At the sight of his uncle's face, Ricky quietly apologized "I'm sorry, Uncle Rick, Auntie….I didn't mean to take it out on you, I just wanted control of my life back. Was that call …about me?"
Getting control of his temper at the penitent sound of his nephew, Rick took a deep breath.
"Yes, son…. Go get Ron before he leaves, would you?"
As the younger Simon rushed out of the room, Rick went to his wife's side and put an arm around her as he told Ceci and Andy, "Can you take care of dinner for a minute, guys?"
"Sure, Grandpa." Andy spoke up, then he and Ceci hugged Rick and Laurie, nearly bringing them to tears.
"We love you both, very much…" Laurie told them in a quavering voice. "And we don't want you to feel like you have no choice, but ….so you'll be safe, we'll do whatever it takes…."
"We know, Auntie…" Ceci kissed each of them, then added, "And I can finish the chicken, Uncle Rick…Aunt Robin showed us how."
"Good girl, Ceci…" Rick managed, tousling Andy's hair as he guided his wife out of the kitchen and into the living room. Just then Ron ran back into the house, and Rick hurriedly filled him in on the menacing phone call.
"Metallic? Could you tell if it was male or female?" Ron asked, his even tone causing Rick to stop and take a deep breath.
"No….but it's weird..he or she referred to "he"….so I think we're right on about Ricky being the target."
"Okay, that does it…I want a tap on your phone, Rick, and no one leaves or comes in without letting me know…" Ron stated, a stern look on his face. Seeing the Simons nod in unison, he added, "And I want Robbie to get an extra patrol out here..just in case. I still think the threat to Ricky is out there, but until we know he or she won't strike at the ranch…"
"Better safe then very sorry…" Rick finished, bringing a reluctant smile to his wife and nephew.
For the next several days, Rick and a furious A.J. went through every old case file, eliminating suspects. After his initial reluctance, Ricky resumed working with his father and uncle in going through the files, and after their classes, Ceci and Andy would join him.
It still amazed Rick and A.J. at the almost nonchalant way both Ceci and Ricky acted towards some of the more violent cases, whereas Andy would visibly cringe at the details.
"It's okay, son…I'd worry if you didn't have some reaction to dangerous situations…" Rick assured his grandson, upon reviewing a file involving his father and aunt nearly being killed.
"I know, Grandpa….but I want to be a detective…or at least do some kind of law enforcement to stop people from being victims." Andy sighed, closing the file then putting it neatly in its storage box.
"Then that's the reason to go for it, Andy…" Laurie came into Rick's office and set down a tray of sodas and snacks. Immediately Rick took her hand and pulled her onto his lap, causing her to squeal. "Rick…you nut…."
"Speaking of going for it…" he waggled his eyebrows, making Andy and Ceci and Ricky laugh.
"You are so funny, thanks, Auntie…" Andy grinned, giving her a hug then snatching up a canned drink. Just then a horn honked at the gate, then Laurie smiled and hopped off Rick's lap.
"It's Steve and Jaime…..rain check, love?" she asked, kissing his cheek. At that Rick nodded, then got to his feet..
"You've got it, sweetheart, go let our buddies in."
At the mention of their adopted uncle and aunt, the younger Simons joined Laurie in making Steve and Jaime welcome, only to be interrupted by a little black streak of fur.
"Jack! There's our pal!" Steve laughed, as the terrier jumped into his arms as he sat down. Jaime just smiled.
"That's another reason for us not to make anymore trips, advisory or not, honey. He's a whole welcoming committee in one." She added, giving an inquiring look at Laurie then receiving permission to give Jack a cookie.
"That he is …..but I'm so glad you guys are staying put…I've missed you." Laurie said, putting an arm around her friend. "You are staying for dinner, aren't you?"
"Yes, but tomorrow we're promised to Oscar and Cecilia…" Jaime told her. "Why don't you let me help you with dinner?"
Getting the real meaning behind the offer, Laurie nodded, saying, "Sure, I could use a hand with the enchiladas. Robin brought us some crab, so I'm using it in the filling and we're also having tacos and rice and beans."
"Now that's what I call dinner." Steve proclaimed, cracking Rick and the others up. As Laurie and Jaime vanished into the kitchen, Ricky declared "break time is over, let's finish that last box before dinner". Leading his sister and cousin back into the office, Ricky gave his uncle the opening to let Steve know what going on.
"I really don't like this cat and mouse game, Rick." The former colonel said, after listening to his friend. "The fact that this guy walked away after a head-on crash, leaving someone to die in his car….then threatens Ricky here at the ranch?"
"Tells me this is someone with a deep-seated hatred or jealousy of my nephew." Rick finished. "If it didn't mean exposing Ricky to further danger, I'd love to smoke the creep out!"
"You and me both….but we need to have something to lure him or her with…" Steve mused. Just then a bit of Ricky's conversation caught their attention.
"Yeah, Buck's had a really hard time of it with Carter…I wish I could let him know how much his belief in me has helped, and give him some kind of support. I don't know what the guy's problem is…but I know Buck's tried everything."
"That's a nice thing to say, Ricky….I think maybe just a note to Buck would make him feel better." Laurie replied, and at once Rick had an idea.
"Steve, let me get A.J. on my transmitter….I think I know of a way to trap this jerk…"
After dinner, Rick called Ron Johnson and let him know A.J. and Oscar were on their way over. Alerting Robbie to keep an eye out, the older Simon was glad when his brother, nephew and friends were seated in his office, while Laurie kept the younger Simons occupied with a story in the living room. Rick noticed that A.J. seemed to be acting very polite towards Oscar, and it made him decide to confront his brother as soon as things were under control.
"Okay, Ron, tell everyone what you found out about the missing hit and run driver." Rick said, and Ricky turned a puzzled eye on the chief.
"Well, for one thing, he's a stunt man….one of the things he left behind was an old wallet with several pieces of burnt money, and an almost illegible union card for the Stuntman's alliance." Ron began. "So I followed up with first checking any of your friends, son.." he nodded at Ricky, "then anyone you may have worked with that might be mad at you."
"I don't know of anyone who'd hate me enough, Uncle Ron." Ricky began, then was silent when A.J. shook his head.
"Son, you don't have a mean bone in your body, so you wouldn't classify some of those cutthroats you compete against as an enemy….as it is, Ron did narrow it down as to who might be after you…"
"That's right, we have two suspects, both with a real excuse to take you out, Ricky." Ron agreed. He pulled out two sheets of paper, and laid them on Rick's desk.
"Steve Johnson is our number one…you beat him out for a role in that new TV pilot you shot, and he was also turned down for one of those western movies you auditioned for." As Ron pulled out the next paper, Ricky automatically blanched.
Uncle Ron? Dad…you can't be serious…There's no way Buck is involved."
Regret filled Rick as he said, "I'm sorry, Ron…I don't see Buck saving Ricky all those years ago and now trying to kill him. If anything, he'd help out in any way he could to protect him."
"Time changes a man, pal…and after the way his nephew's let him down, maybe he's found someone else to blame?" the chief insisted, in a not-so-certain tone.
"Well, I don't think so….but you're right as far as finding someone to blame…what about Quint's son?" A.J. asked, and Rick suddenly shot up in his seat.
"That's right, he's in prison, but what's to stop him from getting revenge on Ricky by hiring someone else to do his dirty work?"
"Easy enough to find out…" Ron answered, reaching for the phone. As he called the facility where Rodney Quint was serving his time, Rick studied his nephew's downcast expression. Steve also noticed, and put an arm around him.
"I'm sorry, Ricky…you know you haven't done anything to deserve this…" he said finally. Ricky looked up at him.
"I know, Uncle Steve, but it's so hard to think that someone wants to kill me bad enough to take other people out…"
"I know, son….but just keep it in your head that you stand in the way of someone who may think they have nothing to lose." Oscar told him firmly. Rick noticed A.J. giving him a somewhat regretful look, and resolved to speak to his brother at once.
"Thank you, Warden…" Ron said at that point, then uttered a terse "Goodbye" to the party on the other end and hung up.
"What did he say?" A.J. asked, seeing his friend shake his head wearily.
"Quint has had several visitors recently, among them Carter Yancy, Steve Johnson, and a Ms. Stacey Lyn Black, who identified herself as his sister."