Chapter 4

A.J. spoke out of the corner of this mouth, "What's he talking about?" Suddenly the drape to their left moved, and James Stephenson came out, holding Laurie by the throat. Her hands were tied in front of her, and the escaped killer had his gun in her side. Rick, shocked, said, "Laurie, are you all right?" "Don't let him get away, darling, it's....", she gasped as the heavy set killer jammed his arm into her throat. Stephenson snarled at her, "Quiet, Mrs. Simon, your life depends on Mr. Simon here dropping his gun and letting us walk out of here." Rick gazed into Laurie's terrified eyes, silently begging her to stay still, as he saw Captain Ron in the background. The policeman quietly moved behind Petrie and his accomplice, then froze as Stephenson smirked and added, "I wouldn't come any closer, Captain, I have a hair trigger on this gun. She's going with us, so just put your weapon down, now."

Rick winced; the bridge master obviously had caught a glimpse of the policeman as he entered. "All right, stay calm, I'm putting my gun down, you don't need her to escape, we'll stay right here if you let her go.", he told them. Abruptly Laurie moaned, "I can't breathe,", then started to slump to the ground.

Stephenson was taken off guard and instinctively removed his arm from her neck, only to have her raise the bound arms and slam him in the stomach, then throw herself away from him to the floor.

Cursing, he doubled over then raised his gun, only to have Captain Ron grab him around the arms and force him to drop it. Rick leveled his weapon at Petrie who started to dive for the loose gun. "One move and they'll be picking you up with a vacuum cleaner!", he yelled, then seeing the policeman losing his grip on the big man, lifted him off the ground then punched him.

As the Captain wrestled a pair of cuffs on Stephenson, A.J. covered the now cowering Petrie. Rick went to his wife, who was struggling to raise herself off the carpet. "Sweetheart, don't move, did he hurt you?", he gently put his arms around her and brought her to a sitting position, untying her wrists then carefully rubbing them as she leaned her head against his chest.

"Rick, I'm all right, just scared. If Captain Ron hadn't come in...." Laurie started to shake, then buried her face in his shoulder. "Shh, it's ok, darlin',"he soothed her, as his brother helped the policeman lead both criminals out of the room. She lifted her face and Rick saw his wife had been roughed up, a handprint still purple on her cheek. "Laurie, did Stephenson do that to you?", he growled. She nodded, "He hit me when I struggled with him taking me inside. Captain Ron had just pulled up across the street when Stephenson walked up and asked me if I was waiting for someone. I was surprised to see him there and I told him I was looking for my cousin. That's when he pulled his gun and said that I was coming with him. Rick, he's evil, he...." Fighting for control, she took a deep breath, then as her husband stroked her hair, she calmed down and said, "He pulled me inside and tied my hands, then started kissing me. I kneed him in the groin and that's when he slapped me and put the gun in my side. He said he'd get rid of Petrie so he could have a private party with me. "

Rick tightened his embrace; angry beyond words at the horror the murderer had put her through. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry, I should never have left you there. I thought A.J. and I had laid the trap for him, we didn't figure on Petrie coming in."

She kissed Rick gingerly, then snuggling against him, said, "you didn't know, darling, I had a suspicion that he had help, but Stephenson? Thank God you gave me that look, I was going into my faint when you froze me, then when that creep saw Captain Ron's reflection in the mirror, I knew I had enough of a distraction to pull it off."

Just then A.J. came back in, "Laurie, honey are you ok?" He helped Rick lift her to her feet, then she hugged her brother-in-law, "I'm better now, thanks to you guys, and Captain Ron." As they left the members lounge, the Phoenix P.D. Captain came toward them. "Captain, thank you, you came in the nick of time!", Laurie greeted him, embracing the embarrassed policeman. He smiled, then looking at the Simon brothers, replied, "Rick and A.J. deserve a lot of the credit, what I don't understand is how Petrie knew Stephenson had Laurie?"

Laurie took her husband's hand, "Stephenson gave him a signal through the curtain, he threatened to shoot Rick and A.J. if I made a sound. When he heard Petrie say "trump up my sleeve", that's when he dragged me in. "Rick put his arm around her, comforting her.

"I'm just glad you delayed Stephenson as long as you did, I saw him hit you as he dragged you into the building. Rick, I'll need all three of you to make a statement, I'll see that the doctor takes a look at Laurie if you come to headquarters, "Captain Ron replied, shaking hands with Rick and A.J.

After he was gone, the three Simons picked up their luggage and left the hotel, with Rick and Laurie driving in her car to the police station, A.J. following in Rick's truck. After filling out all their paperwork, Rick came out to the waiting area to find Laurie half-asleep with an ice pack on her face, leaning against A.J.'s shoulder. Looking up at his brother, A.J. whispered, "I want you two to come home with me, the doctor said she's all right, no broken bones, but you both can use some sleep,"

Without opening an eye, his sister-in-law spoke up, "I'm fine. I just don't want Rick to fall asleep at the wheel." Rick grinned, then scooping Laurie up in his arms, told A.J., "I accept, only you let me make pancakes in the morning, ok?"

The younger Simon laughed, "Ok, breakfast is on you!"