Chapter 2

Rick pounded on the door, he couldn't believe he'd let himself get abducted like this.

Scarcely had they driven more then a few minutes when Chew had directed Beck into a series of turns, then they drove into a darkened place.

After he was untied from the seat, he was led into a hall way with a series of storerooms. As Chew unlocked one and opened the door, Beck untied his wrists, then pushed him inside, causing him to fall to his knees. Instantly the door was slammed shut, and he was alone.

Now he realized he had to figure a way out, not just for himself, but for whoever was the target of his abduction.

"God, I hope A.J.'s all right!" he worried. Suddenly he "heard" his wife's call, "Rick, darling where are you?"

"Laurie, call Ron, two men locked A.J. in the closet at the office. I'm being held in a wherehouse somewhere." He answered, feeling slightly more hopeful. "I'm calling now, Rick. Are you all right?"

"Yes, just mad." He flashed, then caught almost a sense of relief in her thoughts. After a couple of minutes, she came through to him, and he could feel her anxiety.

"What is it, darlin'?" he asked. "A.J.'s all right, love. He's scared you're being held hostage for someone, the guy who threw him in the closet said you'd be all right as long as they got who they wanted. Do you still have your watch?"

"No, sweetheart, they took it from me, I'm afraid they know it's a transmitter." Rick let out a deep breath, then felt something heavy in his back pocket. A slight grin crossed his face as he pulled out the old fashioned watch Laurie had given him for Christmas. "Laurie, uh, I have my new watch, does it have what I think it has?"

"Oh, Rick, yes, it has a locator on it, they couldn't put the transmitter in because of the emergency light, but the top can be turned and it will activate my watch as well as Robbie's and Dad's and A.J.'s!" she answered.

Tuning the top, he saw a light blink twice, then fade. Abruptly he heard steps coming toward the door, and he quickly shoved the watch back into his pocket.

"Mr. Simon, stand away from the door or I'll shoot." a voice sounded, and reluctantly Rick backed away. "Here we go." Rick thought, hoping he'd get at least one crack at his abductor.

As the door opened, the light revealed Chew, now clad in a dark outfit. Holding a snub-nosed revolver, he was followed by Beck, a smirk on his face.

"I'm sorry we've had to meet this way, Mr. Simon. Nothing personal, you understand." the first man said calmly.

"Well, isn't that nice, nothing personal, Chew, if that's your name. You threaten my brother and myself, lock him in a closet and abduct me. I don't know you, but why don't you get what you want from me and let me go home"

"Certainly, Mr. Simon." Chew answered. "But first I have to "get", as you put it, what I want. Beck, a chair please." The other man brought forth a chair then pushed Rick into it.

"Watch it, jerk!" Rick went to push back, only to freeze as the older man leveled the weapon at him. "Not a muscle, Mr. Simon, I'm doing the pushing here. Now, answer me a few questions and we'll all go on our way."

Coming to stand in front of Rick, Chew continued. "I know you are a friend of Colonel Austin, I want to know where his current assignment is."

Confused, Rick looked him in the eyes. "Yeah, I'm friends with Steve, but he doesn't tell me what work he's doing. As a matter of fact, he's retired. I don't think he's been on an assignment in months."

"You lie, Mr. Simon. He's looking to stop a terrorist plot, and you know exactly where he is." the man contradicted him. "Beck, show our guest how we deal with liars."

Beck came from in back of him and slugged Rick in the stomach without warning, then backhanded him on each side of his face,as he gasped in pain.

"I told you, I don't know where Steve is. I wouldn't tell you if I did. I never worked for the OSI, but I figure if you're after Steve, you're working against our country." he managed.

His assailant raised his hand to strike Rick again, only for the older man to snap, "No, Beck."

Coming to face Rick, holding the gun level with his bleeding face, he looked him in the eyes, then nodded. "I believe you, Mr. Simon, but I know how to get the information I need."

Motioning with his head to Beck, Chew backed away, then pulled something out of his pocket as Beck stood in back of him. Rick involuntarily winced, seeing his watch in his abductor's hand.

"I know what this can do, Mr. Simon, I'm going to signal to your wife. She'll be only too happy to cooperate to save you any more pain." Chew smiled, then turned the watch stem to the send position.

Rick frantically "called" to Laurie, "Sweetheart, don't answer your watch, it's a trap. Please Laurie, don't listen to him."

"Mrs. Simon, can you hear me, Mrs. Simon, I have your husband." the older man spoke to the transmitter, then pressed receive.

"Rick, I hear him, who is it?" his wife "answered" him. "He came to the office calling himself "Lee Chew", he wants information on Steve's assignment." Rick came back to her.

"I never heard of him, I won't answer him until I get Oscar on my transmitter so he can listen." Laurie "pictured" back to him.

Chew's tone suddenly turned threatening. "Mrs. Simon, if you don't answer, I'm going to let my colleague start breaking fingers, starting with your husband's little finger. I'm going to count to three. One, two..."

"NO!" Rick heard Laurie over the transmitter in Chew's hand. The older man smiled, then replied. "There you are, Mrs. Simon. It's nice to hear your voice."

"Please, who are you, is Rick all right?" she quavered, as he "heard" her say "forgive me, darling, I can't let him hurt you."

"I'll let you speak with him, Mrs. Simon, then you're going to do exactly as I say, then he's free to go." Rick paled, knowing his wife's dilemma. "It's alright, angel. Do as he says."

"All right, Mr. Simon, you may speak to your wife." Chew held the watch out to him and he took it.

"Laurie, I'm okay. Don't cry, he's not going to hurt me. Are you driving?" he played along as he told her "Don't go anywhere without Oscar following you."

"Yes, Rick, but I'm going to pull over." she sniffed. At once the gunman took the watch from Rick. "Mrs. Simon, I told you to do exactly as I say. You will not pull over. You are currently on the freeway and heading toward your home, am I right?"

"Tell him yes, Laurie." Rick told her, trying to buy time until Oscar could tail her.

"Yes, but..." never mind, Mrs. Simon. I want you to get off on the Anderson off ramp, then go north on Anderson until you reach the industrial park. I want you to pull into the parking lot and wait there. You will receive further instructions as to the return of your husband then. You are not to call the police or give attention to yourself in anyway, or Mr. Simon will be dead. Do you understand?" Chew threatened.

"Yes, I understand." she replied, then started to obey the directions only for him to call her again. "Mrs. Simon, one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Leave the transmitter on send, I want to hear everything around you. If I hear you calling for help or the police, you'll never see your husband again." Chew said sternly.

"I will, only don't hurt him, please." Laurie answered as Rick assured her "Oscar and Rudy will be here soon, darlin'. Just play along, but don't go with him."

"I won't" she answered. Just then Beck came toward Rick with a piece of rope in his hands. "I'm going to leave you for a little while, Mr. Simon. Beck will be on the premises just in case any visitors show up." Chew added, as his cohort yanked Rick's arms in back of him and tied his wrists, then his ankles.

Unable to move, Rick scowled at the two men. "Leave my wife alone, Chew, if that's your name. She hasn't worked for the OSI for 17 years, she couldn't tell you anything about Austin if she wanted to!"

"I beg to differ, Mr. Simon. Your wife still has a certain ability, shall we say, to connect with Steve Austin. That's what I want and that's what will save your life." the older man smiled, then turned to Beck. "Don't let anything or anyone near this room, if anything happens, kill him."

The cruel-faced man grinned, then glanced at Rick and made a slashing motion to his throat.

Rick just glared at him.

Laughing, Beck followed Chew out of the room, then Rick heard the lock slam home. As soon as he heard the footsteps depart down the hall, he "called" to his wife, "Chew's gone to meet you, Laurie. If anyone approaches the car, lock yourself in, got it?"

"Yes, Rick, I love you. If anything happens..." he interrupted by picturing him holding her. "Nothing's going to happen, I won't let them hurt you, I'll be with you soon, sweetheart."

"I know, darling, but I can't wait." Laurie answered, "I just wish I knew why they're after us."

After a few minutes, he heard gunshots sound nearby, and Rick took a chance. "I'm in here, guys!" he yelled, then immediately heard Chief Ron Johnson's voice. "Rick, which room are you in?"

"The third one I think, hurry. Chew's going to kidnap Laurie any moment now!"

Rick got a cold feeling as the door to his prison was broken in, then Ron and A.J. burst in. "Rick, are you all right?" A.J. asked, helping to untie him.

"Just sore, little brother, we've got to get to Laurie, though!" he replied Suddenly, Rick heard his wife call in a panic "Rick!"

Responding to her thoughts, he felt her fading, then nothing.