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HOLDEN HOME
Simon Holden unlocks the front door, turning on the lights and allowing his sister-in-law, Felicia Bale, to follow him inside. His son Matt enters as well, with Darren Reynolds in tow. Not a single smile is cracked among the group, not a single feeling of joy at finally being able to come home after the ordeal they've been through.
"Thank you for driving us home," Felicia says, turning to Darren. "You didn't have to."
"It's the least I could do," Darren says. "I'm just surprised my car wasn't destroyed by that...um..."
"Asteroid," Matt says, matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, that still sounds weird."
"I'm going to go upstairs," Felicia announces.
She doesn't bother looking at anyone as she goes toward the staircase, her head hung low, eyes glazed over. Darren and Simon both share a knowing glance, prompting Simon to follow Felicia to the stairs.
"Let me help you," Simon says. "I'll get you some water."
Felicia frowns. "Don't you have to get back to the clinic?"
"I've got a few hours off to take a nap," Simon says, taking her arm. "I'll be fine. I'm more worried about you."
Felicia pushes Simon away from her. "My son and my grandson are dead. What do you want from me?"
"I...I'm sorry."
"I'm going upstairs," Felicia snaps, brushing past Simon and hurrying up the staircase.
Exasperated, Simon shakes his head and goes off toward the kitchen. Matt tries following after his father, but Darren grabs him by the shoulder.
"Just give him a few minutes," Darren says.
"Get your hands off me, fag," Matt snaps, pushing Darren away from him.
Darren rolls his eyes. "I find it so surprising that you and your irritating cousin Eric weren't raised in the same house."
"What can I say?" Matt shrugs. "My mother was a piece of work."
"Aww. Poor little rich boy."
"I'll give us Hanleys one thing. We definitely don't slouch in the bedroom," Matt remarks. "And judging from how Eric put it down with your little boyfriend..."
Darren balls his hands in a fist, almost ready to punch Matt in the face. But whereas punching Eric in the face would be satisfying, it's almost not worth it hitting Matt. He's barely twenty-one. He's just some kid.
"I'm gonna call Blake," Darren mutters, breezing out of the living room.
"Jessica's not coming in?"
Kyle hangs up the phone and turns to see Kane Li hovering around him. "No, she's not. Why are you...around?"
"I came to see what the hold-up is on Dr. Maddock's eggs benedict," Kane says. "He's being extra ornery."
"Perhaps it's because the sight of you and your mother drive him batty," Kyle offers. "Like it does me."
"Well, we wouldn't have to see him again if you weren't forcing my mother to marry him."
Kyle narrows his eyes. "Get out of my face. Go."
Kane grunts and heads off toward Aaron Maddock's table, prepared to appease him with a free appetizer, or champagne, or...a knife to the back.
"There you are," Aaron says, snapping his fingers. "What took you so long?"
"I apologize, Dr. Maddock," Kane says. "I just need —"
"This seat taken?"
Both men are surprised as Eric Hanley appears at the table, sitting down across from Aaron.
"I'll have what he's having," Eric says, glancing up at Kane. "Go put the order in."
Kane takes a deep breath and walks away from the table, leaving a grinning Eric alone with Aaron.
"What's up, Doc?"
"What do you want?" Aaron demands. "I'm trying to enjoy brunch."
"You've got this weird air about you," Eric says. "Almost like you're celebrating. But shouldn't you be at the Bale family sobfest right now?"
"Let's just say that recent events aren't as horrible as they might seem," Aaron says, a cryptic tone in his voice.
"Okay," Eric says. "Then I guess you're not talk about Blake and Darren's little reunion at the clinic."
Aaron snorts. "I don't know what you're referring to. I am dating Rebecca Li."
Eric bursts into laughter.
"I'm serious," Aaron snaps.
Eric slides his hand under the table, rubbing it against Aaron's leg. "And I'm horny. Let's go to the bathroom."
KATHARINE DEXTER'S OFFICE
Katharine Dexter takes a sip of her morning coffee as she watches the body language of the woman sitting before her. The woman looks incredibly nerve-wrecked, fidgeting with her purse and glancing nervously about the room.
"Miss Watson," Katharine says, catching her new client's attention. "Please. Continue."
"Of course," Vanessa Watson says, nodding. "Well, like I said...this began when my brother-in-law Marcus left home for a modeling gig. I was at home alone with my sister, Nikki, when she...when she..."
Vanessa almost breaks into tears, unable to control herself.
"What's wrong, Miss...Vanessa?"
"She was murdered," Vanessa says. "There seemed to be a break-in. And there was blood, and I found...I found her body mutilated in her bedroom. It was the most horrifying thing I'd ever seen."
"I'm sorry," Katharine says. "What happened next?"
"Marcus was arrested when he returned. The police insisted that the evidence pointed toward him. It was all circumstantial, but the French police..."
"I'm aware."
"He's currently in prison, awaiting trial. But I need help, proving he didn't do it," Vanessa insists.
"Why not hire a private investigator in France?"
"Well, I originally returned home to get help from a friend, but...that didn't quite work out."
Vanessa reaches into her purse, removing a stack of letters and tossing them onto the desk.
"Besides. These letters began to arrive soon after. Threatening letters, that I think came from someone here in Marquette Cove. Someone from my past, and I need to figure out who. It completely changed my mind about Marcus' innocence."
Katharine nods. "Let me see these... Sean?"
Katharine loses her train of thought as she sees a man she recognizes standing in the hallway outside her office door.
"Excuse me, Miss Watson," Katharine says quickly, hurrying to her office door.
Vanessa turns around, finding Katharine talking to Sean Moore in the hallway. She rises to her feet to get a closer look, but accidentally knocks a folder from Katharine's desk onto the floor.
"Oh shit," Vanessa grumbles, reaching for the folder. As she picks it up she finds a sheet of paper sticking out from it. It already has her name on it, yet she didn't arrange to meet with Katharine until today.
A closer look reveals that the names Michael Hanley, and the father of her child, Ryan Phillips, are on the sheet as well.
"What in the hell is going on here?" Vanessa wonders aloud.
MARQUETTE COVE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Joel Kincaid stares at the separate interrogation rooms, then turns back to face Heather Crane. "What are Ryan Phillips and Alexis Lopez doing here?"
"Apparently, he said she tried to kill him in the hospital," Heather answers. "She says the same thing. And what a wonderful case for you to join the force again with. Since you originally investigated the mess these two were involved in."
"That I did," Joel says, frowning. "But...how is any of this possible? When did Ryan Phillips get back into town?"
"Who knows," Heather says. "Chances are these charges won't stick. And we'll need to release Alexis into...someone's custody. Seeing as how there's no psych ward at the hospital anymore."
She picks up a stack of legal forms and thrusts them toward Joel.
"Interestingly enough, Aaron Maddock was making preparations to do just that. But I don't know why."
"I do," Joel says. "She's his niece."
Heather's face falls. "Excuse me?"
"Melissa Bale is Alexis' mother," Joel answers. "We discovered that the night she was killed by her son-in-law."
"Her now deceased son-in-law," Heather says. "According to the on site reports. Which will save the tax payers a lengthy murder trial, at least."
"Well, we can figure out what's going on with these two and call up Aaron," Joel says. "I think Melissa would want someone she loves and trusts to raise her child. Or rather, help rehabilitate her child. Alexis isn't a little girl anymore."
"No, she's legally an adult," Heather says. "And then...wait, did you just say we?"
"Yes," Joel says, nodding. "I'm back on the force, partner."
"That's excellent. Couldn't ask for a better one."
Before Joel can respond, his cell phone begins to ring. He excuses himself and steps aside to answer it. "Hello?"
"Hello...is this Mr. Joel Kincaid?"
"Yes...who is this?"
"I have some terrible news," the caller says. "It's about your brother."
MATA HARI'S
Rebecca Li removes her fur coat and tosses it at the host as she strides into the restaurant. She removes a pack of cigarettes from her purse. "I'll take a table near the bar."
"Take your own damn coat with you," Kyle says, dropping the fur coat to the floor. "And where'd you get this tacky shit? Chinatown? I know you can't afford a real one."
Rebecca glowers at Kyle. "What are you doing here?"
"I bought Mata Hari's, you know that."
"Yes, but hosting? I thought it was that dangerous Latino girl."
"She called in sick on the count of her husband getting killed," Kyle answers. "And just so you know, Aaron is here. So you can go and propose to him."
"A lady never proposes," Rebecca insists.
Kyle grabs her arm. "I've given you ample time!"
"You told me last night! When a goddamn asteroid crashed into the hospital! Allow me some brunch and a mimosa!"
"Fine," Kyle says, through gritted teeth. "I have customers."
Rebecca glances down at her coat. "Pick that up."
As she walks toward a table, she places a cigarette between her lips and prepares to light it.
"No you don't," Kane says, grabbing Rebecca's arm. "You can't smoke in here."
"What, you too?"
"Mother."
"I hate it when you call me that," Rebecca snaps. "Fine, I'll use the bathroom."
Rebecca grabs a candle from a table and goes toward the restrooms. Noticing the long line at the women's room, she groans and goes into the men's room, shutting and locking the door.
She uses the candle to light her cigarette and takes a long drag from it, exhaling smoke into the air. "Ah...that's perfect."
Upon speaking, however, she hears the sounds of loud whispers as she accidentally drops her cigarette into the sink, dousing it. Swearing under her breath, she crouches down to the floor and sees two pairs of feet inside one bathroom stall.
"What the Larry Craig?" Rebecca gasps.
She pushes open the stall door, finding both Aaron and Eric going at it, shirts torn open and pants around their ankles.
"Rebecca!" Aaron gasps.
Rebecca grips the sink counter in horror. "Anyone...have an extra cigarette?"
HOLDEN HOME
Simon knocks on the door to Felicia's bedroom, waiting to hear a response from her. When he doesn't, he pushes the door open anyway so he can check on her.
"Felicia? Are you okay?"
"Simon."
Simon reaches for the light switch on the wall.
"No. Don't turn on the lights," Felicia says, struggling to keep her voice calm and collected. "Sit next to me."
Simon obliges, moving toward the bed and taking a seat next to Felicia. She rests on the bed, dressed in a silk nightgown. She brushes her hair back and touches Simon on the shoulder.
"I'm so afraid, Simon," Felicia says. "Everyone is taken away from me. And it's all...it's all my fault. As much as I want to blame Robert, it's all my fault."
"Felicia, you can't blame yourself."
"I let these people into my life!" Felicia cries. "Everyone involved in my life is hurt. They're in pain." She grasps at his shirt, clutching it frantically.
"You just need to calm down...I can get you some tea if..."
"No, I don't want any goddamn tea!" Felicia snaps. "I just...kiss me. Let me forget about Robert, you can forget about Valerie."
Simon wants to resist, but he doesn't move as Felicia kisses his lips and pulls him closer. She unbuttons his shirt, tossing it to the floor and wrapping her arms around him.
"I want you," Felicia says. "I want you now." Felicia climbs atop Simon, loosening his belt. As she unsnaps his pants and shoves her hands into his boxers, he suddenly pushes Felicia away.
"Felicia, stop!" Simon cries. "I...I can't. I'm still married. And after everything that Valerie has put us through, everything that Robert has done to you...we can't be those people."
"Don't you see? It's because of them that we can," Felicia snaps.
Simon reaches out to touch her shoulder. "I'm so —"
Felicia claws at Simon's arm, causing him to recoil. He grabs his arm in pain and stares at her in shock.
"Get the hell out," Felicia snarls. "Get out!"
Utterly confused and bewildered, Simon grabs his shirt and backs out of the room. Once the door is shut, Felicia realizes that Simon has dropped his cell phone onto the bed. She picks it up and does a quick search for a number.
Finding it, she takes a deep breath and reaches for the phone near the bed. After several rings, someone finally answers.
A receptionist answers, "You've reached the Law Offices of Sheik and Ami."
"Hello..." Felicia says, her voice shaking as she speaks. "My name is...Valerie Hanley. I'm calling to do whatever I can to hurry along my divorce to Simon Holden."
