YORK HOTEL
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ryan Phillips demanded.

After opening the door to his hotel room, he was shocked to find Alexis Lopez standing in the hallway staring at him. Before Ryan could react, Alexis jumped into his arms and began kissing his neck.

"I came here to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life!" Alexis cried. "You can't be with Vanessa, you're in love with me."

Ryan's jaw dropped. Whether or not Alexis had been faking her amnesia for the past few months was a moot point now, since she had obviously reverted back to form. She was utterly insane, but Ryan had forgotten that since she was busy playing the victim before his wedding.

"Get the hell off of me!" Ryan exclaimed, attempting to push Alexis out of his way.

While he did so, Vanessa approached the doorway where Ryan was struggling with Alexis. She was carrying their child, Eamon, whom she had just given birth to the other day. Vanessa gasped when she saw Ryan with Alexis.

"Ryan!" Vanessa cried. "What the hell is going on here?!"

"Vanessa, I can explain," Ryan said.

He pushed Alexis off of him, sending her flying to the floor. Then he turned to face his wife. "She jumped me, I couldn't help it."

"Ryan, you don't have to explain yourself to her," Alexis said, climbing to her feet. "Tell her the truth about us!"

"Well, somebody had better explain something around here," Vanessa snapped. "And they had better do it right now."



AARON MADDOCK'S PENTHOUSE

Aaron Maddock paused outside his apartment and picked up the morning paper, which was resting on his welcome mat. This issue of the Marquette Messenger featured yet another article on a missing Marquette Cove High School student.

"That's a shame," Aaron said, wiping away the sweat that was dripping down his forehead.

He was dressed in jogging shorts and a tank top, and he had just finished his daily run. He unlocked the door to his penthouse and went inside. He was there later than usual, since he had stopped to talk to the doorman.

Today was the day the doorman's wife had gone into labor, so Aaron let him take the day off and figured none of the other residents of the building would mind if there wasn't a doorman there until the nightshift.

Aaron had practically pushed the doorman out of the building, insisting that he take some time to be with his family. Aaron's family had become slightly more important to him now that he knew Hugh Rogers was in town, looking up his cousin Melissa.

"I'll protect my cousin if it's the last thing I do," Aaron said aloud, tossing the newspaper onto a nearby table and walking toward his kitchen.

As he did, Aaron didn't bother to close his door and lock it. And since there was no doorman downstairs, no one had been able to stop the three men who were now outside Aaron's penthouse from entering the building.

Aaron didn't even notice as they walked into the apartment.



BALE & MADDOCK LAW OFFICES

Felicia Bale removed her set of keys to the building from her purse, then unlocked the door. The office was closed today, but she figured that her husband would be working on a case inside. He hadn't come home last night, so he had probably slept there as well.

She wanted to apologize to Robert about the argument they had the other day, when he stormed into the Hanley mansion. She knew that her relationship with Michael was unsettling to Robert, especially since he didn't know the truth about her paternity…that she was Kevin Hanley's daughter.

"I can't be having an affair with my brother," Felicia said. "But Robert doesn't know that. Maybe it's time I trusted him with the truth…it's been so hard for him to trust me lately."

Felicia knew that once she told Robert the truth, all of their problems would be over. Even though Kevin insisted that she keep the secret until he was ready to reveal it, Felicia had already admitted the truth to her half-sister, Valerie.

"This is right. It's just what Robert and I need to move on with our lives."

Robert Bale laid his business partner, Melissa Maddock, down on the couch in his office. Both were dressed only in their underwear, since they had removed their clothing once they arrived at the office and locked it behind them.

"God, you're beautiful," Robert whispered.

He removed his boxers then climbed onto the couch with Melissa, kissing her neck. Melissa moaned as Robert slowly grinded against her and unfastened her bra.

As they made love to each other, neither heard as Felicia approached Robert's office, dangling the keys in her hands.

"I expected you to return," Quentin Blood said, smiling as Chris Server ascended the stairs that led to Quentin's private office in the castle that he had turned into a mansion. "I actually thought it would be sooner, but that's of no importance right now."

"Quentin," Chris said sternly. "We need to talk."

Quentin nodded. "I'm aware. Have a seat."

"I'd rather stand," Chris said, entering the office.

"Please, Chris. There's not a booby-trap in the seat, for heaven's sake."

Chris paused briefly, but eventually decided to have a seat. He gripped the arms of the chair and stared ahead, attempting to conceal his nervousness from Quentin. But Quentin could smell Chris' fear and either way, it was palpable that he was uneasy.

"Now, what can I do for you?"

"If you expected me, then you should already know," Chris snapped.

"True," Quentin said. "I just want to hear it from you."

Chris sighed. "I want you to help Blake get out of jail. He won't survive in there."

"Really?" Quentin laughed. "I would expect that your boyfriend is exactly the type of person that would survive in prison."

Chris didn't respond.

"Maybe that time you spent in prison is what brought on this new lifestyle of yours," Quentin continued, unable to keep from smirking.

"You will never be half the man that Blake is," Chris insisted.

"Possibly," Quentin said. "But then again, Blake isn't really a man, is he? Neither are you for that matter."

"This conversation is over," Chris said, rising to his feet.

"Oh, can't you take a joke, Christopher?" Quentin demanded. "Sit back in your damn seat."

"No."

"Fine," Quentin said. "Here's how it is. If you rejoin my organization, then I'll have Blake released from prison within the week."

Chris felt a bad taste in his mouth. He didn't know whether it was from something he had eaten earlier, or if he was becoming sick at the thought of accepting Quentin's offer. But he had no other choice. The evidence against Blake was damning and he would probably end up on death row.

"I'll do it," Chris said. "If you help Blake, I'll do it. I'll come back to work for you."



AARON MADDOCK'S APARTMENT

Aaron opened the fridge in his kitchen and removed a bottle of water. As he closed the fridge and turned around, he saw the three men that were standing in his apartment. The men were all dressed fashionably and he could have easily bumped into them anywhere on the street.

But without having ever met the men, Aaron knew immediately who they worked for — Hugh Rogers. It had been a bad day to let the doorman go home early.

"Hey guys…what's up?" Aaron asked, slowly inching toward the cordless phone on his kitchen counter.

"Don't even think about it," one of the men said. "We just want to have a talk about your unfortunate situation."

"My situation?"

"You lied to Mr. Rogers," the man responded. "Mr. Rogers doesn't like being lied to."

Aaron frowned. "I don't…I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do."

The man's two associates approached Aaron and each man grabbed one of his arms. Then the man who had been speaking to Aaron stepped forward and punched him in the gut.

"Mr. Rogers wants to make sure that you're sorry for what you did."



EMERALD CEMETERY

Zaliphyr yawned loudly as he listened to Antonio rattle on about Vincent Moore's new psychokinetic abilities. He had been watching Antonio show Vince how to move things with his mind all day, which was becoming irritating.

"Blah blah, don't use your powers in public," Zaliphyr muttered. "Isn't that all you have to say?"

Antonio turned to Zaliphyr and rolled his eyes. "Do you even have to be here?"

"No, I don't," Zaliphyr said. "But I want to be. It's better than being stuck inside your brain."

Antonio returned his attention to Vince, while Zaliphyr approached them. Right then, Zaliphyr began wishing that he were corporeal again. This must have been how Antonio felt, when Zaliphyr had sealed him in an alternate reality last year.

But this was slightly different, since Zaliphyr wasn't in another reality. His body was dead and his essence was now trapped inside Antonio, the person who had killed him. It was all due to a spell that Ronarr had put on Zaliphyr when he started working for him, to ensure that Zaliphyr would always be under his rule.

"Dammit, why can't I —"

Before Zaliphyr could finish, he suddenly found himself feeling sick to his stomach. He felt his stomach with his hand, but when he looked down he realized that he no longer had the hands of a Caucasian…his hands belonged to that of someone who was Hispanic.

"What the hell?" Zaliphyr wondered aloud.

"Oh, did I do something wrong?" Vince asked.

"What the…you can hear me?" Zaliphyr demanded.

"Of course I can, Antonio," Vince said. "Now come on, I want to learn more about this stuff since I'm technically not supposed to be using it in public."

"Um…I guess you should…move that rock over there?" Zaliphyr suggested.

"God, will you stop talking?" Antonio demanded. "You're becoming irritating."

"Huh?"

"I said, stop talking," Antonio whispered, as not to alert Vince to the fact that he seemed to be talking to himself.

"But I don't…"

Zaliphyr allowed his voice to trail off when he realized that he was no longer occupying Antonio's body. But now, his mind was the one being occupied…with thoughts of how he had managed to possess Antonio's body like that, however briefly.



YORK HOTEL
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

"I'm pregnant," Alexis announced.

"What the hell?" Ryan demanded. "By whom?"

"You," Alexis said. "You're the father."

"Like hell I'm the father," Ryan said, walking over to Vanessa. "I'm already a father, Alexis. I have a wife and a child here, and I don't know what's happened in that crazy head of yours to make you think that I'm the father of whatever you're carrying now, but I am not it."

"Shut up, Ryan," Vanessa said, ignoring him.

This was the moment she had been waiting for. She had been attempting to figure out whatever secrets Ryan was keeping from her, and now it looked like she would find out everything. All because Alexis had apparently regained her memory.

"Your memory is back?" Vanessa asked.

"Yes!" Alexis cried. "I remember everything, about the night Ryan and I…"

"The night you and Ryan what?"

The blinds in Ryan's bedroom were drawn, as not to let the sunlight interrupt him and Alexis. It was early Monday morning, but that made no difference to them. Alexis had been with him the entire weekend -- her parents under the belief that she was staying with Jessica.

"You are so beautiful," Ryan whispered.

"Ryan, tell me you love me," Alexis pleaded.

"I love you," Ryan assured her. "I've loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you."

Ryan pulled Alexis closer to him, running his fingers across her bare back. He gently kissed her neck, her soft moans echoing in his ear. Alexis ran her own fingers along Ryan's chest and passionately kissed him.

Feeling her body start to quiver once more, Alexis clutched Ryan's back and allowed him to pull her body even closer to his.

Ryan kissed Alexis, letting his tongue caress hers. He brushed back a strand of her hair and turned Alexis onto her back. He collapsed on top of her and continued to make love to her.

"…the night we made love," Alexis finished.

"We never made love," Ryan insisted. "Not any night."

"No, you're right," Alexis agreed. "It wasn't just a night, it was a whole weekend. One hot, sexy weekend of passion. The weekend you fell in love with me."

"You're twisted," Ryan sneered.

"I'm pregnant," Alexis repeated. "And it's your child, Ryan."

"Oh my God," Vanessa cried, turning back to Ryan. "Is this…is this true, Ryan? You slept with a student? And then you got her pregnant?!"

"No, that's impossible!" Ryan cried.

Ryan Phillips pulled up to the alley behind the abortion clinic. But he was no longer in Marquette Cove; the clinic was in Fordham Bay, town located on a few hours outside of town. He parked the car next to a dumpster, and then he turned to Alexis Lopez, who was seated next to him.

"Are you ready to do this?" Ryan asked.

"I don't know," Alexis said. "I'm scared, Ryan."

Her voice was trembling, she didn't even know if she'd be able to stand. She reached out to touch Ryan's arm, but he pulled away from her.

"We don't have time, Alexis," Ryan said. "This is seriously important. Both of our asses are on the line, and I can't have you backing out on me now."

"Fine," Alexis snapped, realizing that she wasn't going to get anywhere trying to reason with Ryan. "I'm going."

Alexis unlocked the car door, and then she climbed out and slammed the door shut. Ryan watched her as she walked around to the front of the abortion clinic.

"I made her get an abortion!" Ryan insisted. "And we slept together almost a year ago! She'd be farther along now than this!"

Vanessa stared at Ryan in shock, while Alexis merely watched Ryan with a confused look on her face.

"You never made me…" Alexis' voice trailed off. "What is he talking about?"

Ryan realized that he had just inadvertently outed himself. "Oh…shit."



BALE & MADDOCK LAW OFFICES

Felicia tried to open Robert's office door, but it was locked. She heard what sounded like voices inside, so she realized that he had to be on the phone. Deciding she could just unlock the door and wait on the couch in his office until he was done, Felicia used her spark key to Robert's office and unlocked the door.

As Felicia pushed open the door, she noticed that Robert was at his desk. It took her a few moments to notice the clothes lying on the floor, and the two bodies moving on the couch. Gasping, Felicia turned on the lights and cried out when she realized who the bodies were.

"Oh my God," Robert cried, quickly climbing off Melissa. "Felicia…why didn't you knock?!"

"This…this isn't what it looks like," Melissa insisted.

Both Robert and Melissa started grabbing their clothes and getting dressed as quickly as possible. Felicia was sick to her stomach and clutched the office's doorknob to keep from falling over. "Exactly what is it, then?"

"This has only happened once," Melissa insisted. "Just this once, it was a mistake, Felicia."

"Robert…is this true?" Felicia demanded, dropping her purse and keys in shock.

Robert didn't respond as quickly. "I…I don't know what to tell you, honey."

Felicia glanced into the window that led into their living room, where she saw what looked like Robert and Melissa fixing each other's clothes. Felicia brushed off the image and walked to the front door, which as it turned out, hadn't been locked.

Felicia announced her presence as she entered the foyer. "Robert?"

She found Robert and Melissa sitting next to each other on the living room couch, going over a stack of files resting on the coffee table. Next to the stack of files, was a large cardboard box. They had been working after all.

"What's going?" Felicia demanded.

"Working on a case, Felicia," Robert snapped. "Did you need something?"

Felicia didn't respond. She couldn't detect if Robert was hiding something, or if he was treating her to the same attacks he had been displaying for months since she began to defend Michael Hanley against Robert's constant criticism.

"Liar," Felicia cried. "This has been going on under my nose for weeks, and I've just never noticed, right?"

"Sort of like what's been going on under my nose for months?" Robert demanded. "Years, even? You had to have seen this coming, Felicia. Turnabout's fair play."

"Go to hell, Robert," Felicia said. "You can go straight to hell, and take your goddamn whore with you!"

Melissa turned away from Felicia so she didn't have to make eye contact with her. But Felicia wasn't done with her yet. She approached Melissa angrily.

"You used to be a friend, Melissa," Felicia reminded her. "How could you do this to me?"

"Felicia, I —"

"Don't stall for time!" Felicia shouted. "Give me an answer!"

"Leave her alone, Felicia," Robert said, grabbing his wife's arm.

Felicia spun around and slapped Robert across the face, throwing her entire body into the slap. Robert released Felicia from his grip and stumbled back to rub his face. "Felicia, just calm down!"

"No," Felicia said. "I'm done listening to you, Robert. This is over."

She bent over to pick up her fallen keys and shoved them into her purse. Then she hurried out of the office with tears streaming down her face. Robert walked over to Melissa and hugged her to see if she was okay.

"Go after your wife," Melissa said.

"She'll be fine," Robert insisted. "Felicia Bale is no longer my wife."

As Felicia stormed out of the office, she tried crossing the street to get to her car. But in her distress, she didn't notice the sports car coming barreling down the street toward her. Felicia stumbled on her heels in the street, and almost tripped.

She tried to regain her balance, but as she did she finally noticed the car was inches away from her. Before she could react, the sports car slammed into her body. Felicia cried out as she flew into the air and landed on the windshield of the vehicle, cracking the glass.

The driver brought her car to a screeching halt and immediately reached into her purse for a cell phone to dial 911. In between crying out in hysterics, the woman managed to alert the paramedics that the woman she had just hit was in critical condition…she was unconscious, and her blood was already beginning to seep through the cracks in the windshield.