"What?" Ricky burst out incredulously, then A.J. put a hand on his son's shoulder and pushed him back into his seat. "I'm sorry, Ricky….is there a chance someone could be mistaken, Ron?"
"Maybe…but wait a minute…." Ron grabbed the phone up again and began to issue orders. After five minutes, he hung up the receiver again, a Cheshire cat look on his face.
"I've asked Steve Johnson and Ms Black to come in tomorrow morning…I can always say I want them to look at a lineup….and Ms. Black said she was Carter Yancy's sister, not Quint's."
"That would explain a few things..and open up something more…"A.J. commented, then told Rick, "Why don't we eliminate Buck as a suspect once and for all…give him a call and see if he has a niece."
"Let me, Dad…it will sound less …well suspicious from me…" Ricky explained, and his uncle nodded. "Good thinking, son….sure you won't change your mind about joining the firm?"
His laughing reply was cut short as Laurie stuck her head in the office door. "Ron? Abby's on the line..told her to call you in here but she complained the line was busy."
"That's my girl….."The chief grinned, then took the receiver in hand once again. Going out to the kitchen, Ricky used the extension as Rick waited to see if his inquiry worked.
Within a few minutes Ricky hung up the phone. "No answer at his office….I'll try back later."
"Well, in the meantime….why don't you guys bunk here tonight….we can resume this in the morning…" Rick started, then Ron begged off.
"Abby says it's parents day at the U tomorrow, so I won't be back on duty until the late afternoon….but give me a call if anything happens…"
"We'll keep you in the loop…" Rick promised.
After Ron left, Laurie came into the office with a tray of hot drinks, and Rick smiled as she shooed Ricky into Robbie's old room to bunk with his brother, as A.J. and Linda took the other guest room. Ceci and Melly grabbed their sleeping bags and camped out in Rick's office, as Oscar said his good nights.
"Let me walk you out, Dad.." Rick said, and caught a knowing look from the older man. Once outside, Oscar didn't mince words.
"Do you know what's eating your brother, Rick? All I could get out of him on the way over was "Yes, sir", and "No, sir". Have I done something to upset him?"
"Nooo, Dad…" Rick was vacillating between telling the truth and getting a word in with his brother first. At once he decided to be honest.
"I think A.J.'s still getting used to the idea of you and Mom…I mean it was a surprise and ..well…even though we're both old enough to know better…"
Oscar amazed Rick by stopping and giving him a hug. "Thank you, Rick…I guess I took it for granted you'd be the one who wouldn't be happy with your Mom and I getting hitched without telling you two first. Maybe we should have told you guys first, but I was so surprised at Cecilia saying yes…I just wanted to make sure…"
"That her two stubborn sons didn't jinx it…" Rick finished, grinning. Oscar nodded, a sheepish smile on his face.
"Yes, and I'm sorry I underestimated you, son. I guess I need to have a talk with A.J….."
"No, first his big brother needs to have a few words with him." Rick interrupted, then added, "But I need to say thank you, Dad. You don't know how happy Laurie is that Mom has someone….and I guess…I thank you too. I don't have to worry so much about Mom anymore.."
"Thank you, Rick.." Oscar cleared his throat, his eyes suspiciously bright. "I'll always take care of her….."
"You'd better.." Rick answered, trying not to get emotional. Oscar smiled at his words, then said good night and took off.
When Rick got back into the house, he found A.J. and Linda's door closed, and he sighed, realizing his words would have to wait until the next day.
"Darling?"
Turning, Rick saw his wife standing in the hallway to their room, her robe gathered around her.
"Just seeing Dad out, sweetheart." He explained, and grinned when she beckoned to him.
"Well, it's time for my hard-working knight to get some rest." She whispered, and hastily he followed Laurie into the bedroom, where his jaw dropped when she took off her robe.
"Darlin'….I think I'm not tired anymore…" he snickered, gathering her baby-doll clad form in his arms. Laurie giggled at his reaction.
"I thought you might like my idea of relaxing…"
Rick's only answer was to carry her to their bed then turn out the lights.
In the morning Rick came whistling into the kitchen, only to stop when he found a morose A.J. nursing a cup of coffee.
"Morning, little brother…what's with the long face?"
Scowling, A.J. muttered, "Nothing", then seemed to think better of his abruptness.
"I mean, I just can't bear to think Buck's involved in Ricky's attack."
Wisely Rick decided not to bring up his brother's attitude, and replied, "Neither can I, A.J….but you know Ron..no stone unturned."
A.J's face relaxed slightly as he said, "I know…hopefully we'll get some answers when Ron meets with Ricky's friend…and that Steve Johnson."
A murmur of voices caused both brothers to put a welcoming face on when Linda and Laurie came into the kitchen. Rick grinned at his wife's cheery face and planted a kiss on her lips as she put her arms around his neck. "Hmmmm-I like having the smell of coffee in the kitchen, and you.." she whispered, then Linda's giggle let them know A.J. had greeted his wife in the same manner.
"Time we made the munchkins breakfast, darling…" Laurie said, reluctantly releasing herself from Rick's embrace as Linda added, "I'll help, sis….let me get the eggs in.."
Roping their husbands into getting the chickens and horses fed, Laurie and Linda got eggs and bacon and ham on the table and Ceci was helping out with the biscuits by the time Rick and A.J. came back in. Just as the Simons finished breakfast, the phone rang, and Ricky snagged the phone. "Simon residence."
From the look on his nephew's face, Rick guessed it was Buck, only to be surprised when Ricky hung up the phone and said, "Dad, that was Buck's assistant. He wants to see me at the new studio, next to his old office about 10 am. I want to hear him out…see if he knows who would be making threats."
"Well, I want to hear him explain things too…so I'll drive us over there." A.J. replied, then held up a hand as Ricky started to argue.
"I don't think Buck would harm either of us….but you're right about him knowing who would..." A.J. said, finally. Rick knew his brother wanted to believe in their old friend, but something told him Buck was involved in some way.
"Tell you what, Ricky…I'll sit in on Ron's interview with Stacey Lyn and Johnson, then meet you guys over at the studio. Call me if you get any leads." He added, then smiled as Laurie hugged both father and son, then handed them a container with some biscuits.
"Just in case you both get hungry." She explained, then laughed when Rick unsuccessfully attempted to snatch a biscuit.
"Thanks, Auntie…" Ricky answered, as A.J. held the container out of his brother's reach then shouldered his jacket on and led the way out the door.
"Biscuit hog." The older Simon snorted, then snickered as Laurie tsk-tsked him and handed him a still-warm biscuit in a napkin.
"Darling, you are too funny-here, I saved you one."
"Thank you, sweetheart…." Rick kissed her then grabbed his jacket as he promised, "I'll call as soon as I'm done at Phoenix PD…Robbie should be here by then."
"Be careful, love…." Laurie returned his kiss, then watched him climb into his truck and drive off.
An hour later, Rick listened intently as a tearful Stacey Lyn insisted she had nothing to do with the attack on Ricky.
"Honest, all I did was wait for Ricky to pull around and pick me up…I didn't even know he was hurt…I wouldn't let anyone hurt Ricky."
"Maybe you didn't mean for someone to hurt him, but who else would have an idea as to which car is Ricky's"? Ron pressed, then suddenly the girl caved in.
"All right, but I didn't do anything wrong." Stacey Lyn protested, then subsided as Ron asked, "Who had you point out Ricky's car?"
"It was Carter Black, you know, Ricky's friend…it was supposed to be a joke, that I was Carter's sister.." she answered, then hung her head as Rick interjected, "And you wanted to get back at Ricky for …what? Turning you down or …"
"I didn't want to get back at him for anything, but when Carter said he'd get me a screen test for a speaking role….if I went along with it.." Stacey cried. At that Rick went cold.
"Ron, someone from Buck's office said he wanted to meet with Ricky this morning…what if it was really Carter who's waiting…" he blurted out. Instantly the girl went pale.
"Buck's not in town, Carter told me….he's supposedly in Tucson for a photo shoot …you know, for the series pilot.." Immediately Rick got up and ran out of the room.
Signaling for the officer taking notes to have Stacey Lyn sign a statement, Ron followed his friend as Rick raced for his truck. Ron yelled as he reached it, "Don't try to take him, pal…let me get some back up!"
"Just take the back of the studio, Ron….I'll go through the front…" Rick called back, then started his truck up and screeched out of the lot.
About 15 minutes later, Rick halted at the Phoenix One studios long enough to sign in, then tore past the security booth and drove around the cavernous buildings until he reached the area behind Buck's offices. Seeing A.J.'s sports car still parked in a visitor's spot, he breathed a sigh of relief, then saw the red light go on his transmitter watch.
Seeing his wife's frequency read out on the dial, he responded, "Laurie, have you heard from A.J. or Ricky?"
"I got a call from A.J. about 10 minutes ago, darling…but he was cut off. Steve's driving us to the studios now. Robbie and Dad are right behind.." she began. Rick caught sight of movement within Buck's office, and hurriedly said, "Laurie, I'm going into Buck's office now, have Steve meet me inside…"
Switching the watch to send, Rick got out of his truck and strode towards the newly constructed modular building. As he came near to the door, he was startled to hear a muffled voice call his name. "Rick!"
"A.J.! Ricky!" he responded, turning to see where the call came from. At once a footstep sounded in back of him, then he felt something hit him hard in the back of the head, and he dropped to his knees, dazed. Before another blow could land on him, Rick managed to dodge out of the way, then came up and landed a hard right to the shadowy figure in front of him. As the man went down, Rick glanced up, then saw a studio van parked against the small building, it's partially open door revealing two figures lying inside, one of them struggling to sit up.
"A.J.? Ricky?" he hollered, then staggered towards the vehicle. As he reached the van, he caught sight of his brother, bound with rope and his mouth taped, peering up at him with a look of fear. As he reached in and tore the adhesive off A.J.'s mouth, someone from behind pushed him hard into the van, then slammed the door closed.
"Oomph!" Rick gasped as he hit the metal floor, then rolled over and pulled himself upright. "A.J….are you all right?" he whispered urgently, hearing the motor of the van start, then nearly sliding into his brother as the vehicle turned then raced out of the lot.
"Yeah….but Ricky…oh, there he is…son, wake up!" A.J. called softly, spotting Ricky lying against the wheel well. Weakly the younger Simon opened his eyes, then looked panicky as he started to slide against the side of the van. Rick pulled out his army knife and cut through the ropes holding his brother, then reached over to his nephew and took the tape off his mouth as A.J. untied him.
"Uncle Rick…how did you…oh, my head.." Ricky moaned, as A.J. helped him sit up. In the semi-darkness of the windowless panel van, Rick turned up his transmitter, then heard Ron calling, "Rick? Are you all right? Where are you?"
"Ron, I found A.J. and Ricky…they were in a van on the Phoenix One studio lot…I got pushed inside with them and we're being driven someplace…" he started, then A.J. interrupted.
"It's Carter Yancy, Ron….he's gone nuts…he says Ricky's taking his place with Buck, and that with Ricky gone…Buck will be close to him again…."
"It's okay…I've got a bead on you, and Steve and Robbie and Laurie are on the way too. It looks like Yancy's headed for Sedona Park…we're only a few minutes behind you…just hang on." Ron responded. At that Rick noticed a sliding door behind the driver's compartment, and he reached for the catch just as the van made a hard left. Suddenly they were driving over bumpy ground, and he knew they had only a few moments to stop Yancy from his revenge.
"A.J…..when I open that door, you go to the left of Yancy, and I'll go to the right…" he told him, and his brother nodded.
As A.J. told his son to stay in back of him, Rick counted to 3, then grabbed the edge of the door, and used the momentum of the van to force it open, startling the dark-haired driver. As a confused Carter Yancy turned, the two Simons noticed the van was headed straight for the boat dock of the county park, and Rick lunged forward, knocking their captor away from the wheel. Before the actor could retaliate, A.J. leaned in and pulled the emergency brake, slowing their momentum.
Instantly the van slowed, then started to skid out of control as Yancy jammed his foot on the accelerator, then pulled a gun from his belt and started to aim it at Rick.
"I'll kill all three of you….nooooo!" Yancy yelled, as the van went out of control, then plunged off the wooden dock and into the man-made lake.