Chapter 3
"Hey, Pop, I'm glad you're back," Robbie greeted Rick as he got out of his truck. Giving him a hug, he added, "Rob called, I have to go back to the office, Andy's got a flat tire." His father cleared his throat, then told his son, "I have to tell you what I couldn't say on the phone, I think my friend Carlos is being pressured to smuggle illegal prescription drugs over the border. He tried to get me to help him this morning, even mentioning that I would be covered because you're a sheriff. He then called your mother and tried to make her think I was going to do it, then he warned her in a roundabout way that something might happen if I didn't help him."
The young deputy stared at him, then replied, "That explains why the van took off when I approached off the turn at Horserock, they must have known who I was!" Rick nodded, "What we've got to figure out is how to get Carlos away from them long enough to turn them into the authorities, without the smugglers turning on him!" "And, Pop, how to make sure you guys are safe!" his son added, just as Laurie came out of the house. "Robbie, I'm not going into work with your father tomorrow, so when you get off, come home for some breakfast, ok?"
"Ok, Mom, I'll be here. You guys watch yourselves; I'll call if I hear anything or if the Chief has any information." Robbie hugged his folks, then waving to his sister, got in his sheriffs car and drove off.
Once he was gone, Rick went in and called Oscar, hoping he might have some idea of how to help Carlos. To his surprise, Rudy answered, "Hey, Rick, you're home early. Oscar and I just got in from the creek, want fish for dinner?"
Shaking his head, Rick laughed and told him, "Yeah, Laurie loves to clean fish, you piker! Listen, bring your catch and yourselves over, I need some advice from Oscar about a situation with my friend Carlos." "All right, son, we'll be over in a little while," Rudy replied, knowing anyone could be listening on the phone line.
Rick breathed a sigh of relief, normally he didn't like running to Oscar for help with Carlos; Goldman didn't have a very high opinion of his old friend or his borderline schemes. Still, he was too close to the situation, and as he tried to think of a solution, he felt two arms embracing him from the back.
"Darling, it's going to be all right," he felt Laurie lean against him, then turning in her arms, he laid his cheek against hers. He then told her about the fish that Oscar and Rudy were bringing for dinner.
"That's perfect, I have baked potatoes all ready on, now I just need to get the grill started and..." she was interrupted by the bell at the gate. Rick went first to check, then seeing Oscar's car, hit the remote and the gate opened.
"I'll go help the guys, darlin', you and Robin can get the grill going so we don't lose any fish this time!" he said, wanting a few moments alone with her uncle.
"Ok, you can talk to them outside if you want, subtle you're not!" she teased gently, then giggled as he picked her up and swung her around.
Outside, Rick briefed their friends while unloading an ice chest full of trout, which Oscar nearly dropped upon hearing of the mystery van casing the ranch.
"Rick, I don't like it, I know you believe your friend isn't capable of something like this, but the fact that someone is watching your home the day he tries to recruit you, well, I want to make some calls tomorrow, see who we should go to on this smuggling business." "You're right, Oscar", Rick admitted, carrying his end of the chest to the back patio. Setting it down, he lowered his voice and added, "There's no way I would allow my family to be threatened by whoever's behind this, that's why Laurie's staying home until we get this resolved."
As if on cue, she poked her head out of the kitchen, "Hey, guys, where's the fish?" Rudy went over to embrace her, then saw she had three beers in her hand. "Ah, now I know falling in the creek was worth it!" he laughed, taking the cold bottles from her.
Oscar helped load up the grill with coals, then hugged Laurie saying "Thanks for having us to dinner, we couldn't have eaten all these by ourselves." "Oh, yeah, I see you two cleaning all these Rainbow, help me take them inside so you can tell me how Rudy fell in!", she grinned.
After dinner, Robin and Laurie insisted on doing the dishes, so the others could watch a game on television. Coming in to get some coffee, Rudy put an arm around both dishwashers, saying, "How would you two ladies like some company at lunch tomorrow, Doc is on duty from noon until 6pm, so I'm free!"
"Sure, Uncle Rudy, I don't have any classes until Thursday, so I could make fish tacos with tonight's leftovers!" Robin replied. Laurie saw through her friends' subterfuge, then gave him a hug, "Thanks, Rudy, I know we'll be in good hands with you around." He cleared his throat, "Well, lunch is all set, now why don't you two leave the dishes to dry, Rick wants to show us the pictures he took of the Range Rider."
Just then the phone rang, and Laurie picked up the receiver, "Simon Residence". There was a moment of silence, then "Laurie, it's Carlos, I'm sorry to bother you, I need to talk to Rick, it's urgent." She immediately looked at Robin and said, "Tell your father it's Carlos, he can take it in here."
She gave her mom an understanding look, then went to the living room. In a moment Rick was back, "Let me talk to him, darlin' ", then as she covered the receiver, he mouthed, "Oscar picked up". Laurie handed him the phone, then went to join the others, who were sitting quietly as her uncle listened in.
"All right, amigo, tell me the truth; who's watching my home, and how deep are you involved?" he asked tersely.
"I'm sorry, Rick, I never meant to get you or your family involved. I was stupid, I blew a deal with this guy, and as payment I was supposed to take one shipment across the border at Yuma and deliver them to a place in Chula Vista. None of my brothers would help me, I couldn't tell them why I was doing it because this guy had our phone tapped.
Plus mama's sick, and I was afraid how'd she react if she knew what I was mixed up in. This guy Matthews had his man with me when I called Laurie this afternoon, I tried to sound nasty so she would know it wasn't for real, but I guess I went overboard. I didn't know they had someone watching your place until they came screeching in this afternoon and said I had to get you to help, otherwise I was dead." Carlos took a deep breath, then added, "I'm cooked either way, Rick, but I won't let them hurt you or your family. If you can meet me at your office parking lot tomorrow, I'm willing to go to the cops, anything's better then feeling trapped like this."
Rick felt his stomach unknot; he knew his friend hadn't turned bad. "All right, Carlos, I have to be at work early tomorrow, wait inside my truck, I'll come downstairs at 9:30 and we'll go to Phoenix PD. I have a friend there who should be able to help us."
There was a note of relief in Carlos's voice, "Thanks, compadre, I knew you'd believe me. Please tell Laurie I'm sorry, she's given you a good family and a good life, I wouldn't hurt her for the world."
The older Simon felt a lump in his throat, "Buenas noches, my friend," "And you".
Rick hung up the phone, then came out of the kitchen to see Oscar unscrewing the extension's receiver, then pulling out a small coil.
He looked up at Rick, then told him, "This should have prevented anyone from listening in on your conversation, I barely had time to put it on. Do you think he's telling the truth?"
Rick nodded, "Yeah, too easy to find out if he's lying. I know his brothers, neither of them want to do anything with him. As for his mother, I can check that out in the morning. I hit the tape machine in the kitchen so the whole conversation is on tape, I'll take it with me to the office just in case he doesn't show."
"Ok, Rick, we'll play it your way, why don't I meet you at Phoenix PD about 10, that way we can talk to Captain Ron and see what he has to say." Oscar stood up, then told Laurie, "I'll call and check on things in the afternoon, so make sure you save me a fish taco from lunch!" She reached up and hugged him, saying, "I promise, if I can save one from Rudy!"
Amid the laughter that followed, Robin glanced at her father, then embraced him. "Everything's going to be all right, Pop, I know it." He held her tight, then looking over her head at Laurie, gave her a wink.
"Hey, Pop, I'm glad you're back," Robbie greeted Rick as he got out of his truck. Giving him a hug, he added, "Rob called, I have to go back to the office, Andy's got a flat tire." His father cleared his throat, then told his son, "I have to tell you what I couldn't say on the phone, I think my friend Carlos is being pressured to smuggle illegal prescription drugs over the border. He tried to get me to help him this morning, even mentioning that I would be covered because you're a sheriff. He then called your mother and tried to make her think I was going to do it, then he warned her in a roundabout way that something might happen if I didn't help him."
The young deputy stared at him, then replied, "That explains why the van took off when I approached off the turn at Horserock, they must have known who I was!" Rick nodded, "What we've got to figure out is how to get Carlos away from them long enough to turn them into the authorities, without the smugglers turning on him!" "And, Pop, how to make sure you guys are safe!" his son added, just as Laurie came out of the house. "Robbie, I'm not going into work with your father tomorrow, so when you get off, come home for some breakfast, ok?"
"Ok, Mom, I'll be here. You guys watch yourselves; I'll call if I hear anything or if the Chief has any information." Robbie hugged his folks, then waving to his sister, got in his sheriffs car and drove off.
Once he was gone, Rick went in and called Oscar, hoping he might have some idea of how to help Carlos. To his surprise, Rudy answered, "Hey, Rick, you're home early. Oscar and I just got in from the creek, want fish for dinner?"
Shaking his head, Rick laughed and told him, "Yeah, Laurie loves to clean fish, you piker! Listen, bring your catch and yourselves over, I need some advice from Oscar about a situation with my friend Carlos." "All right, son, we'll be over in a little while," Rudy replied, knowing anyone could be listening on the phone line.
Rick breathed a sigh of relief, normally he didn't like running to Oscar for help with Carlos; Goldman didn't have a very high opinion of his old friend or his borderline schemes. Still, he was too close to the situation, and as he tried to think of a solution, he felt two arms embracing him from the back.
"Darling, it's going to be all right," he felt Laurie lean against him, then turning in her arms, he laid his cheek against hers. He then told her about the fish that Oscar and Rudy were bringing for dinner.
"That's perfect, I have baked potatoes all ready on, now I just need to get the grill started and..." she was interrupted by the bell at the gate. Rick went first to check, then seeing Oscar's car, hit the remote and the gate opened.
"I'll go help the guys, darlin', you and Robin can get the grill going so we don't lose any fish this time!" he said, wanting a few moments alone with her uncle.
"Ok, you can talk to them outside if you want, subtle you're not!" she teased gently, then giggled as he picked her up and swung her around.
Outside, Rick briefed their friends while unloading an ice chest full of trout, which Oscar nearly dropped upon hearing of the mystery van casing the ranch.
"Rick, I don't like it, I know you believe your friend isn't capable of something like this, but the fact that someone is watching your home the day he tries to recruit you, well, I want to make some calls tomorrow, see who we should go to on this smuggling business." "You're right, Oscar", Rick admitted, carrying his end of the chest to the back patio. Setting it down, he lowered his voice and added, "There's no way I would allow my family to be threatened by whoever's behind this, that's why Laurie's staying home until we get this resolved."
As if on cue, she poked her head out of the kitchen, "Hey, guys, where's the fish?" Rudy went over to embrace her, then saw she had three beers in her hand. "Ah, now I know falling in the creek was worth it!" he laughed, taking the cold bottles from her.
Oscar helped load up the grill with coals, then hugged Laurie saying "Thanks for having us to dinner, we couldn't have eaten all these by ourselves." "Oh, yeah, I see you two cleaning all these Rainbow, help me take them inside so you can tell me how Rudy fell in!", she grinned.
After dinner, Robin and Laurie insisted on doing the dishes, so the others could watch a game on television. Coming in to get some coffee, Rudy put an arm around both dishwashers, saying, "How would you two ladies like some company at lunch tomorrow, Doc is on duty from noon until 6pm, so I'm free!"
"Sure, Uncle Rudy, I don't have any classes until Thursday, so I could make fish tacos with tonight's leftovers!" Robin replied. Laurie saw through her friends' subterfuge, then gave him a hug, "Thanks, Rudy, I know we'll be in good hands with you around." He cleared his throat, "Well, lunch is all set, now why don't you two leave the dishes to dry, Rick wants to show us the pictures he took of the Range Rider."
Just then the phone rang, and Laurie picked up the receiver, "Simon Residence". There was a moment of silence, then "Laurie, it's Carlos, I'm sorry to bother you, I need to talk to Rick, it's urgent." She immediately looked at Robin and said, "Tell your father it's Carlos, he can take it in here."
She gave her mom an understanding look, then went to the living room. In a moment Rick was back, "Let me talk to him, darlin' ", then as she covered the receiver, he mouthed, "Oscar picked up". Laurie handed him the phone, then went to join the others, who were sitting quietly as her uncle listened in.
"All right, amigo, tell me the truth; who's watching my home, and how deep are you involved?" he asked tersely.
"I'm sorry, Rick, I never meant to get you or your family involved. I was stupid, I blew a deal with this guy, and as payment I was supposed to take one shipment across the border at Yuma and deliver them to a place in Chula Vista. None of my brothers would help me, I couldn't tell them why I was doing it because this guy had our phone tapped.
Plus mama's sick, and I was afraid how'd she react if she knew what I was mixed up in. This guy Matthews had his man with me when I called Laurie this afternoon, I tried to sound nasty so she would know it wasn't for real, but I guess I went overboard. I didn't know they had someone watching your place until they came screeching in this afternoon and said I had to get you to help, otherwise I was dead." Carlos took a deep breath, then added, "I'm cooked either way, Rick, but I won't let them hurt you or your family. If you can meet me at your office parking lot tomorrow, I'm willing to go to the cops, anything's better then feeling trapped like this."
Rick felt his stomach unknot; he knew his friend hadn't turned bad. "All right, Carlos, I have to be at work early tomorrow, wait inside my truck, I'll come downstairs at 9:30 and we'll go to Phoenix PD. I have a friend there who should be able to help us."
There was a note of relief in Carlos's voice, "Thanks, compadre, I knew you'd believe me. Please tell Laurie I'm sorry, she's given you a good family and a good life, I wouldn't hurt her for the world."
The older Simon felt a lump in his throat, "Buenas noches, my friend," "And you".
Rick hung up the phone, then came out of the kitchen to see Oscar unscrewing the extension's receiver, then pulling out a small coil.
He looked up at Rick, then told him, "This should have prevented anyone from listening in on your conversation, I barely had time to put it on. Do you think he's telling the truth?"
Rick nodded, "Yeah, too easy to find out if he's lying. I know his brothers, neither of them want to do anything with him. As for his mother, I can check that out in the morning. I hit the tape machine in the kitchen so the whole conversation is on tape, I'll take it with me to the office just in case he doesn't show."
"Ok, Rick, we'll play it your way, why don't I meet you at Phoenix PD about 10, that way we can talk to Captain Ron and see what he has to say." Oscar stood up, then told Laurie, "I'll call and check on things in the afternoon, so make sure you save me a fish taco from lunch!" She reached up and hugged him, saying, "I promise, if I can save one from Rudy!"
Amid the laughter that followed, Robin glanced at her father, then embraced him. "Everything's going to be all right, Pop, I know it." He held her tight, then looking over her head at Laurie, gave her a wink.