Chapter 4
"Rick, please, where are you!" Laurie whimpered, staring at the darkness around her.
Numb with cold, she tried to twist her way loose, then gave up. Looking at the water pooling around her, she hoped that maybe it would help float her out of the vice-like grip of the rocks she was wedged between. At least she could half-sit, but holding that position soon exhausted her. If only I had my watch, she thought, then it hit her; my pendant, where's my pendant!
Feeling around her neck with her good hand, she found it, then tried to turn it on with one hand. Her numb fingers wouldn't cooperate, so again she lowered herself into the reclining position she had awakened to. Still dazed, she remembered the water rushing over her, then when she broke through to the surface, there was no sign of her husband. Once or twice she had felt him calling to her, but she was so out of it, she couldn't make sense of anything except that he loved her.
Please, darling, I love you too; she tried to send out to him. It was like he was there, but not there. Worn out, she slumped against the sharp rocks.
A feeling of panic swept over her; they'll think I'm dead if I don't get out of here, she thought. And Rick? Horrified at even the idea that he was drowned, she started talking to herself to keep from losing control.
"He's not dead, he's probably been found and he's hurt or unconscious, otherwise he'd have contacted you by now". Laurie reasoned. Closing her eyes to the throbbing headache she had, she concentrated, only to feel an awareness of her husband, but nothing else.
"See, what did I tell you, he's alive, just passed out or in the hospital. He'll come looking as soon as he can!" she thought.
But what if he doesn't? A nagging thought came back to haunt her. What if he's hurt and they don't listen to him, or.
No, he's alive and so are you and you're going to get out of here and help him find you! she told the negative voice in her head.
Suddenly she heard the sound of rushing water, then realized the tide was coming in.
Terrified at the idea that she could drown if it was too high, she redoubled her efforts to wriggle her trapped legs out from the tight place the waves had pushed her into.
Ignoring the tearing sensation of material and skin, she managed to turn her torso to the left, then to the right. Maybe if I push, she decided, then placing her bruised and battered hands on each side of her, she pushed as hard as she could and succeeded in inching first her thighs, then her knees through the opening in the rocks.
Just when she thought she might gain her freedom, another gush of water hit and drove into her, causing her to lose her grip. Feeling it start to drag her back into the ocean, she reached for the rocks again, then pulled her body back between the rocks. Holding fast, she turned her face away from the splashing water, for what seemed hours, then nearly dropped with relief when she heard no more water coming in.
Exhausted, she half-slid, half sat against the rock wall, then closed her eyes. "Rick, hurry, please, so tired!" she tried to reach him, then felt something, like a response.
"Love you!" Laurie told him, then passed out.
"Captain James, good to see you again." A.J. greeted the commander. The younger Simon introduced Oscar and Rudy to the Coast Guard Captain, then all four men sat in the hospital waiting room.
"A.J., we found Rick about 2 miles from the pier, he has a concussion and mild hypothermia, otherwise he's lucky to be alive. Did you and Mr. Goldman get my report on your way in?" James asked.
Oscar spoke up. "Yes, Captain, I read it on the plane. I feared something like this might happen once Matthews was denied his hearing. Those two hired hands should be willing to talk once it's brought to their attention they failed. Any news on my, on Mrs. Simon?"
The commander shook his head regretfully. "No, sir, I have two ships using night vision out there now. At daybreak I'll send a couple of planes up, plus the Navy has volunteered a reconnaissance plane to use infrareds on the shoreline. I have to be honest, Mr. Goldman, after the first hours, we very rarely have success on finding anyone alive in the water. If she washed ashore, she may very well have hypothermia or other injuries that will make survival, well,..."
"Don't say that, my mother's still out there, I know she's alive!" a voice broke in, and the men turned to see Robert standing in the room, having heard the last part of the captain's statement. Rudy stood up quickly and intervened as the commander scowled at the interruption.
"It's ok, Robbie, he meant the odds were against finding your mom, but we're not giving up, ok?" the doctor assured him. Looking at his uncle's face, the young deputy nodded, then hugged Oscar and A.J.
"Captain, this is Robert Simon, Rick and Laurie's son. Robbie, this is an old aquaintenance of your father, Captain James. He's the one who saved your father." Oscar gently explained.
Taking a deep breath, Robbie extended his hand. "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean it to sound like..."
Waving his apology off, the Captain shook his hand. "No need to apologize, son, you have every right to believe your mother's still alive out there. Anybody who survives marrying a Simon, well, she must be a remarkable woman. We're still hoping, Robert."
"Thank you, sir. Uncle Rudy, have you seen Pop yet, they said he was awake but that I should see you first." Robbie asked.
"I'm going there now, why don't you come and that way you can call your sister and grandmother and let them know how he is." Rudy added.
Nodding, Robbie went with him as the others settled back in their seats. A.J. spoke next. "You spoke about the infrared search, is there any chance we could obtain the services of a search and rescue dog?"
Captain James shook his head. "I'm afraid the Coast Guard doesn't have much luck with search dogs. The sense of smell goes wacky when it comes to the combination of sand and water. We'll have a better idea of where else to look at first light. Now, Mr. Goldman, there's one thing that puzzles me. Rick kept referring to his transmitter, to hearing his wife. Does she do some kind of work that involves a tracking device?"
Sighing, Oscar filled the captain in on the reasons for the Simons to utilize transmitter watches. Astonished, the Coast Guard commander looked at both men, then grinned.
"I'm glad you clued me in, for a few minutes I was afraid Rick had suffered more then a conk on the head. We'll keep our radio tuned in to any stray frequencies just in case, Mr. Goldman."
As soon as the Captain excused himself, A.J. let out a deep breath. "Oscar, that was close, I keep forgetting it's not every man who can sense when his wife's nearby!"
"You and me both, pal!" the big man managed a grin. "Seriously, A.J., I'm scared, Laurie doesn't swim well. If she's not washed up on the beach, I just don't know, well, I plan on going out at first light. I'm going to go on the assumption she's hurt or sick and can't transmit to us."
Nodding, A.J. put a tentative hand on Oscar's shoulder. "We'll find her, I refuse to give up hope. Look how she managed last year to survive that maniac Fitzpatrick. Rick's the one I worry more about. We've got to keep him in the hospital at least until tomorrow, so he gets some rest."
Through the long night, A.J. found his brother's idea of rest differed by a long stretch from Rudy's.
If Rick wasn't on the phone to his mother, he was talking to Captain Ron in Phoenix or Captain James or listening to his son. Finally Rudy convinced him to take some medication to fight any infections, and he finally went to sleep.
Checking on him after going out on the beach, Oscar found Rick tossing and turning, as if even in sleep he was fighting the waves. Going to get Rudy, he brought him in just as Rick started mumbling. "Oscar, he's fighting the sedative I gave him with his antibiotics, that's all. I wish I had some news, any news to help him.", he told Oscar despairingly.
Suddenly Rick sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead. "Laurie, honey, hold on, I'll find you, I promise!" Concerned, the doctor put his hand on his arm. "Rick, wake up, it's all right, we're looking for her." Taking a deep breath, the older Simon blinked a few times, then calmly looked at his friends.
"Laurie's alive, guys, I just heard her. She's scared and she's crying, in a dark place somewhere. I'm going up the coast past the pier, Oscar. Wherever she is, I'm going to find her." he replied heatedly. Surprisingly, Rudy didn't argue with him. "All right, son, I'm going to take a look at you and if I think you can handle it, I'll release you from the hospital. You have to promise me to take it easy though, stay with your brother and the first sign of headache or dizziness you come back here, ok?"
Managing a small grin, Rick answered, "Yes, Rudy, I'll be ok though. Where's A.J.?"
"He's talking to Captain James and Towne, they've been out since early looking for
Laurie. Temple's gone to pick up your mom and Robin, they're due in later this morning." Oscar added.
Passing muster after Rudy's exam, Rick went out to the right side of the Santa Barbara Pier and headed toward the tide pools, where his son and brother had already searched. He was starting to walk up to the Widow's Hill section of the cliffs when he saw his son stiffen, then hold up something in his hand. "Robbie, what did you find?" he yelled, jogging toward him.
"Pop, it's Mom's, "the young deputy gulped then straightened himself, "Mom's watch." His father came to him then took the battered time piece from him. Still glistening with the opals his wife loved, the crystal was cracked and part of the works were exposed.
Putting his arm around Robbie, Rick conforted him. "It's ok, son, it probably came off her wrist when she was washed on to the shore. She still may have her locket on, I'll call Oscar and see if he put it on by remote."
"Pop, I know we'll find her, it's just that the Captain was saying she couldn't have survived too long in the water. What if he's right?" his son choked, trying not to cry.
"Then we'll do what your mother would want us to do, carry on and take care of each other. We're not going to face that until we have to, Robbie." he said.
Abruptly he heard his name being called, then looking up on the bluff, saw his mother and daughter with two other people, waving and trying to get his attention.
"Son, why don't you tell your Grandmother and sister what we're doing, and I'll signal for you if I find anything, ok?" Rick assured him. "All right, Pop, be careful!"
Leaving his son at the parking lot steps, Rick struck out toward the tide pools, where he could see his brother retracing where he'd already looked. As he approached him, he gazed at the watch he had so lovingly given his wife on their anniversary. Seeing again the look of joy she'd greeted his gift with, he felt tears pricking his eyes.
"No, you're not gone, I know my Laurie you're still alive, please talk to me, darlin'!" he thought despairingly. Joining his brother, he took heart when A.J. saw the bracelet in his hand and his face brightened. "It's a sign she must be around here someplace, Rick, I know it is!" he said hopefully.
"What would I do without you to back me up, little brother! Come on, let's look toward the breakwater, maybe we'll find some more clues that direction!" he told A.J., putting an arm around his shoulder.
"Rick, please, where are you!" Laurie whimpered, staring at the darkness around her.
Numb with cold, she tried to twist her way loose, then gave up. Looking at the water pooling around her, she hoped that maybe it would help float her out of the vice-like grip of the rocks she was wedged between. At least she could half-sit, but holding that position soon exhausted her. If only I had my watch, she thought, then it hit her; my pendant, where's my pendant!
Feeling around her neck with her good hand, she found it, then tried to turn it on with one hand. Her numb fingers wouldn't cooperate, so again she lowered herself into the reclining position she had awakened to. Still dazed, she remembered the water rushing over her, then when she broke through to the surface, there was no sign of her husband. Once or twice she had felt him calling to her, but she was so out of it, she couldn't make sense of anything except that he loved her.
Please, darling, I love you too; she tried to send out to him. It was like he was there, but not there. Worn out, she slumped against the sharp rocks.
A feeling of panic swept over her; they'll think I'm dead if I don't get out of here, she thought. And Rick? Horrified at even the idea that he was drowned, she started talking to herself to keep from losing control.
"He's not dead, he's probably been found and he's hurt or unconscious, otherwise he'd have contacted you by now". Laurie reasoned. Closing her eyes to the throbbing headache she had, she concentrated, only to feel an awareness of her husband, but nothing else.
"See, what did I tell you, he's alive, just passed out or in the hospital. He'll come looking as soon as he can!" she thought.
But what if he doesn't? A nagging thought came back to haunt her. What if he's hurt and they don't listen to him, or.
No, he's alive and so are you and you're going to get out of here and help him find you! she told the negative voice in her head.
Suddenly she heard the sound of rushing water, then realized the tide was coming in.
Terrified at the idea that she could drown if it was too high, she redoubled her efforts to wriggle her trapped legs out from the tight place the waves had pushed her into.
Ignoring the tearing sensation of material and skin, she managed to turn her torso to the left, then to the right. Maybe if I push, she decided, then placing her bruised and battered hands on each side of her, she pushed as hard as she could and succeeded in inching first her thighs, then her knees through the opening in the rocks.
Just when she thought she might gain her freedom, another gush of water hit and drove into her, causing her to lose her grip. Feeling it start to drag her back into the ocean, she reached for the rocks again, then pulled her body back between the rocks. Holding fast, she turned her face away from the splashing water, for what seemed hours, then nearly dropped with relief when she heard no more water coming in.
Exhausted, she half-slid, half sat against the rock wall, then closed her eyes. "Rick, hurry, please, so tired!" she tried to reach him, then felt something, like a response.
"Love you!" Laurie told him, then passed out.
"Captain James, good to see you again." A.J. greeted the commander. The younger Simon introduced Oscar and Rudy to the Coast Guard Captain, then all four men sat in the hospital waiting room.
"A.J., we found Rick about 2 miles from the pier, he has a concussion and mild hypothermia, otherwise he's lucky to be alive. Did you and Mr. Goldman get my report on your way in?" James asked.
Oscar spoke up. "Yes, Captain, I read it on the plane. I feared something like this might happen once Matthews was denied his hearing. Those two hired hands should be willing to talk once it's brought to their attention they failed. Any news on my, on Mrs. Simon?"
The commander shook his head regretfully. "No, sir, I have two ships using night vision out there now. At daybreak I'll send a couple of planes up, plus the Navy has volunteered a reconnaissance plane to use infrareds on the shoreline. I have to be honest, Mr. Goldman, after the first hours, we very rarely have success on finding anyone alive in the water. If she washed ashore, she may very well have hypothermia or other injuries that will make survival, well,..."
"Don't say that, my mother's still out there, I know she's alive!" a voice broke in, and the men turned to see Robert standing in the room, having heard the last part of the captain's statement. Rudy stood up quickly and intervened as the commander scowled at the interruption.
"It's ok, Robbie, he meant the odds were against finding your mom, but we're not giving up, ok?" the doctor assured him. Looking at his uncle's face, the young deputy nodded, then hugged Oscar and A.J.
"Captain, this is Robert Simon, Rick and Laurie's son. Robbie, this is an old aquaintenance of your father, Captain James. He's the one who saved your father." Oscar gently explained.
Taking a deep breath, Robbie extended his hand. "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean it to sound like..."
Waving his apology off, the Captain shook his hand. "No need to apologize, son, you have every right to believe your mother's still alive out there. Anybody who survives marrying a Simon, well, she must be a remarkable woman. We're still hoping, Robert."
"Thank you, sir. Uncle Rudy, have you seen Pop yet, they said he was awake but that I should see you first." Robbie asked.
"I'm going there now, why don't you come and that way you can call your sister and grandmother and let them know how he is." Rudy added.
Nodding, Robbie went with him as the others settled back in their seats. A.J. spoke next. "You spoke about the infrared search, is there any chance we could obtain the services of a search and rescue dog?"
Captain James shook his head. "I'm afraid the Coast Guard doesn't have much luck with search dogs. The sense of smell goes wacky when it comes to the combination of sand and water. We'll have a better idea of where else to look at first light. Now, Mr. Goldman, there's one thing that puzzles me. Rick kept referring to his transmitter, to hearing his wife. Does she do some kind of work that involves a tracking device?"
Sighing, Oscar filled the captain in on the reasons for the Simons to utilize transmitter watches. Astonished, the Coast Guard commander looked at both men, then grinned.
"I'm glad you clued me in, for a few minutes I was afraid Rick had suffered more then a conk on the head. We'll keep our radio tuned in to any stray frequencies just in case, Mr. Goldman."
As soon as the Captain excused himself, A.J. let out a deep breath. "Oscar, that was close, I keep forgetting it's not every man who can sense when his wife's nearby!"
"You and me both, pal!" the big man managed a grin. "Seriously, A.J., I'm scared, Laurie doesn't swim well. If she's not washed up on the beach, I just don't know, well, I plan on going out at first light. I'm going to go on the assumption she's hurt or sick and can't transmit to us."
Nodding, A.J. put a tentative hand on Oscar's shoulder. "We'll find her, I refuse to give up hope. Look how she managed last year to survive that maniac Fitzpatrick. Rick's the one I worry more about. We've got to keep him in the hospital at least until tomorrow, so he gets some rest."
Through the long night, A.J. found his brother's idea of rest differed by a long stretch from Rudy's.
If Rick wasn't on the phone to his mother, he was talking to Captain Ron in Phoenix or Captain James or listening to his son. Finally Rudy convinced him to take some medication to fight any infections, and he finally went to sleep.
Checking on him after going out on the beach, Oscar found Rick tossing and turning, as if even in sleep he was fighting the waves. Going to get Rudy, he brought him in just as Rick started mumbling. "Oscar, he's fighting the sedative I gave him with his antibiotics, that's all. I wish I had some news, any news to help him.", he told Oscar despairingly.
Suddenly Rick sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead. "Laurie, honey, hold on, I'll find you, I promise!" Concerned, the doctor put his hand on his arm. "Rick, wake up, it's all right, we're looking for her." Taking a deep breath, the older Simon blinked a few times, then calmly looked at his friends.
"Laurie's alive, guys, I just heard her. She's scared and she's crying, in a dark place somewhere. I'm going up the coast past the pier, Oscar. Wherever she is, I'm going to find her." he replied heatedly. Surprisingly, Rudy didn't argue with him. "All right, son, I'm going to take a look at you and if I think you can handle it, I'll release you from the hospital. You have to promise me to take it easy though, stay with your brother and the first sign of headache or dizziness you come back here, ok?"
Managing a small grin, Rick answered, "Yes, Rudy, I'll be ok though. Where's A.J.?"
"He's talking to Captain James and Towne, they've been out since early looking for
Laurie. Temple's gone to pick up your mom and Robin, they're due in later this morning." Oscar added.
Passing muster after Rudy's exam, Rick went out to the right side of the Santa Barbara Pier and headed toward the tide pools, where his son and brother had already searched. He was starting to walk up to the Widow's Hill section of the cliffs when he saw his son stiffen, then hold up something in his hand. "Robbie, what did you find?" he yelled, jogging toward him.
"Pop, it's Mom's, "the young deputy gulped then straightened himself, "Mom's watch." His father came to him then took the battered time piece from him. Still glistening with the opals his wife loved, the crystal was cracked and part of the works were exposed.
Putting his arm around Robbie, Rick conforted him. "It's ok, son, it probably came off her wrist when she was washed on to the shore. She still may have her locket on, I'll call Oscar and see if he put it on by remote."
"Pop, I know we'll find her, it's just that the Captain was saying she couldn't have survived too long in the water. What if he's right?" his son choked, trying not to cry.
"Then we'll do what your mother would want us to do, carry on and take care of each other. We're not going to face that until we have to, Robbie." he said.
Abruptly he heard his name being called, then looking up on the bluff, saw his mother and daughter with two other people, waving and trying to get his attention.
"Son, why don't you tell your Grandmother and sister what we're doing, and I'll signal for you if I find anything, ok?" Rick assured him. "All right, Pop, be careful!"
Leaving his son at the parking lot steps, Rick struck out toward the tide pools, where he could see his brother retracing where he'd already looked. As he approached him, he gazed at the watch he had so lovingly given his wife on their anniversary. Seeing again the look of joy she'd greeted his gift with, he felt tears pricking his eyes.
"No, you're not gone, I know my Laurie you're still alive, please talk to me, darlin'!" he thought despairingly. Joining his brother, he took heart when A.J. saw the bracelet in his hand and his face brightened. "It's a sign she must be around here someplace, Rick, I know it is!" he said hopefully.
"What would I do without you to back me up, little brother! Come on, let's look toward the breakwater, maybe we'll find some more clues that direction!" he told A.J., putting an arm around his shoulder.