Chapter One

It was a beautiful day in San Diego, while the three Simons were in the office; A.J. was on the phone while Rick and Mary were playing Gin. Mary was winning when the office door open and two men walked in.

 Rick looked up and asked “How can we help you?” Mary turned around and noticed that they were very attractive. A.J. finished his call and hung up.

 The tall dark haired one answered. “Hello. My name is Mick Barrett and this is my brother Joe. We’re Private Investigators from Santa Barbara.”

 A.J. introduced them.

 “We were just wondering if you had come across any robberies involving diamonds that belonged to the Brady family.” Mick had asked.

The Simons looked at each other as A.J. answered, “Why?” he asked curiously.

 “Well we thought the local P.I.’s would be on the case and talking to the rep for the family they said a local P.I. firm was hired to look into the case. Then we were down at the Police station and over heard some of the cops talking and heard your firm mentioned so we thought we would come down and talk to you.” Mick said.

Rick jumped in “Now why would we want to talk to you? What do you have to do with this?”

“Well we were hired by the jewelry company to retrieve the diamonds. You were hired by the family. So by pooling our info we can solve this case a lot faster, don’t you think?” Mick asked.

“What’s in it for you? Nice little reward?” Rick asked.

 Mick smiled, “Well of course but isn’t that what the family is offering?” he asked.   

“Okay.” Rick said staring back.

Mary had had enough of this pissing contest. So she spoke up, “Okay now it’s my turn guys. Why don’t we just sit down and start from the beginning so we can get this over with. Because to tell you all the truth you’re driving me nuts! Why is it that men have to do this pissing contest all the time? Now why don’t you Nick start.”

                “It’s Mick!” Mick loudly corrected her abruptly.

 “Fine! Mick why don’t you start then A.J., Rick you’ll finish. You, Joe right?” He shook his head yes. “Good, you and I are going to monitor them so they play nice and that we get all facts straight. Now can we all handle that?” They all shook their heads yes.

 So Mick started. It seems that the Brady family of Santa Barbara is one of the riches families who owns one of the most profitable jewelry chains on the west coast. But unfortunately Mrs. June Brady wife of Robert Brady had her necklace stolen on the night of the Charter Gala. She was in the ladies room when these three hooded men came in and not only took her necklace but a few other pieces from a few other unfortunate women who also were with her and locked them in. When they didn’t return their husbands went looking for them and found that they had been robbed. The Santa Barbara police really didn’t come up with anything substantial that the insurance company was happy with. So each team decided to hire outside help. “With my contacts with the Santa Barbara Police Department they feel that the best way to fence the diamonds is here in San Diego where they can cross the border into Mexico.” Mick finished explaining.

“Well that would be what I would do, and it would be easy to fence them here and slip right across to Tijuana.” Rick said.

 “That’s what I was thinking.” Mick said.

 “Where are you staying?” A.J. asked. “

 ”Over at the Blackstone Motel” Joe interjected.

Right then the phone rang and A.J. went to pick it up. “Excuse me. Hello? Yes she is, just a moment. Sweetie it’s for you.” A.J. said winking.

 Mary looked at her brother strangely and walked over to answer the phone “Hello?”

“Hey Baby.” Jon said.

 “Hi. Oh could I call you back in a few we have um people here that we need to talk to ok?” she asked.

“Ah sure, but I don’t have to long ok I need to get to rehearsal soon.” Jon said disappointed.

“Ok won’t be long, bye.” As she hung up, “Sorry about that shall we go on.”

“Okay why don’t we get a list of fences together and we can split them up, say we start bright and early tomorrow morning. We’ll meet you guys at your motel say around seven a.m. is that okay?” A.J. asked.

“That should be fine. Seven a.m. it is. We’ll see you then.” Mick said and with that the Barrett’s left.

Outside the office, “Mick do you think we can trust these Simons?” Joe asked.

“I don’t see why not. I don’t see any hidden agenda with them. They even have their sister working for them. I’m just surprised she didn’t ask us if we wanted anything to drink. Not a very good hostess.” Mick said.

 “Yeah I hope she’s a better secretary and gets that list ready for the morning.” Joe chuckled. Little did they know.

Back in the office, “Well if you guys don’t need me for anything I’m going to take off for a while.” Mary said.

“You mean take off for the rest of the day.” Rick said smirking.

 “Don’t be a smart ass Rick. You guys don’t need me to put that list together do you?” she asked.

 “No honey we don’t. I can get that together. Go ahead take off. But we will need you tomorrow okay. When we split this up someone needs to go around with them and I think they’ll feel less intimated if you go with them. Are you alright with that?” A.J. asked.

“Why do I always have to get the strange ones. ‘with a huff’ fine I’ll go and show them around.” She said not to happy that she has to babysit as always.

A.J. just smiled “Good girl I knew you would. Beside it gives me and Rick a chance to check a few things out as we go along. Now go.”

 It took her about twenty minutes to get herself home and settled when she finally called Jon back. She hadn’t heard from him in a couple of days since he had left and wasn’t sure if he was going to call her ever with how they had left things. It felt like his phone was ringing a hundred times. Just as she was about to hang up a breathless voice picked up, “Hello?”

“Jon?” she asked a little worried hearing him breathing heavy.

 “Hey.” Was all he said seeing it was his standard reply. Also it pissed her off.

 “Hey there, can you talk? You sound out of breathe.” She stated.

 “Mary?” he asked surprised only because she had promised to call right back and she didn’t and he wasn’t going to wait around for her to call back. Yes he was also pissed at her but he wasn’t going to say anything unless she was pissy to him first. 

 “Well who else is calling you back?” she asked him surprised by who would be calling him back so soon or at least in her head it was soon to her. 

“No, no, I just got back from running Baby. That’s all. And I was expecting Bonnie to call me back with my wardrobe fitting time that’s all.” He lied he just wasn’t up for a fight right now.

“Well you just seemed surprised to hear from me that’s all.” She asked him a little upset.

 “Well you did say you would call me back right away and that turned into what, what time is it forty eight minutes later and I need to get to rehearsal in an half hour. I told you not to be too long, now we can’t have a real conversation.” He said a little angrily.

“Are you pissed at me? I told you we had people in the office. I couldn’t just take the call and yap with you. I was working Jon. I called you as soon as I could. Besides it took you long enough to call me in the first place.” She spit at him.

 “Wait a minute I had to get settle and there were meetings I had to attend. After what happened I got reamed out. I’m on lock down. I’m lucky that I have a phone in my room at all.”

“Well I sorry you got reamed out. Didn’t you tell Doc that you were leaving when Michael grabbed you?”  she asked him.

“Yeah I told him everything. How it wasn’t your fault Baby. That you even dumped me for my own good. I’m working on him don’t worry. But I do need to go. I’ll call you after the show okay.” He told her and seemed really sorry that he had to go.

 “Ah sweetie I need to get up early so I can’t talk to you tonight, sorry.” She told him apologetic as possible.

“You’re shitting me! When the Hell are we ever going to get together?” now he blew, now he was pissed that they couldn’t even talk on the phone for two freaking minutes.

 “I don’t know but I need to take these two brothers out around town because they’re not from here. It’s probably will take all day. I’ll call when I can, okay.” Again she said as apologetic as possible.

“Oh sure. Brothers huh? How old tweens, teenagers.” Jon said laughing.

Mary just rolled her eyes. She was glad he couldn’t see her. “No not boys, their men.” She said innocently.

Jon just stopped dead in his tracks not knowing what to think. He really didn’t think about this part of her job and that she would have to escort the opposite sex around. “Really? How old are they?” he tried to ask her as calmly as possible.

 “I don’t know? I think Joe is about our age and his brother Mick is about A.J.’s age I guess. Why?”

 “Just wondering. Baby I really need to go but just be careful, okay. I Love You.” But before she could say anything he had hung up. She didn’t know what to think. Was he mad at her or did he really have to go. Why did men have keep their feelings to themselves. All he had to do was tell her how he felt and she could deal with that but the not knowing was driving her crazy. She was definitely going to have this talk with him the next time they talked come hell or high water. No matter what the outcome was. She decided to go veg and think what she was going to say to Jon.

When Jon hung up the phone he wasn’t too happy. He didn’t like the idea that he couldn’t talk to her later but more so that she was escorting two brothers tomorrow who just happen to be men. He had taken his shower and met the others down stairs to be taken to rehearsal when Richie noticed that his partner in crime was very quiet and in his ‘brooding stage’.

 “Hey bro what’s the matter, Doc still giving you crap?” Richie wanted to know.

Jon just looked at Richie with a dry smile. “When isn’t he. Look why don’t we take the second car okay. We can talk then.”

“Sure man.” Richie instinctively knew something was up with his pal.

 They waited til the others got in the first car before they got in the second so they could talk privately. As they got settled, Jon was trying to figure where to start.

“Well are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?” Richie asked is best friend.

 “I’m trying to figure where to start. Okay you remember when I left to come back here. Well I didn’t leave on good terms.” He told Richie.

 “What do you mean? I thought everything was okay between the two of you.” He asked Jon concerned.

 “Yeah well I wanted it to seem that way. I wasn’t too nice to her when I left.” Jon said feeling guilty.

“What do you mean Not to nice Jon? What did you do to her?” Richie asked concerned now.

 “I was just really annoyed with Doc yelling at me over what happened, calling her names, blaming everything on her so I guess I kinda, maybe got annoyed with her too. I mean she was dotting on me left and right and just wouldn’t leave me alone. Then when she did ignore me I got all whiny with her.” He told Richie as he looked down at the floor of the car feeling really stupid at what he just said.

“Jesus Jon! Excuse you for having someone who cares enough for you to take care of you, loves you, and will do anything for you. Did the horseshoe in your ass fall out?” Rich exclaimed at him for all his damn luck.

 “Rich! Knock it off! I don’t know what to do because I had called her earlier today and she couldn’t talk because she was working so she said she would call RIGHT back. Now what would you say right back is?” he asked Richie.

“I don’t know ten, fifteen minutes I guess.” Richie told him not knowing why.

“Exactly! It took her about forty eight minutes to call me back and I couldn’t talk to her because we have to go to rehearsal. So I told her I would call her after the show and she said no because she has an early morning tomorrow so she’s going to bed early. But that’s not the best part!” He said annoyed.

 Richie just looked at him now amused. “Okay I’ll bite what’s the best part?” Richie asked grinning.

 Jon was about bouncing in his seat. “She has to escort these two brothers around town tomorrow. Why I don’t know and I don’t give a rat’s ass either. After what we went through what if these two guys, you know, anything could happen.” Jon was just about jumping out of his skin.

 Richie just shook his head. “Look Jon her brothers wouldn’t let her do anything they didn’t think she couldn’t do. She does know how to handle herself to a point. And it is her job just like being on the road is ours.” He explained to Jon amused.

 “I know it’s just that…” Jon stuttered.

“It’s just that these guys can’t be too young or too old or you wouldn’t be acting this way. I’d say you’re jealous my man.” Rich said grinning.

 “Bite me!” Jon shot back with a Jersey salute as well.

 “I’ve told you I don’t swing that way.” He said laughing.

“Rich this is serious man.” Jon sat there running his hands thru his hair.

 “I know, I know. Look when you get a chance to actually sit and have a conversation with her just be truthful with her. She can take it. After what the two of you have been through I think she can take anything. Unless you’re having second thoughts? Are you?” Richie knew his friend better than anyone and he could see Jon was having cold feet. About what exactly he wasn’t sure and he knew Jon wasn’t either.

Jon just sat and stared out of the window. The venue was coming into site now so Richie said, “Hey why don’t we talk more about this when we get back to the hotel, okay.”

“Yeah sounds good.” Jon said.

 They got inside and got ready to go on stage. Jon did his little warm up that he does before he goes on stage and they all met up at the staging area. Finally night fell and the concert started. They could hear the crowd screaming as their adrenaline was racing through their veins. Jon was now pumped up and put everything out of his mind and just concentrated on the show. It was there sixth as headliners and everything went off without a hitch. Nothing could go wrong tonight. The crowd was wild and they were electric. As they got off the stage the guys were flying high. They all met back in the recreation room.

“Holy shit did we rock or what!” Dave exclaimed.

 “We sure did. Did anyone see those four girls off to the left of the stage?” Richie asked.

“You mean the ones that were falling out of their tops? Yeah.” Alex shouted.

“What do mean just the four? There were more than just four! There were more of them lifting there damn tops showing there damn tits than anything!” Richie exclaimed happily.

 Jon laughed. “Ah man tonight was the best! We need to shower and change and get to the after party fast.” Alex said.

“Right behind you man.” Dave said.

“Yeah you guys go ahead Jon and I will be right there.” Richie said.

Jon just looked at him confused. “What’s up?” Jon asked.

“I thought you wanted to talk?” Richie asked.

“Nah. Not now, to hyped up. Let’s go to the party and have some fun. Okay?” Jon said.

“You sure?” Richie asked not sure.

 “Yeah, why not. The show went great, we’re just going to go and enjoy ourselves that’s all.”  Jon explained to him.

“Okay let’s go.”  Richie agreed.

They all showered and got to the after party where they enjoyed good food and drinks. But unfortunately there were enough groupies to go around for ten rock groups to their one. They did have some other celebrities and friends there to help fend off some of the groupies but not enough that this one that caught Jon’s eye. It wouldn’t of matter if he was sober but he had enough Jack in him that the girl that was hitting on him reminded him of his Mary. She had long brown hair and didn’t dress too trashy but just enough to get his attention. He hadn’t had sex in a week and was sick of jacking off by himself, and just drank enough to think it was her.

“Hi there. Your Jon right?” she asked.

“That’s right. And you are?” he asked her.

  “Katie, you want to get out of here?” she asked stoking his chest.

 He just smiled because he didn’t know why Mary was playing this game. But it turned him on. He was just glad that she was finally here. “Okay I’m game, sure my place or yours.”

“What?” she asked.

 “I asked your place or mine?” he said as he grabbed her around her waist and leaned in to kiss her neck.

 “Oh okay how bout yours seeing it’s closer.” She told him.

 “Fine by me, let’s go Baby.” He took her by the hand and led her out to the elevator and up to his room. 

It was seven a.m. the next day and the Simons met the Barrett’s at their motel. While inside their room A.J. was explaining they’re plan. “We thought that we would take half of the list and the other half you and our sister would take the other.”

 “Wait a minute, why is she coming with us?” Mick asked.

“Because she knows her way around town and you guys don’t.” Rick stated.

“Hey I don’t like it any more than you guys do but life sucks get over it.” Mary said.

“Fine come on then.” Mick said snidely back.

 They all left for their destinations and the Simon brothers just chuckled as they got into Ricks truck. “You know she’s going to end up killing them, you know that, right?” Rick said.

 A.J. just looked at his brother “Well I’m sure it will be self-defense, we can get her off with that I’m sure.” He laughed.

 It was late morning when the three of them came to the next one on the list. “Mick what number does this make?” Joe asked.

“Let’s see, five.” Mick said.

 “Stop counting or it’s going to make the day seem even longer, shall we?” Mary said. As they entered the shop as the owner recognized Mary right away.

“Miss Mary is that you?” that shop owner asked.

“Hello Sam how are you?” She asked.

 “Just fine my dear, just fine. And where are those fine brothers of yours?” Sam asked her.

 “There out working. I’m here with two other detectives from Santa Barbara. Sam these are the Barrett’s, Mick and Joe.” The brothers just stood by a little impressed at how she was handling these fence shop owners.

 “Well what can I get for you my dear?” Sam asked.  

“Well Sam we’re looking for some fenced items from a family that was robbed a week ago at the Charter Gala. Have you heard anything?” But before he could answer his daughter came out from the back room.

 “Papa don’t you answer. We don’t have to tell her anything.” She told her father.

 “Hello Mindy how are you?” Mary said sarcastically.

“Just fine Mary. I take it your brothers put you up to this?” she shot back.

“You could say that, plus I’m here with these two. They’re also working on the case so if you know something just spill it.” Mary spit out at her.

 “Well why don’t you have that no good brother of yours come in here and ask himself!” she told Mary.

“Because he’s busy BUT...” But before Mary could finish Mick cut in.

“Okay why don’t we start to play nice, shall we? Good. All we want is to know do you have the information we need or not?”

Sam looked at his daughter then to Mary and gave a little smirk. “You’re looking for a couple of young men late twenty’s, white, one short about five-eight or nine with red short hair. The second is tall about six two with brown hair medium length. Both not attractive at all. At least from a male point of view. Oh and they dress very shabbily you know street is what I guess you would call it. I told them to try McKenzie’s place. Is that what you were looking for?”

“Yes Sam that’s what we were looking for. So they were in here then?” Mary asked.

“Papa!” Mindy yelled.

 “Mindy please! Yes but I sent them on their way. I don’t deal in stolen goods, you know that.” Sam told them with pride.

“I do Sam but I thought if anyone knew what was going on it would be you. Thank You.” Mary told him gratefully.

“You’re welcome my dear.” Sam said as he waved goodbye.

 As they left the shop Mick turned to Mary and asked “So which brother spurned Mindy?”

Mary laughed. “Who do you think?” she said as she looked at the two.

 Joe jumped in “Oh I know, it was Rick am I right?”

“You’re right. He has a way with the ladies but not when it comes to the breakup.” Mary told them as she giggled.

 Joe spoke up “But was there three of them that robbed the Gala?”

 “Apparently only two came to fence the goods. We’ll look into that later.  Meanwhile  seeing we have a lead what do you say we get something to eat because I starving.” Mick said.

“Sounds great to me.” Joe agreed.

 “I’m in and I know a great little diner that’s not too far from here if you guys are game?” she asked. They all agreed.