EMERALD CHURCH

Anna Mitchell parked her car and turned off the ignition, then turned to her daughter, Julia, who was sitting in the passenger's seat. Seated in the backseat was Julia's best friend, Akilah Moore, and the three ladies had all arrived at the church for the wedding.

"Are we ready, ladies?" Anna asked.

"Definitely," Julia said, smiling as she opened her door. "I wouldn't want to miss this event for the world."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Anna demanded, hurrying to follow her daughter out of the car.

"This wedding is so not going to happen, mom," Julia insisted.

Akilah climbed out of the car as well, agreeing with Julia. "Mr. Phillips is kind of a loser. Miss Watson is only marrying him because he knocked her up."

Anna tried to contain her shock. "I guess I haven't been really up to date on everything going on at this school of yours. Is there anything else I should know about your teachers, girls?"

Julia laughed. "Got a few hours?"

"I'm worried about Blake," Kelli Anderson said, facing her friend, Chris Server.

"Ain't that the phrase of the year," Chris muttered. "What now? Because he wouldn't hold my hand at the wedding? Damn, did I just say that?"

Kelli smiled. "Yeah, you did. You've got it bad, boy."

"I know," Chris said. "But I'm worried about him too, Kel. He was starting to get better a few months ago — starting to get over his brother's death. But now, it's like he's falling again."

"Well, whatever happens, we'll be there for him," Kelli decided.

"Damn right we will," Chris said. "I love him. I'm going to do whatever I have to to help him."

"And that's why I love you so much," Kelli said, taking Chris' hand. "You've been such a great friend to Blake lately. I was worried that no one would want to put up with him grieving over his brother…grieving over his parents…"

"Well, it's a good thing I've got such a good head on my shoulders," Chris said. "You can spend time worrying about Blake instead of worrying about me."

"Yeah," Kelli said softly, realizing that she did in fact have a reason to worry about Chris. But hopefully, it was a problem she would never have to deal with.

Blake Thomas sat alone in a pew, resting his face in his hands. He was hoping to lead some semblance of a normal life by attending the wedding and not having any of life's issues bother him for a few hours. But Blake was soon beginning to realize that normalcy would never be an option for him.

Just when he thought he was out of the clear with Damon Johnson's murder, Blake found that Detective Joel Kincaid was still digging around the case. If that wasn't enough, he also had to deal with his blossoming relationship with Chris, and trying to locate his only surviving relatives with the ability to save his parents' house from being sold. Their mortgage payments would be running out in a few months.

"Everything okay, Blake?"

Blake glanced up and saw that Joel was standing next to him. Blake bit his lip to keep from swearing loudly.

"You don't look so hot," Joel said, having a seat next to Blake.

"I'm fine," Blake insisted. "Don't you have a daughter to bother?"

"Am I bothering you?" Joel asked. "Do people bother you a lot?"

Blake rolled his eyes. "What exactly are you implying, Detective Kincaid?"

"I don't know," Joel said. "Was Damon a person who got on your nerves?"

"Yes, he was," Blake snapped, rising to his feet. "He got on everyone's nerves. Because he was an asshole."

Blake turned and walked away from Joel, leaving him to raise an eyebrow at the teenager's departure. Something was definitely going on with Blake, and Joel intended to find out what it was.

Michael Hanley climbed out of his limousine, with Vincent Moore following him. As they approached the church, they encountered Michael's family. His sister, Valerie Hanley-Holden, and her husband, Simon Holden, were walking in their direction with Matt Holden, Michael's nephew.

"Valerie," Michael said, greeting his sister. "It's been quite some time."

"Hello Michael," Valerie said, forcing a smile and folding her arms as she paused in front of Michael.

Michael grinned. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me."

Valerie turned away from Michael, allowing Matt and Simon to step forward. Matt cast a disparaging look in Vince's direction.

"So you're living with my uncle now?" Matt demanded. "How's it feel to move on up to the East Side?"

"Shut up, Matthew," Michael said, before Vince could open his mouth to respond with the same. "I am not going to sit in this church listening to you spout idiotic quips entirely not fitting of a Hanley."

"Let's get inside," Vince suggested.

"You know, it's not like you have three-fifths of the deciding vote here!" Matt cried. "My uncle can stay out here if he wants."

Vince glared at Matt as Simon hit his son in the back of the head. Simon apologized to Vince, while Matt smirked at his adversary. Vince ultimately chose to ignore Matt's racist remark and follow Michael into the church.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Simon demanded.

"Dad, you saw how Uncle Michael was acting!" Matt insisted. "He's letting that blue collar leech move into the Hanley mansion, and he's never even asked me to."

"Listen to your father, Matt," Valerie said quickly, hurrying into the church.

Simon sighed. "What's wrong with your mother?"

"Like I give a damn," Matt retorted, rushing toward the church entrance as well.

"What do you mean, you can't marry Ryan?" Kimberly Black demanded, standing next to the bride, Vanessa Watson.

"I can't…I don't know if I can do this," Vanessa said, staring into the mirror in Father Thomas Grady's office. "I don't know if I'm in love with Ryan."

In actuality, Vanessa knew all too well that she hadn't been in love with Ryan when she accepted his proposal. Even now, she really wasn't…she just wanted stability. She wanted her child to have a father; she wanted to lead the life she'd always dreamed about having as a young girl.

"I don't understand," Kimberly said, glancing at Father Grady for support.

Father Grady was currently tending to Alexis Lopez, who was lying in a chair. She was still recovering from her fainting spell in the middle of the chapel. "Vanessa, are you sure what you're saying?"

"No, I'm not!" Vanessa cried. "Everything's so confusing…I don't know if I can go through with this."

"Oh, you've just got jitterbugs," Kimberly said.

"I don't think that's what I have," Vanessa said, frowning.

"You had to have wanted to marry Ryan for a reason," Kimberly continued. "You're pregnant, Vanessa. You love him. And no one's holding a shotgun to your head."

Nikki Vicman stood next to her husband, Marcus Vicman, in the center of the church. Ryan Phillips walked toward them, after having helped Father Grady carry Alexis into his office to recover.

"Is everything okay with that girl?" Nikki asked.

"Yeah, everything is fine," Ryan said, glancing back over his shoulder.

Though he was acting otherwise, Ryan hoped that Alexis wouldn't awake from her fainting spell. Because if she woke up, chances are that her memory would return and she would try to ruin Ryan's wedding to Vanessa. That is, if she wasn't faking her amnesia and had been planning to stop the ceremony all along.

"Is there something going on we should know about?" Nikki demanded.

"Like what?"

"Honey, not now," Marcus said, gently touching his wife's arm. "We're not going to ruin Vanessa's day for her. She's your sister."

"I know," Nikki said. "That's why I'm concerned."

She shot Ryan a stern look, then sighed and walked away from him and her husband. Left standing alone together, Marcus and Ryan remained in silence, unaware what to say to one another.

"So…how about those Pacers?" Ryan asked, finally breaking their awkward moment.

"We're in Wisconsin," Marcus reminded him.

"Oh," Ryan said. "Yeah."

Derek Moore approached the church, making sure that no one could see him. He knew that the smartest thing to do right now would be to get out of dodge as soon as possible, but Derek knew that escaping to France wasn't going to keep Michael Hanley from finding him and killing him.

"That's why I need to take care of Michael myself," Derek said. "Before he can take care of me."

Derek walked behind a large tree surrounded by a clump of bushes, then unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket. Firmly planted in one of his inside pockets was a gun. Derek removed the gun and slowly loaded it as he continued to hide behind the tree.

He was going to settle things with Michael once and for all.

"Bang bang, Michael," Derek whispered. "Derek Moore's about to shoot you down."

Detective Joel Kincaid stood in the corner of the church, still watching Blake Thomas intently. Blake had become increasingly nervous when Joel mentioned Damon Johnson's name. Now, Joel was wondering if there was something Blake was hiding.

Maybe he knew something about the murder and he was keeping a secret for someone, or maybe he knew something else about Damon that he didn't want anyone to find out. But Joel had noticed that even Blake's friends seemed oblivious to his increased anxiety.

Joel removed his cell phone from his tuxedo jacket and dialed a number at the Marquette Cove Police Department. Officer Jamie Grady, one of Joel's co-workers, answered the phone.

"Hey Grady, it's Kincaid," Joel said. "I need you to check up on something for me. I'm gonna need you to go over what we found at the morgue after Damon Johnson's murder."

Vanessa didn't know what to say. She knew why she didn't want to marry Ryan, but she knew there were also compelling reasons to do so. What it came down to, is whether or not Vanessa wanted to find out the truth about Ryan's relationship with Alexis, and about what he had been keeping from her.

If he was the father of her child, then she wanted to know everything there was to know about Ryan's secrets before he became involved in their child's life. But the only way for that to happen was for Vanessa to go through with the wedding ceremony.

Vanessa took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, you're right."

Kimberly smiled. "See? I told you. You love Ryan and you two are meant to be together."

"Exactly," Vanessa said softly.

"Is…is everything okay?"

Vanessa and Kimberly glanced at Alexis, who was now coming to. Father Grady picked up a glass of water from his desk and offered it to Alexis. She obligingly took the glass and sipped from it, before returning the drink to Father Grady.

"Yes, you're fine, Alexis," Father Grady said. "You only fainted, that's all."

"I'm glad you're okay, honey," Vanessa said, smiling. "I think the guests are all arriving…I should finish getting ready."

Vanessa exited the room, while Alexis tried to sit up in the chair. Father Grady took her hand to make sure she didn't overexert herself.

"You sure you're okay?" Kimberly asked. "Because you were out like you had a bad hangover."

"I'm fine," Alexis insisted. "I'm just a little sick, that's all."

Kimberly laughed. "A little sick? You sure you're not pregnant?"

Father Grady rolled his eyes and asked Kimberly to excuse them. Kimberly shrugged her shoulders and left the office, while Alexis stared off into the distance, wondering if what Kimberly was saying was really true.

Akilah waked into the church, where Matt was leaning against one of the pews talking on a cell phone. She walked over to him and grabbed the cell phone from him, hanging it up. She then handed the phone back to Matt.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Matt demanded. "That was an important call!"

"You're in the middle of a church," Akilah said. "You can't just talk on a cell phone like that. Besides, I don't want it ringing in the middle of the ceremony and embarrassing me."

"Excuse me? How would it embarrass you?"

"Duh! We're sitting together, idiot," Akilah reminded him. "Alec's going to be here, we need to keep up our plan to make him jealous."

"Oh…that," Matt said. "We're still doing that?"

"Matt!" Akilah cried, hitting him in the arm.

Matt started laughing, unable to keep a straight face. "I'm just kidding, Akilah! Don't worry, I'm still on board for your plan to make Alec jealous."

"Good, because we need to —"

Akilah stopped talking when she noticed Alec Bale walking into the church with his girlfriend, Jessica Reyes. Irritated that Alec was parading around with the girl who had her brother arrested, Akilah was about to storm over to them and give Jessica a much-needed piece of her mind.

"Oh, no you don't," Julia said, sliding up to Akilah and taking her arm.

"Let me go, Julia," Akilah snapped. "Someone needs to slap the smug look off that bitch's face."

"And that someone is not going to be you," Julia said.

"Yeah, let's not cause a scene, remember?" Matt asked. "I'm sure Alec wouldn't like…actually, know what? Go ahead."

Julia rolled her eyes at Matt. "Let's go find a seat, Akilah."

Akilah reluctantly followed Julia to a seat, while Matt turned his cell phone back on and dialed back the person he had been talking to earlier.

"I'm sorry about my nephew's comments earlier," Michael said, apologizing to Vince as they entered the church.

"Don't worry about it," Vince said. "I'm used to dealing with Matt on a regular basis. We used to be friends, remember?"

"That I do," Michael said. "I can't possibly imagine what turned you off from him. It couldn't have been his winning personality."

Vince laughed, just as Jessica and Alec passed by them. Alec paused to glance in Vince's direction, and Vince tried to force a smile and say hello to another one of his former friends. But before he could, Jessica stepped in front of her boyfriend.

"Don't start anything with us, Vince," Jessica said. "My restraining order is still intact…you're damn lucky you can even attend this wedding."

Vince bit his lip, not wanting to respond.

"He has friends in high places, it seems," Michael said, narrowing his eyes at Jessica.

"Oh…Mr. Hanley," Jessica said, not having noticed him earlier. "I didn't see you there."

"Obviously not," Michael replied.

"Let's find a seat, Alec," Jessica said. "I think Sara saved us one."

As Jessica and Alec walked away, Vince turned to Michael.

"What was that all about?" Vince demanded.

"Don't worry about it," Michael reassured Vince.

"What's wrong with you?" Simon demanded, watching as his wife fidgeted with her purse.

"Nothing," Valerie insisted. "I'm just looking for someone, that's all."

"Whom?" Simon asked.

"Who," Valerie corrected, glancing around the church.

After a few moments, she spotted Felicia Bale standing near the front of the church. Valerie excused herself and walked over to where Felicia was standing, leaving Simon to frown as she avoided his questions.

Felicia noticed Valerie approaching her and smiled as her half-sister paused before her. It felt odd to consider Valerie her sister, since she had spent so long hiding the fact that Kevin Hanley was her father. But now, it felt comfortable that someone shared her secret. Even if it pained Felicia to keep such a secret from her family and friends.

"Valerie, it's good to see you," Felicia said.

"You called me the other day," Valerie noted, without a greeting. "What did you want?"

"I wanted to talk to you about our…Kevin Hanley's storage department burning down," Felicia replied. "I heard the police thought it might be arson."

Valerie's eyes widened. "Arson?"

"You know the police, they like to hit every angle," Felicia said, shrugging her shoulders. "But I can't believe it was really arson. No one in their right mind would burn down a building with all of Kevin's files in it…unless it was Kevin himself."

Valerie forced a laugh.

"But then again, Kevin's stroke is probably not a motivator to get him running around town committing arson. I don't think he'd hire someone to do it either," Felicia continued. "I mean, why now? What's so important about —"

"Pipe down, Jessica Fletcher," Valerie snapped. "A lot of people had reasons to burn that place down. That bastard had files in there on a lot of people. Even you."

"How would you…oh my God, Valerie!" Felicia cried. "Did you?"

"Did I what?" Valerie demanded.

Felicia whispered, "Did you burn down your father's storage department?"

"No, I didn't," Valerie said, clenching her jaw. "And I don't appreciate being called a blue collar criminal, especially by someone who's only been a Hanley for all of ten seconds. So mind your own business, Felicia."

Valerie spun around and walked off, trying not to look at Felicia again. If she had, she would have noticed that her half-sister was now watching her intently with a suspicious mind.

"You look amazing," Nikki told her sister.

"Really?" Vanessa asked, looking at herself in a mirror.

The two women were standing in a room next to Father Grady's office, where Vanessa was almost fully dressed for the ceremony. All that was missing was the veil.

"Of course you do," Nikki said.

Vanessa smiled and pressed her left palm to her stomach, feeling the child that was growing inside her. "We're going to be married soon, Eamon. You're going to have a daddy who loves you as much as I do."

"Eamon?" Nikki asked.

"It's a boy," Vanessa said. "Ryan said I could pick the name. Do you like it?"

"I love it," Nikki said. "It's the perfect name."

"Just three more months," Vanessa said. "Then I'll be able to hold my little Eamon and never let him go…Ryan doesn't want to know the baby's name until after he's born."

Nikki flinched at the second mention of Ryan's name, but resisted the urge to comment on her true feelings about Vanessa's husband-to-be. Nikki instead walked over to the desk in the room and picked up Vanessa's veil. "And now, the final touch." She placed the veil on her sister's head.

"Perfect," Vanessa said.

"Almost," Nikki corrected, picking up her purse from a nearby chair and removing a small black box.

"What's this?"

"Our mother's necklace," Nikki answered. "The one she wore on her wedding when she was pregnant with me."

"Oh God, Nikki! I can't —"

"No, she'd want you to have this," Nikki insisted.

Tears began to form in Vanessa's eyes as Nikki removed the necklace from the box and placed it around Vanessa's neck.

"Save the tears for the ceremony," Nikki said, looking at her sister in the mirror. "You're beautiful, Vanessa. Don't you ever forget that."

Michael walked toward Ryan, who was standing near the altar, and rested his hand on Ryan's shoulder.

"Your best man has arrived," Michael announced.

"Excuse me if I don't do a little dance," Ryan said. "I've got to a lot to deal with right now."

"You've always got a lot to deal with, and rarely, if ever, do you find a sensible way to take care of those problems."

"That bitch Alexis caused a scene earlier," Ryan explained.

"Well, I'm assuming she didn't cause much of one if the ceremony is still on track," Michael said.

"Michael, If she remembers her —"

"If she does, she will be dealt with," Michael promised. "Now stop worrying. This should be an event full of happiness."

"And blackmail."

"But more happiness."

"Are we ready?" Marcus asked, approaching both men.

"Yes, we are," Michael said.

"Ready as ever," Ryan reluctantly agreed. "I'll go get Father Grady."

Derek stood near a window where he had a clear view of Michael standing near the altar, talking to someone he didn't recognize.

"Come on, Michael," Derek said, aiming the gun at the window. "Just a few steps to the right and I'll be able to blow your head off."

Derek frowned when he realized the double entendre he had just uttered, but kept his focus on Michael.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Derek froze; realizing that someone had found him. And that someone could very well be the person intending to kill him.

"Everyone is supposed to take their seats now," Anna told her ex-husband, Joel, as he returned from outside.

"How do you know?" Joel asked, placing his cell phone back in his jacket.

"I'm assuming that's what Michael Hanley meant when he asked everyone to take their seats," Anna replied.

"Biting sarcasm?"

Anna rolled her eyes and moved toward her seat.

"Where's Julia?"

"Sitting with Akilah."

Joel paused. "Have you…have you noticed anything different with Julia lately?"

"So, the detective finally becomes a father?"

"I'm serious," Joel insisted, taking a seat next to Anna. "I'm worried about her."

Anna frowned. "I am too."

The organ began to play the opening notes of "Here Comes the Bridge," signaling to everyone that the ceremony has officially begun.

Everyone was seated as Ryan walked down the aisle with Kimberly on his arm. Following were Michael and Nikki, and then Marcus and Alexis.

Ryan stood next to Father Grady as the music stopped, then started again from the beginning. All the guests turned to watch the aisle as Vanessa appeared.

"Here goes," Vanessa said.

"I was just…looking for a way in," Derek explained, quickly lowering his gun and turning to face what turned out to be a police officer.

Derek hid the gun behind his back, hoping the officer hadn't seen it.

"Try the door," the officer said.

"You're absolutely correct," Derek said. "But you know what? I have to get a camera from my car. I have to…go…"

Derek slipped the gun into his pocket as he headed toward his car.

As Vanessa walked down the aisle, Vince glanced over his shoulder and noticed Antonio standing near the door. He stood up and quickly headed toward him.

"What are you doing here?" Vince demanded.

"I'm here to offer you a once in a lifetime opportunity," Antonio said.

"You couldn't have asked me that an hour ago at the mansion?"

"Look, do you want it or not?" Antonio asked.

"Depends what it is," Vince said.

"The power to destroy Derek and make Jessica fall in love with you again," Antonio explained. "The school year is almost over, Vince. Do you want your entire life to end before you even graduate from high school?"

"No…I don't, but…"

"Look, I can give you power," Antonio said. "I can give you everything you've ever dreamed of."

Vince glanced back into the church, thinking about how great it would be to someday marry Jessica. Now that things were over with Kelli, there was nothing standing in Vince's way.

Inside the church where they were about to be wed, Vince stalked over to Jessica and grabbed her by the arm.

"Jessica, let's go," Vince snapped.

"Vince, you're hurting me," Jessica cried.

"She wants to be with me, Vince," Alec said, stepping in front of them.

"No, she doesn't!" Vince shouted, releasing Jessica's arm. He turned to stare at her, his face covered with sadness.

"Tell me you don't," Vince said.

"I don't…I don't know," Jessica cried.

"Just tell me you love me!"

"I can't," Jessica said.

Vince frowned. "Fine."

Vince punched Jessica in the face, sending her to the floor. The combination of the blow and the impact of hitting the floor knocked her unconscious.

"Oh my God, Vince!" Alec cried. "What did you do?!"

Alec rushed to Jessica's side, while Vince stood over her, clenching his fists. Alec checked Jessica's pulse, then turned back to Vince, "She's…she's not breathing."

Vince hangs his head.

"I'm sorry," Vince said.

"You sorry?" Alec demanded. "You could have killed her!"

"…that I'm going to have to kill you."

Nothing except for Alec and Vince's unfinished business with the man who murdered his father.

"I'll do it," Vince decided. "Whatever it takes."

Vince stepped outside the church with Antonio; ready to accept whatever power he was going to acquire.

"Speak of the bastard," Vince muttered, as Derek rushed past them. He watched Derek run to his car and open it, and then Vince turned back to Antonio. "Let's get started."

"I do," Vanessa declared, as the wedding ceremony came to a close.

Father Grady smiled. "Then with the power invested in me by the Lord, Jesus Christ, I declare you husband and wife."

The guests in the wedding began to cheer. Some due to the joyous occasion, while others applauded merely because the ceremony was over.

"You may now kiss the —"

Before Father Grady could finish, a loud explosion occurred outside the church. Everyone cried out in shock as the force of the blow caused the building to shake.

"What the hell is going on?" Ryan cried.

At that moment, the doors to the church flew open and Vince stumbled inside. Joel rose to his feet and rushed to Vince's aid, asking him what was wrong.

Vince struggled to speak. "I was just outside…I saw my uncle get into…"

"You saw what, Vince? What did you see?" Joel asked.

"My uncle's car," Vince cried. "It exploded!"

Gasps echoed throughout the church as everyone heard Vince's announcement. Amidst all the confusion, Michael remained calm. His cell phone, which had been turned on silent, because to vibrate in his pocket.

Michael stepped away from Ryan and Vanessa, who were trying to figure out what to do with Father Grady; a startled Alexis; a confused Nikki and Marcus; and Kimberly, who looked as dazed as usual. He removed the phone from his jacket and raised it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Derek Moore has been taken care of."

Michael smiled. "Perfect."