Chapter 5
"No!" Rick shouted, straining at the ropes holding him to his brother. His head still ached from the blows he had received when he was taken. Now out of the corner of his eye he saw the gun against A.J.'s head. "Don't, Rick, they'll kill her!" A.J. told him, then he saw Kendall's fist connect with his brother's face. "Another word, Simon, and you're dead." the murderer snarled. Abruptly Ronald Kendall came into view, holding a cordless phone. "Now, will call your wife, or shall we merely kill you two and pay her a visit?"
Rick stared at the phone, then heard a soft beeping coming from his wrist. Hoping the sound had gone unnoticed, he told Kendall, "All right, I'll call, only to say goodbye to her, I won't be your bait!" A smirk crossed the twin's face, "Fair enough, Mr. Simon: I'll untie your hand and let you enter the number." As the ropes binding his wrist were loosened, Kendall pulled his right hand free and let him push in the phone number to the ranch. Bringing the phone to his ear, he listened to a busy signal, then incredibly heard his wife's voice on his transmitter, "Rick, darling, can you hear me?"
Rick whispered back, "Laurie, don't talk, just listen. Give our position to Oscar and Robbie, let them come get us. Don't come, it's a trap." Suddenly the phone was wrenched out of his fingers, then Ralph Kendall heard the busy signal. "Who do you think you were fooling, Mr. Simon, he ranted angrily, then struck Rick in the face. Hitting the redial, he waited, then heard Oscar's voice, "Simon Residence". "Yes, I have Rick Simon here, he'd like to speak to his wife, please." Goldman replied, "One moment", then directing Laurie to pick up the extension, wrote on a piece of paper and held it up, "Set up a meeting, we'll get there before hand and get both of them."
She nodded then said "Rick, it's Laurie, where are you?" Instead of hearing his voice, she heard the sarcastic tone of Ralph Kendall. "It's a pleasure to speak with you again, Mrs. Simon." "What have you done to my husband and A.J., let them go now!" she demanded, trying to keep calm. As she looked up at her son and daughter, he replied, "Of course they can go free, but you and only you need to come fetch them. If we see any police, they'll both die, understand?" "Tell him it's a go, we know where the Kendalls have them." Oscar relayed to her. "All right, I'll be there, where do you want me to go?" Kendall directed, "Drive to your husband's office, then take Cactus Valley Way to the industrial park next to the railroad tracks. Pull into the carport next to the main entrance, then get out and come to the back entrance. The unloading dock will be open, you will find your husband and brother-in-law there."
She swallowed hard, then said, "All right, let me talk to both of them, I want to make sure they're alright." "Certainly, Mrs. Simon, but just for a minute." he returned politely. In a moment she heard her husband's voice, "Laurie, don't come, please darling." Biting her lip to stop the tears, she whispered, "I love you, Richard, don't worry. I'm driving Oscar crazy, he and Robbie and Rudy are with me. Let me talk to Andy, ok?" She heard a pause, then he replied, "I love you too, Laurel, here's Andy." Seeing the understanding look her uncle gave her; she listened to silence, then A.J.'s voice. "Laurel, I'm ok, have you talked to my missus?" Oscar nodded at her, then she responded, "Yes, Andy, don't worry, everything's all right at home. I'll be there soon, just hang in there."
Suddenly Kendall was back on the phone, "All right, Mrs. Simon, enough family talk, you have 45 minutes to get here, or I start shooting. If I don't see you alone when you drive in, I start shooting. 45 minutes."
Click.
Laurie looked at her uncle, as he hung up the extension. "Oscar, I need to go with you guys, there's no two ways about it.," she told him. As he started to contradict her, she reached over and took his hand. "Please listen, I will be in the driver's seat when we park, then I will hide in the back and you guys go in and rescue Rick and A.J. I won't move until you come out, I promise. " Rudy looked at Oscar's set face, then sighed, "I have to agree with her, old friend. Especially since we have to deal with both Kendalls, right?"
Laurie looked at Oscar in astonishment as he nodded. "Captain Ron says Ronald Kendall switched places with his lawyer and escaped this morning. The Captain already has the area locked down, we pick him up a block from the warehouse."
Robbie took his mother's arm, "I don't want you to go, Mom, let me go with Uncle Oscar and Uncle Rudy instead." She shook her head; "I need you and Robin to go to Linda and Ricky, just in case. They shouldn't be alone." Both daughter and son embraced her, then wiping her eyes, Laurie looked at her uncle and said, "Let's go."
On the road to Phoenix, Oscar took the wheel, as Rudy and Laurie listened to the sometimes muffled transmission from Rick's receiver. Laurie winced as the Kendalls took turns taunting the brothers, then frighteningly, heard Ralph tell them that when Laurie arrived, she'd find them being raised by some kind of winch and suspended above the building's floor. "She'll have to choose how you two die, then we'll call the police and exchange her for my wife. That's fair, Mr. Simon, don't you think?"
As the voices of the murderous twins moved away, Laurie took a chance and whispered into her transmitter, "Rick, we're almost there, just hold on." She held her breath, then heard A.J.'s voice, "Rick, it's Laurie" Immediately her husband replied in a low voice, "Sweetheart, don't come in, whatever you do." "I won't, darling; Oscar, Rudy and Captain Ron will come in to get you. I'll be waiting for you in the car."
Just then Oscar pulled to the side of the road, behind an unmarked police car. Captain Ron climbed in, then seeing Laurie and Oscar switch seats, started to protest. "Laurie's only driving in, she's going to lock herself in the car until we come out, right, honey?" Oscar interrupted, looking at his niece. "Yes, Oscar, I won't move until you get the guys," she replied, then pulled away from the curb.
Arriving at exactly 45 minutes after the end of the phone call, Laurie drove into the carport as told by Kendall, then climbed into the back seat as Oscar, Rudy and Captain Ron stealthy crept out of the car. Closing her eyes, Laurie sent a message that they were there to Rick, then felt a warning. "Oscar," she hissed as he went toward the entrance, "Rick says Ralph Kendall is behind the back door, go in the front." Her uncle nodded, then he and Rudy vanished inside.
Rick slumped against his brother, hoping that nothing went wrong. Watching as Ronald Kendall came into the room, he saw him say something to his brother, then grin and start toward the winch on the opposite wall. Suddenly he heard Captain Ron shout, "Freeze, Phoenix Police." Seeing the attention of both twins diverted, he nudged A.J. and together they managed to detach the rope that was to have pulled them off the floor. As first the Policeman then his officers entered and surrounded the Kendalls, Rick saw Oscar and Rudy out of the corner of his eye.
As they came toward the Simons, suddenly Ralph Kendall pulled a gun and fired toward a small tank in the center of the warehouse, causing a small explosion. Captain Ron and his men fired back, striking the would-be killer and driving him to the floor.
Quickly Oscar reached Rick and A.J., untying them and helping them up off the ground. Rudy grabbed A.J. as he swayed, "Easy, son, we'll get you two to the hospital, can you walk?" The younger Simon managed a smile, "Yeah, I can make it. We owe you guys." Oscar grinned at both brothers, "Save it for Laurie, she's the one who insisted we bring her along. She's hiding in the back of my car right now, we'd better not keep her waiting!"
A.J. put an arm around his brother as they started out of the smoky room, "Rick, remind me to kiss your wife when we get out of here." Rick started to reply, then suddenly got a look of panic on his face. "Kendall's escaped, he's after Laurie!"
Outside, Laurie had been waiting on the floor of Oscar's car, then hearing the explosion inside, moved to the front seat, fearing she would have to move the vehicle if fire came out of the building.
Abruptly she heard running feet, then cautiously peeked through the window to see if the guys were coming. Shockingly, she saw one of the Kendalls running right at the car, then he caught sight of her. Ducking down, she crawled across the seat, terrified he was going to try to commandeer the car. She turned her receiver to send, calling "Rick, Kendall's out here!"
She heard the murderer bang on the car window, shouting for her to let him in. "Laurie, stay in the car, we're coming!" she heard Rick yell, then gunfire erupted, shattering the windows.
Frantic, she popped open the passenger door, then scooted out and tried to run around the back of car, only to be grabbed from behind. "Rick!" she tried to scream, but Kendall forced a gag in her mouth, then dragged her kicking toward a van parked near the entrance. "Stop struggling, my dear, or I'll have to hit you," he grated, pulling her toward the vehicle. Suddenly she heard Oscar yell, "Let her go!" then she saw her uncle and Rudy with guns drawn next to the van. Desperate, she gave one final kick that connected with the murderers shin, then threw herself away from him, landing not on the ground but in Rick's arms. Quickly he pulled the handkerchief from her mouth then covered her with himself, all the time saying her name and holding her tightly against his chest. "Rick," she gasped, seeing the bruises and swollen eye, then clung to him as gunfire again sounded.
"Is she all right?" A.J. came to their side. She looked at him, seeing the same marks on his face. "I'm fine, just scared. Oh A.J., what did they do to you guys?" She wanted to cry, seeing them so beat up. "They're ok, honey," Rudy knelt next to her, briefly examining her. "I'm not hurt, Rudy, where's Oscar?" Letting her sit up, Rick supported her as she looked around for her uncle, then spotted him with a sheet covered body on the ground. Shaking, she turned to Rick, "Are they?" he nodded, "Yes, sweetheart, those murderers will never hurt us again." Leaning against him, she finally felt safe.
Oscar glanced over at them, then seeing his niece sitting up, rushed over to the group. "Laurie, did he hurt you?" he asked, lifting her off the ground and embracing her. "No, Oscar, he threatened to hit me if I didn't go with him, but I hit him first," she told him, kissing his cheek. Looking back at his car, she added, "I had to get out of the car, Oscar, he shot out the windows and was going to shoot me. I didn't see he came around the car so when I tried to run, that's when he grabbed me."
"You did right, I'm proud of you, honey. You gave us an unobstructed target." he replied, walking her and Rick both over to one of Captain Ron's police cars. Putting her and Rick in the back, Captain Ron insisted on taking the three Simons and Rudy to the hospital himself, while Oscar followed in his damaged but working car. As they sped down the road, Laurie gently caressed her husband's face, telling him, "No more bad dreams, darling, now it's my turn to take care of you!" He winked at her with his good eye, then whispered, "My favorite part of recuperating!"
Once the emergency room doctor took a look at the two brothers, he immediately called in their "regular" Doctor, Dr. Peters, who had worked with Rudy before.
Knowing the family the way he did, Dr. Peters let Laurie sit with Rick until it was his turn for x-rays and a Cat scan. Going outside to wait for Rick and A.J., Laurie found Linda and Robbie waiting anxiously in the waiting area, and immediately embraced them. "Laurie, are they all right, I've been so frightened," her sister-in-law said, holding tightly to her arm. "They're going to be fine, honey, they got banged up but I don't think anything's broken.
Just then Oscar came wearily into the emergency room, then spotting the trio, came over to hug Linda and Robbie. Putting an arm around Laurie, he told her "Both Kendalls are dead, honey, I wanted to make sure there was no mistake this time." She leaned against her uncle, "Thank you, Oscar, I'm just sorry your car was damaged." He kissed her forehead, then looking at his nephew, grinned, "one of the hazards of law enforcement, son. Never use your own car to track down a killer, insurance companies frown on it!"
Making them laugh, Oscar kept the Simons' from worrying about Rick and A.J. until Rudy appeared with Dr. Peters. Holding his hand up to keep them from all talking at once, Dr. Peters smiled, "It's all right, both Rick and A.J. are fine. Linda, A.J. has a badly bruised cheekbone and a slight concussion, otherwise he should be all right in a few days. You can go in and see him; I'd like to observe him for a couple of hours, then you can take him home." Hugging her friends and nephew, Linda sped down the hall. Turning to Laurie, who nervously had taken her uncle's hand, the doctor put a hand on her shoulder. "Laurie, Rick's going to be all right. He has a broken cheekbone, as well as some nasty bruises around his eye. Until the swelling goes down, I don't want him to drive, I want to make sure his vision is clear." Letting out a deep breath, Laurie managed to thank Dr Peters, "Just make sure he stays put for the next few days, he's as bad as you, missy, "Rudy laughed.
"Go on, Mom," Robbie urged, seeing her hesitate for a moment, "Oscar and I will come by in a few minutes." She hugged all of them then ran down the hall as fast as her sister-in-law.
The four men watched her go, then her son broke the silence, "I don't know how you guys handle it, I get so afraid for Mom and Pop sometimes, what would we do without them?" Oscar put an arm around him, "You're never going to find out if I can help it, son I've spent too much time without a family, to lose any of you now!"
As Laurie entered her husband's room, she saw him holding an ice pack to his face, and she had to force back the tears. "Rick," she breathed his name, then seeing him look toward her, rushed to his side. He held out his hand and she grabbed it and then kissed his face, careful to avoid the swelling around his right eye. "My Laurie," he whispered, raising his fingers to her face, then feeling the tears on her cheeks. "Sweetheart, it's all right, don't cry," he said in a stronger voice, pulling her closer to him. "Darling, I'm sorry, I can't bear to see you hurt, I'm just glad you had your watch on." she told him, clinging to his arm. Rick kissed her tears away, "I'm glad too, darlin', I'm never going to be without it!"
When Oscar and Robbie tiptoed in a few minutes later, they found Laurie asleep next to Rick, who looked at them, then put a finger to his lips. Robbie nodded, then quietly came and hugged his father as Oscar carefully lifted his niece and carried her to the waiting room. As soon as she was gone, Rick told his son, "They're going to let me go home in a few hours, so I didn't want them to wake her up, she's worn out." Rob nodded, "Uncle Rudy told me what that murderer did to her, Pop. I'm glad that Kendall woman who wanted Mom killed will be in prison for a long, long time!"
His father let out a deep sigh, "So am I, Robbie. Now we can really have a great Thanksgiving, No more nightmares!"
"No!" Rick shouted, straining at the ropes holding him to his brother. His head still ached from the blows he had received when he was taken. Now out of the corner of his eye he saw the gun against A.J.'s head. "Don't, Rick, they'll kill her!" A.J. told him, then he saw Kendall's fist connect with his brother's face. "Another word, Simon, and you're dead." the murderer snarled. Abruptly Ronald Kendall came into view, holding a cordless phone. "Now, will call your wife, or shall we merely kill you two and pay her a visit?"
Rick stared at the phone, then heard a soft beeping coming from his wrist. Hoping the sound had gone unnoticed, he told Kendall, "All right, I'll call, only to say goodbye to her, I won't be your bait!" A smirk crossed the twin's face, "Fair enough, Mr. Simon: I'll untie your hand and let you enter the number." As the ropes binding his wrist were loosened, Kendall pulled his right hand free and let him push in the phone number to the ranch. Bringing the phone to his ear, he listened to a busy signal, then incredibly heard his wife's voice on his transmitter, "Rick, darling, can you hear me?"
Rick whispered back, "Laurie, don't talk, just listen. Give our position to Oscar and Robbie, let them come get us. Don't come, it's a trap." Suddenly the phone was wrenched out of his fingers, then Ralph Kendall heard the busy signal. "Who do you think you were fooling, Mr. Simon, he ranted angrily, then struck Rick in the face. Hitting the redial, he waited, then heard Oscar's voice, "Simon Residence". "Yes, I have Rick Simon here, he'd like to speak to his wife, please." Goldman replied, "One moment", then directing Laurie to pick up the extension, wrote on a piece of paper and held it up, "Set up a meeting, we'll get there before hand and get both of them."
She nodded then said "Rick, it's Laurie, where are you?" Instead of hearing his voice, she heard the sarcastic tone of Ralph Kendall. "It's a pleasure to speak with you again, Mrs. Simon." "What have you done to my husband and A.J., let them go now!" she demanded, trying to keep calm. As she looked up at her son and daughter, he replied, "Of course they can go free, but you and only you need to come fetch them. If we see any police, they'll both die, understand?" "Tell him it's a go, we know where the Kendalls have them." Oscar relayed to her. "All right, I'll be there, where do you want me to go?" Kendall directed, "Drive to your husband's office, then take Cactus Valley Way to the industrial park next to the railroad tracks. Pull into the carport next to the main entrance, then get out and come to the back entrance. The unloading dock will be open, you will find your husband and brother-in-law there."
She swallowed hard, then said, "All right, let me talk to both of them, I want to make sure they're alright." "Certainly, Mrs. Simon, but just for a minute." he returned politely. In a moment she heard her husband's voice, "Laurie, don't come, please darling." Biting her lip to stop the tears, she whispered, "I love you, Richard, don't worry. I'm driving Oscar crazy, he and Robbie and Rudy are with me. Let me talk to Andy, ok?" She heard a pause, then he replied, "I love you too, Laurel, here's Andy." Seeing the understanding look her uncle gave her; she listened to silence, then A.J.'s voice. "Laurel, I'm ok, have you talked to my missus?" Oscar nodded at her, then she responded, "Yes, Andy, don't worry, everything's all right at home. I'll be there soon, just hang in there."
Suddenly Kendall was back on the phone, "All right, Mrs. Simon, enough family talk, you have 45 minutes to get here, or I start shooting. If I don't see you alone when you drive in, I start shooting. 45 minutes."
Click.
Laurie looked at her uncle, as he hung up the extension. "Oscar, I need to go with you guys, there's no two ways about it.," she told him. As he started to contradict her, she reached over and took his hand. "Please listen, I will be in the driver's seat when we park, then I will hide in the back and you guys go in and rescue Rick and A.J. I won't move until you come out, I promise. " Rudy looked at Oscar's set face, then sighed, "I have to agree with her, old friend. Especially since we have to deal with both Kendalls, right?"
Laurie looked at Oscar in astonishment as he nodded. "Captain Ron says Ronald Kendall switched places with his lawyer and escaped this morning. The Captain already has the area locked down, we pick him up a block from the warehouse."
Robbie took his mother's arm, "I don't want you to go, Mom, let me go with Uncle Oscar and Uncle Rudy instead." She shook her head; "I need you and Robin to go to Linda and Ricky, just in case. They shouldn't be alone." Both daughter and son embraced her, then wiping her eyes, Laurie looked at her uncle and said, "Let's go."
On the road to Phoenix, Oscar took the wheel, as Rudy and Laurie listened to the sometimes muffled transmission from Rick's receiver. Laurie winced as the Kendalls took turns taunting the brothers, then frighteningly, heard Ralph tell them that when Laurie arrived, she'd find them being raised by some kind of winch and suspended above the building's floor. "She'll have to choose how you two die, then we'll call the police and exchange her for my wife. That's fair, Mr. Simon, don't you think?"
As the voices of the murderous twins moved away, Laurie took a chance and whispered into her transmitter, "Rick, we're almost there, just hold on." She held her breath, then heard A.J.'s voice, "Rick, it's Laurie" Immediately her husband replied in a low voice, "Sweetheart, don't come in, whatever you do." "I won't, darling; Oscar, Rudy and Captain Ron will come in to get you. I'll be waiting for you in the car."
Just then Oscar pulled to the side of the road, behind an unmarked police car. Captain Ron climbed in, then seeing Laurie and Oscar switch seats, started to protest. "Laurie's only driving in, she's going to lock herself in the car until we come out, right, honey?" Oscar interrupted, looking at his niece. "Yes, Oscar, I won't move until you get the guys," she replied, then pulled away from the curb.
Arriving at exactly 45 minutes after the end of the phone call, Laurie drove into the carport as told by Kendall, then climbed into the back seat as Oscar, Rudy and Captain Ron stealthy crept out of the car. Closing her eyes, Laurie sent a message that they were there to Rick, then felt a warning. "Oscar," she hissed as he went toward the entrance, "Rick says Ralph Kendall is behind the back door, go in the front." Her uncle nodded, then he and Rudy vanished inside.
Rick slumped against his brother, hoping that nothing went wrong. Watching as Ronald Kendall came into the room, he saw him say something to his brother, then grin and start toward the winch on the opposite wall. Suddenly he heard Captain Ron shout, "Freeze, Phoenix Police." Seeing the attention of both twins diverted, he nudged A.J. and together they managed to detach the rope that was to have pulled them off the floor. As first the Policeman then his officers entered and surrounded the Kendalls, Rick saw Oscar and Rudy out of the corner of his eye.
As they came toward the Simons, suddenly Ralph Kendall pulled a gun and fired toward a small tank in the center of the warehouse, causing a small explosion. Captain Ron and his men fired back, striking the would-be killer and driving him to the floor.
Quickly Oscar reached Rick and A.J., untying them and helping them up off the ground. Rudy grabbed A.J. as he swayed, "Easy, son, we'll get you two to the hospital, can you walk?" The younger Simon managed a smile, "Yeah, I can make it. We owe you guys." Oscar grinned at both brothers, "Save it for Laurie, she's the one who insisted we bring her along. She's hiding in the back of my car right now, we'd better not keep her waiting!"
A.J. put an arm around his brother as they started out of the smoky room, "Rick, remind me to kiss your wife when we get out of here." Rick started to reply, then suddenly got a look of panic on his face. "Kendall's escaped, he's after Laurie!"
Outside, Laurie had been waiting on the floor of Oscar's car, then hearing the explosion inside, moved to the front seat, fearing she would have to move the vehicle if fire came out of the building.
Abruptly she heard running feet, then cautiously peeked through the window to see if the guys were coming. Shockingly, she saw one of the Kendalls running right at the car, then he caught sight of her. Ducking down, she crawled across the seat, terrified he was going to try to commandeer the car. She turned her receiver to send, calling "Rick, Kendall's out here!"
She heard the murderer bang on the car window, shouting for her to let him in. "Laurie, stay in the car, we're coming!" she heard Rick yell, then gunfire erupted, shattering the windows.
Frantic, she popped open the passenger door, then scooted out and tried to run around the back of car, only to be grabbed from behind. "Rick!" she tried to scream, but Kendall forced a gag in her mouth, then dragged her kicking toward a van parked near the entrance. "Stop struggling, my dear, or I'll have to hit you," he grated, pulling her toward the vehicle. Suddenly she heard Oscar yell, "Let her go!" then she saw her uncle and Rudy with guns drawn next to the van. Desperate, she gave one final kick that connected with the murderers shin, then threw herself away from him, landing not on the ground but in Rick's arms. Quickly he pulled the handkerchief from her mouth then covered her with himself, all the time saying her name and holding her tightly against his chest. "Rick," she gasped, seeing the bruises and swollen eye, then clung to him as gunfire again sounded.
"Is she all right?" A.J. came to their side. She looked at him, seeing the same marks on his face. "I'm fine, just scared. Oh A.J., what did they do to you guys?" She wanted to cry, seeing them so beat up. "They're ok, honey," Rudy knelt next to her, briefly examining her. "I'm not hurt, Rudy, where's Oscar?" Letting her sit up, Rick supported her as she looked around for her uncle, then spotted him with a sheet covered body on the ground. Shaking, she turned to Rick, "Are they?" he nodded, "Yes, sweetheart, those murderers will never hurt us again." Leaning against him, she finally felt safe.
Oscar glanced over at them, then seeing his niece sitting up, rushed over to the group. "Laurie, did he hurt you?" he asked, lifting her off the ground and embracing her. "No, Oscar, he threatened to hit me if I didn't go with him, but I hit him first," she told him, kissing his cheek. Looking back at his car, she added, "I had to get out of the car, Oscar, he shot out the windows and was going to shoot me. I didn't see he came around the car so when I tried to run, that's when he grabbed me."
"You did right, I'm proud of you, honey. You gave us an unobstructed target." he replied, walking her and Rick both over to one of Captain Ron's police cars. Putting her and Rick in the back, Captain Ron insisted on taking the three Simons and Rudy to the hospital himself, while Oscar followed in his damaged but working car. As they sped down the road, Laurie gently caressed her husband's face, telling him, "No more bad dreams, darling, now it's my turn to take care of you!" He winked at her with his good eye, then whispered, "My favorite part of recuperating!"
Once the emergency room doctor took a look at the two brothers, he immediately called in their "regular" Doctor, Dr. Peters, who had worked with Rudy before.
Knowing the family the way he did, Dr. Peters let Laurie sit with Rick until it was his turn for x-rays and a Cat scan. Going outside to wait for Rick and A.J., Laurie found Linda and Robbie waiting anxiously in the waiting area, and immediately embraced them. "Laurie, are they all right, I've been so frightened," her sister-in-law said, holding tightly to her arm. "They're going to be fine, honey, they got banged up but I don't think anything's broken.
Just then Oscar came wearily into the emergency room, then spotting the trio, came over to hug Linda and Robbie. Putting an arm around Laurie, he told her "Both Kendalls are dead, honey, I wanted to make sure there was no mistake this time." She leaned against her uncle, "Thank you, Oscar, I'm just sorry your car was damaged." He kissed her forehead, then looking at his nephew, grinned, "one of the hazards of law enforcement, son. Never use your own car to track down a killer, insurance companies frown on it!"
Making them laugh, Oscar kept the Simons' from worrying about Rick and A.J. until Rudy appeared with Dr. Peters. Holding his hand up to keep them from all talking at once, Dr. Peters smiled, "It's all right, both Rick and A.J. are fine. Linda, A.J. has a badly bruised cheekbone and a slight concussion, otherwise he should be all right in a few days. You can go in and see him; I'd like to observe him for a couple of hours, then you can take him home." Hugging her friends and nephew, Linda sped down the hall. Turning to Laurie, who nervously had taken her uncle's hand, the doctor put a hand on her shoulder. "Laurie, Rick's going to be all right. He has a broken cheekbone, as well as some nasty bruises around his eye. Until the swelling goes down, I don't want him to drive, I want to make sure his vision is clear." Letting out a deep breath, Laurie managed to thank Dr Peters, "Just make sure he stays put for the next few days, he's as bad as you, missy, "Rudy laughed.
"Go on, Mom," Robbie urged, seeing her hesitate for a moment, "Oscar and I will come by in a few minutes." She hugged all of them then ran down the hall as fast as her sister-in-law.
The four men watched her go, then her son broke the silence, "I don't know how you guys handle it, I get so afraid for Mom and Pop sometimes, what would we do without them?" Oscar put an arm around him, "You're never going to find out if I can help it, son I've spent too much time without a family, to lose any of you now!"
As Laurie entered her husband's room, she saw him holding an ice pack to his face, and she had to force back the tears. "Rick," she breathed his name, then seeing him look toward her, rushed to his side. He held out his hand and she grabbed it and then kissed his face, careful to avoid the swelling around his right eye. "My Laurie," he whispered, raising his fingers to her face, then feeling the tears on her cheeks. "Sweetheart, it's all right, don't cry," he said in a stronger voice, pulling her closer to him. "Darling, I'm sorry, I can't bear to see you hurt, I'm just glad you had your watch on." she told him, clinging to his arm. Rick kissed her tears away, "I'm glad too, darlin', I'm never going to be without it!"
When Oscar and Robbie tiptoed in a few minutes later, they found Laurie asleep next to Rick, who looked at them, then put a finger to his lips. Robbie nodded, then quietly came and hugged his father as Oscar carefully lifted his niece and carried her to the waiting room. As soon as she was gone, Rick told his son, "They're going to let me go home in a few hours, so I didn't want them to wake her up, she's worn out." Rob nodded, "Uncle Rudy told me what that murderer did to her, Pop. I'm glad that Kendall woman who wanted Mom killed will be in prison for a long, long time!"
His father let out a deep sigh, "So am I, Robbie. Now we can really have a great Thanksgiving, No more nightmares!"