The ringing phone woke Laurie first. Fumbling for the portable, she picked it up and sleepily answered, "Simon Residence."
"Laurie, I need Rick." It was Ron Johnson. Immediately she turned and found Rick waking up next to her. "Darling, It's Ron, something's wrong."
"Thanks." he yawned, then taking the phone, cleared his throat and said "Ron, what's happened?" "Rick, I've been set up, can you reach Robbie?" he panted, trying to catch his breath.
"I'll call him right now." Rick was fully awake now, and dialing the sheriff's office, got Robbie on the first ring. "Robbie, I've got Ron on the line, he says he's been set up. Go ahead, son." Rick conferenced the call, then was shocked to hear his friend say, "Robbie, meet me in back of ...no!"
There were sounds of a struggle, then a muffled thud. "Ron, Ron!" Rick called his name frantically, then heard a laugh.
Suddenly there was silence.
Rick sat at the police station, crumpling a Styrofoam cup in his hands.
Ben Nash was dead, Robbie and Rob Gomez had come upon him when they reached the detective's last known location. Careful not to touch anything, the two sheriffs had waited for Ron's old partner Glen Rodriquez to arrive.
After a forensic examination of the murder scene, Ron was basically cleared, even though the killer or killers had taken great pains to tear the dead man's clothing like he'd been in fight, then plant the Chief Detective's auxiliary pistol on the ground near the body.
Nonetheless, Chief Branson had requested that Rick, Laurie and A.J. be questioned as to their whereabouts when Nash was killed. The Chief also had a stern talk with Rick and A.J., when he arrived.
"I know it's hard, but until this gets solved, I don't want either of you involved in this case. We'll find Ron, you just stay put and watch out for this Stevens." the Police Chief ordered.
Rick had glared at him, "Yeah, we'll stay out of the way, but I don't like that my wife was questioned on all this. Ron woke both of us up calling for help, you can even check with my son on this, he was on duty."
The older man winced at this, then nodded. "I apologize for that, Simon. Mrs. Simon has been nothing but admirable in this whole mess, and I did speak with Robert. We just have to cover every base so that there is no appearance of favoritism. I know Ron didn't kill Nash, we have to find out if this Stevens did."
Despite the vote of confidence, Rick knew it was still a matter of time before Branson would have to consider their friend a suspect. Now he was waiting for Laurie and A.J. to finish their statements, then he was taking them both back to the ranch. Linda was there already with Robin and Rudy, they would all be safer there.
"Rick, are you guys all right." he looked up and Oscar Goldman, suitcase in hand, was coming down the hall. Relieved, he stood up and embraced his friend.
"Boy am I glad you're back, this Stevens is a nightmare to deal with." Rick explained.
Filling in his wife's surrogate father on what had happened, he saw the anger build in Oscar. "And they just let him out without any warning to any of us?" he said tightly
At that moment Laurie and A.J. came out of Captain Rodriquez's office, and she immediately raced into Oscar's arms. "Dad!" Oscar embraced his girl then holding her tightly asked, "Are you all right with all this, Laurie, Rudy told me you had a premonition."
"Yes, Dad, I'm okay. Towne and Temple and Rick were with me, it was a bad one, but I didn't hypervenilate, like before." she assured him.
"Okay, let's get home, then we can figure out where Stevens has Ron. I'm almost positive he's holding him to get back at Laurie and I. I promised Chief Branson that we'd stay in touch and any calls that come in will be monitored by the switchboard here." Rick told them.
As they headed out of the station, Rick got a beep on his transmitter watch, and found that Robbie was trying to reach him.
"Robbie, what's up?"
"Pop, I just thought of something, that tape, remember I thought there was heavy machinery in the background, like a press?" his son reminded him.
"Yeah, I remember, hey, son, I think you've given us a break here." Rick told him, excited. "Well, great minds think alike." He could almost hear his son's smile. "Do you want me to meet you in town?"
"Negative, son, go home and stay put. I don't trust this animal. Be careful." He signed off, then looked up to see a dawning light in his brother's eyes.
"It's a printing press on that tape, right?" A.J. said. Rick chuckled. "You got it, A.J. And where would Stevens have found a place to hold up but where his source of information was?"
Immediately alerting both Rodriquez and the Police Chief to the clue to their friends' whereabouts, Rick got permission for himself and A.J. to go along, as they had firsthand knowledge of the ex-con.
"Laurie and I'll wait here, son." Oscar told him, forstalling Laurie's protest. She looked at all three men, then hugged her husband and brother-in-law. "You two be careful, I am not celebrating Christmas without you!"
"Of course not, honey." A.J. saw how worried she was. "We'll be back in a little while.
Rick pulled her into his arms. "You mind your father, hear!" he lectured her, and brought a smile to her face. "I will, Rick." She gave him a kiss then watched him and A.J. follow the other officers.
As Rick and A.J. trailed the small armada of unmarked patrol cars, they checked their weapons. Suddenly A.J. broke the silence. "Rick, did they find Ron's transmitter at the scene?"
His brother frowned, "I don't know, let me beep Robbie, oh, damn!" he realized what A.J. was getting at. Pulling out his own device, he signaled Chief Branson.
"Branson here."
"Captain, too much interference, can we switch to 03?" Rick asked, hoping the older man would pick up his meaning.
"Got it, Simon." Instantly A.J. switched to their back-up frequency of 715.03, then alerted the chief to his fear that Stevens had been listening to them on Ron's transmitter.
"Glad you thought of that, Simon. I'm going to lay a red herring that we've gone to the printing company on Hinds street, then we'll double back to the newspaper building." He added.
Signalling his intentions to all the reponders, they converged on the Valley Sun press building, only to receive a shock. When the Chief entered the building, he came back out like a shot. Coming to Rick's window, he told him, "Not going to believe this, the paper lost their lease on the printing area last week, so they've been running their paper off at the wherehouse next door to our parking garage."
Rick swore, then didn't wait but peeled out of the parking lot and raced back across town to the police station. Pulling in back of the loading dock , he and A.J. got into position near the back door of the building, then waited for the other units to pull up and surround the place.
Giving the signal, Branson motioned the brothers to make entry, then followed them inside.
Silently entering a long hallway, Rick motioned his brother to take a parallel path when the corridor forked at an empty guard's desk. Following the smell of machine oil, Rick inched his way along the wall, then heard a scraping noise.
Coming around a corner, he noiselessly stepped back as he realized Stevens was on the other side of the wall, loading bullets into a gun. Both brothers realized that Ron was between them, bound to a chair.
Abruptly the ex-con spoke, "Well, Chief, this where you and I part company. I'm going to finish what I started, so you're no longer necessary. Just the means to an end, so to speak."
Rick caught a glimpse of their friend's face, then Rick saw that Ron had caught a glimpse of him.
Immediately the detective spoke, his voice weak. "You'll won't get them, they're under police protection by now."
"I won't, huh? That's what you think, Johnson. I had no trouble taking the lady before, I'll be able to complete my journey this time." Stevens boasted. "But first, let me take care of you now."
Rick knew he had to create a diversion, so he picked up a stray bolt off the floor and heaved it into a far corner of the room. Instantly Stevens whipped around, then yelled, "Who's there?" Leaving his captive, Stevens moved away from him and towards the other side of the room.
As the former sheriff went out of sight, Rick crept out of hiding and quickly cut Ron loose.
"Thanks, pal, he had me going there for a moment." the detective whispered, then the two men ducked out of sight as they heard Stevens coming back.
A.J. got into position as Stevens rounded the corner, then stopped, rage contorting his features.
"Johnson, where are you? Come out or I'll burn this place down around you!" As he turned away from the Simons, Rick leveled his weapon then fired, knocking the gun from his hand.
"Freeze, Stevens or you're dead!" he yelled.
"Well, Mr. Simon, so glad you stopped by. I thought I'd have a harder time getting you in here." the killer smirked. A.J. went to the other side of Stevens and picked up his weapon as Rick covered him.
"Yeah, well, this is your last crime, jerk. Chief!" Rick called, and Branson and his men came in.
As the chief ordered Stevens to the ground, he started to comply, then he dropped something, and immediately a cloud of fire and smoke went up.
"Everybody out!" both detectives hollered, then coughing and choking, Rick and A.J. each took an arm and pulled Ron along with them into the early afternoon sun.
"Wait, we've got to make sure Stevens doesn't escape!" Johnson panted as Rick helped him to a seat inside one of the patrol cars.
"He's not going anywhere but up in smoke after that trick." Glen Rodriguez came up to them, then hugged his old partner. "The next time you go after a perp by yourself, I'm going to lock you up!" he grated.
"And I'll help!" Chief Branson added, checking on his lead detective.
"All right, all right, you've made your point, guys." Ron grinned ruefully. "I made a mistake, and you guys really came through for me. Thanks."
"Chief, there's no sign of Stevens, he must have gotten out somehow!" One of Branson's men reported via the radio, and Johnson paled.
"Rick, where's Laurie, you've got to get her to safety, he's gone after her!" "She's safe, Ron, Oscar and she are upstairs." Rick tried to ally his fears.
"Oh, my God, no. You don't understand, he knows how to get in and out of headquarters. That's how he knew what time I left work last night. We've got to get to her and Oscar now!" his friend insisted.
At once the three men headed into the police station as Rick "called" his wife.
"Rick?" he felt her respond, then the light on his watch flickered. "Sweetheart, where are you and Oscar?" he asked.
"In the visitor's lounge on the second floor, are you and A.J. all right? Did you find Ron?" she answered, sounding worried.
"Yes, darlin', now you stay next to Oscar-don't move until we get there." he told her as they entered the station lobby.
"All right." she replied, then looked up as Oscar came toward her with a soda. "Rick and A.J. are headed up here, Dad. He says Ron's all right, but we're to stay put as they're on the way up." "Stevens must have gotten away, honey. I'm not letting you out of my sight." he said, concerned.
Suddenly the lights went out on the floor, then Oscar grabbed her hand in the semi-darkness.
"It's okay, Laurie, a generator must have blown, the emergency generator'll kick on in a moment, I expect." he observed tightly.
Abruptly Laurie heard a sound behind her, then something was around her throat and she dropped Oscar's hand in an effort to free herself. She tried to call for her dad, then she heard Oscar yell her name then go silent. Struggling, she was dragged, then pulled into an enclosure. Suddenly the floor dropped then a light came on, blinding her. With a start she realized she was in an elevator, and she tried to twist free from the rope choking her, only to feel it wound around her arms and wrists.
"No!" she moaned, seeing the maniacal face of Stevens come into focus.
"Laurie!" Rick "called" to his wife, and felt the breath going out of him. A.J. took him by the arm and steadied him. "Rick, are you all right?"
"Stevens has Laurie, he's trying to strangle her!" he panicked, then managed to catch his breath as they raced through the station lobby.
"Rick, he's got me in an elevator. He's going to kill me!" Laurie thought back to him, then listened to Rick as he tried to calm her. "Sweetheart, I'm coming." he pictured to her.
"Stevens has her in the elevator, she says he's trying to kill her." Rick told the others, then they raced to the elevators. As they reached them, Oscar came stumbling out of one, dazed and bleeding. "He's got Laurie, my fault." he gasped as A.J. caught him. "Easy, Oscar, we know he's taking her downstairs, that's the only place he can go." Rick told him, racing past the elevators to the stairs. Rushing down two flights, A.J. was behind him helping Oscar down the steps as Chief Branson took the opposite staircase.
Suddenly Rick heard his wife, "We're on the parking level, darling. Come quick!"
Practically leaping the last few steps, he passed the guard station and saw the untended desk with an unconscious officer next to the video bank. "Rick!" A.J. called to him, pointing at the other set of screens at the opposite desk. He saw with horror Laurie being lifted off the elevator floor by Stevens, then Rick saw her pulled out as the doors opened onto the parking level."Outside, guys, quick!" Rick told them, then raced out the security door. As he came around the cooridor, he saw Stevens on the opposite side, then heard his voice over his transmitter. "Quietly now, my dear. We're going on a little trip, but if any one gets in my way, you'll die first." the killer was warning his wife, as he held a hand over her mouth. "Rick, we're in the parking garage, hurry!" Laurie told him, as she saw Stevens headed toward a van parked near the entrance. Slipping through the entrance, Rick saw the ex-con dragging Laurie, then he told her "Freeze!"
As she stopped, Stevens yelled, "Move or I'll kill you right here." He grabbed the rope around her neck and started to tighten it, only to drop like a rock as Rick opened fire.
Laurie fell to the pavement as Rick called her name hysterically, seeing his wife lying motionless..
Rushing to her side, he saw her struggling for breath. "Oh, sweetheart, thank God, oh thank you God!" he said emotionally, lifting her up and pulling the rope off her neck.
"Rick, he was going to strangle me." Laurie choked, opening her eyes as he freed her wrists and arms, then held her in his arms. "No, darlin', no, he'd never hurt you again." he comforted her. Tears were in her eyes as she whispered, "He was going to take me from you, darling. I was so afraid." "I know, my angel, you were so brave." Rick soothed her as A.J. and Oscar joined them.
"Oh, baby, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let him take you." Oscar said, upset, helping Rick lift her up. "Dad", she gasped, seeing a cut on his head. "You didn't know, he moved too fast in the dark. What did he do to you?"
"When I felt you drop my hand, I saw Stevens' shadow, then he knocked me down and dragged you away. If Rick hadn't heard you say he was taking you down in the elevator..." he stopped, then kissed her head, too distraught to talk.
"I'm all right, just, oh I want to go home, please." Her voice raspy, and Rick kissed her gently.
"First I want to make sure you're okay, then we'll go home, I promise." he assured his wife, and she nodded, then rested her head against his shoulder.
As they went towards the garage entrance, Ron left the officers taking charge of Stevens body and met them halfway. "Laurie, honey, are you all right?" he asked worriedly.
"Now I am." she tried to smile, then saw him let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll drive you guys to the hospital to get checked out." A.J. told Oscar, who insisted he was all right. "Dad, if I'm going, you're going." Laurie stubbornly told him. "All right, honey." Oscar gave way, seeing she wouldn't take no for an answer.
While A.J. called their family to let them know Ron had been rescued, Rick and the chief detective waited anxiously for his wife and Oscar to be examined.
"By the way, Rick, I spoke with the editor of the Valley Sun." Ron said, seemingly uncomfortable. "He's very anxious to settle out of court with us about that picture. He's offered to reprint the unedited photo with an apology on the front page, plus make a donation to charity in Laurie's name. What do you think?"
'That's a good idea, Ron. Not that it matters much since Nash and Stevens are dead. "Rick agreed. "There's something else I've got to tell you, um, and I'll understand if you're not okay with it, but.."
Rick put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "If it's about Laurie, it's okay, Ron. I've known you've cared about her for a long time. She practically considers you family. That doesn't bother me, because you've helped save her life and mine a number of times. I trust you, Ron."
The other man shook his head. "Rick, you're unbelievable. No wonder she loves you so much. When she was telling Kasey's story the other day, she kept looking at you, like you're the most important man in the world. I wouldn't do anything to hurt either of our friendships for the world."
"Thank you, Ron." Rick shook hands with his friend, then relief washed over him as he saw Laurie being wheeled down the hall by Oscar.
"Sweetheart, what did the doctor say?" he asked, as she came to him and he put his arms around her. "My throat's going to be sore for a couple of days, but other then some bruises, I'm fine." she reassured him.
"Rick, that's not exactly what Allen said. Her throat is bruised, but not swollen. He says she can go home as long as she takes it easy for the next couple of days. And not a lot of talking, either. It's a good thing he talked to Rudy, honey, you're going to obey his orders, understand?" Oscar added sternly.
Laurie looked at him, then nodded reluctantly. "Yes, dad. Between you guys, a girl can't get away with anything!" she said playfully.
Laughing, Rick picked her up in his arms, forstalling any protests by kissing her. "Are you complaining, princess?" he answered as he carried her to the waiting car.
"Oh, no." she said softly. "This is the kind of orders I like. You can," she kissed him back, "boss me around like this anytime."
"Like Rudy told you once, son," Oscar chuckled after they said good bye to Ron. "The only one she has eyes for is you!".