As Rick followed Ron onto the Archer property, the detective spoke on his radio to a backup car, just in case Archer was holding Laurie somewhere inside.

As the two men came to the door, an older woman with a friendly face opened the peephole, then seeing Ron's police id, let them in.

"I'm sorry James isn't here, you were asking if he had called in or come home?" Mrs. Archer asked, worriedly.

"Yes, I'm sorry ma'am, but we believe he may have taken Mr. Simon's wife, thinking he was helping her." Ron explained gently.

Mrs. Archer looked at Rick, then bowed her head in shame. "I was afraid of something like this, Mr. Simon. He's very concerned about her, he blames you and that millionaire
Willowby for her deciding not to make appearances or write stories about her Grandmother."

Rick bit his tongue in an effort to keep from crying out "why didn't you warn us?"

"Uh, how long has he been talking like this, Mrs. Archer?" Ron asked politely, thinking the same thing as his friend.

"For a week now, maybe I should have called Mrs. Simon, but he would have been so .. angry." the woman visibly shook, and Rick impulsively took her hand.

"I heard him, ma'am, he was verbally abusive to my wife and hit her." he gently said.

"Oh no, she mustn't get him angry, he'll, he'll hurt her!" the woman cried, then Ron asked, "We won't let him hurt Mrs. Simon or you any more, now is there another place, a house or building he may be holding her in?"

"Yes, he bought an old home that he wanted to turn into a museum. He told me last week he changed his mind and was going to renovate it. It's in the Wellington Terrace area about 5 minutes from here. Let me get the address." Mrs. Archer stood up then went to a desk and came back with a real estate brochure with the address on it and a map to the location.

While Ron called his unit, Robin and Ian had joined Robbie in waiting for word from Rick, and had heard Laurie's words.

"No, oh he's done something to Mom!" Robin gasped, then buried her head in Ian's chest as Robbie signaled to Oscar.

"I know son, all we can do is track down where this madman took your mom." Oscar told them, then Robbie saw a security guard beckon from the convention hall doors.

"Uncle Oscar, one of the security guards just called me over, maybe he has something on the car Archer's using." the younger Simon reported.

"Go for it, son, I'll keep monitoring your mother. Robin, you and Ian stay together, maybe you ought to wait at your dad's truck." Oscar advised.

"Yes, sir." Ian replied for both of them. As they went toward the truck, a late model sedan pulled up next to the truck, and Robin recognized the face behind the wheel.

"Ian, get Robbie, it's Mr. Archer." she exclaimed, then froze as he got out and pointed a gun at the pair.

"I don't want to use this, Miss Robin, but your mother needs you. Son, you stay right there and don't move." Archer directed, waving Robin to get into the car. "No, don't take her." Ian started to say, but the crazed man fired a shot at Ian's feet. "Get in the car, Miss Robin, or the next one's at his head.

Robin came toward the car, then he pulled out a cloth and pushed it over her face, holding Ian at bay with the gun. Robin struggled, then went limp as her fiancé looked on helplessly. Archer pushed the girl into the car, then lowered the gun as he said. "Don't bother to come after us; she'll be safe with me."

Angered, Ian lunged at him, only to be struck by the mad man's gun. As he fell to the pavement, he heard Archer say ,"Sorry, my boy, but Robin is more important." then closed his door and drove off.

Just then Robbie came running out of the hall, having witnessed the abduction of his sister on the security cameras. "Ian!" he yelled, then ran to his friend's side and was relieved to see him trying to sit up.

"Are you all right, can you stand?" Robbie asked. "Yes, but, damn it Rob, he took her, I should have put up more of a fight."

"No, Ian, he would have killed you both, he's crazy. Uncle Oscar, can you hear me, Archer was just here and he pistol-whipped Ian and took Robin." Robbie called on his transmitter, then heard his father come on.

"Robbie, is Ian okay, how did Archer take your sister?"

"Ian's dazed but I think he's okay. I was with the security guard when he id'd Archer's car." his son told him. "Just then he drove up to where Robin and Ian were waiting and forced Robin into his car then hit Ian with a gun. They left about 4 minutes ago, can you turn on Robin's transmitter?"

"Yes, son, and we have a location. Take Ian with you and come to the Wellington Terrace estates up off of 95, we'll wait at the gates for you." Rick replied, then added, "They'll be all right, son."

"Thanks, Pop, we'll be right there." Robbie said, then helped Ian into Rick's truck and sped out of the parking lot.

As Rick and the others arrived outside the dilapidated old house, Rick heard his name being whispered over his transmitter.

"Rick, darling, can you hear me?"

"Laurie, thank God, are you okay?" he asked, "Is Robin with you?"

"Yes, Rick, he's mad, he, he hit me and says he's going to take you and Robbie so we'll be all together." her tearful reply almost more than he could stand.

"It's all right, sweetheart. He's not going to hurt you or Robin again. Ron and Robbie and the police are all here, just do as he says and I'll let you know when we're ready to come get you." Rick tried to calm her as he heard Archer's voice in the background.

"Here you are, Laurie, now go ahead and read what you were going to speak on at the forum." he asked, then Rick "heard" his wife tell him, "Rick, he's got a gun, he just put it on the bedside table."

"Go ahead, darlin', read him your speech. Make sure you've got his attention, okay?"

"Yes, Rick, whatever happens, Robin and I love you." she "told" him.

"And I love my girls." Rick "replied" then heard Archer, "Go ahead, Laurie."

"All right, James, but can you untie us, our wrists hurt." Rick could hear irritation in the man's voice. "No, Laurie, not until I'm certain you've settled in. Here."

A rustling noise sounded, then Robin meekly said, "Thank you, Mr. Archer."

"You're welcome, dear. I'm ready, Laurie." the eerie little-boy tone came back into his voice.

"Mr. Prescott, Mr. Archer, fellow authors, ladies and gentleman, friends." Laurie began then recited her farewell speech from memory.

"Rick, I've got her and Robin's signals coming from the back of the house." Oscar told him, then Ron signaled to his men to surround the sides and front of the property.

"Let's go, Dad, I see a way in." Rick pointed to a narrow pathway next to the rusted garden gate. "Robbie, you and Ian wait at the front door just in case, then when you hear us inside, break in."

Quietly the two men crept along the side of the home, then inched along the back wall to a rear door. Cautiously trying the doorknob, Rick found it was locked, then seeing the old screen on the inset window was loose, he carefully tore it away and was able to reach in and unlock the door.

Opening it wide enough first for Oscar then Ron and himself to slide in, he saw they were in an old-fashioned kitchen, through which a light shone from an interior room.

"Darlin', we're inside, raise your voice a little so we can find which room you're in." he said, then.instantly Laurie's voice was audible down a hallway, which the three men followed to a locked door.

"And so, my friends, we will meet again, if not in person, at least in between the pages of another book. Thank you all for all your support, especially to my mentor, Franklin Prescott, and one of those who helped me at the beginning of my writing career, James Archer. To all those who understood the lessons of my Great-Grandmother Kasey and Great-Grandfather Gene, thank you for coming along on their journey, and mine."

Hoping the loud clapping by Archer would cover any telltale sounds, Rick picked the lock on the door, then opening it, witnessed the kidnapper pick up the gun and tuck it into his waistband.

"That was good, Laurie, thank you for remembering me in your speech. Of course it's never going to be heard, your farewell will never need to be announced." Archer stood up, then Rick saw Laurie and Robin huddled together on an old-fashioned bed, their wrists tied together.

"I'm going to keep my promise now, Laurie. Just relax and soon I'll have Robert here, safe and sound." he told them, as Laurie started to shake her head.

"Sweetheart, it's okay, we're coming in." Rick hurriedly explained, then felt his wife "reply", "all right, just let me know and we'll take cover."

"What is it, Laurie." Archer started to look annoyed then his face cleared as Laurie answered quickly, "I was just about to say thank you for listening to my speech."

"Oh, you're welcome. I'll be right back, my dears. You'll all be together soon." came the chilling answer.

As James Archer strode importantly towards the bedroom door, Rick waited for the madman to to reach for the door knob, then slammed the door in his face, causing him to topple backwards.

"Don't move, you jerk." Rick snarled, then saw Archer reach for his gun, yelling, "No, you'll ruin everything. It's your fault!"

"No you don't, hit my wife, will you?" Rick stomped on his hand, then kicked the weapon away from the assailant.

Suddenly Archer grabbed for Rick's ankle, causing him to fall, then the younger man pulled a knife from inside his jacket, and Laurie screamed, "No, don't!" as Robin cowered against her.

Startled, Archer froze then Rick was able to punch him in the face then pin him against the floor. Abruptly the madman dropped the knife and began to wail. "No, you spoiled everything, she's mine. I helped make her, you took her away from me!"

Disgusted, Rick managed to restrain himself as he got up then grasped Archer by the shirt and hauled him off the floor then handed him over to Ron.

"Here, you handle this creep." Rick growled, then ran to his wife and daughter.

"Rick." Laurie breathed, then Robin cried "Pop" as Rick quickly untied both women then gathered them in his arms.

"Don't let go." was all Laurie could say as her husband held them tightly.

"Are you all right, honey, did he hurt you." he asked Robin, who shook her head.

"No, Pop, just woozy from whatever he put over my nose and mouth. Ian, where's Ian, oh, Pop, he hurt him."

"Here I am, Robin!" the young man ran through the door, then came to her side as Rick smiled and released her to her fiance's embrace.

Laurie gazed up at Rick as he gently dabbed at her swollen lip. "Darling, I was so afraid until I heard you, I knew you'd find us."

"Of course we would." Oscar joined them, having made sure Archer was taken away.

"Dad." Laurie put out a trembling hand and he grasped it, letting her know she was safe. "I'm proud of you, Laurie, you kept him distracted.", Oscar added.

"Thanks, Dad." she sniffed, then relaxed as Rick stroked her face tenderly. "My brave girl, I'm never going to leave you behind like that again, hearing or no hearing." he replied, then kissed her.

"Yes, my love." she sighed, then put her head down on his chest as he lifted her in his arms. "I'm taking you to Allan to have you two checked over, then we're going home."

"Home, hmmm, that's were I belong. Your home and mine, nowhere else." Laurie smiled as he carried her through the house. Robbie met them at the entrance, and his mother nearly burst into tears at the sight of her son.

"Robbie, he was coming after you next, if you father had'nt told me he was here...." she told him as he hugged her.

"No chance, Mom. Pop had him nailed from the word go. I'm just sorry he was so horrible to you and Robin. Where is she?"

"Here I am, Robbie, you were so good in taking care of Ian." Robin told him as Ian helped her out of the house and into Ron's cruiser.

"That's what big brothers are for!" Robbie said, hugging his sister as the others laughed.

Laurie beamed at her children, then nestled her head against Rick as he placed her in his truck.

"They are wonderful, aren't they, darling?"

He climbed in as Oscar shut the door, then pulled her against him as he said, softly,"Yes, sweetheart, all three of them."

"All three, oh, my prince, you are the best." Laurie giggled, then kissed him.

"Keep that up, my lady, and you'll be lucky if I wait until we get home." Rick gave her a wicked grin, then kissed her back as they drove away.