asked, "Laurie, how many times did he shock you?" "Just twice, Rudy, I screamed and pulled a faint before he could do it again." The doctor turned her wrist over to reveal red burns and welts. Rick felt sick looking at her injured wrists, then saw Rob as white as a sheet put his head on his mother's shoulder. She opened her eyes, then seeing his expression, put her other hand on her son's hair. "Robbie, I'm sorry, you shouldn't have had to hear this, I know you're old enough to know what evil people will do, but I didn't want you to find out like this." He took a deep breath, "I can handle it, Mom, It just hurts to see what that crazy man did to you. I love you so much." "I love you too, Robbie." She looked at Rick, his eyes wet with tears. "I'm all right, you guys found us in time and that's what matters." He put his arm around her and kissed her, as she whispered, "and I love you, my darling, just don't let go."
"Never, ever,", he promised, "Just close your eyes and rest, my angel, we'll be there soon." Stroking her hair, he saw her nod off. Rudy took advantage of her sleeping to run some tests on his portable computer, testing her blood pressure. temperature and pulse, and then treating the burns on her wrists.
Just before they reached Silver Rock, Rudy sent his data to Doc Walker at the hospital lab, then had A.J. drive straight to the emergency room door. The doctor was waiting with a gurney as they stopped, then Steve gently lifted Laurie out of the van and wheeled her inside as the others followed.
Once she was safely inside a treatment room, A.J. went to get Robin and the Chief, and call Cecilia, as Oscar finally let Rudy check him out. Rick sat with Laurie as the doctor took some blood, then as he was about to start an IV, she started to moan and toss her head. "Sweetheart, it's all right, shh, you're safe," Rick comforted her. Laurie opened her eyes, then seeing him, let out a deep breath. "Oh, Rick, what a nightmare,.", and reached out for him. He took her in his arms and held her, as Doc Walker told him, "I'll come back in a little while, see if you can help her put this on," handing him a hospital gown. The doctor looked down at her, saying "Don't you ever scare us like that again, Light, you know better then to go off with a stranger." She shook her head, "Never again, Doc. I've sticking with the family I've got." He kissed the top of her head then went to speak with Rudy.
Once they were alone, Laurie eyed the wreckage of her blouse and torn pants, as Rick said, "Darlin', let me." He gently took off Oscar's jacket, then kissing her, helped her slip the gown on and take her wet things off. She smiled for the first time since her kidnapping. "Mmm, Dr. Simon, I like your bedside manner", she teased, kissing him back. Their passionate embrace was short-lived, as a knock on the door and A.J.'s voice "Are you decent" interrupted them.
"Rick, I give you permission to do this to him the next time he's with Linda, ok?", she sighed in mock exasperation. "Come in!", Rick growled, then laughed as A.J. stuck his head slowly in the door.
The younger Simon grinned as he saw his brother and sister-in-law making faces at him. "Don't shoot the messenger, I got people waiting to see you, missy." She held out a hand to him, as he came over and hugged her.
"Are you up to visitors?" he asked, looking at her bruised face worriedly. "Just as long as they're family," Rick said, glancing at Laurie, who reassured him, "It's ok, who is it, A.J.?"
A.J. went to the door and opened it to usher in Cecelia and Robin, followed by Robert and Linda. Laurie opened her arms as Cecilia rushed over and burst into tears, saying "Laurie, honey." Rick saw Rudy beckon him from the doorway, so he squeezed Laurie's hand and whispered "be right back." She nodded then embraced her daughter and son, as Linda pulled up a chair for Cecilia.
Outside, Rudy handed Rick a tissue, commenting, "I thought you might need a little space. Doc and I wanted to talk to you about Laurie."
Just then they pulled abreast of the chain link fence surrounding the runways, and waited until the other cars arrived. Rick handed Steve a case containing a power reader, as well as special pliers that would clip any electrified fence without breaking the circuit of power.
Using special infrared lights, Steve cut the wires on two sections of fence, finding that sensors indicated no electricity was run on that area of the base.
Leading the caravan onto the property through the cut wires, A.J. drove to the area Steve indicated was the most likely entry point. As they approached a
barren hill of dirt, the colonel had A.J. stop, seeing fresh tire tracks on the ground. As the others watched, Steve approached the mound and forced open a hidden door, covered with dust. Just then a mini-van approached, and stopping some distance away, let Rudy and Robert out. Steve waved for the driver to move it a short distance away, as Rick went to meet the two. Rudy looked at the terrain, then shook his head and remarked "Only Wainwright would be crazy enough to bring her here, isn't this where Laurie found out about her father?" Steve nodded. Rick turned to his son, "Rob, I want you to stay with Rudy, we may need some help with your mom and Oscar, so I want you as back up."
Rob started to argue, but saw the firm expression on his dad's face, so he simply nodded and went back to the van with Rudy. Just then Steve grimaced, then said, "Laurie's being taken to Oscar, we've got to hurry." Rick and A.J. joined him and they went through the door and entered a tunnel.
As the three men made their way into the maze of corridors, Wainwright was dragging a wet and shivering Laurie, maliciously saying, "I think I'll have better luck with your friend Oscar. He'll be glad to let me know what secrets the OSI has kept under Security 1 status about you."
As he stopped to unlock a door, she realized he had placed his gun inside his waistband, and decided this would be the best chance to grab it, as soon as they reached Oscar.
Opening the door, he called into the bright light, "Come here, Goldman, I have a friend who wants to see you." Laurie saw a figure rise from the floor, and saw a bloodied and bruised Oscar coming toward them. She caught his eye, and after the first look of anger crossed his face, she mouthed the word, "Faint". Imperceptibly, he nodded, and as Wainwright's hand went towards the gun, she moaned, "I feel faint," and fell onto the general.
Startled, he went to catch her, only for Oscar to raise his hand and punch him, as Laurie kneed him in the groin. Oscar then grabbed the gun, as she helped push Wainwright down the stairs.
Oscar slammed the door, then turned and took Laurie in his arms as she started to sob. "Honey, it's ok, you're safe. Let's get out of here.", he comforted her, then took off his jacket and put it on her.
Sniffing, she swallowed her tears as Oscar held on to her arm and led her quickly down the hall. "I don't know how long that door will hold, Laurie." "It's all right." she told Oscar, "I hear Steve, he and Rick and A.J. are in one of the corridors, we should catch up with them in a minute."
As if on cue, they heard a door open, then Oscar realized that it came from behind them. Quickening his pace, the OSI chief pulled her along toward the sound of Rick calling their names.
"This way, Oscar," they heard, so Oscar headed toward a darkened hall and as he started to turn, Laurie felt an arm wrap itself around her and pull her from his grasp.
"No!" she screamed, finding herself with a knife to her throat, Wainwright's voice saying, "Oscar, if you move, she dies. You wouldn't want your girl here to suffer, would you?" Laurie heard Steve coming, and seeing Oscar turn, gun in his hand, she decided to give him a clear shot. As Oscar started to lower his weapon, she stamped on the generals foot with all her might, then karate chopped his arm away from her neck.
Throwing herself away from him, Laurie slid against the opposite wall, only to see Wainwright, enraged, throw the knife at her.
Laurie saw as if in slow motion the weapon coming at her, She had less than a second to dive towards the floor, then she felt something nick her arm, and she was frozen in one position, the blade impaling her jacket and blouse to the wall. Suddenly the air was filled with the noise of gun fire, and then the madman slumped to the floor.
Rick holstered his gun, then rushed to Laurie's side, gently trying to hold her before he realizing that she was pinned like a butterfly. "Laurie, honey, don't move, just look at me," he said, trying to keep her calm. As Oscar and A.J. sat down next to her, Steve carefully tried to pull the knife straight out of the wall. In one motion, he extracted it, and she fell into Rick's arms.
"Sweetheart, thank God," he choked, holding her shaking form tight. He raised her face, kissing her, and she drew a deep breath, saying "Rick, I'm so cold, please get me home." Oscar helped lift her, then saw blood on the sleeve of her jacket. "Rick, she's hurt, hold her up." He lifted the sleeve up to reveal a large cut on her arm, then took a handkerchief from A.J., and fashioned a makeshift bandage. Putting the jacket back over her, Rick cradled her in his arms as she looked at Goldman and said, "Thank you, Oscar." She looked over at the figure on the floor, then shuddering, added, "he's dead, isn't he?" Oscar leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, saying "He'll never hurt you or anyone again, honey. We'll get you to the hospital as quick as we can."
Motioning to Steve and A.J. to lead the way out, Rick carried her through the maze of hallways as Oscar used Steve's transmitter to alert the OSI agents to the location of Wainwright's body.
As they made their way to ground level, Laurie asked Rick where they were. "About 30 miles from Tempe, sweetheart, it's an old air force base. We were able to track you and Oscar by your watch transmitter and when you came to, Steve was able to pinpoint which building. Rudy's waiting for us, darling, he'll be able to get you warmed up."
She buried her head in his shoulder, saying "That Wainwright wanted me to be cold, he said it would force me to talk. I didn't, Rick, I wouldn't have. When I had hysterics, he threw a bucket of ice water on me, to make sure I'd be conscious to watch him torture Oscar." Rick seethed with anger at the horrors the general had forced on his wife, then he looked in her eyes, and replied, "My brave girl, I know you wouldn't have endangered anyone else."
He comforted her as they exited the tunnel leading out of the base, then sighting Rudy standing outside one of the OSI fleet, said, "There's Rudy now, and Rob's with him, darlin'. I had to bring him, he risked his life trying to stop the General."
Shocked, she gazed up at Rick, "Rick, no, I thought I heard his voice, I was so out of it, I was sure I was dreaming. What happened?" He told her how Rob had grabbed the van's door and only at the point of a gun would he give up. Laurie gasped, "Rick, thank God you stopped him, that maniac would have killed him." Suddenly she looked down at her torn clothing, and moaned, "Please, darling, don't let him see me like this."
Rick caught A.J.'s eye as he reached the cars, but Rudy had already gotten the message and came running up to them with blankets. Wrapping her up gently as he embraced her, the doctor whispered, "It's ok, we'll get you warmed up, honey." Smiling her thanks, Laurie turned her head to see her son rush to her side.
"Mom, Mom!", he cried as they brought her to one of the cars. She put her hand out to him, "Robbie, I'm all right, you're so brave. Your dad told me what you tried to do. I'm sorry that madman scared you like that."
Rob kissed her on the cheek, then helped lift her into the mini-van before getting in. Rudy and Rick climbed in on each side of her, as A.J. took the wheel and Oscar and Steve got into the side seats.
Once they were on the road, Rudy gave Laurie some water, then insisted on cleaning and rebandaging her arm. Once she was more comfortable, she looked at Oscar, and said, "I, I'm sorry, this was my fault. I was stupid. I was the bait to catch you"
Taken aback, Goldman shook his head. "No, honey, you didn't do anything to be sorry about, if Wainwright hadn't tricked you here, he would have grabbed you another time. He had a long time to think this scheme up, you had only seconds to react. What did he say to you to get you outside?"
She looked down, then replied, "He said he knew my father, that he had been wanting to meet me for sometime. I thought he was some nice man who could tell me something about my dad, so I went outside and he told me he had something to show me. I had a funny feeling, Steve, I think you were trying to reach me. I asked him who he was and he said my father had been under his command and told me who he was. I remembered what you said about him, Oscar, and I tried to walk away from him, but that's when he pulled me into the alley and drugged me." She stopped, tears running down her cheeks, then whispered, "I was so scared when I came to, but then I heard your voice, Oscar and I knew I wasn't alone." Goldman was silent for a moment, then took a tissue from Rudy and gently wiped her eyes.
When Laurie calmed down, she drew a ragged breath then told him, " I know now I don't need to keep looking for information about my father, you've had his place in my heart for years." Oscar reached over and hugged her, then helped her settle back against her husband's shoulder.
He cleared his throat, then said, "I have something to tell you, I thought I was the one who caused you to be in danger." "Oh, no, Oscar,"she interrupted, trying to sit up. Rudy urged her to lay back down, as she continued, "The General was going to torture you to force me to talk, not the other way around! When he put me in a electric chair, I didn't know how much I could stand, so I started crying and having hysterics. That's when he decided to take me to you, then force me to watch you hurt."
She closed her eyes, not seeing the look of horror on the men's faces. Rudy leaned over and taking her hand quietly asked, "Laurie, how many times did he shock you?" "Just twice, Rudy, I screamed and pulled a faint before he could do it again." The doctor turned her wrist over to reveal red burns and welts. Rick felt sick looking at her injured wrists, then saw Rob as white as a sheet put his head on his mother's shoulder. She opened her eyes, then seeing his expression, put her other hand on her son's hair. "Robbie, I'm sorry, you shouldn't have had to hear this, I know you're old enough to know what evil people will do, but I didn't want you to find out like this." He took a deep breath, "I can handle it, Mom, It just hurts to see what that crazy man did to you. I love you so much." "I love you too, Robbie." She looked at Rick, his eyes wet with tears. "I'm all right, you guys found us in time and that's what matters." He put his arm around her and kissed her, as she whispered, "and I love you, my darling, just don't let go."
"Never, ever,", he promised, "Just close your eyes and rest, my angel, we'll be there soon." Stroking her hair, he saw her nod off. Rudy took advantage of her sleeping to run some tests on his portable computer, testing her blood pressure. temperature and pulse, and then treating the burns on her wrists.
Just before they reached Silver Rock, Rudy sent his data to Doc Walker at the hospital lab, then had A.J. drive straight to the emergency room door. The doctor was waiting with a gurney as they stopped, then Steve gently lifted Laurie out of the van and wheeled her inside as the others followed.
Once she was safely inside a treatment room, A.J. went to get Robin and the Chief, and call Cecilia, as Oscar finally let Rudy check him out. Rick sat with Laurie as the doctor took some blood, then as he was about to start an IV, she started to moan and toss her head. "Sweetheart, it's all right, shh, you're safe," Rick comforted her. Laurie opened her eyes, then seeing him, let out a deep breath. "Oh, Rick, what a nightmare,.", and reached out for him. He took her in his arms and held her, as Doc Walker told him, "I'll come back in a little while, see if you can help her put this on," handing him a hospital gown. The doctor looked down at her, saying "Don't you ever scare us like that again, Light, you know better then to go off with a stranger." She shook her head, "Never again, Doc. I've sticking with the family I've got." He kissed the top of her head then went to speak with Rudy.
Once they were alone, Laurie eyed the wreckage of her blouse and torn pants, as Rick said, "Darlin', let me." He gently took off Oscar's jacket, then kissing her, helped her slip the gown on and take her wet things off. She smiled for the first time since her kidnapping. "Mmm, Dr. Simon, I like your bedside manner", she teased, kissing him back. Their passionate embrace was short-lived, as a knock on the door and A.J.'s voice "Are you decent" interrupted them.
"Rick, I give you permission to do this to him the next time he's with Linda, ok?", she sighed in mock exasperation. "Come in!", Rick growled, then laughed as A.J. stuck his head slowly in the door.
The younger Simon grinned as he saw his brother and sister-in-law making faces at him. "Don't shoot the messenger, I got people waiting to see you, missy." She held out a hand to him, as he came over and hugged her.
"Are you up to visitors?" he asked, looking at her bruised face worriedly. "Just as long as they're family," Rick said, glancing at Laurie, who reassured him, "It's ok, who is it, A.J.?"
A.J. went to the door and opened it to usher in Cecelia and Robin, followed by Robert and Linda. Laurie opened her arms as Cecilia rushed over and burst into tears, saying "Laurie, honey." Rick saw Rudy beckon him from the doorway, so he squeezed Laurie's hand and whispered "be right back." She nodded then embraced her daughter and son, as Linda pulled up a chair for Cecilia.
Outside, Rudy handed Rick a tissue, commenting, "I thought you might need a little space. Doc and I wanted to talk to you about Laurie."