The proposal to put Laura in danger – or from Ranson’s point of view, to put Erica in jeopardy – that was definitely a hard pill to swallow. He knew both he and Michael were fiercely protective of their respective spouses, and neither one would look lightly on the prospect of any harm coming to them.

I wish I hadn’t even thought of it, he thought, feeling a wash of anxiety in the pit of his stomach at the mere mention of putting Laura in harm’s way. No way! No! Won’t do it….Damn. What choice do I have?

"How do we know which wife they want?" Michael interrupted Fenton’s brooding with an unsettling query. "What if we used Erica, for instance, and they really wanted Laura? So then…nothing happens. Or worse…they kill her!" His voice was tight with suppressed emotion. "What if this is something worse than we think, Mr. Hardy?"

Fenton swallowed. He desperately wished Michael hadn’t thought of that angle! What if these shadowy people DO kill the wife they didn’t want? Or worse yet, what if they got whichever one…and kill her immediately? So far, it seemed that they’d wanted to kidnap either Laura or Erica, or both – but last night’s episode with the guns had jacked things up a notch. He fidgeted with his coffee cup, and only when he nearly dumped it on the table, did he realize it was still half full. He pushed it away from him, regarding the man across the table glumly.

"I don’t think they’re going to kill anyone…yet," he said, sighing. "I’m still holding onto the idea that it’s a kidnapping – for a reason."

"But it’s such a risk—" Ranson began, his eyes full of fear.

"I know it’s a huge risk," Fenton nodded heavily. "I’m not even remotely thrilled about the idea, Michael, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I can’t seem to think of anything better. We have to do SOMETHING, and this is the best plan. Unless you can come up with something better?"

"No," Michael shook his head gloomily.

"What I’d like to do," Fenton went on, "is make them focus on one or the other of us, instead of Laura and Erica. But I’m not sure how to make them change focus. They don’t seem to be interested in me – I haven’t caught even the slightest hint of a tail, and if they did want me…well, they’ve had several chances to try."

Ranson sighed. "Same here," he concurred. "And how do we know when to try, anyway? Someone had to have followed Laura or Erica to the mall. Someone had to know we were at your house…both times! So who are they following? Me? Erica? Are they watching your house?"

"I haven’t seen anyone watching our house," Mr. Hardy said thoughtfully. "I can usually spot people doing something like that – and we live in a very nosy neighborhood," he added, with a wry chuckle. He retrieved his coffee cup and took another swallow, while he thought further, then continued speaking. "It’s risky, but if we take some precautions, we should be able to work it out."

"Okay, let’s hear it," Ranson encouraged, his blue eyes intent on Fenton’s face.

"First, we work with the police, and have it publicized that we have suspects in custody for the kidnapping attempt at the mall – or for the shooting at our house. Then, you and I let our guard down – or rather, we SEEM to let it down. We go off and do something casual again – another golf game, perhaps, but at any rate, something where we can get back to the girls easily, so maybe golf would be out. Laura and Erica go out again; they go somewhere where they can be guarded without it looking too obvious. A department store, a movie theater, or maybe even the park. Stake out ten or twelve police officers in the area, as well as you and me and possibly my sons – and see if our bad guys take the bait. Then if they do, everyone moves in and the kidnappers are arrested."

Fenton waited patiently for Michael’s reaction. He knew he’d like it – and hate it, too – because of Erica. Fenton hated it for the same reason – Laura – but it was a workable plan, and he knew she’d agree to it, if only to get her freedom back!

Eventually Michael sighed in capitulation. "I’ll talk to Erica about it," he conceded. A sudden thought made him brighten briefly. "I think Ethan should be in that staked-out crowd too; he’s pretty fast."

"Ethan?" Whoever Ethan is, he’s ‘pretty fast?’ I doubt if Michael means he’s fast with women, or can run the hundred-yard dash in under ten seconds….

"Erica’s cousin from New York," Ranson explained. "Would we really go golfing again?" he asked then. "Or do something else?"

Fenton grinned teasingly. "What do you think?" he asked, making a definite effort to lighten the situation just a bit. "I suppose we could go for something a bit more…unusual."

Michael eyed him speculatively, then his mouth tightened in a wry smile. "Hardy, no matter WHAT our cover is, I’m not dressing up as a woman!" he announced firmly.

"Michael, it never would have occurred to me to ask such a dignified man as yourself to disguise himself as a woman," Fenton vowed. He waited a beat longer, then continued: "Besides, you don’t have the legs for it!"

Ranson, who had just taken a sip of his coffee, spluttered and nearly choked. When he finished coughing, he stared across the table challengingly. "How would you know? You’ve never seen my legs!"

"Nor do I care to," Mr. Hardy commented mildly. "No, but actually, I think you’d do well as a punk-rock teenager," he said, his dark eyes twinkling.

"This is not a funny business, Hardy," Michael retorted, grimly. "Besides, I haven’t looked like a teenager since before I was a teenager!"

"Oh, we could get around that," the detective drawled, surveying his companion thoughtfully. "There are ways it could work. How about a nice, tasteful earring?"

For a moment, Michael Ranson stared at him, totally horrified – and then, reluctantly…he began to laugh.

*****

Laura had always enjoyed being with and talking to Andrea Bender, ever since Joe had become involved with Vanessa, shortly after the Benders’ move to Bayport from Manhattan. Andrea was a woman with wit and intelligence, who wasn’t afraid to speak her own mind. And she had come to understand a lot about the Hardy family, and hadn’t backed away. Andrea had become an invaluable friend to Laura – one she appreciated a great deal; more than any other friend she’d had as an adult. She had many friends in Bayport, of course, after living there for nearly twenty years, but Andrea had to be one of the best she’d made in a long time. There was just something about her that made life more interesting. Sometimes it was almost like having Linda back, Laura thought, smilingly.

"Andrea, thank you so much for agreeing to come out shopping with me!" Laura exclaimed now, as the two women pushed sizeable carts through the aisles of Shoptown U.S.A., the largest grocery outlet store in the Bayport area.

"No need for thanks," Andrea said, halting to put more items into her cart. "I feed the art staff half the time – breakfast and lunch and coffee breaks, some days. That’s almost like feeding a large family. Or—" she paused, chuckling, "feeding two teenaged boys!"

Laura laughed too. "Two teenaged boys and their numerous friends," she amended. She selected more things to put in her cart. "As much as you feed Joe, I’m surprised you ever have any food in the house! He seems to eat enough to feed a small army, and you can never tell when Vanessa might invite him to stay for dinner."

"He’s not that bad. And she’s at your house a lot; it evens out," Andrea smiled.

"It feels so good to get out of the house!" Laura exulted, "and not to have Fenton constantly hovering over me, like an avenging angel!"

"That would be hard," Andrea admitted. She glanced casually behind them. "And today he sent in a surrogate angel."

Jeremy Isaacs was following along behind them at a sedate pace, acting for all the world like he was completely by himself and concentrating on his grocery shopping…and yet, looking suspiciously like he was with the two women. Although the officer in charge of the case had agreed to let Jeremy dress in civilian clothing, despite his rookie status, there was still something about Jeremy that simply screamed ‘POLICEMAN!’ Laura knew there were some people who just had that look, no matter what. Jeremy Isaacs would never do well in an undercover situation, with that policeman bearing. He must have been born with it, she thought, smiling to herself.

Laura and Andrea paused in the canned goods aisle and browsed, enjoying their casual conversation, enjoying their time together. They talked a little about the case, quietly.

"I’ve been thinking about the attack at the mall, last Sunday," Andrea commented, "and about the weird things that have happened since then." She looked searchingly at her friend. "Laura, are you sure you’re okay? I know you weren’t injured, but…are you really okay?"

"I am." Laura nodded firmly. "That drive-by shooting last night was terrifying, but since no one was hit, I’m able to cope with it….I’m surprised that Fenton agreed to let me go out shopping, though, after it happened. If I hadn’t been going with you, and if he hadn’t been able to wangle Officer Isaacs to come with us…well, I suspect I’d still be under my very own form of house arrest. Not any fun, that!"

"Not fun being kidnapped, either," Andrea reminded her dryly.

"That’s true," Laura conceded. "I’m not interested in being kidnapped – EVER again!"

"So, isn’t it worth a little house arrest, or protective custody, or whatever you want to call it, if that’s what it takes to keep you safe?" Andrea persisted.

Laura sighed and shrugged. "I suppose so," she replied despondently, "but I’d rather just have the cretins caught and put away!"

They finished their shopping, checked out, loaded the car, and then proposed lunch at a nearby restaurant. They made a special point of inviting Jeremy to join them – as if he had a choice!

Although he seemed happy to be asked to lunch, Laura suspected that Officer Isaacs would have quietly accepted being ignored and going hungry while the ladies ate, had they chosen to deal with his presence that way. Jeremy was polite, obedient, conscientious of his charges’ welfare – and terribly aware of anyone coming near those charges!

Laura noticed that he always tensed up a little when some acquaintance of hers or Andrea’s came up to them to say ‘hi,’ or stopped to talk for a minute or two. It was second nature for her to chat – after all, that was what was fun about shopping! You had the opportunity to see people you’d known for a long time, but didn’t necessarily see all that often! I certainly hope Jeremy doesn’t plan on shooting someone, if he considers us threatened!

While they were at lunch, Laura’s cell phone rang.

"Laura, it’s me," Fenton said from the other end of the connection.

"Hi, honey," she smiled, "how are you doing?"

"I’m still with Michael Ranson," he told her. "We’re working on a plan to snare the guys who’ve been threatening you and Erica. Are you safe, Laura?"

"I’m perfectly safe," she said calmly. "I’m having lunch with Andrea and Jeremy; after we finish, we’re going to go to Andrea’s house. I’m going to help her with some bookwork this afternoon; her accountant’s on vacation for another week."

"I’ll need to see you at home sometime this afternoon. As I said, we’re working on a plan to draw out these guys after Erica and you – and I want to keep you safe!"

Laura tensed slightly. "What sort of plan?"

"I think it would be better for us to talk about it in person," Fenton hedged, "but don’t worry, honey – I’m NOT going to let anything happen to you!" He sighed sharply. "We’ve had enough troubles lately, without adding anything to it!"

"All right," she said slowly. "I’ll talk to you about it later. Goodbye, honey." Thoughtfully, she replaced the cell phone in her purse, and turned to her lunch companions. "Just Fenton, checking in!" she said brightly.

When lunch was done, Jeremy escorted the ladies to the car, preparing to drive them to the farm where Andrea lived and had her cartoon animation business. Jeremy started to open the doors for them – and then stopped, and knelt down beside the car.

"Well, of all the bad luck!" Andrea gasped. For the tire beside them was completely flat.

"It’s not just bad luck," Laura said in a choked voice, and indicated the other tire on that side of the car – also completely flat.