Even having heard his brother's statement, Rick found it hard to believe. "I don't see a man that devoted to the government willing to throw it all away on, what, getting fired?"
"You can't be that naïve, Rick. Money will make you do just about anything." Ron replied with unusual vehemence. A.J. exchanged looks with the older Simon, then said, "Maybe so, Ron, but it's out of character for this guy. I wonder ……"
"If it's a set-up?" Rick finished, and reluctantly the chief of police agreed. "Maybe, but right now it's a Federal matter. My only concern on this is you and Laurie being safe. I did check on the man's whereabouts, but it seems no one's seen him since his dismissal."
"Then we need to stay on guard until he or whoever killed James is found." A.J. added, to which Rick groaned. "Great…Laurie and I get to play hide until he tries to seek. Unless…." Suddenly Rick had an idea.
"What if…I pretend to have a fight with Laurie, and I go off to fish with Steve or something…then make whoever's after us come after her, only she's not there…."
"But we are…great idea, pal." Ron beamed at him, then raised his head and grinned as he caught sight of his wife in the living room window.
"I think someone thinks we've be out here long enough, Rick.. Come on, let's tell the girls we've got a plan, before Abby comes out here after us."
As the three men started toward the house, Abby turned toward her friends.
"I knew if I showed my face, they'd get the message." She grinned. Linda snickered as Laurie added "Knowing Rick, he'll come in here and ask, "what's for dinner?", then tell us what they've cooked up."
Scarcely had she spoken, when Rick stuck his head in the door, winked at his wife, and said "What's for dinner, ladies?"
A blast of laughter greeted him, and as Abby wiped her eyes, Linda gasped, "Laurie, do you know your husband or what?"
"'Course she does." Rick smugly declared, coming in the room and dropping a kiss on Laurie's cheek. "Darling, you are money in the bank!" she replied, returning his affections, then sitting next to him on the sofa.
True to her prediction, he waited until Ron and A.J. were also comfortable and the kids were busy setting the table, then Rick told them of the plan they had come up with.
"You'd be in no danger, honey. We'd have our fight, then the guys would sneak you out of the house, then if someone comes after either of us…pow, we'd catch them."
"But, what if these people are after Steve?" Laurie asked worriedly. Ron answered for the others, saying "We don't think they're after Steve or Jaime, just the technology. I think it's a diversionary tactic, but just in case we'll have tracking devices embedded under the skin on yours and Rick's shoulders. Steve and Jaime already have them."
There was a moment of quiet, then Laurie looked at their set faces, and slowly nodded.
"I'm not happy about Rick being bait, but if it gets this over and done with, I'm for it. But we need to okay this with Steve and Jaime."
"Of course, sis. Oscar's going to call them, and Rudy will come by later to do the implants." A.J. explained reassuredly. Laurie nodded, then the sound of squabbling broke the tension.
"No, Ceci, I want to say grace..it's my turn." "No, I'm the oldest girl, I get to…."
Relieved laughter broke them up, as Linda stood up. "Is someone fighting over saying a prayer?" she called. Silence, then a small voice replied "no."
"I didn't think so, kids, wash up now." Linda struggled not to laugh, as Rick wiped his eyes in silent laughter.
"I don't believe them….that's too funny."
"I do, they quarrel over the oddest things." A.J. sighed, then stood up and offered his arm to Linda. "Dinner?"
"Thought you'd never ask." She chuckled, pressing a kiss to his cheek as she took his arm.
"What about your chores….when are you going to clean out the stable?"
A shrewish cry rang across the yard, and Rick winced theatrically.
"As soon as I come back from fishing, honey….the horses will still be here." He called back, then picked up his fishing poles and started toward the creek.
"That's it….walk away from me...I hope you get sunburned!"
From inside the barn, Oscar tried not to laugh as A.J. shook his head. "I can't believe it…even pretending to fight she's funny."
"Laurie's never had to act like a neglected wife, I just hope she fools whoever's after them." Oscar said wryly.
A loud beep caught their attention, and A.J. turned on his transmitter. "Hey Rick, see anything?"
"Negative, not a soul." Rick ambled along the creek bed, then spotted Steve Austin, who'd already set up a couple of fishing stools at the edge of the water.
"Hey, Steve!" he waved, then narrowed his eyes. "About 300 yards behind Steve is a pick up truck, almost hid by the saguaro," he quietly said.
Off the road, Ron Johnson trained his field glasses on the two men, then replied, "I see it, tinted windows, license plate ….California 555121."
Typing the numbers into his cruiser's computer, he waited a minute, then spoke again.
"Pickups reported stolen from San Bernardino Military Base. I've got a unit on the back road just in case."
"Gotcha, Ron." Rick smiled as he set his poles and bucket down, then plopped onto his stool and pulled a beer out of Steve's cooler.
"Anything yet?" he asked, and Steve proudly held up a rainbow.
:"Show off!" Rick scoffed, then went about baiting his hook as Steve told A.J. "If there's any movement around the ranch, that's your first priority. Rick and I can handle things here."
"Don't worry, we've got all of you covered." A.J. retorted, then straighten up as Oscar peered through the loft window. "Hey, is that Robbie's cruiser?"
"I don't think so….his is a newer model" the younger Simon answered, turning away from the rear of the barn and looking towards the reservation road.
From inside the ranch house, Laurie looked through the living room window and spotted the approaching police car. "Dad, did you and Rick tell Robbie what's going on?" she radioed.
"Yes, honey. He's supposed be at the tribal center, though." Oscar frowned, then A.J. set his transmitter to send. "Robbie, can you hear me?"
Just then the cruiser pulled up to the ranch gate, and Laurie spoke through the gate speaker. "Robbie?"
"No, Laurie, it's Andy. Robbie asked me to check on you." Came a familiar voice.
"Oh, I'm okay..did you want to come in for a moment?" she replied, then froze as she heard another voice whisper "Tell her yes."
"Andy, is someone with you?" she said, only to hear A.J.'s voice on her transmitter.
"Laurie, get away from the window, it's a trap!"
Almost immediately the police cruiser reversed, then screeched forward, crashing through the gate. As it came towards the house, Laurie backed up, calling to her brother-in-law, "He's going to crash into the house!"
Suddenly the car came to a halt, and Laurie could see two people struggling in the car, then the window of the cruiser was broken, and a large gun appeared, then a loud bang sounded. At once a figure dove into the room, throwing Laurie to the ground.
Instantly the front window shattered, and a projectile landed in the living room sofa, bursting into flames. As smoke filled the room, Laurie and her rescuer got up from the floor, then made their way out of the living room.
"Here, over here!" Oscar and Rudy appeared in the doorway, then helped them through the kitchen and out of the house. As they reached the patio, the four of them collapsed onto the picnic benches. "Thank God you were there, Jaime, I…I didn't see that coming." Laurie wheezed, putting a grateful arm around her friend.
"No, thank God you put on such a good act…but Oscar, how did you know?…" Jaime Austin began, only to interrupted by a braking noise, then a loudspeaker from the front of the house. "Get out of the car, now!"
"You stay with Rudy, honey." Oscar cautioned his daughter, then went to the front of the ranch with Jaime and saw that Robbie had a gun on a dark haired man, who was exiting the crashed police vehicle with his hands raised. Behind him came a bleeding Deputy Andy, who staggered and nearly fell onto the damaged porch.
"Uncle Oscar, can you cover this guy?" Robbie nodded at his prisoner. "Of course, son. Take care of your deputy, Rudy's with your mom and can probably check him out."
As the young sheriff cuffed and put his prisoner in his own cruiser, Oscar helped the younger man to the back of the ranch, where Rudy took charge.
"Dad, who's watching Rick and Steve?" Laurie suddenly blurted, then turned her watch transmitter on.
"Rick? Is everything okay?"
"Yes, darlin'…..just as long as you and Jaime are all right. Steve and I are….hey, what's going on…." Rick's voice was cut off, then the sounds of a scuffle were heard.
"Rick! Steve!" Laurie called out to them, then Jaime did the same. A loud crunching noise came through the transmitter, then silence.
"Dad! Something's happened to Rick and Steve!" She gasped, then frantically turned her transmitter to a different frequency and called, "Ron? It's Laurie? Answer me!"
A moaning sound echoed over the static, then a weak voice replied.
"Laurie…..I'm sorry. Ambush…..never saw them coming…I don't see the guys…" Ron muttered, then the shuffling of steps sounded in their ears.
"Wait…that pickup truck is still here…maybe they're here…"
"Who, Ron, and where's this truck?" Laurie asked, then a gasp from the transmitter made her cold inside.
"What, Ron, what's happening?"
"There's a body in here…." For a sickening moment, Oscar thought he meant Steve or Rick.
"Oscar….You'd better call the OSI…I think I've found the Secretary..he's dead." Ron continued, then added, "But the guys, there's no sign of them."
