"Branson! Branson! You ….." Rick started, then stopped as A.J. grabbed him by the arm.
"Rick, stop it….you won't be able to find Sis if you lose it now."
All the anger drained out of Rick, and he slumped onto the sofa. "A.J., …did you hear him….my Laurie….he's probably got her scared to death."
"I know, Rick…but she's strong, and Branson won't hurt her…you know that…he just wants to make you suffer." A.J. sat down as Rick nodded.
"If that's what he wants….he's doing a good job of it" At the realization of what Branson asked for hit him, Rick squared his shoulders and cleared his throat as his mother came in the room.
"I'd better get ready, poor Mr. Reynolds is probably freaked out as it is. Ron, we need to have you cover Oscar on this, so when he tells us where the exchange is to take place, you two can get her to safety."
"Richard Simon, you had better not be planning to do what that monster wants, you are not walking into a trap." Cecelia spoke up, then A.J. echoed her. "Rick, we're not going to let you become a victim, too. Ron and Oscar can follow you at a distance and help rescue Laurie while Branson's distracted…"
"No, Mom, A.J., I'm going to do exactly what he says, I won't let him …" Rick began, then Oscar hustled into the room.
"Quiet, everyone, Laurie managed to get her pendant working, listen…."
"I'm sorry I can't make you more comfortable, Laurie. As soon as your husband gets here, I'll set you free."
"Mr…Chief Branson, don't hurt Rick, please. He didn't do anything wrong….all he did was protect me from you…then stop you from killing us both." Rick heard his wife's voice quaver, and he inwardly cursed the vengeful ex-chief of police.
"Well, now, it's nice of you to use my old title, but seeing Rick and your brother-in-law are responsible for losing my job and my freedom, you'll forgive me for not agreeing with you." Branson's voice had a smirk in it. "I've had several years to dwell on it, and I finally figured out that you are the key to getting back at Rick ….."
Rick wanted to bust right in and assure the escaped convict he'd do anything to save his wife, then their former friend answered that himself.
"I know Rick Simon, he'll never let anything happen to you, Laurie. So, I want you to stay quiet and soon you'll be home."
"No, Chief, no, please don't do this…" Rick saw Oscar grit his teeth as they listened to Laurie tearfully begging the heartless man. "If not for me, for a young boy I'm supposed to give bone marrow to in two days. He'll get very sick if he doesn't get it."
There was silence, and at first Rick thought they had lost the signal, so he tried to change the frequency.
"Wait a minute!" A.J. grabbed his hand, then they heard Branson speak.
"You're a bone marrow donor? For who?"
"I don't know, some teenager who has anemia…aplastic anemia. He's had radiation and
he's ready to have a bone marrow infusion…I was a match in the system and now….if you don't let me go….he'll probably die." Now Laurie was openly crying, and Rick had to grab Oscar before he vaulted up from his seat and headed for his car.
"Dad…don't…"
"I can't listen to her crying, son…" the older man was beet-red with fury. Just then the three men heard the convict seemingly change his tune.
"I'm…I'm sorry, Laurie. I didn't know…" Now Branson's voice was almost apologetic. They heard a rustling noise, then "Just be calm and don't move and I'll be back."
Steps reverberated in the background, then Laurie took a shuddering breath and spoke.
"Rick? Please, darling….don't listen to him, please. Don't let him take you from me."
Wiping his eyes and standing up, Rick spoke into Oscar's transmitter. "Sweetheart, don't cry, please…We're coming to find you…Just hold on for me, darlin'.. I promise I won't leave you."
"Thank you, love….I'll be brave." She promised, sniffing. At once Rick told A.J., "Come on, I'll drive, Oscar, can you follow me. I 'll signal you when I get directions."
"You've got it, son. Baby, just keep talking to me, we'll meet up with Rick in a little while, then we'll get you home. Just hold on." Oscar assured her.
As the four men got into Rick and Oscar's cars, Cecilia came out and caught Oscar's arm.
"Let me talk to Laurie for a moment…"
Holding out his watch, Oscar hit transmit, and Cecilia spoke. "Laurie, honey, it's Mom."
"Mom! Oh, I'm glad you're there…please don't let them get hurt for me, please…"
"They won't, honey, I promise. We'll find you and bring you home safe. I love you, Laurie." Cecilia replied, on the verge of tears. Laurie's voice echoed the same feeling.
"I love you too, Mom….I'll be strong….Please stay put and take care of Linny and Rudy."
"I will, baby. Oscar's leaving now..I'll see you later." She sniffed, then handed the big man his watch back.
"We'll be back, Cecilia. Put some of your good coffee on for me, okay?" Oscar tried to smile at her, then waved and drove off.
When he reached the bank branch where their account was, A.J. remained silent as Rick parked, then saw Mr. Reynolds standing outside, nervously clutching a merchant's bag. As he approached him, he saw the man's hands shaking.
"Mr. Reynolds, I'm sorry you got pulled out of bed for this." Rick apologized., then saw relief in the banker's face.
"I'm sorry too, Mr. Simon. I can't believe that man got out of jail to do something like this…Please go, and God protect you and Mrs. Simon." He said, handing him the zippered bag..
"Thank you, Sir." Rick watched the man get in his car and take off, then hit transmit on his watch.
"I've got the money, Oscar, you and Ron have a fix on Laurie's position?"
"Just a general location, near or at the Sonoran Caverns near Apache Junction. You better sign off now, Son, call us back after Branson signals you." The older man told him, then Rick changed his setting to receive. Immediately his watch beeped, and he answered, "Laurie?"
"Rick…..oh Rick…" Laurie's voice was weak, and he hastened to reassure her. "Sweetheart, I'm here. Are you all right?"
"Yes,…but I'm scared, please ….it's so dark.." she replied with a trembling voice. At once Branson came on.
"All right, I kept my word, now you listen and do exactly as I say. Drive east on 60 until you reach Apache Junction, then 88 northeast to the Sonoran Cavern exit. Pull into the maintenance yard behind the tourist center, then park out in the open. If anyone is with you, I'll kill Laurie right in front of you, then take you out. Got it?"
Rick seethed at the coldness of Branson's voice. "I got it, what I can't figure is how you could terrorize Laurie like that, she's never done anything to you."
There was a hesitation in the man's reply. "Like I said, she's never done anything wrong to me, but you…..you put me away. Do you know what it's like to miss out on your kid's life? …..Nearly lose him before you can watch him grow up?" Rick was startled by Branson's admission, but before he could answer, the man growled, "Laurie'll be fine if you do what you're told, now move! You've got 30 minutes."
As the signal disappeared, Rick walked back to his truck where A.J. waited, then saw Oscar's jeep pull up.
"I heard most of what he told you, son. Where does he have her?" Ron asked, as Oscar continued monitoring Laurie. He looked relieved as Rick replied, "He's got her someplace in the Sonoran Caverns, it's about 30 minutes from here. Do you guys have a map, there should be a back way in."
"We do, and I think there is.." Ron exclaimed, then pulled out a highway map and within a minute, pointed at a spot off the highway.
"There…Oscar and I will go in that way, then wait for you to call us. We'll keep listening to Laurie until we get to the caverns, maybe we can figure a way in while you distract that jerk." A.J. spoke up, "Good idea, we'll wait until we see Bronson, then when Rick goes to meet him, I'll get out of the cab and try to take him from the side. If you can, come in from the back of the cavern." Oscar and Ron agreed then waited for Rick to drive off and fell in behind Rick as he drove up the road.
A half-hour later Rick's truck pulled into the maintenance yard for the caverns, A.J. now crouched down out of sight in the back of the cab. The place was eerily quiet in the early morning light, except for the sound of a generator. Suddenly Rick had a flash of his wife's presence.
"Sweetheart…..I'm coming…" he "called", then was startled by a loud "Rick!" in his thoughts. "A.J., she's here, Laurie's right here." He told his brother, stopping the truck.
Climbing out, he scanned the area, then a bright light flashed in his eyes.
"All right, Rick, step away from the truck." The former Chief's voice boomed out.
"I'm here, Branson…..I'll do as you say, but first, where's my wife?" Rick slowly approached the light, holding out his hands to show he had no weapon.
"She's nearby, and as soon as you're in my custody, she can go free." Came the retort.
"No, that's not the deal, I want to see her, now!" Rick answered angrily, only for Branson to step out of the shadows and into the glare of the headlights.
"I'm the one calling the shots…no!" Branson yelled, as a shot pinged off the ground near him, then Oscar Goldman appeared, gun raised. Frozen with surprise, the kidnapper swore loudly as the older man put his weapon to his head.
"Tell me where my daughter is, or I'll put a hole in your head." Oscar barked angrily, then all three men reacted as a scream reverberated through the air.
"Rick, help me!"