WELLES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Vanessa Phillips held her new child, Eamon Phillips, close to her chest as she was pushed out of her hospital room in a wheelchair. The nurse that was pushing Vanessa stopped once Vanessa's husband, Ryan, and their new biggest fan, Anita Johanassen, approached them. Smiling at the two, the nurse walked away and allowed Ryan to take the reins of Vanessa's wheelchair.

"Ready to go home, honey?" Ryan asked. "Or…um, back to the hotel?"

"I'm ready," Vanessa said. "Eamon and I are ready."

"That's a beautiful name," Anita said. "It's the Irish form of Edmund, which means blessed."

Ryan and Vanessa exchanged glances, wondering how they were going to get rid of Anita now that they didn't need her anymore.

"Anita…I wanted to thank you for helping me deliver my baby," Vanessa told her. "You've done so much for me, and there's no way I can adequately thank you for it all."

"No problem," Anita said. "It was my pleasure. What any good Christian would do."

"I think we should get going," Ryan announced. "It was nice meeting you, Anita."

"Oh, I think I'm going back to the hotel too," Anita said. "We can share a cab!"

Anita started toward the exit, while Ryan groaned. "While we're here, I think I need to pick up some morphine."



EMERALD SQUARE

Ricard Branch sat alone in Emerald Square, downing another espresso from the Emerald Café. What he really needed was a shot of whiskey to calm his nerves, but this would do in a clinch. He was thinking about Quentin Blood's insistence that he needed help to get Sara Reynolds to like him.

"I don't need him," Ric grumbled. "I can get Sara to like me all by myself."

Ric stood up to get another espresso.

"I mean, why wouldn't she like me?" Ric demanded. "I've done everything I can to be the perfect person. She has to be in love with me, like I am with her."

"Come on, do you really want to give this up?" Matt asked. "Think about the money we'll make from this."

"You don't need money, Matt," Ricard said. "You're like, the richest person in Marquette Cove."

"Not exactly, but thanks," Matt said. "But look…I'm gonna give you some advice. You've helped me in the past, you gave me the drugs to plant in Vince's locker, but this isn't a good idea."

"I can't help it," Ricard replied. "I've got other things on my mind."

"Like what?" Matt demanded, laughing. "You're in love?"

"As a matter of fact, yes."

"Dude, seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously," Ricard said. "With someone you know, too."

"I changed my whole life for her," Ric grumbled. "She has to understand that. I'll make her understand."



EMERALD CEMETERY

As Antonio stood next to Vincent Moore, he held his hands and began speaking in a language foreign to Vince. But Zaliphyr, the demon watching as Antonio began channeling energy into Vince, understood the language. It was the language he and Antonio often used to make contact with the demon they worked for — Ronarr.

Vince's eyes rolled back in his head as his skin turned a bright green color. He opened his mouth and screamed as whatever was being transferred into his body began to burn his insides. Antonio, on the other hand, was not in any pain whatsoever.

In fact, he was smiling.

The seconds turned into minutes, but as he continued to chant, he felt as Vince grew weak. Antonio spoke one last word, and whispered it into Vince's ear, "Siete una cosa guasto."

He released Vince from his grasp, allowing the teenager to collapse onto the ground. Grimacing, Antonio turned to face Zaliphyr. Zaliphyr was still perched on the headstone of Vince's father, with a giddy expression on his face.

"It is done," Antonio announced.

"Well, it's about damn time!" Zaliphyr cried. "Man, I wish we could do that again!"



MADDOCK HOME

"I'm coming!" Melissa Maddock shouted, hurrying to the front door in her silk bathrobe. She had just climbed out of the shower when she heard someone banging on her door. Melissa opened the door and found a disheveled Robert Bale standing on her doorstep. "Oh my God, Robert! What's wrong?"

"I…I needed someplace to get my head straight," Robert said, stumbling into the house.

Melissa frowned, closing the door behind him. "Have you been drinking?"

"Only a little," Robert said.

"You shouldn't be drinking and driving, Robert," Melissa said. "You of all people should know how dangerous that is, you're a lawyer."

"That bitch," Robert muttered, walking into Melissa's living room.

"What's happened?"

"Felicia," Robert said. "I found her with Michael, Melissa. They were…I think she's going to leave me."

Robert plopped down on the couch while Melissa walked around behind him and tried massaging his shoulders. She was concerned for him and his marriage, but she couldn't help feeling elated over the news that Felicia might divorce Robert.

"Maybe I should do it first," Robert continued. "You know, I already drew up divorce papers after the first two months they were going at it."

Robert took Melissa's hand and began to gently kiss it. He turned around and stood on his knees, wrapping his arms around Melissa and lifting her over the back of the couch. Once he had her resting on the couch next to him, he slowly removed her bathrobe.

"I want you, right now," Robert said.

"I want you too," Melissa said, as Robert leaned forward.

Hugh Rogers stood outside Melissa's house, which might as well be a mansion. He watched through an open window as Melissa removed Robert's clothes on the couch, and smiled.

"Looks like I've found you, Melissa Maddock," Hugh said.

Alec Bale parked his car in the driveway and climbed out of his car, heading toward the front door. Before he even could get a few inches from his car, he felt someone touch his shoulder. Alec spun around to find his girlfriend, Jessica Reyes, facing him.

"Hey Alec," Jessica said. "I'm glad I ran into you."

"You're supposed to be at work," Alec said.

"I'm on break," Jessica explained. "Can we talk?"

"I'm really tired. I think I should just get to bed."

"It'll only take a minute, Alec. I haven't seen you in days, I just want to come in for a while," Jessica said.

Alec sighed loudly and started toward the door, with Jessica following him. As he tried unlocking the door, Jessica wrapped her arms around his waist to give him a hug. Alec pulled away from her.

"Alec, what's wrong?" Jessica demanded. "Why are you acting so weird?"



MADDOCK HOME

Watching Melissa have sex with Robert through her bedroom window, Hugh Rogers was now certain that Melissa was more well off than her cousin had led him to think. She lived in a mansion, she was a prominent lawyer, and she was screwing one to boot.

"Good old Melissa," Hugh whispered. "You always did know how to lead a secret life, didn't you?"

He unbuttoned his jacket and raced his fingers across the gun that was holstered on the side of his pants. He wasn't going to use it now, but if he had to, he would. He knew that it would come in handy if Melissa were less than forthcoming with the money she owed to him.

"Time for you to pay the piper," Hugh announced.

As he continued to spy on Melissa, he heard someone approaching him while talking loudly. He turned his head to the right and noticed a young blonde girl talking on a cell phone. She was headed toward the house, so Hugh quickly returned to his car. He drove away as she rang the doorbell.

"Oh God, who's that?" Melissa cried, climbing out of Robert's lap.

Suddenly realizing that her living room window was wide open, Melissa quickly closed the blinds and peered through them to find Sara Reynolds standing outside her door, placing a cell phone into her pocket.

"Shit," Melissa whispered. "It's Sara!"

"My niece?" Robert gasped.

The shock was incredibly sobering. He grabbed a pillow from the couch to shield his private parts, then slid over to the side of the couch that wasn't visible from the front door. Melissa placed her robe back on and hurried to the door to answer it.



BLOOD HOME

Quentin Blood looked up from the desk in his office as Detective Joel Kincaid stalked inside. He glared and Quentin and walked over to the desk, where he slammed his fists down. Quentin smirked.

"What can I do for you, Joel?" Quentin asked.

"You bastard," Joel snapped. "I know why you were fishing around asking questions about my family and bringing up my brother! You did it so you could spring him from jail and bring him to Marquette Cove!"

"Very good," Quentin said. "Another mystery solved by stellar police work."

"How did you do it, Quentin?" Joel demanded. "He had a life sentence!"

"The case was reopened," Quentin replied. "Long story short, your brother was released on a technicality."

"He's a rapist," Joel said. "He raped and murdered my wife!"

"Why does this sound so familiar?" Quentin asked.

"You brought that monster back so he could what? Torture me? Hurt some other innocent woman?"

"I brought him back to town so that he could start his life over," Quentin explained. "I'm his AA sponsor now, and I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure he gets his life back on track."

"You haven't heard the last of me," Joel snarled, storming out of the office.

Quentin waited a few moments, then picked up the phone on his desk and dialed a number. When someone answered, he spoke, "Whichever one of my employees let Detective Kincaid into my home without first informing me…bring them to me."



MADDOCK HOME

Sara smiled at Melissa as she opened the door. But once she noticed Melissa wearing a bathrobe and what looked like water trickling down the side of her face, Sara frowned. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?"

"No," Melissa said. "Of course not."

She wiped the sweat away from her forehead and forced a smile.

"I was just taking a shower," Melissa explained. "What can I do for you?"

"I was just looking for Erin, is she here?" Sara asked.

"No, she's not," Melissa said. "But…I think she said she was heading over to Emerald Square. You could try her on her cell phone."

"She's not picking up," Sara replied. "But I'll give Emerald Square a try, thanks."

"It's good seeing you, Sara."

Melissa closed the door, then breathed a heavy sigh of relief. That was close.



BALE HOME

"I'm not acting weird," Alec insisted. "I'm just tired."

"You're lying to me, Alec," Jessica said. "I can always tell when you're lying, and you're lying to me now."

"Fine, you want to know what my problem is?" Alec demanded.

"That's exactly what I've been saying."

"How much time have you been spending with Vince?"

"Excuse me?"

"Since his uncle died, how much time have you spent with Vince?" Alec asked.

"I'm just trying to be his friend," Jessica said.

"Answer the question."

"No," Jessica snapped. "I'm not even going to bother to entertain that idiotic question, Alec! I used to date Vince, and you're his best friend! You of all people should know that we have to be there for him. We have to end this childish feud."

Alec opened the door to his house and walked inside. Jessica tried following him in, but he held his hand out to keep her from coming in. "Don't bother."

"I'm only in love with you, Alec," Jessica said. "I don't know why you can't see that."

Jessica turned and walked away from the house. Angrily, Alec slammed the door shut and went up to his room to collapse on his bed.



EMERALD SQUARE

As Ric left the Emerald Café with another espresso in hand, he noticed Sara walking past him. He dropped the espresso onto the ground and hurried over to her. "Sara!"

Sara stopped and turned around, rolling her eyes once she saw that it was Ric who was calling out to her.

"Sara, wait up!" Ric said. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Ric…what do you want?" Sara demanded.

"I wanted to…ask you something," Ric repeated. "Isn't that what I said?"

Sara folded her arms. "Oh. Yes, you did. What did you want to ask me?"

"Are you doing anything Friday night?" Ric asked. "Because I was hoping that maybe we could, you know, go out. On a date?"

Sara sighed. "I'm already dating someone, Ric. You know that."

"I know, but…she's not right for you," Ric insisted. "She's too —"

"Too what?" Sara demanded. "Too much of a non-drug dealer?"

"I'm not a drug dealer anymore."

"Oh, that's a relief," Sara said sarcastically. "I'd better hurry up and plan our wedding now, shouldn't I?"

"Sara, please…"

"Are you drunk?"

"No, I've been drinking coffee," Ric replied. "Look, I just want to go out with you!"

"It's not going to happen, Ric!" Sara cried. "So get lost, and leave me alone."

Sara spun around and stomped away from Ric, leaving him to kick a nearby table. But the table was firmly set into the sidewalk, and so it only succeeded in hurting his foot. Crying out, Ric angrily stormed off.



EMERALD CEMETERY

"If you're going to be standing around making asinine comments, you could at least help," Antonio said, glancing over at Zaliphyr.

"I can't help, remember? I only exist in your head," Zaliphyr reminded him. "That's what you get for killing me."

Antonio ignored Zaliphyr and continued shoveling dirt into the empty grave they had located in the center of the cemetery. It was probably empty due to graverobbers, but there was always the possibility that a zombie or a vampire had crawled out of the grave.

Either way, it only held one use now.

Specks of dirt hit Vince in the face, as he remained unmoving in the coffin. Antonio wiped away the beads of sweat on his forehead with his left arm, and then he returned to tossing dirt into the grave holding Vince.

"Siete una cosa guasto," Antonio repeated. "You are a dead thing."