Chapter 3
"Honey, it was a nightmare, you just dozed off for a second, that's all." Rudy soothed her. Oscar looked at his friend, then sat on the other side of his niece. "Laurie, you're exhausted, you just started to have a bad dream." "No, Oscar, believe me, I know what I just saw; I've had it happen a couple of times before. I don't know if it's a premonition like with Robbie or if it just took place. All I know is I saw Rick's truck going off a rocky cliff, and I heard his voice, yelling "A.J."!", she told him.
Laurie saw the disbelief in his eyes, suddenly it was too much. She put her face in her hands and started to cry. "I don't want it to be true, but I know what I saw!" Oscar couldn't take her breaking down, he reached over and put his arms around her. "Baby, it's all right, forgive me for doubting you. I want to believe you, but if it's already happened, we need to find out where Rick and A.J. are." Laurie buried her face in his shoulder, as he told Rudy, "We'd better call Towne, find out where there's a place in the San Diego area where the guys may have been driving where there's a rocky cliff.
Calming down, she raised her face and said, "Thank you, Oscar, I don't know what I'd do without you or Rudy. " Her uncle kissed her cheek, then replied, "You're never going to find out, honey, we're here for the long run. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry, why don't you get some of Robin's leftovers and I'll make some phone calls, Ok?"
Laurie mustered a smile, then took the hankie Rudy offered her and wiped her eyes, saying, "Ok, I think Robin left some stew and fry bread, I'll heat it up and bring it in here."
After a quick supper, Rudy insisted that Laurie lay down in the bedroom while he did the dishes and Oscar made his calls. She reluctantly agreed to rest for an hour, then lying down immediately went to sleep.
She awoke to hear someone calling her, then realized it was her watch transmitter. She had set it to the highest level of volume, and now she could hear a voice.
Stumbling in the darkness, she flipped her light on, only to hear Oscar whisper, "Laurie, turn it out, someone's outside." Instantly shutting it off, she crept out of her room and found her uncle sitting outside the door, as if standing guard.
Touched, she sank to one knee, and holding up her watch, told him in a low voice, "Listen, someone's got Rick's watch, I don't recognize the voice."
Putting it between them, the two heard what sounded like an argument, then a male voice, familiar, "He's dead, so what if they find the truck, the other one's as good as. Leave it here, they'll know he's gone and the wife soon, too." Laurie felt cold inside; the wife must mean her.
Abruptly another voice answered, "I want no part of it, just pay me and I'll be on my way." "Here's your pay," the first voice replied, then gunshots sounded.
There was silence, then a note of surprise in the familiar voice, "Well, what have we here, this watch has a light with a number. Mr. Simon, your wife really liked to keep tabs on you, I'll just have to give her an idea where to find you." At once the hands on Laurie's watch activated, then went to a southwest position as the digital readout read "San Diego".
Suddenly Oscar raised something to his lips, and Laurie realized he was using his transmitter. "Ok, pin him now!" Blazing lights went off outside, then she recognized Robbie's voice, "This is the Sheriff, down on the ground and spread em'!"
Rudy appeared in the semi-darkness and helped Laurie up as Oscar went to the door and checked outside, then gave the all clear.
Turning on the living room lights, Laurie stayed with Rudy on the sofa as Oscar met her son on the porch then sent him inside.
"Robbie, what happened, who was that out in front?" she asked, giving her boy a hug.
"The who, we don't know, but the what happened, is a failed hit man who was skulking around town. I ran his plates and it came up registered to a convict last known to inhabit San Diego. It was just a matter of following him and seeing he was casing the house." Robbie said, relieved to see his mother looking more rested.
Oscar came in at that moment, and he added, "I just enlightened our friend outside as to the fate he'll meet if he doesn't talk. He's ready to make a deal. Rob, have Andy take him into town and put the Chief on to watch him. I think this and the voice on your mom's transmitter are the first breaks we've had."
Just then the phone rang, and Laurie automatically picked It up. "Hello?"
"Laurie, it's Towne, honey, let me talk to Oscar, "he said, sounding upset. Biting back the urge to ask if he'd found anything on the guys, she handed the receiver to her uncle.
Rudy pulled her down onto the sofa, "Honey, I'm sorry we didn't wake you earlier, but when Rob called us, we thought it was safer for you to stay in your room, just in case." "It's ok, Rudy, I do feel much better now." she told him, then felt cold all over when she heard Oscar's tone as he asked Towne, "where was it found?" Where was what found? she wondered.
"Ok, we'll be there in a few hours, I'll call Steve and we'll get a hold of Linda and Cecilia. I'll tell her, you keep in touch and Towne, thanks." Oscar ended the call, then turned and slowly walked over to Laurie.
"Oscar, what is it, what did Towne find?" she asked, trying to remain calm. He sat down next to her then taking her hand, told her, "Honey, you were right. Towne got a report about an hour ago that Rick's truck was in the water, about 200 yards off shore from the Bay Hospital. He and a couple of units went out there and they found the truck, nose deep in the shallows. They also found A.J., he's alive but unconscious and they rushed him to the hospital."
"Oh, Oscar, no, I wanted to be wrong, poor A.J., does Towne know what happened?" Laurie gasped. Oscar shook his head, "No, honey, they think A.J. was out there for at least an hour, but it's storming so hard, they don't know if they were driven off the road or if it was an accident. Laurie, you have to know, Rick wasn't in the truck, they haven't found him yet. There's going to be an all out search at daylight. I'm going to call Steve and see if he can fly us to San Diego."
She felt numb, then taking a deep breath, replied, "I know we'll find him, Oscar; just let me get some things together. Do you want me to call Linda and Mom?"
"No, honey, as a matter of fact I should leave you here with Rob," he held up his hand as Laurie opened her mouth to protest. "But in case Rick does try to reach you or, well, just in case, you'll be safer with us."
She put her arms around him, "Thank you, Oscar, I'll promised
Rick I'd mind you guys and I will." As she stood up, Rudy hugged her, saying, "That's our girl, now lets go find that husband of yours!"
Two hours later, a small army was gathered at the airport in Phoenix, as Colonel Steve Austin finished fueling up his Cessna. Linda was toting Ricky, with Robin, Cecilia, Laurie, Oscar and Rudy bringing up the rear. Robert was originally supposed to stay behind, but Rob had gotten back from his Reserve duty early and had urged him to go. No one was willing to voice the unspoken belief that just in case what they found was bad, that he would be needed.
As everyone climbed aboard, Steve took Laurie aside. "Honey, we'll have to land in Orange County, the visibility in San Diego is terrible. I just wanted you to know we'll get there as fast as we can. I'll call ahead and rent us a van." Giving him a hug, she told him in a shaky voice, "You're the best friend I've every had, you've always supported me, Steve. Thank you for being there." "Laurie, I'll always believe in you. I know we'll find Rick, I have that feeling that he's somewhere near where they found A.J.!", he assured her. Oscar heard this last, then whispered to Rudy, "I hope he's right, Towne's just called, Rick's blood was in the truck cab. Our only hope is that he's somewhere on the jetty out of the storm."
As the skies lightened over the San Diego coast, Rick came to, dazed and bloodied. Squinting in the half-light, he found himself in the hollow of a small cave, almost a tunnel. Rain was dripping on him from the entrance roof, so he attempted to get up to get out of the wet.
Pain shot through his leg, so intense he nearly fainted. Looking down at his right leg, she saw the area below his knee swollen, and realized it was broken. Resting for a moment, he managed to scoot his body backwards until he reached the back of the cave. Then it hit him, the attack, being shoved into his own truck and seeing A.J. beaten and thrown next to him. Suddenly his own voice, yelling for his brother was in his ears. God no, he had to find A.J., then he tried to crawl back to the opening, only to feel everything spinning, then, darkness.
As the van carrying Laurie and her family arrived at the Bay Hospital, Linda saw the wind-whipped rain outside and shivered. Laurie saw her react to the storm and squeezed her hand. "Honey, A.J.'s safe out of the weather, he'll be all right."
"I know, Laurie, but the fact that a hit was put out on him and Rick and you, I'm frightened. What if they try again on the two of you?" she responded. Her sister-in-law shook her head, "I don't think they'll try to get either of us; the element of surprise is lost now. That Matthews is cooked as far as I'm concerned. What scares me is if this storm doesn't let up. Rick could be outside someplace getting hypothermia or something."
Rudy spoke up then, as Steve pulled into the loading zone. "Then we go out in the rain and find him, honey. Oscar and I aren't candy, we won't melt!" Smiling at the mental picture, Laurie and Linda took turns hugging his neck. Rudy took the sleeping Ricky in his arms as Steve parked then helped the stiff and sore Laurie out of the van, then unloaded everyone else.
Going up to intensive care, the Simons found a small police presence at the elevator bank and again when they entered the waiting area. Showing their ids, they were ushered into an empty family room, where they found Towne and Lt. Abby Marsh, who had replaced him.
"Honey, it was a nightmare, you just dozed off for a second, that's all." Rudy soothed her. Oscar looked at his friend, then sat on the other side of his niece. "Laurie, you're exhausted, you just started to have a bad dream." "No, Oscar, believe me, I know what I just saw; I've had it happen a couple of times before. I don't know if it's a premonition like with Robbie or if it just took place. All I know is I saw Rick's truck going off a rocky cliff, and I heard his voice, yelling "A.J."!", she told him.
Laurie saw the disbelief in his eyes, suddenly it was too much. She put her face in her hands and started to cry. "I don't want it to be true, but I know what I saw!" Oscar couldn't take her breaking down, he reached over and put his arms around her. "Baby, it's all right, forgive me for doubting you. I want to believe you, but if it's already happened, we need to find out where Rick and A.J. are." Laurie buried her face in his shoulder, as he told Rudy, "We'd better call Towne, find out where there's a place in the San Diego area where the guys may have been driving where there's a rocky cliff.
Calming down, she raised her face and said, "Thank you, Oscar, I don't know what I'd do without you or Rudy. " Her uncle kissed her cheek, then replied, "You're never going to find out, honey, we're here for the long run. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry, why don't you get some of Robin's leftovers and I'll make some phone calls, Ok?"
Laurie mustered a smile, then took the hankie Rudy offered her and wiped her eyes, saying, "Ok, I think Robin left some stew and fry bread, I'll heat it up and bring it in here."
After a quick supper, Rudy insisted that Laurie lay down in the bedroom while he did the dishes and Oscar made his calls. She reluctantly agreed to rest for an hour, then lying down immediately went to sleep.
She awoke to hear someone calling her, then realized it was her watch transmitter. She had set it to the highest level of volume, and now she could hear a voice.
Stumbling in the darkness, she flipped her light on, only to hear Oscar whisper, "Laurie, turn it out, someone's outside." Instantly shutting it off, she crept out of her room and found her uncle sitting outside the door, as if standing guard.
Touched, she sank to one knee, and holding up her watch, told him in a low voice, "Listen, someone's got Rick's watch, I don't recognize the voice."
Putting it between them, the two heard what sounded like an argument, then a male voice, familiar, "He's dead, so what if they find the truck, the other one's as good as. Leave it here, they'll know he's gone and the wife soon, too." Laurie felt cold inside; the wife must mean her.
Abruptly another voice answered, "I want no part of it, just pay me and I'll be on my way." "Here's your pay," the first voice replied, then gunshots sounded.
There was silence, then a note of surprise in the familiar voice, "Well, what have we here, this watch has a light with a number. Mr. Simon, your wife really liked to keep tabs on you, I'll just have to give her an idea where to find you." At once the hands on Laurie's watch activated, then went to a southwest position as the digital readout read "San Diego".
Suddenly Oscar raised something to his lips, and Laurie realized he was using his transmitter. "Ok, pin him now!" Blazing lights went off outside, then she recognized Robbie's voice, "This is the Sheriff, down on the ground and spread em'!"
Rudy appeared in the semi-darkness and helped Laurie up as Oscar went to the door and checked outside, then gave the all clear.
Turning on the living room lights, Laurie stayed with Rudy on the sofa as Oscar met her son on the porch then sent him inside.
"Robbie, what happened, who was that out in front?" she asked, giving her boy a hug.
"The who, we don't know, but the what happened, is a failed hit man who was skulking around town. I ran his plates and it came up registered to a convict last known to inhabit San Diego. It was just a matter of following him and seeing he was casing the house." Robbie said, relieved to see his mother looking more rested.
Oscar came in at that moment, and he added, "I just enlightened our friend outside as to the fate he'll meet if he doesn't talk. He's ready to make a deal. Rob, have Andy take him into town and put the Chief on to watch him. I think this and the voice on your mom's transmitter are the first breaks we've had."
Just then the phone rang, and Laurie automatically picked It up. "Hello?"
"Laurie, it's Towne, honey, let me talk to Oscar, "he said, sounding upset. Biting back the urge to ask if he'd found anything on the guys, she handed the receiver to her uncle.
Rudy pulled her down onto the sofa, "Honey, I'm sorry we didn't wake you earlier, but when Rob called us, we thought it was safer for you to stay in your room, just in case." "It's ok, Rudy, I do feel much better now." she told him, then felt cold all over when she heard Oscar's tone as he asked Towne, "where was it found?" Where was what found? she wondered.
"Ok, we'll be there in a few hours, I'll call Steve and we'll get a hold of Linda and Cecilia. I'll tell her, you keep in touch and Towne, thanks." Oscar ended the call, then turned and slowly walked over to Laurie.
"Oscar, what is it, what did Towne find?" she asked, trying to remain calm. He sat down next to her then taking her hand, told her, "Honey, you were right. Towne got a report about an hour ago that Rick's truck was in the water, about 200 yards off shore from the Bay Hospital. He and a couple of units went out there and they found the truck, nose deep in the shallows. They also found A.J., he's alive but unconscious and they rushed him to the hospital."
"Oh, Oscar, no, I wanted to be wrong, poor A.J., does Towne know what happened?" Laurie gasped. Oscar shook his head, "No, honey, they think A.J. was out there for at least an hour, but it's storming so hard, they don't know if they were driven off the road or if it was an accident. Laurie, you have to know, Rick wasn't in the truck, they haven't found him yet. There's going to be an all out search at daylight. I'm going to call Steve and see if he can fly us to San Diego."
She felt numb, then taking a deep breath, replied, "I know we'll find him, Oscar; just let me get some things together. Do you want me to call Linda and Mom?"
"No, honey, as a matter of fact I should leave you here with Rob," he held up his hand as Laurie opened her mouth to protest. "But in case Rick does try to reach you or, well, just in case, you'll be safer with us."
She put her arms around him, "Thank you, Oscar, I'll promised
Rick I'd mind you guys and I will." As she stood up, Rudy hugged her, saying, "That's our girl, now lets go find that husband of yours!"
Two hours later, a small army was gathered at the airport in Phoenix, as Colonel Steve Austin finished fueling up his Cessna. Linda was toting Ricky, with Robin, Cecilia, Laurie, Oscar and Rudy bringing up the rear. Robert was originally supposed to stay behind, but Rob had gotten back from his Reserve duty early and had urged him to go. No one was willing to voice the unspoken belief that just in case what they found was bad, that he would be needed.
As everyone climbed aboard, Steve took Laurie aside. "Honey, we'll have to land in Orange County, the visibility in San Diego is terrible. I just wanted you to know we'll get there as fast as we can. I'll call ahead and rent us a van." Giving him a hug, she told him in a shaky voice, "You're the best friend I've every had, you've always supported me, Steve. Thank you for being there." "Laurie, I'll always believe in you. I know we'll find Rick, I have that feeling that he's somewhere near where they found A.J.!", he assured her. Oscar heard this last, then whispered to Rudy, "I hope he's right, Towne's just called, Rick's blood was in the truck cab. Our only hope is that he's somewhere on the jetty out of the storm."
As the skies lightened over the San Diego coast, Rick came to, dazed and bloodied. Squinting in the half-light, he found himself in the hollow of a small cave, almost a tunnel. Rain was dripping on him from the entrance roof, so he attempted to get up to get out of the wet.
Pain shot through his leg, so intense he nearly fainted. Looking down at his right leg, she saw the area below his knee swollen, and realized it was broken. Resting for a moment, he managed to scoot his body backwards until he reached the back of the cave. Then it hit him, the attack, being shoved into his own truck and seeing A.J. beaten and thrown next to him. Suddenly his own voice, yelling for his brother was in his ears. God no, he had to find A.J., then he tried to crawl back to the opening, only to feel everything spinning, then, darkness.
As the van carrying Laurie and her family arrived at the Bay Hospital, Linda saw the wind-whipped rain outside and shivered. Laurie saw her react to the storm and squeezed her hand. "Honey, A.J.'s safe out of the weather, he'll be all right."
"I know, Laurie, but the fact that a hit was put out on him and Rick and you, I'm frightened. What if they try again on the two of you?" she responded. Her sister-in-law shook her head, "I don't think they'll try to get either of us; the element of surprise is lost now. That Matthews is cooked as far as I'm concerned. What scares me is if this storm doesn't let up. Rick could be outside someplace getting hypothermia or something."
Rudy spoke up then, as Steve pulled into the loading zone. "Then we go out in the rain and find him, honey. Oscar and I aren't candy, we won't melt!" Smiling at the mental picture, Laurie and Linda took turns hugging his neck. Rudy took the sleeping Ricky in his arms as Steve parked then helped the stiff and sore Laurie out of the van, then unloaded everyone else.
Going up to intensive care, the Simons found a small police presence at the elevator bank and again when they entered the waiting area. Showing their ids, they were ushered into an empty family room, where they found Towne and Lt. Abby Marsh, who had replaced him.