Chapter 1

"Laurie? Where are you?"

"In the kitchen, darling, let me put the biscuits in the oven."

Rick turned and put a finger to his lips, telling his son not to make a sound. Rob grinned and tiptoed behind him, hoping to surprise Laurie.

"Honey, what's for dinner besides biscuits? I smell something like, um." "You know what that is, you silly, a roast, and potatoes. I just wish Robbie was coming, he loves roast beef," she replied, sounding a little wistful.

"Well, sweetheart," Rick came around the kitchen door, trying not to laugh. "I'm not Rob, but I can do an imitation of him if you want? Turn around and close your eyes!" She smiled and turned, saying, "You are so bad, imitation, huh!"

Rick gestured to Rob, who stood by his mom, put his hands over her eyes and said, "I'll come to dinner anytime you want!"

Laurie gasped, "Rick, that's not you!" She whirled around to see her tall son, and threw her arms around him. "Robbie! Oh, I'm so glad you came! Did you get off work early!" "Yes, Mom, I came with Pop, as a matter of fact. I've missed you.", he hugged her. She beamed at him, then released her son to embrace Rick, saying, "Darling, you knew what would make me happy. Just for that I'm going to make your favorite pie!"

"Well, if working with my favorite son is going to get me pie, I'll have to do it more often!" he grinned, kissing her. Laurie stared at him, "You're going to work with Robbie, how?"

"Pop, let me tell her, it's my case, I mean, our case," he laughed, taking the platter of potatoes she handed him and taking it to the dining room table.

Over dinner, Rob told his mom how he was assigned to a bunco detail by Captain Ron, as part of his last month of being a trainee. When the captain in charge found out he had forensic science experience, as part of working with Sheriff Gomez on a missing relics report, he gave the responsibility of setting up a sting to him, even letting him pick out a person to play the unsuspecting dupe.

"You see, darlin', some con artist has a gang of phony archeologists going to private collectors offering "priceless" Indian artifacts. This guy, nobody knows what he looks like but he uses petty thieves to bait and switch a real piece of jewelry or pot or scroll, then substitutes a "Made in China" copy." Rick got up and brought in more biscuits, as Rob added," Pop and Uncle A.J. are going to be rich but eccentric investors, the one place all the previous victims have been contacted is at the Art House in Phoenix, that's why PD is in charge instead of one of the Tribal Sheriffs."

"Oh, Rick, I'm so proud I could burst. Rob and you guys working together, I think even Mom will be jazzed about it." Laurie said, smiling. Suddenly she got a serious look on her face, "Rick, this means you and A.J. will have to move in someplace for a couple of days, right?"

Her husband took her hand, "Yes, sweetheart, but just until we make contact. I don't want you staying here by yourself when we do, if Robin isn't back from San Diego, I want you to stay with Linda in Phoenix, ok?" She squeezed his hand, "Sure, I don't want Linda to be by herself either, this way you and A.J. and Robbie can do your work and not worry about us."

Rick watched her pour some more ice tea for the three of them, then breaking into a grin, raised her glass in a toast. "To Robbie's first case!" Her son blushed as he clinked glasses with his parents, then answered, "To my new partner!"

Following dinner, Rick tried on "nerd" outfits for Laurie and Rob, trying to figure out what would work. After several vain attempts that sent both his wife and son into hysterical laughter, he came up with an Indiana Jones jacket and pants that Rob grudgingly decided would work. As Rick started burrowing in the closet for a hat, the phone rang, and Laurie picked it up on the extension.

"Simon Residence, oh, hi, A.J., looking for your partner?" she grinned, seeing her husband's head pop up. "Yeah, I want to make sure he doesn't steal my thunder with his outfit. Rob told you about our new assignment, right?" "Oh, he did all right, Rick is going to be Indiana Jones, you can be the guy from the Dinosaur movies if you want to, I think we have an extra pith helmet." Laurie added.

"Oh, great, I get to be second fiddle again, let me talk to the professor, hon.!" he joked, trying to sound perturbed. Handing the phone to Rick, she pulled the porkpie hat he had just put on over his eyes and scooted past him. "Just wait, darlin', payback's coming!" he called after her as she left the room.

"I heard that, threatening my favorite writer gets you nothing but trouble, bub!" A.J. teased. "Yeah, well, you try putting on clothes and getting laughed at, she's on quite a roll tonight! Listen, did you line up a fancy place for us to stay?", Rick asked, looking in the mirror and adjusting his hat.

"Certainly, we'll be at the Renaissance Inn, not too far from the Art House and rich enough to impress any would be collector, or thief. We check in tomorrow noon, I already spoke with Captain Walker, he arranged for the curator at the museum to vet us when we attend the auction at 8pm. Let me talk to Rob, ok?"

The older Simon called in his son, who picked up the extension as Rick went to bring down a suitcase and pack a few things. After verifying the reservations his uncle had made, Rob told both his father and uncle that a line of credit up to fifty thousand dollars had been set up at the local bank in the names of Bart and Thomas James, the cover they had been given. "Who gets to be who?" Rick joked, jotting down the information. "Pop, you're Bart, short for Bartholomew, you're the world traveler, and Uncle A.J. is Thomas, the bookworm." Rob said, grinning at the noises both Simons made.

"Thanks son, I knew you had it in you to make it typecasting as far as your uncle is concerned, " Rick patted him on the back. A.J. griped over the receiver, "I hope they evaluate you for your class so I can give you a "D", bookworm, huh!"

When all the planning was decided, Rick and Rob said goodnight to A.J. and called it a night. As Rob went out to get a snack before bed, he found his mom looking at an album of his school days. "Just in case you get to be rich and famous, I got tons of stuff to sell the tabloids," she laughed, showing his Junior High pictures to him. "No way, when you guys are asleep I plan to burn this stuff," he said, faking that he was going to grab the book.

"Don't worry, I got another copy that your sister stashed for me," she teased, then looking at his smiling face suddenly reached up and hugged him. "You will be careful, won't you, Robbie? I know it's probably not that dangerous a case, but just in case." He kissed her cheek, saying, "We'll be fine, Mom, you know they wouldn't let me be involved if they didn't think I could handle it. Besides, I have the best backup in town!"

Laurie nodded, "That's why I know everything's going to go well, you and your father and A.J. will break this bunch and you'll get a great assignment after you graduate. You know us mothers, we have to worry about our children, it's in the job description!"

"I know, you'll do the same for Robin when she starts working after she graduates. I'm going to bed now, want me to fix pancakes for breakfast tomorrow?" he offered.

"Sure, I get some eggs when I go to the barn and leave them in the fridge for you. " she replied, then kissed her son good night and watched him go to his room. Sighing, she carefully closed Rob's yearbook, then sat lost in thought until she felt two arms around her, as Rick slid next to her on the sofa.

"Penny for your thoughts, sweetheart," he kissed her. Leaning into him, Laurie whispered, "They're worth more, just thinking how fast Rob and Robin have grown up, I can't help but feel sad, darling, they're going to be leaving home soon. Heck, Robbie already has but, oh don't mind me." she put her head against Rick's shoulder.

He sat quietly for a moment, stroking her hair, then told her, "Darlin', you're right, one moment I meet those big brown eyes, the next thing I'm listening to him talk about procedures and working on a case, we've been so lucky with our children."

Laurie turned and gazed into his eyes, "I'm the one who's been blessed, I have the best husband in the world, children who taught me how to enjoy a family, I'm not going to be one of these empty nesters, we're going to have fun every moment the kids are still here!" "And," she kissed Rick, "We can start with the fun part right now, if you like?"

"Oh, I like!" he grinned, taking her by the hand and leading her to their room.