Rick strode confidently up the walk of the modest office building, then stood in front of a security door and rang an ornate buzzer
"Loving Homes, may I help you?" A cultured voice came from the speaker to one side of the entry.
"Yes, Roger Jackson and Alan Johnson from State Services, we have an appointment?"
Behind him Robbie self-consciously tugged at his neat bow tie, as the disembodied voice hesitated, then smoothly replied, "One moment, gentlemen."
Within a few moments, father and son were inside the front door, staring at an array of artworks and expensive furnishings. Clad in "nerd" outfits, Rick couldn't help but smile at "Alan's" discomfort.
"There you are, gentlemen, thank you for waiting." A tall, silver-haired man entered the hall and beamed at Rick and Robbie..
"Reverend Malcolm Heatherly, at your service, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jackson. Thank you for scheduling our appointment so soon."
"Well, Reverend," "Roger" began, "Your request to be reviewed does show your companies' desire to improve and clear up any problems in the future."
"Well, girls still need help once in a while, and that's what we hope to do " The minister told them officiously, smoothing the front of his expensive suit.
40 minutes later, Rick had to stifle the desire to strangle the garrulous Reverend as he led them from classroom to nursery to a sterile "family room". A few polite staff members were introduced, and each seemed to parrot the company line; support the young "guests" in their decision to give up their child to a "better life".
"Reverend, what if a young woman decides to keep her baby, what services will you offer her?" Robbie asked as they walked past a complete delivery room. Rick winced as the look on Heatherly's face soured drastically.
"Why, we…we would not force the child to give up her baby, but place her back with her family at that point, no strings attached." He replied stiffly.
Just then the younger Simon noticed movement in a darkened corridor that seemingly ended short of the hallway, and he shot a look at his father.
"Well, I think that's all the questions we have for now, Reverend." Rick said genially, seeing they had arrived back at the lobby.
"Yes, we have enough information for our report", Robbie chimed in. Beaming, Heatherly shook their hands, saying, "If you have any questions or helpful suggestions, please feel free to call me…I promise we will do all we can to renew the state's faith in us."
Making a hasty promise to do just that, Rick and Robbie said their goodbyes, then quickly went to Ian's car, borrowed for the occasion. Pulling out of the parking lot, Rick took a quick left at the next street, then parked behind a hedge and turned on his transmitter.
"It's 1:30….let me see if Laurie and Ramona are at the Medical Center yet…." He began, hitting the tiny knob on his watch. Just then his son looked in the rear view mirror and froze.
"Pop, there's a van pulling out of the back parking lot of "Loving Homes"….I think we should follow them."
A prickly feeling in the back of his neck told Rick his son was right. "Yeah, this is too much of a coincidence…." He replied, starting the truck.
Waiting until the van was a safe distance away, Rick drove around the corner, then paced the non-descript vehicle on a parallel street.
"Laurie, it's Rick…can you hear me?" he called, then smiled when her voice sounded. "Loud and clear, darling…how did it go?"
"Well, other then sitting through an obnoxious blowhard's tour of his "facility", I think we have a prime suspect from some of his answers…" Rick answered. "Are you at the Medical Center?"
"Yes, love, Ramona and I just pulled up, and A.J's in his car just down the block. Ron is stationed at the other side of the complex, too. I just have to park, then we're going in the plaza entrance." Laurie explained.
"Good work, sweetheart….now just be careful…Oscar's going to rendezvous with us across the street…." He assured her.
"Okay, here we go, I've got Chelsea, honey…" Rick listened with a grin as the baby made cooing noises at her grandmother. As the two women walked into the lobby of the building, he heard Ramona carry on a conversation with her daughter,
"See Chelsea, look at the pretty pictures, now we're going up in the elevator so we can get you checked out…"
"That's our Ramona, already teaching…." Rick said, as Robbie smiled.
Rick's mood darkened quickly as they heard the greeting of Dr. Adams receptionist.
"Oh, there you are, Mrs. Simon…I'll take Chelsea in to weigh and measure her, then you and your mother-in-law can meet us in Exam Room number 3."
Rick could almost feel the palpable frustration of Laurie, then silently applauded as Ramona spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Jennifer, but I don't want Chelsea to get upset at not seeing me. I'll stay with her while you take your notes, then we can meet Mom in the exam room."
"Uh, Mrs. Simon, that's not…" Rick heard the woman's voice rise, then Ramona cut her off.
"You know what, Jennifer, I don't like being ordered around. I've never been told I couldn't stay with any of my children during their exam. I think we'll come another time."
"But…." Jennifer's voice was panicky, then Laurie spoke up.
"I think that's it for today, Jennifer. Besides, it looks like Chelsea's rash was caused by that nasty plastic bracelet. Come on, little one, time to go see Daddy…"
As the sound of the door closing came over his transmitter, Rick put the setting on send.
"Okay, Jaime…"
Immediately Jamie Austin came out from the emergency stairwell next to the doctor's office, and gently took the smiling baby from Ramona.
From inside Chelsea's diaper bag, Laurie pulled a life-size baby doll, and swaddled it in one of the child's blankets.
"See you at the car." Ramona whispered, then she and Laurie got into the elevator, as Jaime slipped back down the stairs.
No sooner had the two women reached the street level and entered the garage, then A.J. watched as two men exited a van and shadowed Ramona and Laurie.
"Rick, it looks like they took the bait….I think we should…NO!"
Instantly Rick gunned his truck and whipped it around the block, as over Robbie's transmitter came the sounds of Laurie screaming, "Run honey…I'll hold them off…"
Rick sped into the garage as he saw a white van screech out of the structure, then spotted Ron's cruiser stopped in the middle of the level.
"A.J.….follow the white van….something's wrong!" he barked, then pulled next to his son's car.
Not seeing Laurie, his stomach dropped as he caught sight of Ron holding a crying Ramona. His son let out a gasp, and jumped out of the car to frantically take his wife in his arms.
"Rick….two men grabbed Laurie and threw her into a van…. We have to find her!" Ron told him.