Second Chances: No Promise Unkept
Hailed as heroes for stopping a robbery, Rick and Laurie Simon soon face a campaign of terror from an old-style crime family. Now a test of faith in themselves and each others' word determines if they survive.
(This is a fictional story, and no money is being made from it. The characters from Simon & Simon and Six Million Dollar Man are owned by Universal Studios and are only being borrowed for a little while, I promise to put them back when I'm done.)
"Good play, Ricky!" Linda Simon yelled, applauding her son on as he dove and speared a grounder then nailed a runner at first. A.J. saw Ricky grin as he ran off the field to his teammates high-fives. "Hon, calm down, the baby's not going to be much of a fan if you jump up and down so much!" he warned teasingly.
"How can you be so calm when…" Linda broke off with a chuckle as Rick stood and applauded at the fence surrounding the Little League field, "Yeah, way to go, Ricky!" ..
"Never mind, you're more the strong, silent type." She added with a smile, then was rewarded by a kiss and A.J.'s whispered, "I'll lead the cheering when we get home."
Behind them in the bleachers, Laurie Simon leaned over and ragged, "I thought the action was supposed to be on the field!"
"Speak for yourself, sis." Her sister-in-law laughed, standing and taking a worn out Ceci from her. The little girl raised her head wearily, then asked, "Mama, did Ricky win the game?"
"Yes, Ceci, and now we're going to the Fun Zone for a party now." Suddenly her daughter perked up, "Fun Zone, all right! Auntie Laurie, are you and Uncle Rick coming?" she added, turning and looking pleadingly at her.
"Sure honey, I love the Fun Zone, you know your daddy and Uncle have a great time there too!" Laurie giggled at Linda's astonished look.
"Well, I see my lady has favorites, huh, what about your mom here?" Linda made a disappointed face then choked up when Ceci threw her arms around her neck. "Mama, I don't want to go without you!"
"See, sis, you'll always be her favorite!" Laurie handed her a Kleenex, then wiped her eyes at the sight of Rick high-fiving his nephew. "Boy do I wish I had my camera."
Linda whipped out hers, then caught them "low-fiving".
"Just look at him, Laurie." She said, then Laurie took her arm as the three of them climbed down the bleachers, following behind A.J.
"Sis, we have the two most wonderful men in the world. But Rick is the best big brother of them all! I don't worry when A.J.'s with him."
"Me neither." Laurie reached for the rail on the last step, only to feel it give way beneath her fingers. At once she started to lose her balance, "Linda, grab the bench!" she cried, fearing her sister-in-law would fall.
Abruptly she felt arms holding her, then saw A.J. catch his wife and daughter then set them down.
"Sweetheart, are you all right?" Worried eyes focused on her, and Laurie caught her breath looking into Rick's eyes.
"Yes, Rick." She told him shakily. "Linda?"
"I'm okay, hon. What were we just saying?" She gasped, then A.J. looked puzzled.
"What, Linny?"
"That we are married to the two most wonderful men in the world." Laurie told him, putting her arms around Rick's neck. "I lose my fear when I look in your eyes. You're always there when I need you, love."
He tightened his grip around her. "Forever and ever, darlin'." Rick said, grateful he had turned around in the nick of time. Giving her a kiss, Rick put her on her feet.
"Come on, angel, I know somebody who needs a root beer float."
"Now I know why I love you." Laurie told him, happily taking his hand.
Driving just a short distance, Rick followed the caravan of kids and adults to the garishly colored Fun Zone, a popular place with all the sports teams in town. Soon he and Laurie were roped into a basketball throwing contest, with Rick earning a fistful of tickets to his nephew's delight.
"Okay, okay, big brother, now I see where Robbie got his shooting eye!" A.J. capitulated after the third model car landed on their table.
"Yeah, but who's the pitch ball Queen?" Rick needled, then laughed as Laurie settled a rag doll on Ceci before sitting down to her promised ice cream treat.
"Oh, I don't know." A.J. snickered, then plopped an extra cherry on top of her drink.
"Thanks A.J, but, look at the inspiration I have!" she giggled, popping the fruit into Rick's mouth then following it with her lips.
As the party wound down, Ceci accidentally spilled some soda on her t-shirt, and Linda sighed, trying to pull herself out of her chair..
"Good thing I have a spare shirt for her in the car, I'll go get it."
"No, you stay put, sis, let me have the keys." Laurie offered. Linda handed them over gratefully, then sat back down.
As Rick came back to the table with doggie bags, he saw his wife's unfinished root beer.
"Watch this, A.J." he smirked, then hit the glass behind the bags.
As Laurie re-entered the restaurant, the sounds of a scuffle caught her ears, then she saw a man backing away from the cashier's window, holding a gun. He had a woman by the throat in front of him, "Any one comes near, and this lady's dead", he taunted.
"Rick!" she "called", then throwing the child's t-shirt onto a chair, waited until the robber came backwards toward her. Looking around, she saw someone in the shadow of the manager's office, then Laurie caught the eye of the frightened kid behind the register, and signaled for him to duck as she pounced on the man and wrenched the sobbing hostage from him.
Surprised, he turned, then Laurie karate chopped the weapon from him. As he tried to grab at her, snarling, "I'll kill you!", Rick appeared in back of him, then tapping him on the shoulder, waited until he spun around then clocked him with one punch.
"Rick, good timing!" she gasped, then comforted the relieved woman as Rick restrained the crook and a chagrined security guard took charge of the area.
"Darlin', that was quick thinking." Rick told her, as they waited for the police to take their statements.
"Thank you, love, but it was you taking him out!" Laurie told him, leaning against him. A.J. had gotten their party out of the restaurant and chose that moment to come back into the waiting area.
"Sis, I don't know how you get into these things, but I'm sure glad you went to get Ceci's top instead of Linny!" he leaned down and hugged her.
She just shook her head. "I just happened onto the scene, what scares me is the fact that the security guard just happened to be on his break. And there was someone else there in the shadows, a lookout I guess." Rick gathered her into his arms.
"Sweetheart, you really hit it on the head, this wasn't just random." He said, worried, as their friend Captain Johnson came over to them. "I know you two must be tired, but your statements really will help nail this guy."
"As for you, honey, you're really a lifesaver, nice work." He told Laurie, as she reached out and squeezed his hand.
"Thanks, Ron, but Rick delivered the real "knockout punch!"
"Just call me Ali!", he smugly boasted.
"Who's behind the robbery?" Rick gaped at Chief Branson, as he met with them in Captain Johnson's office. When they were called into Ron's office after a long session with the arresting officers, he'd expected "thanks, now go home."
The younger man looked concerned at the two Simons. "Martin Patrone, the son of the head of the Patronage organization. I thought you might have heard of him, but for years his father Randolph has run the Arizona form of the Mafia, now I guess he's decided to break out a new way of making money. It's not exactly his style, but I figure his son Martin decided to get fast bucks a different way then the old man."
"Rick, I've never heard of them, why would they target a children's place?" Laurie glanced at her husband, then gripped his hand as the police chief shook his head.
"Patrone always took from other crooks, we've never been able to nail him because what pimp or bookie is going to file charges. He "protects" the illegal gambling and prostitution houses, also the smugglers of prescription drugs and counterfeit goods. I guess we've been lucky in a way, he's never bothered any legitimate businesses, but now…well, at least we've got something on him through his son." Branson gave half a grin.
"You bet we do, only, Chief…"Ron sighed, "I really don't like Laurie and Rick being involved in this. We don't know who she saw in the shadows, or why Martin targeted this particular place, except….."
Rick at once got what he was saying. "You mean, Patrone could target us, try to intimidate us so we don't testify against his son?" A cold chill ran through him, then he felt his wife lean against him.
"Darling, he won't do that, there's just no way. What about Rick's idea that there was help on the inside?" Laurie asked, as Rick put his arm around her.
"Hon, that's a good question. The security guard was a substitute and he told the officer on the scene he just happened to have to go to the bathroom. We have him under surveillance, as for the manager and bookkeeper, they seem intimidated, but they're going to testify." Johnson said, then the phone rang.
Excusing himself, the Chief took the call, then quickly hung up .
"I think we've got a break. Rick, I want you to take Laurie home and stay put until I call." He warned.
As they came out of the police station, Rick tensed, looking to see any strange cars or loiterers. Suddenly, a voice called out, "Pop!"
Relieved, Laurie saw her son pull up in his sheriff's car. "Honey, where did you come from?"
"Ron called me, Uncle A.J. took your Jeep home, I'll take you to pick it up." Robbie explained, then Rick gave him a hug. "Thanks, son, I always knew teaching you to drive would pay off some day!"
