Chapter 5

"Rick, have you seen the Tournament file?", A.J. asked, pausing his brother in the office doorway. "No, it might still be on my desk, why?" His older brother replied.

"I don't know, something still seems unfinished about the whole thing, both James and Petrie deny they attacked Art; Petrie claims he found the note about Margaret's reputation. It doesn't fit.", A.J. frowned.

Rick looked at him, wondering if he had been that transparent. It had been three days since the murderous partners had been arrested. Laurie and he had finally gone home the day after, skipping the arraignment. It had been crowded in his brother's condo, but he and Laurie didn't mind. Sharing the guest room while their son took the sofa bed, Laurie had laid in his arms and told him that her "Margaret" character was a thing of the past.

"It's not worth the risk, darling, and I think it may have compromised your investigation," she worried. Rick had kissed her, "My angel, it was our investigation, and don't you forget it! "Cousin Margaret" had her place and time, but now you and I have to come up with something else when we work together."

Wide-eyed, she smiled, "You mean that, Rick, I never want to break you and A.J. up!" He held her gently against him, saying, "You're not breaking us up, but A.J. needs to have more time with Linda and Ricky, he brought up your working more with us, if you want." "If I want, oh yes, my love!", she laughed, embracing him. As sleep quietly came to them, a nagging thought hit him from the day before. Art had said someone hit him and knocked him out at his desk, only the paramedic report on file made no mention of any bump or trauma that would have caused this. Rick felt Laurie move next to him, then murmur in his ear, "Darling, are you thinking about the case?"

"Yeah," he yawned, then his eyes opened wide. "Laurie, did you just hear what I was thinking?" She turned to look at him, startled. "If it was something about the tournament, yes. Oh, my God!" She sat bolt upright, as he raised himself up and met her gaze. "Sweetheart, it's all right, but What did you hear?" "It was like an echo, your voice saying something didn't make sense about Art, that's all.", she whispered. "Rick, I wasn't trying to pick up your thoughts, I really wasn't. I was just thinking that the puzzle didn't fit, then I heard you."

Rick looked at the fear in her eyes, then drew his wife against him. "Darlin', I know you weren't trying to read me, and I can't explain why I felt how scared you were when Petrie grabbed you. All I know is we share some kind of link, that helps keep you safe with me. I was wondering if it was just me, now I'm sure we have a loose end we need to check." She sighed, "Thank you, Rick, I was so afraid I was invading your privacy, "she kissed his shoulder, "I didn't know you heard me yesterday, thank God you did!"

Now seeing his brother's confusion, he cleared his throat. "A.J., I think we have a problem, Art's story just doesn't make sense against what Petrie and Stephens say. They're in too deep to lie about his attack now, let alone the blowing of Laurie's cover."

A.J. glanced back at his brother, "Art wouldn't lie about something like that, Rick, what would he have to gain?"

"How about $25,000, son."

Rick looked up at Art Southfield, standing in the office doorway. He wore a rueful smile on his face as he walked in, then closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry Rick, A.J., I hoped no one would notice the slip up I made in my story, but I should have known you two might figure it out," he said. A.J. surreptitiously pulled the receiver of his phone off the hook, as his brother stared at his friend.

Rick shifted in his chair, remembering the desperate way Art had latched on to the immediate identification of their suspect. "We played right into your scheme, didn't we? As your friend, I would be handy in rescuing you from your assistant, so you could, what, cover the misappropriation of the prize money? "he replied calmly, keeping his eyes on the veteran so A.J. could finish dialing Captain Ron. He suddenly recalled Laurie should be back from lunch with Linda and his nephew anytime, please, darling, he prayed, please be late.

A gleam appeared in Southfield's eyes, then he produced a handgun from his pocket and quietly demanded, "A.J., put the phone down or I put a hole in your brother." A.J. froze, then put the receiver down, hoping the connection had registered on the captain's caller id.

"That's better, I don't want to hurt you, I just want a head start before you alert your friend at headquarters. Matter of fact, I decided I want company on the way to the border, so I going to wait here until your Laurie comes back from lunch." he added. "NO!", Rick erupted, pushing back from his desk. Southfield backed up, turning the gun towards A.J. "Don't make me shoot him, Rick, not one step. I promise I won't hurt her; she's the one good thing about this whole mess I made. I'm just going to take her as far as Yuma, then I'll drop her off this side of the border. Now just sit down, Sarge, now!" Rick slowly slid into his chair, desperately trying to "send" a warning to his wife. He didn't know if it would work, but he hoped she would at least get an inkling that there was trouble.

"That's better, my friend, we'll just sit here making small talk then I'll lock you two in the closet and be on my way." Southfield told the brothers. All three men sat staring at each other for what seemed like hours, just then footsteps were heard coming up the stairs, bringing the embezzler to his feet.

"Inside the closet, both of you!", he ordered, pulling back the hammer on the revolver. Reluctantly A.J. stepped inside the storage room, then Rick started to follow, trying to stall for time. Just as he reached the wooden door, his former friend pushed him inside just as the office door burst open, knocking Southfield backwards into a desk. A shot rang out, and the former veterans' gun went flying.

"Don't move, mister, or you'll only wish you were in jail", Captain Ron's voice sounded in the doorway. Southfield slowly slid to the ground, staring in disbelief at the policeman's presence. "Rick, A.J. are you guys alright?", the captain asked, then grinned in relief as the brothers came out of the storage room. "Yeah, thanks to you!", Rick exhaled.

A.J. shook his head, "Thanks isn't the word, I wasn't sure the connection went through. Did you see our number on your phone?"

"Yes, but here's the reason why I knew I had to come; ok, Laurie!", Captain Ron called. "Rick, A.J!" she cried, running into the office. Rick caught her in his arms, "Sweetheart, where did you come from?" He kissed her, then realized she was crying, "Laurie, we're fine, don't cry, darlin'." She poked her head up from his arms, sniffing. "I'm sorry, I was terrified, I heard you, darling, then I saw Art's car in the parking lot. I called Captain Ron and he said he was on his way, and for me to wait downstairs." The Captain smiled at her, then told Rick, "I think I put the fear of God in her, guys, she was standing at the foot of the stairs, and I told her not to move one inch until I called or I'd handcuff her to the railing."

A.J. stared at him, "And she believed you?" Laurie looked at her brother- in-law, then nodded. "I knew if I came in too soon I might jeopardize you guys, but I heard every word he", she indicated Southfield, "said to you, Rick. I almost came up here when he told you to get in the closet, but I knew Captain Ron had a better chance." Rick wiped the tears from her eyes, telling her, "I'm so proud of you, my Laurie, you did the right thing. I was scared you'd come up here and he'd take you from me, I wouldn't have been able to bear it." The captain hauled the stunned criminal up from the floor, having cuffed him, then as he pulled him out of the office, Southfield turned and looked at Laurie, still wrapped in her husband's arms.

"I don't understand, how did you hear Rick, Mrs. Simon?", he asked, a look of amazement on his face. She looked at her husband's former friend, then replied angrily, "Trust, Mr. Southfield, something you obviously don't know anything about." Captain Ron shook his head, then told Rick, "You three can follow me down to the station, I'll take your statement then."

As he took the prisoner downstairs, A.J. leaned over and kissed his sister- in-law. "Honey, I'm glad you're on our side, I wouldn't want you to get mad at me!" She smiled at both brothers and retorted, "Don't you ever scare me like that again, or else!"

A devilish light appeared in Rick's eyes; "or else?" Laurie laughed, then let out a whoop as Rick swooped her up then said, "Come on, A.J., I want to hurry up and make our statements; I have a date with "or else!"