"Oh, that's cheesy." Rick said, then saw Barnabas give him a questioning glance.
"Barnabas...just look at that-it's so fake it's pitiful. Just look at the line next to the mirror..."
As he gazed at it, A.J. carefully pointed at the "mirror", and at once Barnabas smiled.
"Astonishing...I take it I was supposed to run to the lawyer immediately."
"Either that, or they thought David or Carolyn would open it, pass out and you'd give in rather then have them hurt." Rick returned, and the smile left the other man's face.
"And I would have... Thank you, Rick. A.J., are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Barnabas. But now it's our turn to go on the offensive. For one thing, you said an offer to buy the Collins family out of the shipping and fishing enterprise came last month?" A.J. asked, and was rewarded with a nod.
"Yes, Jamison Industries offered 2 million dollars to each of us, and a stock option package to all employees. David had our attorneys look at it, but the way it was structured...that after 60 days employees signed on with their pension plan or be fired...and the degree that we had to include Collinwood with the company, of course we said no."
"Hmmm." Rick thought about the odd request, while Barnabas left the entry, then returned with some papers. As the two brothers scanned the proposal, David and Carolyn came downstairs.
"Laurie and Linda are the only ones not asleep already, guys. They'll be down in a minute. Mrs. Johnson said you got dizzy, A.J.?" Carolyn asked, then turned pale when Rick told them what happened.
"It was meant for us..." David looked at Barnabas, and he nodded.
"But we found a flaw in their photo, David, and if they are that sloppy in trying to scare you..."
"Then your blackmailer is bound to make other errors...like this one." A.J. got excited and pointed out a paragraph at the end of the documents.
"Jamison Industries claims to be headquartered in England, but under the city charter, it would have to be located here, to prevent business from leaving the state. Plus...look at the name of the main stockholder of Jamison."
Rick read the name then frowned. "Who's James Stoddard?"
Carolyn froze. "That's my father's nephew...I thought he was in Asia or something... Barnabas...I bet he's behind all this."
David put an arm around her as Laurie came into the room and went to Rick's side.
"What about James Stoddard?"
Carolyn met her curious eyes. "My cousin, in a way I suppose. He's the main stockholder of the company wanting to buy us out."
"Rick, do you suppose he's the one behind the vandal at the airport?" Laurie wondered.
"Sweetheart, you just answered one of our questions, hand me the phone." Rick smiled, then called the Bangor police. Within minutes, Rick fairly crowed as he got off the phone.
"Well, guess who tried to bail our Mr. Hughes? None other then James Stoddard. And they refused his bail, so Hughes is stuck in jail." Laurie and Carolyn laughed at Rick's inadvertent poem, and he snickered.
"I'm a poet and don't even know it."
This time everyone laughed, with Barnabas shaking his head in disbelief. "That's awful, Rick."
"Well, is anyone hungry? Mrs. Johnson has some sandwiches in the kitchen." Carolyn offered.
At that two stomachs were heard, and Linda entered the room to see the two brothers red-faced and the others wiping away tears.
"I guess this means yes." Carolyn giggled.
After their late meal, A.J. and Linda went to check on their children and went upstairs. As Rick and Laurie followed them, Barnabas beckoned them over.
"With the lengths Stoddard may be willing to go to, I'm not so sure the children should have come."
Rick looked at his wife, then replied, "Barnabas, thank you, but they'll be safe. Ricky and Ceci are very smart, they know to watch themselves and their brother and sister. We trust them with you and Carolyn and David, they'll be all right."
Barnabas cleared his throat, then quietly said, "Thank you, Rick. I am glad you brought them here, it's nice to see young life in our home again."
Giving the older man a hug, Rick and Laurie said good night and went upstairs to their room. Pausing to check on their nieces and nephews, they found four worn out children.
"First plane ride across country, that would wear any kid out." Rick mused, going to their window and gazing out onto the ocean, watching the fog roll in.
"Have I told you today I love you?" Laurie's arms went around him, and at once he turned in her embrace and wrapped his arms around her.
"Every moment you're with me, darlin." He told her, kissing her, then scooping her up in his arms.
"Well, it's time for me to show you again." She whispered, as he carried her into the bedroom.
In the morning, the fog had retreated, delighting the four Simon children with a large lawn on which to play. With David and Carolyn having taken the week off school and work for Easter, they found themselves roped into an impromptu kickball game.
"You and Barnabas and A.J go on to town and see Mr. Dawson, I'll stay and help Carolyn and Mrs. Johnson with lunch." Linda told Rick and Laurie, then Ceci ran up and said, "Mom, we need you...Ricky's cheating!"
"Am not!" His voice echoed across the great lawn. Linda grabbed Ceci's hand.
"See you later, A.J..." she grinned, leaning over and giving him a kiss.
"Mom!" Ceci groaned, then they ran to join the others.
"And I thought she was growing up too fast..." Rick chuckled, as A.J. sighed.
"She is, but Mom and Dad kissing is still gross to her."
Rick continued teasing his brother about how he used to react as a kid to "mushy" programs until they drove David's car into town.
When he parked, there were a couple of businessmen standing near the lawyer's office.
At once they stopped their conversation then stared openly at the older Collins.
Angry, Laurie took Rick's arm as she stepped out of the car, then put her nose in the air as they followed a calm Barnabas and angry A.J. into the building.
Once inside, A.J. waved them upstairs. "I'll stay down here, make sure the local yahoos keep their distance."
"Seems like someone's been stirring them up." Rick observed, not comfortable in leaving A.J. downstairs. Just then Mr. Dawson's door opened, and a middle-aged man appeared in the hall.
"Well, Barnabas Collins, what an unexpected pleasure."
Looking over at him, Laurie saw a sardonic look on his face as he came down the stairs to the first floor.
"Mr. Stoddard." The older man was polite, but the tightening of his mouth let Laurie know he was not pleased.
