Chapter 2
"Carlos, for the last time, I'm not interested. Didn't I tell you after Ensenada we were through working together!" A.J. paused, seeing his brother's neck turning red. He had no idea Rick would be in early, but hearing the rising anger in his voice, he was glad he would be there to calm him down before any clients, or Laurie, arrived.
Rick turned around as A.J. quietly walked past him to the kitchenette, then lowered his tone. "Look, amigo, don't make me say anything I might regret, ok?" He listened for a moment, then said, "Hasta, my friend." Putting down the receiver, he looked at his little brother as he went to his desk, then calmly said, "Mornin' A.J."
"Morning yourself, Rick. What brings you to work so early, don't tell me my work ethic is rubbing off on you after all these years?" he teased, hoping to lift Rick's mood. The older Simon managed a wry grin, "Your work ethic, ha! I pride myself on my ethic for work, just not as much an early bird as you. How's my nephew this morning?"
"Full of beans, he did sleep a few hours last night, Linda only had to get up twice." he replied, fetching both of them some coffee. As Rick accepted his with thanks, he glanced at A.J., then offered, "Thanks for not asking about my phone call with Carlos, little brother." "Not my business, it seems like you said all you had to say with him. Can I ask what he wanted you to do that made you see red?"
Rick took a sip of his morning brew, then looking A.J. in the eye, answered, "Smuggling, A.J., he didn't even have to say what, but I guessed. Prescription drugs." Stunned, his brother couldn't say anything; Rick's friend had done some shady stuff, but drugs?
"Rick, are you sure Carlos is a drug smuggler?" he finally managed. Rick quickly shook his head, "No, A.J., not drugs, but the kind people buy over the border then try to bring in. He's got some wild idea I look so ordinary I could drive case loads over the border for some supplier in Chula Vista, then we get part of the mark up. When I told him no, he said that my wife had made me soft, and that I was viejo, old." He took a quick gulp of the hot liquid, then shifted his gaze to the picture of Laurie on his desk.
"If he had said anything else, I could have laughed it off, but to insult her like that," Rick crumpled up a paper and tossed it furiously in the trash. "A.J., the idiot even said I would be above suspicion because of Rob, what I want to know is how he knew my son was a deputy."
His brother frowned, "I don't know, Rick, but I'm sorry he's turned bad. That crack he made about Laurie must be because she told him off when you got hurt, I think he's just plain jealous of you having a family and he doesn't."
"I'm not going to waste anymore time thinking about it, little brother, and please, not a word to Laurie, she'll only feel bad. Listen, before she gets here, I need to finish the plans for Saturday night, the costumer needs yours and Linda's sizes". A.J. accepted the change of topic with a grin; nothing put Rick in a better mood then his anniversary surprise for Laurie.
Finishing with their last client before lunch, Rick realized that his wife was late, so he called the ranch while A.J. ran downstairs to see if her car was there. After the fourth ring, he was about to let it go to their recorder when Robin picked it up. "Pop, is that you?" she sounded scared. "Honey, yeah, it's me, what's wrong?"
"Mom left late to meet you because of some phone call she got, and afterwards I noticed a strange van parked on the road, like someone watching the house." Rick felt a knot form in his stomach. "Robin, lock the doors, and stay inside, I'll call your brother and Rob and have them check it out. Call me if anything happens, or if that van comes onto our property, it's probably nothing, but just in case..."
"Thanks, Pop, I knew you'd know what to do. Call me when Mom gets there, ok?" she asked, reassured. "Ok, honey, just be careful. I'll talk to you later, gator", he quipped, trying to ease her worry. Giggling, she replied, "In a while, crocodile!"
Hanging up, he looked up to see Laurie in the doorway with A.J., an upset look on her face. "Rick, was that Robin? Did something happen at home?" He reached for her and embraced her, feeling her trembling against him. "Laurie, sweetheart, I was worried so I called home. I need to call Rob now, it's probably nothing, but Robin says a strange van was parked on the road across from the house. A.J.," he shot a look at his brother, who then put an arm around his sister-in-law and had her sit on the sofa.
Punching in the Sheriff's office number in Silver Rock, he waited only a second before getting Rob Gomez on the line. "Rob, is my son there?" he asked after a brief hello. "No, he just went to the ranch, he called Robin to see if she needed anything and I guess she had just talked to you, about a strange van." Rick shook his head, thank God his son was one step ahead of him. "Yeah, I had just called and I told her I'd call you guys."
"Well, the Chief went with him, I have to wait for some tribal guy so he insisted Rob not go alone. He'll call Andy if he needs back up, but something tells me he won't." the sheriff assured him. Breathing a sigh of relief, Rick thanked Rob and asked him to call if he heard anything back.
Once again ringing off, he looked at his wife, seemingly calmer. "Darlin', what happened, Robin said you left late because of a phone call you got?" She gazed at him, "Rick, Carlos called me, he said he wanted to apologize for getting you in trouble with me the last time you two were together. I told him you weren't in trouble, but that I was worried about your safety and that I was sure he would never put you in danger on purpose. I felt bad for him 'cause he said his Mother's sick and he's having a hard time right now."
Laurie stood up, her hands twisting together, then she came over to Rick and sat in the chair next to his desk. "Then Carlos started talking strange and he said something I couldn't believe, he said you and he were going to do one last run across the border this weekend, that it was a no-risk job and he'd bring you back "in one piece". Rick's face went red with anger, and quickly Laurie put her hand on his, "Rick, I know it's not true, please calm down. I told him that I was sorry I had listened to him because I knew you already had plans this Saturday and they didn't include going to Mexico. He got really quiet, then he said something nasty." She looked down, Rick realized she was scared to tell him what the "something nasty was." He glanced at A.J., seeing the fury in his eyes, then gently lifting Laurie's face, "Darlin', what did he say, I promise not to lose my temper." She took a deep breath, then replied, "Carlos said if you didn't help him he was as good as dead, because I was a bruja who didn't love you enough to trust you. He said he wouldn't be responsible if something bad happened. I got scared and I said I didn't believe someone who'd been such a friend would threaten us and he said it was no threat."
At that Rick reached over and took his wife in his arms, "Sweetheart, I'm sorry, God I'm sorry he scared you, I 'm not going let him or anyone make you afraid like that. He called me, too, this morning," he spared a look at his brother, "and he tried to get me to go to Mexico and smuggle over some prescription drugs. I gave it to him, even told him not to make me say something I'd regret." He stroked Laurie's face, and she finally smiled, then kissed his hand.
"I know he must really be desperate, darling, he sounded so strange and well, I am sorry for him, Rick." He kissed her, then quietly added, "Don't be, my angel, I'm going to call him on this story of his. And," he sighed, "I'm going tell him he's never to call or bother anyone of my family again. There's no way Carlos could have thought something like this up, he probably got in too deep with somebody. A.J., maybe I should talk to Oscar, he would know who should be on the lookout for this stuff."
"That's a good idea, Rick, plus it doesn't hurt to have him in on this, I know Carlos must be frightened of something to come out with, well, Oscar will give us an idea." his brother added.
Abruptly the phone rang, and A.J. picked it up, "Simon & Simon Investigations". "Robbie, is Robin all right?" he asked, signally Rick to pick up the extension. "Yes, Uncle A.J., she's just fine, just worried about Mom, is she there?"
Rick handed the extension to his wife, "Robbie, it's Mom, I'm ok, I'm sorry you two were worried. Did you see the van Robin reported?" I got a look at it as I got home, it sped down Lost Valley road and cut through the cactus field, then I lost it. The Chief was going to try to pick up its tracks here, I'm staying put though, just in case there's any return trips!" he said, a relieved tone to his voice.
"Thanks, Robbie, I would have worried if someone wasn't home with your sister. Did you get a look at the plates on the van?", Rick broke in, taking the phone from his brother. "Yeah, they're registered to a Yuma medical supply firm. Pop, you're not investigating anyone in that area, are you?" His father's heart sank, "No, but Rob, I need to tell you something, I was going to talk to Oscar first but I think I know who's behind that van watching the ranch. Mom and I are coming home right now, so hang tight." He handed the receiver to Laurie so she could talk to Robin, then sank back in his chair.
A.J. waited until she said goodbye to both of their children, then said, "I take it the van's linked to Carlos's calls." Rick nodded, "Yes, Rob ran the license plates and they belong to a medical supply company in Yuma. A.J., I'm so angry I could kill Carlos! After all these years, for him to turn like this and threaten our family!" he exploded to his feet. His brother shot a look of "don't say anything" to his sister-in-law, then watched him pace around ranting until he started to cool.
Laurie waited until he paused for breath, then said, "Rick, something doesn't add up with what Carlos said to you and then his call to me. I keep thinking about how he spoke to me, since I was a kid he called me Laurie, never "Senora Simon", yet that's what he used today. And when he was talking about his mother, I thought she was with his sister in Encinitas, yet he said in the hospital in Yuma, when did his family move there?"
Rick stopped in his tracks, then turned with a puzzled look to his wife. "Sweetheart, they've never lived in Yuma, but wait a minute." He looked at his brother, who went over to the caller id screen, punched up the call record, then called Rick over.
He took one glance, then gave a faint grin. "He called me from a payphone in Yuma. It did sound kind of funny, like there was someone with him. A.J., she's getting good at this." "What do you mean, getting good?" she teased, as he took her hands and pulled her up into his arms. Holding her close, he told her, "If you're right, darlin', I've got a friend to save. First off, I'm taking you home, not taking any chances."
"Rick, I can drive, just follow me and it'll be safe." she protested. "Besides, I don't want you to leave the truck here overnight, it might get stolen." A.J. interrupted, "She's right, Rick, besides, we've got a client coming in first thing tomorrow, so I need you to be here at 9, sharp!"
"Little brother, it's a good thing I like my namesake, otherwise I'd let you take the client and stay home with my anniversary girl!" he groused, kissing the back of Laurie's neck. She giggled, then assured A.J., "Don't worry, I'll bounce him out of bed bright and early! Speaking of which, why don't you surprise Linda and call it an early day!"
Grabbing his jacket, her brother-in-law kissed Laurie's cheek on his way to the door, "Rick, am I glad Mom and I made you get off that plane to propose, look what we would have missed!"
"Carlos, for the last time, I'm not interested. Didn't I tell you after Ensenada we were through working together!" A.J. paused, seeing his brother's neck turning red. He had no idea Rick would be in early, but hearing the rising anger in his voice, he was glad he would be there to calm him down before any clients, or Laurie, arrived.
Rick turned around as A.J. quietly walked past him to the kitchenette, then lowered his tone. "Look, amigo, don't make me say anything I might regret, ok?" He listened for a moment, then said, "Hasta, my friend." Putting down the receiver, he looked at his little brother as he went to his desk, then calmly said, "Mornin' A.J."
"Morning yourself, Rick. What brings you to work so early, don't tell me my work ethic is rubbing off on you after all these years?" he teased, hoping to lift Rick's mood. The older Simon managed a wry grin, "Your work ethic, ha! I pride myself on my ethic for work, just not as much an early bird as you. How's my nephew this morning?"
"Full of beans, he did sleep a few hours last night, Linda only had to get up twice." he replied, fetching both of them some coffee. As Rick accepted his with thanks, he glanced at A.J., then offered, "Thanks for not asking about my phone call with Carlos, little brother." "Not my business, it seems like you said all you had to say with him. Can I ask what he wanted you to do that made you see red?"
Rick took a sip of his morning brew, then looking A.J. in the eye, answered, "Smuggling, A.J., he didn't even have to say what, but I guessed. Prescription drugs." Stunned, his brother couldn't say anything; Rick's friend had done some shady stuff, but drugs?
"Rick, are you sure Carlos is a drug smuggler?" he finally managed. Rick quickly shook his head, "No, A.J., not drugs, but the kind people buy over the border then try to bring in. He's got some wild idea I look so ordinary I could drive case loads over the border for some supplier in Chula Vista, then we get part of the mark up. When I told him no, he said that my wife had made me soft, and that I was viejo, old." He took a quick gulp of the hot liquid, then shifted his gaze to the picture of Laurie on his desk.
"If he had said anything else, I could have laughed it off, but to insult her like that," Rick crumpled up a paper and tossed it furiously in the trash. "A.J., the idiot even said I would be above suspicion because of Rob, what I want to know is how he knew my son was a deputy."
His brother frowned, "I don't know, Rick, but I'm sorry he's turned bad. That crack he made about Laurie must be because she told him off when you got hurt, I think he's just plain jealous of you having a family and he doesn't."
"I'm not going to waste anymore time thinking about it, little brother, and please, not a word to Laurie, she'll only feel bad. Listen, before she gets here, I need to finish the plans for Saturday night, the costumer needs yours and Linda's sizes". A.J. accepted the change of topic with a grin; nothing put Rick in a better mood then his anniversary surprise for Laurie.
Finishing with their last client before lunch, Rick realized that his wife was late, so he called the ranch while A.J. ran downstairs to see if her car was there. After the fourth ring, he was about to let it go to their recorder when Robin picked it up. "Pop, is that you?" she sounded scared. "Honey, yeah, it's me, what's wrong?"
"Mom left late to meet you because of some phone call she got, and afterwards I noticed a strange van parked on the road, like someone watching the house." Rick felt a knot form in his stomach. "Robin, lock the doors, and stay inside, I'll call your brother and Rob and have them check it out. Call me if anything happens, or if that van comes onto our property, it's probably nothing, but just in case..."
"Thanks, Pop, I knew you'd know what to do. Call me when Mom gets there, ok?" she asked, reassured. "Ok, honey, just be careful. I'll talk to you later, gator", he quipped, trying to ease her worry. Giggling, she replied, "In a while, crocodile!"
Hanging up, he looked up to see Laurie in the doorway with A.J., an upset look on her face. "Rick, was that Robin? Did something happen at home?" He reached for her and embraced her, feeling her trembling against him. "Laurie, sweetheart, I was worried so I called home. I need to call Rob now, it's probably nothing, but Robin says a strange van was parked on the road across from the house. A.J.," he shot a look at his brother, who then put an arm around his sister-in-law and had her sit on the sofa.
Punching in the Sheriff's office number in Silver Rock, he waited only a second before getting Rob Gomez on the line. "Rob, is my son there?" he asked after a brief hello. "No, he just went to the ranch, he called Robin to see if she needed anything and I guess she had just talked to you, about a strange van." Rick shook his head, thank God his son was one step ahead of him. "Yeah, I had just called and I told her I'd call you guys."
"Well, the Chief went with him, I have to wait for some tribal guy so he insisted Rob not go alone. He'll call Andy if he needs back up, but something tells me he won't." the sheriff assured him. Breathing a sigh of relief, Rick thanked Rob and asked him to call if he heard anything back.
Once again ringing off, he looked at his wife, seemingly calmer. "Darlin', what happened, Robin said you left late because of a phone call you got?" She gazed at him, "Rick, Carlos called me, he said he wanted to apologize for getting you in trouble with me the last time you two were together. I told him you weren't in trouble, but that I was worried about your safety and that I was sure he would never put you in danger on purpose. I felt bad for him 'cause he said his Mother's sick and he's having a hard time right now."
Laurie stood up, her hands twisting together, then she came over to Rick and sat in the chair next to his desk. "Then Carlos started talking strange and he said something I couldn't believe, he said you and he were going to do one last run across the border this weekend, that it was a no-risk job and he'd bring you back "in one piece". Rick's face went red with anger, and quickly Laurie put her hand on his, "Rick, I know it's not true, please calm down. I told him that I was sorry I had listened to him because I knew you already had plans this Saturday and they didn't include going to Mexico. He got really quiet, then he said something nasty." She looked down, Rick realized she was scared to tell him what the "something nasty was." He glanced at A.J., seeing the fury in his eyes, then gently lifting Laurie's face, "Darlin', what did he say, I promise not to lose my temper." She took a deep breath, then replied, "Carlos said if you didn't help him he was as good as dead, because I was a bruja who didn't love you enough to trust you. He said he wouldn't be responsible if something bad happened. I got scared and I said I didn't believe someone who'd been such a friend would threaten us and he said it was no threat."
At that Rick reached over and took his wife in his arms, "Sweetheart, I'm sorry, God I'm sorry he scared you, I 'm not going let him or anyone make you afraid like that. He called me, too, this morning," he spared a look at his brother, "and he tried to get me to go to Mexico and smuggle over some prescription drugs. I gave it to him, even told him not to make me say something I'd regret." He stroked Laurie's face, and she finally smiled, then kissed his hand.
"I know he must really be desperate, darling, he sounded so strange and well, I am sorry for him, Rick." He kissed her, then quietly added, "Don't be, my angel, I'm going to call him on this story of his. And," he sighed, "I'm going tell him he's never to call or bother anyone of my family again. There's no way Carlos could have thought something like this up, he probably got in too deep with somebody. A.J., maybe I should talk to Oscar, he would know who should be on the lookout for this stuff."
"That's a good idea, Rick, plus it doesn't hurt to have him in on this, I know Carlos must be frightened of something to come out with, well, Oscar will give us an idea." his brother added.
Abruptly the phone rang, and A.J. picked it up, "Simon & Simon Investigations". "Robbie, is Robin all right?" he asked, signally Rick to pick up the extension. "Yes, Uncle A.J., she's just fine, just worried about Mom, is she there?"
Rick handed the extension to his wife, "Robbie, it's Mom, I'm ok, I'm sorry you two were worried. Did you see the van Robin reported?" I got a look at it as I got home, it sped down Lost Valley road and cut through the cactus field, then I lost it. The Chief was going to try to pick up its tracks here, I'm staying put though, just in case there's any return trips!" he said, a relieved tone to his voice.
"Thanks, Robbie, I would have worried if someone wasn't home with your sister. Did you get a look at the plates on the van?", Rick broke in, taking the phone from his brother. "Yeah, they're registered to a Yuma medical supply firm. Pop, you're not investigating anyone in that area, are you?" His father's heart sank, "No, but Rob, I need to tell you something, I was going to talk to Oscar first but I think I know who's behind that van watching the ranch. Mom and I are coming home right now, so hang tight." He handed the receiver to Laurie so she could talk to Robin, then sank back in his chair.
A.J. waited until she said goodbye to both of their children, then said, "I take it the van's linked to Carlos's calls." Rick nodded, "Yes, Rob ran the license plates and they belong to a medical supply company in Yuma. A.J., I'm so angry I could kill Carlos! After all these years, for him to turn like this and threaten our family!" he exploded to his feet. His brother shot a look of "don't say anything" to his sister-in-law, then watched him pace around ranting until he started to cool.
Laurie waited until he paused for breath, then said, "Rick, something doesn't add up with what Carlos said to you and then his call to me. I keep thinking about how he spoke to me, since I was a kid he called me Laurie, never "Senora Simon", yet that's what he used today. And when he was talking about his mother, I thought she was with his sister in Encinitas, yet he said in the hospital in Yuma, when did his family move there?"
Rick stopped in his tracks, then turned with a puzzled look to his wife. "Sweetheart, they've never lived in Yuma, but wait a minute." He looked at his brother, who went over to the caller id screen, punched up the call record, then called Rick over.
He took one glance, then gave a faint grin. "He called me from a payphone in Yuma. It did sound kind of funny, like there was someone with him. A.J., she's getting good at this." "What do you mean, getting good?" she teased, as he took her hands and pulled her up into his arms. Holding her close, he told her, "If you're right, darlin', I've got a friend to save. First off, I'm taking you home, not taking any chances."
"Rick, I can drive, just follow me and it'll be safe." she protested. "Besides, I don't want you to leave the truck here overnight, it might get stolen." A.J. interrupted, "She's right, Rick, besides, we've got a client coming in first thing tomorrow, so I need you to be here at 9, sharp!"
"Little brother, it's a good thing I like my namesake, otherwise I'd let you take the client and stay home with my anniversary girl!" he groused, kissing the back of Laurie's neck. She giggled, then assured A.J., "Don't worry, I'll bounce him out of bed bright and early! Speaking of which, why don't you surprise Linda and call it an early day!"
Grabbing his jacket, her brother-in-law kissed Laurie's cheek on his way to the door, "Rick, am I glad Mom and I made you get off that plane to propose, look what we would have missed!"