Chapter 3

"Listen, Mr. Secretary, I have asked for very few personal favors in my life, but I'm requesting in this emergency to have my niece's transmitter turned on. She will be dead if we don't find her soon!" Goldman's voice could be heard echoing down the hospital corridor. A nurse sent to tell him to keep it down came back white-faced, complaining to Dr. Clarke.

Shaking his head, the chief of staff went himself, only to find the voice stilled, with Oscar just sitting, his head in his hands. "Oscar, what's happened, I

heard Rick is here, where's Laurie?"

Looking up, Oscar's bleak expression spoke volumes. "Allan., she's been taken, an ex-convict shot Rick in front of Laurie then dragged her off. The worst thing is, I can't even track her with her transmitter. The government cut her and Rick off today, of all days, to save a few dollars!"

"No, that's crazy! Oscar, isn't there someone who who could intercede, overrule them?" Dr. Clarke argued, unable to stand seeing him so upset.

"I just spent ten minutes trying to appeal to the Secretary, all I got was he's very sorry, he can't go back on his ruling. I've resigned of course, I'll never again work for someone who sees my niece as a budget item!" Oscar said despairingly.

Just then Rudy stuck his head in the door, "Oscar, Allan, I think we have a lead on our girl!" Both men got up, then raced to Rick's room.

As they entered, Dr. Clarke immediately went to the bed where Rick was lying, hooked up to a heart monitor and i.v. "Rick, I just heard about Laurie, I'm sorry. I know the guys'll find her."

Rick's eyes were full of anguish, "Doc, it's a nightmare, that animal was taunting me with what he was going to do to her, now she's gone. I've got to go look for her!"

"Rick, be real, it's a miracle you're even alive. You need to rest so that when we find her, you'll be here for her to come home to, understand?" Rudy told him sternly. Oscar put a hand on his shoulder. "Rudy's right, if anything happened to you, it would kill her. Now, if you stay calm, I'll tell you about the lead your brother dug up!"

A gleam appeared in the older Simon's eye as his little brother walked in. "A.J., what have you got?" "I know where Fitzpatrick wanted to take Laurie, his accomplice just got nabbed by Captain Ron's dragnet, and he's blabbing all, including the fact that his roomie had a book about old mining towns! Now we just have to narrow down which one!"

"Good work, A.J., where's Robbie, maybe he and the Chief might have an idea as to which direction we should start!" Rick said with determination. "Your son's been monitoring his transmitter, you know we can try to triangulate Laurie's signal between your watch and our receivers when she calls in!" Oscar assured him.

During the long hours of the night, Rick kept looking at his watch, hoping that his wife would be able to turn hers on. He couldn't get the image of her expression of terror out of his mind. How she fought Fitzpatrick until he slung her over his shoulder and she went limp. When his daughter crept into the room in the wee hours of the morning, she found him just staring, tears in his eyes. "Pop, oh, Pop, are you all right?" she whispered, frightened by his stillness.

He glanced at her, then raising himself up with an effort, embraced her, "Honey, I'm ok, what are you doing here at this hour?" She put her head against his chest, "I couldn't sleep, I was so scared when Robbie told me you were hurt, I had to make sure you were going to be all right!"

"Birdie, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Your mom is depending on us, we need to be strong until she comes home." he reassured her. "Where's your grandmother?" "She's down the hall in the family room, Robbie's sitting with her, she wanted me to see if you were awake." Robin said, kissing his cheek.

He sighed, "Tell her I can't sleep anyway, she can come in only if she promises to get some rest." "Good, I was going to anyway, Richard!" Cecilia told him as she came in the room. Robin giggled as she watched her father greet his mom, then squirm as she started fussing at him. "Get some sleep, Robin." he ordered, resigned to his mother taking up residence in the chair next to him. She blew him a kiss, then left to tell Robbie of his improvement.

Blinding sunlight hit her eyelids, and as she blinked, Laurie was confused by the stillness around her. As she came fully awake, suddenly she remembered the shot, Rick's face as he fell backwards, her own screams. She came bolt upright, then gasped as a dizzy spell hit. Taking deep breaths, the room finally stopped revolving in front of her. Laurie drew in a deep breath, seeing a rusting jail door in front of her. Closing her eyes, then opening them again, she saw the same surroundings; whitewashed brick walls, the barred door and window, a bucket in one corner. Looking down, she saw that she was sitting on a wooden bench, wrists still bound from her abduction. Reality hit Laurie full force, and tears filled her eyes as she knew her husband was gone.

Abruptly, a mocking laugh rang out, startled, she turned and saw her husband's assailant standing at the jail door. "Good morning, sleeping beauty, I wondered when you would wake up." Fitzpatrick smirked, then mimicked her expression. "You murderer, don't you dare come in here!" she rasped painfully, her throat tight.

"Anything you say, Widow Simon! In the meantime, I hope you learn to love this room, Because this is where you'll be the rest of your life!" he heckled. Furious, she leapt toward the barred door and struck out at his mocking face. Surprised, he managed to dodge her two-handed swing, so she banged against the door. Catching herself before she could fall, she kicked out and connected with his shin and knee, causing him to tumble to the floor.

Yanking at the door, amazingly it came open and she tried to dash past him, only to feel him grab her about the waist and swing her against the peeling metal. "Let go of me, you animal!" she gasped, then cried out as he threw her back into the cell. Landing painfully on the floor, she crawled away from him in fear as he reached for her, then lifting her up by her wrists, forced her back onto the wooden bench. "Here you'll stay, my dear, maybe by the next time I visit, you'll have learned the rules of this game!" he taunted, pulling out a rope and binding her ankles and legs.

Straightening up, he pulled a canteen from outside the cell, then held it just out of reach. "What do I get for a sip of water from this container, Mrs. Simon, how about a kiss?" She turned her face away, her mouth dry and parched. "Nothing but my desire to sock you in the face." she answered.

"Tell you what, I'll give you some information about your family, then maybe you'll change your tune, huh?" he dangled the water again in front of her. Realizing she had to pretend she was no threat, she hung her head, and then whispered, "Please?"

Nodding his head, Fitzpatrick held out the canteen for her to grasp. As she took it, she felt the man's stare, then opened the container and drank thirstily.

Lowering the canteen, she tightened the cap, then started to feel light- headed. "You, monster, that wasn't water," she whispered, feeling woozy.

"No, Mrs. Simon, that was a little something to put you out. I have a few things to do, and I don't want my prisoner to escape. Just sleep, and I'll be back tomorrow to pay you one last visit!" he gloated, as she felt herself start to slide down onto the bench. As she heard the cell door clang, Laurie tried to call out to Steve, then amazingly felt a faint response. "Laurie, where are you?" his voice came. "Steve, I'm being held prisoner." she dizzily returned, then heard something about her transmitter. She managed to reach her watch, then turning the dial, she heard a voice. "Mom! can you hear me!" Raising her wrists, she whispered, "Robbie?" She shook her head, trying to wake up, only to feel her lids closing. "So sleepy, darling, can't stay awake." she mumbled, then passed out.

"Mom!" Robbie called again, then looked despairingly at his father. "She's been drugged or something, Pop, we've got to get to her!" "Robbie, at least we know she's alive, that's a start." Rick assured his son. Hearing his Laurie's voice, he was heartened knowing she wasn't that far away. When Robbie first picked up her signal, they used Rick's watch and Oscar's transmitter to figure she was no further then 100 miles away. Oscar had gone to get a list of abandoned mining and ghost towns within this parameter.

"What time does Steve get in, we're lucky he picked her up when he did." he asked his son. "About 6 pm, he's pretty angry with Uncle Oscar's boss, I think he and Aunt Jaime are going to quit, too." Robbie answered. A knock sounded on the door, looking up, Rick was surprised to see Abby Marsh. "Hey, Rick, what are you doing in bed at this hour!" she ragged, then gave Rob a hug. Managing a smile, the younger Simon returned her embrace, saying, "Thanks for coming, Abby, did you see Grandma and Robin?"

"Yes I did, Rob, and you guys are holding up like champs. I'm sorry about your Mom, she saved your Uncle from what I hear. We'll find her, she's tougher then that weasel Fitzpatrick!" she insisted.

Rick spoke up, "Son, would you go check on Oscar, I'm kinda worried about him, see if he's had anything to eat today." "Sure, Pop, I'll be back in a little while. See you Abby." he added. Waiting until he left the room, his father tried to shift position, then let out a gasp of pain. "Here, here, let me help you, Rick." Abby grabbed his arm then helped him adjust the bed.

Grateful for the hand, Rick smiled at his friend as she fussed with the pillows. "Never thought I'd see the day when the Chief of Detectives would fluff a pillow for me!" he said. "Dream on, Simon, the only reason I'd fix a pillow for you is to see you stop groaning and moaning!" she returned, teasing. Suddenly the smile left his face, "Abby, I'm scared, that monster has my girl someplace, what if we don't find her in time?"

"We'll find her, Rick, Laurie has more guts then anyone, yes anyone I know!" she retorted, hiding her own worry. "Besides, I don't want to think what it would do to her uncle and Dr. Wells. I've never seen two tougher men go softer about anyone, except maybe you and A.J.!"

He was silent for a minute, then quietly said, "Thanks, Abby, I appreciate it. You know Laurie thinks the world of you. I guess I've been pretty lucky to have both of you to keep me in one piece." "And don't you forget it!" she replied, floored at being included in the "both".

They were interrupted by the door opening, then saw a teary-eyed Robin with Captain Ron and Robbie. "Pop, they found the van Mom was taken away in.", the young

deputy choked. "Where was it:" Rick asked, alarmed by his children's reactions. "In the parking lot of the tourist center outside Phoenix", the Captain answered uncomfortably. "Rick, I'm sorry, I needed to know what Laurie wore yesterday, and I didn't realize there was a note with her things." "God, no", Rick gasped, seeing Robin holding two familiar pieces of clothing.

"Pop, he took her clothes off, and left this note with them," she wept, then handed the piece of paper to him. He looked at it, then swore at the two lines.

"Here's Mrs. Simon's clothes, she won't be needing them anymore. Don't bother to look for her, she won't keep too long in this heat."

With fury in his eyes, he looked at the two detectives, then said, "That's the last straw, let me talk to Oscar. I'm going to get his boss to turn her transmitter on if I have to blow every whistle in the book!"