Ignoring the rain of gunfire, Rick got up and raced to the front door, then threw it open.

Before him, he saw his brother face down on the lawn, and a dark van speeding away from the house. His heart dropped as he realized his mother's suitcase was lying on the ground. Turning, he yelled back at the house, "Call 911, get an ambulance."

"A.J., are you all right?" he knelt down next to him, then saw blood on A.J.'s face.

His eyes opened, then he tried to sit up, his voice panicked. "Mom, two men took Mom. We've got to stop them…."

"Easy, little brother, stay down. We'll find her. Just take it easy." Rick comforted his brother, knowing the pain he was in. "Where did they come from?"

"Around the corner, I think. Mom and I were just getting out of the car, then two men with masks came out of the bushes. One of them grabbed her and dragged her to a van and the other shot at me." A.J. seemed to calm down for a moment, only to become upset again when a siren sounded and the ambulance screeched to a halt in front of them.

"Rick, help me get up." His brother tried to sit up then fell back, dizzily, and Rick was able to push him down. "Calm down, A.J.. You're not going anywhere but the hospital…." He started, then backed away as the paramedics came forward and stooped to help the younger Simon.

"Rick, we've lost them."

Chief Johnson's voice came from behind him, and instantly anger flared within him.

"What?" he turned, then saw his wife and Linda coming out of the house. Stepping aside to allow his sister-in-law to go in the ambulance, Rick faced his friend.

"Two patrol cars were pacing the kidnappers, but they turned near the railroad tracks and disappeared over by Industrial Row. We have the area blocked off, but ….I don't want to spook them and have them hurt Cecilia." Ron explained, shame in his voice.

Laurie came to Rick's side as he replied, "You did right, pal. Thank you. But, we need to track this Thomas down, Mom's the only witness to what he did. If he hurts her…"

"We'll find her before he does, Rick. Right now I want both of you back in the house, I'm going to have a patrolman parked right in front and starting now, no one goes anywhere without me knowing it." Ron told him, a authoritative tone in his voice.

"But A.J….", Laurie started, then Rick squeezed her hand. "I'll have Ron follow me to the hospital, I'll watch over him there then bring him and Linda home. I want you take care of the kids, sweetheart. Okay?"

Laurie looked up at him with very bright eyes. "Yes, darling." She whispered, then hugged him tightly. Rick closed his eyes, gathering strength from his wife for the hours ahead.

Hours later, A.J. opened his eyes to see Linda sitting next to him, holding his hand.

"Honey, what are you doing here?" A.J. was confused for a moment, until his memory returned. His mother's abduction, the shots….. A glance at the window showed it was already late afternoon. He must have been out sometime.

"Waiting for you to wake up, how do you feel?" Linda asked, kissing his lips.

"Headachy, tired, why, what does Rudy say…" A.J. was grateful his wife was next to him, but he had to find his mother no matter what.

"You have a slight concussion, otherwise you're fine. He gave you something for the pain, then told me to wake you up every few hours." She explained, then smiled when he put her hand to his lips.

"You can be my wakeup call anytime, Linny." At that her eyes filled with tears.

"Ah, honey, don't cry. I'm all right. I just have to get out of here and find Mom." A.J. managed, upset.

"I know, A.J.. I'm just scared, I want Mom safe too, what if these men hurt her or.."

Immediately he interrupted her. "No, Linny, they're not going to do that-not until their guy is out of jail. They would have killed both of us if that was going to happen."

As if on cue, the bedside phone rang, and Linda immediately picked it up.

"Hello?"

"A.J. Simon please." Linda covered the phone, a worried look on her face.

"A.J., nobody but the family knows you're here, but some guy is asking for you."

"Linda, is Rick here?" A.J. asked, trying to remain calm.

"He's just outside, want me to get him?" Linda replied.

"Yes, tell him about the phone call." A.J. explained quietly.

As soon as his wife left the room, he uncovered the receiver.

"This is A.J. Simon."

There was a pause, then his mother's voice.

"A.J.?"

A.J. nearly choked, "Mom? Mom, are you alright?" Rick appeared in the doorway.

"Yes, A.J., but, don't , don't listen to them…"

Suddenly she was cut off, then a man's smooth voice came on.

"Mr. Simon, we need to talk."

The younger Simon nearly shouted, "Where's my mother? What did you do to her, if you so much as …"

"Calm down, Mr. Simon, or you'll never see her again. Now listen to me, I'll say this just once." The man's voice harshened.

"Call off the search around the Pueblo warehouse area and pull all police from there or your mother will be returned in a pine box, understand?"

A.J. didn't hesitate, he believed they'd do anything they threatened. "I'll tell Chief Johnson."

"Fine, now wait 20 minutes, then go to the back parking lot. Make any excuse you need to, then come out by yourself, and I'll let your mother go unharmed. If I see any police around, your Mother is dead and your family will be next. 20 minutes."

Click.

Hearing nothing but a dial tone, A.J. slowly hung up the phone, then looked at his brother.

"I recognize the voice, Rick from those stupid commercials. It's Thomas, he told me to be outside by myself in 20 minutes and he'll let Mom go, unharmed."

Rick shook his head. "It's a trap, A.J.. No one is going to be by themselves…."

"Rick, we're talking about Mom, here. If I don't go, or if any police are seen, he said Mom is dead and my family will be next." A.J. interrupted him, a desperate tone in his voice.

"I said no, A.J.. You're hurt, you can't possibly defend yourself if they try anything. If they pull something, I'm easier to trace, too." Rick stared down his brother.

A moment passed, then A.J. let out a deep breath. "All right, Rick. You're probably right, I couldn't fight a Girl Scout right now." The older Simon saw his rueful grin.

"That's my little brother, now you stay put, I'm going to find Ron and set this up, we'll have Mom home in time for supper." Rick put a confident note in his voice, then left the room. Outside the door he saw a policeman standing watch.

"Scuse me, officer, did Chief Johnson assign you to my brother?"

The younger man nodded stiffly. "Yes, Mr. Simon. No one but yourself, Mrs. Simon, the Chief or the medical staff is to go in."

Relieved, Rick thanked him, then heard "Pop"!"

Looking down the hallway, he saw Robbie standing in the visitor's area with Ron Johnson.

"Hey, Son." Rick jogged down the corridor. "Ron, we've had a phone call about Mother." He explained, then saw Linda approach with Rudy Wells.

"Rick, Rudy says A.J. can go home now, but I think he'll be safer at the ranch, don't you?"

Rudy spoke up. "I think he'll be less anxious if the girls and the kids are with him there, son. He's going to have a headache for a day or two, and I think he'll rest better away from here."

"You're right, pal. Someone just tried to lure him into a trap and I don't want A.J. where Thomas can get to him." Rick agreed.

Suddenly he saw his son stiffen. "Who's that with Uncle A.J.?"

Turning, Rick saw someone pushing a wheelchair around a corner and out of sight. "I don't know, there was a cop standing watch outside his door, he said on your instructions, Ron."

Frowning, Chief Johnson shook his head. "A.J.'s guard hasn't gotten here yet, Rick. Who was it that you saw?"

A cold feeling gripped the older Simon. "I just spoke to a uniform, he said you assigned him." At once Rick took off down the hallway, then he dashed into his brother's room.

It was empty, with A.J.'s hospital gown laying crumpled on the bed, as if removed hurriedly.

"He's gone, someone must have taken him. Back parking lot, Ron!" Rick felt sick as he took off. He'd screwed up, not even checking with Ron before he'd left his brother alone with some stranger.

As he wrenched open the back door to the rear parking area, Rick saw what he'd feared.

A van, screeching away out of the parking lot, leaving behind a wheelchair, tipped over on the pavement